Sydney university withdraws controversial law exam that student claims ‘mocked’ her

A bizarre Sydney university law exam that a conservative leaning student claimed “mocked” her has been withdrawn.

Freya Leach and part of the question she believes features a character that is her. Pictures: Supplied

A Sydney university has torn up a controversial take home law exam after a conservative leaning student accused the faculty of mocking her in a bizarre sex-fuelled fictional scenario.

Concerns about “academic integrity” were raised when the criminal law exam was leaked to the media as the assessment prohibited students from discussing its content with other students during the assessment period.

Earlier this week it was reported students studying criminal law at The University of Sydney were presented with a scenario in which a university student called “Freya”, who has HIV, callously murders a lefty student before plunging to her death after being embroiled in a love triangle.

The bizarre fictional series of events were part of a highly elaborate and risque essay question composed by an unknown staff member at the university’s law faculty for a take-home exam last weekend.

Second year law student Freya Leach said she believed the “Freya” in the exam was based on her. She accused the faculty of mocking her political views in the sexually-explicit essay question.

Second year law student Freya Leach. Picture: Supplied

In an email to students from the law faculty, the co-ordinator of the second year criminal law course said “Regrettably, the integrity of the assessment has been compromised, and it has become necessary for us to withdraw and replace the assessment”.

All second year criminal law students will be required to re-sit a replacement take home exam in late November, prolonging the semester for many law students.

The law faculty shared a message to students on its learning platform Canvas: “We understand that many students have already dedicated a substantial amount of time to the short release assignment, and sympathise with and understand your frustration … Regrettably, we feel that there are no alternatives to withdrawing and replacing the short release assessment that would ensure academic integrity.”

The part of the exam question which raises Daniel’s friend. “Freya”.

In the exam, students were asked to read a fictional scenario in which one male student called Daniel tells another student named Adam to “f**k off you woke prick”.

Adam then tries to flee the scene.

“Unfortunately for Adam, however, he has not realised that a sporty-looking Mercedes car is approaching rapidly from the right. By a total coincidence, the car is driven by Daniel’s friend, Freya,” the spiel said.

As she hits the accelerator, she thinks to herself that she will “give that Chardonnay socialist a fright.”

“(Adam) is clipped by Freya’s car one metre from the centre of the road. He falls, smashes his head on the ground and dies instantly. As Freya speeds away from the scene, she hears her phone beep. It is a text message from Daniel, which reads simply ‘Great job ;-) One less illiberal liberal!!!!’”

Ms Leach said she received more than 20 text messages from other students in her class who believed the Freya in the exam was based on her.

Sydney University boasts Australia’s most prestigious law school. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Particularly hurtful was the latter series of events in which “Freya” has sex with the Daniel from her class after he lies to her, saying he has broken up with his girlfriend when he hasn’t.

“Freya and Daniel then have penile-vaginal sex. Freya knows that she is HIV positive, but she does not disclose this to Daniel, who fails to wear a condom during sex with Freya.”

In the next scene, the girlfriend called Nicola comes home after a boozy lunch and a fight ensues.

“Freya pushes Nicola into the wall, causing bruising on Nicola’s back, but Nicola now

grabs Freya and forces Freya’s upper body out of the window …. Daniel meets eyes with Nicola and nods his head. Nicola pushes Freya out of the window.”

In a formal complaint to Sydney Law School boss Prof Simon Bronitt, Ms Leach said she believed the exam was in direct reference to her.

‘GRAPHIC DETAIL’

“The problem question uses my name and characterises me as a right-wing person who kills a left wing person. It then recounts a sex scene in graphic detail and says I am HIV positive.

After which point, I am thrown out of a window,” she said in the letter.

“Memes have already started to circulate, making fun of my character in the problem question and depicting me as having HIV. This exam has had made me feel unsafe to hold a

diverse viewpoint at the University of Sydney Law School.

“I would like the University of Sydney Law faculty to issue a public apology to myself and email it to my entire Law cohort. As compensation for the distress caused, the Law school

should also provide me with a 5 day extension.”

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Ms Leach said students at the University of Sydney who were not even in the law faculty were talking about it.

“It shows that most people could piece it together it about me,” she said.

“Everyone knows I’m involved in the Conservative club and the Young Liberals, it’s obvious (it’s about me) given the fact that my political views are well known among my cohort and tutors.”

“Freya is an uncommon name, and usually in exams they use very common names, like John and Mary, but the way I spell my name as well, it was pretty obvious that this was about me.”

“There’ll always be mean people, but with this being spread to my peers who will go on to have successful careers, this is reputational damage.”

“It’s incompetent at best, malicious at worst.”

‘ENTIRELY’ A COINCIDENCE

The University of Sydney in response to queries said the use of names shared by Ms Leach was “entirely” a coincidence.

“This afternoon we received a complaint about one of our law assessments and have now responded directly to the student,” that statement said.

“We explained to the student that the fictional character in the exam scenario was in no way meant to reference or depict a real-life person, and the use of any first names shared by students was entirely a coincidence.

“In fact, the same name was also used in an exam drafted by the same academic in an assessment and class questions list in previous years.”

The university said they “apologised for any offence or distress caused” to Ms Leach and that they have let her known the process of making formal complaint.

“We will also apologise to any affected students and will take steps to ensure that the names of current students are not used in Criminal Law assessments in the future.”