McLaughlin College invites the York University community to come and listen to interesting speakers as they share their knowledge on a variety of topics, and enjoy a free lunch.
The long-running Lunch Talk Series resumes this month, and will present several talks and special events. Students who attend six or more Lunch Talks throughout the year will receive a Certificate of Participation, while those who attend 10 or more will receive a Certificate of Honour.
The talks take place in the Senior Common Room, 140 McLaughlin College, Keele Campus.
Here’s what’s on the menu for September:
Sept. 18 – The Moral and Legal Philosophical Justification of Article 1F Exclusion from Convention Refugee Status
Presented by Associate Professor James C. Simeon, this paper will seek to explicate both the moral and legal philosophical justification for Article 1F of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees; that is, the so-called exclusion clauses. All of those who have committed serious international crimes, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity or crimes against peace or aggression, or are guilty of actions that are contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations, or have committed a serious non-political crime prior to their arrival in their host country, are excluded from refugee protection. The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees has described such persons as "undeserving" or "unworthy" of international protection and, therefore, not eligible for refugee protection. But can anyone ever be denied of their most fundamental human rights such as the right to seek asylum? And in the modern human rights era, should anyone ever be labelled as "undeserving" or "unworthy" of international protection?
This presentation runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 – UN International Day of Peace Ceremonies and Special Panel
Each year, McLaughlin College recognizes a number of UN International Days with special panel sessions to further the UN's call for education, public awareness on issues related to peace. This UN International Day is perhaps one of its most important.
All are invited to attend the World Day of Peace Special Panel session at McLaughlin College. The event’s moderator is James C. Simeon, head of McLaughlin College and associate professor at York University
Panel speakers include:
- Tamara Lorincz, a PhD canadidate at the Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University and a board member of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. Her talk is titled “Why Peace & Disarmament are Essential to Climate Justice";
- Natalie Rizzo, central Ontario animator of Development & Peace, the Canadian member organization of Caritas Internationalis. Development & Peace supports partners in the Global South who promote alternatives to unfair social, political and economic structures; and
- Branka Marijan, a senior researcher at Project Ploughshares. She holds a PhD from the Balsillie School of International Affairs with a specialization in conflict and security. She is a board member of the Peace & Conflict Studies Association of Canada.
This event runs from noon to 2 p.m.
Sept. 24 – Beverley McLachlin: The Legacy of a Supreme Court Chief Justice
Presented by Ian Greene, York University professor emeritus, this talk will examine Beverly McLachlin’s 18 years as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. McLachlin turned the court into a more collegial and consensual court than it had been at any time in the court’s history. Not only was the rate of unanimous decisions around 70 per cent during these years – significantly higher than before or after – but there were no “blocs” of judges who tended to vote together consistently, as there had been under previous chief justices. In a just-published book, Beverley McLachlin: The Legacy of a Supreme Court Chief Justice, Greene and Peter McCormick outline how the character traits developed by McLachlin when growing up in rural Alberta contributed to her success in promoting consensus among the judges about controversial issues such as assisted dying, prostitution and Indigenous land claims. The authors demonstrate how these same qualities carried her through a public showdown with then-prime minister Stephen Harper over an unqualified appointment to the Supreme Court. She was given overwhelming support on her stance by the Canadian and international legal communities. She left the Supreme Court stronger and more respected than ever on the world stage.
This presentation runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 – Investing in Yourself: Smart Ways to Cover the Cost of Your Higher Education
Joanne Ong and Elizabeth Kazimi, financial support peers from Student Financial Services, deliver this presentation. Financial literacy is one of the real keys to success at university and this highly interactive workshop will inform students about the many opportunities and resources that will help build wealth while financing a post-secondary degree. Students will learn how to use debt to help them, not hinder them, while completing degree requirements, as well as identify opportunities in spending patterns that can lead to major savings. It will also focus on the three stages of a student loan, what to expect and who is involved in the world of financial aid. It will cover the all-important topic of scholarships and bursaries, but also the many other awards available at York University.
This presentation runs from noon to 1:30 p.m.