The Rainbow Community in UC Law

NOTE: An earlier version of this artcile, and the printed version, misspelled Rachael Evans’ first name and misidentified Meudgeway as UC’s first openly queer Law lecturer. These details have been ammended.

Queer in Law (QUIL). Photo source: @quil_uc on Instagram. 

It’s no secret that Christchurch has a reputation for a lack of diversity. For queer students moving to UC, it is understandably daunting moving to a new city that may not be as accepting of them as their previous homes.  

Senior Law Lecturer Cassandra Mudgway and one of UC’s newest clubs, Queer in Law (QUIL), are successfully creating transformative spaces for queer students to finally feel visible. 

Originally from Ōtautahi Christchurch, Mudgway completed both her undergraduate degree and her PhD at UC. Her research focus is on international human rights law, women's rights, and sexuality. 

Mugdway is one of UC’s first openly queer Law Lecturers. She has won a UCSA Student Choice Award in 2023, for Law Lecturer of the Year. 

As an undergrad, Mudgway was closeted and felt that being queer wasn’t talked about or even safe to do so. 

The Law student stereotype is typically being from a higher earning demographic with family ties into the practice and being straight. As the first person in her family to attend University, and being neurodiverse, Mudgway said, “I didn't fit any of that… I felt more like an outsider.” 

Studying Law comes with high standards and pressures. With a disability that affects her learning, and being queer and closeted, Mudgway recalled that “it was quite an isolating experience.” 

When she became a lecturer, Mudgway wanted to make sure her students didn't feel the same way, particularly when it came to neurodiversity. 

“Because I have that background of not quite getting it when it comes to Law, I figured out a way of studying and learning […] that made sense to me.” 

She put it bluntly, “People say that the law is special […] it's not. It's just a different way of thinking […] a system of logic […] a way of problem-solving. It can be learned, it's practised.” 

While working at AUT in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Mudgway noticed that it had “a very different vibe to UC. It's diverse in every way you can think of […] Students felt very comfortable being themselves. They didn't feel excluded as much as I felt.” 

She thought to herself, “Wow, we’re moving forward, the kids are ok!” 

But when she returned to UC, she noticed that Ōtautahi Christchurch hadn’t moved quite as quickly. 

“When I introduce myself to students, I say I'm part of the Rainbow community [and] I’m neurodiverse […] So they understand where I'm coming from.” 

Student Aaron Macey highlighted that prior to Mudgway’s first introduction at UC, he had never heard a Law lecturer come out before. 

This is when Mudgway recognised a level of invisibility and a feeling of having to hide a part of who you were in the UC Law scene. “It was shocking to me.” 

Cassandra Mudgway. Source: University of Canterbury. 

Mudgway attributed this invisibility to the fact that students didn't feel they had an avenue to be themselves and to be a part of the UC Law community. 

“I am not suggesting that AUT Law is some kind of diversity utopia, nor am I suggesting UC Law is not diverse – it is [...] I am using my own experience as a touchstone for my commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment at law school for everyone, no matter their background.” 

With a rainbow lanyard around her neck, a flag on her door, and an open-door policy, Mugdway heard from more and more students who felt comfortable enough to open up to her about their experiences in the community. 

In 2023, alongside fellow lecturers Rachael Evans and William Grant, Mudgway hosted events especially for queer Law students. These spaces brought future lawyers together in a comfortable and welcoming environment, and showed students that they could be visible if they chose to be. 

For a long time, the law profession has been dominated by men, and is structured on connections – making it much harder for outsiders to get in. This can be scary for students coming through who witness that culture. 

Mudgway explained that if students drop out, the profession consequentially loses diversity. 

However, there is hope. “I think that's changing,” said Mudgway. “Cultural change takes time.” 

“It's really important […] to have someone in the faculty you can look up to and see are visible, succeeding, and show you can be successful.” Mudgway recognised that alongside herself, Evans and Grant are doing that for the current cohorts. 

With Mudgway’s approachable nature and support, there is now an open dialogue between students and staff, so the faculty can accommodate the needs of all students. 

UC is the second-to-last university in Aotearoa New Zealand to have a queer Law club. Mudgway and the faculty wanted to see whether there was a need, and a want, for one here in Ōtautahi Christchurch. And there was. 

Now in his final year of his Law degree, Aaron Macey is the founder and President of QUIL. 

Like Mudgway, Macey was born and bred in Ōtautahi Christchurch, and recognized his hometown’s history of alienating diverse sections of society. 

“I personally faced a lot of violence, when people perceived my sexuality and I think that’s still going on in Christchurch […] I love Christchurch. But we can't forget its history and that unfortunately does cast a shadow on the university and the School of Law […] there's still a lot of hostility towards minority groups.” 

Feeling inspired by Mudgway in lectures, Macey hoped that one day, UC could catch up with other universities and their pride in Law clubs. 

“I found that there were a lot of people I knew that were out in their day-to-day life, but […] weren't willing to take the step to be out professionally.” 

Macey at Clubs Day with QUIL Vice President Kira Seaman. Source: @quil_uc on Instagram. 

In communication with Pride in Law Otago (PILO), Macey was invited to go to a Rainbow conference in Pōneke Wellington.  

“I felt so accepted and welcomed as a part of that community. I've made some lifelong friends that I'm going to be working with in the future.” 

Macey worked hard, and with the instrumental support of Mudgway, he started QUIL. 

“The club is here to celebrate queer individuals in the Law and Criminal Justice space.”  

Although the club is fresh, they are underway organising social and educational events for anybody and everybody to get involved. QUIL is working to create and maintain a safe, social space for members to feel free to be themselves without worry. The club will also host a series of lectures on historical and contemporary issues in Aotearoa, to help educate members on the queer movement occurring here and overseas. 

“There's a lot of contemporary issues that are very relevant to the queer community that people don't think about or were unaware of. And it needs to be talked about,” said Macey. 

QUIL is here to help members recognise that they have the right and capacity to get involved in the Law community, while shedding light on issues faced by the Rainbow community. 

“We're trying to uplift students to be able to use their legal education to be the change that they want to see,” said Macey. 

Mudgway said that although many students already feel that UC is diverse, “that feeling is not universal, and student-led initiatives, like QUIL, are a response to this need.” 

Due to Mudgway and Macey’s mahi, current UC Law students can have a sense of belonging and the new cohorts will be joining a more accepting, supportive, and accessible community.