NEWS

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September 2018 Council Summary

The following provides a brief summary of the recent Council meeting on September 27. The complete Council package, which includes the agenda and reports, can be accessed here. Full minutes of the meeting will be available in the October Council package.

This summary is provided to increase transparency, and to support Councillors in completing their obligations under Bylaw 2.3.5; “shall regularly communicate with his or her constituents concerning the activities, programs, and decisions of the Society”. If you have any questions, please contact our Communications Administrator (sogs.communications@uwo.ca) or the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca).

The next Council meeting will be on October 25, 2018 at 6pm in MC 105B.

New Councillor Orientation: PIZZA! October 18. 

If you are interested in running for the SOGS Commissioner positions (Accessibility, Indigenous, Pride, and Women’s Concerns), submit your nomination statements to speaker@sogs.ca by October 18. If you have questions about these positions, contact the Executive or the current Commissioners.

Announcements:
 SOGS Graduate Wellness Week (Oct 1-6). Facebook Event (Share!)
GradCast Recruitment: Oct 5, 4pm (until closing) @ the Grad Club.
GRADtoberfest: Oct 11, 7-9pm @ the Grad Club. Tickets ($5) available in the SOGS Office.
SOGS Halloween Board Game Night: Oct 17 @ 7pm @ the Grad Club.
Family Halloween Night: Oct 30, 5-7pm @ the Grad Club. Tickets ($5) available in the SOGS Office.
Harry Potter Trivia Night @ the Grad Club: Oct 30, 7pm @ the Grad Club.
Dissertation Drop-in will continue on Fridays in the SOGS Office (MC Room 8).
Graduate Peer Support (GPS) drop-ins every Wednesday from 2:30-4:00pm in the SOGS Office.

Guest Speaker:

Student Success Centre (Experiential Learning)
– What feedback do you have on the co-curricular definitions of  teaching assistantship, research assistantship, student  government, and professional development?
– Does the curricular typology reflect the opportunities in your  program/department?
– Do the typologies accurately capture both the undergraduate and  graduate experience?
Contact: hwakley@uwo.ca and lisa.dale@uwo.ca to submit your feedback.

Elections
VP Student Services: Jeremy Johnston (acclaimed)
VP Advocacy: Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed (acclaimed)

Report from VPSS (2015-2018)
VP Bettle submitted her final report for her 3 year-5 month term as VP Student Services. She thanks everyone for all their support over the years! See her 3+ page and transitional manual (draft) in the September Council package.

President:
Free Speech Committee – Consultation Sessions

Tuesday, October 2 – 1-3
Wednesday, October 3: 2:30-4:30
Thursday, October 4: 9:30-11:30
Friday, October 5: 1:30-3:30

VP Academic
Graduate student vacation days: discussion about moving it from 2 weeks to 3 weeks. Feedback? Email academic@sogs.ca.
Leave of Absence: Current policy states that students have a maximum of 3 terms. SGPS talking about enforcing this rule. Feedback? Email academic@sogs.ca.
SOGS Academic Appeals: VP Academic meets with dozens of students on a regular basis and this is becoming unsustainable. We are looking for

VP Advocacy
Outgoing VP Advocacy, Vanessa Lilly, thanks everyone for all their support! Shout out to the Commissioners, Committee Chairs, Committee members, Executive, and full-time staff.

Pride Commissioner (Patrick Hill)
If you’re interested in running for Pride Commissioner, contact pride@sogs.ca.

PSAC 610
Running a TA Wellness Event during Graduate Wellness on October 2, 2018. Contact communications@psac610.ca for how to get involved with the GTA Union!

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September 2018: Newsletter

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

Attention all new and returning graduate students: SOGS is not only hosting the most elaborate fall orientation yet, loaded with tons of events and prizes, but is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. All event tickets can be purchased in the SOGS office in Middlesex College, room 8. Hurry before they sell out!

SOGS 50th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS:

Friday, September 14

Come one, come all!

SOGS is pumped to be hosting a 50th anniversary orientation week dance party for all graduate students at the Grad Club. Join us for a night of eating, drinking, and dancing. The Grad Club will be transformed into a nightclub equipped with lights, lasers and music by DJ Jade.

Tickets are $5 and include a selection of yummy greasy snacks, a drink ticket for a special 50th anniversary cocktail, and prizes. Additional drink tickets ($3) for domestic beer, house wine, and a selection of shots.

 

Saturday, September 15

We know it’s a Saturday, and you are probably going to be out late the night before at the SOGS 50th Anniversary orientation dance party mingling and imbibing with friends old and new, but chances are you’ll be on campus at the library writing or in the lab running experiments anyway, so join us for a “picnic basket” lunch (sandwiches, wraps, salads and more) at the Grad Club.

C’mon, celebrate 50 years of advocating for graduate students with us.

