UVIC Graduate Students' Blog

The value of university communities -- from an old GSS chair

2012-01-09T14:37:00.000-08:00

Past GSS Executive Member, Basil Alexander wrote this interesting piece ont he value of university communities. Pleased to see involvement with groups like the GSS is part of his positive memories of UVIC!

His thoughts on building communities withing universities are of interest to me -- in part because my own studies are in community development, but also because of his call to "leave the silos" that build up in academia, and this is something I hear echoed by graduate students when they are feeling isolated and struggling with their program.

http://www.aucc.ca/future-avenir/we-need-to-be-better-success-centres-and-communities/

SFU students and CFS settle out of court

2012-01-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

SFU Students Society no longer a member of the Canadian Federation of Students.

After a long dispute (since 2008), the SFSS and CFS have settled out of court.

This is the text of the statement that was agreed upon Dec 23rd and publicly released today.

"The Canadian Federation of Students and Simon Fraser Student Society Reach Out of Court Resolution.

The Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Federation of Students - Services, Canadian Federation of Students - British Columbia Component (collectively, the "CFS Entities") and the Simon Fraser Student Society

("SFSS") have come to an amicable, out of court resolution of their dispute regarding the SFSS voting membership in the CFS Entities.

As part of this resolution it is agreed that the membership has ended.

The agreement was motivated by a desire on the part of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues. The parties have agreed to this common statement and have agreed to make no further public statements regarding this matter."

Federal budget consultations: making the case for grad students

2011-12-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

The federal government is hosting budget consultations, and have a simple online form where citizens can submit their comments.

These consultations are a simple way to let the federal government know what you think of federal funding for graduate study and the role of graduate study in the economy.

Not sure what to say? Check out the following information sources... they spark a lot of ideas about the role of graduate school, and the impact it has on our society.

The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies has this letter to the Federal Government on how to better support graduate studies and Canada's low (2nd last by OECD ranking) investment in graduate education:

Investing in the granting councils
Investing in international grad students in Canada
Invest in innovative skills training for grad students and post docs
Invest in post docs.

The budget consultation is a venue for supporting this ideas.

Perhaps you are interested in your field of research and its role in the economy...

The OECD has all manner of statistics on the impact of education, research and development and how Canada's funding ranks compared to other OECD nations.

OECD study on education funding. (Tertiary education is post secondary education, but doesn't break down between a bachelors, masters and PhD).

The OECD database is searchable on many subjects, so you can search for data on our priorities in science and engineering, health, environment, business, education, and doctoral graduates, depending on your interest.

For example:

In 2011 Canada is below average in OECD for doctoral graduate rates (but is close to average at PhDs awarded to women: 44% of Canadian PhDs - OECD average is 46% -- Canada's rate hasn't changed since 2009, but OECD has gone from 43% to 46% average between 2009 and 2011):

Direct funding of Research and Development (2011 stats) includes this amazing chart, which shows how those R&D dollars are spent - are they going to defence or universities or health?

Here is Canada (2009) vs OECD breakdown (2008) by % of direct Research and Development spending:

Defence: Canada 3.2% OECD 31.8%
Health & Environment: Canada 22.7% OECD: 17.5%
Economic Development: Canada 25.8% OECD 15%
General University Funds: Canada 33.3% OECD 16.1%
Non-oriented: Canada 7.7% OECD 11.3%
Other Canada 7.3% OECD 8.4%

... but remember that Canada spends less than the OECD average (govt appropriations as % of GDP) on research and development:

Spending on R&D as % of GDP (2010): Canada .61% OECD average .75%

Canada Research Chairs and Equity

2011-11-18T10:44:00.001-08:00

The Canada Research Chairs Program announced a program to encourage equity among research chair awards. In 2010, a new Canada Excellence Research Chairs raised the ire of many when it appointed all men to its first round of awardees. The general research chairs program was already considered a poor performer on gender equity, and in fact a human rights complaint had been settled previously to improve the Canada Research Chair program's equity ... but that agreement doesn't apply to the new Canada Excellence Research Chairs program.

The equity project arises from the human rights complaint settlement, and has now established an ongoing cycle of (mandatory) equity audits and (optional) recognition programs featuring successful equity practices.

The first year will focus on medium universities ... so UVIC will be among them.

Full notice is follows from the CRC follows:

Canada Research Chairs Program announcement: Equity target setting exercise and new Recognition Process for universities

Background:

In 2006, the Canada Research Chairs Program reached a settlement agreement concerning the representation of four designated groups (women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities) among Chair recipients. As part of this agreement, the Chairs program has worked with universities to ensure that they follow open, transparent and equitable recruitment practices and to establish targets for the representation of the four designated groups. The Chairs program is now launching a Recognition Process to recognize universities with exemplary equity practices in recruiting, nominating and appointing Canada Research Chairs (CRC) and meeting their equity targets.

Overview of the CRC Equity Target Setting and Recognition Process:

A first target setting exercise was completed for all institutions in 2008-09. Starting this year, the exercise will be run annually, but only for a subset of universities (small, medium or large)*.

Each year, one subset of universities will be required to complete the target setting exercise and will be invited to nominate their university for recognition of their equity practices. Thus, each university will participate in the target setting and recognition process only once every three years.

The first subset of universities to take part in this process is the medium size universities. The universities of this subset will receive all necessary information and materials in a separate email, in November 2011. The Chairs Secretariat will require that medium size universities submit the information for target setting within 2 months. The Secretariat will use the data provided by universities to establish a baseline and monitor progress in meeting established targets for members of the four designated groups.

The Recognition Process is being introduced as a voluntary component of the mandatory target setting exercise. Applications will be considered by the Chairs program’s Advisory Committee on Equity Policy. The Secretariat will select one institution annually to be recognized as having exemplary practices in equity.

Why would an institution want to be profiled?

The selected institution will receive a certificate and an invitation to present its equity practices at a national conference (TBD). In addition, the institution will be profiled on the Chairs program website and will have the opportunity to use the logo (below) identifying them as recognized by the Chairs program as having exemplary practices in equity.

The Secretariat invites chairholders to support this new initiative at their university. The collaboration of all program stakeholders is necessary to ensure that our program remains equitable while supporting excellence in research.

Should you have any questions about this process, please contact Louise-Michelle Verrier at (613) 995-3236 or by e-mail at louise-michelle.verrier@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.

*The list of the universities participating in the Chairs program by subset is attached.

Michèle Boutin

Executive Director

Chairs Secretariat

Annonce du Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada : Exercice d'établissement des objectifs en matière d’équité et nouveau processus de reconnaissance pour les universités

Contexte

En 2006, le Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada (PCRC) a conclu un accord de règlement relativement à la représentation des membres des quatre groupes désignés (les femmes, les Autochtones, les personnes handicapées et les minorités visibles) parmi les titulaires de chaires. Afin de satisfaire à cette entente, le secrétariat du Programme a travaillé en collaboration avec les universités afin de s’assurer que les pratiques de recrutement des titulaires de chaire soient ouvertes, transparentes et équitables et pour établir des objectifs de représentation des membres des quatre groupes désignés. Le programme des chaires procède actuellement au lancement d'un processus visant à reconnaître les universités qui font preuve de pratiques exemplaires en matière d’équité dans le recrutement, la mise en candidature de titulaires de chaire et la dotation de chaires et qui atteignent leurs objectifs en matière d’équité.

Aperçu de l'exercice d'établissement des objectifs en matière d'équité dans le cadre du PCRC et processus de reconnaissance

Un premier exercice d'établissement des objectifs a été réalisé en 2008-2009 pour tous les établissements. À compter de cette année, l'exercice sera réalisé tous les ans, mais seulement pour un sous-ensemble d'universités (de petite, moyenne ou grande taille)**.

Chaque année, un sous-ensemble d'universités devra compléter l'exercice d'établissement des objectifs et sera invité à présenter la candidature de son université en vue d'obtenir une reconnaissance pour ses pratiques en matière d'équité. Par conséquent, chaque université participera à l'établissement des objectifs et au processus de reconnaissance seulement une fois tous les trois ans.

Le premier sous-ensemble d'universités qui participera à ce processus est celui des universités de taille moyenne. Les universités faisant partie de ce sous-ensemble recevront tous les renseignements et les documents nécessaires dans un autre courriel, en novembre 2011. Les universités de taille moyenne disposeront de deux mois pour faire parvenir les renseignements relatifs à l'établissement des objectifs. Le secrétariat du Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada analysera les données transmises par les universités afin d’établir des paramètres de référence concernant la représentation des groupes désignés et de faire, par la suite, un suivi des progrès réalisés dans le but d’atteindre les objectifs fixés.

Le processus de reconnaissance est présenté comme une composante optionnelle de l'exercice obligatoire d'établissement des objectifs. Les demandes seront prises en considération par le Comité consultatif sur les politiques en matière d'équité du Programme. Tous les ans, le secrétariat sélectionnera un établissement dont les pratiques exemplaires en matière d'équité seront reconnues.

Pourquoi un établissement aurait-il intérêt à être sélectionné?

L'établissement sélectionné recevra un certificat et sera invité à présenter ses pratiques en matière d'équité lors d’un congrès national (à déterminer). En outre, l'établissement sera présenté sur le site Web du PCRC et pourra utiliser le logo (ci-dessous) qui le désigne comme un établissement reconnu par le Programme pour ses pratiques exemplaires en matière d'équité.

Le Secrétariat invite les titulaires de chaire à appuyer cette nouvelle initiative au sein de leur université. La collaboration de tous les intervenants engagés dans le programme est nécessaire afin de veiller à ce que notre programme demeure équitable tout en appuyant l'excellence dans la recherche.

Pour toute question au sujet de ce processus, veuillez communiquer avec Louise-Michelle Verrier, au 613-995-3236 ou par courriel à l’adresse louise-michelle.verrier@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.

** La liste des universités participant au Programme des chaires de recherche du Canada par sous-ensemble est présentée dans le document ci-joint

Michèle Boutin

Directrice générale

Secrétariat des chaires

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Le présent courriel a été expédié par le système d’envoi de courriels du Conseil des académies canadiennes. Ce courriel, ainsi que tout fichier qui y est joint, est confidentiel et peut être protégé par les droits d’auteurs. Toute reproduction, utilisation ou diffusion, par quelque moyen que ce soit, sans autorisation est interdite. Si le lecteur du présent message n’est pas le destinataire prévu, il est prié de noter qu’il ne doit ni divulguer, ni distribuer, ni copier ce message et tout fichier qui y est joint, ni s’en servir à quelque fin que ce soit. Merci d’en aviser l’expéditeur par retour de courriel et de supprimer ce message ainsi que tout fichier joint. Pensez à l’environnement. N’imprimez ce courriel que si vous en avez vraiment besoin.

Globe Graduate Studies section for MBAs only

2011-11-14T01:21:00.001-08:00

For a moment I was excited to see the Globe and Mail has added a "Graduate Strudies" section to their education report.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/graduatestudies/

However, a quick review shows that virtually every story is about MBA students -- ony 6 of 43 posts thus far are about a subject other than MBA programs. And even the 6 non-MBA stories were often more general interest than graduate studies (ie. scandal related to a speech at convocation, kids visit a lab, etc).

It is too bad because there are lots of interesting things to consider about graduate school -- changes to research funding, corporate involvement on granting council boards, research facilities in various universities, the changing demographic of graduate school. Even graduate student unions occasionally do something interesting!

So, if you are an MBA student, I encourage you to have a look.. there is some interesting stuff there. Otherwise, unfortunately, not so much.

Free and fun services at the public library

2011-11-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for some entertainment but have a limited budget? Consider some of these awesome services available free at the public library...

(This is the Greater Victoria Public Library, not our campus libraries, btw. Any Victoria resident can get a public library card by bringing in a piece of mail, such as a utility bill, for proof of address).

Take the family to the BC Museum for free -- sign out a museum pass for the weekend at the library!

Borrow music with freegle or a mystery novel (e-book or audio book) online through the library to go service!

