Trinity One’s Ethics, Society and Law (ES&L) stream introduces first year students to some of the most urgent issues of our time. The goal of the stream is to encourage students to explore the moral and ethical assumptions that inform our social, legal, and political institutions.
This stream employs an interdisciplinary approach: students will be asked to examine texts across the social sciences and humanities, including legal and political philosophy, social and economic theory, case law, and even short stories, newspaper articles, and blog posts. Students are able to develop diverse perspectives that enable them to navigate the theoretical complexities of social issues while also thinking generatively about how these issues may be resolved.
By familiarizing students with many foundational texts, this stream provides an excellent basis for further study in a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.
STREAM REQUIREMENTS
Students in the ES&L stream must enrol in two Trinity One seminars in their first year: TRN171Y1 Ethics and the Public Sphere and TRN172Y1: Ethics and the Law. Each of these courses amounts to 1.0 FCE and will continue throughout the fall and winter semesters. These credits will account for 2.0 credits of the typical 5.0 credit load in first year.
INSTRUCTORS
Trinity One draws on professors with an interdisciplinary perspective to guide our seminar courses. Click on the links below to learn more about the professors and courses in the Ethics, Society and Law stream.
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| Dr. Laura Rabinowitz, PhD | Dr. Michael Kessler, PhD |
| TRN171Y1 – Ethics and the Public Sphere | TRN172Y1 – Ethics and the Law |
STREAM MENTORS
Your stream mentors will support you throughout the academic year by hosting workshops and activities to assist you with course assessments and to facilitate community building. They will be your first point of contact should you have any academic concerns or questions about student life! Meet your stream mentors below!
Victoria Wang
Programs of Study: Ethics, Society, & Law (Major) Criminology and Sociolegal Studies (Major)
Hometown: Chongqing, China
College: Victoria College
Trinity One made me a better public speaker. Being in a seminar environment allowed me to actively engage in classroom discussions that challenged my own worldview. I was able to walk away from a debate knowing a bit more about my classmates and myself. Trin One has taught me a lot about academic writing as well. Both professors were very accessible after class, and they were very open to provide guidance on my writing. Even though writing essays will never be easy, I have come out of Trin One with more confidence in my academic writing.
I usually spend my spare time reading and writing. I have a soft spot for a well-written story, so I often find myself lost in the plot of a great book. Sometimes, I am tempted to write my own stories. Although they may not be any good, they make me happy and satisfied. Recently, I have also picked up swimming. So, I can be found in Hart House pool a few times a week once the semester begins.
One thing I have learned as an undergrad is that pressure is a privilege. With that being said, I believe we as the Trin One mentors can help the incoming class handle such privilege with a bit more grace and ease. I look forward to working with my brilliant colleagues for another eight months and I am excited to greet new students. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you ever need our help!
Gail Emsley
Program(s) of study: International Relations (Major), American Studies (Major), and History (Minor)
Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia
College: Trinity College
Being a part of the Ethics, Society, & Law Stream allowed me to strengthen my skills in critical analysis and writing. In both of my Trinity One classes, we read complex texts and applied them to contemporary cases, requiring me to piece together puzzles of theory, which I found fascinating. ES&L also provided me the opportunity to question my own moral opinions while engaging in discussions with my peers, and I believe these conversations made me a more understanding and thoughtful person.
Outside of class, I love cooking and baking for my family and friends. I enjoy hosting dinner parties and also bake frequently for nurses and doctors at my local hospital. I coach competitive debate during the school year and have also done so for the past few summers. I love listening to music, reading novels, playing guitar, and watching movies (please ask for my Letterboxd top four).
Trinity One was the highlight of my first year and I’m so excited to continue to be a part of the community. Take full advantage of all the program has to offer and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
AFTER TRINITY ONE
Students who complete the Ethics, Society and Law stream are well-equipped to pursue further studies in a vast array of academic disciplines. Students may apply concepts and analytical tools learned in the ES&L stream to studies in the sciences, social sciences or humanities.
Students may decide to continue their studies in this particular field with the University of Toronto’s Ethics, Society and Law program, hosted by Trinity College. Note that completion of TRN171 and TRN172 can count towards admissions requirements to the ES&L program, as well as credits within the program itself once you have been accepted.
Students interested in continuing to think practically and theoretically about ethical questions often choose to study Philosophy, Political Science, or the Munk School’s program in Peace, Conflict and Justice.
Students interested in applying questions of theory to matters of public concern often continue their studies in Public Policy at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, which offers both an undergraduate major in Public Policy and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree.
ALUMNI REFLECTIONS
Hear from graduates of the Trinity One program – Ethics, Society & Law stream!
