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Society of Graduate Students (SOGS)

Society of Graduate Students (SOGS)

Your Graduate Student Advocacy Organization and Government at Western University

  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Canadian Federation of Students: Local 47
    • Financials
    • Members and Membership Dues
    • The Grad Club
    • Strategic Plan
    • Land Acknowledgement
  • NEWS
    • Advocacy Letters
    • Announcements
    • Board of Directors
    • Council Summary
    • Job Opportunities
  • BENEFITS
    • Bus Pass
    • Free Tax Filing
    • Goblet of Knowledge
    • Health & Dental Coverage
    • ISIC Card
    • Peer Advisor for Academic Matters
  • FINANCIAL AID
    • Academic Joint Fund
    • Bursaries
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    • Peggy Collins Memorial Award
    • Social Fund
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    • 125th Anniversary Scholarship
  • GET INVOLVED
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westernsogs

The graduate student union, advocacy organization, and government at Western University. Local 47 of CFS. W: Sogs.ca

The National Graduate Caucus is launching the 2026 The National Graduate Caucus is launching the 2026 Graduate Student Experience Survey. 

The findings from our 2023 National Graduate Student Survey remain our most recent national picture of graduate student conditions. Three years later, we need current data to understand how those conditions have changed and provide national context for what locals are seeing on their campuses.

The survey will gather updated information about affordability, funding, employment and academic workloads, supervision, accommodations, and other issues affecting graduate students. The results will help inform the Caucus’s research, advocacy, and future campaigns.

Survey participants will have the opportunity to enter a draw for a $50 gift card. One winner will be selected from each participating university.

Survey link here (link in bio, too): 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScr-2YOB7RA4P3N6oNCPZXXcyXx9KZowpqZ0LUYyqvR9LvThg/viewform
Join us for a seminar and hands-on workshop on hol Join us for a seminar and hands-on workshop on holotomography in the Biology Department at Western University! 

Holotomography is a powerful label-free 3D imaging approach for visualizing live cells without stains or labels. 

Learn how this technology enables rapid, high-resolution imaging and quantitative analysis for live cells, organoids, and tissue sections, including long-term time-lapse studies. Bring your samples and explore its potential for your research. 

For more information, visit Tomocube.com. Workshop registration link (link in bio, too): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zz8CeIk9iCczMYukgdnwB1Zq14JmFbgEAIR6jIzeuDU/edit?usp=sharing
Most students find out what their plan covers abou Most students find out what their plan covers about four days after paying for something it would have covered.

Let’s fix that. Your health & dental plan generally includes: 🦷 Dental πŸ‘“ Vision πŸ’Š Prescription drugs 🧠 Mental health support and counselling πŸ€• Paramedical ✈️ Travel coverage.

Coverage amounts and limits vary by plan, visit studentvip.ca/SOGS for full coverage details.
September's Equity-Deserving Welcome events offer September's Equity-Deserving Welcome events offer opportunities to build connections, learn about supports and services, and explore ways to get involved. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. No registration required. Just bring your Western ONECard to tap in!

πŸ“† Black Student Welcome: Tuesday, September 15
πŸ“† Muslim Student Welcome: Thursday, September 17
πŸ“† Students with Disabilities Welcome: Friday, September 18
πŸ“† 2SLGBTQIA+ Student Welcome: Tuesday, September 22
πŸ“† Jewish Student Welcome: Thursday, September 24

⏰ 2 p.m.–4 p.m. each day
πŸ“ SEI 1110, Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Hosted by Student Experience, in partnership with the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Housing & Ancillary Services. Accommodations or dietary restrictions: studentexperience@uwo.ca
πŸ›’ Grocery savings are here! Stop by the SOGS Off πŸ›’ Grocery savings are here! 

Stop by the SOGS Office (Middlesex College, Room 8) from Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and grab your Sobeys Savings Card! 

Present it with your Scene+ card during checkout and earn 500 Scene+ points when you spend $40. 

Accepted at any Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, or Lawtons location. 

🚨Don’t wait! Valid only until September 21st , 2026 while quantities last!
The position of Deputy Speaker will soon be vacant The position of Deputy Speaker will soon be vacant and requires a by-election at the Thursday, September 24th council meeting. Learn more about the position:

πŸ“‹ What does the Deputy Speaker do?

