by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 31/97) - A Yellowknife woman attending university in Alberta faces charges of killing her newborn and leaving the baby in a campus trashcan.

The 20-year-old first-year student at Augustana University College in Camrose was charged Wednesday with infanticide and other charges related to the death of her daughter.

Police in the suburban community 60 kilometres southeast of Edmonton believe the woman gave birth to a live, full-term baby girl hours before the girl's body was found on campus.

The cause of death hasn't been released and tests are being done by the chief medical examiner, according to deputy chief Marshall Chalmers of Camrose Police.

He said no one else is charged, including the woman's boyfriend, who's believed to be living in Yellowknife.

A custodian found the baby in a garbage bag that had been left a dormitory trashcan Monday morning.

Less than two hours later the woman was found by police and brought to hospital for medical attention. She was released from hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Richard Husfloen, president of the Augustana University College, said that no one on the campus seemed to know she was pregnant.

Husfloen also said that on-campus counselling was available and will be available to her when she comes back to school.

"We welcome her back as one of our students," he said. "We will care for and support her as one of our students."

The charges include infanticide, failing to make provisions for reasonable assistance in respect to her delivery, indecent interference with human remains, and improperly disposing of a dead body.

The woman was released from custody Wednesday afternoon after appearing in provincial court. She is scheduled to return to court again Feb. 12.

A memorial service for the baby was scheduled to take place at the Augustana University College chapel today.