Controversial Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong has been trespassed from the University of Otago grounds and premises following student complaints about inappropriate and unwanted behaviour.
The Otago University Students’ Association confirmed plans to trespass Ong from its premises on 2 September and urged the university to ban him from the campus.
Ong claimed that student concerns were false and malicious attacks in a social media post that included a photo of him on campus with tape over his mouth.
The university confirmed Ong has been served a notice of trespass on 11 September after it considered complaints from students and has discussions with them.
Ong was no stranger to controversy, after being asked to resign by his colleagues for breaching the council’s code of conduct in March and a suspension from all committees and subcommittees for nine months following another conduct complaint in May.
On 10 September Ong shared text messages he said were from university proctor Dave Scott, with the first saying Scott had been tasked with serving Ong documents on behalf of the university and the association.
According to the shared messages, Scott wanted to hand the documents to Ong discreetly and asked where they could meet before the councillor requested a public statement, saying he believed it was a “wrongful ban”.
The third message said Scott preferred not to present the documents at his workplace or ask police to serve them.
In the post, Ong asked them to be served outside the Dunedin Public Art Gallery before an extraordinary council meeting on 11 September.
Speaking to media outside the gallery, he confirmed he had not been served yet, but expected to be.
He refused to take responsibility, saying his actions did not provoke the trespass and claimed complaints about his behaviour at a campus protest were politically motivated.
He called for video footage from the protest to be released – which the university said, in a letter Ong posted on social media, validated reports that two students asked him to move and appeared uncomfortable when he refused to do so.
On 3 September, the university invited Ong to respond to the proposed trespass notice and gave him until 3pm 7 September to respond, in the letter.
In response, Ong said he believed a deadline was inappropriate because he was elected by the Dunedin community “which has generationally subsidised our oldest University”.
In the letter, university registrar Dr David Clark told Ong the association had reported two incidents at a campus protest alleging that his physical proximity or contact was unwanted and he had refused to move when asked by two students.
Clark also noted that Ong had taken photos at student flat parties and posted on social media about being near the St David Street building at 3am and at Ubar late at night.
“Your behaviour towards students on campus within these contexts has led to them reporting that they feel uncomfortable and unsafe,” he said.
The association said the complaints had come from a variety of students this year and there were concerns he was interacting with students who were vulnerable because they had been drinking, Clark said.
Possible options raised included a trespass notice covering all university grounds and premises or limiting access to specific premises, dates, times or purposes.
Ong has continued to claim the allegations were false, his visits to Ubar were well documented on his social media accounts and “student supporters” had asked to take photos with him.
The university confirmed it did not intend to make any further statements to help protect the privacy of students.
“Councillor Ong has previously published material about the nature of the complaints,” a spokesperson said.