Anti-Racism Liaison
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Wednesday September 29th, 2021
As many of you may be aware, September 30th marks the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, a day in which we come together to recognize the truths of the settler-colonialism, in particular, the stories of survivors of the residential school system. This day has been observed since 2013 under the name Orange Shirt Day; 2021 marks the first year that it will be observed federally as a statutory holiday.
As future library and information professionals, we all have the responsibility, each from our unique positions in society and the profession, to understand the impact that settler-colonialism has had on our professional and non-professional lives, and more importantly, to identify the ways that we can act as individuals and a collective towards reconciliation.
Fall 2021 Peer Support Applications Open
Tuesday September 21st, 2021
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Hoping to connect with your peers? You're invited to join the MLIS Peer Support Program, where you will be matched with an MLIS student for support during the fall term.
Peer Support participants will be invited to exclusive events, such as game/quiz/hobby nights.
Please submit your application by
Tuesday, September 28th.
Note: Participants are asked to attend a pre-planned mental wellness and leadership training in early October to join the Peer Support Program.
The MLIS Student Council is calling for student solidarity with survivors of sexual violence, particularly regarding the recent sexual violence on Western's' Campus.
The Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) has made several Calls to Action which are available to view on their website. Among these Calls to Action are:
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that "any and all concerned individuals [...] sign the petition outlining [their] calls to action"
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"the campus community [...] stand in solidarity with and support the survivors of gender-based and sexual violence on campus by joining us at the UWO Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Walk-Out"
Walkout Details:
Friday, September 17, 2021 at 12pm EST
University College Hill
In solidarity,
MLIS Student Council
Letter to Students
Re: Weekend of Sept 11-12
Monday September 13th, 2021
Good afternoon,
First, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge the events of this past weekend. Whether we have learned about what happened through social media, news media, or Dean Henderson’s email, it is likely that we are all processing and unpacking this information in different ways. Some of us have recently relocated to London, and many of us already live there; we stand with folks currently residing in London, folks outside of London, and everyone who has been impacted by the horrifying events of the past few days.
We condemn the devastating events that took place on the Western Campus and in London, and recognize that these events are not isolated, but a symptom of a society that upholds a culture of violence and oppression.
It is easy to feel powerless in these moments. Although our actions may be small, we hope that the following resources may provide the relief and support that you require at this time. Moreover, we are planning to hold a safe, welcoming, and empathetic space for the MLIS student community to discuss and debrief the events of the weekend, tomorrow (Tuesday September 14th at 7 pm EST). No Western faculty will be present at this meeting. In addition, there will be no trained or certified mental health professionals present. We are merely MLIS students who seek to gather in community and offer support in this time of need. Please consider joining us, whether you want to talk or just listen. We respectfully ask that everyone who participates in this space adhere to our MLIS Discord Server Community Guidelines and respect the privacy of all those in attendance.
Please see below for resources and [check your UWO email for] Zoom information for the community debrief session.
Sincerely,
MLIS Student Council
We're Recruiting for the
Fall 2021 Term!
Thursday September 9th, 2021
There are still a few open positions on Student Council for the Fall 2021 Term:
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Records Manager
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Fundraiser & Student Groups Liaison
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First-Term Representative
Interested? Fill out the form below to let us know, and we'll get back to you.
MLIS Discord Server Community Guidelines
Tuesday September 7th, 2021
Hello and welcome, or welcome back, MLIS!
Over the past few weeks, a team of MLIS student volunteers have been organizing and preparing Community Guidelines for the MLIS Discord Server.
Here’s what you need to know right now:
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The guidelines take place immediately, as of today, Tuesday September 7th 2021
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The interim moderation team will be comprised of MLIS Student Council Executives
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The guidelines ask that all users adjust their server nickname to include at least their first name
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The guidelines ask that all users employ content warnings when discussing sensitive topics
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This new framework utilizes a three strike system wherein moderators will record instances of misconduct by users three times before an indefinite server ban
What we need from you:
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Read through the Community Guidelines here or in the #rules-and-guidelines channel
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Accept the guidelines in the #rules-and-guidelines channel to continue using the channel
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Make sure your server nickname includes your first name prior to your next engagement with the server
Interested in moderating the server?
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We are currently looking for three volunteer moderators for the Fall 2021 term
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Fill in this form to indicate interest in moderating before Friday September 10th at 5 pm EST- recruitment will take place on a first come, first serve basis (unless interest exceeds the requirements, in which case there will be a poll)
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There will be a brief virtual training for selected moderators ASAP
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Moderators are responsible for keeping up to date with the server and enforcing Community Guidelines as needed
Still haven’t joined the MLIS Discord Server?
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Email mlissc.uwo@gmail.com from your UWO email to get your server invite!
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Need help navigating Discord? Check out this quick guide
Questions? Concerns?
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Please contact Ash at aheinri2@uwo.ca if you would like to learn more about the Community Guidelines
Fall 2021 Orientation Week
Tuesday September 7th, 2021
Welcome back to school, MLIS! Student Council has some exciting events going on this week to ease you into the new term. Our events are open to all students, not just first terms - we can't wait to see you all there!
Check your UWO email or the discord server for the Zoom link.
