Volume 9 | Issue 40 |August 8, 2022

Good morning! Here is Your Things@King's Bi-Weekly Update.

Helpful information for first year and new students to King's

• The King’s Campus Connection program welcomes new first-year or first-time students to King’s. The program connects students to each other as well as to campus, while educating them on the programs, services and supports available at King’s. Dates run August 18, 19, 22, 23, 24. You can register here.
• We have a useful packing checklist for those moving into Residence.
• If you have any questions before move-in day (September 4), please email Residence.
• You can check out King's campus before you get here with the 360 Virtual Tour.

Off-Campus BBQ

When: August 27, 2022 - 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Where: Alumni Court parking lot 1

Hosted by King's University College Students' Council (KUCSC) and the KUCSC Off-Campus Dons

If you are an incoming off-campus student, you are invited to attend the annual off-campus BBQ on Saturday, August 27. Get a chance to meet other off-campus students, tour the grounds, do fun activities, and win some King's swag!

Dinner will be served from 6 p.m. - 7 pm. with a variety of food options from burgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs, potato salad, and ice cream/popsicles. The BBQ contains halal, gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

After dinner, from 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., there will be icebreaker games and campus tours. There will be giant jenga and mini golf. 

After games and tours, there will be a screening of Minions: the Rise of Gru (2015), in the Kenny Theatre at 9 p.m. Please feel free to dress in formal attire, as per the TikTok trend. There will also be a campfire for those who don't want to see the movie. 

Please register, with your food choices, by August 22, 2022.

Feel free to send any questions to events@kucsc.com.

King's International Peer Guides needed

Peer Guides help international and exchange students new to King's adjust to university life and Canadian culture. You'll only need to commit two hours per week in the fall semester, assisting with two to five new students. You'll need strong communication and leadership skills. You can read more and/or apply on the Peer Guide position page.

Gender-based & sexual violence response & prevention training modules

REMINDER: All incoming students must complete the Gender-Based & Sexual Violence Response & Prevention Training Modules prior to beginning their studies.

The training is a two-part series on OWL:

1) The online self-directed module

2) The interactive Zoom discussion-based "Undressing Consent" session

Completing this training is part of your commitment towards a safe and respectful community at King's and Western. Follow the instructions listed under the "GBSV Response & Prevention" tab on OWL. You must complete both modules. We appreciate your participation.

Have questions? Email us at info@kings.uwo.ca.

2022-23 Mustangs tryout information

The 2022-23 Western Mustangs tryout information is now available for the upcoming season.

If you are a returning athlete to Western, please go to the OWL site. 

If you are an incoming athlete to Western looking to try out for a team, please consult the team-specific page for more information. Be sure to communicate with the team's Head Coach before beginning the registration process through the OWL site.

See the Mustang's website for team information:

Register for Homecoming!

September 22-25, 2022

King's is excited to welcome alumni, students, family, and friends back to campus for this year's Homecoming. With a variety of in-person and virtual events, there's something for everyone!

BBQ and King's Fest

Check out the new King’s land at Huron and Waterloo Streets, and enjoy a barbecue and fun activities for everyone. Stop by for a bite before heading out to the football game or stay to enjoy the laid-back entertainment.

The kids' zone will have games, activities and face-painting to amuse all the little ones, and there will be plenty for the adults too!

Purchase your BBQ tokens in advance for the best deal!

September 24 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the King’s Green.

Cost: BBQ tokens $4.50 (includes 1 burger/hot dog/veggie option + 1 drink + 1 treat)

Take advantage of early bird prices by registering before August 26, 2022.

For more information on pricing and events, and to register, please visit the Homecoming website.

You can also register for speed mentoring and the Fun 5K (a special no-cost option for students) on the Homecoming page.

Interested in volunteering for Homecoming? 

You can help with Homecoming. Sign up today.

Summer construction at Western

Western has several hundred maintenance, repair, and new construction projects on the go each year. And throughout the summer months, they ramp up operations to take advantage of the slower pace on campus. To help you plan your route, we have mapped some of the service interruptions that may be particularly intrusive. We greatly appreciate your patience during this time.

See the summer construction map.

