Hart House Debates Committee

Tues. Feb. 2nd, 5:00PM
Debate & Discussion
Debates Room
Free

Is gender testing a necessary part of elite sport and the Olympic Games?

The Hart House Debates Committee and Debating Club will debate this topic and welcome sport sociologist Dr. Ann Travers to offer reflection and commentary on the broader issue of gender injustice in sport.

Wed. Feb. 3rd, 10:00AM
Open Workshop -
Beyond Gender Injustice: Re-envisioning Sport
East Common Room
Free

Dr. Ann Travers will co-facilitate this round table workshop, offering a more intimate setting in which to explore barriers and challenges to integrating all people in sport.

In his characteristic mix of brazenness and eloquence Christopher Hitchens argues in favor of decriminalizing hate speech, and moreover, why free speech must include hate speech. This speech took place in a 2006 freedom of speech debate held at Hart House and put on by the Debates Committee - here is the video footage: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6379618149058958603&ei=AolDS9yREobalQex0ODRDw&q=hitchens+on+free+speech&view=3&dur=3#

Video footage of the event is avaliable here:

http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&lang=e&clipID=3450

Event Summary:

            On 26 November 2009 the University of Toronto Political Science Alumni Association, the Hart House Debates Committee and the CIC – Toronto Branch held an event entitled ‘Pandemics: Threat, Preparedness, and Response.’ The event was recorded for national syndication by CPAC and for radio broadcast by CUIT (University of Toronto radio station). Under the bright lights of television cameras Prof. Peter Warrian, Director of the Lupina Foundation, moderated a panel of four leading public officials and intellectuals in the Debates Room of prestigious Hart House on campus at the University of Toronto.

            The panel consisted of: Dr. Vivek Goel, President and CEO Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, Prof. Andrew Price-Smith, Associate Advisor to the US National Intelligence Council, Dr. Allison McGeer, Director Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Program Mount Sinai Hospital, and Prof. Roger Kiel, Director of the City Institute at York University.

            The speakers were allotted 5-8 minutes each to give an introductory statement as to their particular take on the questions raised by pandemics. During these introductions it became apparent that the panel represented a wide range of expertise. Dr. Vivek Goel focused on the role of the media in shaping public opinion and how this phenomenon can affect government responses. Prof. Price-Smith emphasized the interaction between infectious disease and security, drawing largely from his recent book on the subject. Dr. McGeer provided scientific information on the current H1N1 pandemic virus and lauded the Canadian response. Prof. Kiel elucidated the broad advances that globalization is affording scientists and governments in preparing for and combating global viruses like H1N1.

            After the introductory speeches, the floor was opened up to questions from the audience which were expertly chosen and read by moderator Prof. Warrian. A recurrent theme throughout the Q and A period was, not surprisingly, the current pandemic H1N1, a topic to which many of the audience questions were directed.  After friendly and informative but none the less competitive discourse the event came to a conclusion. The discourse continued over cocktails and hor d’oeuvres in an adjacent room in Hart House. Overall a huge success!

Hart House has just announced it’s bid to host the 2012 World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) at the University of Toronto. This is exciting news - stay tuned for more updates!

Here is a link to the bid website: http://www.harthouse2012.com/

Title: Panel Event: Pandemics: Threat, Preparedness, and Response
Location: 7 Hart House Circle- Debates Room

Start Time: 7:00
Date: 2009-11-26
End Time: 10:00
Description:

On November 26, 2009 Hart House Debates Committe, the Canadian International Council, and the University of Toronto Political Science Association will be holding a panel event discussing the possibility of a pandemic outbreak.  Given the recent declaration by the World Health Organization that the H1N1 flu virus is a Phase 6 pandemic, the two questions many people are asking are - what threat does a pandemic pose and how prepared are we to respond to one? Speakers will address these pressing questions and elaborate on their respective points of view.

This event is free. There will be a coctail reception to follow as well as a book signing. CPAC and the University of Toronto radio station CUIT will be onsite recording this event.

Speakers:

Dr Vivek Goel: President & CEO, Ontario Agency for Health Protection Promotion                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Prof Roger Keil:  Director, The City Institute, York University, Networked Disease: Emerging Infections in the Global City                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Dr Alison McGeer: Infectious Disease Consultant, Mount Sinai Hospital                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Prof Andrew Price-Smith: Colorado College, Contagion & Chaos: Disease, Ecology, & National Security in the Era of Globalization

Moderator: 

Prof Peter Warrian: University of Toronto 

sri_lanka

Title: Panel Event: Sri Lanka- Short Term Imperatives and Long Term Solutions
Location: 7 Hart House Circle- Debates Room

Start Time: 7:00
Date: 2009-09-22
End Time: 10:00
Description:

On Tuesday, September 22nd at 7:00PM, the Hart House Debates Committee and the Canadian International Council present a panel entitled, Sri Lanka: Short Term Imperatives and Long Term Solutions. The event will feature brief presentations from a panel of experts who will each offer their important perspectives on how lasting peace can be achieved in Sri Lanka. Following the panel, the audience will have an opportunity to engage in lively dialogue on this vital issue. The event is free and will take place in the Debates Room at Hart House, located at 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto.

Expert Panel:

• Stewart Bell - Journalist with the National Post, 2009 South Asian Journalists Association Award Winner for coverage on Sri Lanka

• Prof. David Matthews - Acadia University & member of the Independent International Group of Eminent Persons, appointed to the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons to investigate human rights abuses in Sri Lanka

• Dr. Bikram Lamba - Ombudsman, National Ethnic Press and former advisor to Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi

• Ken Kandeepan - Canadian Tamil Congress

• Moderated by Prof. David Cameron - A Professor of Political Science who is renowned for his significant career in public service at both federal and provincial levels of government.

*A reception follows the panel event.

Title: Club Showcase
Location: King College Circle
Link out: Click here
Description: An opportunity to meet the Debates Committee members and information on how you can get involved in one of Hart House\’s oldest and richest committees.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-09-04
End Time: 16:00

This upcoming Tuesday, September 4th will be UofT’s 2009 club showcase.

The event will run from 12:00-4:00 and we’ll be there in King’s College Circle giving you all kinds of great information such as the fantastic events we have planned for this year and how you can come join and support social awareness through Debate!

We hope to see a lot of new faces! Look for the HHDC logo, as seen on the banner on our homepage (top left next to Hart House).