Trying to maintain romantic relations, some women learn to ignore their own needs — even suppressing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions, says Tanja Samardzic.

A Master’s candidate in the UWindsor applied social psychology program, she is exploring the “self-silencing” of women in relationships with violent men. She describes it as a collection of behaviours where women put aside what they want and need, putting their partners first.

“Some women internalize social pressure and gender norms as to what a good woman should be,” Samardzic says. “There is a culture of gender-norm socialization that places women secondary to men.”

Her research project is one of 10 across Ontario chosen to receive the 2018-19 Women’s Health Scholars Awards, earning funding from the provincial government to continue their important research to improve the health and well-being of women. Samardzic will receive $26,000.

“It’s exciting that I get funding that I hope will help women one day,” she says. “Especially since my work is very social in nature and so many of the other projects are more biological. It is exciting that they acknowledge my work as important to women.”

David Lindsay, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, which administers the awards, calls inspiring the research they will fund.

“This outstanding work reflects Ontario universities’ commitment to partnering to conduct innovative research on new treatments and better services, train the highly-skilled professionals that deliver high-quality care, and improve the health and well-being of the people of Ontario,” he says.

For her part, Samardzic hopes her research will serve as a first step improving interventions and support offered to survivors of intimate partner abuse.

“I hope to give these women a voice,” she says.

Sergio Marchionne (BComm 1979, MBA 1983, LLD 2005), the former chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler, leaves a legacy of business success and support for education, says UWindsor president Douglas Kneale.

Marchionne died Wednesday at the age of 66.

“We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Marchionne,” Dr. Kneale said.

“Here at the University of Windsor, we are remembering him as an outstanding graduate, a distinguished supporter and friend of the University, and a great mentor to our students.”

Marchionne was named CEO of Fiat SpA in 2004; the company acquired Chrysler in 2014. He is widely credited with saving both automakers. Ill health prompted his exit from corporate leadership over the weekend.

His post-graduate ties to the University included the establishment of the International Master’s in Automotive Engineering program, which enabled students to complete concurrent graduate degrees from UWindsor and Politecnico di Torino in Italy, and regular appearances on campus to mentor students.

In a keynote address at the 2016 Georgie-Odette Leadership Symposium, Marchionne credited his studies at the University of Windsor with launching his career.

“If there’s a high point in my life, it’s the time I spent here,” Marchionne said at the time.

The message that resonated with many UWindsor students was to “stay humble, keep a clean heart” and “don’t be anything other than what you are.”

Campus flags were flown at half-staff in Marchionne’s memory on Wednesday, July 25.

Coming to Canada has introduced her to new ways of teaching and learning, says Xin (Lucy) Liu.

She is completing the English Language Improvement Program at the University of Windsor this summer in preparation for studies towards a master’s degree in education.

Liu taught middle school in her native China and had majored in English as an undergraduate student. Now she is exploring Canadian approaches to pedagogy.

“Education in my country is very exam-oriented,” she says. “I think the students have too much pressure. I want to learn some new methodologies.”

She says her classes at the Centre for English Language Development have played a critical role in improving her communication skills, and the social aspects are valuable, too.

“I want to take every opportunity to engage in the activities they have for us,” says Liu.

She brought her husband and daughter to participate in World Student Day, July 20 in the David Wilson Commons. They enjoyed creating giant bubbles, dancing to La Macarena during a Zumba session, and making new friends at a barbecue lunch.

It wasn’t the first instance of the family being welcomed into the community with an outdoor meal.

“People are so friendly here,” Liu says. “Soon after we moved into our new home in South Windsor, we were invited to a neighbour’s backyard barbecue. It was so nice!”

A scholarship that aims to support first and second-generation Canadians has reached its first milestone on its way to its $40,000 goal.

The Addolorata De Luca Leadership Scholarship announced recently it had raised $25,000.

Cessidia DeBiasio, scholarship founder and University of Windsor BSW and BComm graduate, said the scholarship provides $1,000 to a student every year and is selected by the University of Windsor’s Student Award and Financial Aid committee.

“The ADL Scholarship is all about giving back to the next generation of student leaders at the University of Windsor,” DeBiasio said.

