A satellite location of the Peer Support Centre launching today will bring on-site mental health resources to students situated downtown.

The centre, a service of the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance, will operate once a month from room 107, Windsor Hall. It will open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 15, November 19, and December 10.

Co-ordinator John Antoniw says the goal is to help the university implement its student mental health strategy.

“Students who are exclusively downtown can feel isolated and have to travel a distance to access services such as on-site peer support, student counselling, and accessibility services,” he says. “It’s not feasible during a quick break to just hop over to main campus and come back.”

The new location is a pilot project to determine the needs of the downtown students in social work and creative arts disciplines.

“If having a presence at least once a week is better, we will try to accommodate that. If there is a better time during the week to provide the service downtown, we can modify this too,” says Antoniw. “We basically would love to hear feedback from students about what works best and suggestions to make the service more accessible.”

Contact him with comments or questions at psc@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 4551.

Scientists sampling water in the Tennessee River found that microplastics are prolific, proving that the pollutants aren’t just an ocean problem.

Hydroecologist Jill Crossman of the UWindsor Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, told National Geographic reporter Sarah Gibbens that microscopic pieces of plastic can enter freshwater systems in a number of ways — from large plastic discarded over the sides of boats to synthetic clothing fibres washed down drains.

“It is important to continue research in this area because once microplastics are in the environment, there is no known way to effectively remove them,” Dr. Crossman said. “While we don't know yet the full impact on microplastics in the environment, the rate of accumulation of plastics in general in our watercourses is quite alarming.”

Read Gibbens’ full article, “‘Alarming level’ of microplastics found in a major U.S. river,” on the National Geographic website.

One of Canada’s leading constitutional lawyers will deliver the annual Greenspan Cohn Lecture in Windsor Law’s Moot Court at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 16.

Joseph Arvay will deliver “Litigating at the Intersections of Criminal and Constitutional Law.”

Arvay has represented public interest associations, governments and government agencies, First Nations, and public corporations on a variety of matters including medical malpractice, class actions, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and defamation cases. He has successfully acted in every level of the courts in British Columbia and other provinces and territories and has extensive Supreme Court of Canada experience.

Tuesday’s lecture is free and open to the public. RSVP at https://events.attend.com/f/1383784634.

One of Canada’s foremost technology companies will discuss experiential learning opportunities for UWindsor students at an information session on campus Friday, October 19.

BlackBerry, specialists in enterprise software and services, will send representatives to promote its co-op and internship programs at the event, which will run 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in room 202, Toldo Health Education Centre. These recruiters will not be addressing roles for grads or permanent hires.

“We are very excited to have the BlackBerry recruiters on campus,” says Johanna Beneteau, internship co-ordinator, Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships. “For students enrolled in or thinking of enrolling in a co-op or internship program, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.”

To attend, register with the UWindsor Office of Co-operative Education and Workplace Partnerships.

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility (OHREA) is accepting submissions for the annual OHREA Awards.

The awards will be presented at an open house reception on Friday, December 7.

Five awards will be given to recognize and celebrate the contributions individuals and groups have made to advance human rights, social justice, diversity, inclusivity, employment equity, mental health and accessibility at the University of Windsor.

All members of the University community — students, faculty, staff, retirees, alumni, and volunteers — are eligible to be nominated for the awards.

The submission deadline is November 5. More information about the awards and the nomination process is available on the awards website.

The Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) lists highlights of more than 100 programs and services in its 2017-18 annual report, posted last week to its website.

The document hails a partnership to expand to the campus of St. Clair College, as well as several new projects: the Social Innovation Initiative, Print for Healthcare, and the EPIC Makers’ Base makerspace.

Read about the centre’s research projects, educational activities, and support for startup ventures in its report.