On Campus

Former Mount Royal student president out on bail

Lawyer offers surprising revelation

The former Mount Royal University student president charged with robbing a Calgary bank last week has been granted bail, reports the Calgary Herald. Meghan Darcy Melnyk, 27, must live under house arrest with her aunt in Didsbury, Alta. until her next court appearance on March 16.

In a surprising twist, defense lawyer Derek Lovatt said that his client was under stress and suffering from a gambling addiction when she passed a Servus Credit Union teller a note indicating she was armed and demanding money. Melnyk allegedly took $6,180, but was quickly apprehended; an employee had noted her vehicle’s license plate number.

Melnyk also has pending charges for fraud under $5,000 involving a stolen purse and forged cheque, using a forged document, and breaching probation conditions. She has a 2008 conviction for vehicle theft and a 2010 conviction for attempting to falsely obtain a social insurance number.

After the bank robbery, MRU president David Docherty posted a statement on Facebook, which included this sentiment: “We do not know what drove Meghan to take this course of action; however, we hope she receives the help she needs for the issues that led her to this point.”

Melnyk resigned from the Students’ Association at Mount Royal University in January. Since the bank robbery, some MRU students expressed anger that no criminal record checks took place before she was charged with the $6.3-million budget. Some other student unions require criminal checks.

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