Lana Parker, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education and an advocate for sustainable public education, is on a mission to inform Canadians about its funding.

As a philosopher of education and language researcher, Dr. Parker examines the political economy of education and explores opportunities for a more ethically responsive system. Her passion for these issues ultimately led to her involvement as a founding member of the Public Education Exchange network (PEX).

Led by education professor Sue Winton at York University and supported by a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant, the network advocates for equitable, accessible, publicly funded, and democratically governed schools that serve the public good. With a diverse team of co-investigators from across Canada, including Parker, PEX examines the challenges facing public education, particularly funding sustainability and the rise of privatization, which often coincides with underfunding.

“Education is provincially managed, and sometimes dialogues across regions don’t happen,” says Parker. “Issues of underfunding and emergent privatization are surfacing across the country, but in ways that have historically been hard to track outside of scholarly research. Our network and website bring together those who are interested in understanding public education.”

The PEX network provides resources, hosts events, and produces a bi-annual newsletter to keep Canadians informed about public school sustainability issues nationwide.

“Whether you have a child in the system, work in education, or were once a student yourself, you are a stakeholder in public education,” Parker explains. “This is an important conversation to be a part of, because public education is a fundamental public good.”

Parker emphasizes that concerns about funding extend beyond public education to other services like health care. She encourages broader conversations about underfunding and privatization across all public services.

“Maybe you're somebody who works in health care, who sees similar patterns of underfunding and privatization emerging there,” she says. “Understanding how this is playing out in the education landscape or being part of those conversations can benefit both sectors.”

One of Parker's contributions to PEX is facilitating discussions on public education funding, including a recent interview with Ricardo Tranjan, a senior researcher on housing and social policy at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

“Ricardo provides a very data-driven, evidence-based analysis of how education funding works and why privatisation is emerging,” Parker notes. “He explains complex funding structures and how they have changed over time.”

Throughout Parker and Tranjan’s conversation, they explore education funding, government and political discourse surrounding funding, and the broader stakes of public education, highlighting the importance of defending it.

“Public education has always been a political project,” says Parker. “It is something that was fought for, established, and supported through bipartisan governments over time, but it is also something that can disappear. Without continued advocacy, public education could diminish for future generations.”

Parker notes that discussions around funding in education often take place in academia or in political campaigns, but are rarely made accessible to the broader public.

“I think it is important for there to be straightforward, open conversation about funding in education,” she says. “Through PEX, we create a space where experts like Ricardo can break down these complex issues in an approachable way.”

A core issue Parker highlights is the normalization of underfunding and the erosion of expectations for public education.

“If students grow up only knowing an underfunded system, where programs are cut and the arts and humanities are only available through private tuition, they may lose the expectation that public education should provide these opportunities,” she warns.

She urges Canadians to recognize the importance of advocating for sustainable public education funding.

“We live in a wealthy society, and we should be able to demand proper, sustained funding for public goods without deflecting into privatized profit streams,” Parker states.

For access to Parker’s interview with Tranjan and other PEX resources, visit PEX Network.

Political science students took on the roles of federal party leaders Monday, sparring in a simulated debate over issues like the cost of living, housing, health care, and environmental sustainability.

Students in professor Lydia Miljan’s class “Political Parties and Elections” have been working on election campaigns this semester, each taking on a role within their assigned party’s campaign team. Representing the four main parties, each group consists of a candidate, campaign manager, social media director, policy advisor, and other positions key to forming a solid campaign.

“Students did a compass survey and were put into groups of like-minded individuals. There were some defections and changes from the original groupings, but in the end, we have four political parties represented: Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Green,” Dr. Miljan explains.

All their work behind the scenes was brought into the spotlight as Liberal party candidate Rhyse Parker, Jacqueline Turner for the Conservatives, Ali Hage representing the New Democrats, and Luca Rubino of the Greens took the Armouries stage for the candidates' live debate.

Moderated by students from Maple Media, the debate required candidates to think on their feet, as they had no prior access to the questions. Each had about a minute to respond, followed by rebuttals. Those on the media team verified only objective facts and did not fact-check any “speculative” statements.

