Hello, Political Pulse readers! Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter, where we bring you the latest updates of the department. In this issue we feature one of our newer members of the department, Dr. Greg Feldman. Dr. Feldman is a political anthropologist who has recently been awarded a SSHRC Connection Grant. Congratulations Greg!

The semester is in full swing as students and faculty preparing for midterms and papers. For students graduating this year there are many additional concerns occupying your minds such as what to do next. May I suggest that you consider graduate school where you can develop your research and analytical skills to a higher level?

The Department of Political Science at Windsor gives students the chance to be part of a growing and vibrant academic community. The department has exceptional resources available to fund its M.A. students, and offers two exciting paths to pursue graduate work:

an M.A. degree, which can generally be completed in one calendar year (September to September) through the completion of courses and either a major research paper or a master's thesis;

and the M.A. internship option, a unique program that combines M.A. coursework with a 6-month paid internship to complete the degree with valuable hands-on work experience with employers including municipal governments; government agencies; local, provincial and national politicians; and non-governmental agencies. Deadline for applications is May 1.

For those wondering why there is a dog on the cover, it is not click bait (though if it entices more people to read the newsletter, I’ll continue posting these kinds of images). I have a new member of my family, a Bordoodle puppy named Tulip! Tulip is a cross between a Border Collie and a Poodle, and I think she is the cutest thing you'll ever see. She loves to play, cuddle, and chew on anything she can find. She also has a keen interest in politics, and will often barks her opinions on the current events.

I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find it useful. As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our community!

This is a reminder of the potential for a transit strike starting at 12:01 a.m., Monday, Feb. 5.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 616 issued a strike notice that could suspend all bus services by Transit Windsor.

We strongly recommend members of our community proactively plan for alternative means of transportation to minimize disruption to your daily travel to and from the University in the event of a strike. Carpooling with fellow colleagues or friends who have personal transportation is encouraged. Should you face difficulties reaching campus due to the strike, please inform your supervisor or instructor(s) promptly. For courses requiring physical presence, such as labs or exams, adhere to the established protocol for illness-related absences.

Expect and plan for increased traffic around the campus, which may lead to crowded parking and drop-off areas.

The University will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they emerge. Keep informed through local media outlets. Our Transit Updates web page is also available to offer resources for students and staff.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation should a strike occur.

Q: What inspired you to become a professor?

A:  I was really first inspired to pursue a doctorate rather than becoming a professor, and the reason I was interested is because a PhD gives you great argumentation skills and teaches you how to learn new things. And I realized that if you know how to argue, no one can mess with you because people can’t talk nonsense with you. That really drew me to apply to PhD programs, and on top of that I felt that getting a doctorate would give me a critical understanding of the world. And then once I finally obtained my PhD, I was pretty much committed to academia and it made sense to become a professor.

 Q: What is your area of research?

A: Currently a few. I am always researching global migration and the role that discourse about national/international security informs global migration. I am also working on studying political activism and totalitarian trends around the world and clamping down on diversity, free speech, and freedom of the press.

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

A: The best book on totalitarianism is The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt.  It’s definitely a very dense and in many ways difficult book to read, but it’s a masterpiece. With regards to political activism, Direct Action: An Ethnography by David Graeber is a great starting point for anyone interested on the topic.

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

A:  Definitely, and that’s been the most rewarding aspect of working in academia.  Learning doesn’t stop once you have your PhD, in fact, it grows even more because you’re always challenged to look at topics differently. Your colleagues and students force you to rethink how to interpret political and social problems, and that’s a great thing.

Q; What courses are you teaching this semester?

A: I’m teaching POL 2750: Research Methods in Political Science. This is the first time I’ve taught it and the focus of the course is how to write a research paper. I enjoy that because I feel like there is a lack of teaching how to write a research paper at the university level, but it’s one of the most practical skills students can develop.

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

A: Yes, do the [expletive] work! When a reading is assigned, do it, and go to class. You can’t succeed if you don’t go to class and don’t participate actively. There isn’t a magic code, you just have to do the work. Another side of this is that for a whole load of social reasons, even a lot of students who are smart and do the work greatly undervalue themselves. They don’t think that they have good insights when in actuality they do. So believe in yourself and have self-confidence.

Q: Do you have any hobbies? 

A: Yes, I love making cocktails, mixing spirits, and making mixed drinks. On Fridays, I like having a mixed martini. I find that when you’re speaking with someone and both of you are enjoying a mixed drink, you can really talk about anything because everyone feels relaxed.

In addition to this newsletter, the political science department is working on expanding the our online presence and one of the projects we have is to create an Instagram “challenge.” The challenge consists of asking students a few questions pertaining to their class, and if they get the correct answers, they receive a small prize.

For example, as students are walking out of an international relations class, two of our student workers (one filming and one asking the questions) will approach a student who agrees to be on camera for a few minutes. The student answers all 5 questions correctly, and is given a bag of BBQ chips (or equivalent). Professors will be helping by suggesting questions relevant to their course that our student workers could ask students.

This challenge will begin after reading week. To get started, consider following our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/uwinpol/#

• Feb 5th - Financial Drop Date: Winter 2024

• Feb 5th - Last day to file an appeal for grades for Fall 2023 Undergrad courses.

• Feb 6th - GRAD: Deadline for deposit step #1 of 3 for Phase II (50%base tuition refund).

• Feb 17th-25th- Reading Week

• Feb 19th - Family Day: University Closed

• Feb 20th - GRAD: Deadline for deposit steps #2 and #3 for Phase II (50% base tuition refund)

• Feb 23rd - University Offices Closed