FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2014

Students Unfairly Targeted By Lazy Journalism

February 25, 2014– Waikato Students’ Union President Aaron Letcher is angry and he doesn’t care who knows it.

“The news media has once again taken the smallest part of a story and sensationalised it to target students and create sweeping generalisations, to promote an agenda” Mr Letcher said responding to the article “O-Week warning after alcohol-fuelled assaults” that appeared on TVNZ.co.nz today.

“Firstly, the students in question were two sixteen year olds. It’s likely they aren’t going to be part of ORI2014 next week or next year.”

“More than that though, if TVNZ had bothered to talk to anyone they would have realised that not only do we work with a number of alcohol advisory boards and committees but regularly meet with local police around alcohol safety at our events and activities.”

In the past five years the Waikato Students’ Union has significantly reduced the amount of alcohol during day events and worked in partnership with the police, University security, ACC and the city’s hospitality industry to provide free busses and reduce the burden on students and taxi drivers.

“The fact that TVNZ has chosen to use a high school party to issue an ORI warning is at best poor form and at worst manipulative and lazy journalism.”

“We agree that underage drinking is a real problem. The same goes for excessive drinking and we work closely with students in our advocacy service to help them find a balance between study and a social life. The fact that TVNZ has chosen to use a high school party to issue an ORI warning is at best poor form and at worst manipulative and lazy journalism.

ORI2014 Runs from Sunday 2nd March and concludes with a day created for students with young families on the 8th of March. The WSU free bus service runs Monday to Saturday during ORI2014 from 10pm, the WSU will be providing free sausages to students while they wait.

The original article can be found at: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/o-week-warning-after-alcohol-fuelled-assaults-5849798

ENDS

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