Western creates parental leave for grad students

A graduate student at Western University successfully advocated to change parental leave policy for her university. She is also lobbying the tri-council agencies to ensure they each offer the same leave to parents.

Read about it in the Western. Read Western's leave policy here : grad students with no tri-council funding are granted $1500 parental leave and 12 months leave per child while pursuing their graduate work.

Fire Hydrant retires

Legendary UBC student politician, Darren "Fire Hydrant" Peets completes his PhD, retires from student politics and moves to Japan; the Ubyssey has this excellent article chronicalling his many years of advocacy.

Supporting the strikers

80 people came out to support the SUB steelworkers in their 7th week on the picket lines Wednesday night.




Thanks to grad students in CUPE 4163 (some members above), CUPE 951 and VIPIRG for joining in this effort and coming out to show your support for the strikers. Ben Johnson from the steelworkers bargaining committee enjoys the party with union member Jose Barrios (below).






Rebecca Taylor (Grad Rep for Indigenous Social Work masters program and VIPIRG staffer) raises a ruckus with her sing-a-long (below).

All these great photos by GSS Chair Nicole O'Byrne. Thanks Nicole!

GSS Annual General Meeting

When: Tuesday, October 28, 5pm
Where: Grad House restaurant at the Grad Centre
Who can vote: Any UVIC graduate student currently registered at UVIC
What to bring: Your valid grad student ID

Food will be provided!

Agenda:

Approve Agenda
Approve Minutes
Approval of 2008 audited statements
Appointment of the auditors
Consideraton of motions received with due notice
Other business

*Audited statements, minutes, and motions received with notice will be available at the Graduate Students' Society offices and posted on the GSS website http:gss.uvic.ca by October 21, 2008. Please submit any motions for consideration at the meeting to Stacy Chappel gssmgr@uvic.ca no later than October 20, 2008 at noon.