ComSoc president takes leave of absence following an alleged “incident”

Commerce Society (ComSoc) president temporarily steps down following an undisclosed incident.

In a screenshot obtained by The Journal, ComSoc President Prem Mehta-Spooner informed students on Sept. 10 that he would take a week-long leave of absence due to a “recent concern in the Commerce Community.” He said an unspecified “incident” required him to temporarily step down, with Vice-President (Operations) Amin Nazari assuming presidential duties until Sept. 17.

“The incident in question has challenged my own positioning on restorative justice, accountability, and ethics within the program, and I need this time to reflect and seek answers on how to best serve as a leader in addressing it. Unfortunately, this has strained my ability to give ComSoc the full attention it deserves,” Mehta-Spooner wrote in an e-mail to ComSoc members.

In a statement to The Journal, Mehta-Spooner explained he couldn’t discuss the situation “due to the potential of an ongoing internal investigation that has been filed with the Commerce Society Ombudsperson,” although he did expand on why he decided to step away.

“I felt it was important to step back so I could reflect on the factors involved in the situation and determine whether I would be the appropriate person to make decisions related to it. Taking this leave was also important for me to remain objective and not be influenced or pressured during my thinking,” Mehta-Spooner wrote to The Journal.

“During this period, I have been seeking guidance from a range of Smith stakeholders to ensure that any actions taken will be informed, fair, and aligned with the principles of due process,” Mehta-Spooner added.

In his original e-mail to ComSoc members, he explained that he’s participating in his first session with a mental health counsellor, adding he recognizes “there is still stigma in our program [Commerce] around reaching out for this type of support.” He then pointed to the fact that support is available to students and encouraged any students in need to reach out to those sources, referencing student wellness.

He explained there was nothing else he could share at the time in an effort to uphold ComSoc’s established procedures for discipline, which adheres to principles of due process.