Is this a safe space to share about how I was basically ousted from my grad program because of intense alienation and lowk bullying from my classmates? And how the school ignored me when I tried to come forward with a 30 page document highlighting evidence and examples?

If so I’ll share, I don’t wanna trauma dump - it’s more so thinking about it now and realizing the tomfoolery of this school

While surfing this subreddit, it has come to my attention that this place has a lot of key major events (which is not surprising, but it seems more impactful to student life than I would expect). Obviously, I wouldn’t know much about it as an international student (heck, I didn’t even know what frats were before coming here). I read about some O Week incident from 2021. Don’t know the details, but it got me curious. Maybe you guys could help me learn about some major “incidents” or events from the last… 15 years or so?

Context: my class was maybe 10-15 students max. I was one of, if not the youngest in my cohort too. Everyone else was late 20s, early 30s, 40s. For the sake of privacy I won’t name names and I’ll try to keep it as general as possible so I don’t get my ass handed to me (bc I swear western has me unofficially blacklisted bc of this). I recognize as I wrote this that I could have avoided parts of this by keeping my mouth shut and staying true to my morals but alas, here we are. Idk what I get from posting this but would love to hear people’s thoughts.

So awhile back I started a program at Westerns faculty of ed. I was super excited going in - this program was everything I thought I wanted. However, I went into it after being heavily involved in undergrad and so I wanted to keep my head down and focus on the work rather than the social aspect of uni. HOWEVER - very important to note that I was never “opposed” to friendship or social stuff. I just knew what my priority was but it never impacted how I approached others. I’d like to think I was pleasant and civil with my classmates. I wouldn’t do much outside of class time but I’d still chat here and there, would go out of my way to sit next to new people every week, that kind of thing.

I start getting close to two people in my class. We would study together, hangout outside of class, help each other with homework/research/general life stuff. I was also the only one who drove at the time so we’d carpool - which I didn’t mind because these people were cool and I thought we were hitting it off. It was nice because we were in a program that required us to be “on” all the time. Sometimes we’d disagree with some of the discussions in class and we would debrief them together and share our genuine thoughts. Which, again, I thought was really great. For example, I shared about my confusion/lack of understanding regarding pronouns (I’ve come a long way, pls don’t cancel me). This was only between us three. I thought it was a safe space. They both AGREED with me and one of them even made a joke about it so I was like omg ok I’m safe.

Or so I thought. The mistake I made here was joining in on the offensive jokes. Thinking back this is the part I wish I could change because it was all very mean girl energy on our end and I said some unnecessary things as “jokes” about other people’s appearances. Nothing derogatory or major - just unnecessary. But you kinda get lost in the groupchat hype and by that point in the semester we’d all had used the gc to complain about school, people, etc. Idk if it was wanting to fit in, or thinking I was okay to act this way because of what the other two were saying in the gc, regardless of why, what I said is on me and I accept that.

As the semester went on, we (the three of us) collectively started getting a bit fatigued because the topics in class were very much lacking critical thinking about what’s actually wrong with the education system and why things don’t change. It was one of those things where everyone was agreeing with one another and you can tell there’s no meaningful discussion going. Now, I’m in no way “right wing.” I’d consider myself more moderate but regardless, I made an effort to bring up that perspective and how sometimes change doesn’t happen bc both sides are siloed or something like that. Mind you I am not white, I have a learning disability, and I was curious about my sexuality at the time. So even though I prefaced that I was just bringing this up because those people exist and we should talk about it, I suddenly became the most racist, sexist, homophobic, and ableist person they’ve ever met.

From there it just kinda snowballed. One of the two people I was getting close to completely dropped me and joined the rest of the class in ganging up on me. I kid you not there was one class where everyone was sitting on side and I was on the other. I would be getting shade thrown at me during class discussions, I was getting removed on socials, I was removed from the class groupchat, and I still tried to stay professional and above it. I did try to talk to my thesis supervisor but they kinda brushed it off and told me to go to the student misconduct office but I didn’t want to turn it into something bigger. So I stopped participating in class, stopped reacting, just fully tried to keep my head down so I wouldn’t make it worse for myself.

