September 10, 2021
Beryl Ivey Garden. Western Communications file photo
As classes resume this fall, four new Indigenous faculty members bring their expertise to the faculties of education, social science and media and information studies. Western’s investment in these new roles aligns with the university’s goal to increase Indigenous voices and presence across campus.
Professors Carolyn McLeod and Catherine Neish
Two Western faculty members have received prestigious honours from the Royal Society of Canada. Carolyn McLeod has been named a fellow of the society and Catherine Neish, a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.
Angela Huynh. Photo by James W. Smith
Medical student Angela Huynh spent her entire PhD studying a protein called platelet factor-4 and its role in causing a rare blood clotting disorder. Little did she know then this same protein would be associated with rare complications of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Hannah Alper. Submitted photo
Known as Canada’s Greta Thunberg, first-year media, information and technoculture student Hannah Alper is one of the country’s youngest, and most outspoken, environmental and social activists.
Delainey Mattern, Isabel Savard and Nicholas Keller
Three Indigenous students will be the first recipients of Western’s new National Indigenous Scholarships, which recognizes academic excellence and previous or intended contributions toward Indigenous communities.
At right, a nurse during the 1937 polio epidemic (Hospital Archives, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto). Photo of nurse at left by Laura James via Pexels
Shelly McKellar, Jason A. Hannah chair in the history of medicine, is teaching a new course to help students better understand the present-day pandemic by examining major disease outbreaks of the past, and how epidemics change future behaviour.
Working at Western
Smile cookie week for United Way
Purchase a smile cookie from any campus Tim Hortons location next week and 100 per cent of the proceeds will help support United Way. Treat your team to a box of smiles, pre-order forms are available at each Tim Hortons location (UCC, Health Sciences and Natural Sciences) for boxes of 12 cookies.
Q & A with Western leaders on safe return to campus plans
On Sept. 8, a virtual Q & A session to answer COVID-19 health and safety questions was hosted by Lynn Logan, vice-president (operations & finance) and included speakers Dr. Sarah Prichard, acting provost and vice-president (academic) and Jane O’Brien, associate vice-president (human resources). The video recording of the session is now available.
Campus community update:
High vaccination rates
Of the 46,000 members in our campus community who complied with the policy by the deadline, 97 per cent of our faculty and staff are vaccinated, along with 98 per cent of students. And in residence, where we announced mandatory vaccinations in May, 99 per cent of students are vaccinated.
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. Upcoming vaccination and testing availability are Monday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 16 and Friday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photo of the Week
Western welcomed 5,300 first-year students and their families to campus residences Sept. 3 to 6. Photo from @westernuhousing on Instagram
Coming Up
Michelle Wilson, Reclamation (performance documentation), 2019. Image courtesy of the artist.
Saturday, Sept. 11
Exhibit brings attention to bison eradication
Visual arts PhD student Michelle Wilson explores the interconnections between bison, settler colonialism and conservation in her graduate thesis exhibition, Remnants, Outlaws, and Wallows: Practices for Understanding Bison now on display at McIntosh Gallery.
Tuesday, Sept. 14 (7 p.m.)
ExaminED: Reconstructing the paralyzed face
The first weekly community lecture on human health and health research features Dr. John Yoo, Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
Sept. 23 to Sept. 26
Homecoming
The university is marking its 72nd Homecoming with a variety of virtual events and activities for the Western community. On Sept. 24, Western Stories & Songs will feature performances by Falana, Gareth Bush and Poesy. Catch the livestream of the Mustangs vs. Gryphons football game on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24 (12 p.m.)
Ian Rae: How Barnett helped to found the Stratford Festival
English professor Ian Rae's presentation will contextualize the story of the “Stratford Miracle” by explaining how book collector and railway engineer J.D. Barnett (1849-1926) helped to prepare the social, cultural, and even physical grounds for the creation of the Stratford Festival. Presented by the Public Humanities, Western Libraries and the Words Festival.
Friday, Oct. 8
Intellectual property strategy boot camp
This boot camp developed in collaboration between the Faculty of Law and WORLDiscoveries provides participants with an in-depth understanding of how to protect and manage their intangible assets. This program is best suited for inventors, creators, entrepreneurs, and startup founders aiming to protect and commercialize their intangible assets through patents, trademarks, industrial design, copyright and other types of intellectual property rights. Deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 1.
Western in the News
Photo by Ishmael N. Daro via Wikimedia Commons
CBC News
Why Elections Canada still uses paper voter lists and hand counts ballots for federal elections
Software engineering and cybersecurity professor Aleksander Essex says the decision to use paper voter rolls rather than electronic poll books is due to more about reliability than cybersecurity.
Global News
‘Vaccine passport’ or ‘immunization record’? Why experts say there’s power in words
Bioethicist Maxwell Smith on the detrimental effects of politicizing naming conventions.
London Free Press
London-linked blood test for concussions nears regulatory approval
Western is a patent holder of the Neurolytixs finger-prick blood test for concussions that is ready for regulatory approval in the United States.
CBC Afternoon Drive
Western's writer-in-residence
New writer-in-residence, Zalika Reid-Benta explains what her new role will entail and her passion for working with emerging writers.
Commentary
Photo by Charles Deluvio via Unsplash
Health sciences PhD student Anna Sui suggests nomophobia, the anxiety associated with not being able to access one’s smartphone, stems from how it’s being used rather than how often the device is used.
