Union and staff vowed to continue fighting the University of Otago's proposal to cut 182 jobs at a protest today.
About 100 people turned up at the protest outside the university's clocktower at 12.30pm and participants used chalk outlines of dead bodies to highlight the human cost of the proposal to cut general staff.
Tertiary Education Union organiser Shaun Scott said today's protest action would not be the last and a larger protest march was being planned.
Staff morale and stress levels were the worst he had seen in the 17 years he had been an organiser, Mr Scott said.
``There is a high level of anger and anxiety about what is being proposed.''
It was so bad there were tears and it was becoming a "real challenge'' for staff to find the motivation and will to keep going.
Staff were not only concerned about losing their jobs, but also the effect cuts would have on research and teaching.
Among the messages staff and students wrote in chalk on the ground were: ``They don't care'', ``Shame on you'' and ``This is your legacy''.
Prof Harlene Hayne yesterday stood by the proposed cuts.
"There are two important reasons for the changes we are proposing.
"Firstly, we are reorganising many of our services to be more student facing and more responsive to students’ changing needs.
"Secondly, we are looking at more effective ways to use of the tuition fees and tax funding we receive," Prof Hayne said.
She recognised the process was tough on staff.
"I fully recognise that the next few months will be a challenging time for staff, and I strongly encourage them to offer their views and ideas as part of the consultation process."