The University of Alberta (U of A) has suspended the student association representing Canada’s largest campus residence complex for one year following an alleged hazing incident.
The Lister Hall Students’ Association (LHSA) was suspended over an incident that occurred in January 2014 during Skulk Week, an annual event organized by the LHSA, president Samuel Wright wrote on the association’s Facebook page March 10.
“Following events that happened during Skulk this year, an investigation was opened against the LHSA with allegations that the organization had breached the code of student behaviour by hazing students at the opening ceremonies,” Wright wrote.
The Office of Student Judicial Affairs ruled that the LHSA will be suspended from registering as a student group, effective May 1. Wright said in his post that the LHSA could appeal the decision.
“The LHSA Executive believe this is an injustice to every resident in Lister,” he wrote.
It is unknown what exactly occurred during Skulk, but some said the suspension could be related to inappropriate dances and chanting, according to Petros Kusmu, president of the University of Alberta Students’ Union.
“There have been talks about ‘sexual dances,’” Kusmu said.
In September 2013, the University of British Columbia and Saint Mary’s University were criticized for anti-consent chants performed during frosh week.
The student affairs office would not comment on any specific details of the incident.
“The discipline officer does take into account any mitigating factors before deciding on sanction,” Deborah Eerkes, the Office of Student Judicial Affairs director, said.
Following the allegations, the LHSA cancelled Skulk and fired an association executive.
Kusmu said he applauded the action taken by the LHSA.
“What the LHSA did once it happened was take immediate decisive action . . . despite them getting a lot of flak for doing so,” Kusmu said. “This is a very good example of a student group, seeing potential students hazing one another and taking action.”
Kusmu said his association’s role in the procedure is to “ensure that a fair appeal process does exist for the LHSA.”
He said the student union does not condone any form of hazing and “the LHSA does not as well.”
The LHSA’s suspension would result in no floor co-ordinators or organized events, and would limit the ability of the association to represent residents, Wright said in his post.
“It would mean losing our voice in the rules and regulations regarding Lister and result in the decline of student events that keep Lister a strong and long standing safe community,” first-year Lister resident Alexis Whyte said via email.
This is not the first time the LHSA has bumped heads with university administration. In 2012, changes to Lister’s alcohol and staffing policy resulted in nearly a year of negotiations.
