SOGS Update, the official monthly electronic newsletter from SOGS, keeps you up to date on issues and events affecting graduate students at Western University.
Between editions of the newsletter, you’ll find updates on Facebook, Twitter, the IGSIC Facebook page and on our events calendar!
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EVENTS
Family Picnic at Gibbons Park on Saturday, August 18, 2018. Bring your friends and family for a fun afternoon at the park. For those with small children, games will be provided by Western Recreation. Need to cool off? Bring your swimsuits so you can cool off at the splash pad nearby. Buy your $5 tickets at the SOGS office, Middlesex College, Room 8. Your choice of main: veggie burger, beef burger, beef hotdog. SOGS will be set up at PICNIC SPOT #3 (see map below). More information about Gibbons Park here.
Gibbons park map:
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yoga on UC Hill. Bring your own mat, towel, and water on August 14. Free event for all.
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Have a thesis you need to finish? Don’t stay home and procrastinate. Seriously. Don’t. We know it’s hard; we’ve been there (or are still are there, finishing grad school…while working/volunteering at SOGS).
Come to the SOGS office every Friday and work in our spacious multipurpose room. Bring your own lunch, or eat at the Grad Club: it’s up to you! August dissertation drop-in dates: 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st.
SOGS: No pressure, just support. #GetErDone
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Board Game night: August 15th.
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Events in London:
If you can’t beat the heat, get comfy outside watching movies FOR FREE at Victoria Park. BYOB chairs, snacks, and refreshments.
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Wortley Village Jazz & Blues Festival: August 19, 2018
NEW in 2018 – 10 live bands featuring local musicians!
Over 4 hours of non-stop entertainment!
NOW 5 Stages including one on the Green!
FREE! Your donations make next year happen!
Bring a lawn chair. Hope for sun! Expect to be entertained!
More information about the bands playing, visit here.
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SILENCED MEMORIES – A Thesis Project Exhibition, Ulises Unda
Reception: Thursday, August 9 / 7-9PM
Satellite Project Space (121 Dundas St)
In this exhibition, former refugees, massacre survivors, and their younger relatives tell us about their wartime experiences of violent repression, massacres, and forced exile by the US-backed Salvadoran military. More information here.
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GET INVOLVED:
Want to work at SOGS and contribute to the quality of life of your peers at Western? Run for Vice-President Student Services. Position held October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. This is a compensated position.
Portfolio of VP Student Services includes, but is not limited to: overseeing the SOGS Health Plan, International Graduate Student Issues, and Orientation and Social committees; contributing to graduate student life by planning fall orientation events; work with VP Advocacy to run Graduate Student Wellness week in October; meet with Western stakeholders to improve graduate student services; and attend monthly council and delivering reports about the VP Student Services position.
To know more about the specifics of the VP Student Services position, please refer to the SOGS Constitution and Bylaws document (p. 20-22). Have questions? Feel free to contact our current VPSS, Madison Bettle (services@sogs.ca), or the SOGS President, Mary Blake Bonn (president@sogs.ca). Submit your candidate statement to the SOGS council Speaker, Lola Wong (speaker@sogs.ca) by September 18th.
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Want to work at SOGS and advocate for your peers at Western? Run for Vice-President Advocacy. Position held October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. This is a compensated position.
Portfolio of VP Advocacy includes, but is not limited to: working with and overseeing the SOGS Equity, Sustainability, Graduate Student Issues, and Graduate Peer Support committees; contributing to graduate student life by planning Graduate Student Wellness week in October with VP Student Services, as well as overseeing SOGS weekly Graduate Peer Support drop–in; and attending monthly council and delivering reports about the VP Advocacy position.
To know more about the specifics of the VP Advocacy position, please refer to the SOGS Constitution and Bylaws document (p. 20-22). Have questions? Feel free to contact our current VP Advocacy, Vanessa Lilly (advocacy@sogs.ca), or the SOGS President, Mary Blake Bonn (president@sogs.ca). Submit your candidate statement to the SOGS council Speaker, Lola Wong (speaker@sogs.ca) by September 18th.
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Call for SOGS committee members & volunteers:
- GradCast: Are you interested in presenting your research on the radio? That’s right, the radio! We want to HEAR from you!
- Sustainability Committee
- Graduate Student Issues Committee
- Graduate Student Teaching Assistant Award (GSTA) Committee
- Finance Committee
- Grad Club Committee
- Bursaries & Subsidies Committee
- Graduate Peer Support (GPS) Committee
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Need to de-clutter your home? Don’t throw away perfectly good household items or give them to for-profit stores like Value Village; instead, bring them to the SOGS office (Middlesex College, room 8) during the month of August and help incoming international graduate students set up their new homes with your gently used, unwanted stuff. The department that donates the most individual items to the drive wins a $200 gift card to the Grad Club (that’s a lot of beer and nachos!).
Items that could be donated: clean linens, pillows, towels (*no stains*) / small kitchen appliances like toasters, coffeemakers, blenders, etc., / lamps / small decorative items / glassware, bakeware, dishes, utensils / winter clothes / children’s toys / office gear / vacuums / and much more… (Please do not bring large furniture to the office – students have to be able to easily transport your donated goods.)
