WLU students face potential expulsion before classes even officially get underway

Facing suspension, expulsion, fines, and criminal charges, some Wilfrid Laurier University students could see their academic year end before it officially begins.

The situation stems from a pair of parties over move-in weekend, both of which became unruly and have been condemned by the school's leadership.

“This weekend some Wilfrid Laurier University students participated in illegal gatherings near our Waterloo campus that resulted in vandalism to city and university property,” said WLU President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah MacLatchy in a statement. “These gatherings were in flagrant violation of Ontario’s public health measures and extremely disrespectful to our community.”

“There is zero tolerance for this behaviour at Laurier.”

This condemnation has also now been echoed by the Region's top cop.

“When is enough enough?” questioned Bryan Larkin, Chief, Waterloo Regional Police Service. “We haven't even reached homecoming, we haven't even reached some of the key dates where we typically have seen this.”

Larkin says he was notified around 10:30 Monday night about a party in the Ezra Ave. and King St. N. area which had drawn around 1,000 students.

“We had people just congregating, hanging around, and then unfortunately we did have a chair set on fire in the middle of the street,” Larkin said.

He says officers had to call in back-up from across the region to help disperse the crowd around 1:30 Tuesday morning.

“On top of this, we're still in a pandemic,” said Larkin. “We're seeing less compliance around physical distancing, less compliance around mask wearing, and so it does pose a risk for the greater good of the community.”

“We've been very clear, these behaviours are unacceptable. We want people to enjoy the experience but we do have licensed establishments that are controlled, that are managed, that are safe.”

Monday's booze-up follows a similar but smaller incident in the same area just the night before which also drew condemnation from WLU.

In the school's most recent update, it says it's working with police to identify which students were involved.

“Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and Laurier’s Special Constable Service (SCS) are collaborating to go through video footage to identify those who engaged in illegal activities,” MacLatchy is quoted. “Those identified will be facing suspension and/or expulsion from the university, may face fines for violating the Reopening Ontario Act, and could face criminal charges related to vandalism.”

The fall term and full-year classes are set to start at WLU on Thursday, though it seems some students may be learning their first post-secondary lesson a little bit early.