Dalhousie has decided to extend the closure of its public dental clinic until January 12.
The decision was announced late Monday afternoon.
The university’s Communication Director, Brian Leadbetter, says the extension is a precautionary measure.
“We just wanted to err on the side of caution in the current concerns that may be out there in the public regarding recent Facebook posts,” he says.
“We wanted to make sure we’re taking the best and appropriate steps that staff, faculty, students and others weren’t in an environment that wasn’t safe for them.”
The announcement comes just days after a crowd of hundreds marched on Dalhousie University’s campus demanding the university do more than their current plan of restorative justice.
Which, according the school officials, mean the matter will be dealt with through a process involving several face-to-face meetings between the parties involved.
An investigation by Nova Scotia’s Cyberscan Unit has not been announced because someone must first file a complaint.
“You can make a complaint, but we have to speak with the complainant to make sure they want to take part in the process,” says Roger Merrick, the Cyberscan Unit’s director.
An online petition calling for the expulsion of the students involved in the dentistry scandal now has over 35,000 names.
“A wide range of options is still on the table – including removal from the program,” says Leadbetter.
Leadbetter wouldn’t say if the petition will influence the university’s decision in any way.
Any patient whose appointments were affected by the clinic’s extended closure will be re-scheduled.