And forget about that comps reading list... check out the 100 picture books to be read before kindergarten! (I am so behind--some of those were written after I turned 30!)

How nerdy is this ... they have links to library-loving apps. Need the app for stats can? I didn't know I did until I saw it on the library's app site.

Do you, like me, spend time working on your research while your child is doing homework? Check out the homework help section for kids.

Going overseas to do some research? Try learning a language online with Mango.

And of course we cannot forget books. Remember those? I don't mean the ones you are reading for your research, I mean novels--everything from award winning fiction to junky thrillers. Ah, books, you used to be about relaxing!!! And if you want some recommendations, you can use NoveList and other suggestion making resources, which suggests similar books to those you already enjoy--search by author or theme. The new library site also lets you post reviews and follow other library users with similar interests.

Want a new study spot? The library also has lovely study space for when the Mearns feels too crowded. Wifi is free with your public library card too.

All of these great things in one place ... in your neighbourhood, or online.

Changes to immigration benefit (some) international PhD students

2011-11-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

The minister of state for science and technology, Gary Goodyear, announced today the process for International students doing their PhD in Canada to become Canadian citizens is being streamlined -- but only for students in specific areas, such as sciences and engineering, following along with other changes to immigration recently.

Once 2 years of a PhD have been completed, eligible students can apply for citizenship. This change is coming nearly immediately, with applications being accepted November 5. There will be 1,000 spaces in the program.

Read the CBC story here.

This is great news for PhD students who want to stay in Canada (and stop paying differential fees), so long as they are in the right program... but what about those in other research areas?

Recently, the provincial government has been pushing for international recruitment, opening BC scholarship programs to international students, for example. I wonder if immigration offers is a way to make Canada more competitive in recruiting international students. AUCC president seems to think so. AUCC's press release on the change is here.

I think this may be the most pro-grad student comment I have heard from the feds:
Doctoral graduates play a unique role in the economy. They drive research, encourage innovation and pass on their knowledge through teaching,” said Minister Goodyear. “And quite simply, Canada needs more of them.” (from the press release).

Stop Torschlusspanik!

2011-10-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

At a recent wednesday coffee, we were discussing words that exist in other languages, for which there is no equivalent in English. (Schadenfreude has always been one of my favourites).

Frank Berghaus (Grad Rep for Physics and Astronomy) introduced us to "Torschlusspanik" -- the feeling of rushing to meet a deadline that is looming. Literally "gate close panic" if I remember Frank's translation correcty.

I'm willing to bet many graduate students are in a constant state of torschlusspanik. I know I have experienced it myself!

I think one of the main roles of the GSS is to create spaces to reduce the stresses on graduate students, and think we should launch a "stop torschlusspanik" campaign. All this reminds me of rumours I'd heard of the "DPP". Last year I heard of grad students in one UVIC department who created the "Dropout Prevention Party". Motto: Join the Party! Genius! (Was this you? Let me know so I can give you a hat tip!)

Among those who work in academia, there are many tales of imposter syndrome, where graduate students believe there was an error in admitting them to grad school, or fear they are not up to completing their program. Well, a DPP in every school, I say! Join the Party and stop torschlusspanik!

And now for the qualitative research part: I am crowdsourcing for ideas to present to the GSS: What should the DPP do to stop Torschlusspanik?

Committees, Committees, and more Committees

2011-10-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

In many ways, universities are run by committees. Committees approve new academic programs, hire all senior administration and department chairs, and oversee new campus services. UVIC even has a committee on committees!

Living in residence? Got a child in the UVIC daycare? You might be interested in some of our committee vacancies.

Love to reward great teaching? Seats on the Gillian Sherwin Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Andy Farquarson Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Studentscommittees are now seeking graduate students.

Interested in UVIC fudraising, art galleries, and government relations? You could be on the appointment committee for the new AVP External Relations, who is responsible for all these things.

While we are at it, you might be interested in the vacancies on grad council or some of the GSS committees like the Health and Dental Appeals Committee, Events Committee or various campaign committees (which are looking at grad student housing, creating a grad student advocate office, looking at GSS relationships with UVSS clubs and advocacy groups (and grad student fees for these groups), or examining our means of allocating seats on grad council) – email me at gssmgr[at]uvic.ca if you are interested in these committees.

photo blog chronicles free snacks of academia

2011-09-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

The GSS has been all about food of late .... Wednesday Coffee is bringing a crowd every week, and the new Grad House menu is peppered with grad student references. It has been my experience that food draws grad students. Apparently Jorge Chan agrees.

Thus, I was amused when I found Refreshments will be provided, a photo blog featuring free food offerings in academia.

What is the food that keeps your thesis going? (Are you among the legions of grad students who have told me of your despair since biblio cafe replaced their veggie wrap? Do the undergrad who make your americano at the Munchie Bar know more about your thesis progress than your supervisor?

Ouch!

2011-09-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

It seems everyone is down on grad school these days. Newest commentary comes from the economist.

here is a sample

The interests of academics and universities on the one hand and PhD students on the other are not well aligned. The more bright students stay at universities, the better it is for academics. Postgraduate students bring in grants and beef up their supervisors’ publication records. Academics pick bright undergraduate students and groom them as potential graduate students. It isn’t in their interests to turn the smart kids away, at least at the beginning. One female student spoke of being told of glowing opportunities at the outset, but after seven years of hard slog she was fobbed off with a joke about finding a rich husband

For my own research (into potential for graduate students to form co-operatives as a service provider) I just obtained the much cited (and also bleak) book , Leaving the Ivory Tower: The Causes and Consequences of Departure from Doctoral Study (by Barbara E. Lovitts).

For me, the hardest departures I see are where the student has made a huge sacrifice, for many years, to attend grad school, but at the end of their program it doesn't work out. In my experience there are usually several factors piling up against the student, many of them also outside the university's control, and little means to help the student find their way through if those external problems cause long delays.

Dean loves Dean Cakes!

2011-09-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

I admit I was somewhat trepidatious when GSS Operations and Services Manager Brandy Sistili proposed renaming the Grad House crab cakes after the Dean.

The crab cakes are one of the most popular menu items... but still, it is possible it could be taken the wrong way.

Now, if the Grad House menu were an honourary degree, there would be a whole protocol and process to deal with such situations...

Brandy pointed out the menu was full of references to grad student life, and the GSS has a great relationship with the Dean. So, despite my worries, Brandy kept it in.

Turns out that, as usual, Brandy was right, because the Dean popped in with a big grin and asked immediately to order his honourific meal. (Sadly they were sold out!)

Now I am worried the President will be feeling left out!

Grad rep? Moi?

2011-09-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

Grad Students… Be your department Grad Rep to the GSS!

What do the Graduate Representatives do?
- represent the interests of fellow grad students in your department
- report back to your home department on discussions and decisions made during grad council meetings
- where possible, sit on one university committee a year
- hold a departmental meeting at least once a semester to discuss common issues of concern and bring concerns and issues raised back to grad council
- participate in major governance decisions about the GSS (e.g. last year, the Grad Rep Council was involved in discussions regarding changes to the health and dental plans)
- attend the monthly grad rep council meetings the Annual General Meeting and Semi-annual General Meeting
- participate in GSS sub committees and represent graduate students to committees of the university

How do I become the Graduate Representative?
It is up to students in each department to select a representative. This call for grad reps should be forwarded to students in your department by email by the department graduate secretary. Typically interested students submit their name to the graduate secretary, and if there are several candidates, elections are held either by ballot in the department office, email vote or election at a meeting of all graduate students in the department. The nature of the election is determined by the students in the department, and usually depends on the number of students enrolled, whether the department has a department graduate students union that can administer the election, and whether many students are studying by distance.Departments should make efforts to select the representative before the first meeting of the Council on Tuesday, September 27

Can there be more than one representative for a department?
Grad Council meetings are open to all members of the Society. However, each department has only one vote. If the representative is unable to attend a meeting, an alternate may attend in her/his place. If a representative fails to attend three consecutive meetings without sending an alternate, she or he shall be deemed to have resigned from the Council.

When does the Council meet?
Grad Council meetings are usually held on the last Tuesday of each month, at 5 pm at the Graduate Students' Centre (see exceptions below). In September there will be a meeting September 27 at 5pm. normally, there is no meeting in December or between April and August. Pizza or other light fare is served for dinner. (January 2012 meeting will be on Tuesday the 24th).

I’ve been elected, what now?
Please ensure that your grad secretary sends notice of your election to the GSS by email atgssmgr [a] uvic.ca. Successful candidates can contact Stacy Chappel atgssmgr[at]uvic.ca to provide contact information and obtain more information.

Any questions:
Please call/email Stacy Chappel at472-5163 / gssmgr[at]uvic.ca.

great news -- Saeed Malekpour gets a reprieve

2011-06-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

Update: Unfortunately it looks like this reprieve has now been reversed. The campaign to free Saeed is asking everyone to email Minister of Foreign Affairs and insist Canada take action. Their message follows:

Please help urge the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada to issue a statement condemning Saeed's death sentence confirmation. Today, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (Alistair Burt) spoke out about Saeed's imminent execution! Let's get Foreign Affairs Canada to do the same, since Saeed was living in Canada!

john.baird@parl.gc.ca (Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird)

http://ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=718905582

---ORIGINAL POST FOLLOWS___
Reported in the Post today -- Saeed Malekpour, husband of former UVIC PhD student, Dr. Fatima Eftekhari, gets a reprieve from death sentence in Iran.

PhD Comics Movie confirmed

2011-04-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

This article confirms the rumour of a PhD comics film ... slated to hit campuses in the Fall. Please Cinecenta, bring this to UVIC! The GSS will ensure a full house.

could it be true? a PhD Comics movie?

2011-04-16T10:39:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: UVIC PhD Comics movie screening set for January 17, 2012, 7pm at the Grad House.

Check it out here: facebook event page or gss website event notice
----- original post follows---

Rumours have emerged on the PhD Comics facebook page that there will be a PhD Comics movie. !!!

Surely it is worth a travel grant to go participate (in California).

Not only that -- you could be an extra! Posted April 6th

Do you live in/near Southern California (or know someone who does) and want to be an extra in the PHD movie? Please e-mail movie@phdcomics.com

Original post here.

But I thought that post docs were too invisible to show on film.

props to the undergrads

2011-04-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

For this youth vote campaign.

I love this whole campaign, which I understand started with Leadnow responding to a Rick Mercer challenge to youth voters. (Hat tip to UVIC grads involved in starting Leadnow, like Jamie Biggar)

I knew, as well, that it was getting traction when my mom told me all about it over dinner! (She was thrilled!)

(Also fun for UVic folks to watch and see them run around a corner in Clerihue and arrive in the SUB foyer, haha!)

Vote May 2, everyone!!

Here is some more coverage
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/04/06/cv-election-flash-vote-mobs.html

Thesis distraction gets local boost

2011-04-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

The GSS maintains a list of thesis distractions. But this is a first ... a wonderful puzzle distraction designed by one of our own, Computer Science grad rep, Alejandro Erickson.

Check out tomoku puzzles .. a puzzle game based on lucky placement of Japanese tatami mats. Alejandro produced a little book of the puzzles as well as this online version.

I have the book and my son and I have risked being late for school when drawn into the puzzles over breakfast.

UVic referendum on CFS membership attracts record turnout

2011-04-01T23:02:00.000-07:00

UVic [undergrad] referendum on CFS membership attracts record turnout

UVIC undergrads follow GSS in leaving CFS. [Times Colonist report.]

A little GSS history

2011-03-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

I admit to watching with interest as Pro- and Ant- CFS campaigners dash about campus for the pending UVSS referendum on CFS memebrship, and my thoughts turn to our own departure from the CFS in March 2008.

No doubt for similar reasons, I was asked by some undergrads what our reasons for leaving were. I am not sure the situation of undergrads in 2011 is the same as those at the GSS in 2008, but I posted the GSS articles from the era here for those who are curious.

