As restructuring progresses at the University of Otago, a group of students say they have had enough of the university's "brand management"- and are claiming students and graduates are afraid to criticise the institution for fear it will harm their careers.
The claim has been slammed by a university spokeswoman as "just nonsensical" and counter to everything the university stands for.
The "Student Voice" group is organising a protest for today for students and staff, pushing for more freedom of speech, a stronger role for the students' association, and better consultation from the university.
The march was precipitated by the proctor's office telling Campus Watch to get rid of 500 copies of Critic Te Arohi on Monday due to its controversial cover - a move for which the proctor has apologised.
University student William Dreyer said the incident was "the straw that broke the camel's back", and the group was also pushing for Campus Watch to be made more aware of its responsibilities.
The university has described the removal of the magazines as a "mistake" made by the proctor's office, not an order from the university itself.
"Student Voice" members were also unhappy with the what they perceived as a lack of consultation in a restructuring of the humanities division and in the installation of more CCTV cameras, and with the way the university was handling the ongoing Support Services review, in which 160 full-time equivalent positions will be lost.
Sixty-five support services staff at the university were given letters on Wednesday informing them they could move into a lower-level position, or accept redundancy, with another 215 informed they could move into similar jobs.
Mr Dreyer said the university was so protective of its reputation that staff, students and former students were afraid to speak up, and fellow group member Finn Campbell said it appeared "branding comes first".
Some academic staff had expressed an interest in the protest, and Mr Dreyer hoped they would speak at the march which will begin at noon on the Union Lawn and go to the clocktower.
A spokeswoman said there was a long tradition of protests on campus and the university was "perfectly comfortable" with the march.
"They are absolutely free to protest and express their views in that way," she said.
Students were free to say what they liked as long as the message they were giving was accurate, she said.
When it came to staff members speaking on operational matters, the university, like any institution, had processes to communicate with the media, to ensure information was correct and of good quality.
There were avenues for staff to express their opinions about the university, she said.
The notion the university could negatively affect graduates' careers, was "just nonsensical".
"How would we, and how could we?" she said.
Comments
Perhaps the only thing that will satisfy the ever-increasing demands of these spokespeople of the Otago University student body is to sack all the staff and management and run the whole place themselves to their own satisfaction. As the writer, Frank Herbert, said, "The young are born knowing everything. That's why they are so wise."
I think a good case can be made that the publishing of material publicly acknowledged by the publishers to be 'objectionable' (in a Radio New Zealand interview - https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018646097)
was contrary to the University of Otago Code of Conduct (as below.)
So the question for me is whether the University of Otago takes its own Code of Conduct seriously.
University of Otago Code of Student Conduct
Requirements of Student Conduct
The basic rules of conduct require that no student shall:
(a) disrupt any teaching, study or research or the
administration of the University either wilfully or by
engaging in conduct which ought reasonably to have
been foreseen would cause disruption;
https://www.otago.ac.nz/proctor/otago670687.pdf
The OU 'spokeswoman' could be in for a nasty shock — academic staff do not have to follow 'processes' in speaking about the university. Academics are empowered by legislation to act as the 'critic and conscience of society', so unless OU isn't actually part of society it too is fair game.
Of course, trying to find academics with sufficient backbone to do so is likely to be another matter.
"Students [are] free to say what they liked as long as the message they were giving was accurate" sounds a lot like "as long as we agree with it" to me.
Shame on you, Otago University. You discredit academia and free speech in New Zealand.
Being a person that has seen the world experienced life since 17 years old travelled to peace keeping areas. I only seen the blurred out cover of the publication and am assuming what it was, all I can say is wake up students who thought this was ok. - it is not. It may be ok and funny in childish little circles within your student flats but it is not OK for others- when you grow up you will understand this. As for freedom of speech go for it but remember you are not always right, you may offend with answers and be prepared to pay for being radical. Unfortuatly because of the government you have been bough up not smacked, told it was ok and received medals for getting last in a running race, the world is not like that. but please speak up, tell us all your views, but be prepared to be shot down in front of your mates, not receive medals for being last or wrong. Bearing that in mind please challenge seniors, question them and provide alternative ideas, and remember this when you get in to such positions. Remember such seniors /managers need to protect a label for longer than you will be at uni.