Kaitlyn EllsworthHer appointment as UWindsor Black student support co-ordinator is an important step in providing equitable access to services and supports, says Kaitlyn Ellsworth.

Appointment a step toward equity, says Black student support co-ordinator

If she had had the opportunity to interact with Black-centric student supports when she began studies her transition from high school to the University of Windsor would no doubt have been smoother, says Kaitlyn Ellsworth (BA 2014).

Now Black student support co-ordinator in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, she says her experience in a Black studies program at Wayne State University in Detroit helped prepare her for this role, which she took up in November.

“Having Black academic advisors, counsellors, professors, and staff allowed me to exist fully in my Black identity in those spaces for the duration of the program,” Ellsworth says.

She hopes that her office can help students navigate what can be a rocky journey through University systems.

“The Black student support co-ordinator is an important step in providing equitable access to services and supports at the University of Windsor,” says Ellsworth. “The University of Windsor houses a unique Black student population that deserves culturally responsive and equitable supports.”

She invites students, faculty, and staff to contact her at blackstudentsupport@uwindsor.ca.

Dillon HallThe University of Windsor’s return to on-campus learning and work will begin on Jan. 31.

Return to campus to begin Jan. 31

The University of Windsor’s return to on-campus learning and work will begin on Jan. 31, president Robert Gordon announced in a message Monday to faculty, staff, and students.

“On-campus experiences are foundational to our mission,” he wrote. “The last 20 months have been challenging for all of us, despite the extraordinary efforts of everyone involved. The importance of learning and working together has been made increasingly clear to all of us.”

All classes and labs designated as in-person in the Winter 2022 timetable will be delivered on campus, and those designated as online will remain online.

Staff who have been working remotely will begin a gradual return to campus on Jan. 31, with the goal of up to 50 per cent capacity by the end of February.

Faculty return will be guided by their teaching and research commitments and the plans of their academic units.

More detailed information will be included in subsequent updates. Read the entire message.

Ken DrouillardKen Drouillard tests a two-ply cotton mask made of T-shirt material using a TSI Portacount Fit Tester and TSI Particle Generator in this photo by Rebecca Rudman.

Researcher’s “mask hacks” suggest alternatives to scarce N95s

Wearing a two-ply cotton mask fastened tightly with ties over a basic medical mask offers similar protection to wearing an N95 filtering respirator, research by a UWindsor scientist has found.

In his ongoing research related to COVID-19 and its variants, School of the Environment professor Ken Drouillard is participating in a “mask hacks” study by a team at McMaster University led by researcher Catherine Clase. The study involved testing various masks, combinations of masks, and mask-wearing devices, to find those with the best ability to filter out aerosol-sized particles.

“This is timely information for the public,” said Dr. Drouillard. “Given the high community risk factors posed by the Omicron variant and the scarcity of N95 masks in some provinces, we want to be able to help people use the best mask they have access to.”

Drouillard’s spouse, Rebecca Rudman, is one of the founders of the Windsor-Essex Sewing Force. The group of community volunteers has produced tens of thousands of cloth masks donated to frontline workers and vulnerable populations. Drouillard has lent his expertise to the project and recruited other UWindsor scientists to perform tests on various mask designs and fabrics to ensure the volunteers could produce the most effective masks possible.

Drouillard and the McMaster team performed tests on masks used in combination with those produced by the local group of sewing volunteers. Using a TSI portacounter — the same device used for fit-testing N95 masks — they tested the concept of double-masking: wearing two masks at a time.

The most effective was wearing a two-ply, pleated cotton mask with cotton straps tied snugly over a standard medical mask.

But not all medical masks are created equal, Drouillard explained.

True medical-grade masks are certified by ASTM, an international standards organization. Certified ASTM masks bear the organization’s name on the box. There are three grades of masks available, the L1 being the cheapest and most accessible. The higher grades relate to the mask’s ability to prevent fluids from soaking into them and are generally used only in hospital settings, Drouillard explained.

Drouillard’s testing has shown an L1 alone, worn snugly on the face, filtered out 54 per cent of particles. A two-ply, pleated mask made of high-quality quilting cotton and with ties rather than ear loops provided 55 per cent effectiveness. In combination, with the cloth mask with ties worn over the L1, the filtration rate was nearly 91 per cent.

Drouillard explained that with double masking, it is the medical mask underneath that is doing most of the aerosol filtering. The cotton mask with ties mainly acts to improve the fit of the medical mask underneath. This prevents leakage from the medical mask which can be as high as 50 per cent when worn alone.

