University of Otago proctor Dave Scott’s report, submitted to the university council this week, said "for the majority of 2023 we continued to see an improvement in student behaviour", but "some of this was sadly undermined during the month of October with a series of initiation events".
"Having seen initiations dwindle in the last few years, the problematic trend over recent years of flat initiations in the second half of the student year has re-emerged after a short hiatus brought about by Covid-19 impacts."
The accompanying report by university provost Dr Ken Hodge said one of the incidents included a second-year student who attended a flat initiation activity at a neighbouring flat and "chose to introduce an eel (ie a native animal caught in Leith Stream) into one of the initiation activities".
"Mistreatment of a native animal is a criminal offence (Animal Welfare Act, 1999; Conservation Act, 1987); and as such it is a serious breach of the code of student conduct."
The student was required to complete 40 hours of community service and given a final warning, the provost said.
Mr Scott’s report said the proctor’s office went door to door to high-risk flats discussing expectations proactively and preventively with the flats most likely to host initiation events.
This work was followed up with documentation to flats explicitly reminding them of expectations.
They also engaged with residential colleges and had them advertise expectations with their first-year cohort.
"Despite the intervention, a large number of events took place, with some causing significant harm and risk with dangerous, humiliating and antisocial behaviour.
"This behaviour is not a rite of passage — it is not acceptable.
"A culture change is needed here.
"On top of the significant preventive initiative currently undertaken, student-led change is required for a response to be genuinely effective."
There were 11 serious misconduct incidents involving 47 students, and one appeal, referred to Dr Hodge, of which seven were for flat initiations.
Dr Hodge’s report said other incidents included a serious assault, a burglary of a student flat, five second-year students being unlawfully present on the premises of a student flat, and a student possessing an "offensive weapon" (a softball bat) being verbally abusive to Campus Watch staff.
"Unfortunately, more flat initiation incidents returned in 2023, compared to 2022 (but similar to 2021 and 2020).
"The proctor’s office will continue to consider what more can be done to educate and intervene as well as who else can collaborate with us to seek improvement."
Flo, O and Re-O weeks were "once again well-delivered with assistance from community partners — including OUSA, police and Red Frogs — all with a presence on campus to build relationships during the day and oversight in the evenings", Mr Scott’s report said.
This ensured where the university was involved, events were lawful, safe and well-delivered.
"Events such as Flo, O and Re-O weeks continue to attract students from other New Zealand universities and non-students from around the country to the North Dunedin area, where they seek a North Dunedin student experience but are not known and not covered by the Student Conduct Statute and can occasionally behave unreasonably, and without consequence.
"This continues to pose a challenge."
There were a total of 596 incidents reported to the proctor last year, compared with 598 for 2022 and 732 for 2021.
