( Graphic: Talbert Johnson )
Two University of Calgary students on academic probation are trying to appeal their punishment for creating a Facebook group that labelled their instructor incompetent.
Keith Pridgen, 19, and his twin brother Steven are the exceptions out of the other 12 students who accepted their sentences for the online posting.
"I was threatened that I might be sued if I didn’t keep this quiet," Pridgen said.
The instructor had been hired for a course that ended in November 2007 and was not hired back for the second semester. The Facebook group was made in August 2008. Pridgen is trying to get his appeal through to the university’s board of governors.
Before their appeal to the general faculties’ council, Pridgen was told to write an apology letter and was given 24-months academic probation. Now it’s cut four months, and the apology letter was scrapped. Pridgen said the university is not allowing them to bring their case before the Board of Governors. "They’re saying that it’s outside of their jurisdiction."
Academic probation is a formal warning. "Basically it doesn’t mean anything unless I do something else. Keep my nose clean. It’s totally gone from my record in another two months," said Pridgen. He explains that the punishment is not why he’s appealling. Pridgen said the university needs to understand that their response was wrong.
According to the vice-president (academic) Pamela Weatherbee, the U of C student union feels the academic misconduct policies are muddled when it comes to Facebook. Weatherbee said the university has to let students know the appropriate use of social media.
There are always going to be students upset with their instructors, Weatherbee said. She encourages students to talk to their student advisor, as well as the university to find where students are active online and approach it accordingly.
She said she doubts Pridgen will be successful with his appeal because the board of governors is an operational council, and doesn’t deal with these situations.