Editor: Maddy Digby
Winners
Ella Halliday - Truth and Reconcililation Commissions as Buzzwords: Symbolic Justice and the Politics of Accountability
Hannah Schneider - Human Rights and Hidden Interests: Examining Canada's Quiet Calculations
Henry Leitch - Who Plans the City? Political Motivations Behind Urban Development in Brazil
Kyra Kirkpatrick - Blood Batteries: The Moral Dissonance of Canadian Commitments to Environmentalism and the Cost of Human Suffering
Lily Van Beek - Legacy and Withdrawal: U.S. Impacts on Global Education Governance
Sophia Tallboy - Dangerous Waters: Alberta's Bill 2 and its Implications for Collective Bargaining Rights
Olivia Does - Adjustments to Canadian Foreign Policy: Under the Rising Threat of Right-Wing Populism in the United States
2026 winners (L-R): Ella, Lily, Sophia, Olivia, Hannah (not pictured: Kyra, Henry)
Letter from the Editor
This academic year has been an exceptionally vibrant and eventful one for the Dalhousie Undergraduate Political Science Society. While recent years have presented challenges in stimulating campus engagement, our energetic and dedicated team of executive and council members has successfully brought the DUPSS spirit fully back to life. Alongside our classic events, such as Jeopardy Night and the Honours information session, we introduced two new events: our monthly “Word Count & Waffles” study sessions, which provided a space for students to collaborate over breakfast, and the “Political Unrest: Polarizing Games” event. Our year-end gala was a particular highlight, as we saw the highest attendance in seven years. Furthermore, we were also proud to once again offer the Dalhousie Alumni Network, which paired current students with past graduates as they look toward their future careers.
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in our events and initiatives this year, as well as to the amazing executive and council team for all their hard work; it does not go unnoticed. I also wish to thank the Political Science Department for their unwavering support and encouragement. Finally, a huge congratulations to the winners of the 2025-26 Podium journal!
Sincerely,
Isabella Stefek
President, Dalhousie Undergraduate Political Science Society, 2025-2