Critic editor Joel MacManus and news editor Charlie O'Mannin were angered by the removal of copies of the student magazine.

The removal and destruction of a student magazine dedicated to the topic of menstruation by the University of Otago was "censorship" and went against everything the university stands for, the Critic - Te Arohi editor says.

Joel MacManus said the magazine's student staff were disappointed and angry following the removal of the magazine, which had a cartoon of a pixelated person menstruating on the cover.

"Critic is disappointed and angry that Campus Watch and the Proctor, on behalf of the university, chose to remove and destroy copies of our magazine. We consider this to be censorship, something that goes against everything a university should stand for."

University of Otago proctor Dave Scott said Campus Watch staff removed all copies of the magazine on Monday night.

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This followed a request for the magazine to be removed from the Dunedin Hospital and Public Library because "the cover was objectionable to many people, including children who potentially might be exposed to it".

Staff made the assumption the magazine was to be removed from all public places, including the campus where "non-students regularly pass through".

Scott said it was "regrettable" that about 500 copies of the magazine "could not be recovered from a skip on campus".

Proctor said the University had no official view on the content of the magazine but some staff and members of the public had expressed an opinion the cover image was "degrading to women".

MacManus said Critic - Te Arohi stood by the content of the magazine which "touched on a number of very important issues about period poverty and trans issues, as well as breaking taboos about a bodily function that half the population experience".

The idea that the cover was degrading to women was a "backhanded attack on our magazine and the integrity of our staff".

The magazine decided to dedicate the issue to menstruation after a suggestion from the Otago Womens+ Club and the menstruation-related content was written by female or "non-binary" contributors, and the cover artwork (which was of a non-gendered person) was done by a woman, MacManus said.

Illustrator and cover artist Saskia Rushton-Green said she never intended the image to be degrading but to show "how people who bleed are pulling through with a smile and a thumbs up, even when they feel really gross".

"I certainly never intended this piece to be degrading to women/anyone who bleeds from their vagina, in fact I hope some people find it empowering."

Stuff has chosen not to republish the graphic image, which some may find offensive, but it can be viewed here along with the rest of the magazine.

Stuff Editor in Chief Patrick Crewdson edited Critic in 2002 and 2003.

"Such a heavy-handed approach from Campus Watch reflects poorly on Otago University," he said. "The cover is undeniably graphic but if the university objected they should have complained to Critic directly, instead of acting as secret censors."

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The copies went missing from the University of Otago campus on Monday night. "Every stand was wiped out," MacManus said.

Monday is the weekly magazine's most popular day – usually with 1500 copies picked up.

He was initially assured the university had not removed the copies, but late Tuesday the University back-tracked and said Campus Watch staff had removed all copies from the campus, Dunedin Hospital and Dunedin Public Library.

Campus Watch staff questioned about the magazine's disappearance earlier on Tuesday were unaware of its removal on Monday, Scott said.

"We are really proud of the edition, but I don't think it was that popular," MacManus added.