The Deputy Speaker oversees the Society's policies, bylaws, and constitution. The Deputy Speaker works with the Speaker to run monthly council meetings and is the Official Liaison for the Policy Committee.

πŸ’°The Deputy Speaker earns a stipend of $1,047.60 per month (including 4% vacation pay). 

✍️ Want to nominate yourself?

SOGS members in good standing wishing to nominate themselves must submit both a poster and a 1-page nomination statement for inclusion in the Council mail-out to the SOGS Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca) no later than Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 at 4 p.m.

⚠️ Please note: campaigning is strictly prohibited outside of the September Council mailout and meeting. Campaigning includes but is not limited to: emailing voters, putting up posters, and social media posts.

❓ Questions?

Get in touch with the SOGS Speaker (speaker@sogs.ca) to learn more about the role.
Join the SOGS Sustainability Committee for a publi Join the SOGS Sustainability Committee for a public Author Talk with Linda McQuaig and Neil Brooks on their new book, "Cancelling Billionaires Before They Cancel Us: The Urgent Case for a Wealth Tax" (January 2026)!

πŸ“† Tuesday, September 22nd
⏰6 p.m. 
πŸ“Central Library (251 Dundas St., London), Third Floor
🎀 Author Talk and discussion
🀝 Co-sponsored by the London Public Library and the London Chapter of the Council of Canadians
πŸ“– Event details here
🎟️ Free to attend
Fall O-Week runs Monday, September 21st to Sunday, Fall O-Week runs Monday, September 21st to Sunday, September 27th, 2026, and all SOGS members are welcome to participate! Read on to learn about all the events, and the raffle for registrants! 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST
πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Queervia: A Night of Queer Trivia | 7–9 p.m. | the Grad Club

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND
🍳 Grad Club Breakfast | 9–10:30 a.m. | the Grad Club | FREE | SOLD OUT 
πŸ₯Ύ Medway Creek Trail Hike | 10:30–11:30 a.m. | meet at the Grad Club front doors | FREE
πŸ’Έ Cancelling Billionaires Author Discussion | 6 p.m. | Central Library, third floor | FREE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
πŸ’Ώ Wellness Crafting: CD Painting | 5–7 p.m. | location TBA | $5
β™ŸοΈ Board Games & Nachos | 7–9 p.m. | the Grad Club | FREE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
πŸ•΅οΈ Museum London Walking Tour of Downtown | 6–7:30 p.m. | Museum London | $7
πŸ”₯ Bonfire Night | 8–10 p.m. | the Grad Club patio | FREE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
πŸ”¦Western Tunnel Tour | 2–3 p.m. | meet at the Grad Club front doors | FREE
πŸ” Ichabod’s Escape Rooms | 7–9 p.m. | 335 Richmond St. | $20

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH
🏈 HOCO Football Game Watch Party & Pub Grub | NOON–4 p.m. (Earlier start!!) | the Grad Club | FREE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH
🍎 Apple Picking at Apple Land Station | 1 p.m. | meet at Middlesex College front doors | $20

πŸ’° All ticketed events have been subsidized by SOGS to make them more affordable and accessible to grad students.
🎟️ Tickets are all final sale. If you cannot make it, reach out to sogs.communications@uwo.ca to give your ticket away or sell it to a peer or colleague.
πŸ₯³ Registrants will be entered to win 1 of 3 SOGS O-Week Swag Bags valued at $110 each, including a SOGS zip-up hoodie, a ceramic SOGS travel mug, a StudentVIP squish cat phone stand, a StudentVIP travel cutlery set, and a $20 Grad Club gift certificate.
❓ Register and find full details for every event at sogs.ca/orientation (link in bio, too)

#GradLife #GradLifeWesternU #WesternU #SOGS #GradClub
🀝 Say hello to @PSAC610 at Orientation. They're ou 🀝 Say hello to @PSAC610 at Orientation. They're our sister organization, the union representing graduate student workers at Western, and they're tabling right beside GradCast and the SOGS table at Grad Life Orientation today in Weldon Library. 