News of interest: $2M penality for McGill and Cracks in the PhD Glass Ceiling

2011-03-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

Quebec slaps McGill with $2M penalty over MBA

Tuition increase to 29,500/year going too far, say courts.

Meanwhile, the "glass ceiling" has some cracks at the PhD and Full prof level:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=415400&c=1

It would be good to know how this relates to the 60% majority female undergrads over the same time periods...

TRLN Digitization Strategy Advocates Flexible Approach to Intellectual Property Rights of Large Collections

2011-02-26T13:41:00.000-08:00

An interesting article about libraries, special collections, research and copyright...

TRLN Digitization Strategy Advocates Flexible Approach to Intellectual Property Rights of Large Collections

The Martlet | Students asked to partially fund new facilities

2011-01-29T23:10:00.000-08:00

The Martlet | Students asked to partially fund new facilities

The athletics fee issue is back. The GSS was active in the campaign to defeat this last year by calling on the Minister of Advanced Education (now Science and Universities) and the BC Tuition Limit Policy.

some past news on this issue:

Coverage of the campaign victory at UBC Insiders
Some past Martlet coveragae here.

And hey, here's the campaign info from the last time around.

UVIC GSS website

2011-01-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

Hi all, we are experiencing some trouble with our UVIC Graduate Students' Society website in google since it migrated to the new site. It is being fixed, but for now, the link is the same: http://gss.uvic.ca/

UVIC graduate student health plan information can also be found at http://gss.uvic.ca/.

kick start you writing using online motivational tools

2011-01-01T23:02:00.000-08:00

Beyond my life working for graduate students at the gss, I also have a secret life as a graduate student.

This term I am to submit my research proposal. Through my first two terms of graduate school, I have attempted to journal as a means to help my writing process, but with limited success.

Today I embarked on a new effort to ensure I do keep to my writing commitments, partly inspired by Joan Bolker's book, Write your dissertation in 15 minutes per day. (What an inspiring title!) Which advocates keeping a research journal.

But for those, like me, who need some prodding, some online tools may be of interest.

Do you forget to write every day? Oh, Life may be fore you. It is a simple system. you set up an account using your email, and then each evening Oh, Life sends an email asking about your day. You respond, and that is these emails become the substance of your journal. After you build up content, it will send snippets of past entries as reminders/starting points, selected at random. I wish I could choose its question to suit my purpose (not "how was your day" but "how's the research?" or something ... as long as it isn't "are you done your thesis yet?"). However, I can't fault the simplicity of the system, and the fact that an email prompt will likely be helpful for someone like me.

If goals and rewards are what you need, you might like the online journal, 750 words. With this site you are encouraged to login and write 750 words per day, and if you do this for five days in a row you get a little reward (penguin badge), and each month you get a score card with more points the more days you write. The site also assigns moods based on what you write (which unnerves me). There are challenges as well -- you could end up on the wall of awesome (or wall of shame) so think on that before choosing your pen name!

In both cases, the online journal can be downloaded for use elsewhere. Perhaps in your thesis methods section!

More great grad school themed blogs

2010-12-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

I seem to be having a bonanza in the department of "excellent blogs for UVic graduate students to read", something I am always seeking in my work.

The Thesis Whisperer warms my heart because, like me, she keeps a list of procrastination activities handy. It is also packed with practical advice to be productive in your research and writing, so has the best of both worlds.

The thesis whisperer is actually a group of whisperers, but the writing is consistent and topical.

how is academic writing to be ranked in the age of 2.0?

2010-12-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

Found this article an interesting read from the Academic Productivity blog. What is the impact of self publishing online for academics?

What happens when "that hallway conversation moves into blogs" and is now cited?

The author argues that peer reviewed journals are becoming out of date in terms of tracking article impact, and looks at new publishing models for researchers. Not sure I want to give up on peer review altogether but the proposal for self publishing and online debate is interesting. After all, it isn't so much different than conferences ...

Perhaps we should organize a discussion on this at the GSS?

BC Student Activism goes waaaay back

2010-12-01T23:36:00.000-08:00

In a tribute to the students around the world standing up for public post secondary education systems in past weeks, here is some archival footage of BC's first (I expect) student demonstration -- the UBC Great Trek of 1922, which demanded the campus finally be build so students didn't have to study crammed in old huts.

On a personal note, I recently learned my Great Aunt Eunice was a student on the Great Trek, as my cousin found a letter she wrote home describing the demonstration to her family. Guess I know where I get my activist streak!

Here is a bit of a history lesson in a bit of a bland but more structured and informative video about BC's history of establishing universities. Given the financial struggles we are having, it is good to learn from this mini-doc that BC's biggest university fought off closure during the great depression, only 7 years after it opened.

To learn about some current grad student campaigns visit the UVIC GSS at http://gss.uvic.ca

Science & Tech funding boost

2010-11-24T20:56:00.000-08:00

CBC is reporting that Industry Canada has announced funds for 310 Canada Research Chairs. See the story here.

There is no write up on the Industry Canada site, although there is a (not very exciting) media advisory.

The push seems to be in particular areas and with at least some focus on commercial/economic outcomes for the research...

Between this and BC's announcement that 2011 is the Year of Science, looks like the coming year might be science-tastic. (Too bad BC is simultaneously is reducing involvement of independent researchers and increasing Big Pharma's input in the BC drug approvals process... read about it in the Globe and Mail or listen to the CBC Victoria radio interview (MP3)).

80% cuts to eduction in UK draws 50,000 protestors

2010-11-11T22:10:00.000-08:00

At the GSS we are following the demonstrations for public education funding with interest.

Excellent democracy now coverage on the demo, followed by very good explanation of the cuts happening in the UK to education and other cuts to social programs.

University was free in the UK in the 90s, it will now be 9,000 pounds per year ($14,600 Canadian)

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/11/11/over_50_000_students_protest_in

BC Cabinet shuffle creates ministry of science and universities

2010-10-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ida Chong - a former Minister of Advanced Eduction - is to take the helm of the new ministry, something UVIC VP Research has described as positive. Denmark has a similar ministry. (Any Danish students have insight into this model?)

The Vancouver Sun has described the shuffle as uninspiring (and the cabinet as too large).

According to the Vancouver Sun

[Chong will] now be responsible for university financing, degree approval, student financial assistance and research, innovation and technology. Although universities are mainly self-sustaining, Chong will oversee annual university spending of more than $1 billion a year across B.C.
She'll also oversee millions in provincial research grants, matched by federal and private partners.

This is curious as when asked about BC's high rate of student debt and tuition, Chong asserted in an interview on CBC Radio Victoria that taxpayers (note, not citizens) pay 70% of the cost of the university, and that BC tuition is mid range. (Too bad they cut the BC Grad Scholarships, which would have made BC more competitive with Ontario).

UVIC's audited statements (2009) shows BC contribution to UVIC is 40% of UVIC's funding, and all government funding combined adds up to 54% of UVIC's funding- just enough to continue to be called "public" universities. Tuition accounts for 24% (up from 12% in my day) and almost as much comes from sales of services (books, residency and meals anyone?).

Hopefully this change will see an increase in graduate student support in the sciences - but won't indicate neglect of the other important fields of study in our universities.

CBC News - Technology & Science - University research for industry soars

2010-10-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Public research is important. This worries me.

CBC News - Technology & Science - University research for industry soars

oil company funding for university energy research comes under scrutiny

2010-10-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

BP and nine other major oil companies's funding for research into alternative energy has come under scrutiny in a report by Jennifer Washburn at thinktank the Centre for American Progress.

What makes the report particularly interesting is the detailed analysis of the contracts between the universities and the oil companies, and the amount of control given to the companies in the contracts.

The contracts characteristics are highlighted in the report:

"• In nine of the 10 energy-research agreements we analyzed, the university partners failed to retain majority academic control over the central governing body charged with directing the university-industry alliance. Four of the 10 alliances actually give the industry sponsors full governance control.
• Eight of the 10 agreements permit the corporate sponsor or sponsors to fully control both the evaluation and selection of faculty research proposals in each new grant cycle.
• None of the 10 agreements requires faculty research proposals to be evaluated and awarded funding based on independent expert peer review, the traditional method for awarding academic and scientific research grants fairly and impartially based on scientific merit.
• Eight of the 10 alliance agreements fail to specify transparently, in advance, how faculty may apply for alliance funding, and what the specific evaluation and selection criteria will be.
• Nine of the 10 agreements call for no specific management of financial conflicts of interest related to the alliance and its research functions. None of these agreements, for example, specifies that committee members charged with evaluating and selecting faculty research proposals must be impartial, and may not award corporate funding to themselves." (Washburn, October 2o10, p 6)

The author was interviewed on Democracy Now about the study October 18.

Washburn, Jennifer. October 2010. Big Oil Goes Back to College. Centre for American Progress. found October 15, 2910 at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/10/pdf/big_oil_lf.pdf

BC graduate tuition above national average

2010-09-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

Statistics Canada produced a report yesterday about tuition for Canadian students by province.

According to the report, graduate student tuition is increasing at a rate higher than undergraduate tuition.

Of interest at UVIC is that BC graduate tuition is above the national average by about $1,000 per year. This is particularly daunting given BC's lack of a graduate scholarship program, and high cost of living.

Obtain the stats can report here.

The UVIC GSS is working with graduate student unions across western canada to advocate for better graduate funding, maintaining tuition caps, and support for students.

Famous GSSers in CUPE ad!

2010-09-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

The campus CUPE locals at UVIC have put together a new ad campaign, and some familiar faces are in the video. (Hint: Cristal and Dave both work or worked for the GSS).

Champions of Public Education from Bryan Skinner on Vimeo.

Pick up a free pen from our office... or (if you are a UVIC student) go to the site and enter to win a $500 gift certificate from UVIC bookstore! Goodbye textbook fees (for one semester anyway!)

http://www.cupeworkingtogether.ca/

UVIC bunny bakesale

2010-08-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

This was spotted in Vancouver and sent to me... hat tip to wendy!

cool grad student moment

2010-04-02T00:13:00.001-07:00

ultimate research fantasy!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/grad-student-uncovers-haitis-declaration-of-independence/article1521036/

Travel Grants issue resolved (for now)

2010-03-31T23:53:00.000-07:00

To: All University of Victoria graduate students
We are happy to announce that, as a result of additional one-time funding commitments of $95,000 ($15,000 from the Graduate Student Society, $27,000 from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and $53,000 from CUPE 4163 – the union representing teaching assistants, language instructors, and sessional lecturers at the University of Victoria) the FGS/GSS Travel Grant program is once again active for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
All three parties are pleased to be able to ensure that graduate students who have already made travel commitments based on an assumption of funding availability will be eligible to receive the monies they were relying on. This additional funding will allow the fund to be reinstated under the current eligibility guidelines for the summer (May-August), in order to provide time to address concerns with the funding structure for the fall.
As always, the distribution of funds will be done on a first-come, first-served system, so we encourage students to apply as soon as they receive the necessary paperwork from conferences.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Canning – Chair, Graduate Students’ Society
Dr. Aaron Devor – Dean, Graduate Studies
Craig Ashbourne – President, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4163

Blog takes issue with research funding in canada

2010-03-25T00:00:00.001-07:00

http://dontleavecanadabehind.wordpress.com/

With posts on "Green Brain drain" research in the budget and NSERC as outsourced labour, this blog looks to be an interesting place for debate about research in Canada. Check it out!

UBC Insiders gives GSS rave reviews

2010-03-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

I love the UBC Insiders blog.

I love them even more, now though, because they provided some excellent coverage of our athletics fee fight. Not only that, they identify some implications for UBC students regarding their athletics fees at UBC-O.

Check out the full story here.

Festival of Budget news

2010-03-02T21:32:00.001-08:00

Here is some more detail regarding the 2010 budget from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, there is this mention of graduate students:

Objective 1.2: BC’s post secondary education sector fosters creativity, innovation and knowledge development.

