by Ben Peel

The provincial election on October 6 will mark the third election in less than 18 months for Toronto. Beginning with the municipal election last October, the federal election in March and now the provincial election, it’s been a busy year in politics.

By Kent Kuran

“Those who control the economic life of a country also tend to have an overwhelming influence over state policy“ was the message Noam Chomsky came to deliver on Thursday 2011 April 7, at Hart House of the University of Toronto. He added that such a truism should even be taught in grade schools.

By Charlotte Tombs

“Be it resolved that support for democracy should be the foundation of Canadian foreign policy,” was the resolution under fire last Thursday, when the Hart House Debates Committee and the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy hosted its formal debate of the year.

The evening started off with a debate between two teams of students from the Hart House Debating Club. This was followed by a speech by Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic and Member of Parliament, the Honourable Bob Rae.

By Charlotte Tombs

On Wednesday February 9, 2011, the Hart House Debates Committee, in partnership with the Canadian International Council – Toronto Branch (CIC), Students in Solidarity with Haiti(SSH), the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU), The Caribbean Studies Students Union (CARSSU) and The Caribbean Studies Department, hosted an event entitled “Haiti One Year Later: What Must Be Done?”

By Kent Kuran

On Wednesday 2010 November 10, I attended the Hart House Debates Committee’s event on “Are Billionaires Dangerous?” The evening began with a parliamentary style debate by students presenting both sides of the resolution, “Be it resolved that billionaires are a menace to society.”

Debaters were assigned a position. Arguing for the motion, Josh Stark and Deirdre Casey argued that billionaires distort power dynamics in society.

By Ben Peel

8. The Final Day of Worlds

Well, at least no one can accuse the organizers of not saving the best for last.  There was a desire to improve the visibility of the English as a Second Language and English as a Foreign Language Finals, so the decision was made to host them at the same off-campus venue as the Grand Final.  No harm there, probably a good thing in principle to support inclusivity at Worlds.  But it just ended up being a complete disaster.

7. New Years Eve Party/Socials in General

I think to some extent we were all spoiled by having attended Worlds last year in Turkey, where all the alcohol was free, and the 4 star resort never ever came anywhere close to running out.  But this was pretty much the polar opposite.