Media Release - Dunedin - it's all debt here

Dunedin – it’s all debt here!

The latest research commission by the New Zealand University Students’ Association (NZUSA) shows that students studying in Dunedin are the most indebted in the country (Income and Expenditure Survey, 2005). Average student debt amongst Dunedin College of Education, Otago Polytechnic and University of Otago students is $18,949. The single most indebted students in New Zealand are at the University of Otago who, on average owe $23,432.

“What we see here are the combined and outrageous effects of excessively high tuition fees and living costs borrowed from the student loan scheme” said Steven Sutton, president of the Otago University Students’ Association. “A majority of Otago students live away from home and are forced to borrow money for necessities like food and rent.”

The research shows that the single largest weekly expense for Dunedin students is accommodation with a staggering $99 on average being spent on accommodation per week. “This makes a mockery of the idea that Dunedin is a markedly cheaper place to live and study than elsewhere around the country” said Rachel Dibble, president of the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association. “Students’ cannot “get over it” and it is not a “smart move” when debt is increasing and student poverty is a reality” said Ms Dibble.


Ends.

For more information contact:

Rachel Dibble Steven Sutton
OPSA President OUSA President
Phone 021 1294 203 Phone 021 274 0217

the Rachel Report...March

And the Oscar goes to…

Students in all variations of stress and dress are getting a bit of public hammering about rubbishy surrounds and glass on the ground. Councillors are talking big but thinking small. There is varying support from the public, and interestingly; the tertiary institutions themselves are keen to make a good go of organising things to encourage a cleaner North Dunedin.

The term “student” is usually associated to the 18-25 male cohort, however, I have been emphasising the diversity of age and places of residence of Polytechnic students. This does not make the trashy issue go away. And how can we achieve harmony? An ‘interesting’ response was in the ODT on March 7 – the DCC cleans up and bills the students’ associations respectively. The theory was that ‘when OPSA gets the bill the OPSA will tell you off’. Why do I get a feeling that this would be as tasteful as sardine & pickle ice-cream?

So what can we do to clear the pong of this issue? OPSA already has $1 rubbish bags (10 @ $9); we could stock blue bins and string for cardboard. We could investigate huge rubbish levies (or just throw that idea straight in the bin with Oscar) or we could use advice from you, the student. For example which days are best for rubbish collection? Let me know…

As I write I find it extremely disturbing that there is such a huge emphasis on zero rubbish tolerance when we still live in a world/city where there is no zero tolerance for rape, violence and discrimination. Will we ever see a DCC working party addressing NO Drink Spiking, NO Date Rape or NO Sexual Discrimination in Dunedin?


…team OPSA needs drivers…

Remember, the OPSA A.G.M is in the Bayrooms on the 23rd March. There is a free finger food lunch. OPSA needs students to run the student executive. WE NEED YOU!! Come along and hear what OPSA was doing in 2004 and tell us how to make this year successful for you. What kind of election campaigns do you want to be involved in? Join the Graduation Ball committee, organise ‘mature’ students meetings (you can define mature…) hey, whatever, whoever – come along and be part of team OPSA.


So if you want to yell… come yell at me first!!

Rachel