How To Be A Successful University Student

Transcription

1 PM August 27, 2015 / Vol. 51 No. 20 westernnews.ca THE 101 (OR SO) THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WESTERN Western s newspaper of record since 1972 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK NEUFELD

2 2 3 WELCOME TO WESTERN CONSIDER THIS OUR WELCOME GIFT TO YOU. On the pages of this publication, Western 101, you ll discover the first 101 things you need to know about studying and living on this campus. (To be honest, there are probably more than 101 things, but we just liked the ring of the name.) As you look forward to tomorrow, don t forget to take a moment to look back. Thank those who have been behind you all these years to get you here today. Remember your family, who sacrificed so much for the last two decades. Remember your friends, who supported you throughout and whose gifts you will carry for a lifetime. Remember your teachers, who worked tirelessly to help you succeed. And don t forget to remember yourself. A university degree is not achieved without a certain amount of personal dedication and sacrifice. You could be doing something else, perhaps something far more fun, but you have chosen a difficult, yet rewarding path. Know there are literally hundreds of us on this campus standing at the ready to help you succeed. Best of luck to you. Now, get to work. Jason Winders editor who are you? Total first-year, full-time Main Campus enrolment 5,211 Male: 43.1% Female: 56.9% MEAN AGE: 18.6 years as of Sept. 1 First-year program enrolment Management and Organizational Studies (Social Science) (M: 49%, F: 51%) Social Science (M: 37%, F: 63%) Medical Sciences (Science) - 790(M: 42%, F: 58%) Science & Biological Sciences (Science) (M: 48%, F: 52%) Engineering: 678 (M: 78%, F: 22%) Kinesiology (Health Sciences) (M: 41%, F: 59%) BHSc (Health Sciences) (M: 25%, F: 75%) Arts & Humanities (M: 23%, F: 77%) Media, Information and Technoculture (FIMS) (M: 16%, F: 84%) Nursing (Health Sciences) (M: 16%, F: 84%) Music (M: 31%, F: 69%) Media Theory and Production (FIMS) - 73 (M: 35%, F: 65%) Top 10 Canadian cities where students call home 1 London 2 3 Toronto Mississauga 4 Richmond Hill 5 Oakville 6 Markham 7 Brampton 8 North York 9 Calgary 10 Thornhill Top 5 countries outside Canada that students call home 1 China 2 3 Korea Hong Kong 4 Pakistan 5 United States

3 4 5 Keeping you fit (mind edition) Wellness in mind, body and spirit are essential to academic success and job performance. We have a campus population of more than 40,000 people, if you count Western s students, staff and faculty combined, so the prevalence of mental health issues is likely higher than we know. The most important things you can do to maintain good mental health are to pay attention to sleep, exercise and nutrition. If you are concerned about yourself, you are not alone. Western offers free counselling services and several on-campus mental health resources, including one for international students. And if you hear a friend talk of feeling overwhelmed, don t ignore it. Listen and encourage them to talk to someone who can help. (ISSNO ), a publication of Western University s Department of Communications and Public Affairs, is published every Thursday throughout the school year and operates under a reduced schedule during December, May, June, July and August. An award-winning weekly newspaper and electronic news service, serves as the university s newspaper of record. The publication traces its roots to The University of Western Ontario Newsletter, a onepage leaflet-style publication which debuted on Sept. 23, The first issue of the, under founding editor Alan Johnston, was published on Nov. 16, 1972 replacing the UWO Times and Western Times. Today, continues to provide timely news, information and a forum for discussion of postsecondary issues in the campus and broader community. WESTERN NEWS WesternNews.ca Westminster Hall, Suite 360 Western University London, ON N6A 3K7 Telephone Fax PUBLISHER Helen Connell hconnell@uwo.ca, Ext EDITOR Jason Winders jwinder2@uwo.ca, Ext REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER Paul Mayne pmayne@uwo.ca, Ext REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER Adela Talbot adela.talbot@uwo.ca, Ext PRODUCTION DESIGNER Frank Neufeld fneufeld@uwo.ca, Ext ADVERTISING Chris Amyot, Campus Ad chris@campusad.ca, POSTAL RECOVERY $50 Canada, $65 United States, $85 Other PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK NEUFELD POST OFFICE Please do not forward. Return to, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 3K7 with new address when possible. Our objective is to report events as objectively as possible, without bias or editorial comment. We hope you will read it and contribute to it. L.T. Moore, University Relations and Information director, Nov. 16, 1972