British Columbia’s future economy will be shaped by innovation. Collaborative partnerships and knowledge development will be critical to unlocking BC’s full economic and creative potential in the years ahead. Our ability to capitalize on BC’s leading-edge research and competitive strengths in key knowledge industries will require unprecedented collaboration between government, post secondary institutions and industry. It will also require a province-wide effort to build a culture of science in BC to ensure the province has a critical mass of people with the knowledge and skills needed to support the knowledge-based economy.

Strategies
- Work in partnership with the Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development on the continued development and management of research and innovation policy and research-related investments.
- Support research and innovation through operating grants to post secondary institutions, targeted funding for graduate students, and through the BC Knowledge Development Fund, which supports investments in research infrastructure.
- Work with partners to advance a culture of science across BC.

But what does it mean?

In past years the government has set targets for increasing grad enrollment. They have also created, then expanded, then put on hold the BC Pacific Leaders scholarship program which funded graduate students. This doesn't indicate if there will be a shift to more or less, or maintenance of the same.

The Advanced Education ministry's service plan also mentions international student recruitment as a key goal for BC, with Goal 3 to make BC a "global destination of choice for students, skilled workers and entrepreneurs".

Increasing first nations participation is another key goal, but unfortunately no specific targets are given except to increase enrollment over previous years.

Supporting research universities is also given as part of a plan to increase the knowledge economy in BC. They specifically mention supporting research in key labour market areas as well, and medicine gets a particular nod with a goal to increase the number of doctors. This sort of thing makes universities nervous. Traditionally universities have been arms length--receiving government funds, but able to allocate to areas of research and education as they choose. Recently past couple years, the ministry created quite a stir by adding "Letters of Expectation" to their funding letters, with the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia arguing the letters violated the University Act. The ministry seems to be addressing this fear in particular with Minister Stillwell's introduction:

We want our public universities to have the independence and flexibility needed for them to pursue their unique areas of excellence in partnership with others, and in a way that provides better services for students. Working closely with our institutions, we will be exploring ways for them to unleash their creativity and thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

You can read the full BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Management Development March 2010 service plan here.

BC 2010 budget -- increases for universities and post secondary

2010-03-02T19:04:00.001-08:00

From CBC budget review...

"Education: $228 million over three years to boost post-secondary education, including $165 million to increase access to educational opportunities at universities, colleges and other institutions; $40 million to expand education in the health-care sector; $23 million to boost the number of doctors trained in B.C.; and $16 million for assisting immigrants to achieve professional qualifications."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/02/17/bc-deficit-budget-highlights.html#ixzz0h4xX2v38

We'll be digging through the details in the next few days.

GSS wins tuition rebate for students

2010-02-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

A recent campaign on behalf of members in EPLS has been successful--with second year students in the counselling program obtaining a rebate of a $350 per term fee implemented September 2009 by UVIC.

The GSS had raised concerns about the fee, but was told it was not tuition. As a result, the GSS Executive decided to send a formal complaint about the fee to the Ministry of Advanced Education, which is responsible for BC's tuition limit policy.

The university argued that the counselling program constituted a new program, thus the new fee being admissable under the tuition limit policy. As a result we successfully argued that second year studetns could not be charged the fee as they are covered by the university calendar regulations in the year they began their degree. UVIC agreed and refunded the students.

However, the complaint to the ministry regarding the fee for new students is outstanding.

Grad School in Pop Culture

2009-12-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

Aside from PhD Comics, and bit parts (like two episodes of the Simpson (here and here) and references to the grad work of the depressed uncle played by Steve Carrell in Little Miss Sunshine) how often does grad school make its way into the plot of popular (or even unpopular) culture? There are zillions of films about undergrads, of course--including Canada's highest grossing film ever, btw.

If you are starved to see your life as a grad student represented on the screen, you may wish to catch the latest episode of Being Erica which features Erica travelling back in time to grad school and a remembered confrontation with her supervisor. Yike!

A recent article on blueavocado.org about the lack of pop culture references to non profits (or at least the lack or realistic ones) got me thinking... where are the grad students in pop culture?
We certainly have an abundance of lawyer shows and doctor shows, and oh yes, detectives. Why not charities, or jobs like mine, working in a non profit--the GSS. Better yet, why not a show in a student union for grad students!

Queens, athletics and cut backs

2009-12-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Hat tip to Dan for this link, regarding another athletics facility partially funded by student levy, and in this case the deficit and budget cuts that followed when the rest of the funding wasn't secured...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/queens-principal-to-do-less-with-less/article1399045/

Ryerson students athletics increase

2009-12-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

$126/year increase for student athletics fees at Ryerson was approved by student ballot. Fees are curently about $20.98 for graduates -- and a per credit fee up to max $30/term for undergrads--so students will now pay ... less than UVIC grad students pay for athletics per term (or the same as undergraduates now pay at UVIC) but get Maddison Square Gardens as their athletics facility...

Hmm.

The Canadian Federation of Students' AGM: A reformer's perspective | rabble.ca

2009-12-01T00:11:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Federation of Students' AGM: A reformer's perspective | rabble.ca

Rabble has picked up the debate regarding the CFS. I am surprised how long it would take for the debates among student activists to become significant in the broader left.

This is one of the rare thoughtful articles--yes, on the left it has to be about ends and means.

I wasn't at the meeting, so my response is based on past experiences not the 2009 meeting.

Graduate Students join massive strikes at U California

2009-11-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

Graduate students joined staff unions and undergraduates in a state wide strike protesting plans to drastically increase tuition in the face of cuts to university funding in the state.

Graduate students are facing a wide range of possible fee increases, including increases of a whopping 64% for some programs, in a move which violates a university policy to keep the grad tuition in line with other schools.

Undergraduate tuition is slated to increase 32% across the baord.

Meanwhile, senior adminsitrators apparently voted themselves a raise at the same time, while cutting wages or laying off staff and non-tenure professors.

Callout to graduate students at UC Berkeley is here.

The website of the strike is:
http://ucsolidarity.org/

A fascinating interview with Bob Samuels, president of the University of California, American Federation of Teachers (author of the blog Changing Universities) and Zen Dochterman, UCLA grad student taking, was on Democracy Now on November 20, and the interviewees provide some interesting analysis of the privatization of the university and how funding is allocated.

Martlet Story: GSS responds to athletics referendum

2009-11-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

Amy Cox and Mike Large have been busy ensuring grad students are heard on the referendum campaign with two recent op eds in the Martlet.

Newest is here:
http://www.martlet.ca/article/20376-gss-disappointed-with-referendum-information

My fave comment is "Why is the GSS so well run?" Thanks, "argh", it's because we have people like Amy and Mike!!

Stand up for quality childcare at UVIC

2009-10-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

Like many graduate students, I'm a parent with a 9 year old in childcare. My son was lucky enough to be enrolled in UVIC's childcare--he has been at UVIC childcare since he was 16 months, and I believe the program is great.

All UVIC parents have friends (or have been ourselves) on long waitlists (2-3 years even!) to get in and know UVIC childcare needs to expand.

The UVIC Childcare Action group has been working to bring this issue to the attention of the university. I’m happy to report that our campaign has succeeded in its goal of gaining the attention of the administration, and of bringing awareness to the importance of the childcare crisis faced by UVIC students, faculty and staff. I work for the Graduate Students' Society and we have been active in this groups. We know childcare is a significant issue for our members.

However, we now face a new situation. In its response to our campaign and the need for more childcare, the Board of Governors is seriously considering engaging a private childcare corporation, Kids & Company. For a very low “membership” fee, Kids & Company asserts that they will set up childcare facilities to meet UVic’s demand. However, parents and early childhood specialists alike are raising the warning bell about privatized childcare. Without wanting to demonize Kids & Co. in particular, we can say that for-profit childcare must, necessarily, cut corners to make a profit, and that this inevitably means lower-quality care despite higher fees.

Large private facilities pay lower wages than not-for-profit organizations like UVic Childcare, which results in high staff turnover (not good for children). They also meet only the minimum provincial standards in both caregiver-to-child ratios as well as staff qualifications; in both these areas, UVic Childcare exceeds the standards. Kids & Company has not yet gained a foothold in B.C., but they have established centres in Calgary, Toronto, Waterloo and Halifax.

While information regarding the company’s performance is not easy to obtain, we have heard some disturbing stories from parents, and two incidents in which Kids&Co centres had their licenses put in jeopardy – once for mould and sewer drain issues (Toronto) and once for accidentally leaving a toddler behind in the building during a fire-drill (Calgary). While Kids&Co has not been operational for long enough to gain perspective on their success, the example of an analogous big-box chain, ABC Childcare in Australia, which expanded rapidly and experienced multiple problems with staffing and quality before going bankrupt, suggests that we may want to be wary of inviting privatized childcare to solve our problems.The Board of Governors is currently gathering information from Kids&Company about the nature of the services they would provide, and they are hoping to make a decision at their meeting on November 27th. In preparation for this meeting, the UCAG has been working to substantiate concerns about privatized childcare with evidence of potential problems.
In addition, we have clarified our objective: faculty members need quality childcare in order to allow them to do their jobs properly, not just any childcare.In support of this objective, we are asking that if you have not yet written a letter in support of our campaign – and we do understand, we’re all busy! – that you do so now, and that you stress that you believe that quality childcare is essential to the success of faculty members who are parents of young children.

***Letters must be sent by November 9 to be included in the Board of Governors agenda.***

Many of us have had – or know of someone who has had – experience with less-than-ideal childcare, and we understand that it is difficult to be productive when you’re uncomfortable with the environment in which you have left your child. We’re concerned that if Kids & Company supplies childcare services to UVic, it may create problems for parents at the same time as it solves them. Thank-you for taking the time to write a letter in support of our campaign.

You’ll find a letter template below; please add your personal perspective or experience, if you wish, and email it to Ray Protti usec3@uvic.ca; David Turpin dturpin@uvic.ca; and cc it to lsmarks@uvic.ca; provost@uvic.ca; and jdunsdon@uvic.ca.

If you are a graduate student, I would appreciate it if you cc the GSS on your letter and let us know if you are willing to have us publish it on the GSS website.

You can email me at gssmgr@uvic.ca.
Yours sincerely,
Stacy Chappel
University of Victoria Graduate Students' Society
University Childcare Action Group

SAMPLE LETTER FOLLOWS

To: Mr. Ray Protti, Chair, Board of Governors and Dr. David Turpin, President, University of Victoria dturpin@uvic.ca
Re: Childcare expansion
Dear Mr. Protti and Dr. Turpin:

I am writing to respectfully ask that you work towards immediate expansion of the UVic childcare system. The current situation is not working for UVic parents.

Through contact and discussion with other concerned parents, I have increasingly come to realize that my situation is far from unique. The UVic childcare is rated among the best in Victoria, but its waitlist times are are extremely long (over two years for students and averaging four to five years for staff and faculty).

This has caused serious hardship for UVic students, staff, and faculty. Impacts on productivity, retention, and recruitment are significant, and growing. This is reflected in the recent departure of a promising young faculty member, Dr. Katrin Meissner, who left UVic because she could not find care for her child.

Recent UVic initiatives to develop a home-based childcare network and part-time childcare in Center 6 are welcome and encouraged. However, these initiatives will not provide sufficient care to meet the demand, and will provide few permanent, full time spaces. This problem could be solved by expanding the UVic group childcare, to provide additional spaces without compromising the quality of the care.

Additional space is particularly needed for the infant and toddler age groups, where few facilities are available in the community, and waitlist times are particularly long. Recruitment, retention, and accessibility are strategic initiatives for UVic. These goals are currently threatened by limited access to high-quality childcare on campus and in the community.

Faculty and staff who cannot find childcare they are satisfied with are forced to either quit, reduce their work to part time, or struggle with multiple demands, resulting in greatly reduced productivity. Parent students without childcare are unable to access higher education.Given that the UVic childcare system is among the best in Victoria, significant expansion of this system is the best solution to the childcare crisis. I hope you will work together with the students, staff, and faculty towards this goal.

Thank you for your kind consideration.
Sincerely,

It’s your call: One click could save you $55 per term in athletics fees

2009-10-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

Should students pay for a new athletic facility with a “new” $55/term fee (in addition to the current $73/term fee)?

