University of Otago
speciality: Law

The University of Otago campus and surrounding city is often lauded as being one of the most student-friendly places in the country. There is a true air of collegiality at Otago, and a strong sense of student community. Having also attended high school in Dunedin, I can say with certainty that the student experience breathes life into the city and gives it purpose. Being a student city, it is also unsurprising that Dunedin tends to be on the more progressive and cutting-edge side of things, socially and also politically. However, I believe that there is more that the University faculty itself could be doing to protect students and their diverse identities – without leaving all of the activism and grassroots change up to student-led and run groups and clubs. The fact that Dunedin is a student city does not change the fact that it is a city in the South of New Zealand, where there is less racial diversity and, historically, more conservative attitudes towards change. This can lead to an uncomfortable experience particularly for students of colour at Otago who receive support primarily from student groups but not from the faculty.