Male med student flamed for his take on Pap smears
Controversy in the Canadian medical community erupted after 24-year-old medical student Brent Thoma published an article that takes a humorous approach to performing Pap smears. Doctors and professors at the University of Saskatchewan, which Thoma attends, have taken offense to his article, calling it inappropriate and “the most insensitive article ever.”
In the article, printed in Canadian Family Physician, Thoma offered such advice as: “give out instructions in the Philadelphia-cream-cheese lady voice” and “pretend you see vaginas every day.” He has received a flurry of angry letters, to which he has attempted to reply in defence. The dean of the university thinks Thoma has been negatively cast throughout this ordeal and admonishes the journal for not taking “a reflective responsibility” for publishing the article.
The piece expresses Thoma’s discomfort with performing the procedure. After this backlash, he said, “I’m now contemplating a career in ophthalmology.”—Zoë Sedlak
Source: National Post
Concordia student sues over expulsion
Charles Rossdeutcher, an engineering student at Concordia University, is trying to appeal an expulsion he was issued after he was charged with allegedly forging a professor’s signature in order to sign out a piece of equipment for his class project.
With only four courses needed to graduate, Rossdeutcher is attempting to convince the Quebec Superior Court to issue a safeguard order that would put a temporary halt to his expulsion, allowing him to finish his courses. Moreover, he is arguing that he was not given a fair trial, and as a result, is seeking the right to sue Concordia University for $100,000.
Charged in February 2009, Rossdeutcher was cleared of charges by the Student Rights Panel in June. Nonetheless, he was charged again under the Concordia Academic Code of Conduct. He claims the panel ignored evidence from a handwriting expert which stated that the signature was not forged by him.—Tahsin Najam
Source: Montreal Gazette
At Acadia U, extra-curriculars go on transcript
Acadia University now offers students a co-curricular transcript, which can include involvement in clubs, sports, volunteer, or part-time work, as well as other experiences outside the classroom. Before these transcripts are issued, students are asked to provide staff with a list of contacts to confirm their participation in these activities. The transcript is to be included with their grades upon graduation.
The university has a student body of 3,030 undergrads and 455 grad students. Ray Ivany, the president of Acadia, says that both the classroom and the community are valuable learning opportunities for students. He hopes that these experiences will also help students to make more meaningful contributions to society in the future.
Other schools that issue co-curricular transcripts include the University of Calgary and Seneca College.—Kimberly Shek
Source: Times & Transcript, University of Calgary news release, Seneca College website
Fraud and plagiarism spark concern at University of Calgary
Former U of T graduate student Dr. Daniel Kwok won’t be receiving any more federal research funding after allegedly spending more than $150,000 of grant money on personal items. According to documents released to Canwest, Kwok “spent research funds for personal benefit” and “had altered supporting receipts in an attempt to conceal the nature of the purchases.”
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada’s largest research grant provider, has taken the unusual step of banning Kwok indefinitely from receiving funding after a four-year investigation into charges of plagiarism and misuse of funds. Only three other scientists have been banned by NSERC.
While a professor at the University of Alberta, Kwok allegedly spent grant money on such items as an iPod, computers, chrome exhaust pipes for his car, and a home theatre system worth $17,000. In 2005, Kwok went to work at the University of Calgary.
Kwok denies the allegations. He says, “I have replied to NSERC. The whole thing was unfair. I can’t say more.” Kwok, an expert in interfacial phenomena, has a Master’s and PhD in engineering from the University of Toronto. He has received almost $2 million in funding and fellowships throughout his career.
No charges have been laid against Kwok. The RCMP and the universities of Alberta and Calgary refused to discuss the issue due to provincial privacy issues.—Annie Claire Bergeron-Oliver
Source: Montreal Gazette