Apply for scholarships

Looking for financial support this school year? King’s offers many "in-program" awards & scholarships for both new and returning King’s students. Most applications open August 1st and close September 30th, so we recommend applying soon! We encourage you to investigate these awards and apply for any that you feel you may qualify for. For any questions regarding eligibility, please contact studentfinance@kings.uwo.ca

In the News

King's alumna uses challenging times as jump-off for writing

Emily Austin ’11, hopes readers who relate to her characters feel represented or seen as she focuses on topics that include mental illness and religious trauma.

Read the full story here.

Psychology professor discusses how perception of tattoos are changing in the workplace

"Perhaps tattoos are not as detrimental as they once seemed," says Alexandra Zidenburg, Assistant Professor of Psychology. Professor Zidenburg spoke to London Morning on CBC Radio on the perception of tattoos in the workplace.

Listen to the CBC London Morning segment.

Presentations share King's innovative approaches to counselling and programming

Presentations by members of King’s Student Affairs department discussed the role of student affairs professionals in leading/creating innovative approaches to co-curricular student programming.

Read the full story.

Global Experiential Learning Opportunities

The World Wars in History, Memory and Reconciliation

With courses like this, why study history anywhere else?

The World Wars in History, Memory and Reconciliation is just one of many fascinating and exciting history courses offered at King’s. With expert faculty, small class sizes and engaging content, this is the place to be to study history.

Discover the past and find your future with History at King's. Learn more at 

kings.uwo.ca/history.

SJPS 3211G: Rondine - Italy

“At Rondine, students not only learn, but grow as people.”

Take your learning to the next level and apply theories learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Applications for the King's Rondine Seminar in May 2023 are now open.

Rondine Cittadella Della Pace is an educational site and global peace centre in Italy that brings youth together from conflict sites around the world. You will meet new people, gain different perspectives, and challenge ideas, concepts and most importantly, yourselves

Religious Studies 2352G - Rome and the Christian Tradition

Get an in-depth experience of the ancient history, art, and architecture of Rome, and examine Rome’s enduring religious, political, and cultural significance.

• A 0.5-credit 2200-level experiential learning course offered by the Religious Studies Department at King's, led by Religious Studies faculty
• Seven full days in Rome over Reading Week
• Guided tours of the Vatican and other sites accompanied by local archaeologists and art historians
• Special access to archaeological sites, including Vatican Excavations (Scavi)
• Day-long excursion to the medieval city of Assisi
• Six weekly pre-trip seminars
• King’s International Study Award ($1000) is available to King’s students registered in the course
• For more information, email Dr. Julius-Kei Kato.

POL 3408F: Ghana Field Course

This course uses an international experiential learning visit to Ghana between October 28 and November 6, 2022, to explore the chocolate supply chain (i.e., production of cocoa in Ghana to the consumption of chocolate around the world) as well as trace key global governance issues including conflict prevention, peacebuilding, counterterrorism, human security, human rights, pandemic governance, and informal governance from the local level to the global level. You will meet with cocoa and chocolate producers/marketers, chiefs, state officials, diplomats, and staffs of NGOs in Ghana.

You will conduct original field research and produce major research papers on a range of topics including conflict prevention, peacemaking, political governance, informal economy, sustainable development, gender, race, climate change, trade, financial inclusion, poverty reduction, food, hunger, NGOs, and the impacts of COVID-19.

The course is taught by Dr. Thomas Tieku.

Welcome New King's Faculty and Staff

Dr. Lesley Bikos - Lecturer, Sociology

Dr. Lesley Bikos (she/her) earned her Ph.D. in Sociology at Western University. Prior to joining the King’s Sociology Department as full-time faculty, she taught part-time at both King’s and Brescia University College while completing her doctoral program. Her status as a former police officer combines academic and lived experience forms of knowledge that she brings to her teaching, research, and community work. Bridging critical criminology and sociology, Lesley’s work interrogates the criminal justice system from an intersectional feminist lens with a focus on radical transformation to address ongoing systemic harm to marginalized communities. 

Dr. Joshua Wyman - Assistant Professor, Psychology

Dr. Joshua Wyman's research focuses on improving the best practice methods for interviewing children, youth and older adults in criminal investigations. He has also published worked in the areas of deception detection, lie-telling development, and social skills training programs for youth with developmental disabilities. Dr. Wyman is also a licensed school and clinical psychologist in Ontario.

