We received a total of 85 votes (1.26%) from the membership (6,750 members). This election was run as a RANKED BALLOT.

Four candidates were eliminated in the first four rounds of voting. In the fifth and final round, the votes were as follows:

• • ANTONIA YIP………………………..29 votes (34.1%)
  • MOHAMMAD ZERAATI………….26 votes (30.6%)
  • AOIFE HAWTHORNE…………….23 votes (27.1%)
  • with 7 (8.2%) exhausted ballots.

Congratulations to Antonia Yip and Mohammad Zeraati for being elected to the SOGS Board of Directors! See the full vote breakdown here.

CANDIDATES:

QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES:

1) Name something you think SOGS could do better to expand its transparency.

• • Nominations Open: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Nominations Close: Wednesday, June 11, 2025; 11:59 pm
  • Campaign Period Begins:  Saturday, June 7, 2025; 12:00 am 
  • Campaign Period Closes: Wednesday June 11, 2025; 11:59 pm
  • Balloting Opens: Thursday, June 12, 2025; 8 pm
  • Balloting Closes: Friday, June 13, 2025; 8 pm

Want to nominate yourself?

SOGS members in good standing wishing to nominate themselves must send their nomination (and a 1-page election poster/platform for inclusion in the SOGS Council mail-out) to the SOGS Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca) no later than Thursday, May 29th at 6 PM. 

🧐 Should you have questions about this position, please feel free to contact the VP Advocacy (advocacy@sogs.ca).

ABOUT THE GENDER EQUITY COMMISSIONER ROLE

The Gender Equity Commissioner advocates on behalf of female and non-binary identifying SOGS members. The Gender Equity Commissioner connects students to campus or community resources, voices any concerns or interests at SOGS Council meetings and is a member of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee. The Commissioner works with other graduate students to bring activities/events/campaigns to create a safe and inclusive space to share concerns or opinions and work together to improve the graduate student experience at Western.

Commissioners earn an honorarium of $500 per term. 

VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC

The role of VP Academic is to ensure that graduate students’ academic-related interests and concerns are represented by coordinating academic programs. These include Gradcast, Western Research Forum, and the Academic Joint Fund.The VP Academic works closely with graduate students, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS), and other academic affiliates and stakeholders to discuss various academic issues. 

The VP Academic oversees the Peer Advisor for Academic Matters program, which provides guidance and mediation for the graduate student academic appeals process. More information can be found here.

The VP Academic will earn a monthly stipend of $2,004 (May – August) and $2,054 (September – April) plus 4% vacation pay.

VICE-PRESIDENT ADVOCACY

This portfolio focuses on graduate student issues and equity concerns. The current priorities in this role are knowledge management; accessibility and inclusivity; and, improved partnerships with campus and community partners, including the Canadian Federation of Students.

The Vice-President Advocacy acts as the official liaison to the Sustainability Committee, and the Accessibility, Gender Equity, International, Pride, Racial Equity and Inclusivity Commissioners and Commissions.

The VP Advocacy will earn a monthly stipend of $2,004 (May – August) and $2,054 (September – April) plus 4% vacation pay.

VICE-PRESIDENT FINANCE

The role of the VP Finance is to manage the finances of the Society and to oversee the operation of the Grad Club, which includes preparing the annual SOGS budget. The VP Finance is to liaise with finance-related stakeholders on campus, such as UWOFA and the University administration. The VP Finance also acts as the official liaison to the Subsidies, Finance, and Grad Club Committees.

The VP Finance will earn a monthly stipend of $2,004 (May – August) and $2,054 (September – April) plus 4% vacation pay.

VICE-PRESIDENT STUDENT SERVICES

The VP Student Services oversees some of the benefits and services offered by the Society including, but not limited to the graduate student health and dental plan, social and orientation events, and various wellness initiatives. The VP Student Services acts as the official liaison to the Graduate Peer Support, Orientation and Social, and Health Plan committees.

The VP Student Services will earn a monthly stipend of $2,004 (May – August) and $2,054 (September – April) plus 4% vacation pay.