$15 tickets can be purchased at the SOGS office. 

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SOGS FALL ORIENTATION EVENTS:

 Monday, September 10

Want to bring your family to campus to show them your new academic digs?

Not a new student, but want to come meet new people and get fed?

If so, please join SOGS for the kick-off of orientation week at its FAMILY BBQ @ the Grad Club from 5-7pm.

Your choice to hamburger, hotdog, or veggie option. CHILDREN are FREE!!! Games and craft activities for children (or those adults who want to get their craft on.) In addition to food and activities for kids, SOGS’ OSC committee will also be hosting a tie-dye event.

Get fed, colourful, and messy with us. $5 tickets can be purchased in the SOGS office. 

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Into fibre crafting? Yasss. Come to the Grad Club @ 7pm. Free event. 

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Tuesday, September 11

International Grad Student Meet & Greet (3:00-5:00pm @ the Grad Club). FREE. Register HERE. Refreshments provided. Prizes to be won!

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Trivia Night (7:30pm @ the Grad Club). FREE! Prizes to be won.

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Wednesday, September 12

Bring your graduate association to the Grad Club from 3-6pm for drink samples, appetizers, and the announcement of the winner of the 2018 Equity Committee’s annual household donation drive!

Sign-up your graduate student association here.

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Wanna play games with your friends? Come to the Grad Club on the third Wednesday of every month and play some of the 60+ games SOGS now has in its board game collection. See Facebook for more details. Movie theatre popcorn will be served.

This event is free.

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Thursday, September 13

Amazing Race: SOGS Edition (1:30-3:30pm starting @ the Grad Club). FREE for all. Don’t wither away in your office or lab. Come out, run around campus, get sweaty, have fun, and then cool off at the Grad Club patio with your peers.  Register HERE.

PRIZES: FIRST PLACE – $200 Grad Club certificate / SECOND PLACE –  $150 Grad Club certificate / THIRD PLACE – $100 Grad Club certificate. Wowza, that’s a lot of beer and nachos for post-race cool down…

ALL participants (except winners) receive $5 Grad Club certificate.

Top 3 winning teams receive complementary tickets to the SOGS BON FIRE NIGHT event. 

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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!

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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!

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Want to eat summertime foods like corn on the cob, hotdogs, s’mores, and movie theatre popcorn? Want to stare into the depths of a bon fire while you imbibe? Want to watch a screening of Shrek, the ogre pal you wish you had?

If you said yes to two or more of these questions, the SOGS annual BONFIRE NIGHT at the Grad Club is the event for you.

$5 tickets can be purchased at the SOGS office. Hurry before it’s too late.

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Friday, 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.

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

EVERY WEDNESDAY (Starting September 12)

EVERY FRIDAY

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October 1 – 6

Saturday, October 6

If you’ve always wanted to see one of the natural wonders of the world but haven’t had the chance, this is the trip for you. A bus departing the front of Middlesex College at 8:30am will take you to Niagara Falls and bring you back for at 6pm. Tickets are $20, which covers the cost of the bus. Once in Niagara Falls you will be on your own, free to explore what the city and the falls has to offer. If you’re not sure what to do once there, please visit the Niagara Tourism website.

SOGS will provide a small snack bag and bottle of water for the bus.

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Tuesday, October 9

Attention all INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS: IGSIC is hosting a bowling night at Bowlerama Royale from 7-9pm. $10 tickets can be purchased at the SOGS office. Ticket includes 2-hours of bowling and shoe rental.

Students will make their own way to the location (take the #2B bus).

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GET INVOLVED:

ATTENTION ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS!!! Do you want to give back to your student government? Do you want to try your hand at being involved with SOGS at the executive level? Are you politically-minded? If so, please be advised that the election for VP Advocacy and VP Student Services will take place at September council. If you want to run for either one of these executive positions, please send the SOGS Speaker, L. Wong (speaker@sogs.ca) your 1-page candidate statement/platform by September 18th.

 

VICE-PRESIDENT ADVOCACY

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 events like the annual Household Donation Drive, 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 Rose (president@sogs.ca).

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VICE-PRESIDENT STUDENT SERVICES

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; 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 Rose (president@sogs.ca).

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SOGS council:

WANT TO REPRESENT YOUR DEPARTMENT AT SOGS MONTHLY COUNCIL? If so, please get nominated by either a executive member of your graduate student association/  or / by 4 of your peers if your department does NOT have a graduate student association.

Here is the 2018-19 councillor nomination form. Please submit these to the SOGS office.  

When your department’s representative attends council each month (except for December), your department accrues money for each of the 11 council sessions. This fund of money is paid out in January of each year, in the form of a cheque, to your department’s graduate student association (or department if there is no graduate student association). These funds can be used, for example, to pay for social events and scholarly activities within your own department. The more your representative(s) attends council, the more grant funds your department will receive. If your department doesn’t participate at council, you don’t get any money.