This combination costs a fraction of the cost of an N95 mask, even with the initial cost of a cloth mask factored in. Drouillard said testing has shown the two-ply cotton masks can be washed dozens and dozens of times without affecting their performance.

Nearly as good as wearing a pleated cloth mask over an L1 medical is wearing a mask brace — a contraption made of silicone straps you wear around your head over a mask. The filtration rate of such a device worn over an L1 medical mask is 82 per cent.

Masks made of quilting cotton with strings that tie around the back of your head are 55 per cent effective in filtering out particles because they fit more snugly. The same cotton mask with ear loops is only 50 per cent effective in filtering out particles because it has more leaks than the one with ties, Drouillard said.

“Fogged-up eyeglasses when wearing your mask are evidence of air leakage around the nose.”

Knotting the loops on a medical mask and tucking in the excess fabric or fastening the loops onto ear savers or buttons sewn onto the back of scrub caps can also improve performance by making the mask fit tighter. These techniques were less effective than using a cotton mask over a medical mask or using a mask brace, but it still improved performance by up to 15 per cent over normal wearing, Drouillard said.

Drouillard stressed the most important factor in mask design and effectiveness is fit. Even an N95 respirator lacks effectiveness if it doesn’t fit snugly, allowing air to get in around the nose, sides, or under the chin.

“If air can get in around the sides, it’s not as effective,” Drouillard said. “I have to emphasize that the first and foremost important thing you should evaluate while waring your mask is how well the mask fits you.”

Drouillard’s mask research with the Windsor-Essex Sewing Force has been funded by UWindsor’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and the WE-Spark Health Institute, a research partnership involving the University of Windsor, St. Clair College, Windsor Regional Hospital, and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

A professor at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, Drouillard is an expert in water pollution and the testing of contaminated sediment. His research is used to inform guidelines for fish consumption.

His work with the Windsor-Essex Sewing Force is an example of how UWindsor experts are lending their research talents to the fight against the pandemic.

—Sarah Sacheli

Watch a video on the project:

woman showing bandage over vaccination spot on upper armOn-campus clinics will provide vaccination against COVID-19 Jan. 19 and 24.

Health unit to administer vaccines on campus

Two on-campus clinics will provide vaccination against COVID-19 over the next week.

No appointment or health card is necessary to receive a first, second, or booster shot from the Windsor Essex County Health Unit:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the St. Denis Centre
  • Monday, Jan. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Windsor Hall

Say “no way” to a hospital stay: get vaxxed and protect yourself from serious illness. Vaccinations continue to be the best defence against serious illness and hospitalization and help reduce demands on the healthcare system.

These public pop-up clinics are open to anyone 5 years or older.

Calendar displaying January 2022Human Resources shares tips to help make the most out of every Monday.

Don’t let Mondays get you down, advises Human Resources

Because it marks the start of the workweek for most people, Monday can get a bad rap.

In a message sent Monday to UWindsor faculty and staff, Human Resources shares tips to help make the most out of every Monday:

  • Start your week with an easy task. This will give you an immediate sense of accomplishment and allow you to start your week on a positive note.
  • If possible, tackle the same task every Monday morning. A routine can help you balance your day and allow you to focus and prioritize.
  • Tackle the most challenging task early on in the day rather than putting it off. The satisfaction of completing it will also give you a boost for the rest of the day.
  • Take a break. Step away from your work area at lunch and give your mind time to relax. This will help you feel more focused and energized in the afternoon.
  • Remember that Monday is just another day. If you usually use a negative word to describe Mondays, replace it with a positive word to help reframe your mind.

Of course, these tips can be applied to every day of the week. Read the entire Wellness Tip of the Week.

Lancer Gaming logoLancer Gaming swept the Lambton Lions 3-0 in Rocket League play Thursday.

Lancers sweep Lions in Rocket League opener

Lancer Gaming opened the Winter 2022 season with a solid 3-0 win Thursday over Lambton Esports in Ontario Post-Secondary Esports Rocket League play.

“The boys were pretty confident before going into the game,” says head coach Yusuf Naebkhil. “This was an important win for the team, allowing us to continue our fight for second place.”

The Lancers will next see league action against the Ontario Tech Student Union on Friday, Jan. 21.

Fans can follow Lancer Gaming online through Facebook (Facebook.com/LancerGamingCA), Twitter (@UWLancerGaming) and Instagram (Instragram.com/lancergamingca).