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 relevant 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:
- On-campus early polling open through Thursday
- Request for feedback on the Goudge Report
- Congratulations to Summer 2015 SOGS subsidy recipients
- SOGS health plan refunds
- Graduate Student Resource Fair (Oct 14)
- The Open Access Movement: Implications for Scholarship (Oct 19)
- Consent & Compassion: a forum on preventing and responding to sexual violence at Western (Oct 26)
- F-Word Fridays
- New SOGS Council year starts Oct 29
- Nominations open for all SOGS Commissioner positions
- Graduate Students’ Issues Committee is looking for new members
- Columbia Sports Employee Store Discount
- Oktoberfest (Oct 29; tickets available as of Oct 13)
- Board Game Night
- At the Grad Club
- October trivia
On-campus early polling open through Thursday
On-campus polls are open through Thursday, October 8 from 10am-8pm in UCC 269 and SH 3366.
Western is one of 10 Ontario campuses that are participating in a pilot project this election to have early polls available on campus to students and the university community. This initiative allows voters to vote in any riding at the polls on campus so long as they have the appropriate ID, meaning either:
- one piece of photo ID with your address printed on it (such as your driver’s license), or
- one piece of photo ID (student card, passport, age of majority card…) and a separate proof of residence (a tax receipt, a bill, a form, a letter generated by the Registrar’s office).
Voting at these advance polls is convenient for you, and helps to support an initiative which will bring voting polls to campuses, thus facilitating students, faculty, and university workers to be able to vote more easily.
More information on voting is available from elections.ca
Request for feedback on the Goudge Report
In light of the potential impact of the recent Review of Presidential Compensation Practices at the University of Western Ontario completed by the Hon. Stephen Goudge, the SOGS Executive would like to invite and encourage our members to share their concerns with us through in-person conversation, email, or social media. If you prefer to share your feedback anonymously, we offer our members and the university community the option to provide feedback through a Google Form: http://goo.gl/forms/RTpTE4xbwk
Congratulations to Summer 2015 SOGS subsidy recipients
SOGS is pleased to announce $28,130.00 was awarded in subsidies for the Summer 2015 term… $3,000 ChildCare and $25,130 Travel. Congratulations to all the winners!
SOGS health plan refunds
SOGS health plan refunds will be processed this week. Student accounts with a credit balance will receive a refund via EFT next week. If you have not set up EFT with Human Resources a manual cheque will be issued to you, and you should contact your graduate assistant.
Graduate Student Resource Fair
On Oct 14, please join us in the International Graduate Affairs Building from 12:30pm – 5:00pm for refreshments and the opportunity to engage with community resources! Learn about the supports available to you in the London community and how you can get involved. Guests speakers, poster presentations, community booths and refreshments will be available. We hope to see you there.
More information regarding the resource fair will be made available online as details are confirmed. This is a drop-in event open to all students. Any questions please email Melanie Stone mstone33@uwo.ca or Taniya Nagpal tnagpal@uwo.ca
The Open Access Movement: Implications for Scholarship
The tri-council agency open access requirements has many people asking, what is open access? How does it impact me as a student; as a scholar? As part of Open Access Week, please join October 19 in NCB 293 from 12-1:20 our panel for a discussion on open access and its implications for scholarship, such as:
Featuring: Paul St-Pierre (PhD candidate), Tom Adam (Copyright Librarian), and Joanne Paterson (Metadata Management Librarian). Presented in association with PSAC 610 Social Justice and Political Action Committee, the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, the Progressive Librarians Guild London Chapter, and the Graduate Resurce Center.
Consent & Compassion: a forum on preventing and responding to sexual violence at Western
You’re invited! Taking place on Oct. 26 from 9:00pm – 1:30pm, join us as we host our very first consent forum open to all students, staff, faculty and community members. This forum looks to address the issue of sexual violence on campus: how we can prevent this from happening, engage upstanders, respond to and support survivors and make our campus a safe and equitable space for everyone. Prevention of sexual violence on campuses is a national priority, and this is your chance to support Western, support your peers, learn and engage with this issue. Guest speaker Dr. Rachel Griffin, Anti-Gender Violence and Survivor, will be the keynote speaker for the forum. Please look out for more information coming shortly, seats are limited so please register at your earliest convenience. Light breakfast and lunch provided, no cost for attending.
