For us, two small rooms that are within the AEC don't give us much leeway to add furniture or partition areas for certain activities besides what the computers demand. In RIC, though, they use filing cabinets and desks to section off areas of the room (albeit they have a MUCH bigger room and a separate one as a lounge).
For people who haven't been there, here is my HORRIBLE rendition of their WC (please forgive me my bad paint skills):
The sections are labeled, but it's pretty hard to see. Basically, they have one big room that they've split into two so that tutors' space is separate from clerical, computers, etc. There is also a second room behind the snack bar that has a futon and a bunch of chairs that the tutors can use in their free time.
What I'd like to point out here is that although RIC has more space and more stuff in that space, we have basically the same elements that they do. Our amount of traffic seems to be lighter, at least compared to when I was there, so it works for us. Making appointments is done in pencil there, there's a printed journal instead of a blog, you can purchase snacks to pay for their conferences--things like that are different. But both WCs (ours and theirs) are committed to the students. I know that lately we've been disagreeing about how clinical the center should be (to couch or not to couch), but when it comes down to it, I think we should worry most about being productive and thoughtful tutors. Let's make the most of the space we have.
And again...I apologize for the drawing!
I've been up at the RIC center a few times as well. The thing that strikes me as different everytime is that whatever is happening in that room over there sounds *fun*. Its not very formal-looking (with a big ugly collection of snacks for sale...someone must go to Sam's club every so often) and its not very formal-sounding, either, which is so attractive to me. In assessing the difference like you, Jessica, I would venture to say that theirs has a really student-run feel, and the sort of bonhomie that comes from people gathered around a cause or project. Its seems like we treat our space and center a little more like a job and a little less like a cause, but I don't think those have to be opposed.
ReplyDeleteOur on-going conversations about re-decorating our WC I think are a great place to start: the feel of a space definitely impacts what happens in that space. I think especially being within the AEC its hard to distinguish ourselves as the rad and exciting Writer's Paradise and not the more remedial quick-talk-to-someone-and-don't-fail-the-test tutoring. But I wonder if its not just the space. Maybe we should talk about the writing culture we want our space to harbor, and how we can build that fun, buzzing, attractive atmosphere of a place that is student-run and student-centered.
Thanks for the drawing--it really helped!
ReplyDeleteIf we are really going to do something with the space that we have--and this is just a suggestion--how about spending a meeting moving things around, drawing various layouts, implementing actual ideas, etc.?
ReplyDeleteHow about we do a postmodern mapping and spatial analysis! Then, start to critique the space? Then, pose changes, discuss changes, vote on changes. And, last, enact the changes we wish to make.
ReplyDelete