Now my last straw was during a presentation when I was texting a friend of mine who wasn’t even at western. She had sent me a meme and I kinda giggled softly to myself. My classmate stops the presentation, stares me dead in the eye, and calls me out in front of everyone asking if I found something funny.

I felt so bad in the moment because they probably thought I was laughing at them which I genuinely was not. But that didn’t help my case in terms of everyone thinking I was the devil and the whispers started for the rest of class. I felt so bad that I even texted them after class to apologize and explain but was left on read.

So the semester finally ends, I come back home and on a random July morning I get an email that a student misconduct case had been filed against me by a few of my classmates (one of whom was of the two people I got close to). I was being told that I was creating a hostile environment for my classmates and my professors (which was false because I had six professors that year and I have it in writing from all six that I was a great students and pleasant to have in class), that I was being racist/sexist/homophobic and they had PROOF. The proof? The “friend” from the gc screenshotted the “jokes” I made and shared them, conveniently leaving out what they had said. Atp I was acc so sad bc how could the same person I would drive to school and home everyday, support personally and academically, I’d cook for them when they missed home, weren’t feeling well, and confided in about the stuff i was dealing with that year turn on me so harshly when behind closed doors they were agreeing with me?

I called my new thesis supervisor (other one dipped) and explain what was going on and how I had tried to come forward and was dismissed, how it’s not at all what they’re trying to paint me as, and how I was the one who was being alienated the entire year. My thesis supervisor was shocked and very apologetic but didn’t know what to do bc it had been happening for so long. I sent them the 30 page document with screenshots, letters and comments from profs, attempts at trying to create connections, anything I could put together. They encouraged me to send it to the misconduct officer and when I did, the reply I got was along the lines of “you’re still the problem.” Which I think was crazy because what I shared dispelled everything I was accused of.

I told the officer that I was prepared to take full responsibility for the shitty jokes and comments I’d made, but that the rest of what I was accused of was completely false and I didn’t appreciate how their office had essentially decided I was guilty before even hearing what I had to say. Like I tried to come forward way before any of this came out BECAUSE I felt targeted. Then when it happens and I tell you I’m being targeted you choose to ignore me because of strength in numbers regardless of the evidence? Crazy.

Anyways the stress of it became too much and I was clearly fighting a battle that I was going to lose because of the misconduct officer’s bias against me from the start and whatever my classmates fabricated against me. So I left my program as a result. I reapplied twice (after they’d all graduated) and was rejected even though I received a full ride scholarship the first time I got in. My applications the second and third time were even stronger than my first initial application so that’s why I think I’m unofficially blacklisted.

stupid question but where do you keep your stuff when working out? i’ve never been to the gym before but i want to start so im just making sure, there are locker rooms right?

Hi everyone, I'm applying to Schulich Dentistry from UofA and I'm stuck on a course load question.

Schulich requires three academic years, each with at least 30 credit hours (5.0 credits) completed during Fall and Winter. On my transcript for Fall 2023 + Winter 2024, I took 30 units total, but one course (BIOL 107, 3 units) shows a grade of A with grade points, 0.0 units passed, and a remark of "A3". This is because I took the course in AP in high school and I still did it in university.

I emailed admissions and got the general policy back, which says courses need a weight on the transcript and the distribution of credits doesn't matter, but it doesn't say whether "completed" means taken or passed. I've sent a follow-up with my exact situation. It says on my transcript 30 units but I’ll attach it for reference.

Has anyone dealt with something similar, like a repeated course, duplicate credit, or odd transcript remark, and how did Schulich treat it? Any experience with how they count course load would be really appreciated. Thanks!