DEPUTY SPEAKER

The Deputy Speaker oversees the Society’s policies, bylaws, and constitution. The Deputy Speaker works with the Speaker to run monthly council meetings. 

The Deputy Speaker will earn a monthly stipend of $501 (May – August) and $513.50 (September – April) plus 4% vacation pay.

SPEAKER

The Speaker oversees and administers the Society’s student government. The speaker functions as an impartial non-executive officer. They act as the official liaison of SOGS council, they prepare the monthly council package, and host monthly, annual and general meetings. The speaker is familiar with Robert’s Rules of Order and governance.

The Speaker will earn a monthly stipend of $1,002 (May -August) and $1,027 (September – April) plus 4% vacation pay. 

ACCESSIBILITY COMMISSIONER

The Accessibility Commissioner advocates on behalf of SOGS members with disabilities and those that face accessibility challenges. Their primary role is to work towards greater accessibility and inclusivity for those with a wide range of disabilities (including but not limited to physical disabilities, mental disabilities/disorders and learning disabilities) and accessibility challenges (including but not limited to parents of children with disabilities) that have historically been insufficiently accounted for within society.

Commissioners earn an honoraria of $500 per term. 

GENDER EQUITY COMMISSIONER

The Gender Equity Commissioner advocates on behalf of female and non-binary identifying SOGS members. The Gender Equity Commissioner connects students to campus or community resources, voices any concerns or interests at SOGS Council meetings and is a member of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee. The Commissioner works with other graduate students to bring activities/events/campaigns to create a safe and inclusive space to share concerns or opinions and work together to improve the graduate student experience at Western.

Commissioners earn an honorarium of $500 per term. 

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSIONER

The International Commissioner advocates on behalf of international SOGS members. In addition to representing the community’s interests at SOGS Council meetings and campus stakeholders like Western International, the International Commissioner will function as a community advocate that works to connect international students to resources, supports local international grad student events and initiatives, and seeks out ways to best support international student and their experience at Western with campus partners.

Commissioners earn an honorarium of $500 per term. 

PRIDE COMMISSIONER

The Pride Commissioner advocates on behalf of the 2SLGBTQIA+ SOGS members. In addition to representing the community’s interests at SOGS Council meetings and on campus, the Pride Commissioner helps connect students to resources, supports local 2SLGBTQIA+ events and initiatives, and seeks out ways to listen to and support 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Commissioners earn an honorarium of $500 per term. 

RACIAL EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY COMMISSIONER

The SOGS Racial Equity and Inclusivity Commissioner advocates on behalf of SOGS members who are visible minorities. They are responsible for reporting on issues and concerns affecting racialized graduate students at Western University. This Commissioner will facilitate a smoother transition into graduate studies and improve the overall graduate experience for racialized graduate students. They will also report on SOGS activities to and provide a voice for racialized graduate student community on campus.

Commissioners earn an honorarium of $500 per term. 

SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR

The SOGS Sustainability Coordinator represents the sustainability and community interests of SOGS members at meetings of external organizations on- and off-campus. Working under the VP Advocacy and with the Sustainability Committee, the Sustainability Coordinator plans and facilitates sustainability-themed events and initiatives, and advocates for students’ concerns about the environment. They work on compiling and maintaining an online database of environment and sustainability resources.

Coordinators earn an honorarium of $500 per term. 

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

MEET YOUR PRESIDENT:

CHERIN CHUNG, PhD French Literature

The President oversees the day-to-day operations of the Society of Graduate Students. The President:

💼  is an Executive Officer of the Society;
📊 is a vital part of the SOGS operations, overseeing the bookkeeping, legal, and administrative functions of the Society;
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽 works collaboratively with the SOGS Vice-Presidents to ensure the Academic, Advocacy, Finance, and Student Services portfolios are maintained and in good standing;  
📝 is responsible for reporting to the Board of Directors and SOGS Council, as well as holding monthly Executive meetings; 
🗳 is a voting member of SOGS council;
🤝 attends monthly meetings with various WesternU campus stakeholders and administrators; and,
📚 receives formal training (April 2025) from the outgoing president, if a new president is elected.

More details on position of President is available in the SOGS Constitution & Bylaws (primarily under Bylaws 2.1.2.). The most current version can be downloaded at sogs.ca/documents. 