Please be advised the SOGS determines your department’s number of representatives by enrolment numbers, which we won’t have until the end of September. In the mean time, it is *probably* safe for you to look at the 2017-18 numbers in the interim here.

More information about SOGS council. 

 

SOGS committees:

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Need stuff for your apartment? Don’t worry, SOGS has you covered. After a month of donations from across campus, SOGS is pleased to announce that it will distribute the hoard of gently used household items on SEPTEMBER 17 from 11am to 2pm at the SOGS office (Middlesex College room 8). FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

SOGS will announce the winning department of the drive (Prize: $200 Grad Club gift card) at the Meet Your Grad Club event on September 12.

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IMPORTANT DEADLINES:

If you know an AMAZING teaching assistant who taught in the SUMMER 2018 TERM, please nominate them and fill out our survey. Students, faculty, and staff may nominate TAs (one nomination per TA per nominator). In the Spring 2019 term, SOGS and SGPS, and PSAC local 610 will host the GSTA Award ceremony with a fancy lunch and a monetary prize for each winner.Vote for your favourite GTA here. More information about the GSTA awards here. VOTE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2018, 11:59PM. 

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SOGS ONLINE FALL BURSARY: Apply online. Deadline: September 30, 2018 at 11:59pm.

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SOGS Services:

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SOGS MONTHLY TRIVIA:

AUGUST TRIVIA WINNERS: 

  • Katherine Anne MacCormack
  • Christina Chung
  • Summer Thorp

Pick up your prize (GC voucher) at the SOGS office!

SEPTEMBER TRIVIA:

What anniversary is SOGS celebrating? (Email your answer to sogs.communications@uwo.ca)

 

 

 

 

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July Council Summary

The following provides a brief summary of the recent Council meeting on June 28. The complete Council package, which includes the agenda and reports, can be accessed here. Full minutes of the meeting will be available in the August Council package.

This summary is provided to increase transparency, and to support Councillors in completing their obligations under Bylaw 2.3.5; “shall regularly communicate with his or her constituents concerning the activities, programs, and decisions of the Society”. If you have any questions, please contact our Communications Administrator (sogs.communications@uwo.ca) or the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca).

Announcements

The next Council meeting will be on August 30, 2018 at 6pm on the Grad Club patio.
SOGS is going to Wonderland on July 28! There are still tickets left in the SOGS Office (MC 8). TOMORROW (Friday, July 27) is the last day to purchase them. Hurry!
March with SOGS and PSAC 610 in the London Pride Parade on Sunday, July 29!
Thesis Completion Fund applications due to the SOGS Office (MC 8) by July 31 @ 4pm.
Please help SOGS complete our Department Graduate Student Association/Council list.
Graduate Student Cookbook Contest! Submit to gps@sogs.ca and post your recipe on social media by August 31 to win!
Need SOGS to attend your September Department Orientations? Contact sogs.communications@uwo.ca.
Please share this SOGS Council Summary with your members via email and/or social media.

Events
SOGS goes to Wonderland (July 28)
March with SOGS and PSAC 610 in the London Pride Parade! (July 29)
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream/Tie-Dye (Aug 2)
Yoga on UC Hill (August 14)
August Board Game Night (August 15)
Family Picnic (August 18)
SOGS Orientation (September 10-15) is planned!
Graduate Wellness Week (Oct 1-6)

Updates
Empower Me:
Graduate Wellness Week (Oct 1-6): “Living on a Tight Budget”: Graduate Student Cookbook contest deadline extended until August 31 to gps@sogs.ca.
SOGS Orientation (Sept 10-14): join the Facebook Event page and SHARE WIDELY.
Graduate Peer Support (GPS) will launch weekly drop-in peer support starting Wednesday, September 19 from 2:30-4:00pm.
Looking for department-specific graduate student upstander training? Contact Melanie Stone (wcc@sogs.ca), our Women’s Concerns Commissioner who recently ran upstander training for 20 graduate students. Stay tuned for Sexual Violence Awareness Week in October and a “Times Up” event.
Are you a graduate student parent? Contact Melanie Stone (wcc@sogs.ca) to get involved with our Graduate Student Parent Advocacy Group!
The Equity Committee will be launching its Annual International Graduate Student Household Drive the week after Orientation.
The Sustainability Committee is looking for new members: srakhimb@uwo.ca.

Elections

Ombudsperson: Adam Roy (returning Ombudsperson acclaimed)

Relevant Motions Passed:

Executive:

Whereas a motion was passed in 2016 to start the Council year in September;
Whereas the implementation of this change was delayed because of difficulties in communication;
BIRT as of September, 2018, the Council year continue to begin in October.