The candidates navigated with confidence and quick thinking, handling the debate like seasoned politicians. Staying true to their party’s principles, they drew on real-world challenges and political decisions to craft persuasive arguments while touting their ideas to address the issues.

When asked about health care and their plans for existing programs like Pharmacare and the Canadian Dental Care Plan, the Liberal party candidate addressed the health-care worker shortage.

“The Liberal party is prepared to implement practice-ready assessment programs to allow thousands of internationally trained medical professionals to work in health care and serve Canadians,” Parker said.

Noting the importance of social programs, the Conservative candidate addressed overspending and her party’s plan to make small cuts to Pharmacare.

“The purpose of this will be to put it towards our economy and real building, therefore creating a better situation for all Canadians. The housing crisis is real, and to make real change, we need to make small cuts, however, that will be a good return for Canadians,” Turner said.

NDP candidate Hage said the current programs in place have been “half measures” and his party would expand them.

“None have succeeded at covering a sufficient amount of Canadians; almost a third of all Canadians have been left out without any dental coverage at all. And as for Pharmacare, about a quarter of all Canadian households are still struggling to make enough to pay for their meds,” he said.

The Green party candidate also addressed the current Liberal government, citing undelivered promises.

“So far, this government has said they're going to implement all these changes to Pharmacare, dental care and child care. However, that has not been delivered. What the Greens want to do is expand on these policies. We want to implement child care for all provinces and make Pharmacare more affordable,” Rubino stated.

The debate was civil, with only a few jabs thrown between candidates as they critiqued party decisions. Parker reminded her fellow debaters, “I am not Justin Trudeau,” which was met with applause and some laughter from the audience.

Other questions surrounded topics like the housing crisis, international trade and relations, inter-party division, and climate policy.

“I was very happy to see how well the students performed in the debate. They had certainly taken my advice to heart,” Miljan says.

“All teams were instructed to have a campaign platform, do opposition research, and be able to tell their story to the voters. I could see a lot of those elements in the way in which the candidates performed in the debate. In addition, in the background, the teams were also sending out social media posts and planning the rest of the campaign.”

The debate was filmed and will be shared with high school students in two classes along with websites created by the media group. Those secondary students will then vote for who should be the next prime minister in this simulated election.

A March 12 event hosted by the Noiseborder Multimedia Performance Lab allowed attendees to compose and perform music through a virtual reality interface.

Point Line Piano is a project of Jarosław Kapuściński, professor of music composition at Stanford University, in collaboration with digital artists Marc Downie and Paul Kaiser of the OpenEndedGroup.

As participants enter the VR realm, their hands stroke lines to create musical notes, which form melodic phrases and rhythms, while the computer devises intricate visual geometries in response. As the work sets in motion, it surrounds the creator with an audiovisual dance.

“With the headset on, you were transported into an infinite blue space,” explains communication student Sean O’Neil. “Using your hands, you were able to create small beats with lines. Each beat would create a cascading effect through the space — exploding into ripples of orange, red, and yellow. Each beat created a different musical experience that would echo throughout the space. Then, you could use your hands to manipulate the preexisting sonic elements: sometimes causing them to slow, and other times causing them to create a different noise entirely.

“You were able to in many ways compose your own music utilizing an intricate series of visuals in front of you — essentially turning shapes and colour into noise.”

Student Allison Ware tried her hand at drawing a musical masterpiece and describes the experience as magical.

“The expansion of colour and sound in this technological world was unlike anything I had ever experienced before,” she says. “The combination of composed notes, light, graphics and design changed my understanding of the term ‘intermedia’ in an inspiringly futuristic way.

“The cumulative VR performance platform created a seemingly multidimensional and immersive way to experience music, visuals, technology, design and engineering all at once.”

Vu Le calls it an “amazing and unforgettable” experience.

“When I put on the headset, it was incredible to witness something so new and unfamiliar, yet exciting and engaging,” Le says. “I was completely immersed in it and honestly didn’t want to stop.”

In addition to his post in music at Stanford University, Dr. Kapuściński is affiliated with its Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. His research focuses on intermedia composition, performance, and Japanese traditional aesthetics.

