U of C denies student guilty of sex crime was expelled

A convicted sex offender who was advised not to return to the University of Calgary this term will still have the opportunity to continue his studies — just not on campus.

An open letter from the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association criticized the U of C for what it called the de-facto expulsion of Connor Neurauter, who earlier this month pleaded guilty to sexual interference involving a girl in Kamloops, B.C., who at the time was 13 years old.

But the judge delayed Neurauter’s 90-day jail sentence until May to allow him to finish his spring semester in Calgary.

The decision sparked outrage, prompting tens of thousands to sign an online petition demanding his expulsion. Within days, the U of C said it had advised Neurauter not to return this semester, but acknowledged there were no grounds to expel him.

In a statement Tuesday, U of C Provost Dru Marshall denied that the ban from campus amounted to expulsion, nor did Neurauter face any formal discipline.

“Our administration is in active discussions with Mr. Neurauter about options that would allow him to pursue his university studies,” the statement said.

“We have not disciplined Mr. Neurauter, nor have we acted based on our discipline policies. We have advised him not to return to campus this term while we work with him to develop options that would allow him to pursue his studies in a productive learning environment.”

The lawyers’ group questioned the U of C’s purported concerns over safety on campus as one of the reasons for the ban.

“Vague ‘security concerns’ should not be used as a means of intimidating unpopular students into leaving the university,” the association wrote in the Jan. 19 letter.

“Sadly, it appears the University of Calgary has succumbed to the pressures of the online lynch mob.”

The lawyers went on to say that allowing Neurauter to continue his studies would actually be a boon for society and helpful to his rehabilitation.

According to Marshall, it’s not only the safety of students that prompted the decision, but Neurauter’s safety as well.

“We are concerned for the safety and security of everyone on our campus community, including Mr. Neurauter,” she said.

“This is a challenging and complicated situation. It demands thoughtful and considered assessment that respects all involved.”