Otago University Students' Association
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| Motto | Audeamus (Latin) |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of Otago |
| Location | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Established | 1890 |
| President | Hugh Baird |
| Vice president | William Guy |
| General secretary | Donna Jones |
| Members | c. 20,000 |
| Affiliations | New Zealand Union of Students' Associations |
| Website | Official Website |
The Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) is the Students' Association of the University of Otago, New Zealand. OUSA was founded in 1890 to advance student interests on campus.
Today, OUSA provides a combination of representation, welfare, advocacy, recreation, fun and events for its members. Notably, it runs student support services, supports clubs and societies on campus, and organises the University of Otago Orientation and Reorientation weeks.
OUSA fully owns and partially owns a number of subsidiary companies, including Planet Media Dunedin Limited which funds Critic, the student magazine, and Radio One, the student radio station.
As well as providing facilities and student representation on university committees, the students' association began to provide services and facilities for its members. The first Student Union building, providing meeting rooms, men's and women's common rooms and a cafeteria, was established in 1904 in Allen Hall, which is today the university's theatre department. In the 1960s a much bigger Student Union was built, and in the 1980s an adjoining building was added to house the OUSA offices, Radio One, Critic and Student Job Search. The Clubs and Societies building provides a home to over 100 student clubs and a variety of activities, with fitness and recreation opportunities provided at Unipol, jointly owned with the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association. OUSA also owns the University Book Shop and Student Job Search.
Over the years the Students' Association has had its share of controversy, frequently around risqué activities during Capping (graduation) week. In 1990, student parties spilled over into the infamous "Dunedin Riot", which badly damaged public opinion of students at a time when student politicians were actively lobbying and protesting against the introduction of tertiary tuition fees. The arguments against tuition fees included researched predictions of massive graduate debt and increased "brain drain" – graduates leaving the country for lucrative overseas positions. OUSA and students' associations around the country protested vigorously – up to 5,000 people marched in Dunedin alone – but were unable to stop the fees which were introduced in 1991.
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