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Building #ConsentCulture on campus
A message from the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO).
In collaboration with post-secondary campuses across Canada, SVPRO – the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, is bringing awareness to the 2nd Annual Consent Awareness Week which runs from September 18 to 22. You can check out everything happening at UWaterloo!
This week was chosen because the first 6 to 8 weeks of the fall semester see a significant increase in sexual violence on post-secondary campuses. This time has been designated the Red Zone.
This week is an opportunity for our community to engage in conversations, activities, and events focused on consent, boundaries and building consent culture. While this is work we do throughout the year, a dedicated week to consent awareness enables us to intentionally normalize dialogue about consent, enhance nuanced understandings of how to practice it, deepen understandings of how to create healthy relationships with each other, embed consent in our daily practices and highlight the support services available to all campus members.
Or in other words; to enhance our work of collectively building a Consent Culture.
Consent culture is a culture built upon mutual respect, understanding and support. Consent culture ensures no one is forced into anything, respects bodily autonomy, and is based on the belief that a person is always the best judge of their own needs and wants.
Building consent culture includes setting clear boundaries – physical, material, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries. Boundaries are expectations and needs that help all of us feel safer and more comfortable in our professional and personal relationships.
SVPRO supports all students, staff and faculty on the UWaterloo campus who have experienced or been impacted by sexual violence. For resources, including SVPRO’s new infographic about the Red Zone and information about talking to children about consent, follow this link.
For more information about Consent Week, please contact Stacey Jacobs s3jacobs@uwaterloo.ca.
Office of Indigenous Relations hosting events in September
A message from the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR).
As we embark a new academic year, the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR) is thrilled to invite you to three distinct events. With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation around the corner, these gatherings are an opportunity for all students, faculty, staff and board members to come together and experience the rich and vibrant community that we live in and honour our shared history.
Here are the events:
Pow Wow 101: September 19 - virtual and in-person
Join us for Pow Wow 101 and immerse yourself in a captivating presentation lead by Gordan Nicotine-Sands, focussing on the significance of “Pow Wow” and its origin in North America and the Great Lakes area. This engaging session will take place both online and in-person at EC5 scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., and we request that you register in advance for the session. Gordan will also mention what you can expect from this year's Pow Wow at the University bringing us to our next event:
20th Annual Pow Wow: Saturday, September 23
An inaugural collaboration between the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre and OIR, this year’s United College Annual Pow Wow is special as we also celebrate the 20th year of Pow Wow at University of Waterloo. Another big change this year is that the venue is indoors, at Columbia Ice Field House (CIF). Doors open at 10:00 a.m. and the one-day event will feature vendors, dancers, and singers from the Region of Waterloo and beyond. This is a non-competition Pow Wow, with a focus on celebrating Indigenous culture and tradition through song, dance, arts, and food. Most importantly, opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks from the University of Waterloo community and beyond to gather and spend time with each other in a beautiful display of indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Friday, September 29
On Friday, September 29, join us as we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We will gather at the B.C. Matthews Hall Green for a Sunrise Ceremony beginning at 7:00 a.m., which will be followed by a Commitment Polishing Ceremony at 10:00 am. The Commitment Polishing Ceremony will include a Cedar Circle and Pipe Ceremony. The day will also include speeches, a walk around Ring Road, a feast, drumming, and round dance at the BMH Green. You can participate in all activities or select the ones that fit your schedule. Please RSVP to let us know you are coming and don’t forget to wear an orange shirt to show your support. Orange shirts can be purchase from the W Store and support the Indigenous Student Success Fund.
Celebrating National Postdoc Appreciation Week
A message from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA).
Happy National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW)! Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs is pleased to invite all postdocs to join in on the events and opportunities this week as we celebrate NPAW for the eighth year. Opportunities include free swag, networking, rock climbing, guided meditation, a lunch and learn, and more! Registration is still open for events.
If you are a postdoc, head over to the National Postdoc Appreciate Week (NPAW) website to learn more about the schedule of events and keep an eye on the Daily Bulletin this week as we share interesting and important information about postdocs each day.
Staff Association nominations for president and director now open
A message from the University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA).
The UW Staff Association is holding its annual elections for director and president positions this term and is asking all members to consider serving the University of Waterloo staff community by becoming a candidate for either position.
To ensure varied perspectives, the Board of Directors is particularly seeking individuals who can best represent marginalized groups and diverse lived experiences. Anyone interested can attend an information session about being a director on September 19 at 12 noon.
The University of Waterloo Staff Association proudly serves as the official voice of over 3,000 UW employees, advancing staff interests through salary discussions, policy development, committee appointments, and member advocacy. Our 1,700 active members form an independent, democratic organization united by the purpose of championing and supporting staff. Our collective mission is to ensure that we all have a voice in decision making at UW, and to cultivate a progressive work environment where staff feel safe, empowered to grow, and able to thrive.
University of Waterloo staff with an assigned USG grade are eligible to join at any time. Anyone who joins by October 1 will be eligible to vote in this year’s elections.
Learn more about the UWSA and the elections
Senate meets today; Consent Awareness Week tip; and other notes
The University's Senate has its first meeting of the fall term today at 3:30 p.m. in NH 3407. Among the agenda items:
- A motion to approve revisions to the Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology, effective 1 January 2024;
- A motion to approve the proposed new academic program, Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Aeronautics, effective 1 January 2024;
- A motion to approve the proposed new academic program, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Aeronautics, effective 1 January 2024;
- A motion to approve the proposed revisions to the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC), effective 1 September 2023;
- A motion to approve the proposed academic plan revisions to the Diploma in Studies in Islam, for the Faculty of Arts, effective 1 September 2024;
- A motion approve the proposed new academic plans, Diploma in Restorative Justice, and Restorative Justice Specialization, for the Faculty of Arts, effective 1 September 2024;
- A motion approve the proposed new academic plan, Social Innovation and Impact Minor, for the Faculty of Arts, effective 1 September 2024;
- A motion to approve the adoption of the new and revised definitions for the undergraduate calendar and the graduate calendar (Glossary of terms), effective 1 September 2023; and
- approve the amendments to the Constitution and By Laws for the Assembly and Faculty Council of the Faculty of Engineering as recommended by the Engineering Faculty Assembly.
There will be updates from the President and the Vice-President, Academic and Provost, as well as a Faculty presentation, this one by Dean of Engineering Dr. Mary Wells.
The Senate's full agenda package, as well as meeting dates and the governing body's membership, can be found on the Secretariat's website.
Elsewhere on campus today, the Quantum For Environment – Ideation Forum will be taking place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in QNC 0101. If you're a current Waterloo undergraduate student interested in exploring quantum technologies to bridge the gap between environmental needs and a sustainable future, this forum is for you. Hosted by Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) with support from QVIL, Angstrom Engineering and Ambature, the event is open to undergraduates from all faculties, and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows are also welcome to participate. Participants can enjoy some light refreshments while they learn, connect and build ideas in support of the Quantum For Environment Design Challenge.
Here's today's Consent Awareness Week tip of the day, supplied by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO):
When thinking about consent it is important to reflect on the power and privilege you hold in various spaces. When someone has more power and privilege than someone else, it makes it difficult for the person with less power and privilege to say no.
Tip: Think about the power and privilege you hold in the various spaces you inhabit (e.g. on campus, in your home, socially with your friends). If you hold power think through how you can make those with less power feel more comfortable and confident making the decisions that are right for them (e.g. tell them you won’t be upset if they say no, set clear boundaries for yourself and ask them what their boundaries are, respect their boundaries).