Health Plan Committee (“Empower Me“)

Whereas the HPC has begun its research for the 2019-2021 SOGS Health & Dental Plan tendering process;
Whereas the HPC has been presented with a new program “Empower Me” that would provide supplementary services to the SOGS Health & Dental Plan at an additional cost of $4.20 (plus tax) per student;
Whereas the HPC desires to solicit formal feedback from SOGS Councillors regarding the potential implementation of this program;
BIRT Councillors distribute the “Empower Me” document to their constituents with the intention of collecting feedback on the program;
BIFRT Councillors bring constituent feedback on “Empower Me” to August Council.

 

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July 2018: Newsletter

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

Free goddess yoga for everyone! July 5, 8:30AM-9:10AM @ Innovation Works London (201 King Street)

Thesis Writing Time July 6, 13, 20, 27 @ The SOGS office/ 10AM – 3:45PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yoga on UC Hill – July 10 @ 7PM

SOGS goes to CANADA’S WONDERLAND! Saturday, July 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOARD GAME NIGHT – 7PM / July 18 @ The Grad Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream & Tie Dye – July 24 @ The Grad Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONDON PRIDE PARADE – July 29. Come out and support London’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Wear purple, be PROUD. Snap a pic, tag #westernupride and show your pride!

Beginning July 3 until July 29, Western’s Pride banner will be travelling across campus. Schedule: Grad Club (July 9 – 13) / UCC (July 16 – 23) 

 

LIVING ON A TIGHT BUDGET – Graduate Student Cookbook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: SOGS OMBUDSPERSON

Members interested in running for SOGS ombudsperson have until the July Council package report deadline (July 17th) to nominate themselves. Candidates running for Ombudsperson should send their nomination to the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca). Candidate statements will be published in the July Council package. The election will be held at July Council (Thursday, June 26, 2018).

From the SOGS Pride Commissioner:

London’s Pride Festival will be from July 19-29! We will be attending events throughout the week, if you are interested in joining us please email pride@sogs.ca and we will make sure you are on the mailing list. We are also looking for individuals interested in presenting their research on topics related to LGBTQIA+ community at the Pride Festival. If you are interested please email pride@sogs.ca.

From SOGS Accounting Manager:

SOGS is proud to announce that $421,608.00 was awarded in Bursaries and Subsidies for the 2017-18 academic year:

  • $6,000 awarded in 125th Anniversary Scholarships
  • $9,600 awarded for Child Care Subsidies
  • $66,508 awarded for Travel and Placement Subsidies
  • $14,000 awarded for Graduate Student Teaching Awards
  • $325,500 awarded in Bursaries

The Summer OSOTF & OOP Bursaries have been Awarded!  A total of $108,000 was awarded to 72 of our Members!  Congratulations to the Winners!

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SOGS FUNDING

ARE YOU A YEAR “X” STUDENT? IF SO, READ THIS…

Thesis Completion Fund:

The Thesis Completion Fund is a collaborative, one-time awards program between SOGS and Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 610 (PSAC 610) to help members of the Society of Graduate Students.

Based on academic merit and research excellence, and financial need, its aim is to provide assistance to graduate students beyond the end of their funding packages.

SOGS and PSAC 610 advocate for proper funding according to the needs of each graduate students.

The application (please print one-sided only to help with distribution during adjudication) is due in paper form no later than July 31, 2018 at 4 pm to The Society of Graduate Students, Middlesex College, Room 8, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail SOGS VP Academic, Jina Kum, at academic@sogs.ca.

Please note that award will be adjudicated by a committee comprised of SOGS members, whom have signed the Confidentiality Agreement to protect applicant’s confidentiality and privacy. SOGS confidentiality agreement document (PDF)

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GET INVOLVED

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE 2018 SOGS ORIENTATION IN SEPTEMBER! To sign-up to be a volunteer, please email services@uwo.ca.

SOGS International Graduate Student Orientation: Volunteers needed! September 11

Call for SOGS committee members & volunteers:

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SOGS Services

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CAMPUS NEWS

Western is moving to a smoke-free campus in a three-step process:

1.  Now – more clear air around campus – no smoking within 10 metres of buildings;
2.  July 1, 2018 – smoking will be allowed in designated areas only;
3.  July 1, 2019 – smoke-free campus.

Western’s smoking policy is meant to protect people from second-hand smoke, and create a healthier, cleaner campus for those who live, study, work and visit here.  A move to a smoke-free campus will offer challenges to some members of our community but the health and wellbeing of our community will improve as we go smoke-free. For smokers who wish to quit, help is available. Information about smoking cessation support.

 

Parking and construction: Find information about parking issues resulting from summer construction here.

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SOGS TRIVIA & CONTESTS

  • SOGS June trivia contest winners. Pick up your prize (GC voucher) at the SOGS office.
    • Gargi Jaju
    • Chantal Lemire
    • Chandell Gosse
  • Trivia question for July: 

 

Posted on

June Council Summary

The following provides a brief summary of the recent Council meeting on June 28. The complete Council package, which includes the agenda and reports, can be accessed here. Full minutes of the meeting will be available in the July Council package.

This summary is provided to increase transparency, and to support Councillors in completing their obligations under Bylaw 2.3.5; “shall regularly communicate with his or her constituents concerning the activities, programs, and decisions of the Society”. If you have any questions, please contact our Communications Administrator (sogs.communications@uwo.ca) or the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca).

Announcements

The next Council meeting will be on July 26, 2018 at 6pm on the Grad Club patio.
Need SOGS to attend your September Department Orientations? Contact sogs.communications@uwo.ca.
Please help SOGS complete our Department Graduate Student Association/Council list.
Graduate Student Cookbook Contest! Submit to gps@sogs.ca and post your recipe on social media to win!
Please share this SOGS Council Summary with your members via email and/or social media.

Events

Yoga on UC Hill (June 12, July 10, August 14)
LGBTQIA+ Discussion Group (July 11): Engaging with Pride through History (2:00-3:00pm).
Out in the Sun with the Western Community (July 16): Pride Flag raising ceremony and free ice cream!
Indigenous Graduate Student Lunch and Meet & Greet (July 17): Stay tuned for event link!
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream/Tie-Dye (July 24)
SOGS goes to Wonderland (July 28)
See the SOGS Pride page for July Pride Events from our Pride Commissioner and at Western University.
SOGS Orientation (September 10-15) is planned! Please share this information with your members.
Graduate Wellness Week (Oct 1-6) is planned! Stay tuned for the formal calendar in July.

Updates
SOGS Orientation is around the corner! Join the Facebook Event page and SHARE WIDELY.
PSAC 610 UHIP Assistance Fund (July 3) – all international students can apply to this!
PSAC 610 MEETING WITH PARENT UNION WITH CLC PRESENT ON JULY 24 at 5:30pm in SSC 2050. ALL MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO COME TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL!
Thesis Completion Fund Application due July 31, 2018 at 4pm to the SOGS Office (MC, Room 8).
We’re looking for anyone doing research on LGBTQIA+ to share their research at the Pride Parade in July! Contact pride@sogs.ca.
Looking for department-specific graduate student upstander training? Contact Melanie Stone (wcc@sogs.ca), our Women’s Concerns Commissioner who recently ran upstander training for 20 graduate students. Stay tuned for Sexual Violence Awareness Week in October and a “Times Up” event.
Are you a graduate student parent? Contact Melanie Stone (wcc@sogs.ca) to get involved with our Graduate Student Parent Advocacy Group!
Equity Committee will be launching its Annual International Graduate Student Household Drive.
Graduate Peer Support (GPS) will launch weekly drop-in peer support starting Wednesday, September 19.
Graduate Wellness Week (Oct 1-6) is planned! Keep an eye on social media for the event page. See last year’s line up if you’re interested! Informal calendar here.
We’re looking for anyone doing research on LGBTQIA+ to share their research at the Pride Parade in July! Contact pride@sogs.ca.
Health Plan Committee: 2017-2018 Survey Results. Please share the Empower Me document with your departments.
Campus Rec Survey Results (15-16): in summation: we’re going to be partnering with Campus Rec more!
Athletics Rep working on putting together a roundtable on graduate student use of SRS (Campus Rec).

Elections

VP Academic – Jina Kum (re-elected)
Speaker – Lola Wong, previous interim Communications Administrator (newly elected)

Relevant Motions

Whereas the GSTA Committee received over 1000 nominations during the 2017-2018 academic year.
BIRT the motion “all nominees for TA awards receive a certificate that can be added to a teaching Dossier; all nominees for TA Awards receive a copy of anonymized comments pending release by their nominees” passed at Council in January 2016 be amended to read “all nominees for GSTA awards receive a certificate [upon request within 1 year of when feedback was returned] that can be added to a teaching Dossier if nominations are legitimate; all nominees for GSTA Awards receive a copy of comments (anonymized where necessary) pending release by their nominees [via automated e-mail].”

Passed unanimously.

Whereas the 125th Anniversary Scholarship has a deadline on March 30th.
Whereas the 125th Anniversary Scholarship deadline is placed in silo, and does not fit well with the academic terms and other deadlines (ex. Subsidies and Bursaries Application deadline)
BIRT that the official deadline for the 125th Anniversary Scholarship be changed to April 30th.

Passed unanimously.

Posted on

June 2018: Newsletter

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!

 

EVENTS

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: SOGS Speaker and SOGS VP Academic positions up for election

Members interested in running for SOGS Speaker or VP Academic have until the June Council package report deadline (June 19th) to nominate themselves. Candidates running for VP Academic should send their nomination to the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca) and candidates running for Speaker should send their nomination to the Executive (executive@sogs.ca). Candidate statements will be published in the June Council package. Elections will be held at June Council (Thursday, June 28, 2018).

 

From SOGS Accounting:

– SOGS awarded over $31,000 Winter term subsidies. Congratulations to all the winners!

  • 125th Scholarship         $6,000
  • Child Care Subsidies   $3.600
  • Placement Subsidies   $1,104
  • Travel Subsidies          $20,895.06

 

– Summer Subsidies deadline is August 31, 2018. Forms can be found in the SOGS office (MC 8) or online.

 

From SOGS Women’s Concerns Commissioner

  • Upstander Training Opportunity: Interested in receiving Upstander sexual violence intervention training? We are offering a free opportunity for 20 Graduate Students in June.
  • Parent Advocacy Group Meeting: Calling all graduate student parents! We’re starting a parent advocacy group to address issues facing graduate parents on campus.

Find out more at sogs.ca/wcc

 

From SOGS Pride Commissioner:

  • Be sure to come out to the following LGBTQIA+ Graduate Student events on campus in June:
    – LGBTQIA+ Discussion Group: Wednesday, June 13th from 2-3, SOGS Office, MC 8. The topic will be Heteronormativity & Cissexism. Donuts and coffee will be provided!
    – LGBTQIA+ Social Event: Join us for our monthly social in the Grad Club from 6:30 pm onwards!
  • London’s Pride Festival will be from July 19-29! We will be attending events throughout the week, if you are interested in joining us please email pride@sogs.ca and we will make sure you are on the mailing list. We are also looking for individuals interested in presenting their research on topics related to LGBTQIA+ community at the Pride Festival. If you are interested please email pride@sogs.ca.

Find out more at sogs.ca/pride

 

From SOGS Accessibility Commissioner, Martin Ross:

Commissioner Ross has been investigating SSD accommodations in graduate course syllabi and taken steps to ensure a section for SSD accommodations be implemented in the graduate course outline document.

Find out more at sogs.ca/accessiblity

 

 

GET INVOLVED

 

 

 

 

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

  • PSAC 610 UHIP Assistance Fund: If you are a TA that paid UHIP fees for the 2017/2018 academic year, don’t forget to apply for the UHIP Assistance Fund. Applications due by July 3rd.
  • Rise and shine with a Grad Club breakfast for only $5!

 

 

SOGS TRIVIA & CONTESTS

  • SOGS trivia contest winners
    • Ben Corrigan
    • Christina Chung
    • Aviva Blacher
  • Trivia question for May: 
    • What mythical creature can be found sitting at the reception desk of the SOGS Administrative Assistant?

 

Email sogs.communications@uwo.ca for more information or to submit newsletter content.

 

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May Council Summary

The following provides a brief summary of the recent Council meeting on May 31. The complete Council package, which includes the agenda and reports, can be accessed here. Full minutes of the meeting will be available in the  June Council package.

This summary is provided to increase transparency, and to support Councillors in completing their obligations under Bylaw 2.3.5; “shall regularly communicate with his or her constituents concerning the activities, programs, and decisions of the Society”. If you have any questions, please contact our Communications Administrator (sogs.communications@uwo.ca) or the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca).

Announcements

The next Council meeting will be on June 28, 2018 at 6pm on the Grad Club patio.

Need SOGS to attend your September Department Orientations? Contact sogs.communications@uwo.ca.

SOGS June Elections! If you’re interested in running for VP Academic, please send your nomination to speaker@sogs.ca. If you’re interested in running for SOGS Speaker, please send your nomination to executive@sogs.ca. For more information, see here.

Please help SOGS complete our Department Graduate Student Association/Council list.

Please ensure that you share this SOGS Council Summary with your members via email and/or social media.

Events

Yoga on UC Hill (June 12, July 10, August 14)
Thesis Monthly Writing – SGPS & SOGS (June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29)
SOGS goes to Grand Bend! (June 23)
Please keep an eye on the SOGS Pride page for June Pride Events from our Pride Commissioner.
SOGS Orientation (September 10-14) is planned! Please share this information with your members.

Updates

Don’t forget to vote! For more information, check out Elections Ontario.
Thesis Completion Fund Application due July 31, 2018 at 4pm to the SOGS Office (Middlesex College, Room 8).
Congratulations to the SOGS GSTA 2017-2018 Winners!
Academic Joint Fund has started its new fiscal year!
Women’s Concerns Commissioner will be releasing Graduate Upstander Training and Parenting Advocacy group.
Equity Committee will be launching its Annual International Graduate Student Household Drive.
Graduate Peer Support (GPS) will be launching drop-in peer support.
Western and SOGS are aiming to make The Grad Club “zero-waste” by 2050.
Graduate Wellness Week is almost done! If you have ideas of what you’d like to see, contact services@sogs.ca.
Happy #AccessAbility Week! Language on grad student accommodations on grad syllabi to come in September. Contact accessibility@sogs.ca.
We’re looking for anyone doing research on LGBTQIA+ to share their research at the Pride Parade in July! Contact pride@sogs.ca.

Elections

SOGS Athletics Representative – Tomas Fabian

Motions Passed

Motions arising from the President/Executive

President

Whereas graduate students pay fees that support sports and recreation at Western;
Whereas the Director of Sport and Recreation Services has expressed interest in increasing collaboration with graduate students;
Whereas communication between SOGS and SRS has proven difficult;
BIRT SOGS elect an Athletic Representative to serve on a 5-month trial basis from June 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018.
BIFRT the Athletics Representative act in a volunteer capacity as a lision between SRS and SOGS;
BIFRT the Athletics Representative provide monthly reports to Council, either in person or in voting.

Passed unanimously.

Whereas the following bylaw changes have been mutually agreed upon by the President of the Society and
the Bylaws and Constitution Committee;
Whereas these changes reflect and clarify the duties of the President of the Society;
BIRT bylaw 2.1.2.13 be amended to read:
2.1.2.13 shall maintain organizational documents that reflect the mandate, operations, and needs of the
Society, and shall update them annually
BIRFT bylaw 2.1.2.15 be revised to read:
2.1.2.15 shall represent the Society as necessary (or designate an appropriate representative)
2.1.2.15.1 at meetings of campus organizations (including, by not limited to, the University Student’s
Council, The MBA Association, the PSAC 610, the UWO Faculty Association and the UWO Staff
Association).
2.1.2.15.2 at meetings with University Administrators
2.1.2.15.3 in any external context, including media and government relations.

Passed unanimously.

VP Finance

Whereas the previous [travel] subsidy form made it difficult for students who were travelling during the
conference deadline.
BIRT Students apply for the travel subsidy in the term of their last day of travel.

Passed unanimously.

Whereas the previous [childcare] form hasn’t asked members to declare other forms of childcare subsidies
BIRT the new form includes a line that asks if members have applied for other childcare subsidies and where
they have applied.

Passed unanimously.

Whereas the travel subsidy form is unclear;
BIRT we include a line on the form that says that preference will be given conference presenters.

Passed unanimously.

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MAY 2018: NEWSLETTER

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!

IN THE MAY ISSUE OF SOGS UPDATE:

SUMMER TERM DEADLINES:

 

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

GET INVOLVED

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

SOGS TRIVIA & CONTESTS

  • SOGS trivia contest winners
    • Juweiriya Ahmed
    • Khadija Ahmed
    • Natalie Hon Man Au
  • Trivia question for May: 
    • What SOGS group is hosting three events this month and what are the events?

Email sogs.communications@uwo.ca for more information or to submit newsletter content.

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March 2018 Council Summary

The following provides a brief summary of the recent Council meeting on March 29. The complete Council package, which includes the agenda and reports, can be accessed here. Full minutes of the meeting will be available in the April 2018 Council package.

This summary is provided to increase transparency, and to support Councillors in completing their obligations under Bylaw 2.3.5; “shall regularly communicate with his or her constituents concerning the activities, programs, and decisions of the Society”.

If you have any questions, please contact our Communications Administrator (sogs.communications@uwo.ca) or the Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca).

GUEST SPEAKER

Western Libraries is undergoing physical and structural renovations and working on a 25-year Master Plan. They are looking for community in-put on what students would like to see. Submit your input to Catherine Steeves (Vice-Provost, Chief Librarian): csteeves@uwo.ca.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please see the SOGS Facebook page for a full list of our events.

EVENTS:

SOGS-SAGE-Indigenous Education End of Term Lunch (April 4):
https://www.facebook.com/events/545870272464835/

Stitch & Bitch @ the Grad Club (April 9):
https://www.facebook.com/events/554554484928599/

LGBTQIA+ Discussion Group – SOGS Office, 2-3pm

GradCast-themed Trivia @ the Grad Club (April 11) – 7pm

SOGS April Board Game Night (April 18):
https://www.facebook.com/events/197928897479732/

SOGS End of Term Karaoke Bash (April 27) – 7pm @ the Grad Club

UPDATES:

  • SOGS is working on setting up a London North Centre Candidates’ Debate with the USC leading up to the provincial election.
  • Encourage undergraduate students to nominate their Graduate Teaching Assistants: https://qsharingeu.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0iTlrrzvgX7ijm5
  • Launch of the International Graduate Student Not All the Same profile end of April.
  • Graduate Peer Support (GPS) working with the WEC to have permanent GPS times.
  • VP Advocacy working with SGPS and SSD to launch Academic Coaching for graduate students.
  • The NEADS National Awards Program deadline is April 30. Application here.

