Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Jill Atkinson
Associate Dean (Studies)
Dunning Hall
94 University Ave
Kingston, ON

Dear Dr. Atkinson,

My name is Michelle, I am a fourth year Arts student, and I am appealing for Aegrotat standing in ENGL 321.
While I love English literature, am genuinely interested in the course material, and believe that I have the ability to succeed, Professor Bretz has created a classroom environment that I do not feel safe in. He has repeatedly and deliberately sought out inappropriate interactions and blatantly disregarded my obvious discomfort.

I have been trying to deal with this on my own by limiting one-on-one interactions, bringing a male friend to office hours, and avoiding situations that could possibly involve being in a room alone with him. I have missed out of class excursions, I have avoided asking questions during midterms, and I do not dare attempt to visit him in office hours again. I miss most of class, but try to keep up online. However, this class was not meant to be taken online and I know my grades have suffered as a result of my fear.

In my four years in the Queen's English department, I have had professors that challenge me and push me outside of my comfort zone. I have encountered lots of professors who cross traditional boundaries, break rules, and even the occasional professor that I don't like. We have debated and discussed everything crude and politically incorrect and everything in-between. However, I never once felt unsafe during any of those discussions, while my interactions with Professor Bretz have been deeply unsettling.

When a professor cracks a joke that makes you uncomfortable, do you have any choice but to laugh When an instructor constantly requires you to meet outside of class for course related things, can you do anything other than show up When he redirects your extension request into you reading him a poem aloud, what can you do but read it for him When that poem leads to your professor asking you highly intrusive sexual questions, what can you say

When someone who has the power to ruin your grades, academic reputation, and dreams of grad school puts you in this sort of position, it feels like you can't do anything but accept it- but I know this isn't true.

I have no problem arranging my course schedule and academic plans to avoid interacting with him, and will do what I can to avoid being put in this sort of situation again. I am not attempting to seek retribution or get even. I don't even really want Professor Bretz to get in trouble. I just want to finish this course, my major, and my degree in peace. I don't consider what happened to be representative of the Queen's English department or the school as a whole.

I still love Queen's dearly. Queen's is where my parents met, where I've made my closest friends, and where I've had some of the most constructive, challenging, and wonderful experiences of my life. This deep fondness for the school makes it hard to criticize any part of it- but I know Queen's is committed to justice, equity, and student safety in the classroom and beyond, I know I am not the only one who feels this way about Professor Bretz, and I know that if I don't speak up I will be doing a disservice to not only myself but to the whole Queen's community.

At the end of the day, Queen's is my home- and I know I deserve to feel safe here.

Respectfully,


Michelle K Allan