METROPOLITAN HISTORY SOCIETY PUBLISHES THIRD EDITION OF THE ENDNOTE UNDERGRADUATE HISTORY JOURNAL

METROPOLITAN HISTORY SOCIETY PUBLISHES THIRD EDITION OF THE ENDNOTE UNDERGRADUATE HISTORY JOURNAL

On March 25, 2025, the Metropolitan History Society – the undergraduate students’ course

union for TMU’s History program – hosted its annual symposium where student authors presented the papers they wrote for the third edition of the undergraduate history journal, Endnote. Their papers were:

·       “Noble, Nun, Neighbour: Beyond the Hearth into the Multifaceted Lives of Women in the High Middle Ages,” Gabi Guilbeault, first-year English and History student;

·       “The Papacy in Crisis: Negotiating Authority and Faith Against Monarchs and Scholasticism,” Allison McCausland, second-year History student;

·       “Nazi Propaganda of Motherhood: National Consumption, Anti-Communism, and Racial Hygiene,” Abigail Conquer, third-year History student;

·       “The Red Army’s Performance in the Winter War and Operation Barbarossa,” Anastazja Marut, fourth-year English and History student;

·       “Nigeria: Is the Giant of Africa Falling?,” Moyo Lawuyi, fourth-year Journalism student;

·       “How the United States Controlled Europe,” Reda Swidinsky, second-year Politics and Governance student;

·       “Policing Protests and the Media: The Villainization of Stonewall ‘Riots’ in American News Media,” Lisa Marie Tontodonati, second-year History student;

·       “Cloak and Dagger: The Effects and Psychiatric Ethics of Experiments Under MKULTRA,” David Carhart, fourth-year History student;

·       “The Ethical Implications and Long-Term Consequences of Electroconvulsive Therapy and Lobotomies in 20th-Century U.S Psychiatric Institutions,” Persephone Thuet, fourth-year History student.

Opening remarks were provided by Tony Tassoni and Shermaan Jesuthasan (co-chairs and senior editors of the Endnote committee) and Jordan Le Roux (executive supervisor of the Endnote committee). The authors’ presentations were 15 minutes long, with question periods following each of the four sessions that divided the day.

To help the speakers refine their presentations and provide advice on public speaking, the Endnote committee hosted a workshop a week before the symposium. Gabi Guilbeault reflected that it gave her “valuable insight into editing and turning an academic paper into a good presentation.” The speakers stated that the Endnote experience was one of the highlights of their undergraduate careers. “I never thought I would be able to say that I’m a published author, speaking out on Queer history, but because of the Endnote I can proudly say I am,” said Lisa Marie Tontodonati.

The event provided important experiential learning for students, and an opportunity to display the expertise they had developed in their History courses. “I was thrilled when people approached me during the break to ask more questions about my topic and even ask my opinions on current geopolitical events, as if I were an expert or professional,” reflected Moyo Lawuyi. 

The event was a success thanks to the dedication of presenters and the hard work of the Endnote committee. With 25 applications, 9 student authors, and over 100 attendees, this version of the symposium was the most successful yet. The Endnote team thanks all of those involved, and looks forward to seeing the symposium and journal progress in future years.