Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid Vol. 26
Welcome to the first official day of the winter term! If you have classes today, we hope they’re swell.
This first week is jam-packed with events for philosophy students, so be sure to read on ahead.
Here’s the 26th Volume of the Concordia Philosophy Student Weekly Tabloid, which brings you all the hottest and best events and relevant philosophy news.
This week, we disseminate news about:
- Updates on the Philosophy building closure
- A special speaker talk on the importance of philosophy in the ecological crisis
- New student & academic skill events
- Our Sheila Mason Bursary
- A philosophy department speaker talk
- A Master in Philosophy Graduate Information Session
- A call for editors
- Philopolis call for submissions
- People’s Potato free daily meals
- Various Concordia events
The Philosophy Department Building Reopens for Business
Near the end of the Fall semester, a structural failure occurred in the philosophy department building, which prompted the building to close as Facilities Management assessed its safety.
From the information we have, the building will reopen in January with the exception of the M-annex first floor. We assume this also means the M-annex basement and our SoPhiA space. Here’s the information we have directly from Facilities Management:
- The S-annex reception, and Rooms 101, 109 and 110 of the M annex need to be kept closed until further notice, unless it is for a quick visit to pick up stuff.
- Both annexes can be re-opened for business as usual (except 1st floor on M).
- The M lobby can be used to go to the staircase
It appears the philosophy building will be open with the exception of the first floor of the M-annex, which will reopen sometime in February.
We won’t hold regular office hours for January, but if you’d like to meet with us, we have a physical space available or can do so through Zoom.
If you need to reach us, see our executives page.
If you need to access the closed areas of the philosophy building, then contact security at 514-848-3717 or visit the security desk on the ground floor of the Hall Building.
SoPhiA’s Inclusivity Project Speaker: “How Should We Think Today?” On the Importance of Philosophy in the Ecological Crisis
SoPhiA is excited to announce an exciting lecture happening in January featuring guest speaker Dr. Andrew Biro from Acadia University!
As news, images, and stories of the catastrophic effects of climate change have gained increasing visibility over the past years, the need for fundamental transformations in our current economic and social systems has perhaps never been so crucial. As vulnerable populations around the world suffer from devastating floods and scorching droughts, and entire species become extinct due to the decimation of their natural habitats, the question now arises: How should we think differently, and how can we?
In his lecture, guest speaker Dr. Andrew Biro, a professor at Acadia University who specializes in Critical Theory and Environmental Political Theory, will be addressing the question of the importance of philosophy in the ecological crisis. This lecture will be followed by a roundtable discussion where students and audience members will have a chance to share their experiences and thoughts and be part of creating a necessary conversation on philosophy, ecology, and the need for critical thinking.
This a great opportunity for students and staff to be part of an intergenerational discussion on the ecological crisis.
Organized by the Inclusivity Project (as part of SoPhiA).
To RSVP, email: inclusivity.sophia@asfa.ca
If you are interested in responding to one or more prompts by December 31st to help guide and facilitate discussion, please fill out this form here:
https://forms.gle/faWoVSKMEHUgwJBg8
Who: Dr. Andrew biro (Acadia University)
What: A lecture talk & roundtable
When: January 6th, 2023 4pm
Where: 4th Space Concordia
See the Facebook Event
New Student & Academic Skill Events
Are you a new philosophy student at Concordia hoping to get oriented to the campus and learn its ins and outs? Hope to pick up some useful skills that will be extremely helpful in your courses? There are many events during the first few weeks of the term for just that. See below for any such events!
- Welcome Crew drop-ins: Jan 9-13, 10am-4pm
- Webster Library Tour: Jan 9, 2pm; Jan 10, 2pm.
- Arts and Science Faculty Tour:
- Jan 9, 3pm;
- Jan 11, 10:30am;
- Jan 13, 10:30am.
- Explore Montreal: Downtown Walking Tour: Jan 13, 2pm
- Meet a Friend on Campus:
- Jan 10, 10am;
- Jan 12, 3:30pm.
- Social events:
- Learn academic skills:
- Getting more out of your academic readings: Jan 9 & 10
- Effective note-taking: Jan 10 & 11
- Best study hacks: Jan 11 & 12
- Concordia’s Online tools Explained: Jan 13, 3:30pm
- Improve your Attention Workshop Jan 13, 10:15am; Jan 16
See the list of all Orientation events.
See also a useful video with tips for first-years:
Sheila Mason Bursary
Each year, SoPhiA provides our Sheila Mason Bursary, an essay-based student bursary, to one or more lucky students! We do not evaluate academic performance or GPA, but how well the student engages in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the philosophy or Concordia community.
The bursary is restricted to current undergraduate students enrolled in a major, minor or honours program in the philosophy department.
Those eligible for application include (as self-disclosed):
- Women
- LGBTQAI+ (lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, asexual, intersex, and others included in this umbrella)
- BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of colour)
- Students with disabilities
The application process typically includes:
- Personal statement, which must include a description of community involvement, how the individual is working towards creating an inclusive environment within philosophy, and an explanation of financial need.(500-750 words)
- Essay, on the topics of queer, postcolonial, intersectional, feminist, or race theory (1500-2000 words)
- Letter of recommendation (e.g., from teacher, advisor, employer, etc.)
- C.V. (resume), updated to include information pertinent to the award
Start thinking now about compiling your application and if you have a great essay on queer, postcolonial, intersectional, feminist, or race theory topics from one of your courses, that’s completely acceptable as a submission! Or you can write your midterm in one of your courses on this topic and use it as a submission.
