By Gionna Bean, Opinion Editor
Furnished corner of the new Writing Center – Photo by Gionna Bean
This semester, Aquinas College has unveiled refreshed spaces for both the Writing Center and TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), aiming to provide students with more accessible and comfortable environments for academic assistance.
TRIO SSS is in the same place as last year, but the space has been revamped, with plenty of room for sitting and conversing. Junior Elisabeth Forsyth sees the update as a way of making the place feel more inviting to all students, which is very important to her. “The student space is where I can relax and feel like I belong. As a low-income, first-generation student with a disability, this space through TRIO SSS helps me feel included and connected on campus.”
As for the Writing Center, which was previously located on the second floor of the library, it’s now located on the first floor. The decision for this location change was made in order to gain more foot traffic as the new room is on the first floor where more organizations reside including Study Tables and TRIO SSS. “I think the new space is working out quite well for students and consultants,” senior Sophia Lentine, member of the communication duo for the Writing Center said. “Being relocated onto the first floor puts us in a position to work more closely with library staff and peer tutors to get students the resources they need. I am curious to see if the number of off schedule appointments increases as the semester continues since we will be located in a higher traffic area.”
Writing consultants still miss the feel of the old room, which is something that’s hard to replicate in a new space. “I think the new space is great,” junior Cristian Zacharias, TRIO SSS student and Writing Center consultant said, “but I like the old space better, because it felt more roomy.”
Writing consultants working in the new Writing Center space – Photo by Gionna Bean
The space previously occupied by the Writing Center has been repurposed to house the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Aquinas College. OLLI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering university-level, non-credit educational programs, such as lectures, courses, and special events, for those who seek intellectual and social engagement. While most of the courses are designed for people 50 and older, anyone is welcome to participate and they are expanding some of their programming to specifically engage Aquinas students. OLLI flags currently stand outside the library, which students may have seen in passing.
Two years ago, the TRIO SSS program expanded its space to the ground floor of the library, providing plenty of room for students to sit, converse, and engage with academic mentors and peers. This expansion aligns with TRIO’s mission to empower students to navigate college resources and reach their goals through community development and intentional networks. TRIO SSS is a federally funded program which serves students who are first-generation, low-income, or have disabilities, offering personalized support to enhance their academic success and retention.
Entrance to TRIO SSS room – Photo by Gionna Bean
The new Writing Center space also aligns with their goals and values. The Writing Center is aimed at helping students to write to their fullest potential, and the new space should foster an environment to help students. By providing a comfortable and accessible setting, the center continues to offer one-on-one and group consulting sessions, engaging writers in dialogue to provide immediate feedback and strategies for their writing projects. These sessions contribute to the ongoing development of students as writers.
Both spaces have yet to be explored by all students around campus, but the hope behind these changes is that the new spaces will allow for common spaces designed to fulfill all the needs of those who benefit from the services. Whether students are seeking assistance with a writing assignment or looking to connect with academic mentors, these updated spaces are designed to support the academic journey.
The Saint 