September 24, 2021
Photo by Andrew Campbell, Western Communications
Western and its citywide partners are taking collective action and sending a strong message ahead of what is traditionally a weekend of dangerous, unsanctioned street parties off campus.
Christy R. Bressette. Photo by Frank Neufeld
A thought-provoking piece by Christy R. Bressette, vice-provost and associate vice-president, Indigenous Initiatives, on our collective journey toward meaningful reconciliation and overcoming the harmful legacy of Residential Schools.
Western News file photo
Training in consent, personal safety and sexual violence awareness and prevention started this week for all Western students in residence, part of a new student safety action plan.
Photo by Louis Hansel of Unsplash
A student-led pilot project to gauge the effect of introducing organics bins just outside the North Campus Building eatery found students redirected four per cent of their total discards to organic bins during a two-week period.
Joshua Pearce, John M. Thompson chair in information technology and innovation
Western is strengthening its expertise in open-source and sustainable technology research by adding in an entrepreneurial twist, with an advocate for grassroots innovation leading the charge.
Photo by Markus Spiske via Unsplash
Postdoctoral associates Michael Barnes, Bartek Chomanski and Mahi Hardalupas are helping students to view artificial intelligence from social and ethical lens.
Resources for faculty and staff
Employee Well-Being at Western includes services and programs to support your mental health and wellness. Employees and their families also have access to LifeWorks, Western's provider of a confidential Employee Assistance Program.
For tips and resources that will assist you in supporting others, please visit the 'Helping Someone Else' page .
If you receive a disclosure of gender-based and sexual violence, this page outlines how you can help connect survivors with professional support and advice.
Responding to Disclosures on Campus provides Ontario university employees with training and resources on how to respond to disclosures of sexual violence.
Working at Western
Have your say on open access at Western
Share your feedback with the provost’s task force on open access and scholarly communication about the draft open access policy for Western. Zoom consultations take place Sept. 30 and Oct. 5, 7, and 14.
Health and safety ambassadors
Throughout the fall, building safety ambassadors will help ensure COVID-19 protocols are being observed across campus. Safety ambassadors will educate our community about public health protocols (e.g. physical distancing, masking) and can assist instructors with anyone not adhering to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.
Microsoft Teams and Zoom workshops
Registration is open for three virtual workshops, Leading Interactive Meetings Using Zoom, Microsoft Outlook Level 200 and Microsoft Teams Level 200, to help you with your work this semester.
Engineering outreach fall club
Registration is open for children in grades 3 to 8 to join a virtual, co-ed engineering fall club which runs Oct. 16, 23, 30 and Nov. 6. The cost is $80 and materials will be delivered to your door.
On-campus COVID-19 vaccination and testing centre
The vaccination and testing centre is open in the Graphic Services Building for any registered student or current employee with an active Western username and password.
Photo of the Week
Hospitality Services served mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 21. Photo courtesy of @westernufood via Instagram
Coming Up
Sept. 24 to Oct. 1
Pay it forward with 3M Harvest Lunch
For every $10 ticket sold, a meal will be donated to a person living in our community. Meals will be purchased from locally owned and operated businesses and delivered safely to our neighbours in need through United Way’s partner agencies working in the community. Help us increase Western’s participation. Join 3M and United Way Elgin Middlesex and let’s surpass the goal of providing 2,000 meals for our neighbours in need. Tickets can be purchased until Oct. 1.
Monday, Sept. 27 (10 a.m.)
Orange flag raising
The Office of Indigenous Initiatives, in partnership with the President’s office, will begin the week with lowering the flags at Western and raising an Orange Flag on UC hill. This gesture is out of respect to Indigenous students, staff and faculty as well as community members and local First Nations living with the grief and legacy of Indian Residential Schools.
Thursday, Sept. 30
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Western will follow its regular academic and work schedule on Sept. 30, but will also formally observe Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with events developed by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, designed to support ongoing education and reflection opportunities for everyone within a spirit of reconciliation.
Thursday, Sept. 30 (10 a.m.)
Understanding Residential Schools and reconciliation
Cody Groat, Six Nations band member and history professor, will speak on the history of the Indian Residential Schools system and engage in a discussion moderated by Christy Bressette, vice-provost & associate vice-president of Indigenous Initiatives.
Western in the News
Photo by cottonbro via Pexels
The Washington Post
How to talk to your kids about the Devious Licks school TikTok challenge
Claire Crooks, Faculty of Education professor and director of the Centre for School Mental Health, weighs in on a social media trend that encourages kids to steal or damage school property. She explains why these risky trends have so much steam with teens in particular.
BBC
Canada election: Why it’s easier to vote in Canada than the U.S.
Political science professor Matthew Lebo notes one of the factors differentiating Canada's federal election from the U.S. is that the election is run by one, non-partisan federal body.
CBC News
'Waning immunity?' Some experts say term leads to false understanding of COVID-19 vaccines
While antibodies will level off over time, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Steven Kerfoot says it doesn’t mean we’re not protected against COVID-19; our immune cells continue to work to stave off severe diseases long after the vaccine is administered.
The Standard (Hong Kong)
Helping kids face new normal
Education and global development professor Prachi Srivastava provides three ways to reform the education system to support children following the pandemic.
Commentary
Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography via Unsplash
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Anna Gunz on the impact of climate change on health systems and ways in which physicians can respond to the climate crisis.
