Noelle Dupret Smith hopes the installation of rainbow crosswalks on the UWindsor campus brings joy — and inspires activism.

The third-year social work student helped to convince University administration to support the project, which began for her with an assignment in the first-year course “Queer Activism.”

Dupret Smith had seen similar designs during a visit to Halifax and decided to pursue the idea as a final project.

“I looked at the cost and process of creating rainbow crosswalks in places that already had crosswalks,” she says. “I also conducted surveys on and off-campus on what people’s thoughts were regarding rainbow crosswalks. The support I received was tremendous.”

She asked the course instructor, Renée Bondy, whether she thought the University would be interested in making the idea into a reality, and submitted a proposal to the Office of the President.

“That was the beginning of the long process” of securing funding and identifying a contractor, Dupret Smith says, which culminated Thursday in the six colours of the Pride flag, along with stripes of brown and black, painted on sidewalks in two locations — leading to the Welcome Centre and connecting the Education Gym and Dillon Hall.

“My hope would be that anyone who enters the university who is a part of or an ally to the LGBTQ2+ community knows that they are supported on campus and a part of a community that welcomes them,” Dupret Smith says.

She expects the crosswalks to form part of a larger movement.

“I believe they will start a dialogue and give the university as well as other activists more ideas on how to create a safe space where people can be brave and fully their authentic selves without fear,” she says.

Dr. Bondy says Dupret Smith went “above and beyond expectations” for the course project.

“I was very impressed, not only with Noelle’s research, but also with the fact that she was determined to make the project happen,” she said. “Long after the course ended, Noelle continued to meet with administration and other campus and community stakeholders to share her research. The fact that we now have rainbow crosswalks is due in large part to Noelle’s vision and determination.”

UWindsor president Rob Gordon expressed appreciation to Dupret Smith for raising the idea.

“We are indebted to Noelle for this wonderful way to signal to everyone that this is an inclusive place dedicated to welcoming and developing the talents of all,” he said.

Dupret Smith is currently home in Haliburton and doesn’t know when pandemic restrictions will allow her to return to campus to view the designs in person.

“As a student, I feel accomplished that I am able to see one of my projects come to life,” she says. “However, there is a greater sense of accomplishment or success in knowing that I may be able to help someone feel valued or appreciated on campus.”

To help ease the stress during final exams, the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance, CAW Student Centre, and Office of Student Experience have teamed up to provide 400 students with holiday care boxes.

“Our students have been through a lot in the past year,” says Ryan Flannagan, associate vice-president, student experience. “Going into final exams this fall, this is one way we can let students know that we care about them and that we are thinking about them.”

The boxes will be packed with various locally-sourced items, UWindsor swag, wellness resources and snacks to provide some exam relief and as a way to spread holiday cheer.

Flannagan encourages staff, faculty, and alumni to submit a brief message of support, best wishes, or even advice to students that will be printed and included in the boxes by Tuesday, Dec. 1.

“Now more than ever, our students need to know the UWindsor community is thinking of them and supports their academic efforts and wellness,” he says.

Submit a message through the online form here.

The campus community is welcome to join students in professor Nicole Markotić’s graduate class “Monsters in Children’s Lit” Thursday, Nov. 26, for a presentation on the young adult novel A Monster Calls.

Speaker Debra Dudek is an associate professor in the English program at Edith Cowan University, Australia. Her research focuses on visual and verbal texts for young people, including graphic novels, picture books, television, film, and novels. Dr. Dudek is particularly interested in how texts for young people engage with social justice issues.

Working from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, author Patrick Ness won multiple awards for A Monster Calls, including the Children’s Book Award from the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, Children’s Book of the Year from the National Book Awards, and the Carnegie Medal from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. Illustrator Jim Kay received the Kate Greenaway Medal recognizing distinguished illustration in a book for children. The American Library Association magazine Booklist placed A Monster Calls at the “Top of the List” for 2011 youth fiction.

Thursday’s one-hour webinar will begin at 3 p.m. It is free and open to all. To request an invitation to the Microsoft Teams event, email Dr. Markotić at markotic@uwindsor.ca.

Lancer varsity athletes will share their stories in a new series launching today on goLancers.ca.

The articles will be styled the Cavalry Check-In and offer fans insight into everything from how Lancers chose the University of Windsor to what they are doing to keep active during the pandemic.

Read more on the athletics website.

Due to the upcoming holidays, the finance department has announced an accelerated schedule to process all December payrolls.

The compressed timelines will mean manual cheques will not be available, advises payroll manager Jessica Higgins, “so please ensure you meet the required time card submission deadlines.”

Find details in the payroll memo.