It’s been a busy semester in the Department of Political Science.

Classes are in full gear and students have been engaged in learning. Inside this issue of Political Pulse there are two calls for undergraduate students to become more involved with outside activities: an undergraduate conference in Kamloops, BC; and, the Model NATO meeting in Ottawa. Check out these opportunities to meet new students and apply your learning outside the classroom.

A new feature is introduced: Q&A with a professor, aka., things you would like to know about your professor but were too afraid to ask. Our Ignite student Miguel Hurtado interviews Dr. Rebecca Major for the first issue. As we feature Dr. Major on her career at the University of Windsor, we have mixed feelings about the next chapter in her career. Dr. Major will be leaving the department to become the inaugural NVD Research Chair in Northern Governance at Yukon University. More information about her appointment can be found here. As much as we wish her the very best, we are very sadden to see her go. Best wishes to Rebecca and her family on this amazing opportunity!

In and around the department itself, we are making some changes to our physical space as is noted below with the introduction of our new Political Science library as well as the bulletin board refresh for the department hallways.

As always, if you have anything you would like to have included in upcoming issues of Political Pulse, send them to [email protected] by the last week of the month.

Q: What inspired you to become a professor?

A: I’ve always really enjoyed working with students and young adults, along with doing academic research. Teaching the next generation of leaders has always been my passion, so becoming a professor was a good fit for me that allowed me to both work with students and do my own research.

Q:What is your area of research?

A: Indigenous policy with a specialization in Indigenous politics and governance.

Q: What projects are you currently working on and how have they evolved over time?

A: I oversee the Indigenous studies minor within the political science department which I helped to create when I was first hired here. Currently, I am the recipient of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant (IDG) which explores equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization. The Indigenous studies minor and IDG, while logistically separate, are complementary and closely related to one another. And several years ago I began to provide Indigenous community governance support services which allows me to put all my research into practice.

Q: What courses are you teaching this semester? How difficult do you think your course is?

A: Currently teaching POL 4000: Indigenous Nation Building: Traditional Government in the Modern Era. My courses are designed so that students who read, take notes, attend, and who prepare in general will succeed. That is really the key, and the students who do this have a much higher success rate in my classes.

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

A:I think just like I said before, doing all your course readings, coming prepared, attending class, these are all the key things to academic success. Everything else builds on that.

Q:What are your favorite hobbies?

A: My biggest hobby is beading and making earrings. It is a great de-stress activity and it is one of the ways that I take care of myself. It also helps me to step away from my computer for a few hours and make gifts for other people that I care about.

Q: Do you have any closing remarks?

A: Yes, I would really like to close by saying how much I appreciate all my friends, colleagues, and students here at the University of Windsor. I have truly enjoyed every moment I spent here and it’s been a wonderful institution to be a part of.

The Thompson Rivers University Philosophy, History, and Politics Undergraduate Research Conference (TRU PHP Conference) takes place annually in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Our 17th annual conference will be held on TRU’s campus from January 19-20, 2024, with abstracts due on November 30th, 2023. The aim of the conference is to give undergraduate students the opportunity to present their research in a professional, yet inviting environment. The conference is concentrated around three disciplines: Philosophy, History, and Politics. However, we do accept papers from other subjects if there is a connection with one of the three main disciplines. Our conference provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to share their original research. It allows them to develop meaningful connections, interact with peers who share similar interests, and spark further research ideas.

In the past sixteen years in which the conference has run, we have had student participants from universities across Canada and the United States. If funding is required for travel or any other reason, we encourage students to seek funding through their home university. Information on potential hotel deals will be made available at a later date should an opportunity arise.

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at [email protected]. Please also visit our website https://www.tru.ca/phpconf.html for more information, including details on abstract submissions, which will open in November. The site will be updated in the lead-up to the conference. We hope to see some students from the University of Windsor at this year’s conference and would like to wish you all a pleasant semester.

It was so much fun getting to meet new Political Science students at this year’s club’s day!