4 6 7 Home away from home Your time in residence will be one of the most memorable experiences of your university life. Living in residence makes it easy to make lifelong friends, find academic support and adjust to being a Western student. You ll be living in an environment where you ll grow as an individual. It is a big step, so it is understandable if you are a little nervous. Western boasts full house in wake of Delaware reno /westernurezlife Don t worry. We are here to help. Residence staff members and Sophs on your floor, and in your building, are knowledgeable about campus resources and are happy to answer any questions. Adapting to a new way of living in a new community can be challenging, but Western s residences are designed to make this transition as smooth and successful as possible. This is your home away from home, so take advantage of all residence has to offer and make the most of your experience. SPECIAL TO WESTERN NEWS PAUL MAYNE // WESTERN NEWS BY PAUL MAYNE AFTER CLOSING FOR renovations in early 2014, Delaware Hall is getting its finishing touches in anticipation of welcoming more than 450 students this fall. The grand re-opening of the university s second-oldest residence brings all nine residences to full capacity, with more than 5,300 students housed on campus. We will have a full house this fall, said Susan Grindrod, Associate Vice-President (Housing & Ancillary Services & Liquor Licence Coordinator). With Delaware back, we have the largest number of residents it s very exciting to finally have increased capacity. Delaware Hall (or Deli, as it s also known) will celebrate 50 years this fall by boasting the greatest amount of living space when compared to other residence bedrooms on campus even the newer residences. New, standard closets have replaced the built-in closets and drawer units, maximizing room space. Floor lounges and study rooms have been fully renovated to provide more space for floor activities. While perhaps a fond memory of Delaware alumni, gone are the pink tiles in the washrooms and showers. New flooring, paint and other finishes have been added throughout the building, as well as renovated washrooms and showers. New heating, ventilation and air conditioning system have been installed and the building is now LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certified. There are also a handful of smart elements. All exterior and room doors are now card operated. Occupancy sensors were installed in individual rooms and all hallways. These sensors are attached to all of the new windows, and shut down the air conditioning system in a room whenever a window is opened. In the winter months, if window is opened, the heat does not shut off, but will lower in order to save energy. We are very pleased with the renovations, Grindrod continued. We wanted to update the residence while maintaining its iconic style. Delaware has been maintained and modernized, but not for along time. Delaware will be the last major renovation to an entire residence, but individual renovation projects will be made at a couple locations next year. Saugeen-Maitland will have a major renovation of its dining room next summer; Medway/Sydenham has had renovations to the front entrance and more upgrades are planned in the future. REZ LIFE After closing for renovations in early 2014, Delaware Hall is getting its finishing touches in anticipation of welcoming more than 450 students this fall. The grand re-opening of the university s second-oldest residence brings all nine residences to full capacity, with more than 5,300 students housed on campus. Alumni House Open Since Population Delaware Hall Open Since Population Elgin Hall Open Since Population Essex Hall Open Since Population London Hall Open Since Population residents Medway-Sydenham Hall Open Since (Medway), 1963 (Sydenham) Population residents Ontario Hall Open Since Population - 1,000 Perth Hall Open Since Population Saugeen-Maitland Hall Open Since Population 1,250

5 8 9 Keeping you fit (body edition) Keeping active and maintaining fitness while at university has become more than simply moving your body. Physical activity is part of a larger picture of overall wellness, and there are many ways you can keep your body as fit as your mind. One website, health.uwo.ca, brings together all health and wellness-related services and resources on campus, including mental health, sexual assault and health clinics. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK NEUFELD PAUL MAYNE // WESTERN NEWS Click your way to on-campus healthy options BY PAUL MAYNE AWAY FROM HOME and on their own, new students can make some, well, questionable dietary choices. But not only are nutritious and healthy food options available, students can now build a personalized healthy diet with only a couple of clicks. Launched this September, NetNutrition Cloud is an online and mobile solution that provides students with quick and accurate nutrition news on the foods served in residences. Students will be able to view menus, filter by allergens or preferences such as meatless, vegan or local products and see nutritional information for specific items, full meals or entire days. When the site goes live, students will be able to access NetNutrition Cloud through a link on the Residence Dining webpage, residencedining.uwo.ca, and build their meals item by item. The program will help to promote nutrition and allergen awareness and, potentially, encourage more informed dining choices, said Anne Zok, Hospitality Services Nutrition Manager. NetNutrition is just another example of how Western s residence dining is taking a more healthy lifestyle approach, she said. In October 2012, Hospitality Services, in partnership with Brescia University College, launched FRESH (Food Resources and Education for Student Health), a research-based, nutrition education program designed to increase awareness, build food skills, reward healthy eating and influence the food service environment. In three years, FRESH has introduced several additional components, including a FRESH frequent user card (5,000 of which were redeemed last year), which rewards students with free fruit or milk with the purchase of nine fruits or dairy products. NetNutrition will be an excellent extension of the nutrition initiatives already in place, Zok said. It will help those students with food allergies avoid consuming unsafe foods; those adopting a vegetarian diet identify meatless options; and those looking to eat healthy and find the FRESH-approved options all with the click of a mouse or the tap of their mobile device. All the nutrition information the six-week menu rotation, interactive bars, to-go program, salad bar, deli bar and soup station will be available for students to check out when they arrive. Phase 2 of the program will roll out at the end of October and allow users to filter items for allergens. Good, wholesome, nutritious food options play a big role in providing students with the best student experience, Zok said. Net- Nutrition will arguably be one means to this end.