Rory Banfalvi (she/her) is a Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program graduate with majors in Ethics, Society, and Law, and Women and Gender Studies. To Rory, her time in the Ethics, Society, and Law stream would prepare her for the rest of her undergraduate degree and beyond.
It all began during a campus tour in high school where she learned about the program. After perusing the website, Rory felt the Ethics, Society, and Law stream was most appropriate because of its interdisciplinary content in the legal field.
Her first impression was that the material was uniquely challenging. As she recalls, “I had read about the law in high-school classes, but I’d never learned the philosophy behind it. Our first week, the classes tossed you in the deep end; I had yet to confront dense and complex literature. It was all worth it, Trinity One prepared me for the next four years of my undergraduate studies.”
Rory dedicated her last three years to leading the American Mock Trial team to victory. She competed at a high-level all across the United States, before being selected to compete at Trial By Combat, the most prestigious one-on-one undergraduate mock trial competition in the world. Within this competition, Rory is among the top sixteen mock trial competitors in the world. Rory also wrote two theses, one in the Ethics, Society, and Law program, the other in the Gender Studies program. She attributes part of her success to the way Trinity One pushed her in her first year, as well as the hard work and grit that followed afterwards.
Her advice to incoming students is to make the most of your experience: “You have to contribute in class. There is a huge jump from high school to learning legal philosophy, so dedicate yourself to understanding the material.” She follows, “Connect with your professors and your peers, and make sure you commit to keeping the good nature of conversation and debate.”
This fall, Rory will be attending the University of Toronto’s law school, where she hopes to further her commitment to oral advocacy and ethical lawyering. She will continue coaching the undergraduate mock trial team, and furthering their glory. On behalf of Trinity One, Congratulations Rory!
Jithvan Ariyaratne (he/him) is a Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program graduate with majors in Ethics, Society, and Law, and Political Science, and a minor in Canadian Studies. To Jithvan, his experiences in the Ethics, Society, and Law stream prepared him for the rest of his time at the University of Toronto.
During his first week of class, Jithvan was assigned HLA Hart, one of the many foundational legal philosophers taught in Ethics and the Law. “At first, it felt like I was reading a different language.” He went into class the next week feeling nervous, but everyone else seemed to be in the same boat. “It was a bonding experience,” he recalls, “we knew we were all in this together– that’s what made the program so special.”
From there, Jithvan and his peers flourished within the program. Their success was not without the professors’ and students’ willingness to support each other. “They broke down the material and the premises for us, which made me understand how important it is to have instructors who really care and can help you understand difficult concepts.”
Following the program’s completion, Jithvan held a fellowship at the Centre for Ethics. As a fellow, he completed his undergraduate thesis on the ethics of foreign intervention. He also had the opportunity to travel to Italy under UofT’s Summer Abroad program, where he completed a course in Criminology with the added experiential learning aspect of visiting high-security prisons and interviewing inmates.
Jithvan’s advice to incoming first-years is affirming. “The readings and the content you are assigned is supposed to be difficult, it wouldn’t be satisfying for you to understand it in the way you will at the end of the program if it wasn’t.” But he reassures students, “Don’t be afraid to use your instructors for help, keep going at it because your peers will help you through it and your professors will too, it will be the most satisfying experiences of your academic life.”
In the Fall, Jithvan is coming back to the University of Toronto for Law School. Although he is still testing the waters of which kind of law he wants to practice, he wants to lean in the direction of what he studied in undergrad – while also learning more about commerce and the economy. He looks forward to keeping in touch with his friends from Trinity One, while making new friends at UofT Law. On behalf of Trinity One, Congratulations Jithvan!
Garyn Rickwood (she/her) is Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program graduate with majors in Ethics, Society, and Law, and Criminology and Sociolegal Studies. Garyn’s reflections on her time in the Ethics, Society, and Law stream allowed her to reminisce on her personal development, and the lasting impact the program had on the years following her completion of the program.
After participating in a high school mock trial, Garyn knew her interests in criminal law were far from over. Trinity One provided her the ability to continue exploring her passions for socio-legal issues in both theoretical and pragmatic settings, where she explored case studies concerning prison reform, animal rights, and AI in the law.
In Ethics and the Public Sphere, Garyn’s favorite memory was collaborating with her friends on a group assignment, which were few and far between in her huge first-year courses. “It was the highlight of my university experience,” she states, “I remember getting to know people on a personal level outside of class and taking down the walls of formality while having an educational experience.”