You will be asked to vote on this question October 19-23, 2009 on webvote at https://webvote.uvic.ca

The Graduate Students’ Society is opposed to this fee increase. Here are some of our reasons:

Is this fee increase legal?

The GSS is concerned that the fee increase is not permitted under BC’s tuition limit policy, which caps increases of tuition and fees for current programs at 2% per year. This new fee will be a 75% fee increase for students.

The GSS has sent UVic a letter (PDF) asking UVIC to account for this, and will post any reply we receive on our campaign site here: http://gss.uvic.ca/2009athletics.htm

Who uses and who pays?

In the January 2009 term alone, contribution by students to the Athletics and Recreation budget was $1,082,939.00—without including additional fees paid by students for intramural, weight room, and program fees.

According to UVIC data for January – March 2009, which assumes average usage of 1-3 visits per week, about 30% of undergraduates and 8% of graduate students are using the Ian Stewart Complex (the most popular recreation facility on campus).

Athletics fees: the goal posts keep moving!

Until UVIC purchased the Ian Stewart Complex (ISC), athletic fees increased at a rate almost identical to inflation. Since the purchase of ISC, students have been paying a greater proportion of the cost for Athletics at UVIC each year. In the past decade, the proportion of the Athletics budget covered by student fees has risen from 20% to 38%.

Mandatory fees can be a benefit—if they are less than market rate

Compare this fee proposal to the U-pass... the U-pass costs one quarter the cost of buying a monthly buss pass. Every student pays in, but the cost is kept lower than market rate. In return, transit improves bus service to Victoria campuses.

Now compare the proposed athletics fee proposal to other recreation passes in Victoria *:

No. of terms	Current fee	New fee
One term	$73	$128
Two Terms	$146	$256
Three Terms	$219	$320*
COMPARE
Sannich Rec student pass	285/year
Oak Bay Rec annual pass	$345/year
YM-YWCA pass - family pass	$444/year $780/year

* graduate students will have the option to opt out of the summer term; summer term will be charged at 50%. 60% of graduate students and 20% of undergraduates pay 3 terms of fees per year.

What are the other options?

UVIC says mandatory student fees need to cover 36.7% of the cost of the building—but what are other options? UVIC’s consultation process suggested selling the Ian Stewart Complex as one revenue source. Other options include bigger donor campaigns, a stronger lobby for government support.

UVIC’s facility analysis indicates UVIC will seek to cover costs of the building with the following revenues:

1. New students Mandatory Fee

2. Program revenues

3. Donors

4. Government funding

5. UVIC contribution

What are the arguments in favour of the fee increase?

UVIC made a presentation to the GSS Grad Council about the proposal. It can be found here.

UVIC’s facility analysis (500 pages) can be found here.

UVIC’s/vikes website supporting the fee increase is here

Student facebook group in support of the fee increase is found on the vikes website here

Visit open houses

Help the campaign

Visit the GSS campaign site, download a poster, learn more: all here

GSS Event bulletin October 2, 2009

2009-10-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

UPDATE - looking for our current UVIC GSS events notices? visit them here:
http://gss.uvic.ca/events

---------

Ok ... back to the original post, below:

GSS Victory on representation
Wine Club Tickets on Sale for Oct. 7th @ 5PM
Open Mic Night Oct. 8 @ 7PM
Wednesday Morning Coffee at the Grad House
Know Your Rights & Responsibilities – An Interactive Workshop on Understanding Discrimination & Harassment (For Students)
Writing Wednesdays for Graduate Students
Longer Writing Centre Hours
Graduate Student Fellowships
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Submit an item

1 GSS Victory on representation
Last year the GSS campaigned for increased representation for graduate students at UVIC. On Friday, October 2, the GSS won a major victory when the Senate voted in favour of increasing graduate student Senate seats from 1 seat to 3. Congratulations to everyone who helped on the campaign.

2 Wine Club Tickets on Sale for Oct. 7th @ 5PMThe Grad House Restaurant’s Chef Alan King-Jones has selected four great wines and paired them with amazing appetizers for this years’ inaugural Wine Club. Tickets are $12 for graduate students and $15 for guests, and are available in the GSS office. Tickets on sale to October 5th only.

3 Open Mic Night Oct. 8 @ 7PM
Come join in the fun! Hosted by Miles Waghray, we provide the electric piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and a hand drum. You provide the talent.

4 Wednesday Morning Coffee at the Grad House
Come get free coffee and tea with other grad students in the David Clode room at the Graduate Students’ Centre, across from the main office. 9 - 19:30 am

5 Know Your Rights & Responsibilities – An Interactive Workshop on Understanding Discrimination & Harassment (For Students)

Tuesday October 6, 1:00 – 2:30pm

Sedgewick Building Wing C (Room C-168)

Through interactive activities and group discussions participants will:

Understand the legal and practical definitions of Discrimination and Harassment
Learn how to identify Discrimination and Harassment
Develop some positive ways of approaching and managing conflict
Understand what Policies and Practices UVic has in place to promote a campus free of Discrimination and Harassment
Understand Your Rights and Responsibilities are around matters of Discrimination and Harassment and How You can Encourage A Welcoming and Inclusive campus Environment …

We can accept a maximum of 20 participants.

Please contact Bette Cameron in the Equity & Human Rights Office to RSVP: 250.721.8488

6 Writing Wednesdays for Graduate Students(Hosted by Student Transition Services and Graduate Students’ Society)
Looking for a great study space on campus?Seeking motivation to complete essays or your thesis/dissertation?Interested in connecting with graduate students in a similar state of mind?Drop by the Student Transition Centre, located in the basement of the Student Union Building, room B010 every Wednesday between 10:30am and 2:00pm. It’s a relaxed friendly atmosphere with free coffee, tea, use of kitchenette and a quiet structured working space. Starts October 7th 2009 – You don’t want to miss it!

7 Longer Writing Centre Hours
The Writing Centre (TWC) is now open longer and in two locations! You can find us in the McPherson Library Learning Commons Mondays through Fridays, 10am-4pm, and Wednesday evenings, 4pm-7pm. As well, we offer a drop-in service on Tuesdays 4-7pm and Saturdays 1-4pm in the Campus View Room in the Cadboro Commons Building. Everyone welcome! We can help you with award applications, proposal writing, and course papers. We can also help you get your thesis or dissertation in better shape. Our current roster of tutors are from the departments of English, Law, Linguistics, Math, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Political Science, and History in Art. You can book an appointment at http://www.rich36.com/uvic/.

We’re looking forward to helping you become a more effective and efficient writer!

8 Graduate Student Fellowships: BC Institute for Co-operative Studies
The BC Institute for Co-operative Studies at the University of Victoria invites applications from University of Victoria graduate students for fellowships of up to 12 months' duration during the 2010/11 academic year, beginning September 1, 2010.The purpose of the fellowship is to provide graduate students working on research projects related to co-operative and community-based economy with financial support, suitable space and a stimulating environment conducive to writing and reflection.The Institute welcomes applications from all disciplinary backgrounds for projects that promote the scholarly study of subjects related to co-operative and community-based economic arrangements. 'Co-operative and community-based economy' is taken to refer to collective undertakings, not necessarily co-operatives:* aimed at providing the needs and wants of some community or group, where any profits are a means of supplying those needs and wants,* managed autonomously and by democratic processes, and* in which persons and their participation are given priority over capital in the distribution of any surplus.

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Thinking of running for grad council?

2009-09-09T09:34:00.001-07:00

Hey grad students ! Why not run for grad council as your departmental graduate representative to the GSS?

Info here:

http://gss.uvic.ca/#GRCelection

BC September 2009 budget update and graduate students

2009-09-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

BC's September budget update makes little mention of graduate school, graduate students or research, although graduate studies is briefly mentioned as one targeted area of expansion in the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour service plan.

Capital spending is discussed in the budget speech, with $500 million for capital expansion on campuses--$86.4 million is going to UBC's pharmaceutical research facility--which is a drug commercialization facility. The ministry must disclose projects over $50 million, sp presumably the rest of the capital spending falls under that amount. Other major projects mentioned focus on environmental technologies or research, including Okanagan College's Centre for Green Building Technologies ($27.6 million), Energy House project at Northern Lights College ($7.8 million) and 21 million for UNBC's project involving turning waste wood into energy. Indeed, the investment in research and development mentioned in the budget speech is in green energy.

The Ministry's service plan shows an increase in funds directed to post-secondary institutions (5% increase). Bear in mind there is a 2% price index increase over last year, and UVIC is slated to have a 14% increase in graduate enrollement this year. Meanhile there's a 15% cut back to Student Aid BC--this is for ministry spending so whether this will result in cuts to bursaries, and exactly how this will be handled, is not yet clear. But earlier this year, the Pacific Leaders graduate funding was put on hold, and other student support focussed on helping disabled students, nursing students and those needing loan forgiveness was quietly cut in July (see Vancouver Sun article).

Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Development service plan

http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2009_Sept_Update/sp/pdf/ministry/almd.pdf

Budget speech

http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2009_Sept_Update/speech/Budget%20Speech_Sept_2009.pdf

Grad Students and self funding

2009-09-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

I always find it fascinating and impressive to see how graduate students manage to do so much while in school.

For instance, Nursing grad student Pasquale Fiore teaches nursing courses at Camosun and is a Reiki master... he also manages to keep up with artistic hobbies. Today he showed me he art cards today--they are on sale at the UVIC bookstore and feature Victoria and BC lanscapes and scenes.

you can see his work here on a sight dedicated to creative work by nurses--so it seems he is not alone among his colleagues in creating art work!

I asked him how he manages to pursue a graduate degree, his SSHRC research, teaching and his art projects, and he says, "With a very good iPhone. It beeps and tells me what to do!"

So next time you need to send mom a card, check out Pasquale's cards at UVic bookstore!

SFSS-CFS dispute must be resolved in full trial

2009-08-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Those who were involved in the referendum in which the GSS left the Canadian Federation of Students have been watching the trial resulting from the Simon Fraser vote on the same issue with some interest. Simon Fraser students voted 66% in favour of leaving 2008, but the CFS contests the validity of the referendum. The SFSS tried to get a summary judgement (judgement without trial) affirming the vote was valid, but lost this month--not because they were wrong, but because the jude decided the issue needs a trial to be resolved. The judge's ruling makes for interesting read. And it seems not only SFSS will be paying (part of?) the CFS costs for the summary judgement proceedings but SFSS students are paying CFS fees with their tuition and it seems unclear what is happening to them. Is SFU holding them in trust until this is resolved?

The GSS referendum to leave the CFS (in which our members voted to leave) has not been contested. GSS members voted 57% in favour of leaving the CFS.

Bike Kitchen cooking up near you

2009-08-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

UVIC is doing well by their cyclists, I must say.

In the past year, cycling commuter showers have been included in every new building.

The Spokes bicycle program helps students who have just arrived get a bike for a year-- free! And Spokes also lets you rent bikes for visiting family and friends (oh, and visiting scholars too!) at dirt cheap prices.

There are even charging stations for those with electric batteries on their bikes.

And now, lucky me, right outside the Grad Centre, UVIC plans to install a "Bike Kitchen". Four stands to fix your bike, and tools and compressed air all right there for you. For students, a bike is a great way to get around. Minor repairs are much easier with a stand, but investing in that sort of equipment is out of reach. A bike kitchen is a fantastic bonus for all the cyclists on campus. The Bicycle User Committee intends to use it as a meet-up spot for rides as well.

Kudos to all involved in this project, and to the Bicycle Users Committee for all their work improving UVIC for cyclists.

So many ways to tandem

2009-08-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

I was trying to figure out a way to include this on the grad student blog, but I can't--except it qualifies as thesis distraction. Or perhaps there are some interesting kinesiology or physics questions that arise..

Anyway, as mentioned, I do love a tandem bike, so here are some interesting variations on the theme!