6 10 Arts and media on campus You don t have to go far or spend a lot of cash to indulge your artistic cravings at Western; on campus you can find a kaleidoscope of great cultural offerings including music, visual art, literature, film and multimedia. From the latest Hollywood films to studentproduced cinema; guest musicians from around the world to our own talented students; Western s Visual Arts students or artists are invited to exhibit on campus it s all available. ca o. ic w us.u c M i u us rn c e m t usi s e ternu a s ry.c e e l l a /w shg o t n y i aller mc G h s arts a/vis c. o uw e.uwo.ca westernusc.ca/ westerngaz Gazett e chrw rwra este rnu /w Art est s ern ua rts mediterranean restaurant mediterranean restaurant A Southern European-inspired French, Southern European-inspired French, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese cuisine Italian, Spanish & Portuguese cuisine. ComeHost to enjoy intimate or friendly gathering, your next academic meeting or host an academic meeting or celebration. celebration at Aroma. Experience Aroma. s Fully equipped meeting room up Fully equipped to 40 people meeting rooms from s Cooking Studio Team Building 200 people up to people s Courtyard restaurant up to 120 patrons Faculty s PWestern rivate dinin g rooms&upstaff: to Ask setting up your Aroma 200about guests sdining Live enclub tertaaccount. inment evenjoy ery your meal and be billed later! weekend 717 Richmond St. 717 Richmond St. (at Picadilly) London (at Picadilly) London tel: tel: Free parking after 6:00 pm 11 All s Fair for Hospitality Services this fall PAUL MAYNE // WESTERN NEWS Kevin McCabe, Hospitality Services Associate Director, checks out the new-look Einstein s in the Natural Sciences Centre, which switched from Starbuck s coffee to Doi Chaang free trade coffee this August. Encounters, in the Social Sciences Centre, will also switch to a Tim Horton s self-serve operation on Sept. 14, officially recognizing Western a Fair Trade campus. B Y PA U L M AY N E 710 Adelaide Street N., just south of Oxford St. WESTERN S HOSPITALITY SERVICES made a commitment two years ago that the university would be a Fair Trade Campus by September Mission accomplished. Although it meant changing the coffee being served in 15 different locations, including all residence dining areas, it was a key component for the overall sustainability plan for the university, said Kevin McCabe, Hospitality Services Associate Director. With so many claims of fairness and sustainability in the marketplace, thirdparty verification is an invaluable tool to ensure purchases actually connect with these values, he said. The fair trade trademark represents the bestknown and most-respected ethical certification system for social sustainability issues. It provides an easy and reliable way to know that products have met credible standards that are set and monitored following best practices, public input and regular audits. A Fair Trade Campus isn t an official certification; only products and producers can be certified by organizations like Fairtrade Canada. Rather, Fair Trade Campus status recognizes the leadership of Canadian postsec- ondary institutions. Other fair trade university campuses include British Columbia, Simon Fraser, Guelph, Selkirk College (B.C.), McGill, Brock, Ottawa, Trent and Northern British Columbia. Fair trade designation isn t just about products sold, McCabe added. The title of Fair Trade Campus is awarded to universities and colleges that meet all criteria within three distinct categories steering committee, product availability and awareness/ education. The criteria in each category are specific. From a product availability standpoint, the specifics include that: All coffee served on campus, outside of franchises, must be fair trade certified; At least three fair trade certified teas must be available wherever tea is served; At least one fair trade-certified chocolate bar must be available at every location selling chocolate bars, including every vending machine; and All coffee and tea served at campus meetings, events and offices run by administration or student unions must be fair-trade certified. We have been doing a number of taste tests and product sampling with fair trade teas and have chosen Numi Tea as our newest fair-trade tea, to augment the other fair-trade tea already in place, McCabe said. From a chocolate bar standpoint, Dairy Milk chocolate bars are fair trade and will be available at all facilities and vending machines selling these types of products. We are also looking at other bars to increase the offerings. All residence dining operations, along with six campus eateries, switched from Starbucks We Proudly Brew coffee to a local, fairtrade, organic coffee producer Fire Roasted Coffee in September Great Hall Catering has been serving Fire Roasted Coffee for more than five years. There is only one operation remaining to be switched over. Einstein s, in the Natural Sciences Centre, switched to Doi Chaang coffee today, while Encounters, in the Social Sciences Centre, will switch to a Tim Horton s self-serve operation on Sept. 14. McCabe said Hospitality Services intends to continue to grow fair trade through post-designation engagement, setting yearly goals, planning events, introducing new products, monitoring consumers, maintaining and furthering relationships on campus, working with private franchises and developing curricula within departments. Last year, Hospitality Services participated in Fair Trade Week during September by offering a Fair Trade Chocolate Fountain in each residence. They purchased 130 kilograms (286 pounds) of Camino Brand Fair Trade Chocolate from the Ontario Natural Food Co-op. They will be participating in Fair Trade Week again, as well as two other Fair Trade Western events Scare Them Fair at Halloween and My Fair Valentine on Valentine s Day.

