The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a court case last Wednesday against Laurentian University filed by three students.
The students claimed the university rejected their applications for admission into a graduate studies program because of their association with psychology professor Michael Persinger. The university maintained the students were denied admission because they did not meet the funding requirements that were required as part of the graduate studies program.
No reasons were given immediately following the three-judge panel’s dismissal of the students’ case. However, Laurentian University issued a press release yesterday, which contained the judges’ written reasons sent to them on Friday. The judges wrote:
- “This policy was applied to all applicants. It is not our role to second-guess the interpretation placed on the words in the policy, whether the policy should be waived, or whether the policy established by motion at a meeting of the council needed to be recommend to the Senate and incorporated in a regulation.”
- “The applicants have failed to satisfy us that, in this context, they have been treated with such manifest unfairness that there has been a flagrant violation of the rules of natural justice.”
- “We reject the suggestion that the applicants were refused because the applicants are plaintiffs in an action against the university.”
“We are pleased that the court upheld the university's position," said Michel Béchard, director, Public Affairs in the news release. “Universities develop admission processes and requirements for a number of reasons - among others to ensure program quality and integrity, and ensure that candidates are adequately prepared to succeed.”
