What was once a rumour became a reality as the department of sociology and legal studies replaced the department of sociology. Formally announced on the Arts Student Union website by Professor Keith Warriner, chair of the department of sociology, the new department has caused confusion on for some students. Imprint had the opportunity to talk to Prof. Warriner about the reasons behind the amalgamation, its effects, and the future for the new department.

When asked why the faculty of arts combined legal studies with sociology, Warriner pointed out the fact that legal studies program has always had a close relationship with the department of sociology.

Originally, the legal studies program started out as an interdisciplinary specialization. However, the majority of students who selected the legal studies specialization were sociology students. Additionally, the legal studies administrative duties were often within the department of sociology's purview. Hence, the close association between legal studies and sociology was created.

In 2004, the undergraduate program for legal studies was created, with the University of Waterloo's faculty of arts and St. Jerome's University being major course providers. However, the program rapidly grew, pushing beyond the faculty of arts' and St. Jerome's capabilities. Warriner noted that during this time legal studies had to struggle in order to find classes that would meet their program's requirements. During this entire time, according to Warriner, there existed only one staff member whose position was solely dedicated to the legal studies program.

In 2007, a provincial review of the program recommended that a department of legal studies be created in order to provide students with the appropriate resources and framework. An additional external review, carried out by consultants, backed up the province's recommendations.

On July 1, 2009, the department of legal studies was officially created. This new department was to be a joint effort between the faculty of arts and SJU, utilizing professors from both universities. Officially, the department was housed within SJU, because the creation of the new department faced fewer milestones at SJU versus UW.

Soon, Warriner noted that problems arose concerning resources. In light of UW's hiring freeze due to the recession, the faculty of arts was unable to hire new full-time staff for the new department. SJU also faced difficulties in hiring new staff because it received less than 10 per cent of the annual provincial grant that UW receives.

Therefore, plans were put into motion to amalgamate the department of sociology and legal studies.

According to Warriner, combining the departments was the logical solution given the close relationship that sociology and legal studies share.

Warriner said that amalgamation finally gave the program's students “their money's worth,” as the new resources and infrastructure that will be made available to them.

Warriner recollected that while the department was under the auspice of SJU there soon arose incompatibilities pertaining to between both organisations' style of operation and the utilization of resources.

At press time, no comment was received from SJU pertaining to the creation of the department of sociology and legal studies on the main campus.

Warriner pointed out that students registered at UW will face no changes to their academic plans, noting that the creation of the new department will instead allow them to access more resources. He also noted that the majority of students within legal studies — approximately 220 out of 250 — are UW students and hence will be placed under the auspices of the new department.

The new resources that will be made available to students include an undergraduate office, new infrastructure and reserved class space for legal studies students. Additionally, the new department will now serve as an academic home for these students.

However, as a result of UW's hiring freeze, the department would be hiring mostly part-time staff, while looking for full-time and tenure-track instructors.

Warriner noted that the department had considered the possibility that sociology could be overshadowed by the legal studies and plans are being created to prevent this occurrence.

According to Britt Shutter, VP communications for the Legal Studies Society, there are currently 107 sociology students and 278 legal studies students, not taking into account students undertaking minors and options in legal studies.

Warriner pointed out that the creation of the new department did not entail that SJU will lose the legal studies program, as they will continue to operate their own program. Nor will it entail departure from the joint delivery of academic programs within sociology and legal studies.

The legal studies will continue to be an interdisciplinary program with courses from a wide array of disciplines and content. Legal studies courses will continue to have an interdisciplinary focus as well.

There are plans for both SJU and UW to have their own department of sociology and legal studies, according to Warriner.

Warriner noted that there are long-term plans, many of which have sprung from the creation of the department of sociology and legal studies. Many of these ambitious goals are currently in the planning phase.

One of the new plans includes the creation of new programs within the Balsillie School of International Affairs. A new program that could be created with the Balsillie school is potentially a master's program in international law.

Warriner noted that in light of UW's push towards creating more graduate and professional studies programs that the potential exists towards creating the professional master's degree in legal studies.

An additional professional program would be a master's program in public service, which would be aimed at students interested in the civil service. Warriner reasoned that the creation of such a program would put the university's students in a strategic position given the fact that a significant percentage of provincial and federal civil servants are nearing retirement.

The Legal Studies Society will be holding an information session with department faculty and Prof. Warriner on November 11 at 5:30 p.m. in STJ (St. Jerome's University) 1036 Seigfried Hall. Students will have the opportunity to express their concerns concerning the merger and hear from the administration as to the reasons behind the merger.