Students ordered to pay Laurentian University’s legal costs

A trust fund has been created to help three former Laurentian University (LU) students pay a $23,665 bill they owe the university.

The former students applied for a judicial review after claiming 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.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed the case and ordered the students to reimburse the university for part of the legal fees and other expenses it incurred while defending itself against the review.

Last week, five colleagues of the former students sent a letter to LU president Judith Woodsworth announcing their intention to set up a trust fund.

“We have set up a trust fund at the bank under the name of Neuroscience Legal Fund. We have sought legal counsel to ensure we are proceeding in the proper manner,” stated the letter.

However, before they proceeded with an “extensive fundraising effort,” they wanted to know if the university planned to go after the former students for the money.

As part of the judgment against them, the former students had 30 days to reimburse the university. If they couldn’t pay within this timeframe, the next step would be for the university to get a court order to obtain the money.

“We are writing to ask you, if it is your intention to seek the $23,665.29 from these students. If it is not, we prefer not to fundraise, and then be put into the position of having to return these funds to the community. However, if it is your intention to pursue these funds, we will start our endeavor to support our colleagues immediately.”

In a written statement, the university’s director of public relations, Michel Bechard, said they couldn’t comment on the matter because it is still before the courts.

“Since these three individuals are seeking leave to appeal the divisional court’s decision to dismiss their application and award costs payable to the university, the cost award is automatically stayed pending the resolution of that leave motion and, if leave is granted, the resolution of the appeal.”

In other words, if the former students have filed an appeal, they aren’t required to repay the money until the new case is decided.

Bechard wasn’t sure if the students were still going ahead with their appeal. The colleagues of the former students weren’t available by deadline.