The next UWindsor experience for prospective students and applicants is Fall Virtual Open Day, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8, from 8 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. It is designed to accommodate students considering the University of Windsor from anywhere around the province and the globe.

In addition to on-campus open houses, Virtual Open Days are an excellent way for prospective students to gather information about the University, see the campus and accommodations, complete their applications, and meet current students and staff, all from the comfort of their sofas.

The event is led by Enrolment Management and features a program, general information, and international asynchronous video sessions on-demand, live Zoom rooms for engagement, text chat, and guided or self-directed campus tours. During this digital event, prospective domestic and international students will have live access to chat with the recruitment team about everything UWindsor.

Faculty and campus partners will exhibit their programs and services through a series of pre-recorded videos, accessible 24/7 for 30 days following the live event.

For more information, visit https://future.uwindsor.ca/virtual-open-day.

A new interdisciplinary class that blends law with science encourages UWindsor students to step out of their academic comfort zone.

In the Special Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences/Advanced Tort Law course, the students learn about the physical and social aspects of water hazards and beach safety as well as the legal liability of public authorities for drownings, near drownings, and other personal injuries sustained in and around water.

The course is co-taught by the Faculty of Law’s Lisa Trabucco and Chris Houser, dean of science, currently serving as interim vice-president research and innovation.

“It’s been really fun to teach. We’ve both gained a great deal of insight into cross-disciplinary teaching and learning aspect,” says Dr. Trabucco.

“I’m finding the students’ interactions with one another fascinating because, ultimately, it’s about learning to communicate clearly across disciplines and professions. We rely on experts. We need to understand one another and be understood.”

Working in interdisciplinary groups, the law students learn how to work with experts and their testimony, and the science students fill the role of expert witness, learning how to describe and report on the conditions that may have contributed to a drowning, in the context of a legal proceeding.

“It has been fascinating to watch the students learn from one another — it’s about blending two disciplines where they are all talking about pretty much the same things but coming at it from different perspectives. The law students are learning that we need to rely on experts and others’ expertise. Learning the law is not just about reading a court decision,” says Trabucco.

“They’re learning what questions to ask an expert to gain enough knowledge to transfer that into their legal case and science students are learning what it means to be an expert witness and the value of their expertise in a legal matter.”

The students have read court decisions, considered expert evidence concerning rip currents and water hazards in legal cases. On Oct. 31, the class went to Sandpoint Beach in Windsor to conduct a safety audit on its waterfront.

“I think Sandpoint was eye-opening to the law students, particularly. It’s important to go out there to the site of an incident. We can learn a lot by seeing with your own eyes,” says Trabucco.

She adds that going on site allows the students to consider physical location, human behaviour, and policy considerations, such as public safety, on the part of a municipality.

Through the class, the students review actual beach safety court cases, including cases that Dr. Houser has been involved with in Canada and Costa Rica.

“We need to develop more courses that cross disciplines and faculties to bring students with different disciplinary backgrounds together to collaboratively explore complex situations,” says Houser.

—Sara Elliott

The University of Windsor has launched a new, ongoing suicide prevention initiative called It Matters that You’re Here.

Developed by Student Health, Counselling and Wellness Services and brought to life through campus collaborations, the program includes a powerful outreach video featuring many members of the campus community sharing messages of hope, encouraging help-seeking, and giving a voice to the often-unseen pain that individuals living with thoughts of suicide may experience day-to-day.

“Thoughts of suicide can be distressing and isolating. We want anyone who is thinking about ending their life to know that immediate access to care is available and that reaching out for help is always courageous and strong,” says Katie Chauvin, mental health and wellness co-ordinator.

“There are trained professionals on campus and in the community who know how to have conversations about the pain you are experiencing and who want to be there for you. Please reach out.”

A new suicide prevention website has been developed that includes the outreach video, a big red crisis button linking to a collection of crisis supports and emergency resources, information about what it’s like to call a helpline and ideas for how to start the conversation, messages of care from the campus community, skills for coping with distress, downloadable resources, and information about how to be there for each other.

“We encourage all members of our campus to become familiar with this website,” says Chauvin. “It is a resource that can be shared with anyone thinking about suicide and also models supportive language that you can adopt if you are in a conversation with someone experiencing distress.”

Website content will be shared regularly through the Wellness Instagram account @UWindsorWellness and new content will continue to be developed over time.

Additionally, posters across campus will feature the direct question “Thinking about suicide?” alongside messages from the outreach video and a QR code that links to the new website with crisis and emergency resources. These posters are now available for distribution to any department on campus that wishes to display them, with several messages and designs to choose from. New handouts and other resources are also available. To request copies, email wellness@uwindsor.ca.

“By implementing a year-round, campus-developed suicide prevention initiative with messaging that is direct, compassionate, clinically reviewed, and brought to life by many familiar faces, it is our goal to reach people in new ways, model compassionate language for talking about emotional pain and distress, and open doors to seeking help,” explains Chauvin.

“It is our responsibility as a campus community to care for each other, and It Matters that You’re Here will provide ongoing opportunities to support this commitment. This is a cross-campus effort to make a difference, and we are very grateful to our many collaborators for their involvement in this work.”

If you are thinking about suicide or experiencing distress, click here for crisis resources.

“What you’re experiencing matters and you deserve support,” Chauvin says.

University Players presents a preview of its current production, Tinker Bell, continuing at Essex Hall Theatre through Sunday, Dec. 4.

The family show is the familiar story of Peter Pan told from an unfamiliar perspective: that of his faithful fairy friend.

For more information or tickets, visit www.UniversityPlayers.com.

WE-Spark Health Institute hosts monthly networking events for members of the Windsor-Essex health research community to get to know one another through fun and casual conversations. There is no formal agenda, and all are welcome.

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in health research to make connections in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. The next event will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, 5 to 8 p.m. at Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St. No RSVP is required.

WE-Spark Health Institute is a partnership of the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital designed to take health care to the next level through research.

The first event in the Faculty of Human Kinetics Community Speakers Series is aimed at athletes, students, coaches, and parents.

Todd Loughead, co-director of the Sport Psychology and Physical Activity Research Collaborative; Chad Sutherland, director of the Centre for Human Performance and Health; and Chantal Vallée, head coach of the Lancer women’s basketball team will discuss the mental, physical, and practical aspects of getting your game to the next level in a presentation entitled “Inside High-Performance Sport” at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 in the Human Kinetics Building.

Free parking will be available in Lot H on College Avenue and light refreshments will be served. RSVP to  hk@uwindsor.ca.