University of Windsor students will have a new resource for reporting sexual violence this fall. 

The University has partnered with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors), a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week centralized online reporting and information platform that provides increased options for students, staff, and faculty to report sexual violence. 

The tool, customized to the specific needs of the University of Windsor, includes crucial information about resources and supports available both on campus and in community, as well as offering three reporting options that include Anonymous Report, Connect to My Campus, and Repeat Perpetrator Identification. 

“Sexualized violence is a range of behaviours that include misconduct, harassment, and assault, and can occur both in-person and in online spaces,” says Dusty Johnstone, Director of UWindsor’s Office of Sexual Violence, Resistance, and Support. 

“REES provides our campus community with a safe, secure, online platform for individuals to document their incident and empower themselves with the option of having their voice heard in whatever way they choose.” 

According to a 2019 Stats Canada Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population, 71 percent of postsecondary students witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviours over the past year, while 10 percent of women students had experienced a sexual assault in a postsecondary setting over the previous year. 

“Keeping our campus safe for all individuals in all spaces is crucial to maintaining a university community where every person is valued, respected, and heard,” says UWindsor President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon. 

“REES addresses the need to provide reporting options that honour privacy and respects the individual’s right to document their experience in a way that is most comfortable for them. It is an outstanding tool of empowerment for our campus community, and I welcome it wholeheartedly.”  

The University of Windsor joins the University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, University College of the North, and others in implementing REES resources.

The University of Windsor will today join more than 95 Canadian post-secondary institutions that have made their campuses entirely smoke-free.

Rita LaCivita, Vice-President, Human Resources, says protecting the health and safety of the campus community is a top priority.

“We know the health implications associated with smoking and second-hand smoke, so today’s move to an entirely smoke-free campus environment is a vital step forward in the University of Windsor’s efforts to provide an environment that better protects the health of our entire campus community.”

The Smoke-Free Campus initiative was introduced in March 2020 and led by the Smoke-Free Campus Steering Committee, the Policy Development & Enforcement Working Group, and the Awareness Raising, Education and Supports Working Group with representation from students, staff, faculty, and subject-matter experts.

“The policy development has been a collaborative initiative driven by the commitment to encourage a healthy and safe environment for everyone who works, learns, teaches, and lives on campus,” LaCivita said.

She adds that the policy is the result of extensive review of similar initiatives from other Ontario universities, advice from subject matter experts, and feedback and input provided by students, faculty, and staff.

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of students, faculty and staff to this important initiative and their service to the University. Today’s milestone would not have been achieved without the collaborative efforts of all involved, including support and guidance from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.”

Eric Nadalin, Director of Health Promotion at WECHU said, “The Health Unit has always been a leader in supporting smoke-free space policies, and therefore we offered our expertise and resources to support this important initiative.”

The university community is encouraged to visit the Smoke-Free Campus website to review the Smoke-Free Campus policy and FAQs, the Smoke-Free Campus map, the Smoke-Free signature template, and resources and supports available to the campus community.

WE-SPARK Health Institute has released its second annual report indicating the Windsor-Essex research community continues to achieve more together.

“WE-SPARK accelerates and strengthens collaborations, and provides tools and resources needed for health research across Windsor-Essex to excel,” said Lisa Porter, WE-SPARK Executive Director.

“Despite the challenges that the global pandemic placed on all of our members, with a particular strain on our hospital partners caring for those who fell ill during this difficult time, we are proud of how our region came together to move health research forward.”

WE-SPARK began its second year with 146 members with membership growing to 677 in a single year.

Other highlights include:

• $8,881,856 in external funding – an annual increase of 44%;
• $340,000 to local research projects;
•  1,335 patients / participants involved in research.

The full report is available here

WE-SPARK Health Institute is supported by Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital. It is directed by a Board of Trustees made up of its leaders President & CEO Janice Kaffer, President Patti France, President & Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon and President & CEO David Musyj.

A public presentation Thursday, Sept. 2, is intended to spark discussion of how to centre women in the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Chief executive officer of YWCA Canada, Maya Roy will discuss how to make the economy work for prosperity and enhancing community well-being for all, in a free lecture entitled “Equitable Futures, Post Pandemic.” The event is part of the Envision community speaker series, which offers thought-provoking consideration of what’s next in the post-COVID future.

Join the live event at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2 on the Microsoft Teams teleconferencing platform. A question-and-answer period will follow Roy’s formal presentation.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Fall Convocation celebrations will be hosted virtually.

University of Windsor chancellor Mary Jo Haddad shared that although it is disappointing to not be celebrating in person this year, student achievements will be rightfully honoured via the virtual sessions.

“We look forward to commemorating this experience for our graduates safely and recognizing their tremendous accomplishments virtually” said Dr. Haddad.

Fall convocation will take place on Friday, November 5, 2021. Students need to apply to graduate and the deadline to apply is September 30, 2021.

More information about Fall 2021 convocation will be coming soon. The University of Windsor has also announced that students who have graduated via a virtual celebration are welcome and invited to attend an in-person convocation ceremony in the future.

Windsor Lancer Gaming defeated uOttawa Esports following a single elimination semi-final round to finish third in the U SPORTS Gaming Valorant Open Tournament held Aug. 21-22 on PC.

The inaugural event was the first of a new three-year partnership between U SPORTS and CSL Esports, operator of the nation’s largest collegiate esports league.

All players competed in the new NACE StarLeague, a multi-company partnership between CSL Esports, the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and industry leaders Nerd Street and Mainline boasting the largest collegiate esports league in North America with more than 14,500 students from 600 colleges and universities.

The University of Windsor community mourns the death of staff retiree Barbara Carr who died August 27th, 2021. Mrs. Carr commenced her employment in 1968 in the position of secretary in the Department of Mechanical engineering, a position she held until her retirement on July 1, 1996.

Her obituary can be found at: 

https://www.arbormemorial.ca/janisse/obituaries/barbara-catherine-carr/70683/

Campus Flags were lowered in her memory on Tuesday, August 31^st.