Student date rape story 'a how-to guide'

An explicit date rape article in a Dunedin student magazine has outraged police and Rape Crisis who say it is a "how-to guide" and "re-victimises" rape victims.

However, Holly Walker, the editor of the Otago University Student Association-run magazine Critic, yesterday defended her decision to run the article, claiming it was highlighting an important issue.

The article, published in the annual Offensive Issue of Critic, is headlined the "Diary of a drug rapist - no means no, but if they can't talk, they can't turn you down".

The two and a half page fictional story describes how the writer rapes the "loud-mouthed slapper with fat legs", the Christian couple who were a challenge to drug, and the enormous sweaty chick.

He uses a different drug each time, explaining how much to use, who best to target and what drinks the drugs are best concealed in. The story also outlines the advantages and disadvantages of sex with an unconscious person.

While the free magazine is targeted at students, its website states it has a weekly circulation of 5500 and is distributed to 85 locations around Dunedin, including tertiary campuses, halls of residence, cafes, cinemas and art galleries.

Dunedin Rape Crisis community education worker Nancy de Castro said the article had sparked disbelief, and revictimised victims of sexual assault and rape.

In a letter written to the magazine, Ms de Castro said "by treating rape as a joke or as titillating comic-shock reading, your magazine did far, far more than offend, it caused damage. Your flimsy excuses of 'it's fiction' and 'it's a warning for women', do not justify encouraging rape."

University campus Constable Andy Ferguson said the "hard-core" article not only degraded women, but gave clear instructions of how to drug and rape someone.

"It's basically date rape 101. It concerns me that people have this knowledge and it really concerns me that this publication has been so irresponsible as to print it."

However, he said there was little police could do about the article.

"This is an internal issue and one which needs to be dealt with through the university or the Press Council."

By yesterday morning he had received only one complaint, from a female university staff member, which he had forwarded to the proctor Simon Thompson.

Mr Thompson said he had spoken to "about four" staff members who took issue with the article.

"It's pretty gross and I really don't think there's a need for it.

"I understand this was an edition where they go out with the intention of offending people, and they wanted to highlight an important issue ... but this was a bad call by the editor."

Mr Thompson said there was little the university authorities could do as the magazine was owned and controlled by the students.

Ms Walker said that of 10 letters received eight were from people unhappy with the issue, and two congratulated the magazine for highlighting drug rape.

Despite the bad feedback, Ms Walker was not regretting her decision to run the article - a call she said she did not make lightly.

"I was offended by the article as well, but it is defendable in that it highlights a very important issue and will hopefully make women more aware of what could happen to them."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES