Representatives from the architectural firms planning the development of the UWindsor’s downtown campus will be on hand Thursday to discuss renovations to the Windsor Armouries, the former bus depot across the street and the Windsor Star complex several blocks to the west.

CS&P Architects and the heritage consulting firm E.R.A. Architects will present drawings and floor plans reflecting the vision which will bring approximately 1,500 students, faculty and staff into the heart of the city in 2014.

An open house will welcome the public to the armouries on October 4, for one last chance to see the building before the start of construction. The event will run 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the historical building, located on University Avenue at Freedom Way. Representatives from the City of Windsor will join UWindsor president Alan Wildeman, project managers, and the architects to speak with attendees.

Visit www.uwindsor.ca/downtown for full details.

A sale of baked goods Monday in the CAW Student Centre raised more than just funds; volunteers with the local chapter of Students Offering Support hope it will raise a few roofs.

The national network builds educational infrastructure in Latin America through its “Raising marks. Raising money. Raising roofs” initiative. Projects include building or expanding a school, or building latrines to increase the health of students to decrease absences.

Organizer Alyssa Pursel called bake sales “an easy way to make money” for the group.

“Everyone can pitch in their own ways,” she said. “Last year we raised about $1,400 in bake sales, about $750 being from the first one alone, so I'm really hoping we can make at least $500.”

In addition to holding bake sales, members raise funds through Exam-Aid, a tutoring program. Windsor’s chapter offers offer tutors in first- and second-year math, science and a few business courses.

“Students Offering Support is very much a 360-degree volunteer experience,” said Diana Cuckovic, an avid SOS volunteer. “You’re there to help raise the money, see where it’s going, and see the project come to completion. It’s really wonderful.”

For more information about SOS and how to volunteer, visit its Web site, www.windsorsos.com

— article and photo by Meagan Anderi

Friends and colleagues recall Bernie Mulligan as a caring person whose contributions will be missed. Mulligan, a carpenter in the UWindsor maintenance department, died October 1 at the age of 46.

Maintenance manager Rajeev Chawla recalled him as a team player.

“Bernie was always upbeat, always had a smile on his face,” Chawla said. “He had the unique ability to look at any job as a challenge to be completed. He is definitely going to be missed.”

James McGinlay, now manager of residence facilities, started his campus career alongside Mulligan in facility services.

“Bernie was great to be around, a really nice guy,” says McGinlay. “Anybody that was around, he touched them. I think we lost not only a great carpenter, but also a great person.”

In the spring, Mulligan’s co-workers solicited donations to help offset costs related to his treatment for cancer. It’s the sort of gesture Mulligan himself would have made, says organizer Linda Ruccolo.

“He was always willing to lend a helping hand,” she says. “He was very caring about everybody else, and so it was easy to want to give back to someone like that.”

Mulligan joined the University’s staff in 1999. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 5. Arrangements were not finalized as DailyNews went to publication; check the Families First Web site for details.

The earthquake that rocked eastern Japan in March 2011 points to the need for enhancing integrated disaster risk management, says Norio Okada.

A professor in the School of Science and Technology of that country’s Kumamoto University, he will discuss the challenges for the field in a free public presentation at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 5, in room 108, Odette Building.

Dr. Okada, currently a visiting professor in environmental studies at the University of Waterloo, worked for more than 20 years at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute at Kyoto University. He is a former president of the Japan Society for Natural Disaster Science, and chair of the Japan Council for Natural Disasters.

His presentation is sponsored by the Odette School of Business as part of its Topics in Research series. RSVP by Wednesday, October 3, to Linda Ingram at 519-253-3000, ext. 3883 or lingram@uwindsor.ca.

It's that time of year again… the leaves are changing colour, the weather is getting cooler, and Canada Savings Bonds are on sale.

Permanent employees of the University of Windsor, full-time and part-time, may purchase the bonds through payroll deduction. They earn competitive rates of return, are cashable any time and are guaranteed by the Government of Canada.

The program offers an effortless and convenient way to save. You can reduce or end your contributions at any time, but you can begin or increase your purchase only until October 26.

For more information, visit the Canada Savings Bond Web site at http://csb.gc.ca/payroll-savings-program/employees/ or e-mail payroll@uwindsor.ca.

The Homestyle station in the Marketplace food court will head south of the border tonight, featuring a Mexican theme for dinner.

On the menu are:

• chicken quesadilla with rice, $7.99
• paella, $7.99
• Halal beef and lime avocado enchilada with side, $7.99
• layered Mexican dip served with nacho chips $6.99
• fried tortilla chip platter with pico de gallo, $5.99

So andale over the CAW Student Centre to enjoy a taste of Mexico.

The International Student Centre International Wednesdays documentary series presents Bowling for Columbine, noon Wednesday, October 3, in the centre on the second floor of Laurier Hall.~

Director Michael Moore examines American gun culture in this 2002 feature, which won an Oscar and a host of awards around the world. Alternating between humourous and horrifying, Bowling for Columbine sets out to answer the question: is the US a nation of gun nuts or just plain nuts?

From a look at the Columbine High School security camera tapes to the home of Charlton Heston, from a young man who makes homemade napalm to the murder of a six-year-old girl by another six-year-old, Bowling for Columbine is a journey through America, and through its past, hoping to discover why the pursuit of happiness is so riddled with violence.

International Wednesdays screenings are free and open to the public.

Campus flags will be lowered Tuesday, October 2, in memory of retiree Roberta Sims, who died September 27. She joined the University’s staff in 1978 as a secretary in the Faculty of Law, a position she held until her retirement in 2002.

Funeral services were held Monday, October 1. See her obituary for details.