Students and staff watch drone hover outside Dillon Hall.Kyle Archibald demonstrates the use of a flying drone for student recruiters Neda Demiri, Dave Bussiere and Zora Savic and digital media production students Naomi Pelkey, Doug Cunningham, Milos Savic and Cherry Theresanathan.

Video production gives students industry experience while promoting campus pride

The University’s student recruitment office and the Department of Communication, Media and Film have partnered to produce a video extolling the virtues of the UWindsor experience.

Besides the content of the video itself, the project also points up the opportunities afforded students to use industry-standard equipment—from cameras to editing software—through the process.

“The video is shot on a camera like those in Hollywood, employing a hexacopter drone to achieve the highest production values in terms of cinematography and sound,” says producer Naomi Pelkey, a fourth-year communications student. “Our production highlights the professional capacities of University of Windsor students and the cutting-edge equipment and facilities available to us.”

In addition to the work of the students, the project involved volunteer supervision by professor Tony Lau and digital media technician Kyle Archibald. Liaison officers will use the video to promote the University to prospective students, showcasing programs and the campus experience.

Valerie Scatamburlo-D’Annibale, head of the Communication, Media and Film department, says the feedback she has received from students engaged in the project indicate it is a labour of love.

“They are all very proud of the University of Windsor and dedicated to creating a video that illustrates all the institution has to offer,” she says. “I firmly believe that the University will benefit many times over by having such a high-calibre production that can be disseminated across a variety of media platforms. Indeed, the outreach potential is quite significant.”

Watch the video here:

See the view of our campus from above.

Chrysler Hall Tower

University to participate in exploratory meeting with faculty

The University of Windsor was contacted yesterday, September 11, by the provincial mediator and asked if it would be prepared to have an exploratory meeting with the Windsor University Faculty Association on September 23 or 25. At 4 p.m. yesterday the University informed the mediator of its willingness to attend a meeting on either of those dates.

The University continues to receive many queries about matters reported in the media regarding its finances and its final offer. Important information about these frequently asked questions has been posted at www.uwindsor.ca/bargainingupdates.

Bruce Croxon and Kevin CochranGuest speakers Bruce Croxon and Kevin Cochran will launch the UWindsor Enriched Start program on September 17.

Program to engage students in personal finance

In a world of budget planning tools, spreadsheets, interest calculators, and an endless supply of self-help books on managing money, things can get complicated—fast. A new program offered to UWindsor students by the Office of the Provost, in partnership with EPICentre, the Student Success Centre and the finance department, aims at improving their understanding of personal finance.

Enriched Start holds that people have a tendency to over-complicate a simple goal of money management: save more and spend less. It sets out three key requirements to inspire action in young adults:

  1. Instill a real sense of personal responsibility.
  2. Utilize an entertaining but informational approach to cut through the rhetoric and create a real personal awareness of the pain around poor money management.
  3. Capitalize on video-based content to improve consumption and retention of this information.

Through the my.uwindsor portal, the program will connect students with a series of video components that are funny, entertaining, and insightful. It includes modules on money myths, credit and credit cards, careers, personal branding, goal setting, and building wealth.

A launch event on Wednesday, September 17, will feature guest speakers Kevin Cochran and Bruce Croxon, formerly an investor on the CBC television show Dragon’s Den. It runs 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Ambassador Auditorium, CAW Student Centre. Admission is free, but space is limited. Organizers ask that those interested register in advance at https://uwindsor.fluidsurveys.com/s/enrichedstartevent/.

soccer ball bearing Lancer shield logoThe Lancer men’s and women’s soccer teams will play their first home games of the 2014 season this weekend on Alumni Field.

Soccer teams to open home seasons this weekend

The Lancer men’s and women’s soccer teams will play their first home games of the 2014 season this weekend on Alumni Field.

Both Windsor squads have earned 2-1 records thus far and will host the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday and the York Lions on Sunday. The women play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3:15 p.m. Admission is free.

In another soccer development, Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Thursday that Lancer head coach Steve Hart will serve as an assistant coach with Canada’s men’s squad at the 2015 Summer Universiade in South Korea.

The 28th world university summer games are set for July 3 to 14 in Gwangju. Hart is the second Lancer coach named to the Canadian roster for the 2015 Universiade. Women’s hockey head coach Jim Hunter will be an assistant coach for the women’s team for the winter games in January in Spain. Read more at goLancers.ca.

The women’s hockey team plays a home-and-home pre-season series with Guelph this weekend, hosting the Gryphons at South Windsor Arena at 4 p.m. Saturday, then heading up the 401 for a rematch at Guelph at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Lancer football team has earned another win without playing a game. Its September 1 loss to Queen’s has been overturned due to the participation of an ineligible player for the Gaels. All team and player statistics remain in place, but the official score is recorded as a 1-0 forfeit and Windsor now boatss a 2-0 record heading into its bye week.

Ontario University Athletics selected a 58-yard touchdown catch by Evan Pszczonak in Saturday’s 39-34 win over Laurier as its play of the week. The pass from quarterback Austin Kennedy with 30 seconds on the clock capped a comeback victory for the blue and gold.

Watch the league’s video of the week’s top three plays:

Omar Shahid congratulates Anna KirbyStudent Omar Shahid congratulates Anna Kirby, executive director of campus services, on the opening of the new Bookstore on the CAW Student Centre’s lower level.

Ribbon cutting to mark official opening of Campus Bookstore

The UWindsor community will enjoy entertainment, refreshments and door prizes as the Campus Bookstore celebrates the official opening of its permanent location Tuesday, September 16, from 3 to 5 p.m.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will form the centrepiece of the event on the lower level of the CAW Student Centre.

“We are very excited to welcome patrons—both our customers of long standing and those new to our store—to join us in this exciting new phase of our operations,” says marketing coordinator Martin Deck. “It has been a long time coming and we are confident that our beautiful store is proving worth the wait.”

The grand opening is free and open to the public.

Belgian waffles toped with berries and whipped cream.Breakfast diners will be able to make their own Belgian waffles in the CAW Student Centre’s Marketplace.

Make-your-own waffles station to highlight Marketplace breakfast

The Marketplace food court in the CAW Student Centre will offer a special treat starting this morning: a make-your-own Belgian waffles station.

Patrons will be able to create their own waffles in irons provided and top them their way, with a choice of syrups, whipped cream, chocolate and fruit sauces: apple, blueberry, cherry or strawberry.

The promotion runs from 7:45 a.m. to lunch and costs $4.99.

Education major Natasha Jamal selects colourful carrotsEducation major Natasha Jamal selects colourful carrots from Natural Earth Organics during the Farmer’s Market, Thursday outside the CAW Student Centre.

Market brings farmer’s goods to centre of campus

The campus farmer’s market is “a great idea,” says Sabrinna Misasi. The first-year psychology and sociology student bought three peaches and a quart of strawberries from Bob Arquette of Mimi’s Fruits and vegetables during Thursday’s market day outside the CAW Student Centre.

“I am so excited,” she says. “I was kind of waiting for the market to be open.”

She says living in residence means she has less access to fresh fruit than she did at home.

“I know a lot of students probably feel the same way,” Misasi says. “I will definitely be here every Thursday.”

Students, staff and faculty browsed the goods offered by vendors at a number of stalls, featuring everything from organic produce to candles.

“The only butter tart I have ever regretted is one I didn’t buy,” says Armand Gaudette, an application programmer in IT Services, as he picked up a variety pack of six from the Mennonite bakers of the Dutch House.

The market will operate from 1 to 6 p.m. every Thursday through October 9.