Sam Kamalendran Wins Laidlaw Scholarship for Political Science Research

Sam Kamalendran, Political Science Student Association (PSSA) President won the Laidlaw scholarship and speaks to how the idea for his research came from his Canadian Politics course

Kamalendran, a third-year political science major minoring in English and classics, looked closer to home for his first summer in the program, exploring whether Canada’s assisted dying legal framework sufficiently protects the disabled, mentally ill and those living in poverty. 

The idea for his research came from an assignment in his Canadian political science course.

Kamalendran was analyzing legal and parliamentary cases in Canada, to see whether the language leaned more towards advocacy or caution. 

“What really drew me was the amount of academic and intellectual debate, because I saw such intelligent and established people on both sides having such contrasting opinions,” said Kamalendran, who also is president of UTM’s Politics Society. 

“That really piqued my interest, because both arguments are both so valid.” 

After speaking to the class professor, Christopher Greenaway – who became his Laidlaw advisor— Kamalendran realized he could expand on the topic in the scholarship program. It also gave him the opportunity to approach the topic in a new way.

“Term papers have to be argumentative, so (for Greenaway’s class) I chose the side of caution, since most of the writing I found immediately was against (assisted dying),” said Kamalendran.   

“The Laidlaw program gave me the chance to step back and see which side is actually the one with the best points instead of choosing a side for the sake of just arguing.”

For the second summer of the program, Kamalendran, an aspiring lawyer, will work with the International Legal Foundation in New York. 

“They do the really important service of connecting pro bono lawyers with the accused in countries where the legal justice system may not be well consolidated,” said Kamalendran. 

The Laidlaw program has had a significant impact on him, said Kamalendran, who encouraged other UTM students to apply for the opportunity. 

“For me, it's been life-changing,” he said. “It’s a really great way to start important conversations.”

This article was originally published on the UTM website. Read the full article here.