What began as an administrative error at UTM has grown into a $5-million lawsuit after Adam Rogers, a former University of Waterloo student, received confusing information that led him to move his family to Mississauga, only to lose his student status and loans, and be evicted from campus housing.
Last year, Rogers, a third-year student at the University of Waterloo, applied for a transfer to UTM, where he planned to graduate. He got a rejection letter, but soon afterward was offered a spot in UTM’s Schreiberwood residence—housing reserved for current students—and guessed that he had been granted late acceptance.
“A few weeks later they gave us the lease which we signed. If my status wasn’t confirmed they would have denied the lease and I would have said fine,” said Rogers. However, the lease processed normally and his family, consisting of his then-pregnant wife, Erica, and their three children, made the move.
Rogers filed a series of appeals for admission. By the time the university denied his second appeal on Sept. 6, the family had already settled in Schreiberwood. Mark Overton, dean of student affairs at UTM, told the Rogers family they could not stay in residences. Rogers contested that and in late September 2007 the university began eviction proceedings. The Landlord and Tenant Board, called in to arbitrate, granted the application to evict Rogers.
Rogers has pointed to UTM’s tenancy lease agreement, which says leaseholders at Schreiberwood must be full-time students with a family. “Now, no one could get the lease without fulfilling this,” said Rogers.
He accused U of T of giving him insufficient time and information. “If we had passed on the lease and waited for what would happen with admissions, I would have lost the place of residence for my family.”
Ahmad Khan, VP internal and services of the University of Toronto Students’ Union, defended Rogers and condemned the university’s handling of the case.
“The issue is not on whether Adam is a student or not. It is about the fact that the Rogers family has been put into an uncompromising situation by the university.”
UTSU and others have supported the Rogers family with donations since Adam lost his OSAP loans, the family’s main source of income.
“Unfortunately, the fat cats at the school do not have an ounce of compassion,” Khan said.
Rogers made an undisclosed settlement offer to UTM, but had not heard back as of press time. “U of T and I have something in common. They do not want me here, and I do not want to be here,” he said.
In the meantime, legal proceedings have begun against Governing Council, UTM, and the university personnel involved.
Jane Stirling, UTM’s director of marketing and communications, has said the school will not comment on the matter while the case remains unresolved. The defendants have until this month to reach a settlement or file their intent to defend themselves in court.
