A public symposium Friday, March 31, at the Alan Wildeman Centre for the Creative Arts will highlight the Detroit River as a focal point for teaching local history and leverage that understanding to strengthen society and shape community.

“Presenting the Past to the Public: A Symposium on Race, Slavery, Resistance, and Identity,” presented jointly by the Detroit River Project; the University of Windsor Department of History; and the University of Michigan Center for Design, Evaluation, and Research; will feature UWindsor history students demonstrating how local Black history narratives are creatively conveyed, as well as keynote addresses and panel discussions.

Speakers include:

• historian Elise Harding-Davis, a consultant on African-Canadian heritage;
• law professor Anneke Smit from UWindsor’s UN Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development;
• Jay Meeks, a former 5-12 social studies teacher, teacher educator, and University of Michigan program administrator; and
• James Holly, a University of Michigan faculty member dedicated to counteracting anti-Black racism in engineering.

The panel discussion, including audience questions, will be moderated by Kimberly Simmons, president of the Detroit River Project.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration for remote or in-person participation including complimentary lunch is required and available here.

A partnership between the School of Computer Science and Sterling Information Technologies will provide graduate and undergraduate students with a comprehensive introduction to cybersecurity: access to the latest technology, software, and solutions, as well as real-world, hands-on experience through an immersive learning environment.

The collaboration will give students with an opportunity to combine theory and practice through a three-part course on ethical hacking, digital forensics, and network defence set to take place from May to August 2023. This partnership also aims to help students understand what the expectations are should they pursue the field after they graduate.

The company’s chief strategist, Peaches Madarang-Cesario, said Sterling Information Technologies is thrilled to mentor students and prepare them for careers in cybersecurity.

“We are helping them set realistic goals so that it opens up opportunities for them,” she said. “We believe this partnership will help prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this sought-after and ever-evolving field.”

Imran Ahmad, acting director of the School of Computer Science, said its students will benefit from the partnership: “It will allow them to not only learn theory from the experts in industry, but also gain hands-on experience to be successful in the real world.”

The University of Windsor’s membership in the ProsperUs collective of organizations from across the community sharing accountability to support kids from cradle to career is just one example of how it works side-by-side with the United Way, Leslie Frattaroli, the charity’s vice-president for engagement and donor stewardship told dozens of supporters who gathered Monday to cheer as its flag was raised outside Chrysler Hall Tower.

“I’m here to thank you for your support and to ask that you look in your hearts as to how you can help children and youth in our community,” she said.

The event launched the 2023 Campus Campaign for United Way, a week of activities to encourage contributions to the charity.

Sukanya Pillay, executive director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and daughter of long-time campaign chair Datta Pillay — who died in January — hoisted the United Way banner up the flagpole at the building’s southwest corner.

Admissions and records clerk Jennifer Molnar of the registrar’s office won an extra day of vacation in a draw for faculty and staff in attendance.

The week will continue with volunteers staffing a table in the student centre commons from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through March 30 to accept donations and sell raffle tickets toward prizes of Apple AirPod headphones, personal training sessions at the Toldo Lancer Centre, and a package of UWindsor swag. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20, with payment accepted by cash or card.

Buying a campaign T-shirt or ball cap for $20 will earn students or employees a ballot in a draw for an eight-month campus parking pass.

Learn more on the Campus Campaign for United Way website.

The modern form of anti-Semitism, how it has evolved, and how to combat it, is the subject of a panel discussion Thursday, March 30, presented by the Windsor Law Jewish Students Association and the Windsor Jewish Federation and Community Centre.

“Fighting Antisemitism in 2023” begins at 7 p.m. in the Performance Hall, SoCA Armouries, and will feature panellists: Yaron Deckel, Canadian regional director of the Jewish Agency for Israel; activist Shai Deluca; Jon Liedtke, an on-air host for AM800 CKLW; and current and incoming Jewish Students Association presidents Dean Lavi and Sydney Greenspoon.

Students and parents from Frank W. Begley elementary school gathered March 22 to learn from UWindsor nursing students about physical and emotional well-being as part of a “Spring into Health” fair.

The fair is a component of a 12-week placement offered for third-year nursing students and forms an integral part of their curriculum since it teaches the students to understand, interact, and communicate effectively with youth in a community setting.

Begley students engaged in mock exercises, interactive games, and question-and-answer sessions focused on every aspect of health and safety, including the importance of physical activity, youth mental health, healthy eating, home fire safety, outdoor recreational safety precautions including sun and water safety, anti-smoking and anti-vaping, and sensible computer and mobile device screen time usage.

