Students urged to keep cool heads

As the University of Otago gears up for its largest orientation week since pre-Covid, students are being urged not to let excitement get the better of them at the events.

Otago University Students’ Association president Quintin Jane said the pandemic largely dictated what could be offered for orientation in recent years, and almost every in-person event was cancelled due to lockdown restrictions.

So Ori’23 was expected to be the first full-scale orientation week in several years.

He said it was only natural that youthful exuberance might get too much for some students, and he encouraged them to keep a cool and sensible head during the week.

"One of the reasons Ori’23 is so exciting this year is because students who are coming to university now have had their last three years disrupted by Covid-19 with massive periods of working online [from home].

"So to be able to go back and do Ori properly is really exciting because it means students will get that true university experience."

Mr Jane said this year’s event contained eight major events, including a concert by international headliners Yung Gravy and Netsky, an international food festival in the Museum Reserve, and movie nights on campus.

The events aimed to help the expected 3000 students settle in to their new environment and get ready to "knuckle down" and study, he said.

"There are varying concerts, and in amongst those we have a bunch of things designed to showcase everything that OUSA has on offer.

"There will be a tent city and clubs day which give students the ability to see the other side of what OUSA does — that’s our student support, all the clubs we have, meeting the OUSA executive. It’s about showcasing everything that the university has to offer.

"With Otago having 85% of students coming from outside of Dunedin, it’s a really good way for them to meet new people by joining a club and going to Ori’23 events.

"It’s a really good way to introduce that collegiality that the university has, and build connections among the students really early.

"That’s why we’re excited that we can offer it this year because it was something that we lost when we had to cancel the event last year."

Many of the university’s offices, divisions and student services would also throw their own welcome events alongside the Ori’23 programme.

The university’s O Week programme included tours to help students navigate their way around the locations of lecture theatres, libraries and the gym.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz