A collection of commemorative trees and benches has been added to Windsor’s riverfront to honour the memory of five local victims of Ukrainian Flight PS752, which crashed Jan. 8.

Doctoral student of civil engineering Pedram Jadidi; biology research assistant Samira Bashiri and her spouse Hamidreza Setareh Kokab, a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering; and civil engineering doctoral student Zahra Naghibi and her spouse Mohammad Abbaspour Ghadi were among 176 people killed when the plane they were on was shot down during liftoff from Tehran.

UWindsor president Robert Gordon and Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens were joined Thursday by members of the local Iranian community in honouring the lost family, friends, and colleagues.

“The students and friends we lost to the Tehran air tragedy will never be forgotten by their University of Windsor family,” Dr. Gordon said. “This memorial installation will serve as a tangible reminder of the lives they lived, their great impact on our community, and the unlimited potential that was lost to the world on that day in January.”

Along with two trees and three park benches, plaques bearing the names of the dead were installed as part of the memorial.

“I’m pleased that the city was able to partner with the University to prepare this dignified and lasting tribute to the individuals and community impacted by these tragic events,” said Dilkens. “These installations will serve as a permanent reminder of the lives tragically cut short.”

Following news of their deaths, the University received an outpouring of support to establish the Iranian Students Memorial Scholarship - Remembering Flight PS752, a graduate scholarship endowment that will support international students conducting research in the faculties of engineering and science.

Engineering professor Shervin Erfani has committed to matching up to $10,000 in donations to help the University reach its goal in permanently endowing the scholarship. an Iranian-Canadian, Dr. Erfani is a long-time supporter of Windsor’s engineering students and was deeply touched by this tragedy. He hopes to encourage others to give to uphold the legacy of the exceptional students honoured by this memorial fund.

Donations to the memorial fund will be matched 1:1. Donations can be made by credit card online or by contacting Katie Mazzuca, the Faculty of Engineering’s major gift officer, at 519-253-3000, ext. 5959, or katie.mazzuca@uwindsor.ca.

Engineering professor Hoda ElMaraghy has been named a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her work promoting the nation’s industry.

A citation noted Dr. ElMaraghy’s contributions to the field of mechanical engineering, especially her work in advancing manufacturing systems in Canada and abroad. She is director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Centre.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian honours system and recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society.

ElMaraghy’s appointment was one of 114 announced Nov. 27 by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette. Honorees will receive their insignia in Ottawa at a later date.

A 2019 book by English professor and alumna Sandra Muse Isaacs (BA 2000, MA 2002), entitled Eastern Cherokee Stories: A Living Oral Tradition and its Cultural Continuance, has been chosen as one of six finalists for the 2020 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Prize. The award is presented by the Western North Carolina Historical Association and was first awarded 65 years ago.

Dr. Muse Isaac’s book is the first published by Oklahoma University Press to focus on the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation.

“This is truly an honour to be named as a finalist,” says Muse Isaacs. “But the biggest honour in writing this book on Cherokee oral tradition is working with our storytellers and learning more about my own culture, as a diasporic Giduwah woman.”

A gifted storyteller in her own right, in the Winter 2021 semester Muse Isaacs will be teaching a graduate seminar on Indigenous oral tradition. She will also teach a third-year Indigenous literature course called “Humour as Healing.”

The winner of Thomas Wolfe Literary Prize will be announced Dec. 16 during a virtual ceremony.

—Susan McKee

An investigation into messages alleged to have been exchanged by members of the Delta Chi fraternity will be led by legal professionals Malcolm McKillop, Laura Williams, and Richard Appiah, president Robert Gordon announced Friday in  a message to the UWindsor community.

The investigation will begin today; its purview includes confirming any violation of the University’s code of conduct and recommending any disciplinary action.

Dr. Gordon pledged to provide further updates as the investigation moves forward. Read his entire statement.

UWindsor biomedical sciences professor Lisa Porter will join Wassim Saad, chief of staff at Windsor Regional Hospital, for an interactive, live webcast on the topic of research into COVID-19 at noon Wednesday, Dec. 2.

The event is part of a series hosted by the hospital to give those coping with COVID-19, their loved ones, and those who just want to learn more about the virus, a forum to share stories, ask questions, and get answers in real time.

The webcast will go live on the hospital’s Facebook page. Questions may be sent in advance to cwc@wrh.on.ca or posted in the comment section during the livestream.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit confirmed another on-campus case of COVID-19 on Friday.

This latest case is unrelated to previously reported cases. The member of the campus community is self-isolating and all appropriate protocols and cleaning measures have been taken.

As with all COVID-19 cases, the health unit will take the lead on contact tracing and advises there is no additional risk to the campus community at this time. The University continues to work with and support the health unit as needed.

Students, staff, and faculty are reminded to restrict social gatherings, practise good hygiene; wear a mask; keep 2m from others when possible; and complete a self-assessment questionnaire prior to attending campus, available at: www.uwindsor.ca/returntocampus/336/before-going-to-campus.