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 In autumn 1932, young Armand Powlett arrived at the
Strathcona train station in Edmonton, on his way to the University of
Alberta to take up the study of law. Three days later he was admitted to the
psychiatric ward at the university hospital, a victim of insanity brought on
by initiation proceedings.
Upon meeting his son in the hospital, the victim's
father, Charles Powlett, resolved to take legal action against the
University of Alberta on the grounds that they were negligent in regulating
initiation of freshman. The university fought the case on the basis that
they existed as an arm of the government and thus, should be exempt from
liability. The following year when the case was tried, judgment rested with
the Powlett family and they were awarded $56,860 in damages.
 An interesting exercise in liability, the Powlett case
has subsequently spawned debate regarding the extent to which academic
institutions are responsible for the well-being of their students, an issue
of supreme validity, given the state of initiation practices today.
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
;)
;)
