95bFM Rapist allowed to attend Auckland University while still on house arrest
12 August, 2022
Interview by Stella Huggins, adapted by Jack Horsnell
Genna Hawkins-Boulton, Vice President of the Thursday's in Black Auckland Branch says Correction's decision to allow a convicted rapist to attend university was a "slap in the face" for survivors. Photo: University of Auckland.
Content warning: this story mentions sexual assault and sexual violence.
Thursdays In Black, a student-led grassroots campaign, working towards a world without rape and sexual violence, is calling the Department of Correction's decision to allow a convicted rapist to attend university in person a “slap in the face.”
The individual, who has interim name suppression, was allowed to attend classes on campus at the University of Auckland, after serving just three months of a 12-month home detention sentence.
Last week, Thursdays In Black Auckland branch published an open letter, saying that the University and the victims should have been consulted.
“It was a bit of a slap in the face for survivors, it is a blatant disregard for our safety,” Genna Hawkins-Boulton, Vice President of the Auckland Branch told 95bFM's The Wire.
Lifting the name suppression of the rapist is a priority for Thursdays in Black.
“Three of the victims have actually lifted their name suppression to fight for change. We believe that [lifting the perpetrator's name suppression] is the best way to serve justice, and also inform the University community."
But Thursdays in Black ultimately wants to see a shift in how New Zealand views justice for victims of sexual violence.
“There is a real consensus in society that it is up to the survivor to fight for justice. It should not be up to three young women, who have lifelong trauma because of this individual to have to fight for this.”
The University has said that they wish Corrections had informed them about the convicted student's attendance.
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