Following the program’s completion, Garyn was a peer-mentor for the ES&L stream for two years straight, believing it was her duty to give back to the community that platformed her as a first-generation aspiring law student. She was also elected President of the ES&L Association, placing an emphasis on accessible events and field trips for prospective students in and outside of the program. She is now graduating as the Co-Valedictorian for the Ethics, Society, and Law class of 2025.
Her advice to incoming first-year students is to fight their impostor syndrome. “It’s a common feeling, but Trinity One granted me a transformative experience,” she continues, “You bring forward your own lived experience and skills. You belong here, and everyone is feeling the same way. Enjoy it as much as possible.”To Garyn, Trinity One prepared her for ethical lawyering, using legal skills for the greater good, and thinking about how she practices law not just as an effective litigator, but a purveyor of social justice and advocacy. She will take these values with her to Queen’s Law in September, where she hopes to pursue a legal career in public interest and criminal defense. On behalf of Trinity One, Congratulations Garyn!
Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your convocation! We were honored to interview 2 amazing Ethics, Society, and Law alumni, Anthonie Fan and Cherise Tsang to learn more about their journey throughout undergraduate.
Anthonie Fan is a Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program graduate with majors in Public Policy and Ethics, Society, and Law. Anthonie’s reflections provide valuable insights into intellectual growth, community building, and finding balance during one’s university years.
While Anthonie initially arrived at the University to persue a legal career, the Trinity One program opened his eyes to much more. By critically examining the nuances of legal systems and societal inequalities, he gained a multi-layered perspective transcending surface-level legal principles. The ESL stream’s small discussion-based classes were particularly impactful.
“Trinity One allowed me to appreciate the complexities behind societal issues in a really enriching way,” Anthonie reflected. “The in-depth dialogues with diverse peers and professors constantly exposed me to new viewpoints.”
Those intimate seminar environments fostered vibrant exchanges of ideas and reasoning. For Anthonie, building relationships across backgrounds and aspirations added to the richness of his academic experience. Trinity One is the foundation to profound intellectual engagement and community.
Looking back, Anthonie cautions future students against hyper-focusing on any single aspect of university life. “There’s more to it than just social life, grades, or internships,” he advises. “Explore varied interests and seize opportunities as they come – it never hurts to try new things.”
Anthonie emphasized future students to recognize the value in one’s journey and contributions. “Simply being in these classrooms is already an achievement. Every student’s input is meaningful.” He encourages viewing education as an opportunity for personal growth, not just a series of hurdles.
Balance is key, according to Anthonie. He advocates embracing U of T’s multidisciplinary system to gain different perspectives. Utilizing resources like writing centers and wellness support is also crucial. “Understand that your plan can change direction,” he says. “No end goal requires straight A’s in every course.” Rather than stressing over grades, Anthonie believes students should focus on the learning process itself. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reassign value to absorbing the materials and concepts.”
As Anthonie prepares for a year working in the Ontario government before law school, he’s excited about finding balance between his career and personal life. The skills and insights gained from Trinity One have instilled in him a strong sense of purpose, guiding him in his career in law and public policy.
Written by: Lucy Wang, Trinity One Program Assistant, Policy, Philosophy & Economics ’24
Cherise Tsang is another Trinity One alumni who graciously shared her experiences and advice to incoming students.
Cherise credits Trinity One for developing foundational skill in argument development and delivery, shaping her interests in Law as a career. Trinity One’s small seminar course style enabled her to find a supportive community of friends and professors eager to apply classroom lessons to real world scenarios.
As part of the first cohort impacted by COVID-19, Cherise felt the hybrid learning amplified the typical apprehensions of first-year jitters. She reminisced about how class participation required monumental amounts of initiative and courage, particularly in discussion-based classes like Trinity One. Despite this, she took inspiration from Trinity One Professors Kessler and Davis not to shy away from her viewpoints but to bring them forward to improve as a person. It has since become her motto to “always try and never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone”.
Cherise upheld her motto as she seized the opportunity to take on responsibilities as a legal assistant in her third to fourth year of University. She highlighted the importance not only of being grateful for these positions but also learning from them. Time management and a strong support system were other key aspects she developed.
Closing off the interview, Cherise reinforced her message to be open to new opportunities and overcome imposter syndrome. She wants incoming students to know that they belong and don’t need to compare their worth to others. Focus on understanding yourself, your limitations, and how to make the most of your opportunities.
After graduation, Cherise will be attending the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. Congratulations and thanks once more to Cherise for her words of encouragement and advice. On behalf of Trinity One, we wish you the best in your future endeavors!
