The Marietta campus’s Writing Center expanded in August with a new location in the Johnston Library, room 101.
The new room offers multiple seating options for students seeking feedback on their academic, professional or personal works. Wide glass windows open the space for passing students to observe the center in action before getting directly involved.
The new location will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for face-to-face appointments.
Abby Hayman, a student enrolled in KSU’s Master of Arts in Professional Writing program and current Writing Center student assistant, shared her excitement for the expansion.
“Anyone is free to come in and visit. All are welcome. It is such a warm and inclusive environment. Sometimes, students come in to ask questions or say hi,” Hayman said.
Offering more than 40 writing workshops this semester, students have more opportunities than ever to have access to writing resources. Workshops are spread between both campuses and also offer remote alternatives. A comprehensive calendar of upcoming workshops and events can be found on the Writing Center website.
Hayman is a strong believer that all students have the capacity to be great writers. She elaborates on how the Writing Center is a means of providing a confidence boost to harness their talents.
“A misconception with our writing centers is that it’s remedial. While we work with students and take pride in serving students from all backgrounds, it’s for everyone,” Hayman said, “It helps to create stronger, more confident writers. Often it’s not that the student is a bad writer. It’s that they lack confidence.”
As for the future of the Writing Center, Hayman said that funding for the center’s resources would go far to help more students. Hayman also said that she personally looks forward to welcoming more students to an inclusive space to grow.
“I hope that students will continue to work with us. I also hope that, as a center, we can break down inaccurate stereotypes to draw more students to our center,” Hayman said.
Hayman’s passion for writing is not only fueled by her work with students at the Writing Center but is also supported by the resources the center provides her as a student enrolled in the Master’s program.
“I am challenged to pause and think about the writing process, which sometimes is so ingrained in me that I write without thinking. But when I slow down, I recognize my flaws in the writing process, which makes me grow,” she said.
The center also hosts a variety of clubs for interested students such as the Writers and Warlocks Dungeons and Dragons group, Not Your Professor’s Book Club, Novels at Night book club and The Write Place Creative Writing Club. The center also hosts the Conversation Partners Programs for partnership between international students with native English-speaking students.
Virtual appointments are also available to all students Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.