Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Arts and Science Associate Dean,

My name is Sydney Murdoch and I am in second year Kinesiology. I am appealing to drop KNPE 227 (Winter 2016). So far in the class I have only completed one 20 midterm. The course work to come includes a 20 training study, 20 midterm and 35 final.

The reason I am appealing to drop KNPE 227 is due to a traumatic sexual assault that occurred to me in the student district as I was walking home one night. The assault happened on September 7th 2014 during the frosh week of my first year of university. My first year of studies was challenging, however I was in denial of the event¿¿s occurrence and so was initially able to continue with only a few setbacks. In the past semester I have finally become very aware of the severity of the situation. I have lost all concentration and energy due to the PTSD associated with the trauma. I am also suffering from mild depression which has effected my mood, energy levels, sleep patterns, appetite and interest in things I used to enjoy. I struggle to find the energy to get out of bed and I am missing most of my scheduled classes which is very unlike me. Due to the horrible nightmares I have every time I fall asleep I am typically only sleeping for about two hours a night. I am not eating nutritious food, nor am I attending the gym 4 times a week like I used to. My academic performance, like every aspect of my life has suffered immensely since my enrollment at Queen¿¿s and it is evident in my grades. Due to my lack of energy I am not only struggling to attend classes but when I try and do work I cannot concentrate on, or absorb, the information I am studying. I struggle to control my negative thoughts no matter how hard I try which effects my social interactions and mood. Although many of these symptoms are ones I have been dealing with since the trauma occurred the severity of them have become overwhelming and disabling in the past few weeks with the awareness of the reality of the situation I have faced.

KNPE 227 is a class that you must attend and actively listen in class in order to succeed academically. Dr. Pyke leaves many blanks within the slides that you must fill out during lecture and the textbook does not cover all of the information the same way that she does. I am quickly falling very far behind in the class. I feel as though if I were able to lighten my course load it would allow time to succeed in my other classes while also taking steps to care of myself both mentally and physically. I have already completed a larger majority of the work in my other classes leaving only the final exam to concentrate on.

I am appealing to drop this course late and propose to retake it in the following year. I am requesting that you also consider backdating the request to January 15th which was the second week of the course placing me within the drop deadline as this situation is outside of my control. I am starting to take steps to speak with counsellors about coping mechanisms and distraction techniques to help me succeed in the future. My meetings with health counselling have made me realize I am not dealing with this situation in a healthy way and I have been given tools to take control of the options I have. This trauma has effected my entire performance in the course so I am appealing for a second chance, one where my true academic potential can be realized and I can prove to myself I am still capable of being who I want to be.

Sincerely,

Sydney Murdoch
10152205