Dalhousie (University) threatens to expel unruly students

National Post ^ | November 17, 2003 | Allan Woods

[Loyalist]

Tough policy prompted by repeated complaints from wealthy neighbours

Rowdy students who live in a wealthy Halifax neighbourhood that is home to two Supreme Court judges and several Dalhousie University alumni have prompted a tough new policy that could see them lose scholarships and on-campus jobs and even risk expulsion for disrupting the community.

A Dalhousie official said yesterday the school was forced to take extreme measures after a particularly rambunctious autumn. Unseasonably warm weather and a hurricane that swept through Nova Scotia in late September have led to many students being more interested in partying than studying.

"It's a new approach to a problem that's much worse this year than in previous years," said Eric McKee, Dalhousie's vice-president of student services. "Our hope is that this warning will get people's attention."

Since university convened in September, there have been a number of violent and dangerous incidents involving about 30 problem students.

They include a party where students smashed a neighbour's window, several intimidating conversations between students and neighbours and a party when classes were cancelled because of Hurricane Juan that ended with a bonfire on the front lawn of a house.

"There have always been complaints," said student union president Kevin Wasko, who represents Dalhousie's 13,500 students. "But this year, they never really died off."

Compounding the problem, Mr. Wasko said, is that the complaints are coming from residents of Halifax's tony south end, home to doctors, lawyers and at least two Nova Scotia Supreme Court judges.

A number of residents are Dalhousie alumni "who have threatened the university," Mr. Wasko said.

The problem has been left in school administrators' hands by police, who consider unruly students a low priority. Police have dealt with the issue by giving the university a list of problem addresses to deal with, Mr. McKee said.

In an effort to control the conduct of its students, the university announced last Friday it will consider revoking scholarships awarded to students who repeatedly engage in rowdy behaviour, kicking them off varsity sports teams and firing them from on-campus jobs. Dalhousie currently spends about $1.2-million annually on student salaries, according to the student union.

In extreme cases, Mr. McKee said the school would consider expelling students.

Mr. Wasko is vehemently opposed to the university's plan and is bracing for a backlash from students when they return to school today.

"When I found out about this, I was strongly opposed to it and I told them that," he said. "If a student is living off-campus, it isn't the university's job to threaten them to behave."

awoods@nationalpost.com

© Copyright 2003 National Post

[Loyalist]

I don't recall the Dal-Lousy frosh being nearly this rowdy when I was in undergrad, and that was only seven years ago.

[CanadianLibertarian]

Well well well.....a fellow 'Lousyian! Dal always seemed pretty crazy when I was there (Commerce class of 2000)..... parties on campus housing invariably drew complaints from irate neighbors. And Halifax is probably the most overpoliced city of its size in the world, I mean there were 3 separate police forces plus the RCMP plus campus security all competing to be the baddest around.

[dakine]

What's a "Commerce Class"? Is it equal to Business in US?

[CanadianLibertarian]

"Commerce" is a term often used in British and Commonwealth universities for undergrad programs in business admin. It's basically a synonym for business that has fallen into disuse.

[Loyalist]

Hey, hey, I went to King`s!