THIS MONTH IN FASS The latest news and events from the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences at Dalhousie University
The FASS Monthly E-Newsletter - October 2025
FASS GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
In this month's issue of the FASS students e-newsletter, you'll find important announcements of upcoming events and opportunities, including the 2025 Stanfield Conversation, the MacKay Lecture Series (organized this year by the International Devlopment Studies Department), and further event announcements from the Black and African Diaspora Studies program, Chinese Studies program, the English Department/Creative Writing Program, the Women in Political Science Society and more.
Academic Assistance for FASS Students
Advising for FASS Students
FASS students are welcome to visit Dr. Becca Babcock, Assistant Dean of Student Matters, for academic advice or help with university regulations and policies. Come and ask Dr. Babcock about academic dismissals and probation, waiver requests, grade changes, or what to do if your grades aren't what you'd hoped they would be.
In-Person or Online Meetings by Appointment:
Please email asstdeanfass@dal.ca to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with Dr. Babcock.
Wednesday Drop-Ins:
Wednesdays from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm in the Office of the Dean, room 3030 of the Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building.
Beagle at the Bissett
Thursdays from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm in the Bissett Student Success Centre (4th floor Student Union Building) with Luna the Therapy Dog.
Come and talk to Dr. Babcock or an academic advisor from the Bissett Centre, and get to know Luna the Beagle while you're there!
Luna is a St John Ambulance Therapy Dog. She provides comfort and companionship. No medical or psychiatric services are offered during these sessions. For mental health support, please visit the Mental Health Services at Dalhousie's Student Health and Wellness.
Allergy warning: a dog will be present.
2025 Stanfield Conversation
The 2025 Stanfield Conversation, taking place at Dalhousie University on Tuesday, October 21st at 7:00 pm (AT), will welcome featured speakers: Asha Rangappa, Senior Lecturer at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs and former FBI Special Agent and Wayne MacKay, Professor Emeritus, Dal's Schulich School of Law.
This year's guest moderator is journalist and producer of CBC's IDEAS, and Dal alum Mary Lynk (BA'84 in Political Science).
This year’s Stanfield Conversation will be recorded for IDEAS and will be broadcast on CBC at a later date.
For a preview of what this year’s theme will focus on,please watch this short videofeaturing Dr. Rachael Johnstone, Stanfield Fellow and Associate Professor in Dal’s Department of Political Science.
An Evening with Zilla Jones: Exploring The World So Wide
An evening with award-winning author Zilla Jones as she reads from and discusses her acclaimed debut novel, The World So Wide. A sweeping story of love, loss, and resilience, Jones’s work has been praised for its depth, beauty, and emotional power set against the background of the Grenada Revolution. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of Canada’s most exciting new literary voices.
Friday, Oct. 24, 7:00 pm Room 1011, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building
6100 University Avenue Free and open to the public
Hanfu (汉服) — the traditional clothing of the Han Chinese people — has a history that stretches back thousands of years. At this event, our guest presenter, an experienced Hanfu researcher, practitioner, and collector, will share her knowledge of Hanfu’s cultural significance, historical evolution, and diverse styles.
Dr. Eva Mroczek, the Simon and Riva Spatz Chair in Jewish Studies invites you to:
What Inge Knows
A live documentary performance about a remarkable 95-year old Holocaust survivor, therapist, feminist, and Jewish Buddhist, Inge Fleischmann Fowlie. Given the state of the world, what Inge knows, as a survivor who has spent her life reckoning with how we hurt and can heal each other, is more important than ever. Performance followed by a live Q&A with Inge and producer Josh Greenhut.
Sunday, Oct. 5, 2:00 pm Scotiabank Auditorium
Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building
6135 University Ave FREE and open to the public
English Department/Creative Writing Program
2025 Varma Prizes in Gothic Literature – Writing Contest
The prizes recognize innovative, original, and unpublished works of fiction or poetry that engage with the Gothic in fresh ways. (250 words maximum, one entry per student)
First prize: $500 Second prize: $200 Third prize: $150 Three Honourable Mention prizes of $50 each
Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 15th, 2025
Include your “B00” number on your submission, not your name. Include your name in your email along with the Title of your submission.
Contestants must have declared English or Creative Writing as a focus of their degree program or be registered in an English or Creative Writing course.
Fathom Editorial Meeting: Monday, October 6, 4:00pm - 5:00 pm, Marion McCain Building room 1130
Fathom is Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College’s creative writing journal. It is exclusively by and for students. Students who are interested in being part of this year’s dynamic, hands-on editing team are invited to meet Monday, October 6 from 4-5pm to begin to plan the 2025-2026 issue. If you are unable to attend but would like to be involved, please email Sue Goyette at: suegoyette@dal.ca.
