The inaugural class of SWORP grant recipientsThe inaugural class of SWORP grant recipients: Sabrina Botsford, Matthew Galati, Christopher Langley, Danielle Mackenzie, Kristin Mayrand, Jasmin Nari and Shihan Rajasingham.

Collaboration with med school to strengthen UWindsor medical research culture

A new program that will fund medical students to conduct research under the supervision of UWindsor faculty is intended to foster a proficiency in the research process.

The Schulich-UWindsor Opportunities for Research Excellence Program (SWORP) provides funding for first- and second-year students in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry-Windsor Program to undertake projects in any area of biomedical, medical or health-related research. The awards are valued at $5,000 each, with UWindsor and Western splitting the cost.

The inaugural seven recipients are

  • Sabrina Botsford, “Relevance of the Tuberin/Cyclin B1 interaction in regulating cell size,” with biology professor Lisa Porter
  • Matthew Galati, “Exploring the effect of exercise on ADHD symptoms in children,” with nursing professor Maher M. El-Masri and Sharon Burey, adjunct professor, Department of Pediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Christopher Langley, “Review of Emergency Room Visits for Hematology Patients in the Windsor-Essex County Region,” with Caroline Hamm, adjunct professor of biological sciences
  • Danielle Mackenzie, “Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the GOALS program in the promotion of physical activity among girls in Windsor-Essex County,” with kinesiology professor Sarah Woodruff
  • Kristin Mayrand, “Effects of isometric resistance exercise on ambulatory blood pressure in hypertension,” with kinesiology professor Cheri McGowan
  • Jasmin Nari, “Characterization of endosomal subtypes for determination of functional regulation of MTMR2 in vesicular trafficking and neuromuscular disease,” with biochemistry professor Otis Vacratsis
  • Shihan Rajasingham, “The effect of exercise intensity on memory consolidation in men and women,” with kinesiology professor Kevin Milne

Organizers hope the program will encourage medical students to incorporate research activities into their future career plans, and also promotes new collaborations with faculties such as nursing and engineering.

papier mâché sculpture of Colin Firth as Mr. DarcyFirth comes forth: a papier mâché sculpture of actor Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy sits in the garden outside the Leddy Library.

Literary character graces library garden

Nothing invokes the University of Windsor’s 50th anniversary like Pride and Prejudice, says Heidi Jacobs, librarian for English at the Leddy Library and a fan of Jane Austen. She has arranged for a two-metre papier mâché sculpture of the book’s romantic hero, Mr. Darcy, to be installed in the garden outside the library today, April 1.

“We wanted to do something at Leddy to celebrate our 50th anniversary,” Jacobs says. “We thought nothing could be more festive than a sculpture of Colin Firth coming out of the water as Mr. Darcy.”

Firth played Fitzwilliam Darcy is a 1995 BBC serialization of the novel, as well as a loose homage, Mark Darcy, in the film adaptations of Bridget Jones’ Diary and its sequel. Jacobs said she was inspired by media reports of a similar sculpture in the Serpentine Lake in London’s Hyde Park.

However, she admits her version is a little removed from the original: “We don’t really have a fountain on campus so I had to settle for water coming out of a rock.”

If you want to see Mr. Darcy, Jacobs warns you’ll need to be quick.

“Because he’s made of papier mâché I fear he’ll only be around for the first day of April—especially if it rains,” she says.

50th Anniversary logo

“Suor Angelica” rehearsalSoprano Erin Armstrong rehearses the Puccini tragedy “Suor Angelica” with students of the Walkerville Centre for Creative Arts.

Music grad on mission to share opera with young audience

Breastplates and horned helmets may have given opera a bad rap, but Erin Armstrong is on a mission to change that. The 2007 UWindsor music graduate is bringing opera to the people and she’s starting with high school students at Walkerville Secondary School’s Centre for Creative Arts.

Armstrong, an opera singer and music teacher, will be performing Giacomo Puccini’s tragic one-act opera Suor Angelica on April 5 at the school, supported by a cast of Walkerville students, the University of Windsor Chamber Choir and mezzo-soprano Amelia Daigle (BMus 2012).

“It just so happens that the Walkerville students are studying classical music this semester so it’s a perfect fit,” Armstrong says. “I think it’s pretty well-known that musicals that kids participate in at school become their favourites and I had done Suor Angelica before so I knew the part very well.”

Armstrong returned to Windsor following a singing career that took her across Canada. She established Music Moves Kids, a choir camp for area children ages 5 through 16 with partner Christine Turingia in 2010. Among their public performances, the kids have been heard at the Pelee Island Winery and Harvest Festival and have been onstage at the Bank Theatre and the Sun Parlour Theatre in Leamington.

