The University of Windsor will be joining other universities across Canada to mark a moment of silence at 1 p.m. today for those who died in the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

Through the moment of silence — organized by Universities Canada — the hope is to create a thoughtful, national moment for people within and outside the university community to recognize the unprecedented, far-reaching effects of this tragedy on universities.

“Involvement in this national gesture is voluntary and flexible,” Universities Canada said in a statement. “People and organizations can join in as they are able and as they deem appropriate.”

Universities Canada has also placed a commemorative message of condolence in several publications today that will invite participation in the moment of silence.

Five members of the UWindsor community were killed in the plane crash: biology research assistant Samira Bashiri; engineering doctoral students Hamidreza Setareh Kokab, Pedram Jadidi, and Zahra Naghibi; and her spouse Mohammad Abbaspour Ghadi.

All members of the UWindsor campus community are asked to join this special moment. No formal event is planned.