F-Word Fridays
Every Friday hosted by The Department Women’s Studies and Feminist Research, we have F-Word Fridays. A different film is screened each week at 12:30pm in Lawson Hall 3252. Movies this October include: Kissed by Lightning, Honor Diaries, Pride, Michel Kimmel: On Gender. Everyone is welcome to attend.
New SOGS Council year starts October 29
The 2015/2016 SOGS Council year will commence with the October Council meeting October 29 at 6pm in UCC 56. This means that your departmental representation at SOGS Council may change. The October Council meeting will include a focus on orienting new Councilors.
The SOGS office is still calculating the seat counts for the upcoming year, so further details will only be available later in the month. If you have any questions about your Council representation, or how seats are allocated, please contact your departmental graduate association or the SOGS office.
Nominations open for all SOGS Commissioner positions
Nominations are now open for all Commissioner positions. For more information, or to nominate yourself for a position, please contact the Speaker, Chris Shirreff (sogs.speaker@uwo.ca). Nominations must be submitted by 5pm on October 20.
Graduate Students’ Issues Committee is looking for new members
The Graduate Students’ Issues Committee (GSIC) oversees issues pertaining to the quality and accessibility of graduate education, and works to keep graduate students informed of these issues. Currently, we are assessing key areas in the university budget over concerns of student fee and tuition increases. If you are interested in getting involved, or if there are any other issues you would like to bring up with the committee, please contact ayan8@uwo.ca
Columbia Sports Employee Store Discount
Western University Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) and staff are invited to access the Columbia Sports Employee Store from September 21 – October 25, 2015!
What’s there and what are my savings?
- Employee store pricing averages 50% off MSRP (wholesale).
- Includes all brands in the Columbia Sportswear family of brands
- 14,000 sq. feet of each brand’s most popular styles and sizes.
- prAna is our newest brand to join the Columbia portfolio
- FALL product is NOW in the store. Be sure to come early and visit the store often to get the best selection on styles and sizing!
How do I participate / how do I get these deals?
- Show a copy of the invite letter (available online) at the reception desk upon entry. You may reuse the invitation as often as you wish during this time frame.
- Show your 2015/16 Western Bus Pass & Western student ID card.
- This invite is non-transferable but you are welcome to bring your family with you (up to 4 guests).
What are the location & hours?
1425 Max Brose Dr. London Ontario, N6N 0A2
519-644-4900
Hours: M-Fri. 10-7 pm | Sat. 10-6 pm | Sun. 11-5 pm
Closed Thanksgiving Monday (Oct 12)
Oktoberfest
The Orientation & Social Committee (OSC) is hosting Oktoberfest @ The Grad Club on Thursday, October 29 at 7pm. The Grad Club has invited Steamwhistle, Sleeman, Toboggan, and Mill St to attend. We will also have an Oktoberfest-themed menu, which will include an option of: Oktoberfest Sausage, Chicken Schnitzel, or Veggie Burger. The menu will also potentially include Salad, Hot Pretzels, Fries, Nachos, and Chicken wings.
Once ticket prices are set, you will be able to buy your ticket from the SOGS Office (UCC 260) on Tuesday, October 13. More information about this event will be posted on the SOGS Social Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Western.SOGS.Socials later this week.
Board Game Night
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.
At the Grad Club
Look for our ad in The Gazette for coupons and discounts
Oktoberfest Beer Garden at the Grad Club
Thursday, October 29
The Grad Club will be teaming up with OSC for an Oktoberfest Beer Garden Sample night. We will have three different breweries sampling their product and a special food Oktoberfest menu.
Check out our website for more details.
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.
Fall Hours of Operation
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
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.
October 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 October 31. 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.
October Question:
What’s the difference between Green and Gold open access?
September Winners:
Congratulations to our September winners:
- Taylor Strande
- Damandeep Bains
- Tara Condos
- Mehraneh Ebrahimi
- Arman Didandeh