Armstrong says her current mission is to preserve opera as a viable art form in an era when its core supporters are an aging audience.

“Opera has always relied on huge public donations, but in order to keep it alive it has to change and evolve and draw a new generation of supporters who love it as a cultural treasure,” she says.

The 45-minute production tells the story of Sister Angelica, a young woman from a wealthy and prominent family who has been placed in a convent by her disapproving family following an illegitimate pregnancy. Drama and tragedy ensue–of course–but readers will have to purchase tickets to the April 5, 7:30 p.m. performance to find out how it ends. Tickets are available through Susan McKee in the School of Music, smckee@uwindsor.ca.

Nominees announced for student-athlete awards

Championship teams are well-represented among the nominees for the top Lancer student athletes. Athletics and Recreational Services announced the nominees in advance of Wednesday’s Lancer Evening of Excellence.

Nominees for the DeMarco Awards, recognizing individuals for a combination of academic and athletic achievements include Jessica Clemençon and Miah-Marie Langlois of the national champion women’s basketball team, Kayla Dodson from women’s hockey, Derek Lanoue of the provincial champion men’s hockey squad, Nick Falk of the provincial champion track and field team, and Austin Kennedy of Lancer football.

Langlois is also up for a Banner Shield as outstanding female athlete of the year, along with volleyballer Kaila Seguin, hockey player Jenny MacKnight and Amilia Di Chiara from track and field.

Nominated for the Olympic Shield as male athlete of the year are Alex Ullman from track and field, hockey goaltender Parker Van Buskirk, Lien Phillip from basketball, and football receiver Evan Pszczonak.

See the full story, including nominees for rookie, sophomore, team and coaching awards, at goLancers.ca. Winners will be announced at the awards banquet, April 2 at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts.

Screening of student films at centre of studio showcase

A showcase of work by third- and fourth-year advanced film production students will feature the screenings of films as well as miniature set designs, Wednesday, April 2, in Studio 5.

Cinema arts professor Min Bae is inviting all interested to attend the free event, which runs 5 to 8 p.m. in room 1093, Essex Hall.

Among the miniature sets on display are Naomi Pelkey’s “Dtown: Past & Present,” which showcases scenes of the city of Detroit, and Aryn Chaif's “Dorf von Lebkuchen,” a German village that draws inspiration from the folktale Hansel and Gretel.

Morty and Lori LewisMorty Lewis loves to help students de-stress, says his handler Lori Lewis.

Students to get “paws” from stress

Students experiencing stress as the end of the semester looms can get some much-needed relaxation therapy, courtesy of the certified friendly dogs of Therapeutic Paws of Canada.

The canine counsellors will be available for meetings with students from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, April 2 and 3, in Ambassador Auditorium’s Salon A, CAW Student Centre.

Lecture to explore definition of informal logic

Philosophy professor emeritus J. Anthony Blair, a senior research fellow with the Centre for Research in Reasoning, Argumentation and Rhetoric, will discuss the nature of his field Wednesday in his free public lecture, “What is informal logic, anyway?”

Informal logic’s critics focus on certain entries in textbooks for argument analysis courses, says Blair.

“I describe how various research themes emerged from a combination of a turn to public domain natural language arguments for the subject of application, and a rejection of deductive validity as the exclusive norm,” he says.

The lecture begins at 4 p.m. April 2 in room 209, Essex Hall.

Windsor Lancer sweatshirtThe University Bookstore has a Lancer sweatshirt, regularly $34.95, on sale today for just $24.95.

Discounted sweatshirt available in three colours

The University Bookstore is offering a $10 discount on a Lancer-themed sweatshirt today—April 1—as its True Savings Tuesday special.

In a heavy-duty cotton-polyester blend, the sweatshirt boasts the wording “Windsor Lancers” and the “evil W” shield, features a hood and kangaroo pocket, and is available in navy, gold, or grey. Normally retailing at $34.95, today it is just $24.95 from the Bookstore kiosk in the CAW Student Centre. The kiosk is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Seeds4Hope logoApplications are now open for the cancer research grants program Seeds4Hope.

Competition offers seed funding for cancer research

Applications are now open for the Seeds4Hope competition, which offers grants to locally-based cancer researchers.

A program of the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation, the competition is now in its sixth year. It has to date awarded over $1.2 million to 18 projects involving more than 50 researchers.

Notification of intent to apply is due by May 26. Find details of the call for proposals, along with general guidelines for researchers, on the foundation’s website.