See more information from our 2022 bursary, including previous year’s winners, on our Inclusivity Project page.
Stay tuned with more updates on exactly how and when to apply!
Who: Undergrad philosophy students who self-identify as: women, LGBTQAI, BIPOC, or disabled
What: An essay-based student bursary
When: Deadline for application is March 17th, 2023
Philosophy Department Speaker: Emptiness, Negation, and Skepticism in the Mādhyamaka of Nāgārjuna and Sengzhao
Dr. Eric S. Nelson, Associate Dean of humanities and social Sciences and Professor of Philosophy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, will be speaking on January 13, from 3-5pm in the J.W. McConnell Building, room 263 (Webster Library).
His talk “examines the practice-oriented background and philosophical significance of emptiness, negation, and skepticism in the Mādhyamaka Buddhism of Nāgārjuna and Sengzhao. It reconstructs several strands in the transition from Indian to early Chinese Mādhyamaka discourses, illustrating the centrality of diagnostic and therapeutic practices of linguistic and experiential emptying, non-implicative negation, and the “skeptical” suspension of assertion.”
Who: Dr. Eric Nelson(Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
What: A philosophy lecture talk
When: January 13th, 2023 3pm
Where: Webster Library, room 362.
See the Event info
Master in Philosophy Graduate Information Session
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Philosophy are hosting a Master in Philosophy Graduate Information Session.
The session is hosted by Dr. Mattew Barker, Professor and graduate Program Director and Emma Moss Brender, the Graduate Program Assistant. They will answer questions and provide information such as how to apply, when to apply, the program options, and the program in general.
Registration required
What: Philosophy Graduate Program Information Session
When: January 10th, 2023 3pm
Where: Online
Call for Editors: The SoPhiA Review
Are you interested in taking part in a cool editing project? Want to be part of a fledging journal? Have awesome writing or editing skills?
SoPhiA is hoping to bring back this year its annual undergraduate journal, The SoPhiA Review! And we need your help!
We’re looking for people with a good eye, a capacity to read different texts, the ability to work in a team, and some editing skills. The candidates will be part of the editor team to read, edit, design, and publish student works in our annual journal!
The journal is usually published in the winter term, but the recruiting and planning of the journal occurs in the late fall.
Contact president dot sophia at asfa dot ca for more info.
Who: The SoPhiA Review
What: A call for editors
See some previous published works on our website.
Philopolis: Call for Submissions
Philopolis Montreal is a public and free inter-university student-run philosophy conference (from the philosophy departments of McGill University, Concordia University, University of Montreal, and University of Quebec in Montreal) with the aim of fostering positive discussion between the public, students, teachers, and scholars.
It’s a great way for undergraduates to practice presenting your research or a topic of expertise at lower-stakes conferences! Great for a CV for anyone interested in graduate philosophy study.
The deadline to apply is January 15th, 2023. The conference takes place the weekend of February 24-26th.
See their website or Facebook group for more information.
People’s Potato Free Daily Vegan Meals
People’s Potato is a nonprofit organization within Concordia that serves meals on the daily and they are back serving meals on January 9, 2023! They ask that you consider adding to their donation box on your visit, but will not turn anyone away.
People’s Potato serves vegan meals on Mon-Thurs from 12:30-2pm at the Hall building 7th floor. They ask you bring your own container and utensils for food so they remain sustainable.
They are also always looking for volunteers to either serve meals, cut vegetables and help with preparation, or clean up. You can devote as little as a few hours per week anytime between 9am-3pm.
If you’re on campus during the afternoon, why not swing by for a free, healthy meal?
Check out their website for more information
Follow them on Facebook
Who: People’s Potato
What: Free vegan meal
Where: Hall 7th floor
When: Mon-Thurs 12:30-2pm
Various Concordia Events
There are several events in the next week that may be interesting to philosophy students.
- Winter Term Welcome Spirituali-tea at MFSC: January 10, 2pm
- “The MFSC wants to invite you to the first Spirituali-tea session of the Winter term and of 2023! Through this drop-in session, we want to welcome back our community, and to meet the new students that will be joining us at Concordia University. Come for some coffee, tea, and snacks, reconnect with one-another, and enjoy a good time at MFSC.”
- Political Science MA and PhD Information Session: January 11, 11am
- Interested in graduate studies in political philosophy or political science?
- John Molson’s Graduate Diploma & Certificates Online Information Session: January 12, 12pm
- Looking to supplement your philosophy degree after graduation with practical business workplace skills?
- LinkedIn 101: January 13, 10am
- “Get valuable tips on how to build and optimize your LinkedIn profile to attract recruiters and learn about essential LinkedIn etiquette to make a good impression.”
See more of Concordia’s events
SoPhiA Book Library: Weekly Book Recommendation
This week’s highlighted book:
We do not have a highlighted book for you this week. To resume when we have access to our physical space. Feel free to have a look at our online library!
If you didn’t know, SoPhiA has a library of over 650 books! We have books from different domains of philosophy and some outside philosophy (psychology, business, political science, and even novels). We even have textbooks for some of your courses! (e.g., PHIL-210, 235, 260, 266, and more)
You can borrow a book for an hour, or even the whole semester. Just drop by our office or send us an email.
You can see our complete library of books online on our Librarika virtual library.
What: Books!
Where: The SoPhiA library (in our office space)
Do you know of any cool philosophy-related events in Montreal or the Concordia Community? Please let us know and we will advertise them here!
**Pictures are for representative effect only and aren’t actual photos of the events, products, or services we report on.
Students of Philosophy Association 