Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 5965
Submitted: June 19, 2019 at 9:59:38 PM
First Name: Gitika
Last Name: Sachdev
Student Number: 20113280
Email: 17gs36@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: POLS
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Arts and Science,
I am writing to you to appeal the Faculty¿¿s decision that I must withdraw from Queen¿¿s
University for a minimum of one year. I would like to premise this appeal by apologizing for the
appearance of unprofessionalism and insinuating that I do not take my academic career at this
institution seriously, because this is not the case. I have struggled with both the adjustment
process of university as well with mental health and personal issues through first year. Both my
anxiety and depression due to unforeseen circumstances made it difficult for me to get out of bed
and therefore affected my attendance and had contributed to my rather unsuccessful academic
year.
This academic year there had been extenuating circumstances that stunted my academic
success as well negatively affected my mental and physical health. At the end of November I had
become a victim of domestic and sexual abuse. The incident occurred in the place I felt most
comfortable at Queens, which was my dorm room on campus (my home for the year). The
incident had taken a toll on my physical emotional and mental being, as it had involved a partner
that I had pre-existing and established romantic and intimate relationship with.
The specifics of the incident are listen as they had occurred, below: (The abuser is being
referred to as my partner)
- My partner had come over to watch a basketball game and order some pizza one night at the
end of November.
- As the night had proceeded the two of us were joking around and my partner had started to
cross the line.
- He had thrown out my belongings including (cash, school notes, textbooks and designer bag)
from my window.
- When I told him to stop repeatedly he started using his force with me, although he was just
¿¿play fighting¿ he had left bruises on my arms and legs from the force and would not stop
when I asked him to.
- He then proceeded to shove me in my closet of my dorm room. This caused me to have a
panic attack as I was trapped in a small crowded space and was unable to get out. I start to
hyperventilate and am balling my eyes out trying to push the closet door open.
- When I got out my partner gets ahold of me and as I was yelling no and stop, I trip over him
and hit my head on my metal bed frame.
- I hit the floor and I lay there delirious, I am unable to stop crying and am in a not fully
conscious state after hitting my head.
- My partner refuses to leave my room after I ask him repeatedly to and the fear that he would
purposefully do something to hurt me as he was much stronger and larger than I was made me
fearful to call anyone for help in the moment.
- My partner at the time had taken this to his advantage and had taken the opportunity to engage
in sexual intercourse with me (for the second time that night) without being fully consenting/
aware and terrified to anger him. He had decidedly not used any type of contraception even
though i repeatedly asked him to do so.
- He left in the morning and I went to the pharmacy in a hurry to purchase emergency
contraceptive.
This incident left me feeling vulnerable, ashamed and confused. Part of me did not want
to talk about the situation at all, and the other part of me needed to confide in someone. Not
knowing who to go to, and to scared to tell a parent or authority figure I spiraled into a deep
depression and had social anxiety. I had stopped eating regularly (surviving mainly on caffeine),
started to sleep through the days and would stay awake anxious through the night, this schedule
made completing school work and attending lecture difficult, while attending tutorials (where i
needed to speak among a group, with everyone looking at me, very difficult). I had tried to reach
out to my TA¿¿s about my inability to attend tutorial due to my depression and anxiety, but found
that I was given the same answer, a link to the Queens hospitality and resources hotline. A line i
was ashamed of using and, when I had attempted to make appointments with a councilor there
was never any availability, making me put this on the back burner.
Although it is hard to ever fully recover from domestic and sexual
I am writing to you to appeal the Faculty¿¿s decision that I must withdraw from Queen¿¿s
University for a minimum of one year. I would like to premise this appeal by apologizing for the
appearance of unprofessionalism and insinuating that I do not take my academic career at this
institution seriously, because this is not the case. I have struggled with both the adjustment
process of university as well with mental health and personal issues through first year. Both my
anxiety and depression due to unforeseen circumstances made it difficult for me to get out of bed
and therefore affected my attendance and had contributed to my rather unsuccessful academic
year.
This academic year there had been extenuating circumstances that stunted my academic
success as well negatively affected my mental and physical health. At the end of November I had
become a victim of domestic and sexual abuse. The incident occurred in the place I felt most
comfortable at Queens, which was my dorm room on campus (my home for the year). The
incident had taken a toll on my physical emotional and mental being, as it had involved a partner
that I had pre-existing and established romantic and intimate relationship with.
The specifics of the incident are listen as they had occurred, below: (The abuser is being
referred to as my partner)
- My partner had come over to watch a basketball game and order some pizza one night at the
end of November.
- As the night had proceeded the two of us were joking around and my partner had started to
cross the line.
- He had thrown out my belongings including (cash, school notes, textbooks and designer bag)
from my window.
- When I told him to stop repeatedly he started using his force with me, although he was just
¿¿play fighting¿ he had left bruises on my arms and legs from the force and would not stop
when I asked him to.
- He then proceeded to shove me in my closet of my dorm room. This caused me to have a
panic attack as I was trapped in a small crowded space and was unable to get out. I start to
hyperventilate and am balling my eyes out trying to push the closet door open.
- When I got out my partner gets ahold of me and as I was yelling no and stop, I trip over him
and hit my head on my metal bed frame.
- I hit the floor and I lay there delirious, I am unable to stop crying and am in a not fully
conscious state after hitting my head.