7 12 Brilliant Food for Brilliant Minds. Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 46 Blackfriars Street Bistro & Catering Coping with your new world The number of academic, social, recreational and volunteer opportunities available at Western is one of the university s greatest strengths. But with so much to think about and do, some students can find themselves a bit overwhelmed. The Student Development Centre can assist with a wide range of programming available to help anyone. Who's quarterbacking the management of your pension assets and retirement income? visit to learn what your colleagues have to say about us. I retired from Western in 1997 and Mitch Orr and his team have managed my funds very well indeed since then. He has made consistently good recommendations, kept me very well informed and I am completely satisfied with his performance over the last 17 years. Dr Richard Butler, Professor Emeritus Mitch Orr, HBA, CPA, CMA, CFP Director, Wealth Management TM Trademark used under authorization and control of The Bank of Nova Scotia. ScotiaMcLeod is a division of Scotia Capital Inc., Member CIPF Why Settle for Ordinary Pizza, When You Awarded for the best pizza slices in Downtown London! Visa, MC & Debit now processed on delivery orders! Get your best student Deals & Combos only from Cousin Vinny's PIzza! OPEN LATE! Western Student Guide, plus these great deals... Ask for your Best Student Deal and Student & Office Catering! 519 CALL AHEAD RICHMOND - DOWNTOWN Walk-in Special Large Pizza with 4 toppings just $999 o.ca/ SPECIAL TO WESTERN NEWS 13

8 14 Western Social Media Guide Western Social Media Guide Mustangs shared some links 10 hours ago Facebook - fb.com/westernmustangs Twitter Instagram Tag with #purplereign Tag with #gostangs USC shared some links 11 hours ago Facebook - fb.com/westernusc Twitter Instagram Look up your faculty student council & follow them, too. Affiliates you may know Western s Official Accounts Facebook shared a link 2 hours ago Instagram 8 hours via Instagram Bauer models the latest in #WesternU fashion. #purpleandproud #purplepups Western University on Facebook fb.com/westernuniversity Twitter shared a link 5 hours on Twitter Tag with #westernu YouTube shared a link 6 hours ago Western University on YouTube youtube.com/westernuniversity Western Mustangs, RezLife and 3 others like this. Brescia University College Huron University College Facebook - fb.com/bresciauniversitycollege Twitter Instagram Facebook - fb.com/huronatwestern Twitter Instagram King s University College See more Facebook - fb.com/kingsatwestern Twitter Instagram Friends. Departments and Services Office of the Registrar Twitter Facebook - fb.com/westernuregistrar Western Mustangs with Sean Blake August 19 via Instagram Congrats to former Mustang Sean Blake on signing with the Toronto Argonauts! #purplereign Success Centre Twitter Facebook - fb.com/successcentre Western Wellness Twitter Libraries Twitter Facebook - fb.com/westernlibraries Campus Police Twitter Facilities Management Twitter # Results for #hashtags Top / All Student Services Twitter HashtagsToRemember #westernu - Anything related to Western. #purplereign - Cheer on our Mustangs. #ldnont - Our hometown. #westernoweek - Your O Week Information Technology Services (ITS) Twitter # purpleandproud - We are, of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. # HOCOonthehill - Full day of Homecoming 2015 activities. Western University, Hospitality Services and 4 others like this. Write a comment... 15

