Ryerson Student Waits For Word Following Expulsion Hearing Over Facebook Group

In a strange way, it was the biggest exam of Chris Avenir's life.
The Ryerson University student -- accused of hosting a Facebook page on which students exchanged study tips -- stood in front of a hearing panel Tuesday after being expelled for allegedly violating the school's Academic Code of Conduct.
Around 2:30pm Tuesday, the 18-year-old first-year computer engineering student walked silently but resolutely into the campus hearing room near Dundas and Yonge, prepared to face permanent expulsion, but remaining confident he'd done nothing wrong.
The alleged crime? Avenir and 146 of his classmates used the popular social networking site to exchange homework tips and help each other out with chemistry questions.
That alone might not seem like much cause for concern to some, but University administrators considered the information sharing the equivalent of cheating and slapped Avenir with 147 counts of academic misconduct. He also faces another charge for his role in setting up the group, and a charge for each of his classmates that used the site.
Avenir remains bewildered as to why he's being singled out. "What I participated in is basically what all the other study groups that are going on in the library," he protests.
Meanwhile, Avenir's case is being watched extremely closely by other students and school administrators, as it promises to be precedent-setting. Those supporting the Ryerson student agree that talking about schoolwork on Facebook is no different from study groups that work on homework or cram for tests together outside class.
"It's the exact same thing. The only difference is it's online. You know, there isn't a massive bust-up of study groups in our library or anything like that," noted Ryerson's Student Union President Nora Loreto. "Actually in engineering, most engineering students will say that they really got through by being able to actually have help from their classmates, because it's a very collaborative program."
Avenir was quick to second those sentiments. "The only real reason that I think it's getting the attention that it is getting is because it is on Facebook," he insists. "It's a pretty new technology and that the school hasn't really adopted yet."
Other students were quick to support their peer.
"To be honest I'm kind of disappointed, "said Ryerson student Lyndsay Morrison. "Personally I don't see how it's any different from sitting around the library and having a discussion."
Ryerson administrators are singing a different tune, however.
"This isn't really an issue of Facebook or technology," counters Ryerson professor Dr. James Norrie. "This is about whether people want to be responsible for their behaviour no matter where it occurs, how it occurs, when it occurs."
In terms of Tuesday's hearing, which wrapped up just before the dinner hour, Avenir and his lawyer had little to say, other than to reiterate his faith and belief that he's done no wrong.
"I feel pretty confident and optimistic about the appeal hearing that we did have," he said to dozens of reporters and cheers from fellow students. "I don't have any regrets about what happened inside."
Avenir could find out this week whether he'll be able to keep studying at the downtown Toronto university. If he isn't reinstated following Tuesday's hearing he could take his case to the university senate which means that even if he's expelled he could still wind up attending classes.
Under Ryerson's rules, students "who are awaiting an automatic hearing, may continue in their program until the matter is resolved."
Studying your opinion
So does the Facebook study group fit the university's own definition of cheating? Judge for yourself from Ryerson's Student Code of Academic Conduct.
Cheating
i. using materials or aids not expressly allowed by the instructor in an examination or test;
ii. copying another person's answer(s) to an examination or test question; copying anotherperson's answers to individually assigned projects;
iii. consulting with another person or unauthorized materials outside of an examination room during the examination period (e.g. discussing an exam or consulting materials during an emergency evacuation or when permitted to use a washroom);
iv. improperly submitting an answer to a test or examination question completed, in whole or part, outside the examination room unless specifically permitted by the examination format;
v. resubmitting altered test or examination work after it has already been evaluated;
vi. presenting falsified or fabricated material, including research results; or
vii. improperly obtaining, through deceit, theft, bribery, collusion or otherwise, access to examination paper(s) or set of questions, or other confidential information.

The Facebook account appears to have been pulled offline yesterday, although Avenir said it has not been in use since the course ended in December.
He had earned a B in the class, but after the professor discovered the Facebook group over the holidays, the mark was changed to an F. The professor reported the incident to the school's student conduct officer and recommended expulsion.