- My partner refuses to leave my room after I ask him repeatedly to and the fear that he would
purposefully do something to hurt me as he was much stronger and larger than I was made me
fearful to call anyone for help in the moment.
- My partner at the time had taken this to his advantage and had taken the opportunity to engage
in sexual intercourse with me (for the second time that night) without being fully consenting/
aware and terrified to anger him. He had decidedly not used any type of contraception even
though i repeatedly asked him to do so.
- He left in the morning and I went to the pharmacy in a hurry to purchase emergency
contraceptive.
This incident left me feeling vulnerable, ashamed and confused. Part of me did not want
to talk about the situation at all, and the other part of me needed to confide in someone. Not
knowing who to go to, and to scared to tell a parent or authority figure I spiraled into a deep
depression and had social anxiety. I had stopped eating regularly (surviving mainly on caffeine),
started to sleep through the days and would stay awake anxious through the night, this schedule
made completing school work and attending lecture difficult, while attending tutorials (where i
needed to speak among a group, with everyone looking at me, very difficult). I had tried to reach
out to my TA¿¿s about my inability to attend tutorial due to my depression and anxiety, but found
that I was given the same answer, a link to the Queens hospitality and resources hotline. A line i
was ashamed of using and, when I had attempted to make appointments with a councilor there
was never any availability, making me put this on the back burner.
Although it is hard to ever fully recover from domestic and sexual
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: I have resolved my circumstances and will be able to make a successful return to my studies at
Queen¿¿s University. I can assure you that my circumstances are now being managed affectively. I
have confided in my family doctor with the issue and she recommended me to a councillor,
where I have been working to come to terms with wheat had happened and taking control of my
depression and anxiety. I have also gotten a job downtown at an investment firm in Human
Resources department, I have been punctual and on time with my job and have regulated my
sleep and eating patterns. Although what had happened is devastating I have made conscious
efforts to bounce back from this incident. Mental health is a delicate thing and I have put good
habits in place, and when I am in Kingston I plan to find a therapist or school councillor to see
regularly as well.
In terms of my academic goals, I plan to retake the perquisite courses that I had failed in
first year. I plan to major in Politics and will ensure that all prerequisites are completed and
passed and will also make sure I take courses that with credits that will help me towards my
major. For courses that are offered online I will opt for the online alternative, allowing me to focus
on my learning and not let the nervousness of big classes discourage me from doing well.
Making sure to attend class regularly as well as inform both my professors and teacher¿¿s
assistants of my situation during the prior school year. I also plan to improve my writing skills
with the workshops and extra-help sessions available at Stuaffer Library, attending professors
office hours if I have any questions and actively participating in discussions with my TA¿¿s and in
tutorials.
For my mental health I plan to get a therapist/councillor in Kingston as well as fully
utilize the Queens Student resource and hotlines available to me. I plan on keeping a routine and
ensuring that I am taking care of my education, my mental state as well and my physical state. I
am confident in my ability to return and be more much more successful this coming school year.
I truly hope I have conveyed the reason for my unsuccessful first year at Queens.
I ensure you that my education is my priority and that I will do everything possible for a successful school
year, ensuring I balance my mental, physical and emotional health. I feel as though I have
resolved my circumstances and will be able to make a successful return to my studies at Queen¿¿s
University. I can assure you that my circumstances are now being managed affectively
Queen¿¿s University. I can assure you that my circumstances are now being managed affectively. I
have confided in my family doctor with the issue and she recommended me to a councillor,
where I have been working to come to terms with wheat had happened and taking control of my
depression and anxiety. I have also gotten a job downtown at an investment firm in Human
Resources department, I have been punctual and on time with my job and have regulated my
sleep and eating patterns. Although what had happened is devastating I have made conscious
efforts to bounce back from this incident. Mental health is a delicate thing and I have put good
habits in place, and when I am in Kingston I plan to find a therapist or school councillor to see
regularly as well.
In terms of my academic goals, I plan to retake the perquisite courses that I had failed in
first year. I plan to major in Politics and will ensure that all prerequisites are completed and
passed and will also make sure I take courses that with credits that will help me towards my
major. For courses that are offered online I will opt for the online alternative, allowing me to focus
on my learning and not let the nervousness of big classes discourage me from doing well.
Making sure to attend class regularly as well as inform both my professors and teacher¿¿s
assistants of my situation during the prior school year. I also plan to improve my writing skills
with the workshops and extra-help sessions available at Stuaffer Library, attending professors
office hours if I have any questions and actively participating in discussions with my TA¿¿s and in
tutorials.
For my mental health I plan to get a therapist/councillor in Kingston as well as fully
utilize the Queens Student resource and hotlines available to me. I plan on keeping a routine and
ensuring that I am taking care of my education, my mental state as well and my physical state. I
am confident in my ability to return and be more much more successful this coming school year.
I truly hope I have conveyed the reason for my unsuccessful first year at Queens.
I ensure you that my education is my priority and that I will do everything possible for a successful school
year, ensuring I balance my mental, physical and emotional health. I feel as though I have
resolved my circumstances and will be able to make a successful return to my studies at Queen¿¿s
University. I can assure you that my circumstances are now being managed affectively
Documentation
Professional Letter: Scanned from a Xerox SII C8070.pdf
Professional Letter Detail: Medical Note