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It’s finally here! Our Society of Graduate Students at Western University Graduate Student Cookbook contest: “Living on a Tight Budget”–in partnership with Western Libraries – Western University,Wellness Education Centre – Western University,Western Dietitian Services, and SGPS–will run until an extended date of August 31.
Submit your recipe (& photo and/or video) to gps@sogs.ca to be included in the Scholarship @ Western Cookbook set to launch during Graduate Wellness Week (Oct 1-6). POST your recipe (+ photo & video – yes, of you making the recipe!) on the GPS page for a chance to win a $100 Grocery Gift card. The post with the highest number of shares/likes will win the gift card!
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IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
Travel subsidy form / Professional Placement subsidy form + Letter for placement template form / Childcare subsidy form
SOGS Services
- Food Bank Program for Non-TA members
- Joint Wellness Fund
- Joint Fund for Graduate Research
- SOGS’s Financial Assistance Programs
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Want to nominate a TA that is amazing? Now’s your chance. Undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff may nominate a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Winners will be notified in the spring 2019 term, with a fancy award ceremony and luncheon to follow. Vote for your favourite GTA here. More information about the GSTA awards here. VOTE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2018.
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Initiatives on Campus:
Looking to add value to your graduate degree and to your research? Join Western’s cohort of Graduate Student Innovation Scholars! Receive a participation award of $1,500. Apply your discipline-specific knowledge and develop expertise in entrepreneurship, commercialization and knowledge transfer with hands-on training. Apply your knowledge. Apply today.
What you bring: Current Western graduate student / Evidence of teamwork, creative thinking and presentation skills / Any translational research, commercialization or entrepreneurship experience
What we offer : A $1,500 award, one term of training and a certificate of completion / Expertise in commercialization, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer / Training for up to three teams of three
How to apply: Submit your CV, a 200-250-word statement of interest and a cover letter / Supervisor’s sign-off / Submit your application to sis@uwo.ca
Applications can be submitted now and are due by midnight on Sunday, August 12, 2018.
The program is expected to start the week of September 11, 2018. More information here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS: 2018-19 Fall Orientation/2018 Wellness Week
Want to be extra prepared for Fall 2018 Orientation? Review the new SOGS 2018-19 handbook HERE.
Schedule breakdown:
September 10:
Family BBQ (5:00-7:00pm @ the Grad Club). $5 for adults and free for children under 12. Includes: hamburger/hot dog (veggie option), fries, veggies, games, and prizes! Tickets will go on sale in August.
Stitch & Bitch (7pm @ the Grad Club). FREE. Come out and craft with us! Refreshments provided.
September 11:
International Grad Meet & Greet (3:00-5:00pm @ the Grad Club). FREE. Register HERE. Refreshments provided. Prizes to be won!
Trivia Night (7:30pm @ the Grad Club). FREE! Prizes to be won.
September 12:
Welcome to YOUR Grad Club (3:00-6:00pm @ the Grad Club). FREE. Grad Student Associations/Councils (President, Chair, Rep) sign up HERE. Refreshments provided; games and prizes to be won!
Board Game Night (7:00pm @ the Grad Club). FREE. Appetizers, drink special, and games galore!
September 13:
Amazing Race: SOGS Edition (1:30-3:30pm starting @ the Grad Club). FREE. Register HERE. Winning teams: 1) $200 Grad Club certificate 2) $150 Grad Club certificate 3) $100 Grad Club certificate. ALL participants (except winners) receive $5 Grad Club certificate.
IGSIC Goes to Global Cafe (3:00-5:00pm in the IGAB Atrium). FREE. The International Graduate Student Issues Committee (IGSIC) attends and sponsors the IESC’s Global Cafe as a way to welcome and connect with incoming and returning international graduate students. Trivia Contest to win prizes!
Know Your Union (PSAC 610) (5:00-7:00-pm @ the Grad Club). FREE. Come out and enjoy appetizers and refreshments so you can get to know your Graduate Student Union!
Bonfire Night (8:00pm @ the Grad Club). $5. Ticket includes moving screening (Shrek), popcorn, s’more making, hot dog, and corn on the cob. Prizes to be won! Tickets will go on sale in August.
September 14:
Indigenous Graduate Student Meet & Greet (12:30-3:00pm). FREE. Lunch at Indigenous Services to welcome you to the space and then a Tour of the SOGS Office (Middlesex College, Room 8) and the Grad Club! Register here.
SOGS 50th Anniversary Party (8:30pm @ the Grad Club). $5. Ticket includes pub food, drink ticket, and prizes! Tickets will go on sale in August.
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SOGS MONTHLY TRIVIA:
July trivia winners: Ben Corrigan / Marina Lazarakos / Kyra Simone
Pick up your prize (GC voucher) at the SOGS office!
August trivia question: What elections will take place at September council? (Email your answer to sogs.communications@uwo.ca)