In the beginning of 2008, first-year engineering student Chris Avenir was charged with 147 counts of academic misconduct by his Toronto, Canada, university Ryerson. Struggling to keep up with the pace of the advanced education he just started taking, Chris had turned to the world of any for help. Realizing that anyone should be able to find any answers, anytime, anywhere, he used his facebook profile to invite others to solve the academic assignments he received in his courses.

And anyone did, students at his university, and around the world, chipped in, thinking it was a brilliant idea. However, Ryerson officials did not agree, and soon notified Chris that he faced expulsion for cheating.

Fortunately for Chris, the visitors to his facebook account were members of Generation In-Charge. Used to being in charge and having their way, they saw no problem with fighting university management. Funds were gathered by selling “Chris did not cheat” t-shirts and hats on facebook, clips supporting him posted on youtube, and they were able to draw the attention of tv networks, newspapers and magazines across the globe.

A few weeks later, Ryerson University issued a statement that Chris Avenir would face a couple of slaps on the academic wrist, but not be expelled.