One of the University of Windsor’s “coolest courses” is giving students the opportunity to take two books from an author’s unpolished manuscripts through to publication.

The English department’s Editing and Publishing practicum allows students to work directly with authors and participate in every aspect of the editorial and publication process.

Instructor Marty Gervais said it’s the only university course he knows of in North America that provides students with this sort of hands-on experience with an author.

“As an English student, whatever books you are handed for your course, whether it’s Tennyson or Wordsworth, you accept it as a work of art. You don’t challenge it,” Gervais said. “Now, you have a chance to look at a book and say, ‘I’m going to help make this a work of art.’”

The course is so unique, in fact, that Maclean’s magazine singled it out as one of the University of Windsor’s “cool courses” in its 2016 rankings.

For honours English literature and creative writing student Maeve Keating, the practicum is what drew her back to Windsor.

“I have actually been waiting seven years to do this,” said Keating, who returned to Windsor from St. Catherines in 2016 to finish her degree. “This class to me not only represents the apex of my academic career in reaching for a position in publishing, but has also offered me the opportunity to finally get a taste of the industry which can be so elitist and competitive.”

This year, the students worked with Georgian College professor Bruce Meyer to publish his book 1967: Centennial Year and University of Windsor drama professor Barry Brodie to publish Tom Thomson – On the Threshold of Magic.

1967: Centennial Year is a book of poetry about Meyer as a 10-year-old growing up in Canada and celebrating 100 years of confederation. The poems depict everything from a young boy who missed the Toronto Maple Leafs last Stanley Cup win because of a strict bedtime, to Lester B. Pearson’s dentures falling out on stage.

Tom Thomson – On the Threshold of Magic contains Dr. Brodie’s play Threshold of Magic: The Death and Life of Tom Thomson along with journals and poems illustrating the author’s journey from the page to the stage.

Although it is his first book, Brodie said he believes the final product is better for having been helped along by the editing and publishing students.

“I knew I would be at the mercy of 12 millennials in this process ... and it was very interesting to see what resonated with them and what didn’t,” Brodie said. “It turned out to be a very enlightening and rewarding experience. Bottom line, I’m thrilled.”

Gervais said the practicum also engages the help of the Odette School of Business; two fourth-year business students enrolled in the course to assist in the fundamentals of marketing.

The books are published by Black Moss Press, which has published more than 400 first editions since Gervais founded it in 1969.

The finished volumes arrived from Black Moss Press last week. A free public reception will officially launch both books Thursday, April 6, at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Avenue.

The School of Creative Arts’ final concerts of the academic year are this weekend, April 7 and 9, with performances by the University Jazz Ensemble directed by Robert Fazecash and University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Nicholas Papador.

The University Jazz Ensemble Cabaret and Concert — 8 p.m. Friday at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Avenue — features a performance by the university’s jazz faculty and a concert set by the student ensemble before opening the dance floor for an evening of dancing to the live big band. Patrons will enjoy a cash bar and snacks later in the evening.

Vocalist Shahida Nurullah, saxophonist Jeffrey Price, trumpeter Bob Fazecash, guitarist Vaughn Klugh, bassist Jeff Pedraz, and pianist Michael Karloff are among the faculty members who will show off their chops.

The University Wind Ensemble takes the Capitol Theatre’s Pentastar stage at 2:30 p.m. Sunday for a performance of powerful and colourful music:

• Strange Humors by John Mackey is a piece that represents a merging of musical cultures — the modal melodies and syncopated rhythms of Middle Eastern music with the percussive accompaniment of African drumming.
• Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F has features many variations on the “Greensleeves” melody and the story of a blacksmith in which an actual steel rail tie is used to give the anvil effect.
• Flute and percussion studios will perform the 1803 song Downfall of Paris.

The Capitol Theatre is located at 121 University Avenue West.

Tickets for each concert are $15, with a student rate of $5. Purchase them at the box office in room 115, Music Building; by phone at 519-253-3000 ext. 4212; or online.