MOTIONS PASSED:

1) Motions arising from the President:

Whereas the SOGS Executive and the Western Student Senators have been working toward increased collaboration;
Whereas the 2018–19 SOGS budget includes $500 to support the work of the Western Student Senators;
BIRT SOGS enter into the formal partnership with the Western Student Senators outlined in Appendix A;
BIFRT the BCC make any relevant changes to the SOGS bylaws.

2) Motions arising from the Executive:

Whereas Western’s Mental Health Strategic Plan states that it will:
—> “develop a mental health and wellness strategic plan for faculty and staff”;
—> “engage in ongoing opportunities for staff and faculty across campus … to collaborate on initiatives supporting student mental health and wellness”
—> “continue to support students who have innovative ideas to promote health and wellness on campus”
—> “build literacy on the continuum of mental health”
—> “increase opportunities for staff, faculty, student leaders, teaching assistants, and leaders at Western to receive mental health and suicide prevention training that will help to effectively identify and respond to a student with mental health concerns”
—> “develop a sub-committee of the Student Mental Health and Wellness Advisory Committee to address the issues raised during consultation pertaining to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at Western”
—> “Increase campus mental health promotion and awareness initiatives designed for students in professional programs and graduate studies”
—> “encourage professional faculties and graduate programs to address challenges with isolation and unique stressors experienced in graduate and professional training programs”
Whereas SOGS would like to keep Western University, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Graduate Administrators, Graduate Chairs, and Graduate Supervisors accountable to the Plan;
Whereas SOGS Council accept the following “first step” proposal in regards to partnering with SGPS, Equity and Human Rights, the Ombudsperson, Student Experience, and Middlesex Crisis for formalized Grad Chair, Grad Admin, and Grad Supervisor training.
BIRT SOGS Council request that the SOGS Executive carry forward the proposal to SGPS for further consultation.
BIFRT SOGS Council request that the SOGS Executive request that SGPS take the proposal to higher channels (e.g. Senate) to begin formalizing standardized and “strongly encouraged” training for graduate administrators and faculty.

3) Motion arising from the Vice-President Student Services

BIRT SOGS ratify the HPC Policy Document (see Council Appendix)
BIRT SOGS ratify the OSC Policy Document (see Council Appendix)

4) Motions arising from Other Committees:

1. Motions from the Policy Committee:

i) BIRT the Society replace Section 3.5 of the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws and Policy Documents with the version of Section 3.5 as submitted by the Policy Committee.
ii) BIRT the Society adopt the Policy Committee Policy as submitted by the Policy Committee.

5) Motions introduced from the floor:

BIRT the SOGS exec write a second letter of support for Western’s GTAs.

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SOGS Stands with PSAC 610!

Please see the official letter in support of PSAC 610 here.

March 7, 2018
Paul Jenkins, Chair, Board of Governors
Western University
and
President Amit Chakma
Western University

Dear Mr. Jenkins and President Chakma,

On behalf of the Society of Graduate Students, we are writing to express support for the bargaining efforts of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). We urge Western University to acknowledge graduate students’ contributions to teaching excellence at Western by committing to improving GTA funding.

Poverty among graduate students, including GTAs, is a major stressor precluding us from succeeding. GTAs are unable to afford basic living expenses, with many incurring debt to cover their costs. Accelerated increases in tuition, combined with decreases in real income, exacerbate the situation, making poverty prevalent among Western’s graduate students.

Many SOGS members are GTAs, or are former GTAs now beyond their funding period. When beyond the fourth year of a doctoral program or the second year of a master’s program, we lose our scholarships, and in many cases, our opportunity to work as GTAs or research assistants. We must often seek other employment, extending our time to completion or forcing withdrawal from the program.

We urge Western to seriously review the demand for an extended employment period. GTAs work hard to support undergraduate students’ education as a part of their student experience. It is time for
Western to extend its public mandate of providing the “best student experience” to graduate students, by offering them fair wages and working conditions.

We find it troubling that Western has discontinued the health and financial assistance benefits of GTAs during bargaining. Without the Extended Health Plan and Financial Assistance Fund, members may
experience personal emergencies related to unaffordable health and dental care, or food insecurity, as illustrated by the extensive use of foodbanks by graduate students at Western.

On March 1, 2018, SOGS Council unanimously mandated that it will support GTAs in bargaining. The graduate student body expresses solidarity with PSAC 610 GTAs in their efforts to advance all graduate student conditions, and it is the position of SOGS that no graduate student shall take up the work of a GTA who engages in legal withdrawal of their labour.

We trust that as a renowned research institution, Western University appreciates the gravity of this mandate, and will make efforts to improve the working and living conditions of GTAs.

Sincerely,
Mary Blake Bonn, SOGS President
Jina Kum, SOGS VP Academic
Vanessa Lilly, SOGS VP Advocacy
Laura Cabral, SOGS VP Finance
Madison Bettle, SOGS VP Student Services