By LOIS WATSON - Sunday Star Times
Victoria University student leaders went on an alcohol-fuelled spree after an executive meeting, vandalising the walls of their offices and making thousands of dollars in calls to a psychic hotline.
University officials are trying to recover the money spent on the calls to psychic hotlines by Clelia Opie, who was women's rights officer for the student association at the time.
She has been removed from the executive.
In a report posted on the student union's website Salient, association president Geoff Hayward said he had had "without doubt the worst day of my presidency in trying to find out what has happened."
He said five of the student executives had been drinking in the student union office after a March 28 meeting before the incidents occurred.
He said welfare vice-president Heleyni Pratley and another student had written extensively on the walls, stairwells, and on a picture by noted New Zealand artist Wong Sing Tai.
The graffiti is said to include the words "Love" "hearts" and "I realized VUWSA is our canvas".
When attempts were made to get Opie off the phone after midnight on the night of the meeting, his report said, she refused and threatened to hit Pratley.
Hayward's report said Pratley and another student became fearful for their safety. The report said he had apologised to staff members at the students' association. "Several staff members have come to me, disgusted with the state of the office", he said, and a staffer had begun a complaint to the university for a breach of student conduct for vandalising university property.
"I couldn't, as VUWSA president, stop this action."
Hayward said he was working with the university to repair the damage to the building and recoup the money spent on the calls.
Free paint was being acquired for the office walls, but because the grey paint used in the stairwells was not available, the entire stairwell might have to be repainted. He urged those struggling to deal with the situation to seek professional counselling.
Victoria University's acting director of public affairs, Gillian Boyes, yesterday declined to comment and Opie could not be contacted.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4050146a11.html
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