9 16 17 Western Social Media Guide Faculties. 12 Arts & Humanities Facebook - fb.com/westernuarts Twitter Don Wright Faculty of Music Facebook - fb.com/westernumusic Twitter Education Facebook - fb.com/westernuedu Twitter Engineering Twitter Health Sciences Facebook - fb.com/fhswestern Twitter Places. Eat, Sleep, Shop RezLife Facebook - fb.com/westernurezlife Twitter Instagram Hashtag - #westernurezlife Hospitality Services Facebook - fb.com/westernuhospsvs Twitter Bookstore Facebook - fb.com/bookstorewesternu Twitter Wave & Spoke Facebook - fb.com/wave.spoke Twitter Mature students open to the possibilities For information or a personal tour, call or Gibbons Park Montessori School Unique Parkland Location Toddler and Preschool Elementary Daily French Classes Extended hrs SUMMER CAMP western news Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) Facebook - fb.com/westernufims Law Facebook - fb.com/westernulaw Twitter Western Law updated their cover photo. 2 months ago Ivey Business School Facebook - fb.com/iveybusiness Twitter Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Facebook - fb.com/schulichmedicineanddentistry Twitter Science Facebook - fb.com/scibmsac Twitter Social Science Facebook - fb.com/westernussaco Twitter Continuing Studies Facebook - fb.com/westernucs Twitter University Leaders Amit Chakma President & Vice-Chancellor Twitter Janice Deakin Provost & Vice-President (Academic) Twitter Western University, Health Sciences and 43 others like this. Write a comment... BY GORDON SO KEVIN DUNKLEE DIDN T care when he was your age. I have an admiration toward people who actually catch on with learning that young, said Dunklee, a 45-year-old mature student at Western. People who get on track in time really impress me. I went to Western back in I came here as a student right out of high school. Let s just say, I wasn t very interested at that time. I just Animal-Housed my way out of the door, and went on with my life. Every year, about 400 students in undergraduate programs are officially admitted under the mature applicant category. Yet, mature student remains to be a broader designation that addresses a specific student population at Western. During the academic year, about 2,000 undergraduates were 25 years of age and older. Just like Dunklee, these students, admitted on the basis of community college or university, consider themselves to be adult learners because of their age and stage in life. I think mature students identify themselves as one because they recognize they are different than traditional undergraduate students, and because of what they re dealing with in their lives, DUNKLEE said Donna Moore, Mature Student Advisor on the Student Success Centre s Mature Student Advising Team. Most people wouldn t understand what experience or responsibility they bear in life unless you sat down with them and asked them about their stories. Dunklee, now a fourth-year BMOS (Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies) student, came from Fanshawe College with an accounting diploma. Through an articulation agreement between the two schools, he was accepted into the program as a third-year student last year. I spent a couple of years making some significant changes in my life, generally. I was looking around at my employment options they seemed a little bleak, he said. So, I thought, What would I like to do? I didn t expect to be going back to university, but ever since I went back to Fanshawe, it s been one thing after another. In the classroom, age does not seem to be a hindrance to a quest for knowledge. Mature students are vigorous learners who cherish every opportunity to excel their studies, Moore said. They tend to be conscientious and are likely to seek out resources and support. Academically, I m doing extremely well. In class, I just decided that, Well, I already don t fit in. So, I may as well ask every question that I want to ask, Dunklee said. I sit up front; I participate on a regular basis. Office hours for professors are often underutilized; so I ve been going out to a lot of those. I really take an interest in the subjects. With their alternative perspectives, mature students are able to provide alternative dimensions to the class materials. Their relevant life experience adds flavour to the learning experience, Moore continued. Third-year mature student Sandra Howe came to Western with a clear aim. Now in her late 30s, Howe decided she wants to go into graduate school. I ve always wanted to be a life-long learner, she said. Population Health and Aging in Health Sciences is what interests me. I ve had a career working with the senior population. And now I would like to learn more about senior health, policy and rights, so I can have a deeper understanding in that population. As any student could do, mature students also face challenges while trying to complete their studies. It can be intimidating to come to a large school like Western. As a mature student, you almost don t know anybody, Howe said. I m a full-time day student. There are only one or two students like me in the classroom. Now a social coordinator at SAGE (Students Age Gracefully through Experience), Howe wants to let other mature students know that they are not alone. SAGE is a social and academic community for adult learners that regularly organizes sessions of interest, such as financial aid, exam preparation and social events throughout the year. The community has strived to be a place where adult learners can share experience and support each other to their mutual success. Mature students have been a student category at Western for many years. The diversity they bring to the student population enriches student life and classroom experience, Moore said. Through SAGE, and other support services, the Student Success Centre has ensured the comfort and success for the adult learners. If I could use one word to acknowledge mature students it will be inspiration. It is to recognize that much can be accomplished, despite challenges that seem to be in place. It inspires people. There are young people who are not eligible for university, but perhaps years later they qualify as mature students, Moore said. I ve talked to them, and they tell me the absolute meaning and significance this has, is to give them a chance to study. And these stories of those students who have done it act as inspiration. And how wonderful opening up potentials they never thought was possible.