πŸ—³οΈ They've also just elected a new executive on August 31st. Breno Dupin is their incoming Communications Chair, and Kawthar Fedjki was re-elected as President.

πŸ’¬ Stop by, introduce yourself, and find out what your union does for you as a grad student worker.

#WesternU #GradSchool #WesternGrad #SOGS #PSAC610 #LdnOnt
πŸŽ“ Thank you to everyone who came out to "What I Wi πŸŽ“ Thank you to everyone who came out to "What I Wish I Knew About Grad School" this morning at Weldon Library, part of Grad Student Orientation hosted by @westernustudentexperience.

The panel of SOGS student leaders answered questions and shared their experiences. Thanks to Meghan O'Hara for chairing the panel. 

The panelists: 
Paige Reekie (she/her), SOGS Accessibility Commissioner
Lucas Ferreira Marques Dos Santos (he/him), SOGS International Commissioner
Malcolm Macdonald (he/him), SOGS Pride Commissioner
Kat Newman-Seymour (they/them), SOGS VP Advocacy

πŸ”— Links in bio for the rest of the orientation schedule, and ways to get involved with SOGS.

#WesternU #GradSchool #WesternGrad #SOGS #LdnOnt
SOGS is pleased to invite nominations for the inau SOGS is pleased to invite nominations for the inaugural SOGS Student Service Recognition Program.

Graduate student leaders play an important role in strengthening our community through governance, advocacy, programs, services, and student engagement. These awards celebrate individuals whose dedication and leadership have made a meaningful impact on SOGS and its members.

The program includes the following awards:

⭐ SOGS Service Awards – recognizing outstanding contributions across different forms of student leadership (Volunteer, Lead Volunteer, and Organizational Leadership).

πŸ… SOGS Medal of Service – the highest form of recognition presented by SOGS, recognizing exceptional and sustained contributions.

Awards criteria:

Who can be nominated: Current graduate students and SOGS alumni.
Who can nominate: Current graduate students, SOGS alumni, and SOGS staff.

πŸ’œ We encourage you to nominate a student leader whose contributions have made a positive difference to the SOGS community.

Important information:

⚠️ Nomination deadline: Sunday, September 13, 2026

➑️ Please submit your nomination using the link in our bio. ⬅️

🧐 For more information about the program, please refer to the Nomination Guide (link in bio).

❓ If you have any questions, please contact ssrp.committee@sogs.ca. 

πŸ™ Thank you for helping us recognize the outstanding leadership and service of our graduate student community!

#GradLifeWesternU
Find providers in your area that offer direct bill Find providers in your area that offer direct billing and student discounts. Find providers near you, visit studentvip.ca/SOGS to start using the Provider Network Search Tool.
πŸŽ“ As part of Grad Student Orientation hosted by @w πŸŽ“ As part of Grad Student Orientation hosted by @westernustudentexperience, three SOGS commissioners and the VP Advocacy are answering questions about grad school.

πŸ“… Friday, September 11th
πŸ•™ 10 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
πŸ“ Scholar's Square

Panelists:

Paige Reekie (she/her), 2nd year combined MPT/PhD in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Accessibility Commissioner at SOGS.

Lucas Ferreira Marques Dos Santos (he/him), PhD candidate in Inorganic Chemistry. International Commissioner at SOGS.

Malcolm Macdonald (he/him), PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education. Pride Commissioner at SOGS.

Kat Newman-Seymour (they/them), PhD candidate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies with a collaborative specialization in Environment and Sustainability. VP Advocacy at SOGS.

Bring your questions! 

#WesternU #GradSchool #WesternGrad #SOGS #LdnOnt
Join us for a seminar and hands-on workshop on hol Join us for a seminar and hands-on workshop on holotomography in the Biology Department at Western University! Holotomography is a powerful label-free 3D imaging approach for visualizing live cells without stains or labels. Learn how this technology enables rapid, high-resolution imaging and quantitative analysis for live cells, organoids, and tissue sections, including long-term time-lapse studies. Bring your samples and explore its potential for your research. For more information, visit Tomocube.com. Workshop registration link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zz8CeIk9iCczMYukgdnwB1Zq14JmFbgEAIR6jIzeuDU/edit?usp=sharing
Fall O-Week runs Monday, September 21st to Sunday, Fall O-Week runs Monday, September 21st to Sunday, September 27th, 2026, and all SOGS members are welcome to participate! Read on to learn about all the events, and the raffle for registrants! 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST
πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Queervia: A Night of Queer Trivia | 7–9 p.m. | the Grad Club

