Mical Palumbo, a trainer in IT Services, won Thursday’s DailyNews contest and two tickets to the University Jazz Ensemble’s spring concert and dance, Friday, March 30, at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts.

Admission is $10, with a student rate of $5. Order tickets by phone at 519-253-3000, ext. 4212, or purchase online at www.uwindsor.ca/music. Tickets also available at the door. Find more information on the music Web site.

Palumbo earned her prize by having her name drawn from all respondents who correctly answered that 24 little hours brought the sun and the flowers, Thad Jones claims this bass was made for walkin’ and Jerome Kern’s I Won’t Dance premiered in Three Sisters.

Busy faculty members often have many questions about developing and managing a research program but don’t always know the right person to ask. A special event will bring together a wealth of experience in one room to provide them with the answers they need, according to Natasha Wiebe.

“It’s a one-stop shopping kind of event targeted for time-starved faculty,” said Dr. Wiebe, a research funding officer in the Office of Research Services. “We’re talking about a pool of collective knowledge and experience here.”

Night of the Round Table will be similar to a speed-dating style of event and is geared specifically for researchers in social sciences, the humanities, and health.

Whether you’re a researcher looking for funding, or one who already has a grant, this will be the event for you, Wiebe said. The event will last about 90 minutes and various experts will be seated at tables and available to answer questions related to:

• budgets
• CIHR & SSHRC
• clinical health research
• knowledge mobilization and translation
• peer review of draft grant applications
• publicizing research
• research ethics

The event will be held in the Oak Room at Vanier Hall on May 1 at 4 pm. There is limited seating, so Wiebe said people should reserve their spots early. She can be contacted at ext. 3953 or at nwiebe@uwindsor.ca

There can be no greater tribute than to know that someone you helped is inspired to go on and help others in the same way.

Romina Oulevey, co-op coordinator in the Centre for Career Education, received that accolade Thursday in accepting the student-nominated award at the annual GEM luncheon.

“Romina encouraged me to increase my confidence level, realize my positive points which ultimately led to my success,” her nominator wrote. “I am now mentoring other students the way she mentored me.”

The GEM awards recognize staff members in Student and International Affairs who “Go the Extra Mile.”

Oulevey said she felt a little overwhelmed.

“I am extrememly honoured, especially to know a student nominated me,” she said. “My job is already rewarding, getting to see our students succeed.”

Peer-nominated awards went to Beth Oakley, director of the Educational Development Centre, and Rosemary Plastow, a psychologist in the Student Counselling Centre.

Clayton Smith, vice-provost, students and international, sponsors the awards. He said what makes them work is that the recognition is generated by peers and clients.

“This event is not mine, it’s ours,” he said. “It represents colleagues supporting each other in what they are doing.”

Dr. Smith also awarded a posthumous Lifetime GEM to Alan Gold, who died November 5, 2011. The mathematics professor emeritus had taken on a post-retirement role as academic coordinator of the University’s student exchange programs.

“We remember Alan Gold as an excellent educator with a commitment to broadening the student experience throughout his long and distinguished career at the University of Windsor,” said Smith.

Dr. Gold’s widow, Margaret Ann Gold, was on hand to accept the award.

The money wasn’t what drove Ashley Keefner into the Outstanding Scholars program. Instead, says the fourth-year arts and science student, it was the opportunity to work closely with faculty members.

Her inter-faculty program allowed her to work on research projects with physics professor William Baylis and philosophy professor Marcello Guarini. The experience inspired her to pursue graduate study in related fields following her June graduation.

“I liked getting exposure to the sort of work the professors do,” Keefner says. “It was the best part of being an outstanding scholar.”

The program provides high-achieving undergraduate students with scholarships and access to professional training and mentorship. Keefner was one of the members completing their degrees this year fêted at a luncheon in their honour Wednesday.

Coordinator Barbara Niewitecka said the students appreciated the gesture.

“They like to be together, to develop a sense of connection,” she said. “The social part of the program is valuable too.”

Gyllian Porteous and Jessica Smith developed a connection. The two, also graduating from the arts and sciences program, are planning a five-week tour of Italy together this summer to celebrate their graduations.

Provost Leo Groarke announced earlier this year that the Outstanding Scholars program will expand beyond a limited number of disciplines to encompass new enrolees in every first-entry academic program.

“The program is Windsor's premiere student engagement program for high-achieving undergraduates, providing UWindsor students with opportunities that are not available at other universities,” Dr. Groarke said. “Expanding it will will allow us to make it a program that defines us across the institution, highlighting the quality of the undergraduate education available at the University of Windsor. We hope that these changes will provide more of our students with truly exceptional preparation for further study after they graduate.”

The change will become effective in September 2013, said vice-provost, students and international, Clayton Smith. He says he has wanted to find broader application of the Outstanding Scholars program since first coming to Windsor.

“Because of the success of the program, we felt a need for all disciplines to participate,” he said.

Learn more on the program’s Web site.