10 18 Campus safety a collaborative effort During the academic year, Western s population swells to the size of a small city, with more than 40,000 people on campus each day. With 9 million square feet of floor space contained within university grounds, safety and security is a top priority. Hall. This siren can be heard on campus and a few kilometres into the community. In the case of a real weather emergency the siren tone followed by voice commends will indicate a need to take immediate action and seek shelter. Western International is a central resource serving international and exchange students, as well as students seeking international experiences both on campus and abroad. Check out all the services, resources and opportunities to include an international experience during your time at Western. Be sure to visit Western International in the International and Graduate Affairs Building, 2nd floor. GENCY STUDENT EMER (SERT) M RESPONSE TEA T EMERGE NCY WE ATHER S IREN uwo.c a/wea stern U Welcome to your London Home the convenience of Apartment Living! Blossom Gate offers you varied floorplans in either our existing lowrise and highrise buildings OR one of our newer highrise buildings - rent varies accordingly. lounge, indoor bicycle storage, keyless entry 2 appliances Individual heating & cooling system Coin-less laundry facilities Free outdoor parking On-site management office Direct bus to downtown & Western Campus On-site variety store 1/2 block to shopping centre Kipps Lane (at Adelaide St. N) Like us on facebook.com/blossomgate.ca l.uwo a n o i t a intern e.weibo.com/ westerninternational Pizza Hut Welcomes Western Back with FREE Food! Steps from campus 1153 Western Road (across from Essex Residence) Call for pick-up or delivery SPECIAL TO WESTERN NEWS Receive free Cinnaparts or large Bread Sticks with purchase of a medium or large Pizza when you order from our 1153 Western Road Pizza Hut location! Coupon required. Not valid with any other specials. No cash value. One coupon per customer. Offer expires Sept 30/ Explore your world FRANK NEUFELD // WESTERN NEWS With more than 50 safety initiatives in place, involving volunteers and services from across campus, Western is one of the safest universities in Canada. Western has installed a city-first emergency Whelen omni-directional weather siren on the roof of Alumni ITY N U MM E O e) C on S C RVI h U p E MP E S sity (cell) r e CA LIC iv 0 PO 11 (un ice 519 ca/pol o. lice uw upo n r e OL PATR T O FO atrol /footp a.c o w u THE SYMBOL OF QUALITY

11 20 21 Creating a sustainable Western experience Success in academics and beyond SCHULICH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY THE DEAN S DISTINGUISHED LECTURE HOMECOMING 2015 FEATURING Bonnie Schmidt, PhD'93, President and Founder, Let's Talk Science; Member of the Order of Canada SPECIAL TO WESTERN NEWS Join us for Inspiring Futures, a thought-provoking lecture by Bonnie Schmidt, PhD 93. Learn about the founding of Let s Talk Science, from the program s conception at Western University to its transformation into a national science literacy movement. Saturday, September 26, :30-11:45 a.m. Room 146, Medical Sciences Building, Western University Western has dedicated its community to enhancing campus sustainability by embedding sustainability into every facet of life on campus, through operations, research, teaching/learning and community initiatives. Few people would argue against experiential learning through co-op and internship programs, leadership training and other opportunities as an advantage to students who take part. But increasingly, this type of real world education is becoming a vital component for students entering the job market. The Student Success Centre: Careers, Leadership and Experience has been working for some time to provide students with these types of opportunities. The centre has more than 250 student leaders working with them each year to deliver programs to support your success. This event is open to all Western alumni, faculty, staff and students, and all community members. Please register online by Friday, September 18, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK NEUFELD