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND
🍳 Grad Club Breakfast | 9–10:30 a.m. | the Grad Club | FREE
πŸ₯Ύ Medway Creek Trail Hike | 10:30–11:30 a.m. | meet at the Grad Club front doors | FREE
πŸ’Έ Cancelling Billionaires Author Discussion | 6 p.m. | Central Library, third floor | FREE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
πŸ’Ώ Wellness Crafting: CD Painting | 5–7 p.m. | location TBA | $5
β™ŸοΈ Board Games & Nachos | 7–9 p.m. | the Grad Club | FREE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
πŸ•΅οΈ Museum London Walking Tour of Downtown | 6–7:30 p.m. | Museum London | $7
πŸ”₯ Bonfire Night | 8–10 p.m. | the Grad Club patio | FREE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
πŸ”¦Western Tunnel Tour | 2–3 p.m. | meet at the Grad Club front doors | FREE
πŸ” Ichabod’s Escape Rooms | 7–9 p.m. | 335 Richmond St. | $20

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH
🏈 HOCO Football Game Watch Party & Pub Grub | NOON–4 p.m. (Earlier start!!) | the Grad Club | FREE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH
🍎 Apple Picking at Apple Land Station | 1 p.m. | meet at Middlesex College front doors | $20

πŸ’° All ticketed events have been subsidized by SOGS to make them more affordable and accessible to grad students.
🎟️ Tickets are all final sale. If you cannot make it, reach out to sogs.communications@uwo.ca to give your ticket away or sell it to a peer or colleague.
πŸ₯³ Registrants will be entered to win 1 of 3 SOGS O-Week Swag Bags valued at $110 each, including a SOGS zip-up hoodie, a ceramic SOGS travel mug, a StudentVIP squish cat phone stand, a StudentVIP travel cutlery set, and a $20 Grad Club gift certificate.
❓ Register and find full details for every event at sogs.ca/orientation (link in bio, too)

#GradLife #GradLifeWesternU #WesternU #SOGS #GradClub
We are so thrilled that our very own @uwogradclub We are so thrilled that our very own @uwogradclub got to be part of @westernuinternational's super fun Colour Hunt video! Click through to their profile to see the full video where they hunt for colours on our beautiful campus. The Grad Club features for green -- can you guess where, exactly? 

And it's true: grad students get 10% off when they head to the @WesternSOGS office and pick up their discount sticker! The office is in Middlesex College Room 8, and it's open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by and get your sticker! 

#gradlifewesternu
πŸ›’ Grocery savings are here! Stop by the SOGS Off πŸ›’ Grocery savings are here! 

Stop by the SOGS Office (Middlesex College, Room 8) from Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and grab your Sobeys Savings Card! 

Present it with your Scene+ card during checkout and earn 500 Scene+ points when you spend $40. 

Accepted at any Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, or Lawtons location. 

🚨Don’t wait! Valid only until September 21st , 2026 while quantities last!
Until October 1st, 2026, you can opt in eligible d Until October 1st, 2026, you can opt in eligible dependents; a spouse or partner, and children, for an additional fee. 
If your household has been juggling separate coverage or no coverage at all, this is the window. It doesn’t reopen until the next enrolment period.
Check eligibility at studentvip.ca/SOGS
Our SOGS President, Matheus Sanita Lima, popped up Our SOGS President, Matheus Sanita Lima, popped up in a couple of "Welcome Back" videos this week πŸŽ₯ β€” one for the President's Office, and one for @westernustudentexperience!

Joining him are John Doerksen, Vice-Provost – Students, and Steve Xia, @westernusc President β€” with Matheus in the middle! 🀝

Stay tuned β€” we'll share both videos as soon as they're released! ✨
The Fall Opt-Out Period is open until October 1st, The Fall Opt-Out Period is open until October 1st, 2026.

Before you make a decision, take a moment to see all the benefits available to you.
Learn more at: studentvip.ca/SOGS
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