CJAM logoChanges to student funding rules imposed by the provincial government have campus radio station CJAM seeking community support for its annual pledge drive.

Campus radio counting on community support to continue operations

The campus community radio station CJAM has eliminated its paid music director position and been rallying local support to maintain its operations while students opt out of paying its levy.

Station manager Brady Holek reports that about 29 per cent of students chose to opt out in the fall semester, in the average range across the province, representing a $15,700 reduction in its budget. A similar opt-out rate in the winter would mean an annual loss of more than $31,000.

“We aren’t happy to see this funding go, especially since we only had a few months’ notice, but things could be a lot worse,” Holek says. “It’s been incredible to see so many members of the community stepping up to help us out.”

He says the response from performance venues, musicians, and listeners has helped to create a financial cushion, giving him reason to look forward to CJAM’s future.

“We are very lucky to have so many community supporters who believe in the promotion of local, independent, non-commercial music and programming,” says Holek. “If the past few months have shown me anything, it’s that local artists, venues, and the community at large believe in the CJAM mandate.”

The station will launch its annual week-long fall pledge drive on Friday, Nov. 8, and Holek notes it has already received a valuable contribution — Local 1393 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing the UWindsor trades, technical, and professional staff, sponsored the T-shirts offered as a donor incentive.

“This is huge for us. Without CUPE 1393 sponsoring the t-shirts we would not have the ability to provide them as a thank-you to our donors,” he says. “The fall fundraiser is extremely important for us because it represents a significant portion of our annual budget and is essential in maintaining our ability to broadcast.”

Donations to the station can be made online at cjam.ca, by calling 519-971-3630 in Windsor and 1-855-344-2526 in Detroit, or in-person through Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Athena head logo of the Humanities Research GroupThe Humanities Research Group presents Humanities Week, Nov. 11 to 15.

Humanities Week to discuss some big questions

Humanities Week, Nov. 11 through 15, promises a series of diverse events in casual settings. Hosted by the Humanities Research Group, activities are intended to foster discussion and a better understanding of the humanities.

This year’s schedule includes:

  • Monday, Nov. 11
    Advice from the Real World: Recent graduates from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences talk about work and careers
    1 p.m. in the Collaboratory Space, Leddy Library
  • Tuesday, Nov. 12
    The invented crisis: lecture on Universities and the demise of free speech by law professor Richard Moon
    6 p.m. at the Performance Hall, Armouries Building, 37 University Ave. E.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 13
    Great Scots: Douglas Gibson discusses Canadian Fiction Writers with Links to Scotland
    6 p.m. in the Multimedia Studio, Alan Wildeman Centre for Creative Arts, 360 Freedom Way
  • Thursday, Nov. 14
    Play reading and discussion: HRG fellow Michelle McArthur will lead a staged reading of Erin Shields’ Millennial Malcontent
    7 p.m. at the Hatch Studio Theatre, Jackman Dramatic Art Centre
  • Friday, Nov. 15
    30 Years Celebration: featuring the winner of the 2019 Why Humanities? contest
    5 p.m. at the Green Been Café, 2320 Wyandotte St. W.

All the events are open to the public and free to attend. Learn more on the HRG’s website.

—Dana Roe

image from League of LegendsLeague of Legends is one of the video games to be played in the first-ever UWindsor esports tournament.

Prizes and pizza on offer at first-ever UWindsor esports event

An electronic sports tournament will help to showcase and build the community of video gamers, say organizers. The UWindsor ESports LAN Tournament is presented by the Developer Student Club on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the EZY Mode Gaming Lounge, 943 Ottawa St.

“The idea for this event was brought to us and has been facilitated by Aislyn Laurent and Paul Meister from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, alongside a team of nursing and human kinetics students, which really highlights the cross-disciplinary interest for an event of this nature,” says club lead Noah Campbell.

“With the increasing prevalence of esports both globally and in Windsor-Essex, we have the opportunity to capitalize on the community building and recruitment opportunities this has for our region.”

Players will compete for over $1,000 in prizes. The free event is open to students from the University of Windsor and local high schools regardless of skill level, but advance registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uwindsor-esports-community-lan-tickets-78011531591.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until the tournament determines champions.

Students may register individually and team up at the event, or sign up as a team with their friends to play League of Legends, Rocket League, or Smash. Those interested in casual gaming are also welcome to attend for Mario Kart, board games, free food, and more.

The event is sponsored by the Faculty of Science, Office of Student Experience, School of Computer Science, and Office of Student Recruitment.

Ostrich having swallowed beer glass; astonished-looking zookeeperOrnithological education and entertainment are on the agenda for Birds & Beers, Nov. 14 at the Walkerville Brewery.

Public outreach event for the birds

An evening of fun with bird researchers from the University of Windsor will open this year’s Science on Tap series on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Birds and Beers III promises:

  • mini-talks about UWindsor bird research;
  • graduate student bird research posters;
  • exhibits by the Avian Taxidermy Club; and
  • bird trivia game with bird prizes.

It will run 7 to 10 p.m. in the Walkerville Brewery, located at 525 Argyle Rd.

Admission of $15, with a student rate of $10, includes a beverage and a slice of pizza. Tickets may be purchased through Snapd: https://windsor.snapd.com/events/view/1278543.

United Way flag flying outside Chrysler Hall TowerUWindsor faculty and staff can learn more about the United Way’s efforts to fight childhood poverty at campus lunch-and-learns sessions.

Lunch and learn sessions to explore opportunities for charity

Lunch sessions over the next couple of weeks will educate UWindsor faculty and staff about some of the United Way programs fighting child poverty in Windsor-Essex.

An Emerging Philanthropists lunch-and-learn on Tuesday, Nov. 12, is aimed at employees in their 20s and 30s. Set for noon in Vanier Hall’s Oak Room, it will offer information on the #unignorable campaign from the perspective of a child growing up in poverty, and how you can help.

A session for Women United on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Katzman Lounge, Vanier Hall, will discuss the On Track to Success program and how it is building secure futures for at-risk children. Current members of Women United will offer testimonials about their contributions to reducing local poverty.

A free lunch will be served at both events. For more details or to RSVP, email Sheri Lowrie at sherio@uwindsor.ca.

A happy grad poses for a selfie with chancellor Mary Jo Haddad.A happy grad poses for a selfie with chancellor Mary Jo Haddad during fall convocation ceremonies, which will be aired by Cogeco television next week.

Cogeco to telecast fall Convocation ceremonies

Cogeco television will air video recordings of the University of Windsor’s Oct. 19 112th Convocation ceremonies next week.

The sessions are scheduled for the following timeslots on cable channel 11 and 700HD:

  • The 10 a.m. session of undergraduate and graduate programs in the faculties of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Education; Human Kinetics; Nursing; Science; and Law; plus the Odette School of Business — Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.
  • The 4 p.m. session of undergraduate and graduate programs in the Faculty of Engineering — Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 3 p.m.

The videos, produced by staff of Public Affairs and Communications, are also available for streaming through the Convocation website.