Student dodges penalty for rape by leaving university

An Auckland University student who admitted raping another student has left the university, dodging any penalty, reports NZ Herald. As reported by the Herald on Sunday last month, the university’s proctor agreed the man had twice raped and physically assaulted a woman who lived in his accommodation hall last year. But he was initially given a written reprimand and allowed to keep studying.

The woman – who had become depressed, quit her studies and left New Zealand – challenged that decision, producing a recording of the man admitting what had happened was “technically rape”. Following our story, the university revoked the decision and apologised to the woman. It referred the case to the disciplinary committee, which has the power to un-enrol people for serious breaches of the student code.

Reporting on the case led to outrage and a petition calling for the man to be removed from campus. But the Herald on Sunday has learned the student quit his studies several days before a disciplinary hearing last Monday, meaning the university could not impose any further penalty.
Full report on the NZ Herald site