Auckland student tackles on-campus harassment

November 11, 2016

Auckland student tackles on-campus harassment

Irene Corbett, 19, was walking through the University of Auckland's quad when she was silently harassed by four unknown men. Photo: Rebekah Philson

A 19-year-old student is calling for young men to stand up against sexual harassment after she experienced a terrifying incident on the University of Auckland campus.

On the evening of March 23, Irene Corbett was walking through the city campus with friends when she fell behind.

A group of strange men suddenly surrounded her, with one pushing up against her chest, said Ms Corbett.

“Instead of just moving past me, for some reason they decided to stop around me.

“It was just me with four guys who were all about 6ft - just standing around me and not saying anything.”

A friend then called out to Ms Corbett, startling the intimidators who left her physically unhurt but “absolutely terrified”.

The next day the English and drama student reported the incident to both campus security service UniSafe and the police. However, neither parties were able to fully investigate it.

To raise awareness about these types of incidents, Ms Corbett then spoke in both a drama lecture and a creative-writing lecture.

Ms Corbett’s creative-writing tutor, Ruby Porter, was encouraging of this action.

“I think there is an atmosphere where we don’t talk about these things so much, which enables them to continue happening,” said Ms Porter.

Ms Corbett said she spoke to her classmates to enlist their help in changing harassment behaviour and culture.

“You don’t really see people saying to guys, ‘Here is an active thing you can do to help,’ other than saying don’t do it.

“I wanted to speak to young men about how unfortunate the truth of the matter is. That it is in their hands to change this [behaviour]. They are the ones who have to change that culture.”

Ms Corbett’s initiative impressed her classmates.

“I was a little bit awed. Everyone was respectful,” said student Courtney Bassett, 19.

Ms Corbett’s solution-based approach was appreciated by 22-year-old student Zachary Robinson.

“It all made sense and really clicked with everyone.”

A Women’s Rights Officer for Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA), Aditi Gorasia, said she hoped actions like Ms Corbett’s helped people recognise that sexual harassment was an issue on tertiary campuses.

“The more we talk about it, the more discussion we have about it . . . the more likely we are going to find solutions to it.”