Admin wants to clarify ruling that the Charter applies to universities
The University of Calgary is disputing a court decision that it infringed on the charter rights of two students when it punished them for criticizing a professor on Facebook. Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench ruled last month that the university infringed on the rights of twin brothers Keith and Steven Pridgen when it disciplined them two years ago.
The brothers wrote disparaging remarks about a professor on their Facebook page in November 2007 and were charged with non-academic misconduct which included probation. They argued their rights were violated and took it to court, which ruled in their favour.
The university has filed a notice to appeal and is seeking to clarify the extent to which the charter applies to the operations of colleges and universities. Filing the notice also gives the University of Calgary more time to study the decision.
The Canadian Press