The number of responses is far too low to share exact numbers but the relative breakdown can be shown.
In terms of demographics, generally speaking, the vast majority of users are undergrads with a relatively new account. However, we still have representation from nearly every cohort.
Opinions on the subreddit and the rules are generally positive pointing to no pressing reason for change in most cases. Based on the results, rules 6 and 7 might be the only ones ready for review.
Rules changes
While r/uwo is generally an open subreddit, some content still needs to be restricted. Here is a reminder and an overview of the multi-layered approach to restricting content that is not suited for this community. Content restrictions are handled in the following order:
Reddit-wide rules. There are 8 rules that usually cover spam and offensive content. This is managed by Reddit administrators and cannot be managed by the moderators.
Subreddit rules that violate the community norms. There are 7 rules that help ensure a healthy community. Content that violates these rules are forcibly removed but can be restored upon appeal. These are enforced by Automod and moderators.
Automations. This is a recent feature. Live suggestions that flag words as you type them to remind users to keep content within certain norms. These are created by moderators. The intent is to discourage certain kinds of content that does not necessarily violate the rules but are not ideal content. This is just a soft nudge and does not restrict you from posting the content.
Upvote/Downvote. After successfully posting the content, the user base can choose to make the content more or less visible. We all have a collective responsibly to report content that should be more heavily regulated.
Ideally, content moderation should occur in reverse order. That is,
Most content is handled by users upvoting/downvoting content.
Often, users will self-moderate their content with some guidance.
Occasionally, moderators will remove content that violates the rules.
Rarely the Reddit admins explicitly block content.
The focus of the remainder of this section is layers 2 (Subreddit rules) and 3 (Automations).
Rules guiding the subreddit have been added and removed organically, over time, and upon the whims of previous moderators (occasionally) without any specific reasoning given. The existing rules settled on the existing 7 around 2022 and have been kept stable ever since. This is actually not ideal. Rules should be fluid and adaptable to changing situations.
In response to the survey, changing dynamics of the state of the Internet in 2026, a review of other Canadian University subreddits, and in the spirit of full transparency, we are openly sharing minor changes that will be made to the rules. These changes will be made over the next few weeks.
Rule
Staying?
What's changing
Rule 1 - Be civil
Yes with rewording
The rule will be further expanded to add additional clarification that entire threads engaging with trolls and uncivil comments are liable to be removed as well - even if those comments are not themselves uncivil.
Rule 2 - Use the search bar
Yes with rewording
The rule will be relaxed to to focus on the issue of repetition and will serve as a fail-safe only. Given the cyclical nature of the school year, repetition should be expected. Repeated posts are now accepted but can be removed and/or combined when necessary into a megathread.
Rule 3 - Only posts that concern UWO
Yes with rewording
The rule will be relaxed to allow for topics that are not directly UWO related but would be of interest to Western students (eg. recommendations for services, housing in London, etc.)
Rule 4 - No advertising
Yes with rewording
We get more than enough unsolicited advertising in our lives already. This subreddit should not be yet another source. r/uwo is a broad audience and should not be used to bootstrap niche communities with a narrow interest. The rule will be expanded to also include links to surveys (research or otherwise), social media, and class/program specific group chats, and hyperspecific one to one chats. Lost & Found posts will also be removed but automations will help point users in the right direction.
Rule 5 - No soliciting
No
Combining with Rule 4. Some parts are covered by a new rule.
Rule 6 - Better Suited for Other Social Media
No. Some parts will be covered by a new rule. Other parts will use gentle nudging with automations instead
Some existing restricted content will be captured by a new rule. Direct discussion of "bird courses" or "GPA boosters" are low-effort and contentious but are no longer restricted. Automations will be used instead.
Rule 7 - No requesting to be DM'd
No. This will be covered by gentle nudging with automations instead
Most other University subreddits do not have this restriction. User safety continues to be your own responsibility. Closed, single interest, one-to-one posts feel like eavesdropping on private conversations and are not ideal and are usually be subject to Rule 4 anyway, but more general asks do not always need to be explicitly removed. Automations will be used instead to encourage more open discussion.
New rules
Private data must remain private
r/uwo should not be a source of any illegal or unethical content. Content is often kept private to protect intellectual property or for public safety. If the content is restricted from the public (eg. through paywalls or credentials), this subreddit will respect that. This includes test banks, slides, recordings, paywalled content, photos, license plates, class locations and teaching assignments. This is a non-exhaustive list. Users should not ask for such content and users should not provide it either via direct links or via instructions that circumvent the restriction.
New automations
References to bird courses and GPA boosting will bring a message with links to resources
References to direct messages will bring a safety warning and a recommendation to avoid it
References to lost & found will bring a message explaining the lost and found process
Final point: All rules and automations are, at no point, permanent and immune from scrutiny. At any time, rules and automations are open for discussion with the moderators over DMs only.
Request for moderators
This subreddit is in need of more moderators. After surveying other Canadian university subreddits and other subreddits of a similar size, we have an unusually small number of moderators. Ideally, we should be at a minimum of 4. Given the high turnover rate of r/uwo users, it is challenging to get and maintain moderators.
Therefore, this is your request to consider volunteering to become a moderator. A successful moderator will have as many of the following qualities as possible (this is not exhaustive):
Positive karma and a demonstration of activity in this subreddit that would be considered supportive and constructive.
