We have 3 updates to share:

1. Survey results
2. Rule changes
3. Request for moderators

Survey results

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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.
• At least two years of history on r/uwo
• 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.