Queen’s Commerce club suspended after serious incident

Student Conduct Office investigation is ongoing 

Image by: Curtis Heinzl
The incident allegedly involved alcohol.

Queen’s Finance Association (QFA) activities were suspended on Nov. 3 following a serious incident of non-academic misconduct.

QFA hosts Canada’s oldest undergraduate finance conference called QFAC. The 2022-23 conference has been canceled alongside other  events following the serious incident of non-academic misconduct. Each year, QFA runs panels, sends newsletters, and interviews distinguished finance professionals. 

The club previously boasted its networking opportunities and interactive workshops.

The Student Conduct Office is conducting an ongoing investigation, which deals with “Category 2” cases of severe non-academic misconduct.

“[The incident] involved high-risk behavior and alcohol,” Commerce Dean Wanda Costen said in a statement to all Commerce students. 

The incident is still under review by the Student Conduct Office. Costen has been consulted throughout the process and fully supports the decision to halt QFA activities. 

“The safety and well-being of Smith students is a top priority for me. I will not tolerate student behavior that jeopardizes this,” Costen said.

The suspension is indefinite, and correspondence is confidential, according to the Commerce Society (ComSoc). 

“We are not at liberty to comment on the ongoing nature of this process,” ComSoc said in a statement to The Journal.

An individual working at ComSoc, Thomas*, told The Journal the incident allegedly involved “hazing” activities. Thomas said they believe the incident was not fully under the supervision of the club. 

Thomas alleged the incident was first reported to the University and ComSoc was later informed. ComSoc is waiting for a decision from the University, according to Thomas.

“Right now, it’s with Queen’s University. They are determining what measures will be taken,” they said. “[ComSoc] will take whatever recommendation is given by the university—most likely […] It’s very much beyond ComSoc.” 

A former member of QFA, Beth*, said that in their experience, the club conducts its social events like “any other” Commerce club. 

“The stuff they’re doing, to my knowledge, are normal socials—and the type that pretty much almost every club in [ComSoc] runs,” they said in an interview with The Journal. “Members can make decisions for themselves.” 

QFA is working on events such as competitions in New York, Road to CEO, and the QFAC conference—many of which could not run during COVID-19. At the time of publication, Road to CEO is still scheduled to run, according to ComSoc’s website.

“It’s a bummer because of something that seemed pretty out of their control […] we’re taking opportunities away from students,” Beth said.

Having been a first-year representative of another club, they’ve always felt Commerce clubs are supportive environments.

“There’s this first-social culture at most clubs where you’re coming on, it’s the first time hanging out with everybody. People might give you the offer to drink with them […] if you look too drunk, people will take care of you.”

Current QFA Co-Chairs Chloe Campeau and Laura Connolly did not respond to The Journal’s request for comment at time of publication.

*Name changed for safety reasons

Tags

Commerce, ComSoc, hazing, QFA, Queen's, Smith

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