Article by: Grace Gaw, Trinity One Program Assistant, International Relations ’24
Congratulations to the Class of 2023 on your Convocation! I am grateful to have had the opportunity to interview an outstanding alumna of the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program who is part of the graduating class: Megan Campbell (Ethics, Society and Law ‘20). She shares fond memories of the program and is excited to enter a new chapter of her life.
Megan emphasized the excellent experience she had in the Trinity One program, where she developed strong academic skills that she will always carry with her. Megan shares that she felt intimidated to speak in her other first-year courses. By contrast, her Trinity One courses encouraged her to speak up, which prepared her for upper year seminars. Megan says that the program laid a great foundation for her future courses and solidified her choice to study Ethics, Society and Law in her upper years.
As an active student who loves to be involved, Megan shares some of her achievements during her time at the university. Megan took part in an exchange program to France and multiple political fellowships in the States and with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. However, her proudest accomplishment is being able to make time for extracurricular activities, such as organizing the French Language Global Café, being the editor in chief for the Ethics, Society and Law student journal, and involvements in the Arts and Sciences Student Union. Over the course of her university journey, she learned to “do things for herself” and not just for her resume. Megan was especially happy to have performed in two productions of Connections, the Musical with the Trinity College Dramatic Society.
Megan shares her biggest takeaways as an undergraduate student. She says that attending university during the pandemic taught her to be resilient and willing to adapt. In her words, “You can’t predict everything, but everything will be okay.” Megan encourages incoming students to embrace uncertainty and to be open to change. Additionally, she advises Trinity One students to “speak up even when it’s a little scary” and to hold themselves accountable to what they’re learning.
Megan will be attending law school at McGill University. I would like to thank Megan for sharing her valuable experiences with us, and I extend my sincerest congratulations to her on behalf of the Trinity One community.
Written by: Jessica Wang, Trinity One Program Assistant, Ethics, Society and Law ‘22.
<!––>I loved my time in Trinity One. While the materials were initially a bit daunting, I found myself embedded in a close-knit community. I was able to build relationships with both my professors and my peers. In fact, I met some of my best friends in Trinity One. The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to online learning really showed me how valuable that network I built for myself in first year was. One thing that sticks out to me at the beginning of the pandemic was the support that my Trinity One professors offered us. They were so understanding about how we were feeling and altered assignment structures and deadlines accordingly. They also offered additional office hours to us if we wanted to come by and chat about things that were worrying us. I’ll always remember that care, especially considering our profs were probably also experiencing the same anxieties. I would not have been able to succeed in online courses, or in my courses generally, without the friendship and care of my friends, family, and roommates. A lot of those people were folks I met in Trinity One or in Trinity College residence. I am super grateful that I had the opportunity to embed myself in those smaller communities given the sheer size of UofT. I had always thought about attending law school or working in the legal field in some capacity, and participating in the Ethics, Society and Law stream exposed me to many flaws in our socio-legal system and the many possibilities for reform. As such, my time in the ES&L stream influenced my decision to major in ES&L and, eventually, my decision to work in policy analysis for Manitoba’s Department of Health after graduation. I still hope to pursue a Masters in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies and, then, a law degree, but my courses in the ES&L stream showed me that there are many possible approaches to working within legal frameworks.
<!–The Trinity One Ethics stream was a highlight of my time as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, as it helped me with the transition into university, as well as provided me with skills and relationships I still have today. I looked forward to my Trinity One seminars every week as they were small classes which were highly engaging, heavily discussion based, and focused on what I was interested in studying while at university. I was able to meet like-minded students with similar interests to me, and I was able to create friendships which I will carry with me long past my time in university. Due to the small class size I was able to develop personal relationships with my professors starting in first-year, which I was able to build throughout my undergrad. My professors in Trinity One provided me with tools that allowed me to succeed in my undergrad, through providing feedback and advice on my writing, and helping me work through and build on the course material and questions that arose. I was required to critically analyze the course material as well as my own writing and thoughts, which allowed me to achieve academic accomplishments I thought were beyond my abilities. Trinity One solidified and confirmed interests I held, as well as introduced new interests and areas to pursue academically and professionally. In my undergrad I studied a double major in Bioethics and Ethics, Society, and Law. I am starting at Ryerson University in the fall to pursue my Master of Arts in Criminology and Social Justice and will be applying to law school this fall. My research interests and what I hope to continue studying during my Master’s, as well as what I hope to pursue professionally, were sparked in my first-year in Trinity One. I was introduced to differing concepts of justice, the impact and implications of our criminal justice system, as well as the marginalization and lack of access to our criminal justice system and institutions of certain communities and groups. I am grateful to Trinity One for introducing me to these concepts so early in my academic career and providing me with confidence and skills both academically and personally that I will continue to carry with me.