Ken Sheardown - Payroll & Benefits Assistant

Ken Sheardown has a background in Social Work, sexual health, office management, and cooking (cheesecakes). He likes to bowl occasionally and go for walks when it is not too hot. He has attended several colleges and received four diplomas in various occupational areas.

He is looking forward to working at King's and all the new training and learning he will absorb while working in the Payroll department.

Jess Notwell – Professor, Sociology

Jess Notwell is citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario and a ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ Nehiyaw ᑳ ᑎᐯýᐃᒥᓱᒋᐠ Métis ᑭᐢᑵᑲᐣᐃᐢᑵᐤ Two Spirit mom, drum carrier, activist, and professor in Sociology at King’s University College. From Turtle Island to Palestine, Jess teaches, researches and enacts decolonization grounded in ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ Nehiyaw and ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯ Anishinaabe teachings and mobilized through decolonial love. Founder of Decolonize Now, Jess also consults with non-profit organizations and universities on change management, human resources, policy and planning based on ᒥᔪ ᐱᒫᑎᓯᐏᐣ miyo pimâtisiwin (living in a good way).

Dr. Alexandra Zidenberg – Assistant Professor of Psychology

Dr. Alexandra Zidenberg holds a PhD in Applied Social Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan, an MA in Experimental Psychology from Laurentian University, and a BA (Hons) in Forensic Psychology from Ontario Tech University. Her research focuses on forensic psychology and, in particular, sexual violence. Within this broad domain, her research focuses on the effect of extralegal bias on perceptions of sexual violence scenarios, children under 12 with concerning sexual behaviour, risk assessment and recidivism, zoophilia, and bestiality. Outside of academia, Dr. Zidenberg is an avid cross stitcher and enjoys watching horror movies with her cat.

Dr. Zidenberg was recently featured on London Morning on CBC Radio. You can check out her interview on tattoos and the workplace here.

Dr. David Webster – Associate Professor of Human Rights Studies

Dr. David Webster teaches Human Rights Studies and is a historian by background, concentrating on human rights history in Asia and Canada. He is a settler living most recently in Ndakina, Abenaki territory in the Eastern Townships of what is now Quebec, with previous stops in Saskatchewan, Toronto, Timor-Leste, the United Kingdom and China. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of British Colombia and has worked at the University of Toronto, University of San Francisco, University of Regina and Bishop's University. Prior to academic work, he was a full-time human rights advocate and journalist. His most recent book is Challenge the Strong Wind: Canada and East Timor 1975-99.

Chris Goff – Test and Exam Coordinator, Enrolment Services

Chris Goff '09 is a King’s graduate, with an Honours Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization History. He also has a Bachelor of Education in Historical Education from Western. Chris says, "I am excited to return to King’s as the Test and Exam Coordinator in the Enrolment Services department. I will be coordinating the operations of Exam Services, Special Exam Days, and the make-up exam service, while also assisting with Accessibility Services for accommodated exams. I am looking forward to making a positive contribution to the success of King’s and its students." Chris has previously worked for the Faculty of Education and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Western. His interests include playing the guitar, discovering new music, going for walks wherever he can, and reading far too much non-fiction. Currently, he is studying the Russian Revolution/Russian Civil War and the early Soviet period, while also learning to speak Russian, in order to pursue his MA program in Russian and Eurasian Studies.

Work Study Program - Applications now open

Are you seeking a flexible employment opportunity while studying at King’s? We offer a great Work Study program, designed to provide a regular source of income to students in financial need. You can lessen your debt load while receiving valuable job training and experience to build your skill-set. The Work Study program offers students the opportunity to work flexible hours on campus in jobs that accommodate their schedules. 

Applications are now open and students are able to work up to 15 hours per week, up to a maximum of 165 hours or $2574.00 (whichever maximum they reach first). 

Learn more about becoming a Work Study Student.

Devant Offers International students new career resources

If you are an international student, you can benefit from King's partnership with Devant, which offers resources and new career development opportunities in Canada for you. To learn more about the partnership between King’s and Devant, please visit our Career Resources for International Students page.

Sign up for Devant.

Upcoming Devant Events

Building Your Network

August 10 at 6 p.m.

