Selwyn College

General information

Selwyn College is a residential college affiliated to the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill as a theological college training clergy for the Anglican Church and as a hall of residence for students attending the university. It is named after George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand and is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin. It was opened on 15 January 1893. It was Otago's first residential college and on the model of an English university college it included students of all subjects. Women were admitted in 1983. The main building is listed as a Category II Historic Place. Selwyn is one of the most popular colleges in Dunedin, its 188 available places oversubscribed every year.College lifeCompetitions and eventsIn 1930 Selwyn College and College House (a University of Canterbury hall of residence) began an annual sporting and cultural exchange. This still occurs with the Principal's and Warden's Cup being added into the prize mix after the 1980s. The exchange historically concludes with a Boat Race between the two Colleges, with Selwyn winning the race in 2015. Selwyn is generally not involved with the OUSA Orientation events, such as the toga parade, instead holding its own events, such as the Ori Ball. In 1932, initiations at Selwyn College were started including the Turner Tossing Trophy (now replaced with the Homage Run) and the Leith Run in 1935. The Lindskii Battle and the 21sters Ball are still annual events at the College and are immensely popular with the residents.