SMELLS LIKE VICTORY

Pot Suspension Lifted from Student's Record

A student who protested the trampling of his civil rights was given a
"sincere apology" yesterday from the Catholic high school that suspended
him from class for smelling guilty.

St. Matthew High also agreed to lift the two-day suspension from
15-year-old Chris Laurin's student record.

"I have paved the way for other students," Laurin told reporters yesterday
at his lawyer's Elgin St. office.

The press conference followed on the heels of a successful morning meeting
between the student, his father Michel Laurin and school principal Andre
Potvin.

"It was very good to hear Mr. Potvin give a sincere apology and say what
they did was wrong," said Chris Laurin.

"I had a knot in my stomach for the past couple of days, not knowing what
they were thinking, what was happening."

The freckled-face kid appeared relaxed yesterday next to his lawyer,
Lawrence Greenspon, and with his proud pop nearby. Jokes were tossed
around, including one about Laurin becoming a dog-trainer when he gets older.

Routine Search

Problems began for the 15-year-old after a police dog got a whiff of
marijuana on Laurin's jacket during a routine drug and weapons search of
the Orleans high school March 26. Nobody else could detect the scent.

Laurin was suspended, despite the fact no pot was found in his possession.

But, it was the humiliation of being paraded past teachers that upset him
the most.

"The worst part about it was ... all the teachers that I know and talk to
and respect seeing me being brought down the hallways," said Chris Laurin.

The family took the story public and also requested a review of the suspension.

"Christopher doesn't use (drugs) and I'm hoping he never does," Michel
Laurin said yesterday.

Greenspon said the matter won't be pursued further given that the family
got what it wanted -- an apology and a clean record. The Laurins were
prepared to file an appeal to the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board.

"I think the school board has learned a lesson ... that they went too far,"
said Greenspon.

Need Evidence

"I think the school boards want to be, or at least should be, teaching
students that we don't take away people's rights unless there is a reason
for it, and the reason has got to be some proof or some evidence of
wrongdoing," he explained.

The family had been worried a record of the suspension might harm Laurin's
future post-secondary schooling or job opportunities.

But school board spokesman Terry Shaw said that's never the case, as
student records are kept confidential.