If you have any questions about this elected position, please reach out to the current SOGS President, Cherin Chung (president@sogs.ca), who will be more than happy to chat with you! 

Elections-related questions can be directed to the CRO, Antonia Yip (cro@sogs.ca).

The president receives a monthly stipend of $3,186 (gross) for the 2025-26 year.

• • Nominations Open: Monday, February 10; 10:00 am 
  • Nominations Close: Friday, February 21; 4:00 pm 
  • Candidate Prep: Monday, February 24 – Sunday, March 2
  • All Candidates’ Meeting: Monday, March 3; time TBD
  • Campaign Period Begins: Tuesday, March 4; 12:00 am 
  • Campaign Period Closes: Sunday, March 16; 11:59 pm 
  • Balloting Opens: Monday, March 17; 12:00 pm 
  • Balloting Closes: Wednesday, March 19; 12:00 pm

OARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION

MEET THE 2025-26 CANDIDATES:

• • Nominations Open: Monday, February 10; 10:00 am 
  • Nominations Close: Friday, February 21; 4:00 pm 
  • Nominations Extended: Until Friday, February 28; 4:00pm
  • Candidate Prep: Friday, February 28- – Sunday, March 2
  • All Candidates’ Meeting: Monday, March 3; time TBD
  • Campaign Period Begins: Tuesday, March 4; 12:00 am 
  • Campaign Period Closes: Sunday, March 16; 11:59 pm 
  • Balloting Opens: Monday, March 17; 12:00 pm 
  • Balloting Closes: Wednesday, March 19; 12:00 pm

• Vice-President Academic
• Vice-President Advocacy
• Vice-President Finance
• Vice-President Student Services
• Chief Returning Officer
• Speaker
• Deputy Speaker
• Ombudsperson

• Accessibility Commissioner
• Gender Concerns Commissioner
• International Commissioner
• Pride Commissioner
• Racial Equity and Inclusivity Commissioner
• Sustainability Coordinator

Want to nominate yourself?

SOGS members in good standing wishing to nominate themselves to any of the positions must send their nomination (and a 1-page election poster/platform for inclusion in the SOGS Council mail-out) to the SOGS Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca) and the Governance & Policy Manager (sogs.governance@uwo.ca) no later than Tuesday, April 16 at 11:59PM. 

Should you have questions about any of these positions, please feel free to contact the current executives, non-executives, and community advocates directly or the speaker (speaker@sogs.ca).

Learn more about each role below:

VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC

The role of VP Academic is to ensure that graduate students’ academic-related interests and concerns are represented by coordinating academic programs. These include Gradcast, Western Research Forum, and the Academic Joint Fund. The VP Academic works closely with graduate students, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS), and other academic affiliates and stakeholders to work on various academic issues. 

The VP Academic oversees the Peer Advisor for Academic Matters program, which provides guidance and mediation for the graduate student academic appeals process. More information can be found here.

The VP Academic currently earns a stipend of $1,964.35 per month (inclu. 4% vacation pay).

VICE-PRESIDENT ADVOCACY

This portfolio focuses on graduate student issues and equity concerns. The current priorities in this role are knowledge management; accessibility and inclusivity; and, improved partnerships with campus and community partners, including the Canadian Federation of Students.

The Vice-President Advocacy acts as the official liaison to the Graduate Student Issues, International Graduate Student Issues, and Sustainability Committees, as well as the Commissioners (Accessibility, Gender Concerns, Pride, and Racial Equity and Inclusivity).

The VP Advocacy currently earns a stipend of $1,964.35 per month (inclu. 4% vacation pay).

VICE-PRESIDENT FINANCE

The role of the VP Finance is to manage the finances of the Society and to oversee the operation of the Grad Club, which includes preparing the annual SOGS budget. The VP Finance is to liaise with finance-related stakeholders on campus, such as UWOFA and the University administration. The VP Finance also acts as the official liaison to the Subsidies, Finance, and Grad Club Committees.

The VP Finance currently earns a stipend of $1,964.35 per month (inclu. 4% vacation pay).