Back to back

three wheeler

what the hell? wild rowing machine tandem...with disco soundtrack and 1950's (norwgian?) documentary voice commentator that reminds me of my grade 10 PE teacher...

I want this one:

This one is great--hand crank and cycle tendem combo--called the "handem tandem" !

Couldn't get it to embed, but it is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whD86tuujxE

Perhaps a new project for the grad house... the beer bike (10 riders, two bartenders!)

And finally, a side by side sitting up

SSHRC campaign presents 17,000 signatures to the house of commons

2009-07-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

I just received this email from the campaign to stop the changes to SSHRC. Congratulations to the organizers of this campaign.

-----------------

Hello, Thank you for being one of more than 17,000 people who have signed the written petition in opposition to the government's earmarking of Canada Graduate Scholarship funding within SSHRC.
Once we started our campaign against this earmarking, petitions flooded our office from every province and territory in Canada, as well as the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan.
It was an incredible response.
In this last legislative session, I had the honour of presenting this petition in the House of Commons on your behalf. Together, we have made a powerful statement in opposition to the government’s attack on the social sciences and humanities and its overall disregard for the fundamental principle of academic freedom.

(Featured: Arati Sharma and Rick Theis of CASA, Hon. Niki Ashton, and from CFS Graham Cox, Federico Carvajal and Gaétan-Philippe Beaulière)
We must continue to work together. The battle continues in the face of ongoing actions and interference of the Minister of Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear. In advance of the next budget, we will continue to make it clear that not only is discipline-related earmarking unacceptable but that social sciences and humanities research in Canada is vital. The contributions made by students, researchers, academics and people working in the social sciences and humanities are integral to moving our country forward.
Thank you again for joining me, and the thousands of others who have spoken out in opposition to the actions of this Government.
I invite you to watch the embedded video link of my presentation to the House: https://mail.uvic.ca/owa/redir.aspx?C=856195e385fa4f9aaab6b65e26669bdb&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3d-ms6o_LlUc0
I look forward to staying in touch!
Niki

The Graduate Student's Society is no more

2009-07-03T14:09:00.001-07:00

Because we are now the Graduate Students' Society.

Hurrah for punctuation!

Tandem Heaven!

2009-07-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

As a tandem rider, I am excited the Northwest Tandem Rally is at UVIC this weekend. And I'm finding it hard to sit at my desk because from here I can see hundreds of tandems taking off for a lovely ride to Butchard Gardens!

I was especially jealous of this:

... the rare three-seater! I have heard rumours someone in town has a tandem big enough for my whole family, but have never seen one.

I wish I was out there too... look how friendly the tandem folk are:

Wait a minute, is that my old English teacher from high school?

Can't wait for the weekend!

Conference Board should have used Turnitin!

2009-05-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Conference Board of Canada should be using Turnitin to check their work, and to avoid this embarassing situation. Kind of a bummer to withdraw three reports that were proposing tougher copyright legislation due to "failing to meet research standards"--or "plagiarism" as Dr. Michael Geist bluntly puts it.

Michael Geist, who blew the lid off this story, is a University of Ottawa prof and a Canada Research Chair. He is a regular commentator on intellectual property issues in the digital age. Geist has been a critic of the direction copyright legislation in Canada is moving, and of the Conference Board report recommendations. But he went one further than his criticism of bias, and stated the Conference Board had plagiarized text from a lobby group in the US for their report! The lobby group promotes business interests in copyright legislation, making even cited use of the work questionable. Whoops! Or I suppose I should say, Gotcha!

Hmmm. How does UVIC define plagiarism? Yup, inadequate or missing citation of others' work meets UVic calendar's definition of plagiarism. Now, a student in this situation wouldn't get to withdraw three reports, but stubbornly stand by their "results". And students' work isn't likely to shape federal policy on copyright.

You may be wondering, what exactly is this Conference Board? Until now, I always thought they were some branch of Stats Canada and never really gave it a thought--I've heard them quoted as a source of information about Canada many times on CBC radio.

The Conference Board is actually non profit society, and is self described as independent (though linked to the Conference Board of New York), non-biased, and undertaking applied research.

But a look at who is in charge at the Conference Board gives a different sense. While their Board of Directors does include the President of one co-operative (the cooperators), that board member sits amongst the CEOs of Microsoft Canada, CGI, Merk, Debeers, and the Business Development Bank. Not a bad lineup for a business lobby--but questionable in an impartial research group. Give me the Chamber of Commerce any day.

Well, I say chalk one up for truly independent university researchers like Dr.Geist. As noted a few days ago, academia is under lots of pressure from business too, not to mention that shift in SSHRC grants toward funding business-focussed research. There is a reason universities need to be independent and publicly funded!

No doubt this is all fodder for gossip at Congress (of the Humanities). With Geist as a member of a keynote panel Friday night on copyright, this should make for a flivelu discussion! I propose Geist perform a rendition of Tom Lehrer's take on plagiarism, Lobachevsky, in honour of this schadenfreude-filled moment!!

Dental referendum vote today!

2009-05-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to vote in the GSS dental referendum this week!

Lots of information is posted here:

http://gss.uvic.ca/dentalreferendum.htm

but essentially the choice is to keep the current plan and pay $15 more per year (raising the plan fee to $200 per year) or to keep the current rate ($185) and reduce the maximum claim to $500. Right now the maximum claim per calendar year is $750.

The cost to add your family will likely be $205 per year if the increase goes through.

Begbie statue stolen

2009-05-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Someone stole the statue in the UVIC Law building. One evening last week, someone nabbed the bronze of BC's first judge, Matthew Begbie. The statue stood prominently in the entry of the Law building for many years. Known as the "hanging judge"--some say unjustly--Begbie has been the subject of much controversy over the years. The statue, which shows Begbie riding on a horse, was sawed off at the hooves and removed.

Honoring Begbie at UVIC has been the subject of much debate over the years--and the statue has been the subject of mild pranks. Until recently the UVIC Law building was also named for Begbie--now it is named for Fraser, UVIC's first law dean.

Given the controversy the Begbie statue has caused it would be easy to assume the theft is a student protest or prank, but Universities have been targets of art theives before. Notably the recent theft of Bill Reid's gorgeous gold carving work from UBC (now found, with some damage), and theives stealing bronze monuments for the melted-down value. The recently solved theft of a famous (and heavy!) Henry Moore bronze shows the thieves stole a multi-million dollar work of art to melt it down to earn a few thousand from the scrap. Apparently law enforcement can attend conferences on metal theft, and some areas even have metal theft specialists on their police force.

Corporate interference in academic journals

2009-05-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

A worrisome case from Australia--where a pharmaceutical company sponsored publication of an "academic" journal through a medical/scientific publisher, Elsevier for a fee.

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/print/55671/

hat tip to:
Therapeutics Initiative at UBC for the link: http://www.ti.ubc.ca/

The Terapeutics Initiative itself came under fire recently for refusing pharmaceutical influence:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2464479

punctuation plays part in first April Fool's newpaper prank

2009-04-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

This was sent to us due to the apostrophe catastrophe:

1977: The British newspaper The Guardian published a special seven-page supplement devoted to San Serriffe, a small republic said to consist of several semicolon-shaped islands located in the Indian Ocean. A series of articles affectionately described the geography and culture of this obscure nation. Its two main islands were named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse. Its capital was Bodoni, and its leader was General Pica.

The Guardian's phones rang all day as readers sought more information about the idyllic holiday spot. Only a few noticed that everything about the island was named after printer's terminology. The success of this hoax is widely credited with launching the enthusiasm for April Foolery that gripped the British tabloids in subsequent decades

Pacific Leadership Scholarship being cut?

2009-03-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

I heard the BC Advanced Education critic for (Rob Fleming, MLA) saying the Pacific Leaders graduate scholarship has been cut in the recent BC budget.

Please sign this petition to keep graduate student funding in BC!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/pacific-leaders-graduate-student-fellowships.html

Grad students respond to recent business only grad funding

2009-02-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

The letter, to Prime Minister Harper, was quoted in its entirety on rabble.ca:

The Federal Budget presented on January 27, 2009 contains a paragraph (page 106-7) laying out temporary increases in Graduate Scholarship Funding. The increases are welcome. However, the last sentence says that SSHRC scholarships "will be focused on business-related degrees."

This provision must be eliminated. It makes no sense to earmark scholarships for one discipline, rather than another. We need to allow students in all disciplines to further their learning opportunities, and excluding the majority from consideration for scholarships, limits our choices as a society that relies on new knowledge to prepare a better future.

Granting councils rely on peer review, and accord scholarships on the basis of merit, not on the basis of field of study. The main estimates are examined on a departmental basis by the appropriate standing committee, as set out in Article 81.(4) of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.

When SSHRC spending comes forward to be discussed, we urge parliamentarians to remove the condition that scholarships be focused on business-related degrees. Should this earmark provision not be withdrawn, the 22 Council members of the SSHRC should ignore the earmark, or resign in protest. The SSHRC president should undertake a public campaign to explain why earmarking is not an acceptable practice in graduate student funding.

We urge all professional associations to write the leaders of the opposition parties urging them to maintain the independence of funding for graduate students in all disciplines by having the House of Commons pronounce itself against earmarking scholarship money by discipline.

Setting aside for a time the controversial -- did business-related programs, such as financial economics and business administration produce the people who put us in the economic mess we are now in -- all University faculty, graduate students and administrators should make it clear to members of parliament that the directing of funds entrusted to granting councils is not the role of the government of the day.

Yours truly,

Frances Abele, Carleton University,
Greg Albo, York University,
Jessica Alina-Pisano, University of Ottawa,
Caroline Andrew, University of Ottawa,
Feyzi Baban, Trent University,
Manfred Bienefeld, Carleton University,
Neil Bradford, Huron University College,
Andrew Biro, Acadia University,
Paul Leduc Browne, Universite du Quebec en Outaouais,
Doris Buss, Carleton University,
Duncan Cameron, Simon Fraser University,
Bill Carroll, University of Victoria,
John Paul C. Catungal, University of Toronto,
Ken Collier, Athabasca University,
Amrita Daniere, University of Toronto,
Serge Denis, University of Ottawa,
Matthew Farish, University of Toronto,
Christina Gabriel, Carleton University,
Emily Gilbert, University of Toronto,
Kanishka Goonewardena, University of Toronto,
Sneja Gunew, University of British Columbia,
Matt James, University of Victoria,
Dimitrios Karmis, University of Ottawa,
Roger Keil, York University,
Fuyuki Kurasawa, York University,
Charmain Levy, Universite du Quebec en Outaouais,
Fiona Mackenzie, Carleton University,
Stephen McBride, Simon Fraser University,
Rianne Mahon, Carleton University,
Dominique Masson, University of Ottawa,
Margie Mendell, Concordia University,
Lisa Mills, Carleton University,
Amina Mire, Carleton University,
Douglas Moggach, University of Ottawa,
Joshua Mostow, University of British Columbia,
Carlos Novas, Carleton University,
Leo Panitch, York University,
Martin Papillon, University of Ottawa,
Kate Parizeau, University of Toronto,
William Ramp, University of Lethbridge,
Katharine N. Rankin, University of Toronto,
Francois Rocher, University of Ottawa,
Cristina Rojas, Carleton University,
Stephanie Ross, York University,
Blair Rutherford, Carleton University,
John S. Saul, York University,
Mario Seccareccia, University of Ottawa,
Byron Sheldrick, University of Guelph,
John Shields, Ryerson University,
Amy Siciliano, University of Toronto,
Janet Siltanen, Carleton University,
Louis Simard, University of Ottawa,
Martin Skowronski, University of Toronto,
Malinda S. Smith, University of Alberta,
Donald Swartz, Carleton University,
Sunera Thobani, University of British Columbia,
Sarah Todd, Carleton University,
Wiliam Walters, Carleton University,
Rosemary Warskett, Carleton University,
Mel Watkins, Simon Fraser University.

See ya, Joe, and thanks!

2009-01-28T09:42:00.001-08:00

GSS director of Communications Joe Kolthammer has stepped down. The Grad Council passed a motion to thank him for all his hard work, and I want to add my personal thanks.