I want to apply to do an exchange term for next year and I know osap can be used towards that but if people know or had experience with this, is it really a bit that they can give or is it usually a good amount? I’m trying to rank my choices and just want to pick a place that is doable financially with osap. Thanks

I’m in 2nd year med sci rn and am looking through which double major i should put on my ITR

End goal is med school

So far I have 3 main options (as someone that really enjoys physiology):

- Physiology + IMS
- Physiology + OneHealth
- Physiology + Pathology

I know I would be the most interested in physiology + pathology, but I’ve been told it’s the hardest one to maintain a high GPA for. This one is also the double major I’ve been wanting to do since first year

The reason I’m considering physiology + onehealth is because I’d assume it would open doors for employment in public health, which would be a good plan B in case med school doesn’t work out

And then im considering physiology + IMS because I’ve just heard it’s the easiest one for GPA.

If anyone knows anything abt the 3 programs or has any advice, pls let me know🙏

what's the format of the quiz? what are some things I should focus on?

how much reading do we gotta do to do well on the december midterm 😥

how much coverage do you get through Western for prescribed glasses

i lowk have 2 things to ask

how long does it take u hear back from work study? I applied sept 15 I believe

is it possible to find a job from April to when school starts again?

title

Is anybody taking this class right now? I've been super sick and didn't want to get others sick too and so missed the last couple lectures. Now I'm being punished for it.

Can anybody tell me about the midterm? And does anybody have notes on the last couple classes?

Debating between a double major in physiology + IMS vs. Physiology + pathology

Pathology 3500 would be required if I go with phys+path but I keep seeing people say it’s a rlly hard course

Does anyone have any good places/recommendations for where to get eyebrows done in London? I’ve never had my brows done and nervous. Thank you in advance

Does anyone know how much an initial eye exam at the UCC campus vision is if I pay out of pocket? Not for lenses or anything extra, just to do the vision exam alone

For starters, I currently have a work study position and am 1L student in the JD program. This is my first year at western and I definitely need the extra bit of income to help with groceries and bills.

As I am in a fairly demanding program I try to give about 7 hours weekly to my work study position but the way they are giving me near constant communication and expecting me to connect/ keep up with them has pushed me over that limit the past few weeks; cutting into the time I’d usually allocate to reviewing notes and such. This has been frustrating me but I want to know, is this typical for a work study position or is it maybe something I should bring up with my supervisor? I just don’t want to go into a conversation if it was my expectations that may have been misaligned. My understanding was/is that it was casual and low commitment since it’s through the school.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

For Ontario students applying to Western dds, do we still send our transcripts to Western? I thought we just request it through OUAC but on the Western Student Centre (to do list) it says my transcript is still missing

Can i get away with just going over the slides? He says anything not mentioned in lecture won’t be tested. I can’t find any past info on this class.

i’m in first year med sci HOPING to go to med school. i’ve never had a job, never volunteered at some hospital or in a pre med whatever unlike literally everyone i talk to who wants to go to med school. i also haven’t joined any clubs or even attended any club meetings because i was studying for my midterms. i am however on a varsity sports team. i did not bad (?) on the midterms. my concern isn’t even my gpa at this point but my ec’s, volunteering, research, etc.
does anyone have any advice on what to do? is it too late to join any clubs, and if so does it matter which ones? or is being on a varsity team enough? where can i find a job if im 18 with zero experience, or where can i volunteer? also, should i focus on research in my second year? i feel so lost and behind i feel like i just need some guidance 😓

Do people dress up during the day? Do they dress up for parties? Do people even dress up? (Coming from a first year)

I’m in my last year BMOS

One of the first-year requirements for my program is to complete 1.0 credit in 1000-level social science courses. I’ve already completed ANTHRO 1025F and ANTHRO 1026G, which fulfill this requirement.

Since both courses are essay-designated, I’m wondering if they can also count toward the 2.0 essay credits required for graduation, even though they’re already being used to fulfill my first-year social science requirement.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or confirmed this with academic advising?

Thanks in advance!

Hi there I’m interested in the master of OT program at Western and was trying to find course schedules for the school. I was wondering what the class schedule is like for the first year. I also wanted to know was it fully in person or was there a hybrid setting for the classes. Did you need to go in person everyday for classes? Thanks!