Petition Letter
The Queen's Economics Department has been receiving medical documentation from my general physician and therapist regarding my severe mental health condition since the beginning of the Fall 2016 term. In this documentation, it is stated that I suffer from severe depression and anxiety. I have accommodations for the latter including extra time on assignments, and notetakers. It is essential to note that I received no note taking assistance in either course that I am appealing.
Throughout the second semester, I suffered the consequences of poor medical attention from the Lasalle staff, which resulted in about six weeks of being forced to take drugs that I did not want to try, or did not feel comfortable trying. I was weaned off of an addictive benzo medication that I had been on for the entirety of first semester in the disturbingly short period of 10 days. I experienced physical, mental, and emotional withdrawal, and did not receive the urgent care that I desperately begged for, as my depression was teetering on very dangerous levels, which I explained numerous times to the staff.
Not only was I completely focused on my lack of medical care, but was also suffering hugely personally and academically. My depression, especially the rebound depression from the improper weaning of medication, made me bedridden for the entirety of the semester. After six weeks, I was eventually given medical care, but by that point, I had missed so much material in class that my anxiety became the paralyzing factor. The classes I was taking were ECON 351, and ECON 310, which are both math-heavy courses. Because of this, I was able to stay on top of the majority of my assignments (from my bed), with help from the textbook or class notes available online.
The direct connection between my extenuating circumstances as outlined in my portfolio of medical documentation from the past two years of being treated at Lasalle and my academic performance has been stated clearly, I believe. But, for clarity, I suffer from a severe mental health disorder which was worsened by the poor medical attention that I received, which made it physically painful to leave my bed, eat, sleep, or do literally anything that would possibly aid my academic performance.
I appreciate your time and consideration,
Thank you,
Rachel Langer
Throughout the second semester, I suffered the consequences of poor medical attention from the Lasalle staff, which resulted in about six weeks of being forced to take drugs that I did not want to try, or did not feel comfortable trying. I was weaned off of an addictive benzo medication that I had been on for the entirety of first semester in the disturbingly short period of 10 days. I experienced physical, mental, and emotional withdrawal, and did not receive the urgent care that I desperately begged for, as my depression was teetering on very dangerous levels, which I explained numerous times to the staff.
Not only was I completely focused on my lack of medical care, but was also suffering hugely personally and academically. My depression, especially the rebound depression from the improper weaning of medication, made me bedridden for the entirety of the semester. After six weeks, I was eventually given medical care, but by that point, I had missed so much material in class that my anxiety became the paralyzing factor. The classes I was taking were ECON 351, and ECON 310, which are both math-heavy courses. Because of this, I was able to stay on top of the majority of my assignments (from my bed), with help from the textbook or class notes available online.
The direct connection between my extenuating circumstances as outlined in my portfolio of medical documentation from the past two years of being treated at Lasalle and my academic performance has been stated clearly, I believe. But, for clarity, I suffer from a severe mental health disorder which was worsened by the poor medical attention that I received, which made it physically painful to leave my bed, eat, sleep, or do literally anything that would possibly aid my academic performance.
I appreciate your time and consideration,
Thank you,
Rachel Langer