Mar 14 Features 48

Its back and its here with a vengeance. Finals season is approaching in less than 50 days, and the Student Success Center is working alongside the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) to prevent the ill effects of all-nighters with the Writing and Research Center Write-In. The Write-In will be held from 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, in the RWC, featuring focused study pods creating different work environments, so students who write better in silence and students who prefer endless Spotify playlists will be accommodated. Designed with the freshman critical analysis research papers in mind, the Writing and Research Center is teaming up with the RWC to provide an environment to crank out term papers, with an open invitation to all students. Writing is a very fluid process and very personal, Elizabeth Kons, director of the Writing and Research Center, said. [Its] is one of the most anxiety-inspiring obligations we have in college. The WRC is trying to ease that anxiety at all points of the writing process. By incorporating wellness like snacks, stretching and time management, the Writing Center and RWC hopes to alleviate some of that anxiety, Kons said. The idea for the Write-In came about when Kons read research on studying and physical activity. From there, she connected with Mary Jean Taylor and representatives at the RWC who helped bring the proposal to life. Were the WRC and theyre the RWC, Kons said. I think it was meant to be. Weve stumbled upon collaboration at Gannon that will stick forever. Kons said she noticed many first-year students internalize their writing process in her composition classes, and she hopes this event will change that pattern. Registration for the event, which falls on advising day, will be available online at gannon.mywconline.com. Students are welcome to come in any time during the four-hour period and work on writing assignments once registered. While typical appointments at the Writing Center involve one-on-one discussion with a student tutor, the Write-In will take a more informal approach. Jeannette Long, student director of the Writing Center and a graduate English major, said tutors will be floating around the space in a style similar to a classroom work day. You know how the teacher will come around and check on you? Long said. Thats what well be doing. Long said she is excited for the events kickoff March 29. Were looking to get lots of participation, and its a good way to spend a Wednesday night, Long said. Snacks will also be provided for those participating to encourage healthy alternatives to typical late-night snacks like pizza and heavily caffeinated energy drinks. Ashley Kolniak, an administrative aide at the RWC, said these snacks are not the best choice.

Often times, we see college students take to energy drinks and unhealthy food choices in order to give them the energy to complete their work, Kolniak said. Kons said the snacks will be inspired by options at the Fresh Caf in the RWC. But Im not going to take away anyones coffee, she joked. Not only will the Write-In provide healthy snacks to motivate students, RWC staff will be available to encourage active study habits, like taking breaks to stretch every hour or so. Studies show that students who are more physically active get better grades and graduate on time more frequently. At its core, the Write-In is an opportunity for students to learn about cultivating a culture of wellness in their own lives, by incorporating healthy practices into their busy schedules. Kons says she hopes participants will learn to integrate moments of wellness throughout time spent studying. Were trying to make all-nighters a little bit healthier, Kons said. Rather than ignore the pattern, the Writing Center and RWC staff want to meet students where they are in their academic work and put those habits in a healthier direction. We all do it, Kons said. Were all procrastinators and were all busy. Long said she hopes students gain valuable study skills from participating in the Write-In. Once you can identify how you study best, you become a more successful student all-around, Long said.

KELSEY GHERING ghering001@knights.gannon.edu

DAVID RUSSO russo022@knights.gannon.edu

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Education and excercise collide at Writing Center Write-In event - Gannonknight