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.
For updates on events, issues and discussion relfevant to graduate students and Western between editions of the newsletter, consider the following options:
- SOGS Facebook – main: https://www.facebook.com/Western.SOGS
- SOGS Facebook – social group: https://www.facebook.com/Western.SOGS.Socials
- SOGS Facebook – international students:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Western.SOGS.IGSIC/ - SOGS Twitter: https://twitter.com/westernsogs
- SOGS Forum, a joinable OWL site (contact external@sogs.ca if unsure how to join sites on OWL)
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!
In this month’s Update:
- Upcoming SOGS opt-in/opt-out and bursary deadlines (January 29)
- Deadline for nominations to the University Senate and Board of Governors (January 21)
- Appeals Review Commission – Call for members
- Grad Club Committee – Call for members
- ISIC distribution (January 27 & 28)
- Community Conversation on Poverty (January 26)
- Graduate student mentorship and presentation opportunity (February 25)
- Welcome Back / New Year Party (January 28)
- Board Game Night (January 20)
- At the Grad Club
- January trivia
Upcoming SOGS opt-in/opt-out and bursary deadlines
Deadline for nominations to the University Senate and Board of Governors
Appeals Review Commission – Call for members
The Appeals Review Commission – which handles any appeals pertaining to elections, referenda, or rulings of the Ombudsperson – is currently seeking members for the 2016 year to be elected at January’s Council meeting. For more information, or to submit a nomination, please contact the Speaker (sogs.speaker@uwo.ca).
Grad Club Committee – Call for members
The Grad Club Committee reviews how the Grad Club operates from budget and pricing, to food and beverage selection, to events and other policies. The Grad Club Committee meets monthly and is looking for members to help improve how our most beloved service operates. Please email finance@sogs.ca if you are interested in giving back to the Western community by joining this committee.
ISIC distribution
Representatives from the Canadian Federation of Students will be at the Grad Club in January to distribute ISIC cards to graduate students. Any full-time graduate students are entitled to a free ISIC card through SOGS’ membership with CFS.
To collect your ISIC, bring your student ID with you to the stage area in the Grad Club during the following times:
- Wednesday, January 27; 10:00am – 2:30pm
- Thursday, January 28; 10:00am – 4:00pm
Community Conversation on Poverty
Come and share your ideas on how to address poverty in London with the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Poverty. This event, co-hosted by the USC and the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Poverty, is a great opportunity to discuss issues like rising costs of food, housing, tuition, and transportation. It’s also a chance for members of the Western community to let the city know what social and physical barriers are preventing them from fully participating in the community.
Date: Tuesday, January 26th, 2016
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Location: University Community Centre, Room 269
*Light refreshments will be provided
For more information e-mail Ms. Ashton Forrest at aforres@uwo.ca, or see the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1293135650711836/
Graduate student mentorship and presentation opportunity
On February 25th from 4:00pm – 7:00pm the Leadership and Mentorship Program for undergraduates is hosting a graduate students mentorship night and is reaching out to you. We are looking for graduate students from all departments in any year of study to sign up to attend the event. You will have the opportunity to do a 3 minutes introduction which will include your graduate work and motivation behind graduate studies followed by being a panel members so undergraduate students can ask you questions. This is an amazing opportunity for you to present your work, get involved on campus and play a great leadership role. If you are interested please email Taniya Nagpal, tnagpal@uwo.ca.
Welcome Back / New Year Party
On Thursday, January 28 @ 7:30 @ the Grad Club, the Orientation and Socials Committee and the International Graduate Student Issues Committee are co-hosting a Welcome Back/New Year Party for new and returning students. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the SOGS Office beginning Friday, January 15. There will be appetizers, games, and prizes (including drink tickets) to be won. This event is open to all graduate students.
Board Game Night
Kick off the year with our monthly Board Games Night on January 20! Drinks, appetizers, and new games! You can join the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1765088010381581/
At the Grad Club
Special guest performance
Zameer – a singer, songwriter, com[poser, and Western alumni – will be playing Monday, January 18 at 7pm.
You can listen to his upcoming album here: https://soundcloud.com/zameermusic/sets/her-ep-playlist/s-rDeRU
Dinner & Movie
Purchase one of our dinner special and you can purchase a Western Film movie for $3.50. Voucher is good for any movie.
Grad Club Hours
Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight)
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
Themed buffet
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.
January 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 January 31. Winners can pick up their Grad Club certificates in the SOGS office during regular office hours, and their names will be posted in next month’s newsletter.
Since our VP External messed up and never posted a December question (sorry!), this month’s trivia will have eight winners instead of the usual five.
January Question:
Describe one of the responsibilities of the University Senate or Board of Governors; you may describe a responsibility of either body generally or of members specifically. In other words, please demonstrate your level of understanding of either of these two bodies.