We also host many open to the public masterclasses and workshops with a wide variety of performing artists, technical theatre professionals, designers and cinema and media theorists.
DalTheatre presents Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. An existential comedy about the dance of life, death and the journey to understanding our collective humanity.
Directed by Severn Thompson, The Fountain School of Performing Arts’ Everybody, by Branden Jacob -Jenkins, opens our 2024-2025 season. It features a talented ensemble of 4th year acting program students including Aiden Bradshaw, Rachel Chew, Benton Elliott, Fiona Forsythe, Annie Gavin, Ella Haefele, Jacob Ives, Malachi Jeffery, Alina Kogas, Sam Longmore, Harry Stokes, Bree Torgrimson, Loralei Trafford.
In addition to Severn Thompson, the creative team includes Assistant Director Red Durand, Set Designer and Costume Stylist Tamara Marie Kucheran, Lighting Designer Thunder Defayette, Associate Set Designer and Assistant Lighting Designer Grace Watson, Sound Designer Cadence Cook, and Stage Manager Christine Oakey.
The production is further supported by the students in the Stage Design and Technical Theatre and Costume Studies programs, including assistant stage manager Kayla Wolfenden.
Discover German with GERM 1010 – Accelerated Beginner German (6 Credits) | Offered in Winter
Want to stand out with new skills, explore another culture, and fulfill your language requirement all at once? GERM 1010 is your chance.
Step into the world of German language withGERM 1010, a comprehensive six-credit course for beginners. Focused on speaking skills and a strong grasp of basic grammar, this course provides a fast and effective introduction to German. Equivalent toGERM 1003andGERM 1004. This course satisfies the FASS language requirement.
International Development Studies
MacKay Lecture Series
The annual MacKay Lecture Series features up to four lectures given by internationally renowned speakers, addressing subjects related to the liberal and performing arts. Three of the lectures revolve around a common interdisciplinary theme chosen each year by the Faculty's Research Development Committee from a selection of faculty proposals. The fourth lecture is on a broadly based historical theme, in recognition of the generous donation funding the lecture series that was given by Gladys MacKay in appreciation of the education that her husband, the Reverend Malcolm Ross MacKay, received at Dalhousie as a B.A. student in History (1927).
2025-2026 MacKay Lecture Series
Connected Histories, Sociologies and Politics: Hope and Despair
1st lecture:
Writing by the Sea: Connected History in the Age of Global Warming
featuring: Dilip Menon
Professor of History and International Relations
University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
7.00 pm
Room 104, Weldon Law Building, 6061 University Ave, Halifax
Organized by Dr. Nissim Mannathukkaren and Dr. Ajay Parasram
Department of International Development Studies
The Women in Politics Society (WiP) is dedicated to empowering and supporting women at Dalhousie who are studying, pursuing careers or simply passionate about politics. Through education, networking and advocacy, we are dedicated to increasing the representation of women in political spaces across Dalhousie, Nova Scotia and Canada. We have many exciting events coming up this semester that all female/gender-diverse FASS students can be a part of!
Community Roundtable: The Politics of Birth Control
October 14, 2025, 6-8pm at the Abstract Cafe
The Community Roundtable event is a public event where women and non-gender confirming Dalhousie and Kings students engage with political topics and social issues in a casual and supportive environment. The informal nature of this event allows for attendees of any academic background to share their opinions and personal experiences, as well as partake in discourse that explores the complex nuances of gender and politics. On October 14, we are partnering with Dalhousie Women’s Health Society to offer a brief informational session exploring the topic of Birth Control from a scientific and socio-political lens, followed by an open forum for our attendees to reflect, connect and find community through discussion. The Community Roundtable intends to make difficult and divisive political topics inclusive by emulating the candid nature of a “dinner table conversation amongst friends”. Female and non-gender-conforming identifying students from any faculty are encouraged to attend, bring their friends, grab refreshments from the Abstract Cafe, and engage in honest dialogue with their peers!
Women in Politics Fall Social + Fundraiser
October 23, 2025, 6-8pm at Alexander Keith’s Brewery
On October 23, Women in Politics is hosting a Fall Social, aimed to rally students, faculty and working professionals together for a night of fostering critical dialogue, building relationships and most importantly, celebrating female presence and successes in political fields.The Social is part of our larger efforts in bringing women together to make lasting connections with educators and professionals, while building supportive relationships with fellow students. We have partnered with Sarah Dobson and Grace Evans, founders of the Women in Politics Scholarship, to work with ProjectDAL and fundraise for this Social. 50% of all funds donated will go towards the Women in Politics Scholarship - an annual award giving $1,000 to two female-identifying political science students at Dalhousie who demonstrate strong academic achievement - and 50% will go towards the continuation of the Women in Politics Society, where funds will contribute to event venue rental charges and associated costs for professional, social and educational development events. The Fundraiser will go live on October 14 at https://projectdal.ca/project/womeninpolitics/. Please consider spreading the word or donating, and we hope to see you there!
