Pressure grows for Calgary student to be expelled over sexual interference
University says no grounds exist for expulsion despite man’s history and conviction
CALGARY— The University of Calgary says it has no grounds to expel a student convicted of sexual interference of a 13-year-old girl in British Columbia.
The administration made the comment Thursday in the face of a petition signed by a growing number of people that calls for the expulsion of Connor Neurauter.
University Provost Dru Marshall said the situation is complicated and difficult, but the crime took place before Neurauter was enrolled.
“The matter in British Columbia occurred before Mr. Neurauter was a student at the University of Calgary,” Marshall said in a statement.
“This is important, because our policies do not apply to activity that occurred before the person was a member of our campus community. We have no grounds on which to expel him.”
Marshall said the university’s position does not mean that it condones sexual violence, harassment or puts the rights of a convicted individual over the safety of the university.
He said Neurauter has not been on campus since Tuesday, and has been advised not to return for the remainder of the term.
In November, Neurauter, 21, pleaded guilty in a Kamloops, B.C., court to one count of sexual interference with a minor. Another charge of possession of child pornography was lat- er dropped.
Earlier this month, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail, two years probation and is to be registered as a sex offender.
The B.C. prosecution service said he served the first day of his sentence on Jan. 4, but the judge permitted him to serve the remainder starting May 4 after finishing his semester at the University of Calgary.
By Thursday, more than 46,000 people had signed the petition urging the university to expel Neurauter.
His mother, Susan Neurauter, said the university asked him to stay off campus, in part for his own safety.
Wayne MacKay, a law professor at Dalhousie University, said Neurauter’s case leaves the University of Calgary in a tough predicament.
“It is important and significant ex- actly what kind of offence is involved and whether there is a significant risk to any other students. And if there is, then there’s a pretty high responsibility on the school to do something that would minimize that risk for everyone,” he said.
“On the other hand, expelling a student is a very serious matter and if that is not required for the safety of the students, that may be too harsh a penalty.”