Students walk on the SAIT campus in Alberta. Photo by Gavin Young/Postmedia files
Most people have an image of universities as hallowed ivy-covered institutions inhabited by learned professors and eager students, all engaged in the noble pursuit of higher education.
For some of our clients, nothing could be further from the truth.
Instead, they find universities to be cesspools of intrigue and jealousy, where alleged violations of “safe spaces” lead to “triggered” grievances and claims of inflated injuries by complainants with a febrile need of the to see alleged offenders punished severely. Unless handled properly, the process can be as bad as the punishment.
We have represented members of universities who have had complaints filed against them, followed by investigations, followed by disciplinary actions that can have significant adverse effects on their careers. Professors, for example, could lose tenure or their jobs. The stakes are high.
Most people think that, if a complaint is made against them, they have no options and must meekly follow the university’s directions. That is simply not true.
The law called “natural justice” provides you with various rights and protections, such as being entitled to know the details of the complaint (even if the identity of the complainant is kept secret — ostensibly to protect against retaliation, though often it is obvious who has made a complaint) and the right to prepare a response and be heard.
There are additional protections...
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