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Petition Letter: To Whom it May Concern,

My name is Harper McGowan and I am a third year undergraduate student who has had the opportunity to pursue a degree at Queen's University. I came to Queen’s following in my sister’s footsteps, having previously attended an international boarding school where I grew up on campus due to the privilege of my father’s job. That familiar environment, along with the close presence of my family, helped me quietly manage a chronic illness through periodic flare ups during high school. Transitioning to university marked a significant change-not just academically, but also in how I’ve had to navigate my health more independently. The four-week infusion treatments I received throughout high school provided a sense of stability as I adjusted to the uncertainty of first year. Living in Brant House, with access to a private washroom, allowed me to manage my health discreetly and focus on my studies with minimal stress. However, as the year progressed, I began to experience academic decline due to poor eating habits, increased isolation, and recurring flare-up symptoms–exacerbated by winter’s lack of sunlight, vitamin D, and regular physical activity. I returned to Queen’s in the fall of 2024 with the hope of making an academic comeback, and I approached the first semester with optimism that this would be reflected on my transcript. Although I was not accepted into my desired program (PPEC-Specialization), I enrolled in the Philosophy major with the intention of shadowing the specialization and staying motivated to earn my place. To broaden my philosophical foundation, I registered for PHIL 260: Introduction to Logic, taught by Professor Adele Mercier. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was given the option to drop the course following her inability to continue teaching. Despite this, the six weeks I spent in her class gave me the confidence and preparation to take on PHIL 266, a second-year course, which I felt equipped to handle thanks to the foundational knowledge I had gained. My chronic illness-a combination of IBD, IBS, and Crohn’s disease-has presented ongoing challenges throughout both high school and university. Since being diagnosed at the start of high school, I’ve taken multiple medical leaves, particularly during the winter months, when seasonal changes tend to trigger flare-ups. Over time, I’ve come to understand how different times of year impact my health and academic performance. Since arriving at Queen’s, I’ve struggled with weight maintenance, fatigue, abdominal pain, appetite loss, and ongoing digestive issues. In the winter of 2024, I began experiencing new symptoms as a result of the high-dose infusion treatments I’ve been on for over half a decade. While Remicade has been an essential part of managing my Crohn’s, it has recently begun to cause additional complications—most notably plaque psoriasis on my ears, scalp, and stomach, along with increased irritability, and rapid hair loss. These new symptoms, layered on top of my existing condition, have significantly impacted my confidence, drained my energy, and affected my ability to enjoy university life as a 20-year-old student and athlete. Despite this, I was determined to complete my second year at Queen’s. I attended class, took notes, and gave my final assessments and exams the best effort I could. I was released from academic probation and I completed a half-marathon in my pre-determined sub-two hour time. I focused my energy on the courses most relevant to the specialization I hoped to enter, which is reflected in the uneven performance shown on my transcript. PHIL 266, unfortunately, did not go as I had hoped. I relied too heavily on the material I had previously learned and found myself increasingly distracted–whether by the discomfort of my psoriasis or the urgency of my bowel issues–to perform academically in the way I intended, especially given the limited time left in the semester. That experience taught me a lasting lesson about the importance of prioritizing my health as I continue through my undergraduate studies. Since then, I have sought alternative treatments–receiving steroid scalp injections every six weeks alongside my Remicade infusions. I’ve also become more proactive in managing my condition during the winter months by maintaining a consistent exercise routine, spending more time outdoors, and seeking out less stress-inducing environments, both academically and athletically. I remain fully committed to earning a PPE degree, with the understanding that this may require a lighter course load and a bit of additional time. By May, I will have completed my third year at Queen’s and my second half-marathon–both markers of the progress I’ve made, both academically and personally. I have made a conscious effort to remain in close contact with both my dermatologist and my specialist since I began having elevated Crohn's symptoms and I am committed to overcoming the challenges posed by my chronic illness and am confident that with the right support, I can continue to make meaningful academic progress.