A reasonable expectation to be an integral part of the r/uwo community for at least two more years
Technically adept and able to work with the changing software on this platform.
A design skillset for instances where the look and feel may need to be modified
Any association with Western is acceptable. Not just undergrad students. The moderator team should consist of a variety of students, staff, faculty, alumni, etc to ensure a holistic and balanced view.
The following are hard requirements (this is not exhaustive):
Able and willing to check their personal "ego at the door". Moderators can be targeted by upset users and need to be able to respond in a mature manner.
Able and willing to treat moderator abilities as a privilege and use them lightly and responsibly.
Able and willing to take a mature attitude to any content you continue to post in the subreddit. Your posts and comments are now, also, representations of the subreddit itself.
Able and willing to demonstrate attitudes that align with the University attitudes.
Desire for the success of the subreddit and the subreddit's users
If you think you fit the above criteria, send a message to the moderators to get the discussion started.
Does anyone know of an apartment listing website/app where the search function distinguishes between actual apartment leases and leased bedrooms within shared apartments? I'm tired of searching for 1-bedroom apartments and having my results clogged up with a million of those room rentals in 5-bedroom student units. Just changing my search filters on places like apartments.com to "bedrooms: studio-1" doesn't help, since there's no consistency in whether those room rentals are tagged as 4 or 5 bedrooms (to reflect the whole unit) or as 1 bedroom (to reflect the individual lease).
Hey! Does anyone have any study resources, practice questions, or exam preparation tips for GEO 2152 and POL SCI 2191?
I’m specifically interested in knowing what to expect on the midterms and which topics to focus on. Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you!!
Hey guys! So I kinda slacked off on going to class for biochem and I’m kinda behind on content so I’m trying to catch up since the midterm is 2-3 weeks from now lmao…. but I have literally no idea how to even study for this course.. does anyone have any advice on how to learn the content fast but effectively? And what were the exams like and how did they test you + what was the most important stuff to know from each topic? If there’s any other advice y’all could give I would really appreciate it 🙏🏻🙏🏻
It’s my first year in university, sorry ahead of time for this type of rookie question.
Why is reading week now and not later? I have a midterm nearly 2 weeks from now. What’s with the gap?
Also, why do some of my friend and peers have midterms like the first week of October? Is this only for the science students?
Also, do sports teams/ sports clubs have practises during reading week? If that’s the case I missed so many.
How does one retain all this information. Even just going through the slides without doing the readings is overwhelming for me. So many words I’ve never heard of so many things to memorize.
This is the view from the international affairs building by the entrance. I sat here and drew this on Thanksgiving and finally scanned it. It's nice to stop and take in your surroundings! I hope you enjoy this piece :))
i’m thinking of switching majors and to be eligible, i would have to take both econ 1021 (hossain) and 1022 (khan) next semester.
how doable is this in your guys’ opinion?? i’m not amazing at math (low 70s in calc 1000) and i’ve never taken an econ course before so it would be new to me.
just wondering if anyone had any insights!! i’m gonna be talking to my academic advisor, but just wanted to hear from people who’ve actually taken the courses if possible
Hi i'm in first year im just wondering what 2nd year courses you recommend? im in actuarial science and I want to take electives that allow me to focus on my main maths and actuarial classes. I also need 4 essay courses (2 can be 1st year) so do you have any recommendations for that whether it be classes or profs? I'm interested in sports, music and logic.
Kinda worried about the midterm for this class. Anyone that has previously taken this course, should I be worried about the specific names and/numbers of stuff and memorizing details or are the questions more related to general understanding of the different mechanisms. Any insight is greatly appreciated!!
I'm in calc 1500 with Gord. From my experience having 2 assignments and 1 quiz, the quizzes are easier than the assignments. I'm wondering if the 57% final will also be easier than the quizzes or at least the same difficulty? Is the exam as stressful as it sounds? (i know it will be hard and stressful since its worth so much and the course is difficult but is it going to be extremely hard?)
Might have a conflicting issue with date of the midterm and I wanted to know if it is easier than the final because there isn’t a makeup date instead the final is what counts and ends up being 60% of ur grade. I feel like I’ll have more time to study for the final and do better compared to right now. I’m also spooked because everyone says the prof makes the exams insanely hard. Also, is it possible to learn everything in a week for the midterm specifically?
how were the midterms for each of the 2nd year health sci classes (2700, 2711, 2800 and 2400)
Which classes did u find the readings were less prevalent for?
hey guys, iw as wondering if anyone has a sheet of all the formulas used In calculus 1000A to memorize for the midterms since we aren't allowed to have an actual formula sheet during the exam 😭😭
I must be bugging, but I swear some of these profs are doing a little too much with their claude plans. i've got a course where the OWL page is just so heavily vibecoded it's gross, just straight fluff and AI-isms instead of a straightforward website with the information i need. It even feels like some of the ideas for my assignments were AI generated. idk. obviously, not all courses. im just concerned... ik western is more lax on ai and we've had this assigned big forehead ai officer but at the end of the day... slop?? from my profs??
hey guys, for the bio1001a midterm and even final..is it better to use the textbook to study or the slideshows? like what would the best method for studying be? i really wanna do good but i feel like lost on what’s more useful
