United Future

While I agree that the behaviour of the students involved is abhorent. banning the event isn't the answer as another would simply replace it. We do have a terrible drinking culture in our country that leads to all sorts of social consequences and ills, and legislation can only do so much to change this. Change requires that everyone who lives moderately stands up and says that the behaviour of few is no longer tolerable, it requires family members to be hard on those in their Whanau when they are problem drinkers, ignoring it only enables them to continue in their habits. Change requires communities getting tough on the few in their communities who cause trouble. Change requires that real rehabilitation is available to addicts and re-offenders, which requires more than just words of agreement from communities and government - it requires funds to set up these facilities to deal with these illnesses. We say that it is no ok to use violence and that is getting through to people now. Now we need to say it's not ok to abuse legal substances to your own and others detriment, and we need to say it's not ok to use illegal substances to your own and others detriment.

As a student at University of Otago I find this and subsequent years events absolutely shameful. This kind of behaviour really tarnishes the University and I hope it will not reflect too badly on the qualifications I have earned there.

The only way we are going to stop it happening again is by getting tough with the trouble makers.. that means more arrests, liquor bans, impounding vehicles and expulsion from both the University of Otago and Canterbury for those involved.

It is all very well talking about addressing a wider drinking culture but that is not going to stop these idiots bringing shame to themselves and their peers and institutions in the coming years.