Southern Squall

SIT Orientation Week co-ordinator Richard Hogan had a lot riding on this year’s event.

The Invercargill designer/promotor/musician criticised last year’s O-Week - organised by Christchurch promotor Christine Hainstock – saying the event was out of touch with the needs of young students in the city.

So, hats off to Hogan for fronting up this year and organising a great O-Week. We think it takes a special kind of person to criticise something then have the kahunas to step in and have a go at doing it better.

From the feedback we’ve heard, students had a great time, enjoyed the activities such as a Clubs and Societies day (not unlike what they’ve done at Otago University for many a year) and the many great bands  and acts that were on show.

We know SIT doesn’t have  the pulling power of Otago to attract absolute top-line acts, but when the likes of Ryan Prebble and Sunshine Soundsystem rock up – we know we’re doing okay.

Top act: Sunshine Soundsystem performing at the Rippon Festival at Wanaka

Elsewhere, there were activities as diverse as an afternoon at the races to a scavenger hunt with prizes, which students seemed to lap up.

A successful O-Week helps energise students for the year and importantly gives them a good first impression of the city.

It’s a sign of a city maturing – and hopefully the experience will have Hogan thinking about even bigger and better things for 2011.

Hats off too to SIT – it would have been easy to feel a little defensive about Hogan’s criticisms last year, but there didn’t appear to be any ill-feeling towards one of the city’s brightest young go-getters.

In a city where talk abounds about “old boys networks” it’s refreshing to see a younger, non-Rotarian (as far as we know!) face making a real impact.