SOGS Update, the official monthly electronic newsletter from SOGS, keeps you up to date on issues and events affecting graduate students at The University of Western Ontario. If you are looking for previous issues of SOGS Update please contact the office.
You can also follow SOGS on twitter and facebook to get updates on events and issues relevant to graduate students and Western between editions of the newsletter.
Do you have a news item or announcement you would like to have included in the next SOGS Update? Email external@sogs.ca for more information!
Items in this month’s newsletter:
- Post-residency & Post-funding Fees Survey
- SOGS Travel & Child Care Subsidies
- IGSIC & WCC Drive for Household Items for International Students
- What is Feminism Pt 2: In the Workplace & Classroom
- International Graduate Student Issues Committee (IGSIC)
- PSAC 610: Collective Agreement Negotiations
- Naked Heart, The LGBTQ Festival of Words — Call for Submissions
- Orientation and Social Committee (OSC)
- At the Grad Club
- August Trivia
Post-residency & Post-funding Fees Survey
The post-residency and post-funding fees survey is still open for participants.
In 2014, over 1400 Western graduate students participated in a referendum that asked whether or not the Society of Graduate Students should pursue the implementation of post-residency fees at Western. The answer was a resounding “Yes.” We are continuing to strive to achieve this mandate. Post-residency fees are common practices at most universities in Canada. The implementation of this tuition structure varies, but the general principle is that once students have completed their coursework and have defended their dissertation prospectus they no longer pay full tuition.
SOGS Travel & Child Care Subsidies
SOGS Summer Travel & Child Care Subsidies’ deadline is August 31. Applications must be submitted with original receipts to the SOGS office by the deadline to be eligible. Good luck!
IGSIC & WCC Drive for Household Items for International Students
Moving out this month? Summer cleaning? Consider donating to the International Students and Family Donation Drive running from July 27th – August 27th. Household appliances, daily use items and children’s activities and books are being collected to donate to the Platts Lane Community Cupboard and to distribute to the incoming international graduate students. Drop you items off at the International and Graduate Affairs Building, Room 1N07. Support your peers by donating today AND be sure to put a sticky on your item with your department because the department with the most items donated is in for a great treat. Please email Taniya Nagpal at wcc@sogs.ca if you have any questions.
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/459959044178574/
What is Feminism Pt 2: In the Workplace & Classroom
What is Feminism Discussion Group is back this semester! This time we will be discussing Feminism in the workplace and classroom. Join us on August 20th at 5:00pm in UCC 54B for some dinner and discussion in a safe and inclusive space. Everyone is most welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Taniya Nagpal at wcc@sogs.ca. If you require childcare, accessibility floor plans, dietary restrictions or any other support to increase you accessibility to this event, please indicate that in your email. This event will be facilitated by PhD student, Rachel Pack. See you there!
International Graduate Student Issues Committee (IGSIC)
All international graduate students should join IGSIC’s Facebook group to stay up-to-date on important social events and campaigns related to international students.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Western.SOGS.IGSIC/
PSAC 610: Collective Agreement Negotiations
Naked Heart, The LGBTQ Festival of Words — Call for Submissions
This October, Glad Day Bookshop – Canada’s Oldest LGBTQ Bookstore is proud to present NAKED HEART – The LGBTQ Festival of Words. This 3 day event in the Church & Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto includes workshops, panels, performances & discussions for writers and lovers of words. We hope this will be the first of a yearly tradition.
We are currently seeking writers (fiction, poetry, spoken word, non-fiction, song, film, theatre, experimental, comedy, and more!) or people who are involved in communities or industries that support the creative work of words.
http://www.gladdaybookshop.com/pages/call-for-submissions-naked-heart-an-lgbtq-festival-of-words
Orientation and Social Committee (OSC)
Upcoming Events
London Knights – September 25. Tickets will be available in the SOGS office onMonday, August 17.
Homecoming Mustangs Football Game – September 26. Tickets will be available in the SOGS office on Monday, August 24.
For more information on the OSC’s events, please subscribe to the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Western.SOGS.Socials
For more information about the above events, please contact vpstudentservicessogs@gmail.com.
At the Grad Club
The Grad Club is now offering dinner and a movie. Order our dinner special and get admission for one to a movie of your choice at Western Film for an extra $3.50.
The Grad Club Golf Tournament will take place Saturday, August 15at Oxbow Glen Golf Course.
Event includes:
- 18 holes golf & cart
- boxed lunch
- dinner at the Grad Club
- prizes
Register at the Grad Club or contact Marc Lalonde (661-2111 ext 86386; gradclub@uwo.ca)
Every third Wednesday of the Month the OSC is hosting Boardgame night starting at 6:00PM. You can purchase a bottle of Bud Light, Shock Top or Goose Island IPA for $3.50.
The Grad Club has Bean Bag Toss on the patio everyday.
Summer Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 11:00PM
Saturday – closed
Sunday – closed.
The Grad Club will open on weekends for events or conferences
Call 519-661-2111 ext 86386 or e-mail mlalond2@uwo.ca to set up your event.
Free parking after 7:30 PM.
Get Your VanHoutte Coffee Card
Buy ten coffees and get one free.
Entertainment
Trivia Tuesday: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Come early to get a good seat
Every Thursday: Mill St presents Rick McGhie – 8:00 PM start
Lunch Specials
Tuesday – 11:30am – 1:30PM
Pad Thai or Buffalo Chicken Wrap – vegetarian options available
Wednesday – 11:30am – 1:30PM – $10.25 one trip
Indian Buffet (South Asian Cuisine)
Thursday – 11:30am – 1:30pm – $8.50
Create your own Pasta; gluten free pasta available
Friday – 11:30AM – 1:30PM
Patio BBQ
You can find all of our lunch and dinner specials on the Grad Club website http://gradclub.sogs.ca/
Book the Goblet
To reserve The Goblet of Knowledge for your upcoming defense party, call Marc 519-661-2111 ext 86386.
August Trivia
Each month, SOGS hosts a trivia contest featuring information from our annual day planner or our website. Correct answers are entered into a drawing and five students will win a certificate to the Grad Club! Please email your response to sogs.contest@uwo.ca by August 31st. Winners can pick up their GC certificates in the SOGS office during regular office hours, and their names will be posted in next month’s newsletter.
August Question:
How many Council seats does your department have? Please include the name of your department.
July Winners:
Congratulation to our July winners!
- Venkatesh Deshpande
- Janet Vu
- Sonja Teichert
- Julie Nord
- Sali Farhan