12 22 23 Big classes with instructors in a class by themselves ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK NEUFELD Program looks to keep Western living well BY JASON WINDERS FOR KEVIN WAMSLEY, there is only one key to Living Well. Success is simple, said the former Health Sciences associate dean. We want to see a higher percentage of people who look forward to their day every day. To do just that, the university recently launched Living Western, a campus-wide initiative designed to promote physical, cultural and intellectual activities to foster health and wellness among staff, faculty and students. A year and a half in the making, the program grew out of a recent survey of faculty and staff, where 81 per cent of respondents said they were looking to be more physically active, and 59 per cent said they were looking for new approaches to stress management. We have known for some time there is an issue with student stress; we have known for some time there are work-life balance issues for faculty and staff. Our study confirmed that, continued Wamsley, who was named Provost at St. Francis Xavier University this summer. This attempts to confront those issues head on. This is about people having a healthy and happy place to work and study. The site has developed a series of activities (many free) open to faculty, staff and students. Organized and run mainly by volunteers, the activities run the gamut from yoga and gardening, cooking and cycling, even music and comedy. The list of possibilities is almost as limitless as the ideas of participants, Wamsley said. Living Western looks to harness the energy of the events on campus existing and future that promote wellness. This is a unique program because it not only incorporates physical activity, but focuses on many other aspects of wellness, said Ann Hutchison, Western Senior Human Resource Advisor. It is important to give people ideas and opportunities to get active or de-stress when they take a break from their work or from studying. In addition to the events that have been developed specifically for this initiative, numerous other groups have added their support to Western s wellness movement and helped increase the roster of activities available to everyone on campus. The buy-in from all areas of campus has been tremendous. It has been a team effort and speaks to how our campus views wellness, said Wamsley, who consulted nearly 50 stakeholders from across campus in the creation of Living Western. He continued, The list of activities is huge, and we hope it unfolds over the next five years. We want people to get out and enjoy themselves. All of these are little ways for people to take their blood-pressure down a notch. We want a happier, healthier Western. Visit health.uwo.ca/living_well/ for information, including activities schedules. Use the Contact Us button on the left side of the page to offer comments on or make suggestions for future activities. BY ADELA TALBOT IF THIS IS your first year at Western, chances are, one or two slots on your class schedule are occupied by one of the following courses. Prepare for large class sizes, but also a learning experience that, in some cases, is legendary on Western s campus. If you re not already enrolled in Psychology 1000, it s likely you re on the long waiting list. The class, known colloquially at Western as Super Psych, has been taught by Mike Atkinson since To thousands of students since, he has been known simply as, Dr. Mike. In its early days, Psychology 1000 was taught in Alumni Hall, with a cap of 1,250 students. About a decade ago, the class moved to the North Campus Building, and now has a cap of 800 students. There is always a long wait list to get in. On your first day of Super Psych with Dr. Mike, you ll walk into the room and likely notice he s already there, playing music as a sort of fanfare for the lecture that s about to come. He does this all year, and students often request his playlists. My theory of teaching has always been something called educational theatre and I believe, in a large class in particular, you have to be presenting something that is fast-paced and draws your attention, said Dr. Mike. I don t like to have dead air, so as a result, when I do a class it s all choreographed, it s all planned out. That s not to say I can t be spontaneous, but I want to keep things going. I know I m competing with Facebook, whatever else might be out there, so if I m not entertaining enough, if I m not captivating enough, I ll lose people. Dr. Mike is known for his use of technology in the classroom, video clips from movies, various Internet tools, and new this year a live chat that may or may not be on display behind him as he lectures. He has a question box (the kind, and the cardboard kind) and he runs a class Facebook group. Nothing s changed over the years things are just continually updated, he said. If you re trying to fill that essay requirement early, and you went the Arts & Humanities route, it s likely you re in Dennis Klimchuk s Philosophy 1020E. Though not as full as Super Psych, this class is expected to host students this year. And the numbers don t seem to be dropping from year to year. Maybe I should thank people at Summer Academic Orientation for this I don t know why it s so popular, Klimchuk laughed. More than a third of my students Attention New Faculty Real estate information sessions and tours will begin starting Saturday, September 5th and will continue throughout September. To register or for more information please call: Brokerage KRISTINA BRADLEY Sales Rep kristina.bradley@century21.ca last year had taken Philosophy in high school they liked it and they wanted to do it again. But many of them hadn t, and I m not sure what leads them to it. I remember I thought it sounded cool, he added. I think it s a good course for students to take, and I m glad they are. I m sure it will benefit them, regardless of what they decide to do. Don t expect Klimchuk to use a textbook your readings will be online. You ll have guest lecturers from other disciplines like Law, Biology and Political Science to show you Philosophy applies to many things in life, and many professions that might be waiting for you four years from now. There will be a live musical performance of a 20th century classical piece to introduce some topics in the foyer of the D.B. Weldon Library, Klimchuk added. It should be a fun class. I want students to have a sense that what we do in Philosophy is, in a sense, inescapable. I will talk about issues they will interact with, regardless of what they end up doing, he said. I really want to think more about making the course available to students for whom this might be the first and last Philosophy course. It can still be valuable for them. If you re a science student, it s more than likely you re signed up for firstyear Biology. If you re in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, then maybe you re in MIT 1020E: Introduction to Media, Information & Technoculture, taught by Nick Dyer- Witheford and John Reed, if not, then maybe MIT 1050A Navigating Media Culture: #mediaculture. Whatever you re taking, take notes. And have fun.