“It also helps to recognize and honour all of the sacrifices that our ancestors endured when they first came to Canada.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.adlscholarship.com or email info@adlscholarship.com.

More than 300 UWindsor engineering students will display their latest innovations Friday, July 27, in the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation.

The capstone projects designed by fourth-year engineering students include:

• an efficient expansion of the City of Windsor’s district energy system using chilled water from the Detroit River;
• an innovative greenhouse automation system that monitors and displays real-time greenhouse conditions; and
• a re-design of the intersection at California Avenue and Wyandotte Street West to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow.

Students will present their projects to industry partners and faculty during an open house between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the first floor of the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation.

The team-based projects are the culmination of the undergraduate program and a requirement for degree completion. Students combine the technical skills and hands-on experience acquired during their program and design a project related to their chosen discipline.

Projects from the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering will be on display.

Kristie Pearce

Maria Bermudez will be hitting the beach in alumni style. An instructor in the Centre for English Language Development, she won Tuesday’s DailyNews trivia contest and its summer prize package donated by the University of Windsor Alumni Association.

Bermudez’s entry was drawn from all those which correctly identified Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” as the subject of an animated short on the Sonny and Cher Show, the Stampeders’ “Sweet City Woman” as opening with “Well, I’m on my way,” and Terry Bush’s “Maybe Tomorrow” as the theme to the Canadian television series The Littlest Hobo.

She will receive a folding chair, a pair of sunglasses, a toy flying disk, and an inflatable beachball, all imprinted with the alumni association’s logo.

Staff and faculty responsible for maintaining UWindsor websites must be trained in the University’s content management system to become a Drupal 7 editor.

Registration is now open for a session Thursday, August 9, led by Rob Aitkens, Rob Aitkens, web development team lead in Public Affairs and Communications.

Website Basic Training will focus on teaching site editors how to create pages and events, upload graphics and use menus and blocks. The class also covers University and legislative guidelines for posting content.

It is aimed at employees with little previous experience with the system, for those upgrading their sites from version 6 to 7, or as a refresher, and is not mandatory for those who have already received training in Drupal 7.

The class will run 9 a.m. to noon in room G101, Leddy Library. Registration is required through this online form.

Even if you’re not a golfer, you can join the annual Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament, at the Ambassador Golf Club on Monday, July 30.

While the playing field is sold out, the University of Windsor Alumni Association invites everyone to come out for the dinner. Cocktails start at 3 p.m. followed by a great meal for just $50 per person, with proceeds supporting student scholarships on campus. All guests will be eligible for prize draws during the reception.

“The links we form with each other are as important as the links on the course,” says Rob Janisse, co-ordinator of special projects in the office of Alumni Affairs and Donor Communications.

To purchase dinner tickets, contact him at robj@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 4055.

The tournament will feature hole-in-one contests, on-course engagement opportunities, tastings from local wineries and breweries, and appearances by Toronto Maple Leafs alumni Al Iafrate and Rick Vaive.

The deadline for faculty and staff to post a work-study position is Friday, July 27.

Ignite has transitioned to a wage subsidy model and is now open to all UWindsor students (some restrictions apply; view the Ignite website for details). Supervisors will pay their students from their own departmental student casual wage accounts and will be reimbursed a subsidy of up to $1,250 or $2,500, depending on the length of the position.

Job proposals will be vetted and scored by an evaluation committee to determine which positions will be awarded funding. For more information on the Ignite program, contact Sydney Murray, program co-ordinator, at ignite@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 2577.

The UWindsor athletics department has appointed the first full-time head coaches in program history for two varsity teams: Kevin Hamlin to men’s hockey and James Gravelle to men’s volleyball.

Hamlin has served as head coach on a part-time basis since 2008. In that time, his team won a provincial title in 2013, twice qualified for the national championship tournament, and made the playoffs in nine straight seasons. Ontario University Athletics twice named him coach of the year in his sport.

Read more at goLancers.ca.

Gravelle has coached his squad in a part-time position since 2013. Last season, his team won its first-ever provincial medal, a bronze, and appeared for the first time in the national championship tournament.

Athletics director Mike Havey called it a positive trajectory.

“In a full-time role, James will be able to continue to build on the significant program progress that he has been able to achieve in his first five years as head coach,” Havey said. Read the full story at goLancers.ca.