An online webinar next week will educate attendees about financial planning and aid opportunities, including scholarships, awards, and the Ontario Student Assistance Program.

Marian Doll, director of Student Awards and Financial Aid, will lead “Financing Your University Education” for prospective students and their families at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11.

Find more information, and register to attend, on the Future Students website.

Myths that feed prejudice against Canada’s Muslim community pose a threat to the very fabric of society, says law professor Julie Macfarlane.

She hopes to address the rise in Islamophobia through an interfaith forum she will chair Wednesday, April 5. “Dispelling myths through dialogue” will feature expert faith-based speakers, community leaders, and academics.

“The goal is to open up an honest discussion about the roots of the problem, the lack of knowledge and the myths leading to this troubling phenomenon,” says Dr. Macfarlane.

Presenters include nursing professor Maher El-Masri, Imam Yousef Wahb, Rev. Sadekie Lyttle-Forbes, and Rabbi Jeffrey Ableser. The free public event begins at 6 p.m. in Windsor Law’s Moot Court.

A team of fourth-year environmental engineering students earned second place in a provincial competition for designing an innovative storm water management system accentuated with green spaces.

After submitting a 120-page report, Christina Ure, Shannon Deehan, James Park and Lina Florian had 15 minutes to present their design to a panel of judges April 2 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa. This year’s Water Environment Association of Ontario’s Student Design Competition challenged eight university teams to design a storm water management system for Exhibition Place, a mixed-use district located by the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Toronto.

“It was a great learning opportunity,” Ure said. “The judges were impressed with our proposal to design a hanging rain garden system to deal with polluted runoff from elevated highways.”

The team’s design focused on enhancing and retrofitting problem areas, like parking lots and rooftops, within the site. Judges included representatives from the Water Environment Association of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the City of Toronto.

“We are very proud of our students,” said professor Rajesh Seth, who supervised the team along with Tirupati Bolisetti. “Since the competition’s inception in 2009, UWindsor teams have finished in second place seven times and first place twice. More importantly, we have received very positive feedback over the years from the judges over the quality of the design work conducted by these students.”

The annual student design competition gives post-secondary student teams from Ontario a chance to work on a real-world problem in the water industry.

A $1,000 gift from Enterprise Holdings to Co-op, Career and Employment Services recognizes a long-standing relationship that has fostered exchange of expertise.

Nick Harris, group talent acquisition manager for the transportation solutions provider with operations in 80 countries, was on campus last week to put a cheque into the hands of acting executive director Chris Busch.

“UWindsor has been a constant source of quality management trainee and summer intern hires for us,” Harris said. “We wanted say thank you, and to give back to the campus for all of the work they do to develop such high-quality candidates.”

Enterprise has been a partner in creating experiential learning opportunities for UWindsor students since 1999. Over the past 18 years, the company has provided numerous opportunities for work-integrated education and hired many graduates, Busch noted.

“It is a wonderful gesture of Enterprise Holdings to invest in the resources that provide students with first-rate opportunities to develop their professional skills and become career-ready talent,” he said. “We are very grateful.”

Co-op, Career and Employment Services works with hundreds of local, national and international employers to secure work-integrated learning opportunities for students and permanent positions for alumni.

A panel drawn from a wide variety of enterprises will discuss career paths for graduates of the Master of Management program, Thursday at noon in Katzman Lounge, Vanier Hall.

Speakers include logistics directors, human resources professionals, accountants, managers and chief executives from auditing and accounting firms, utilities and healthcare organizations, recruiting and service agencies, and more.

Attendance at the April 6 event is restricted to current Master of Management students.

A competition to celebrate Ontario’s culture and history offers cash awards to aspiring filmmakers ages 11 to 25 years who reside in Essex, Kent or Lambton counties.

Organized by the Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media and the Creative Arts, it offers a total of $5,000 in prize monies from the Ontario150 Community Celebration Program.

Entries should range from one to 12 minutes. The deadline for submissions is April 24 for judging during National Youth Arts Week, May 1 to 7. Find more information, including registration forms, on the contest website.