University of King's College
For Dalhousie FASS students, King’s JOUR 3006: Advanced Podcasting offers the chance to step into podcasting and build practical storytelling skills that complement your studies, whether in history, sociology, political science, English or beyond. This online course gives you the tools to turn your ideas into compelling audio narratives while learning directly from a leading industry expert.
Be sure to stay informed of the important dates during the academic year. Refer to this webpage for details on various application dates and details, course add/drop deadlines, registration dates and more.
FASS in Dal News
Walking with voices: The Mi’kmaw SoundWalk brings Halifax’s past into the present
Explore Mi’kmaw history with an immersive, GPS-guided journey through Halifax that brings stories, music, and memory to life through your mobile device.
Coming together in harmony: Dal alum's sing‑along sensation set for Halifax show
Dal alum Nobu Adilman (BA'95) has taken what he learned at the university and in Halifax about building performing arts communities to the next level with the drop-in singing sensation Choir! Choir! Choir!
Grab a free paperback copies of Son of Elsewhereby Elamin Abedelmahmoud - look for the book stations at a Dal library near you. eBook and audiobook copies are available by searching Novanet or the Libby app.
If you use ProQuest to find articles, reports, or other research materials, you might notice things look a little different - ProQuest has reorganized how its databases are grouped and accessed. Read about what’s changed and what it means for you.
Sign Up for Dal Libraries Free Orientation Webinars:
Dal Libraries hosts online Copyright drop-in sessions every Wednesday from 10-11am. Have Creative Commons Licensing questions? Join us October 24 for an Open Access Week special.
Bissett Student Success Centre
The Halifax Universities Career Fair presents an opportunity for students and recent alumni across Nova Scotia to create meaningful connections with leading organizations, paving the way for exciting possibilities. Sign up nowfor event reminders and join us on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025 from 10:00 am -3:00 pm at the Halifax Convention Centre.
Academic Support
Once the add/drop date for the fall term passes (October 7th), advisors in the Bissett Student Success Centre will resume prescheduled appointments for the term.
Get a taste of the skills needed to start your own business, finally launch that side hustle, or learn about how to practice innovation in this 7-week program hosted by Dal Innovates. Open to students, recent grads, and faculty in HRM. FASS students will be prioritized!
Collide Discover is a free extracurricular program designed for students, faculty, and recent grads who are curious about innovation, entrepreneurship, or exploring a business idea — no matter how early-stage.
Through engaging sessions (virtual and in-person options available), participants will gain foundational skills in:
Design Thinking & Problem Solving
Customer Discovery
Business Model Development
Pitching & Storytelling
Program Format: 7-week or 3-day immersive options Eligibility: Students, faculty, or recent grads (within 5 years) at a post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada Fall and Winter cohorts available – starting as early as next Thursday!
Lab2Market Validate: Turning Research into Real-World Impact
L2M Validate is a 4-month program helping academic researchers evaluate and commercialize their research ideas.
With $10,000 in funding and support from seasoned entrepreneurs and mentors, researchers will explore:
Product-market fit
Customer discovery
Commercial viability
Pathways to market adoption
Atlantic Cohort Program Start: April 1, 2026 Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
📣 Virtual Info Session: Wednesday, October 8 @ 12pm AT
Hear from Dr. Michael Carew and Dr. Franziska Broell on what makes a strong application, click here to register
Ready for a year unlike any other? Create change in your community and develop your leadership skills through Canada’s leading post-graduate program for changemakers.
This is a 12-month experiential-learning program in youth leadership and community engagement. Each year, up to 12 selected Fellows receive state-of-the-art training, extensive support, and $50,000 in funding to support their growth as leaders, make a meaningful impact in a community they care about, and acquire skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.
This is the only program in Canada that provides young people with a fully funded opportunity to dedicate a year of their early career to an initiative they are passionate about, in any field, sector, and community across the world.
Applications are open until November 15thto students who hold Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residence, are under the age of 30, and are in their final year of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or post-grad diploma/certificate program at Dalhousie University.
Dal Open House
Do you know someone that is considering their university options for the next couple of years? Encourage them to come to Dal's Open House! Learn more and register to join us at www.dal.ca/openhouse
