Petition Letter
Hello,
My name is Arjun Jindal, I am a fourth year psychology student at Queen¿¿s University. Due to medical circumstances, I appealed in April 2016 to drop the following two courses from the 2016 winter semester:
1. PSYC334
2. CLST201
Due to these medical circumstances (a traumatic brain injury and concussion incurred in a serious car accident, compounding a previous recent concussion) I was unable to explore other options, aside from dropping the courses, to the fullest of my ability. I was advised by my doctor to avoid extra reading, writing, concentrating, or engagement in other cognitively demanding activities. This is documented in my doctor¿¿s March 2016 and July 2015 injury reports (attached).
I simply dropped my courses as it was the only certain route I knew to avoid academic penalty. However, I was recently contacted by one of my professors, Dr. Bernard Kavanagh, who noticed I did not complete his course despite having a 100 grade in his class after completing 60 of the coursework. He was concerned as he was aware of my past concussion and urged me to seek out ¿aegrotat standing¿¿ (something of which I had never heard). I promised to explore this option further when my health improved.
Now, upon reviewing my actions in March, I realize dropping the two courses was a mistake. It was one I made while my judgment was impaired due to the TBI/concussion, and I made the wrong appeal. I¿¿m sorry to have done this, but I don¿¿t feel my actions while mentally unfit should be held against me. The past calendar year of misfortune will already affect me for the rest of my life.
My doctor has written a letter documenting this (attached, May 2016). In his medical opinion, ¿¿In the period following the injury, Arjun Jindal was mentally unfit to make informed decisions about his academic career. This was ongoing until May 19, 2016.¿
Therefore, I believe my case deserves consideration despite being the subject of a previous appeal because:
a) I was mentally unfit to make decisions pertaining to my academic career at the time of the appeal,
b) I was mentally unfit, following my second concussion and the traumatic brain injury, to explore any options for appeals (I had a family member read the instructions and draft my previous letter), and
c) My doctor has confirmed this condition prevented me from making rational decisions about my academic career until recently.
My next step will be to pursue aegrotat standing, as Dr. Kavanagh suggested. I have previously recovered from a concussion and gone on to success in my classes (e.g. CLST201 in the 2016 winter semester) and am confident I will be able to return to Queen¿¿s University this fall.
Please feel free to email me for more information. I greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide in this matter. Thank you very much,
Arjun Jindal
My name is Arjun Jindal, I am a fourth year psychology student at Queen¿¿s University. Due to medical circumstances, I appealed in April 2016 to drop the following two courses from the 2016 winter semester:
1. PSYC334
2. CLST201
Due to these medical circumstances (a traumatic brain injury and concussion incurred in a serious car accident, compounding a previous recent concussion) I was unable to explore other options, aside from dropping the courses, to the fullest of my ability. I was advised by my doctor to avoid extra reading, writing, concentrating, or engagement in other cognitively demanding activities. This is documented in my doctor¿¿s March 2016 and July 2015 injury reports (attached).
I simply dropped my courses as it was the only certain route I knew to avoid academic penalty. However, I was recently contacted by one of my professors, Dr. Bernard Kavanagh, who noticed I did not complete his course despite having a 100 grade in his class after completing 60 of the coursework. He was concerned as he was aware of my past concussion and urged me to seek out ¿aegrotat standing¿¿ (something of which I had never heard). I promised to explore this option further when my health improved.
Now, upon reviewing my actions in March, I realize dropping the two courses was a mistake. It was one I made while my judgment was impaired due to the TBI/concussion, and I made the wrong appeal. I¿¿m sorry to have done this, but I don¿¿t feel my actions while mentally unfit should be held against me. The past calendar year of misfortune will already affect me for the rest of my life.
My doctor has written a letter documenting this (attached, May 2016). In his medical opinion, ¿¿In the period following the injury, Arjun Jindal was mentally unfit to make informed decisions about his academic career. This was ongoing until May 19, 2016.¿
Therefore, I believe my case deserves consideration despite being the subject of a previous appeal because:
a) I was mentally unfit to make decisions pertaining to my academic career at the time of the appeal,
b) I was mentally unfit, following my second concussion and the traumatic brain injury, to explore any options for appeals (I had a family member read the instructions and draft my previous letter), and
c) My doctor has confirmed this condition prevented me from making rational decisions about my academic career until recently.
My next step will be to pursue aegrotat standing, as Dr. Kavanagh suggested. I have previously recovered from a concussion and gone on to success in my classes (e.g. CLST201 in the 2016 winter semester) and am confident I will be able to return to Queen¿¿s University this fall.
Please feel free to email me for more information. I greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide in this matter. Thank you very much,
Arjun Jindal