UWindsor alumnus Franklin H. Ezenwa (BSc 2015), a motivational speaker, best-selling author, and software developer at IBM Canada, will discuss his career journey as an immigrant to Canada in a free presentation hosted by the Cube in the Freed-Orman Commons from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, March 24.

Ezenwa spoke at the Lancer Leadership conference in September 2023 and received the Odyssey Award from the University of Windsor Alumni Association in April 2024, recognizing his achievements at an early stage in his career.

He is the author of three books — Be a High Achiever: Achieving All-Round Success in College and University; Crack the Dream Job Code: How to Land your Dream Job in Canada as an Immigrant; and The Identity Manual: How to Define Your True Identity, Escape the Identity Crisis & Find Fulfillment. 

Ezenwa will distribute 40 copies of Be a High Achiever free during the event.

“His insights will inspire our Indigenous and Black undergraduate and graduate students,” says Cube director Kemi Anazodo. “Students will gain insights from someone with a relatable experience, offering a perspective they can connect with.”

She adds that the event promises an opportunity for students to engage with and support one another and aims to inspire, educate, and empower students as they navigate their own career paths and aspirations.

Register here to attend.

The Cube is designed to break down the formidable barriers encountered by Indigenous and Black scholars in the areas of academia and career development. Learn more on the program website.

The Windsor-Essex Chapter of Épelle-Moi Canada will hold its French-language spelling bee Saturday, March 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the CAW Students Centre’s Alumni Auditorium.

Participants will compete in three age groups: 6 to 8 years, 9 to 11 years, and 12 to 14 years. The top three winners in each category will receive a cash prize, and the regional champions in each group will be invited to compete in the national competition.

The spelling bee will provide a great learning opportunity for local French-speaking youths, says organizer Emmanuelle Richez, an associate professor of political science: “It promotes literacy, self-discipline, public speaking skills, as well as the ability to set goals and challenge oneself for participants, all while having fun.”

Épelle-Moi Canada is a non-profit, charitable organization that offers a French-language educational program to young people aged 6 to 18 in Canada. Active in many regions of Canada, it focuses on literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship, community involvement, and cultural animation for young francophones and francophiles.

The spelling bee is sponsored by the Faculty of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, the Office of Enrolment Management, the University of Windsor Alumni Association, and other community partners. Members of the public who are fluent in French — or know just a few words — are welcome to attend and support the young competitors.

The Faculty of Engineering is taking a major step forward in its commitment to advancing research with the unveiling of six newly renovated computational lab spaces.

The cutting-edge labs were officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by professor Ning Zhang, who will be an occupant in the space; dean of engineering Bill Van Heyst; the project manager; the construction foreman; and several students who will benefit from the new spaces.

The excitement surrounding the new labs is palpable, with both faculty and students eager to explore the possibilities these spaces will offer. Dr. Zhang shared his enthusiasm for the new labs, emphasizing the importance of providing the faculty with the tools and environment necessary for cutting-edge research.

“This type of space has been a vision for the faculty for a long time,” says Dr. Van Heyst. “Professors are growing out of their current lab spaces and have different needs than they did when the building first opened. We are thrilled to be able to invest in them and their research potential.

“This would not have been possible without the direction of Tony Fuerth, engineering’s building manager. He was the person who really got the ball rolling on this project and ensured the faculty’s lab needs were met.”

The newly opened spaces have been allocated to professors specifically for research purposes, with the aim of creating a collaborative computational hub for innovation and teamwork. The labs are designed to foster a collective approach to research, offering faculty members the ability to engage in cross-disciplinary projects and work in a dynamic, state-of-the-art environment.

This investment in these new lab spaces opens up new academic and research futures for the institution. As the faculty continues to grow, these labs will serve as a cornerstone supporting the ambitious research goals of the University.

University of Windsor students and employees may have their vehicles ticketed or towed if they park at Caesars Windsor, the casino warns.

Several construction projects have limited the capacity of its parking garage, and Caesars says all spots are needed for its guests and employees.

The University advises students and staff to use other downtown parking options, such as city lots, to avoid any issues.