“The placement is significant because it promotes a healthy lifestyle at the elementary school level, something that is critical since it’s part of a child’s formative years,” says Katherine Beaumont, a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Nursing. “In turn, the hope is that good habits are formed which leads to less health-related problems down the road.”

Beaumont says that the initiative dates to 2002. Retired professors Sharon McMahon and Mary Cole, along with school board superintendents including a social worker and a special needs teacher, tabled the idea of pediatric placements within community schools. Students were checked for overall health such as vision, hearing, height, head lice or nits, and at younger ages, basic comprehension of exercise and health.

Today, the placement has evolved and expanded to Dougall Avenue Public School, General Brock Public School, and includes such community partners as:

• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
• Windsor Fire Department
• Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex
• Windsor Goodfellows
• Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
• Children First
• Talk to Me
• New Beginnings

For more information about the placement program and health fair, contact nursing clinical co-ordinator Andrea Reddam at andrea.reddam@uwindsor.ca.

—Gam Macasaet

A webinar Thursday, March 30, will focus on 10 lessons that can guide women on their path to financial security.

“Women and Wealth: 10 Lessons” will help young adults learn good financial habits, provide guidance throughout key life events, and discuss the importance of financial literacy. Presented by the Alumni Relations department in partnership with affinity program partner TD Insurance, it is applicable from young adulthood to retirement and leaving a legacy.

It runs noon to 1 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Bring your daughter or invite a friend and together learn more about planning for the future to help create your roadmap to achieve your financial goals.

All registrants who attend the webinar will also be entered into a random draw to win a pair of Skullcandy Jib True Wireless Earbuds. The webinar is open to all University of Windsor alumni, students, faculty, and staff members; register here to attend.

Student Evaluations of Teaching for Winter 2023 are now open for most classes, available online through UWinsite Student.

The schedule for evaluations is on the registrar’s timetable information page, under the link to “Winter 2023 – Final.” Students have the opportunity to provide feedback on their courses through the completion of the surveys, which remain open through the last day of classes.

Instructions on how to access and complete the online evaluations can be found on ask.uwindsor.ca.

Canada must make significant increases in funding for research to keep the nation competitive, Universities Canada said in a statement released in anticipation of the federal budget set for Tuesday.

“Canada’s peers are increasing research funding because they see the economic opportunities of providing long-term and stable funding for science,” said Paul Davidson, president of Universities Canada. “Without similar ambition, we will miss out on these opportunities.”

The statement said the health of Canada’s research ecosystem is central to fostering innovation and developing talent — two critical elements Canada needs to ensure its long-term prosperity.

It called for renewed investments in research funding through the federal granting agencies, the creation of an additional 1,000 Canada Research Chairs, and enhancements to the Canada Graduate Scholarships to restore their value to historic levels.

Read the entire statement on the Universities Canada website.

The Organization of Part-time University Students will hold its 2023 annual general meeting on Thursday, March 30, starting at 4:30 p.m. in the student centre’s second-floor boardroom.

In addition to board and staff reports and a financial overview, the agenda will feature a keynote address on the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT by Nick Baker, director of the Office of Open Learning.

All current UWindsor students — part-time or full-time, undergraduate or graduate — are welcome to join this session and enter for a chance to win a door prize. Part-time undergrads also are eligible to vote on motions: the first 50 to register here and join the meeting will receive a gift card.

The University has declared a number of items of office furniture for sale by bid as Disposal File 1090. They include:

• a rolling cabinet measuring 21.5" high x 16" wide x 18" deep with two drawers and one file drawer
• a black storage cabinet with three lateral file draws and a lockable cupboard, 65" high x 30" wide x 19" deep
• two metal three-drawer lateral filing cabinets, each 36" high x 41" wide x 19" deep
• a black five-shelf bookcase measuring 65" high x 36" wide x 12" deep
• a four-drawer lateral filing cabinet, 52" high x 36" wide x 18" deep
• a desk with keyboard shelf, 29" high x 42" wide x 24" deep
• a U-shaped executive desk and credenza in cherry finish, 70" high x 112" long x 70" wide
• a cherry-finish executive filing cabinet, 83" high x 36" wide x 20" deep
• two cherry-finish executive storage units, with two doors and a shelf, each 29" high x 36" wide x 20" deep
• a round office table in cherry finish, 30" high x 42" diameter
• an oval eight-foot long conference table in cherry finish
• 14 side chairs with fabric seat and metal base

Click here for details.