Perhaps you've already heard about the "hidden job market" in Canada but you're still unsure how to access it. In this workshop, we'll be discussing how to access the hidden job market through referrals as well as tactics to build meaningful professional connections. 

Register for this free workshop. 

Cafe with a Career Coach

August 17 at 6 p.m.

Join Devant team members, Kate & Michelle, for their monthly virtual social! Michelle is a career coach and can answer all your job search questions. Kate moved to Canada from the UK in 2017 and is ready to chat about life in Canada as an international newcomer.

Register for this free expert panel.

Western's On-Campus COVID Vaccination and Testing Centre is open

Western’s Vaccination and Testing Centre is open for walk-in vaccination or rapid testing in Thames Hall, Room 3189 on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The information is available on Western's COVID page and the Thames Hall page.

COVID-19 screening

In keeping with changing regulations and recommendations from the province, Western requires everyone who comes to campus, including affiliate campuses, to complete the province's COVID-19 self-assessment. You do not need to complete the self-assessment on days when you don't come to campus.

Visit our COVID-19 FAQ page if you have any questions or are looking for the most up-to-date information.

Togetherall support over the summer

Being away from school over the summer can come with mixed feelings for many people. Togetherall is available 24/7 even as local university services may not be as easily accessible.

Register for a King's Togetherall account.

Refugee update: 

1. ARRIVAL – On September 16, 2022, Osama and Dima, along with their three young children, Mouafak, Reda, and Hala, will be landing in Toronto. Please pray for their safe arrival and for good health.  

2. HOUSING – We have been able to secure temporary but fully furnished housing for them when they arrive so we will be able to welcome them and continue to work on their settlement. We still need to locate permanent affordable housing and would appreciate any leads especially in Westmount / Southwest London where extended family members live. 

3. FINANCIAL SUPPORT – We continue to seek additional funding to support this family. If you have or would like to donate bunk beds for the two boys, this would be helpful but we will not be accepting other furniture donations until we have located permanent housing.

4. WHEELCHAIR – They will need a folding wheelchair at the airport. If anyone has a wheelchair we can use, please let us know.  

Please contact Deacon Jim or the Campus Ministry office if you are able and willing to assist. 

Ready for a getaway weekend full of fun, reflection and community?

The Annual Student Retreat is back September 16 -18, 2022.

Spend a weekend at the peaceful Holy Family Retreat Centre by Lake Ontario. Focus on where you have come from, where you are now and where you want to be. Connect with friends, old and new, gathered around a campfire.

$60 covers all costs. For more information or to register contact Annette in Campus Ministry: annette.donovanpanchaud@kings.uwo.ca

Contemplative activism retreat

September 29, 2022 - 7:30 p.m. to October 2, 2022 - 1 p.m.

Do you know of a student interested in social activism and striving towards a sustainable world? Tell them of this retreat where they can re-energize through meditation, physical exercise, prayer, artistic expression, and intellectual engagement.

A multi-faith or no-faith contemplative activism retreat is being offered at the Ignatius Retreat Centre in Guelph from September 29, 2022 - 7:30 p.m. to October 2, 2022 - 1 p.m.

Cost is $80 for students registering through Campus Ministry. Transportation, room and board included. Contact Annette Donovan Panchaud at 

annette.donovanpanchaud@kings.uwo.ca 

for more information or to register. Space is extremely limited.

Visit the website or watch the video for more information. 

Be Featured in Things@King's!

Hi! We are Communications and Media Relations at King's. If you have made it down this far, thank you for reading! We work hard to bring you event information each week and we would love to hear from you. Please email Communications to be featured in Things@King's, with a 50-word description of your event or news. Deadline for submission is Wednesday, August 17 at 4:30 p.m. for the August 22 newsletter. Thank you for continuing to send in your content.

See archived issues Things@King's.

Hosting an Event at King's?

Let the Communications department know by submitting your event via the posting request form. This lets the entire communications team know about your event in advance and what you need in terms of promotions and/or event coverage. We are always happy to help, and this tells us how we can best support your event.

Parents/Supporters

You can receive the weekly Things@King's newsletter and keep up to date with everything going on at King's. Send an email to communications@kings.uwo.ca and include your name and email.

Hours of Operation and Contacts



Many of King's administrative offices have adjusted their hours for the summer. Please refer to the Hours of Operation page for the most up-to-date information.

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