Joe was first elected in Spring 2007 and worked tirelessly producing four issues of the source, largely without any assistance. To give you a sense of the immensity of this, the magazine to be managed by a part time staff person. However, Joe managed to pull off high quality work with limited resources.

Joe also led the GSS referendum campaign to leave the CFS, and prior to the referendum gave many (frustrating) hours to that dispute. What could have been largely unpleasant was fun because of working with Joe.

This year, Joe didn't stand for re-election. However, when no one stood for the position, he accepted nomination from the floor of the March 2008 SGM and undertook to revamp how the Director of Communications position works--partly with an eye to making it more do-able for a grad student with other full time commitments. Joe also knew that due to the enormous shift in communications, and the work required in producing a magazine, it was time to rethink how we managed our publication and communication strategy.

All this was an enormous amount of work, and I will miss Joe's contribution to the GSS.

Most of all, though, I will miss having Joe around: his always hilarious (but rarely sent) letters to the Martlet, his old green cardigan, and making me laugh (and increasing my vocabulary) with every visit. Oh! And wearing my son's crazy bird costume!

Hopefully all that won't have to change (except maybe the bird costume... that might not bear repeating!).

Ok, maybe once...

Here's to the kudzu of anarchy!

Stacy

CUPE 4163 Supports York University Workers' Right to Bargain

2009-01-27T22:32:00.000-08:00

CUPE 4163 Supports York University Workers' Right to Bargain -
Calls Proposed Back-to-Work Legislation an Attack on Workers' Rights
Victoria, B.C.

At this moment the government of Ontario is taking steps to pass
back-to-work legislation aimed at undercutting the rights of workers,
ordering the members of CUPE 3903 to return to work and refusing them the
right to bargain. The members of CUPE 4163 stand by these workers in calling
on the government of Ontario to allow the constitutionally protected
tradition of collective bargaining to continue, and to instead require the
administration of York University to return to the bargaining table in good
faith.
We live in a time of economic uncertainty. As belts tighten, corporations
and governments are looking for ways to save money, to cut corners, and to
trim costs. We must resist the urge to let them do so over the bodies of
workers and that is exactly what this legislation supports. By undercutting
the rights of these workers to utilize their only tool of negotiation, that
of withholding their labour power in the absence of a just contract, this
back-to-work legislation threatens all workers.

The argument is being made that it is the rights of students which should be
thought of in this case. Students have been out of the classroom for 77
days, and the Ontario government is arguing that they must not be made to
pay the price of this conflict. This is obviously true, yet if the
university administration was truly concerned with the rights of students,
why is it that this administration couldn't be bothered to negotiate with
the union for 65 days out of that 77 day span, meeting on only 12 occasions?
The best interests of students must indeed be held foremost by all parties,
but to return them to classes without a resolution is not in their interests
at all. The fact that this resolution does not place students first is
further reinforced by the reality that graduate student TAs, who are also
being prevented from attending class as a result of this strike, voted
almost 2 to 1 to support the union in continuing this action in the absence
of a just offer.

The truth of the matter is that there is a growing crisis in our university
system. We face what has been described as an attempt to introduce the
policies of Walmart to our system of higher education. Each year, a larger
proportion of the teaching and research at universities is undertaken by
workers who are given little pay, and even less security. These contract
faculty do not know, from one term to the next, whether or not they will
even be teaching. This situation is not in the interest of these workers,
and it is certainly not in the interest of students.

It is this crisis which is at the heart of the struggle at York, and it is
an issue which back-to-work legislation will attempt to force out of sight,
and out of mind. For the sake of the workers and students currently at York,
and for the sake of future workers and students at universities across this
country, this crisis needs to be addressed. It needs to be addressed through
the system of collective bargaining, a system which the Supreme Court of
Canada has ruled is a constitutionally protected practice, in a ruling which
came in response to the last attempt, here in BC, by a provincial government
to enforce back-to-work legislation.

This attack on workers' right to bargain must be fought. If this
back-to-work legislation is allowed to pass unchallenged, it will have
far-reaching consequences for all workers. The university's knowledge that
they may have final recourse to back-to-work legislation in the face of
determined workers allows them to avoid negotiating entirely, and simply
wait for an imposed settlement. We stand in solidarity with CUPE 3903 in
opposing this tactic, and call for the administration of York University to
return to the bargaining table in good faith.

__________________________________

Educational Employees Union, CUPE 4163
University of Victoria
Technology Enterprise Facility, room 217
Box 1700, Stn. CSC
Victoria, BC
V8W 2Y2
Phone: (250) 472-4778; Fax: (250) 472-4806
http://www.cupe4163.ca

Golden Age of Schadenfreude!

2009-01-18T22:54:00.000-08:00

I didn't even need to read the story on the tyee to know it *must* be linked here. Golden Age of Schadenfreude? Hello!

Here are some other favourite schadenfreude links:

Schadenfraude pie recipe and photo essay. Yum!

The wikipedia entry on shadenfreude includes comparible words in other languages (than German).... but really is there a perfect translation for schadenfreude?

the musical avenue q (starring the muppets) even has a song about schadenfreude. However, you may know it for another popular ditty. Who knew it was muppets singing that!! (Pic from official site)

Finally, my tandem is known (to my son and I) as the Schadenfreude blue wheeler. And indeed, I feel schadenfreude for you as I zip past and you are not on a tandem. That's blue. And has wheels.

Apostrophe on apostrophe

2009-01-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

20 year old typo causes bureaucratic diversions

Every year I prepare the legal filings of our Annual General Meeting. This includes Form 11, which details any changes to our bylaws.

In October, the GSS passed several bylaw changes and I dutifully submitted them using the reuired Form 11. Following the procedure requested by the registrar in past years, I simply attached a copy of the new bylaws and sent them in with a note on the form asking them to replace the old bylaws with the new.

Today I received notice the bylaw changes are being "held on file" until I correct them because, as noted in the comments, "Name must be exactly as registered: Student's Society".

Apparently our founding board couldn't use an apostrophe correctly (what would Lynne Truss say?) and the GSS founding documents thus list us as the University of Victoria Graduate Student's Society. Or perhaps there really was only one graduate student back in the 80s when we were incorporated as a society.

Perhaps I should file a complaint about the GSS on this blog. It seems we are doomed to a legally required error... what is a person to do when government demands you maintain a typo to keep your bylaws legal? Perhaps call a special AGM simply to remove the errant punctuation? (Imagine the debate...it would rival the infamous Ince/Pollock semicolon battle of March 20;06!).

So there you have it, dear imaginary reader, my apostrophe on the errant apostrophe and the resulting form filing catastrophe.

Spotted

2008-12-17T10:53:00.000-08:00

Former GSS director of finance at the York sit in.

Oh, Hussey, you radical!

Gingerbread folks!

2008-12-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

These gingerbread folks are made possible by history grad students! (Because one of them gave me some supplies from their gingerbread decorating party so I could do some with my son). Any suggestion for names?

Bird on holiday

2008-12-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

I know grad students never really get holidays, but bird is taking a tropical vacation none the less. He promises to submit a draft on Dec 26. Ginger Punk is taking over for the rest of the year.

McGill's Thomson House struggling

2008-12-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

McGill's famous (at least to me) Thomson house is having financial difficulty and is restructuring, according to an article in the McGill Daily.

For those not familiar, Thomson House is the grad centre for McGill, a lovely old Montreal home converted into a luxurious private club for grad students.

As an undergrad I used to gain entry by getting "signed in" as a guest of my friend, a fellow QPIRG staffer doing her MA at McGill.

I look back nostalgically on the beautiful wainscotting, small cozy rooms, the gorgeous ball room upstairs (used for dances and movie screenings) and the dingy basement caf ($3.99 dinner! -- ok it was prego pasta sauce on spaghetti), and in truth it is my dream to bring more of that cozy, club like, atmosphere to the Halpern Centre. Without the Prego on spaghetti or sign in sheet.

We have achieved some of this in our renovation by making the smaller "David Clode Room" a grad student hangout centred around the fireplace, and we are currently purchasing some new furnishing (booths!) for the large room in the restaurant. Also, we finally have some art back on the walls after many trips to the Maltwood where their patient staff let us comb through their offerings looking for just the right thing.

Today, I am fascinated by the story because I, too, deal with housing a restaurant within a grad students' non profit, and trying to find the best way to structure everything to make sure its not too expensive, it feels like grad students' own space, and we don't lose a ton of money! The world is not designed for businesses who aim to make things both high quality at a low cost for members, and running a bar is a risk for anyone, not less for a non profit student government. Those who attend our AGM's have heard me and executive members speak about the tough times we had a few years ago, and also know we have managed to rebuild financially, although we are always nervously watching the books... but I have no doubt McGill's PGSS will rebuild as well--Thomson house is too good to lose!--and I wish them luck with all the work ahead!

Representation Campaign Victories

2008-12-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

The GSS is currently campaigning to guarantee representation for graduate students in departmental meetings. Grad students in Sociology lost their long standing right to voice and vote in department meetings last summer. Philosophy students are similarly fighting to maintain their full rights, having been reduced from full representative status to attending the beginning of the meeting and speaking to items in the previous minutes.

Read the Grad Rep Council motion in support of graduate student representation here.

Come to the GSS and sign the letter to support grad students in philosophy who are fighting to save their seat at the table!

CAMPAIGN NEWS

History in Art grad students have won a guarantee of representation in their department--including voice and vote.
Physics & Astronomy grad students have increased their representation to include a grad student from each discipline at the table.
Changes to Senate elections policy have been won. Previsouly, although no policy precluded their candidacy, graduate students had been refused the right to run as the senator from their home faculty and had been directed to run for the sole Faculty of Graduate Studies seat. Due to lobbying by the GSS the interpretation of the rules has changed and graduate students can now run for all student seats on the Senate.

Sustainable UVIC

2008-11-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

Consultation on the UVIC Campus Sustainability Policy and Action Plan is ongoing. You can read the draft and submit your input here.

Update on York TA's strike

2008-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

Getting a reputation as one of the most active and determined campus unions, or any canadian union for that matter, is York's TA union.

Check out this article on their strike.

http://wsws.org/articles/2008/nov2008/york-n15.shtml

Support fellow grad students family in fun online auction!

2008-11-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Hi All, Some of you might now Jill through the Sociology department, others may not but might be interested in some of the items up for auction. Feel free to pass this along to anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

~Beth -----------------------

One of our valued and respected colleagues at BC Stats is facing significant challenges. Last July, Jill Adams' husband, Roger Stephen, fell 35 feet while climbing with friends at Pitt Lake, north of Vancouver. The fall severed his spinal cord and as a result, Roger lives with a permanent spinal cord injury. Over the past fives months, Roger has been bravely and pragmatically working hard towards a full and active life in a wheel chair. Jill and Roger are also facing huge challenges with their home they bought two years ago. They have a home he can't get into, a bedroom he can't maneuver in and a bathroom he can't use. Unfortunately, there are not many resources they are eligible for to help with costs of renovating and insurance is not available. As the months continue to pass since the accident, accessibility continues to be a challenge:

http://www.fernwoodneighbourhood.ca/pdfs/villagevibe_november2008.pdf.

We have decided to host a fundraising event to help ensure they can have a home that is wheel chair accessible, safe and comfortable. There have been many little elves and angels working around the clock to bring you the Roger Stephen Auction. Many businesses and artists in Victoria, BC and beyond have generously donated a wide array of auction items.
We invite you to participate in the online auction and have a wonderful shopping experience as it is just in time for the holiday season. To access the website and view the items up for bid, click on the link below:http://1-2-move.net/browse.php?id=176 .

Online bidding is easy. Here are the steps to place a bid:

(1) Register on the website by completing and submitting the registration form.

(2) Wait for a confirmation email. (Confirmation ususally takes about 30 minutes. The web site and the URL have been donated to us for this purpose, so thank-you for your patience.)

(3) Shop for you or someone special in your life (or both!). When you see an item of interest, place a bid. Once you have placed a bid, keep an eye on the action.

