The four plays presented by University Players during its innovative online theatre festival The Stream You Step In could not have been more timely, says drama professor Michelle MacArthur.

“This project allowed our creative teams to develop new work rapidly, which is not usually the case in theatre,” Dr. MacArthur says. “The plays all respond to current events, such as the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer, and the ways they were staged for Zoom evolved as the platform updated its technology during the rehearsal process.”

Associate creative curator for the digital season — a co-production with the Outside the March theatre company — she will discuss new artistic models to sustain the industry in a panel discussion entitled “Pandemic Performances: Creating Live Theatre on Zoom” at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.

Joining her are panellists:

• Elena Eli Belyea, playwright of the original work The Jubilant;
• Kimberley McLeod, who directed the play’s world premiere; and
• UWindsor music professor Brent Lee, composer of the music played during performances of The Stream You Step In.

MacArthur received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to analyze the creative process and audience experience of the live digital presentations.

“This special funding from SSHRC supports researchers in partnering with organizations to help them address challenges arising from the pandemic, she says. “The four innovative plays produced as part of The Stream You Step In offer new ways of making theatre that promise to have an impact beyond the pandemic and are deepening our understanding of how audiences engage with livecast theatre.”

Thursday’s event is hosted by the Propeller Project on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Admissions is free, but advance registration is required to attend.

After co-authoring a study which offered the first conclusive evidence that dolphins can recognize themselves in a mirror, Lori Marino decided not to conduct any further research with captive animals.

Instead, she founded the Whale Sanctuary Project, which aims to establish a seaside sanctuary where whales and dolphins can live in an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat.

Dr. Marino will discuss the project in a free online presentation Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to the event, hosted by Windsor Anthrozoology.

Marino, a neuroscientist and expert in animal behaviour and intelligence, formerly served on the faculty of Emory University. She has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, and magazine articles on marine mammal biology and cognition, comparative brain anatomy, self-awareness in nonhuman animals, human-nonhuman animal relationships, and the evolution of intelligence.

To receive the link to attend the Microsoft Teams event, register here or email fishe11e@uwindsor.ca.

This year, Giving Tuesday marks the beginning of the faculty, staff, and retiree fundraising campaign.

“The faculty, staff and retiree campaign recognizes the importance of supporting UWindsor students,” says Nicole Broderick, co-ordinator of the University’s Annual Giving program. “You, the donor, have the ability to direct your donation to the area of your choice.”

She adds that the impact of every gift is felt directly by UWindsor students, as 100 per cent of each donation goes to the designated cause. A gift of $10 per paycheque costs less than a cup of coffee a day, a weekly lottery ticket, or a premium Netflix subscription.

Donors to the campaign will be entered into a draw to win some great prizes:

• an extra vacation day
• UWindsor Campus Bookstore gift card – value $100
• Ani and Fabi Baking gift basket – value $100
• Mare Nostrum e-gift card – value $100
• Sandwich Brewing gift basket – value $100

Direct your gift to the campus priority of your choice.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day promoting philanthropy.

“Join with the greater UWindsor community to support our students,” says Nicole Broderick, co-ordinator of the University’s Annual Giving program. “By giving to the UWin Fund, you are supporting students directly.”

Donors will be asked to share their motivation for giving — their “Because” word.

“To each of us, our word will be a unique reflection of our ties to UWindsor, and together they will become something greater,” Broderick says. “We are all in this together, and together we can make a difference.”

Make a donation to the UWin Fund.

Experience on set is the best education for a film student, says Sebastien Gaspar-Woods. That’s one reason he values his time working on documentary being released today. Another was the subject matter: the stories of seven local persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Aging & HIV: A Story of Resiliency, produced and directed by former UWindsor vice-president advancement Amanda Gellman, will be released online for World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

“Working on a film, you learn a lot just by watching the other crew members,” says Gaspar-Woods.

This project was especially enlightening, as the filmmakers interviewed subjects to represent millions of others around the world.

“It was aa very emotional experience,” Gaspar-Woods says. “I’m hoping it will help inspire people to know that they aren’t alone.”

Gellman says the timing of the release couldn’t be better.

“Our plan was to launch the film in a local theatre. However, realizing that there are few, if any, World AIDS Day events in 2020, we decided to release the documentary through a website set up for this purpose,” she says. “People are at home, and the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and ’90s felt a lot like the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, so will be of interest to many.”

The 45-minute film also looks at the obstacles and setbacks experienced by long-term survivors — isolation, poverty, post-traumatic stress, unemployment, and more. Participants discuss a system that is not set up to take care of aging persons living with HIV/AIDS.

“We hope that the film serves to combat the isolation of long-term survivors, many of whom were determined advocates when the movement needed them most,” says Gellman. “The message is universal, regardless of illness, ethnicity, age, or gender.”

Aging and HIV: A Story of Resiliency is available for free viewing at www.agingandhiv.com.

There’s still time for UWindsor faculty and staff to sign up for an online Trivia Night competition on Friday, Dec. 4.

“We have a pretty good line-up of competitors but there’s always room for more,” says organizer Sarah Sacheli.

She promises the event will feature fun, fellowship, and the kinds of questions you either know or you don’t.

Contestants may form teams of five, or individuals can ask to be assigned to a team. Email Sacheli to sign up or for more information. To register as a team, provide all members’ names as well as a team name.

The St. Denis Centre has reduced the number of users allowed in the facility to 10 at a time, following the region’s move to red status in its COVID response framework.

The reservation process will remain the same. Book an appointment here.

Lancer Recreation continues to offer free virtual fitness classes on Microsoft Teams weekdays. Register for a virtual class.

Find more information at goLancers.ca.

The way one person copes with stress, another may not find helpful, the Department of Human Resources notes in a message shared with UWindsor faculty and staff Monday.

In a wellness tip, it suggests the first step in dealing with stress is to know yourself and understand your personal coping style

Find more information on healthy techniques to increase your ability to cope in the entire message.