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.

Traditions of lands that are home to UWindsor students are the subject of a series of free lunchtime presentations hosted this semester by the International Student Centre for students, staff, and faculty.

The ISC Cultural Series kicked off in the fall; its success prompted another round of discussions to engage the campus community, says International Student Centre director Beth Oakley.

“We have found an audience of people interested in learning more about the cultures represented in our community,” she says. “Our hope is that we can raise the level of understanding and overcome a few barriers.”

Scheduled to discuss holiday customs, foods, geography and more are:

• Lesley Snake and Kathryn Pasquach of the Aboriginal Education Centre and student Alex Perry on First Nations cultures, Jan. 23
• Italian studies professor Antonio Rossini on Italy, Feb. 28
• international student recruitment co-ordinator Romi Saraswat and student Vishnu Gopal on India, March 4
• social work professor Wansoo Park on Korea, March 25
• international student advisor Deena Wang and student Bowen Feng on China, April 16

Each session will run 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. in room 204, Laurier Hall. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch. Space is limited; click on the links above to reserve a spot.

The centre has also produced materials to help staff and faculty support international students, including tips on understanding the experiences of international students and a guide to providing them with support outside of the classroom.

Dwight Duncan, Ontario’s former deputy premier and minister of finance, has been appointed executive-in-residence at the Odette School of Business.

Duncan, a UWindsor alumnus (BA 1984, MBA 1989, LLD 2013), spent 25 years in public service and is currently a senior strategic advisor at McMillan LLP, as well as a principal at McMillan Vantage, the firm’s public policy advisory service.

He is also a board member of Travelers Insurance Canada, the Dominion General Insurance Company, Crown Crest Trust, and the Global Risk Institute, and serves as chair of the board of directors of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

Mitchell Fields, dean of the Odette School of Business, says he is delighted to have Duncan on board his faculty.

“As a business school, we believe it is very important to expose our students to real world leaders,” he says. “He brings a wealth of political and managerial leadership to the school and our students.”

Since September, Duncan has been teaching a class on managing political risk, using his experience in private and public policy and his nearly 10 years in cabinet to drive interest and discussion. He says he has been enjoying teaching and notes that the students are engaged and eager to learn.

“Teaching material on areas like risk management in our competitive economy is right on trend in the corporate world,” says Duncan.

During his time with students, he makes use of such real-world issues as public-private partnerships to keep the discussions relevant.

“One of my lectures is on P3 in Canada and the US. I use the Gordie Howe Bridge as an example when teaching my students the importance of risk management in both for-profit, crown corporations, and not-for-profit organizations,” Duncan says.

He says he is hopeful that sharing his insights with students will help them to make a comfortable transition into the business world following graduation.

—Dana Roe

Feminist scholars argue that research practices must break with ableist, racist, extractive, and settler colonial logics, and instead focus on ones that are situated, relational, and ethical. A presentation Thursday at the University of Windsor will take up these important ethical dimensions of doing research.

Stephanie Springgay, a professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, will deliver her free public lecture, “Socially-engaged art, experimental pedagogies: The ethics and politics of research-creation with diverse publics,” at 4 p.m. Jan. 16 in the SoCA Armouries Performance Hall, 37 University Ave. E.

In discussing responsibility, stewardship, care, and reciprocity, Dr. Springgay will share examples from her own research-creation practice. This event is sponsored by the Propeller Project, which aims to foster research through art and vice versa.

Windsor Law will welcome a panel of local jurists to discuss topics of interest to the ethical practice of criminal law, Thursday, Jan. 30. The Law Society of Ontario is offering two hours of Continuing Professional Development credit, professionalism category, to all members in attendance.

Having retired from the Office of the Crown Attorney in 2019 after 30 years of service, event organizer and moderator Brian Manarin has extensive experience in the field of criminal law in the regions of Toronto, Scarborough, and Windsor. He has been teaching at Windsor Law since 2002 and is currently serving as the 2019-20 Ianni Legal Fellow.

“An Evening with the Local Bench and Bar is intended to be informative for both the legally trained individual and the layperson,” says Dr. Manarin. “Certain legal myths will be dispelled, fundamental tenets of the law will be reinforced, and new Criminal Code provisions will be discussed.”

Panelists include Justice Bruce Thomas, Ontario Superior Court of Justice; Justice Lloyd Dean, Ontario Court of Justice; Maria Carroccia, barrister and solicitor and president of the Criminal Lawyer’s Association of Windsor and Essex County; Belinda Pagliaroli, barrister and solicitor and Crown Attorney for the County of Essex; and Windsor Law professors David Tanovich and Beverly Jacobs.

Dean of law Christopher Waters calls his school a “fantastic training ground” for practitioners of criminal law — Crown and defence counsel alike.

“Events like these are part of the reason. We have a strong local bar and bench who are willing to engage with and mentor our students,” he says. “They join our incredible full-time faculty and clinical lawyers in preparing graduates for ethical and effective practice in the area of criminal law.”

Set for 6 p.m. in the Moot Court, this event is free and open to the public, with priority given to University of Windsor students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Attendees must register in advance: attend.com/WLBenchandBar.

—Rachelle Prince