The enthusiasm and diverse perspectives brought by each student promise an exciting and dynamic year ahead. The Political Science Association can’t wait to explore the intricacies of political science together, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and create lasting connections that extend beyond the classroom.

Here's to a fantastic year of intellectual growth and shared experiences!

For those students looking to get involved with the PSA, we're excited to announce our upcoming Halloween-themed Canned Food/non-perishables Food Drive event in partnership with the UHC-Hub of opportunities. If you have a passion for community service and want to be part of a fun and meaningful event, we encourage you to sign up as a volunteer. Your support will make a significant difference in helping us scare away hunger and provide much-needed assistance to those in need. To sign up as a volunteer or if you have any questions, please email [email protected]! Happy Spooky Season Lancers! 

Ignite student Emily MacIntyre has been working on updating some of the spaces in the department. Progress is being made on the the Political Science Library. The first order of business was to repaint the room, from the green (seen around the door frame) to a more pleasant grey.

She is now working on organizing the books and setting up the shelves. Once the shelves are secured to the wall they can be organized and the room will be made available to students. Here’s a sneak peak of the progress so far.

The second of our three Ignite students, Miguel Hurtado has been working on the bulletin board refresh. We are moving away from the faculty publications to provide more student-focused information. These lovely boards are being retired.

The replacements are starting to take shape.

Theme of the simulation: "Modernizing NATO on and off the Battlefield". 

Every year since 2002* hundreds of students from universities across North America descend upon the Nation's Capital to take part in invigorating and thought-provoking simulation of NATO decision-making and crisis management. Given the current global events, interest in NATO activities and MNATO simulation has skyrocketed. The conference is hosted by the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) of Carleton University and supported by NATO. 

Apart from discussions and negotiations at various committees, the Conference will include visits to Embassies of NATO countries, renowned keynote speakers, reception, and other opportunities to expand a contact base within the political and military community. 

Registration is open on the CMNATO website www.carleton.ca/mnato.

Please, register as a delegation of your university / college, or as an individual participant. Early Bird registration rate is available until November 30, 2023.

Delta hotel, Air Canada and VIA Rail offer discounted rates to the conference participants. Limited amount of bursaries to reimburse some travel expenses will be available (amounts tbc).

• Cheryl N. Collier . "Gender-Based Violence Research in Canadian Political Science: A Call to Action." Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue Canadienne de Science politique 55, no. 4 (2022): 769-783.

• Jesse Ovadia is part of a team that just received SSHRC Partnership Grant recently awarded for “African Extractivism and the Green Transition”. The award is for $2,498,948 over 6 years. See https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/results-resultats/recipients-recipiendaires/2022/pg-sp-eng.aspx

• Jesse Ovadia and Maud Amoafo. Bowles, P., Andrews, N. (2023). Extractive Bargains and the State-Society Nexus: One World, Many Bargains. In: Bowles, P., Andrews, N. (eds) Extractive Bargains. Frontiers of Globalization. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32172-6_1

  Maud Amoafo completed her MA in spring 2022 and currently works for the Ministry of Social Services, Government of Saskatchewan.  

• Tracey Raney, and Cheryl N., Collier, "Evaluating Violence and Sexual Harassment Rules in Canada's House of Commons." in Elin Bjarnegard and Par Zetterberg eds. Gender and Violence Against Political Actors. Temple University Press (2023) 231-240.

November 7th, 1:00-2:00pm Being A Body of Stories: The Art Collecting and Carrying Community Stories, Room 53 Chrysler Hall South

November 15th - Last Day to Voluntarily Withdraw from Fall 2023 courses

November 17th - Reading Liberty - 12:00pm, Location TBA

November 20th - Teach in Series, Learning (To) Hate Violence 7:00-9:00 pm in person in SoCA Armouries Performance Hall and on Teams. Register by emailing [email protected]

November 30th - Guest Speaker Prof. Daniel Byman in POLS 4880/8910 11:00AM to 12:00pm