Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am appealing to drop the course HIST 242 due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control. Two years ago, in my second year, I was violently sexually assaulted multiple times by a fellow Queen??s student over the span of two months. Since the occurrence, I have struggled to keep up with my academics as my mental health has greatly suffered due to this experience. At the beginning of the 2021/2022 school year, I began experiencing extenuating triggers from the incident. As I made my return to campus, my mental health plummeted which began interfering with my academic performance. I was hospitalized twice because of my mental health and the triggers from the incident, and have now been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression with symptoms that have only been amplified due to the assault. As my triggers have interfered greatly with my personal and academic life, I have been taking steps such as counselling, medication, and psychiatry to begin my recovery. I am currently in contact with Susannah Ireland from Student Wellness for sexual violence counselling, as well as Taylor MacPherson from Sexual Violence Prevention at Queen??s. Additionally, I have reported my rapist to Queen??s and am currently working with the Non-Academic Misconduct office in an investigation about the assault.

Due to the severity of my triggers and the current process of the investigation and recovery, my academics have taken a toll. My performance in HIST 242 has especially taken a toll. When the first essay in HIST 242 was due, it was at the same time as my first hospitalization from the extenuating circumstance. I was unable to complete this essay, and continued to fall behind in this class as I was also catching up in all my major courses for fourth year. The next assessment, the midterm, I was unable to perform well on because I was unable to take time to study for this midterm. It was at the same time as my second hospitalization and I had just contacted Susannah and Taylor and began the reporting process. I failed this midterm due to my extenuating circumstance. As I continue to work through my sexual assault and triggers, and continue seeking help, my performance in HIST 242 will continue to suffer further. I do not see myself passing this course as I am already failing, and due to the circumstances, I cannot put the time and effort in that I need to pass. Dropping this course will alleviate the stress and allow me the space to heal and work through the investigation, as well as perform decently in my fourth year courses for my major.