Stephen Pender loves literature.

That might seem like a fairly obvious statement for an English professor to make, but according to an article recently published in University Affairs magazine, many literary scholars have become ambivalent about their raison d’être.

In an article headlined In Praise of Literature, University of Alberta professor Albert Braz writes about the “seemingly permanent crisis in literary studies,” suggesting a crucial element that hasn’t received much attention is that many literary scholars and teachers no longer believe in literature.

Dr. Pender, who will appear this afternoon on CJAM radio to discuss the piece, admits that he initially found the article provocative.

“I was first of all seduced by the argument because I thought it was strong, and I think he was quite right to point to a kind of malaise in our discipline,” he said. “And then I was astonished by the repeated claims that myself and my colleagues no longer love reading, no longer love literature, and by extension, do not convey that love to our students. I think all of those claims are patently wrong.”

A specialist in the poetry and prose of early modern Britain, intellectual history, the history of medicine, and the history of rhetoric, Pender focuses on the relationship between rhetoric, medicine, and emotion in early modern England, medical thought in contemporary historiography, early modern ethics, the history of the imagination, and laughter.

Despite Braz’s arguments to the contrary, Pender says the more he learns about literature, the more he loves it.

“I love it profoundly because it’s actually a forum in which human beings tend to work out problems without the threat of harm,” he said. “We get to explore without the threat of harm, we get to see human action and interaction in ways I think are indescribably diverse given what I think are most people’s limited experiences.”

Pender will appear today on Research Matters, a weekly talk show that focuses on the work of University of Windsor scholars and researchers and airs every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. on CJAM 99.1 FM.

Christmas has become too commercial, says Janeen Auld, which makes the Adopt-a-Family program a perfect way for her to celebrate the holiday.

“My family doesn’t exchange gifts,” says Auld, an instrument technician in the chemistry department. “It’s just too much stuff. Buying for people truly in need is the only type of shopping I want to do.”

The campus community raised more than $24,000 in donations of cash and gifts, plus boxes of groceries, this year to help 44 local families through the Adopt-a-Family program of Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society. It was a great turnout, says organizer Mary Anne Beaudoin, office manager in public affairs and communications.

“People always seem to turn up at this time of year, helping the less fortunate in our city,” she says. “I hope it helps us to appreciate how lucky we are to be in a position to give rather than receive.”

Under the program, faculties, departments and individuals across campus “adopted” families and raised cash or bought items that were requested on their wish lists. Far from extravagant, the lists request such necessities as housewares, clothing and food as well as some toys for the children.

Andrea Madden, community initiatives coordinator for the children’s aid society, says contributions from the university “mean the world to the families and the kids” who receive them.

“The effort the University puts into it is absolutely amazing,” she says. “You can see that people have taken the care to match their gifts with the requests from the families. If it weren’t for these donations, some of these kids wouldn’t have anything to open.”

She says the University is one of the largest donors to the program, and credits Beaudoin’s role.

“Every year, Mary Anne runs a great operation over there,” Madden says. “She really knows what she’s doing after all these years.”

A video recording the November 30 celebration of the University’s takeover of the former Windsor Star buildings is now available for viewing.

The video by Suede Productions captures the historic handover of keys to the complex from Star publisher Marty Beneteau to UWindsor president Alan Wildeman. Hundreds of students, staff, faculty, alumni and assorted well-wishers were on hand to witness the moment.

The property will be renovated to house programs in social work and the Centre for Executive and Professional Education in 2014, as the University extends its campus to the downtown core. See architect’s renderings of the transformed sites.

Photos of Friday’s event are available on the website of the downtown campus project. A similar event is planned for the transfer of ownership of the former Armouries and bus depot sites.

Watch the video:

Say cheese: Social work professors Jim Coyle and Brent Angell celebrate the University’s taking possession of the future home of their faculty.

A donation from members of the Campus Community Police Services will help stock some operating rooms in Third World countries.

CAW Local 195, which represents campus police and parking services officers, made a $300 contribution from its charity fund to help pay the costs of shipping a pallet of surgical supplies to healthcare providers in resource-poor areas of Africa and Asia.

Students at the Windsor program of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry have been collecting items readied for surgery in the operating rooms of local hospitals that remain unused at the end of the procedure. Through Operation Green, these items that would otherwise go to waste instead provide surgical supplies to areas in need.

“We like to give back to initiatives that start here on campus,” says special constable Anthony Liolli, a vice-president with the union’s campus unit. “We saw media coverage of this project and thought it was a good cause.”

The $300 donation should just about cover the costs of delivering one shipment, says spokesperson Danielle Soulliere, a UWindsor biology grad and first-year medical student.

“We have filled one wooden pallet with materials—everything from surgical gloves and gowns to bandages and suturing kits, alcohol swabs and tubes,” she says. “It’s all perfectly usable and sterile.”

Soulliere says a full pallet is taller than her and weighs more than 400 lbs.

“It’s so expensive to ship, we have to constantly work to raise the necessary monies,” she says. “Today’s donation will get the supplies where they’re needed. We appreciate it so much!”

The University Bookstore’s temporary home in Vanier Hall may mean some cramped quarters at the beginning of the semester, says marketing coordinator Martin Deck.

He advises students who have already registered for their winter courses to think ahead and purchase their texts before heading home for the holidays.

“If it gets too crowded during the start of next semester, we may need to restrict access to the store, meaning a line-up for patrons to get in,” he says. “I hope that students will avoid the rush by coming in once their exams are completed.”

The Bookstore will remain open through December 21 and has already stocked texts required for Winter 2013 courses, says Deck.

Both sacred and secular music are on the program as the Windsor Community Choir presents its Christmas concert, Sunday, December 9, at 7 p.m. in Assumption University Chapel.

Under the direction of Edward Kingins, the choir brings together UWindsor students and other members of the community for a challenging musical experience, culminating in public performance of choral works.

Sunday’s concert will feature accompanist Matthew Kulbacki and a guest performance by classical guitarist Reece Eric Smith. Tickets are $15, available at the door or by phoning the choir’s president, Roberta Quinlan, at 519-962-9354.

An open house reception in observance of International Human Rights Day, December 10, will support schoolchildren in Bogotá, Colombia.

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility is hosting the event Monday from noon to 2 p.m. at 310 Sunset Avenue. The campus community is invited to mingle, to enjoy some light refreshments and finger foods, and to help to a good cause.

Admission is by an optional donation of an item of children’s clothing or school supplies to Fundación Niños de los Andes, which runs education, health and development programs.

First-year French studies student Kailey Romanick says joining a sorority was a “fulfilling experience” for her.

Romanick sports the colours green and pink that represent her sorority, Delta Zeta. In the summer leading up to the start of her UWindsor career, Romanick was contacted by Delta Zeta and encouraged to join.

“When I first came to the University of Windsor, I thought that I wouldn’t know anyone,” she says. “But now I am best friends with all of the members of Delta Zeta.”

Delta Zeta members share activities like movie nights, going out to dinner, and potluck meals. The sorority also provides opportunities to get involved with charity organizations, Romanick says. Delta Zeta works with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Canadian Hearing Society, We Care For Kids, and more. Members recently participated in Derby Days, a race between campus sororities to see who can raise the most money for charity.

In March, Delta Zeta will raise money to donate to the Painted Turtle by doing a campout for kids. The Painted Turtle helps provide children with illnesses a fun camping experience while their medical needs are still met. Money is also raised to donate hearing aids to the hard-of-hearing.

“I think new students should join,” Romanick said. “You meet a bunch of new people and it’s an overall fulfilling experience.”

— by Madeline Mazak