UTM professors go head-to-head in rare debate
Students for Liberty brought together four political science professors to face off concerning the implications of the new Trump presidency.

On March 10, students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) were treated to a rare event: Students for Liberty (SFL)’s Scholars’ Showdown, a public debate between four professors from UTM’s Department of Political Science.

Professors Chris Greenaway and Alejandro García Magos faced off against Professors Justin Bumgardner and Arnd Jurgensen about the political implications of Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president. The debate comes as volatility in Washington, D.C. over the past few weeks has raised questions about global security, democracy, and Canada’s independence.

The Showdown was the first large event hosted by SFL, one of UTM’s newest student groups. The Medium interviewed SFL President Ethan Evans and Vice President Outreach Shababa Asad prior to debate night.

Students for Liberty: Fostering free speech

Evans explained that the SFL’s mission is “to give students the opportunity to engage in politics in a collaborative and non-judgmental way.” With that mission in mind, Asad set out to come up with an event that would get students interested in the new club and “spotlight the Department of Political Science.”

Asad came up with the idea for Scholars’ Showdown after hearing about debates between professors at British universities. At first, the SFL executive team was skeptical about whether professors at UTM would want to participate in such an event. “We didn’t know if they would agree to it,” Asad said, “but we had to try.”

After reaching out across the Department, professors’ interest in the debate turned out to be much greater than expected. “They seemed really excited,” Asad said, recalling the positive responses she and Evans received from the four professors. “I think as students, we misunderstand our professors a lot…. In reality, they love talking with their students, they love sharing what they learned, and they want to help us flourish as well.”

With the instructors’ attendance sorted out, Asad placed them into two teams according to their research areas and personalities. Greenaway and Magos were slated to make a case against the Trump administration while Bumgardner and Jurgensen would argue in its defence.

Political science in the spotlight

The atmosphere on debate night was convivial, as about 100 students lined the rows of lecture hall IB 120 in the Instructional Centre. With the stage set and moderators Evans and Asad in place, the audience quieted down to listen to the professors make their case.

What followed was two and a half hours of expert contestation. The professors’ arguments spanned across time periods and disciplines, drawing from law, economics, political theory, history, and current events. Each of them livened their statements with rhetorical flourishes, all while putting forward bold claims.

Professor Magos was the first to present, stating, “Mr. Trump has disrupted the world that I recognize,” and arguing that the president’s “America first” policies are undermining global stability. Professor Greenaway backed him up, identifying Trump as the “dead-centre cause” of the decline of democracy and longstanding alliances worldwide.

Professor Jurgensen countered by saying “Every U.S. government has put America first and has been more than willing to undermine democracies in other countries… to maintain global dominance.” Instead, he argued, “Trump is a symptom of that overall disease of decline in the U.S.”

Considering whether Canada should seek new allies, Professor Bumgardner argued that “the U.S. is Canada’s only real choice for a partner. No country other than the U.S. can ensure Canada’s security.”

Professor Greenaway rebutted, “Our relationship with the U.S. is obviously necessary, but having this insane amount of reliance on the U.S. has simply gone too far.” Instead, he posited that Canada needs to focus on improving economic cooperation between its provinces and territories.

Greenaway also blamed Trump and the U.S. Supreme Court for enabling the rich to hijack politics. “The implication of this is that some of us get to whisper our influence into the U.S., and others get to drive Cybertrucks with megaphones into the Oval Office itself.” To that, Bumgardner stated, “Despite Donald Trump, the U.S. is still more free, more liberal, and more democratic than most democracies today.”

After the debaters made their closing statements, SFL opened the floor for students to question their claims and ask for comments on other political issues.

Exclusive scoop

Following the debate, Professors Magos and Greenaway offered comments in e-mail interviews with The Medium.

“Debating with professors from different disciplines should be the norm,” Magos wrote, reflecting on the importance of events like the Scholars’ Showdown. “These interdisciplinary exchanges not only benefit students with a deeper understanding of politics but also foster a broader, more inclusive academic community.”

Similarly, Professor Greenaway expressed, “It might be interesting to get cross-departmental discussions going. Sometimes, we get siloed into our own departments.”

Magos and Greenaway also appealed to students who are hesitant to approach their professors, saying that students can form lasting connections and learn a lot just by having conversations with them and going to office hours.

“Introduce yourself, mention something from class that caught your attention, or ask for clarification on an assignment,” Greenaway said, offering advice on how to approach a professor. “You don’t have to have a perfect question; just starting a conversation can open doors.”

Magos urged students to engage with their professors to make the most of their academic careers. “Professors are very much human too, and we’re always happy to engage with students who show curiosity and interest.”