SMC opens satellite writing center

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in a three-part series exploring the new initiatives at the Cushwa-Leighton Library, which will showcase the life of Sister Madeleva Wolff, cater to students’ writing needs and raise awareness for eco-friendly printing.

The Cushwa-Leighton Library recently implemented new initiatives to accommodate the needs of students, including offering increased writing support for students. On Monday, Saint Mary’s opened the brand-new, walk-in-only writing center satellite location, "Write Now," on the top floor of the library. The center will be open Sunday through Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. before fall break and Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. after the break.

Aaron Bremyer, director of the Writing Center, said students can expect to find assistance of all kinds on any of their writing assignments.

“[Our tutors] are very well-prepared to sit and talk about the assignment and help at any phase in the writing process,” Bremyer said. “We can help them begin the process, polish the draft they have and help organize thoughts and brainstorm during these shorter half-hour tutorials in the Write Now center.”

Bremyer said one or two student tutors will be working at the new writing center location, along with a reference librarian downstairs as an added benefit.

“Our tutors are great writers and have been very successful in their classes, but not only are they good writers themselves, but they have been recommended because they work well with women who are struggling or succeeding with the writing process,” Bremyer said.

Junior Megan Woods, a tutor for the Writing Center, said she is looking forward to working in the new writing center because it will allow more students to get the help they need.

“I think this will be a great program because the Writing Center has restraints with how many people can sign up for appointments, but in the new location, people can just walk in, and we can talk with them for a half-hour on whatever help they need with a paper,” Woods said.

The Writing Center works with all students, some who are juniors and seniors refining their writing, and others who are first-years or sophomores who often struggle with the early stages of their writing. Bremyer said he wants to dispel the belief that going to the Writing Center is punitive.

“We collaborate with people who are invested in their own success because we are invested in their success as well, so people can be prepared at all different levels of writing,” Bremyer said.

Bremyer said he is excited about the new changes in the library, especially because Write Now can help more students who might not be able to make appointments in the Writing Center due to a high demand for tutoring there.

“Last year, we had a substantial increase in the number of students who needed to sit down and collaborate with tutors, so now we have more tutors, and here we will be able to work with students who simply couldn’t make it on the list last year,” Bremyer said. “We had 80 percent of our days completely full with a waiting list, so we’re hopeful that on those days, students will be able to go the new location and work with tutors.”

Bremyer hopes that the new writing center location will be recognized as a powerful resource for the Saint Mary’s community.

“Good writers share their work," he said. "That's true of the professors here, thats true of our best students here, and it should be true of anyone who wants to do well, that they see the writing center as an avenue to help them succeed."