University of Toronto Department of Political Science

Memorial for Richard Iton

News.Politics — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:30 +0000

A memorial gathering will be held at Massey College on Saturday, June 8, 2012 from 2 to 5PM. All are welcome to attend. (If you are planning to attend, please send an RSVP to jcarens@utoronto.ca and melissa.williams@utoronto.ca.)

Donations in memory of Richard may be made to The Richard Iton Memorial Fund, which will support a student award on the Mississauga and St. George campuses of the University of Toronto. Donations may be made on-line at www.donate.utoronto.ca/politicalscience or by mail to The Richard Iton Memorial Fund, c/o Office of the Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, ON Canada M5S 3G3. Tax receipts will be issued. The attached form may also be used: MS Word | PDF.

Professor Clifford Orwin receives the inaugural JJ Berry Smith Doctoral Supervision Award

News.Politics — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:32:20 +0000

The annual JJ Berry Smith Supervision Award honours active faculty members who, over a minimum of a fifteen-year period, have demonstrated excellence in supervision at the University of Toronto by: inspiring and guiding students to reach excellence in scholarship; providing an environment that is supportive and stimulating; enabling students to learn the essential methodologies, concepts and cultures of their discipline; introducing students to the wider content of the discipline and relevant communities of scholars; positioning students for future careers both within and outside academe; and fostering a strong sense of academic integrity.

Professor Clifford Orwin has been a faculty member in the Department of Political Science for almost forty years. A supervisor whose style of mentorship is often referred to by his students as “tough love”, Clifford Orwin is greatly admired and appreciated for his “exacting standards”. He has supervised 22 dissertations to completion and is currently serving as supervisor to 6 doctoral students. Clifford Orwin was praised for his commitment to the achievements of his students and their career progress as he guides them to positions both within and outside academe. His students have gone on to academic appointments at Western University, University of British Columbia, Yale University and Emory University; other students have gone on to careers outside the academe as writers, attorneys and policy analysts. He was singled out by his nominators for his commitment to his students, noting that he is dedicated to “coaxing the very best work from each student”. Professor Orwin will receive a JJ Berry Smith Supervisory Award Certificate, his name on a plaque housed at the School of Graduate Studies, as well as a SGS Conference or Travel Grant to support a current doctoral student.

To read more about Professor Clifford Orwin and his work please click here.

A response to Prof. Peter Loewen’s article: Our uniquely hysterical abortion debates

News.Politics — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:27:02 +0000

Recently Professor Peter Loewen wrote an article in the Ottawa Citizen about Harper’s control over his caucus regarding the abortion debate. In response to this article National Post columnist Chris Selley states:
“An interesting example came from University of Toronto political science professor Peter Loewen, writing in the Ottawa Citizen, who accused pundits of cheering on Stephen Harper in recent attempts to muzzle MPs who want to discuss abortion-related subjects in the House of Commons.”

To read the entire article written by Chris Selley click here.

And to read more about the original article by Professor Peter Loewen please click here.

Professor Aisha Ahmad to speak at the inaugural TEDxUofT

News.Politics — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:22:51 +0000

On Saturday May 18, Professor Aisha Ahmad will be part of the first ever TEDxUofT. The event, organized by a student-led group, “will showcase 13 speakers from a wide range of disciplines who will engage and inspire a community of curious souls with their ideas, their stories, their journeys and their dreams. ”

Click here to read more about the event.

Joseph Wong champions ‘audacious’ innovation

News.Politics — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:55:31 +0000

In a recent U of T News article, Barrett Hooper writes about Political Science Professor Joseph Wong and how he teaches his students is that innovation doesn’t mean invention. Professor Wong says “innovation has become a buzzword — you hear it everywhere from Singapore to Rwanda. But we need to disabuse people of the idea that it’s about the Next Big Thing, innovation is about finding ways to do good. And the Next Big Thing are the people who have the audacity to believe they can make a difference.”

To read the full article click here.

Lynette Ong’s Op Ed: Pakatan Rakyat must rethink strategies

News.Politics — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:06:13 +0000

A recent Op Ed by Lynette Ong in Australian National University’s New Mandala explores the landscape of Malaysia’s politics and the reasons the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat (PK), has failed to capture power.

To read the full Op Ed click here.

My Brother’s – And My Sister’s – Keeper featuring Professor Simone Chambers

News.Politics — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:26:02 +0000

In part 2 of “My Brother’s – And My Sister’s – Keeper” on CBC Radio One Professor Simone Chambers, along with two other panelists, continues to explore the limits and the extent of our obligations to others, as individuals and as a society.

For part 1 click here.

For part 2 click here.

Beth Jean Evans receives a Teaching Assistants’ Training Program’s (TATP) Teaching Excellence Award

News.Politics — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:06:48 +0000

Beth Jean Evans is the recipient of a 2013 Teaching Assistants’ Training Program’s (TATP) Teaching Excellence Award. The TATP Teaching Excellence Award was created in 2003 to recognize the outstanding contributions of teaching assistants at the University of Toronto. The award seeks to value the work of TAs who regularly inspire and challenge undergraduate students.

The Department of Political Science would like congratulate Ms. Evans and thank her for her commitment to undergraduate teaching.

For more information on the award and to see the full list of recipients click here.

Professor Peter Loewen appointed Director of the Centre for the Study of the United States

News.Politics — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:52:44 +0000

Professor Peter Loewen has been appointed as the Director of the Centre for the Study of the United States. Professor Loewen’s appointment is from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016.

Professor Thomas Tieku reflects on the work he does outside the classroom

News.Politics — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:32:07 +0000

In a recent UofT News article Professor Thomas Tieku writes about his work outside of teaching with anti-poverty initiatives and conflict mediation work. “In ways that are not immediately obvious, these works enhance my teaching and the overall experiences of our students back at U of T.”

To read the full article click here.