UWindsor psychology student Tessa Virtue and her ice dancing partner Scott Moir reclaimed their top ranking at the world figure skating championships in Nice, France.

The pair won the 2010 world title as well as the gold medal at the Vancouver Olympic Games, but had to settle for second place at the 2011 world championship. This week, they won both the short program and free skate, finishing with a total of 182.65 points – more than four points ahead of the defending titlists, Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Both teams train at the Arctic Figure Skating Club in Canton, Michigan.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada welcomed strategic investments in research and innovation in Thursday’s federal budget.

“The budget provides new opportunities for talented graduate students to gain research experiences in companies across Canada,” association president Paul Davidson said in a statement. “We’re also pleased the budget recognizes the importance of deepening international education and research linkages.”

In a climate where some federal government departments are seeing reductions, the federal budget provides ongoing funding for research and innovation, including:

• An additional $500 million over five years for the Canada Foundation for Innovation,

• Measures to give graduate students valuable research experience in the private sector,
• $60 million for Genome Canada to launch a new applied research competition in the area of human health, and to sustain the Science and Technology Centres until 2014–15,
• $40 million over two years to support CANARIE’s operation of Canada’s ultra-high speed research network,
• $17 million over two years to further advance the development of alternatives to existing isotope production technologies, and
• $10 million over two years to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research to link Canadians to global research networks.

Read the full statement, “Universities give high marks to smart investments in research and innovation.”

This Friday, come 7 p.m. at the Katzman Lounge, more than 40 creative writing students will be presenting their work at the Creative Writing Gala Reading.

Each student stands up to the podium, takes a deep breath, and reads a short piece. Then the next student runs up, and presents theirs.

“I’m really excited,” said Priscilla Bernauer, a fourth-year English literature and creative writing student. “This’ll be my third consecutive year doing it.”

Students have to work over their nerves to perform.

“I tend to get a bit jittery,” said Bernauer. “I’ve been giggling a lot today.”

Many of the classes have also put together their own chapbooks: collections of their work. These will be for sale at the gala. Bernauer worked on the chapbook for her Creative Writing III class.

“I was the managing editor for the chapbook and I learned a lot about the process of editing,” she said. “So it’s really exciting to see everyone’s work together.”

Professor Nicole Markotić said the gala is fun for audience members.

“We only get a taste of each writer; everyone reading gets two minutes, so the evening goes by in a flurry,” she said. “It's a great way to celebrate a year of writing challenges, verbal back-flips, and wild page formatting!”

The event is free and open to the public.

— article and photo by Jason Rankin

The Paul Martin Law Library will offer extended hours beginning this weekend for exam study.

Its weekend hours of operation will be:

• Saturday, March 31, 11 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.
• Friday, April 6, Closed for Good Friday
• Saturday, April 7 and 14, 11 a.m. to 10:50 p.m.
• Sunday, April 8 and 15, 1 to 11:50 p.m.

It will reduce hours of operation beginning Friday, April 20:

• Friday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
• Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
• Sunday, April 22, 1 to 8:50 p.m.
• Monday through Wednesday, April 23 to 25, 8:30 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.
• Thursday, April 26, 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
• Friday, April 27, 8:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, closed

Summer hours will begin Monday, April 30, when the Law Library will open with the following schedule:

• Mondays – Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
• Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to noon
• Saturdays and Sundays, closed

The Leddy Library will move to 24-hour operations, running 8 a.m. Thursday, April 5, through Friday, April 13, until 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 14. It re-opens April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., then 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 15, to midnight on Thursday, April 19.

The following union position is available to internal bargaining unit members only. Bargaining unit members interested in this position are requested to apply in writing by completing an 'Application for Transfer' form and forwarding it to: Department of Human Resources or employment@uwindsor.caon or before 4 p.m. on the posting closing date. Please note: Union positions are covered by the union collective agreement, therefore, please be aware that we must allow our qualified unionized staff the first opportunity for transfer or promotion to these positions. This opportunity is not available to external applicants.

CAW 2458 Full Time

#2012-FT-06 Receptionist/Secretary ‘5’ in the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility
The following posting closes April 5  at 4 p.m.

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility (OHREA) is committed to serving the needs of students, staff, and faculty, while working in partnership with members of the wide University community. The Receptionist/Secretary will undertake numerous administrative communication and compilation duties of the Office and perform a variety of tasks in order to support the department in its routine daily responsibilities.

The successful candidate with have strong interpersonal skills, including a high level of cultural competency. The ability to remain professional in all situations, particularly those situations that are emotionally and/or politically charged, in addition to the ability to demonstrate integrity and to maintain a high degree of confidentiality are all essential. The successful candidate will have excellent written and oral communication skills as well as the demonstrated organization skills and the ability to work with minimal supervision. A working knowledge MS Word, MS Excel, email and internet; typing speed of 40 NWPM are all required.

Testing: Typing; MS Word (Basic Level), Excel (Basic Level).