Students taking "the activism course" at the University of Ottawa say they don't have enough teaching assistants, so they are taking action — in the form of a lawsuit.

Six out of 113 students in the course formally called "SCI1101: Science in Society" are claiming the university breached a contract by not providing enough trained people to lead tutorials for the class, which is in its first year.

The course is taught by physics professor Denis Rancourt.

Students call it the "activism course" because each class begins with a lecture by a guest speaker such as an animal-rights or anti-arms activist, said Valérie Duchesnau, one of the students in the class.

The university-approved description of the course says it "critically examines the role of science and scientists in society and the responsibility of citizens having to deal with the complex socio-economic, environmental, political, and ethical issues raised by advances in science and technology."

Duchesnau, 19, filed the lawsuit papers Thursday in small claims court.

The students are each asking for a refund of $345 — about two-thirds of their tuition fees for the course. They have not hired a lawyer and the court waived the $75 filing fee because the students have low incomes.

Duchesnau, who is in her second year of an environmental studies program, said the university has 20 business days to respond.

The University of Ottawa is not commenting at this time because lawyers are dealing with the situation, said spokeswoman Sophie Nadeau.

The class in question has two teaching assistants, but the students argue the university agreed to provide many more when it approved the course in August.

At the time, it was decided that students in the course would break into "workgroups" of eight to 12 students. Rancourt said each group needs a teaching assistant to ask questions, guide discussion, suggest relevant readings and co-ordinate with the professor.

'Promised resources were not supplied despite the obvious need.'-Professor Denis Rancourt

Duchesnau said the university did not provide a written contract promising that Rancourt's course would have one teaching assistant per workgroup, but it approved the workgroup method of teaching, and the teaching assistant ratio is a standard part of that.

"That's how it is for all workgroups for every faculty," she said. "It's definitely the way things normally work."

She said she is not sure whether the university has an official policy on the matter.

Professor is backing students

Rancourt supports the lawsuit.

"Promised resources were not supplied despite the obvious need," he said.

He added that course approvals never involve written contracts between the university and the students, but he attended meetings and has seen documents backing up the students' claim that the university promised one teaching assistant per workgroup.

"In my view, there was a contract, and it was very clear that this was the understanding."

Duchesnau said the course teaches students what they can do to contribute to society, and the lawsuit is putting that lesson into practice.

"If we win, the whole system can change," she said. "Students will be empowered by this."