Issue: Spring 2018 | Posted: June 1, 2018

1050 U.U. Drive

Writing Center launches with grand opening celebration

Union University celebrated the grand opening of its new Writing Center with a Feb. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Located in a portion of the space formerly occupied by the library in the Penick Academic Complex, the Writing Center officially launched in the fall, but Feb. 27 marked the official opening of the physical space where the center is housed.

“Writing centers are very important to universities,” said Aaron Beasley, assistant director of the Writing Center. “Our main goal here is to make better writers, not just better papers.”

The Writing Center was a result of the Quality Enhancement Plan that Union was required to produce as part of its reaffirmation of accreditation. Union’s previous QEP established the university’s Honors Community in 2010.

Christine Bailey, associate professor of English and director of composition support, and Patricia Hamilton, professor of English, originally submitted the proposal for the Writing Center. Bailey is serving as the center’s interim director until the position is filled permanently.

The Writing Center consists of four consultation rooms where students can meet with peer tutors, 11 computers for student use and an open study area.

"We want this to be a welcome spot for students to come and just hang out, study and work on their writing,” Beasley said.

Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver at the grand opening thanked those who had been involved in establishing the Writing Center and in renovating the space for its use, including Russ Allison, the general contractor for the project.

“I don’t know if you remember what this space looked like, but it didn’t look like this,” Oliver said. “It really is beautiful, and his folks did an incredible job in bringing the vision to reality.”

Oliver and Lisa Rogers, chairman of Union’s Board of Trustees, cut the ceremonial ribbon as part of the ceremony to mark the center’s official opening.

The Writing Center occupies about 2,500 square feet along the main hallway of the PAC.