Chris Avenir has been a Ryerson student for six months, and he'd like to stay a little longer. However, if the academic charges against him stick, the first-year may be out before spring.

Avenir created an online study group on Facebook, a social networking site. It was for his chemistry class and 146 students joined. 

"What I participated in is the same thing basically as all the other study groups that are going on in the library," he claims.

Students would meet virtually, and discuss classroom assignments. However, the university sees it as cheating, and charged Avenir with 147 counts of academic misconduct. The charges fall under a code of conduct known as Policy 61.

The president of the student union, Nora Loreto, disagrees. "There's no evidence that actually proves that either Chris cheated or allowed other students to cheat. It really is an online study forum."

"I do feel that I'm being treated unfairly," Avenir admits. 

The university won't comment, as the case is under investigation. Avenir will know if he can stay within a week.