The noon event, on the University Union lawn, included drumming by Dunedin’s O-Taiko Japanese drumming ensemble, including Otago music department contributors.
Students also ate ice creams and barbecue food, and enjoyed other live music.
Otago University Students’ Association president James Heath yesterday welcomed more than 70 students and urged them to enjoy their studies and safeguard their mental health.
The association office, the Clubs and Societies Centre in Albany St and the Student Support Centre were open, and the association was keen to help.
Mr Heath wanted students to think about their mental health proactively, and to maintain it, including through regular physical exercise, talking to friends, and seeking more help if needed, he added in an interview.
School director Dr Elaine Webster said the current strong focus on providing Wednesday afternoon social activities, and a series of stimulating speakers, had resulted from student summer school survey feedback in 2013 which had emphasised ‘‘we’re lonely—we need stuff going on’’.
It was ‘‘very important’’ that students had a ‘‘good experience’’ at the school, and that they could avoid isolation by mixing with others and meeting new people.
The latest annual school was also providing a ‘‘very fresh’’ range of papers—given that more than half of the 56 papers had not been offered last year.
An English paper on effective writing remained well-supported, and a ‘‘Treasure or Trash’’ paper, on sustainable materials, including issues with plastic bags, had attracted about 50 students in its second year, well up from 22 last year.
