Welcome to our April edition! We're thrilled to announce the upcoming pre-law gala scheduled for April 26, an event that promises to be both enlightening and entertaining. The department is happy to support this cause. For those of you who are wondering what happened to Tulip, check out the video promoting the Gala. We have a few other easter eggs in there, find them all and enter our contest by March 28th to win a treat basket!

This month's feature article spotlights Professor John Sutcliffe, the department’s most recent Head. His research on municipal politics and immigration is especially timely.

We also celebrate the accomplishments of our UWill Discover participants, whose innovative projects were well received. As we approach the end of the academic year, we reflect on our collective successes and the exciting opportunities ahead. Wishing you all the best for a successful exam season.

Q: What inspired you to become a professor?

A:  It wasn’t something I set out to do, I fell into it during my time in graduate school. I realized that I enjoy research and teaching, and being a professor is a great way to do both of those things.

 Q: What is your area of research?

A: Several areas, right now my two areas of focus include municipal politics and immigration. Currently I’m working on research studying immigration to Canada.

Q: Do you have any recommendations or further readings on your topic?

A: Maximum Canada by Doug Saunders, which predates the current debate about immigration and housing in Canada. There is an organization that wants to increase Canada’s population to 100 million, but that goal has been shut out by concerns about housing, health care, etc. Another good one about municipal issues is How to Kill a City by Peter Moskowitz, which includes examples of gentrification in Detroit. Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser is another good read that talks about the benefits of living in urban areas. The three books complement each other in many ways and the issues are applicable to Canada.

Q: Has your thinking on your topics of expertise evolved over time, and if so, how?

A: Definitely, the more you research the more you find out what you don’t know. And that’s one of the great things about research is you find interests in things you didn’t know much about. My original research was on EU integration which also informs my studies of integration between Windsor and Detroit.

Q: Do you have any tips on how to succeed in university?

A: Reading, it’s as simple as that. Because the more you read, the better you become as a writer. It doesn’t just have to be about political science, it can be anything. The better you can write and communicate, the longer you will go in your career and in life. For example, I could teach a class about municipal politics, but the skills students learn in terms of reading, writing, and communication are most important.

Q: Do you have any hobbies? 

A: Yes I love sports. I play tennis and badminton, and I love watching Liverpool in the British Premier League.

The Political Science department was well represented during this year’s UWill Discover conference with the following papers and presentations:

• Mya Dahma, “Foreign Election Interference via Social Media in the Canadian Context and the Impact on Democracy.”

• Anne Frazer, “Canadian Indigenous Educational Policy Formulation through the Capability Approach.”

• Lauren Lindfors-Bruno, “Modern-Day Slavery: Combating Sex Trafficking in Nova Scotia and Ontario’s Child Welfare Systems Using a Trauma-Informed Approach.”

• Victorieuse Sambao, “The Notwithstanding Clause: Québec's Secret Weapon.”

• Iain Sutcliffe, “The Pivot to Asia in American Foreign Policy: An Analysis of the Soft Power Dimension.”

• Hanan Zahrah & Dawn Trudel, “The Influence of Indigenous Women in Canadian Government and Politics.”

Our Gala anticipates a gathering of over 125 guests, comprising legal professionals, university representatives, and esteemed professors from the Windsor Law School and Department of Political Science. It promises to be a sophisticated affair with a Black-Tie theme, boasting a sumptuous four-course meal, a cash bar, exciting prizes and raffles, captivating entertainment, inspiring speeches, a lively dance floor animated by a live DJ, and an exclusive after-party at Arrius, all included with the ticket.

Adding an innovative twist to the evening, our bid-on-a-lawyer concept promises to be a unique and engaging fundraising initiative. Through this activity, attendees have the opportunity to bid on legal professionals, granting the winners a day to shadow these experts in their offices. This concept not only injects excitement into our Gala event but also seamlessly aligns with our mission to support aspiring legal professionals and provide valuable resources to our community.

Participation in this activity not only aids our fundraising endeavors but also offers attendees access to invaluable expertise and support from seasoned professionals, creating a mutually beneficial scenario for all involved. Save the date for our Gala on April 26th, with doors opening at 17:00.

Check out our promotional video featuring Tulip!

Enter here for your chance to win a spring gift basket. Deadline for Entry March 28th.

• Mar 28th, 2024 - Registration Opens in UWinsite for Inter-Session/Summer 2024

• Mar 29th, 2024 - Good Friday: University Closed

• April 8th, 2024 - Last Day of Winter 2024 Classes

• April 11th -22nd, 2024 - Final Exams for Winter 2024

• April 26th - Pre Law Gala

• April 29th, 2024 - Deadline to apply to graduate at Spring 2024 Convocation

• April 30th, 2024 - GRA Final oral defense Deadline for Spring 2024 graduation