February 24, 2023
A main street in the Ukrainian city of Bucha after the Russian invasion. (Photo source: Wikimedia Commons)
Today marks one year since Russia’s military crossed into Ukraine with a full-scale invasion force. History and political science professor Marta Dyczok and law professor Valerie Oosterveld are hosting a virtual conference on Feb. 27, bringing together experts from Ukraine and around the world to discuss issues pertinent to the ongoing conflict.
Dr. Lewis Milburn (Image source: Mac Lai/Schulich Medicine & Dentistry)
A descendant of the Underground Railroad families of southwestern Ontario, Dr. Lewis Milburn became the first Black medical student to graduate from Western in 1957. Milburn later joined the U.S. Air Force as the first Black Canadian flight surgeon.
Artist Mike Cywink with the mural he designed on the walls outside the Indigenous Studies office. (Photo source: Chris Kindratsky/Western Communications)
A new mural has been painted on the walls outside the Indigenous Studies office in the Social Science Centre. Designed by Indigenous Studies student and staff member Mike Cywink with input from the campus community, the mural features cultural representation of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee and Lūnaapéewak Nations.
A team of endurance athletes are retracing Western medical school co-founder Dr. Richard Maurice Bucke's 100-mile route across the Sierra Nevada mountains. (Map, Archives and Special Collections/Western Libraries; photo by Frank Cooper/Western Archives and Special Collections; design by Andrew Campbell/Western Communications)
Starting Feb. 27, a team of endurance athletes with a passion for history are retracing the harrowing gold-seeking expedition of a trio including prominent Canadian psychiatrist, author and co-founder of Western’s medical school, Dr. Richard Maurice Bucke, with help from Western’s Archives and Special Collections team.
Jasmine Uboma has developed workbooks for students with graded degrees of difficulty. (Photo source: Beyond Math)
To help address the low number of Black students in STEM in Canada, Jasmine Uboma has started Beyond Math, a tutoring service focused on developing analytical thinking and increasing awareness about support available to those interested in pursuing STEM.
(Photo source: Pexels)
Consumers who are honest about their level of debt and join peer-supported debt counselling groups are more likely to get their finances in order than those who keep it a secret, according to a new study co-authored by Ivey professor Miranda Goode.
Working at Western
Left to right: President Alan Shepard; United Way campaign co-chairs Erika Chamberlain, dean of Western Law and Kim Miller, executive director, career management, Ivey Business School; and Kelly Ziegner, president and CEO of United Way Elgin Middlesex. (Image source: Terry Rice/ Western Human Resources)
United Way campaign update
The Western community raised $612,569 in support of United Way Middlesex Elgin this year. Thank you to the hard-working committee of volunteers, champions and generous staff, faculty and alumni for showing love for the local community and for making this year’s campaign a success.
Emergency weather siren testing
A reminder that live monthly testing of Western’s emergency weather siren continues on the first Wednesday of every month at 12 p.m. Unless otherwise notified, this is only a test and no action is required.
Bookable and drop-in library research support available
Help students save time and approach their assignments with confidence by encouraging them to take advantage of personalized, one-on-one research help from library experts.
Go CODE Girl event registration open
Go CODE Girl is open to all girls in grades 6 to 11, including youth who identify as girls or non-binary. Held on March 4 at the Amit Chakma Engineering Building, attendees will learn about coding, software engineering and participate in hands-on activities.
Photo of the Week
The Facilities Management team works hard all winter ensuring campus roads and walkways are safe for travel. Landscape technician John Kersten was kept extra busy this week when London was blanketed with freezing rain and snow. (Photo source: Brandon Watson/Facilities Management)
Coming Up
(Image source: Faculty of Arts and Humanities)
February 27 (12 to 2 p.m.)
Indigenous learning circle: N’Satung film screening
Join Biindigen: Indigenous Learning Circle at the Wampum Learning Lodge for a screening of N’Satung, a documentary on Indigenous experiences with education in the Great Lakes area, followed by a discussion with director Keesis Nadjiwon (Chippewa of Nawash), director of photography Greg de Souza and producer Laurence de Looze.
March 2 (9:30 to 11 a.m.)
Western Day Community Coffee Break
Wear purple and join colleagues and students at our complimentary Western Day Community Coffee Break at The Spoke. Register by March 1.
March 2 (4:30 to 7 p.m.)
An Afternoon with Cameron Bailey
Each year, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities invites a scholar or artist to give the Robert and Patricia Duncanson Lecture as part of the Speaker’s Series in the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH). This year’s lecture features Cameron Bailey, BA’87, LLD’18, CEO, Toronto International Film Festival. In this talk, Bailey will use his unique perspective to tie the importance of humanities scholarship and cultural engagement to a meaningful search for ways to exert a positive influence. Attend in-person at Conron Hall, University
College, or watch online. Register today.
Western in the News
Professor Marta Dyczok (Photo source: Department of Political Science)
Global News
Ottawa urged to expel Russian diplomats as Ukraine war anniversary nears
On the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine, history and political science professor Marta Dyczok says Canada can still do more to scale down its ‘diplomatic relations’ with Russia.
The Globe and Mail
To find one of Ontario’s big pandemic wins, just look down your toilet
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Eric Arts explains how Ontario’s COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Initiative can be used as a model to help the World Health Organization develop early warning systems for new and emerging pathogens.
Fortune Magazine
Experts unpack Canada’s ban on foreign real-estate purchases
The recently enacted federal ban on foreign home buyers is intended to lower housing prices, but DAN department of management & organizational studies professor Diana Mok says simply isolating a very small group won’t significantly affect affordability.
CTV National News
Safely using AI chatbots
As some users question concerning interactions they’ve had with AI chatbots, chief digital information officer and computer science professor Mark Daley says while the manufacturer has an obligation to create safety guards, it is ultimately up to the user to understand the technology’s limits and how to use it safely.
Commentary
Two protesters hold up signs calling for peace in Ukraine. (Photo source: Wikimedia Commons)
As the world marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, history and King’s professor Oleksa Drachewych explores what it would take to achieve peace.