You have until Monday, November 24 to place that winning bid!
All proceeds from winning bids will go to accessibility renovations. If you don't wish to bid on items (or have lost your bid), but still would like to contribute or have any questions, email Kris Ovens directly at kris.ovens@gov.bc.ca. Unfortunately, as this is not a registered charity there are no tax receipts.
Thank you for your support and generosity. And please pass this email on to anyone you think may enjoy shopping this way. If you would like to pass this along to people who do not online access, and/or would like to see the descriptions/lists for each item up for bid, please see the attached document.
<> Happy shopping and let the bidding war begin!!
Sincerely,
All of us at BC Stats
Beth Collins Analyst Surveys & Analysis, BC STATS (250) 356-7982 www.surveys.gov.bc.ca P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

Western creates parental leave for grad students

2008-10-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

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.

Margaret Atwood on the importance of the Arts

2008-09-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to see the arts becoming a major election issue. Have a look at Margaret Atwood's excellent rebuttal to recent cuts to federal arts funding here.

UVic could take a cue from this article too. Where is our funding for fine arts grad students at UVic? Is it reflective of the huge contribution the arts makes to our community and culture? To our ways of thinking and perceiving the world?

What can be done about this? What should fine arts funding for graduate students look like at UVic?

For another take on the issue, check out this hilarious video.

See how fun politics can be when artists are in charge?

Since supercollider closed, play catan!

2008-09-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

Since the super collider in Geneva had to be closed (until it can be warmed up enough that humans can repair it) you should all come to Settlers of Catan night at the Grad Centre tonight instead of smashing atoms!

If only the super collider had enough lumber and ore...

Grad House Opens Sept 8

2008-09-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

At long last the renovations are done!
Amand and Alyshia (above) are among the staff returning (in groovy new shirts!).

We are celebrating the completion of the Summer of Renovations with a low-cost barbecue lunch September 8.

We are also opening at 10 am Sept 8 and selling coffee and cookies prior to the lunch rush.

Regular opening hours 11:30 am.

Come by and check out the spanking new kitchen!

Some new features to watch for:

New menu featuring fresh, local food
During renovations our Chef and Manager, Alan King-Jones toured farms all over southern Vancouver Island. The Grad House will feature lots of local fare--all our meat, seafood, eggs, cheese, milk and yes, hazelnuts (!) will be from southern Vancouver Island. As much of the produce will also be local, whenever it is in season. All smoked food will be smoked in house now--including salmon, tomatoes, and chicken. Don't worry--your favourites like yam fries and the house-smoked chicken sandwhich will still be there!

Watch for our menu launch at the end of the month!

David Clode Room offers grad student hangout
You asked for grad student space, and you got it. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday the small half of the restaurant is a lounge for grad students and has no food service. The small room is being renamed the "David Clode Room" in honour of Mr. David Clode who served UVic students for over 40 years and retired this summer. David was an AMS chair, then manager of the AMS, helped found the GSS, was a key part of founding the UVic childcare, and has been a tireless supporter of students for his entire working career. We will miss having him on our side in the meetings with UVic admin!!

We recognized a restaurant doesn't always feel like the best place to spread out your books and study, or to bring your own lunch, so the David Clode will be open whenever the building is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (ie 8am to 9pm) for grad students to come hang out by the fireplace, bring your lunch, read a book. We are moving the lovely flat screen tv in there, along with all the comfy couches. Come by and relax in your space!

The Grad House will expand into the David Clode Room and offer table service on Thursdays and Fridays.

Take home dinners
Beginning this fall the Grad House will offer dinners you can pick up and take home on those long nights of studying when cooking seems impossible to manage. All in compostible containers made of corn that can go in your oven!!

New look for meeting rooms
We know grad students want to have social meetings for students in their departments--but when you need to book the restaurant the minimum catering charges can be too much for a student group. It was often the case that people didn't want to have their social meeting in the meeting rooms because they were too officey. So... we have repainted the meeting rooms (rooms 108-112) a warm brown colour that does not look like an office, and will be making them truly multipurpose as we upgrade the furniture over the next year.

Perhaps you are unaware you want to be the grad rep...

2008-08-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

That's right! You want to be a grad rep!

Why? Well, how about being part of all the great changes the GSS is winning for our members?

In the past few years, the GSS has won some significant victories:
-payment of tuition in installments
-creation of an english as a second language thesis writing group
-reduction of fee unit requirement for one year programs (ie less tuition)
-worked with other grad students in BC to win the creation of a BC Grad Scholarship program

Grad reps, who are elected in each department and meet monthly at the GSS, have been part of all this. Grad reps also help with all major governance decisions at the GSS: do we renovate the kitchen? do we borrow money to do it? Do we build our own darn superconducting supercollider for Tayfun? Its up to the reps, man.

So think about getting involved. Make sure the problems faced in your department are being addressed. Learn from other departments about how to make your department cooler. (ie. Economics has pet fish. Do you??)

Oh, and btw there is pizza (or other food) at the meetings and we are having a grad rep social one hour into our first meeting Sept 30.

So... now you know. YOU want to run for grad rep and be the coolest grad in your department! Here's how: http://gss.uvic.ca/gradrepelect2008.htm

TVs for sale!

2008-08-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

TVs made redundant by renovation are up for best offer. First priority is any grad student group or department that can make use of these TVs. If such a need exists, the TV can be provided for free. Failing that, its best offer at Friday, March 29th. email me at gssmgr [-at-] uvic.ca

Has UVIC just elected its last chancellor?

2008-08-11T23:46:00.001-07:00

Murray Farmer was just elected as UVIC's new chancellor in July.
According to the Ring, 3838 members of convocation voted. Convocation includes UVic alumni, current and former Board of Governor and Senate members, UVic current and retired faculty, staff who have worked at UVIC for 12 months and hold a university degree,

But if the BC government gets its way, Farmer will be the last UVIC chancellor who is elected by convocation. Deep in the University Amendment Act 2008, bundled in with the creation of about a billion new universities all at once, lies the amendment to make the Chancellor appointed rather than elected.

The Chancellor will be appointed thus:

(1) There must be a chancellor of each university, who is to be appointed by the board on nomination by the alumni association and after consultation with the senate or, in the case of the University of British Columbia, after consultation with the council.

(1.1) The chancellor holds office for 3 years and after that until a successor is appointed.

Granted, you could argue the Chancellor is a figure head. But he or she also represents the University all around the world, confers degrees, and is an ex-officio member of BOG and Senate. The right to elect the person who plays that role gives the convocation the ability to decide the "face" of UVic.

I do wonder what the motivaton is. It's not as if no one participates--3838 people just voted at UVIC at the peak of summer holidays! And it certainly seems like we have had excellent people elected in past. So what exactly needs fixing?

Big thing gets moved

2008-08-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

I think this is some kind of venting system for the grill.

Antlered visitors

2008-07-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Had an interesting visitor to the office. in fact he's hanging outside our window right now.

Forget EagleCam... we should get the GSS Antlercam!

Working during a reno

2008-07-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I never really believed the office part of the reno would be done exactly on time. Looks like it will take two weeks, rather than just the one week we all took off and closed the office.
As such, the staff are camped out amongst our haphazardly boxed office supplies and records.

Here's Juliet valiantly checking her email at the one internet-connected computer!

It's all for the good, however, as the result will be a better workspace for the staff.

We are adding two private office spaces, which will mean (for me) I can talk to students in private when they come for advice or support, and for our bookkeeper, she can have some quiet and order in a room also used for Executive and staff meetings.

Here's a peek at the main GSS office thus far:

This is the view in from the door. Directly ahead students will see the person to talk to, and there will now be a waiting area for students to sit down if there is a line.

Perhaps we should get a video game terminal in the waiting room like my son's dentist?

One thing about this renovation, you can really see how dirty our office carpet is. Yech!

Escape

2008-07-07T21:45:00.001-07:00

For those of you new to victoria, here are some suggestions of how to escape your studies for a brief break this summer

Swan Lake hike. Accessible by Bus 26 from UVIC. Gorgeous! A couple hours of walking gives a total getaway! And what could be better than free?

B-Movies in Beacon Hill park! Check it out--here--it's free!

Moss Street Paint In, the Dragon Boats Festival, Simphony Splash and much more Victoria arts activities--here

Camping! UVic outdoor recreation can rent you all the camping gear you need at a reasonable price. Check out the BC parks camping website for ideas of parks nearby. For quick getaways, check out Goldstream Park--accessible by Victoria transit bus--thank you U-pass!

Cabin rentals! want to pool funds with some friends and rent a cabin? Some of the best deals around are available through the Land Conservancy!

UVic outdoor pool. Sweet! Victoria's only outdoor pool (except one in a hotel), and you are already a member so no charge for you if you paid fees for summer! Check out the schedule here.

Cadboro Bay /Gyro beach. Steps from UVIC, a gorgeous beach, shallow water for wading or swimming. Watch the sailboats! Check out Gyro here and other free parks programs here.

Rename the IQ contest

2008-07-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

Hey! We are renaming Room 114 (currently "IQ Bistro") because I just cant take being made fun of for using an acronym that claims "intelligence" at the same time as misspelling "quisine" for one day longer.

Got a great idea of what the grad students's restaurant should be named? Submit it to gsscomm@uvic.ca --you could win a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant formerly known as IQ.

What about the small side, you ask? Well that is just about the worst kept secret on campus... what has happened to your gossip networks?

Chesterfields retire!

2008-06-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Renovations are about a million tasks. One of them is getting rid of stuff we are replacing. After many years of service, the ol' blue couches are off to a new life. Sadly for them, no Winnebago in Texas or golf tournaments.
Off they go! At the GSS we love these moving guys--some of the friendliest staff on campus. Even posed for my photo! They are taking the couches to Biochem and English. Happy lounging folks!

Coooooool

2008-06-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

A surprise peak at what UVic might be using to transport staff and goods to various locations on campus. Electric cars and van!

That's campus live wire Sara Webb standing there with her fair trade organic coffee!
I even got a free ride around ring road. If "happiness" is to be measured in the cost benefit analysis in there, the amount of silly giggling from various UVic staff in the van definately weighs heavily in favour of purchase.

Dig it!

2008-06-17T10:12:00.001-07:00

There's really no going back now! The digger is in the back ripping out our GSS delivery drive.

I must say I greet this with a bit of relief. Deadlines for completion being what they are, and the demand for construction workers being so high, I was nervous the whole week between the GSS Executive approving the release of capital funds, and the various levels of approval going from my notice up to the Vice President Finance office, and then the letter to the contractors to say they can go ahead.

Hopefully, now all our various levels of approval and bureaucracy are done, construction will speed along handily. (I will keep you posted on progress!)

Going, going, GONE

2008-06-11T13:49:00.001-07:00

Well, congrats to Biochemistry & Microbiology and English departments who have grad reps that are quick on the draw! (I love grad reps that read email from me!)

They are each taking one couch and one chair. . . so if you find yourself nostalgic for the 90's IQ Bistro, wander over to their departments and have a seat.

Have a seat!

2008-06-10T14:43:00.001-07:00

From June 10 to June 20, the offer stands to any grad reps (or their delegate) to obtain one or more of these old blue leather couches or chairs for FREE for use by graduate students in their department grad space. This offer applies to the couches an chairs in the photo, not the newer ones in IQ Bistro.

The couches are large and heavy (but comfy) and quite scratched. Check you really have space before you send a request:

There are two couches: 84"W x 37"D x 36"H
and two chairs: 40"W x 37"D x 36"H

Offers from department grad reps will be taken via email to gssmgr[at]uvic.ca on a first come first served basis until June 20 at 10 am.

June 23-July 2 grad students can request to take one of the items home at their own cost of removal. (no charge). Also first come first served, by emailing gsscomm [at] uvic.ca.

You will be required to show valid UVIC GRAD ID to obtain the chairs for personal use.

On July 2, the any chairs/couches remaining will be removed by UVic for resale or disposal.