VICE-PRESIDENT STUDENT SERVICES

The VP Student Services oversees some of the benefits and services offered by the Society including, but not limited to, the graduate student health and dental plan, social and orientation events, and various wellness initiatives. The VP Student Services acts as the official liaison to the Graduate Peer Support, Orientation and Social, and Health Plan committees.

The VP Student Services currently earns a stipend of $1,964.35 per month plus 4% vacation pay.

DEPUTY SPEAKER

The Deputy Speaker oversees the Society’s policies, bylaws, and constitution. The Deputy Speaker works with the Speaker to run monthly council meetings. 

The Deputy Speaker earns a monthly stipend of $517  (gross; including 4% vacation pay).

SPEAKER

The Speaker oversees and administers the Society’s student government. The speaker functions as an impartial non-executive officer. They act as the official liaison of SOGS council, they prepare the monthly council package, and host monthly, annual and general meetings. The speaker is familiar with Robert’s Rules of Order and governance.

The Speaker earns a stipend of $XXX per month plus 4% vacation pay. 

OMBUDSPERSON

The Ombudsperson functions as an external, neutral investigator, addressing internal SOGS complaints and grievances. The Ombudsperson is a vital part of SOGS, offering graduate students an opportunity to bring complaints forward for investigation, discussion, mediation, and resolution. The Ombudsperson is responsible for drafting a confidential report for each complaint, outlining the basis of the complaint, investigation process, findings, and possible resolutions, as well as proposes updates to the SOGS Disciplinary code.

The Ombudsperson earns a stipend of $2,000 each year.

ACCESSIBILITY COMMISSIONER

The Accessibility Commissioner advocates on behalf of SOGS members with disabilities and those that face accessibility challenges. Their primary role is to work towards greater accessibility and inclusivity for those with a wide range of disabilities (including but not limited to physical disabilities, mental disabilities/disorders and learning disabilities) and accessibility challenges (including but not limited to parents of children with disabilities) that have historically been insufficiently accounted for within society.

Commissioners earn a stipend of $500 per term. 

GENDER EQUITY COMMISSIONER

The Gender Concerns Commissioner advocates on behalf of female and non-binary identifying SOGS members. The Gender Concerns Commissioner connects students to campus or community resources, voices any concerns or interests at SOGS council meetings and is a member of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Committee. The Commissioner works with other graduate students to bring activities/events/campaigns to create a safe and inclusive space to share concerns or opinions and work together to improve the graduate student experience at Western.

Commissioners earn a stipend of $500 per term. 

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSIONER

The International Commissioner advocates on behalf of international SOGS members. In addition to representing the community’s interests at SOGS Council meetings and campus stakeholders like Western International, the International Commissioner will function as a community advocate that works to connect international students to resources, supports local international grad student events and initiatives, and seeks out ways to best support international student and their experience at Western with campus partners.

Commissioners earn a stipend of $500 per term. 

PRIDE COMMISSIONER

The Pride Commissioner advocates on behalf of the 2SLGBTQIA+ SOGS members. In addition to representing the community’s interests at SOGS Council meetings and on campus, the Pride Commissioner helps connect students to resources, supports local 2SLGBTQIA+ events and initiatives, and seeks out ways to listen to and support 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Commissioners earn a stipend of $500 per term. 

RACIAL EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY COMMISSIONER

The SOGS Racial Equity and InclusivityCommissioner advocates on behalf of SOGS members who are visible minorities. They are responsible for reporting on issues and concerns affecting racialized graduate students at Western University. This Commissioner will facilitate a smoother transition into graduate studies and improve the overall graduate experience for racialized graduate students. They will also report on SOGS activities to and provide a voice for racialized graduate student community on campus.

Commissioners earn a stipend of $500 per term. 

SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR

The SOGS Sustainability Coordinator represents the sustainability and community interests of SOGS members at meetings of external organizations on- and off-campus. Working under the VP Advocacy and with the Sustainability Committee, the Sustainability Coordinator plans and facilitates sustainability-themed events and initiatives, and advocates for students’ concerns about the environment. They work on compiling and maintaining an online database of environment and sustainability resources.

Coordinators earn a stipend of $XXX per term.