13 24 25 Huron comes together over a single read BY JASON WINDERS A NEW PROGRAM looks to get every member of one Western affiliate s community all on the same page. This fall, the Huron University College Library will launch Huron 1 Read, a common reading program to connect incoming students across all disciplines. The inaugural selection is The End of Absence, by Canadian journalist Michael Harris. All incoming, first-year students were provided with a copy of the book at their summer transition session. In addition, all Huron faculty and staff read End of Absence this summer, along with various student leaders. This includes the Orientation team (Sophs), Residence Life staff and Executive of the Huron University College Student Council. HARRIS As a liberal arts institution, we want to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue among our students from day one; we want them to have the opportunity to consider multiple points of view and different ways of thinking, said Jennifer Robinson, Director of Library and Information Services. Huron 1 Read encourages this kind of dialogue by giving everyone a common starting point and then providing lots of opportunities for the entire community to get together and talk about what they have read. A graduate of York University, Harris began his career in journalism at CBC television where he became the host of The Harris Report, an investigative and current affairs show. His career has included The Globe and Mail, The Sunday Express, Sun News Service and ipolitics. He has written eight books. In The End of Absence, Harris chronicles the massive cultural shift toward ubiquitous information and constant connection and explores what we ve gained and lost in the bargain. In this eloquent and thought-provoking book, he argues our greatest loss has been that of absence itself of silence, wonder and solitude. When I first picked it (the book) up, Huron 1 Read wasn t on my mind, Robinson said. But as I made my way through the different chapters, it became clear that it was the perfect book to launch our common reading program. We were looking for a book that was topical, relevant to our entire community (staff, faculty and students) and well-written. End of Absence is all of these things. So far, the book has generated buzz. I ve had some really great talks with colleagues who have read the book and I m amazed at how the same book can provoke different reactions from different people, Robinson said. The Western affiliate will host events throughout the year centred around the book. Visit the Huron 1 Read website, or follow along and share your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag #Huron1Read. As a liberal arts institution, we want to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue among our students from day one; we want them to have the opportunity to consider multiple points of view and different ways of thinking. - Jennifer Robinson Director of Library and Information Services than 70 masters and 50 doctoral programs, including a range of professional masters and interdisciplinary programs providing endless opportunities to expand knowledge and push the boundaries of discovery in several fields. Check out this snapshot of our graduate classrooms. OK, WE KNOW you just got here, and can barely find those first-year courses, but don t forget about what possibilities await you after graduation in a few years. Since introducing its first masters program in 1881, Western has been dedicated to excellence in graduate education. We offer more Fusion Sushi, and now featuring fresh Osysters & Izakaya Bar. Visit our newly renovated second level that offers Japanese night life in Downtown London. Savour our fresh sushi & innovative asian flavour. 607 Richmond Street (at Central) dine-in take-out delivery Upstairs available for large groups. Catering available. Download our free Ozen app for Android & iphone today.

14 26 27 Meet the affiliates Western has three affiliate colleges: Brescia University College, Donna Rogers, interim principal; King s University College, David Sylvester, principal; and Huron University College, Stephen McClatchie, principal. While each offers a unique university experience, students are also encouraged to take classes and enjoy the resources at Western s main campus. A transit service is also available to shuttle students between the affiliates and main campus. ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT WOODS Who s your daddy? BISHOP ISAAC HELLMUTH was a rare combination even in 19th-century circles. Born in Poland of Jewish parents, his father was a rabbi and Hellmuth himself trained to be a rabbi. While being educated at the University of Breslau, his religious convictions changed in conversation with missionaries from the Lutheran Church and the Church of England. Disowned by his father for his conversion, Hellmuth took his mother s name and moved to England. To this day, his father s name remains unknown. Hellmuth saw that a university also needed to be founded in London, so he pledged $10,000 of his own money, and whatever else he could do, to procure a charter for the new school. The London community was not unanimous in believing a local university was necessary, and the papers were filled with letters to the editor, both in support of and in opposition to the idea. The enabling legislation met stiff resistance, but wove its way through committees of the legislature - no doubt assisted by the fact Hellmuth was married to the sister-in-law of the Minister of Education. The bill granting a charter for Western was eventually authorized in 1878, but only after an impassioned speech by Premier Oliver Mowat. Modern graduates of Western tend to be unaware their alma mater was originally a church university and that its first faculties were divinity and medicine, which operated side by side in the same building. Its first teachers were clergymen of the Church of England, and its first chancellors were the Bishops of Huron. In fact, in the beginning, the Faculty of Arts closed down for a time, which seems a long way away from the massive institution of learning, with some 290,000 alumni from more than 150 countries around the world, which has grown from its church roots. Bishop Isaac Hellmuth worked tirelessly to see that the fledgling university survived. - From William Cliff s Bishop Isaac Helmuth. Read in its entirety at alumni.uwo.ca/connect/founders-day/hellmuth.html. HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE KING S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BRESCIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

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