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www.waltonian.com
Writing center receives donation to renovate
Jon Marcus
Issue date:
11/21/07 Section:
News
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Media Credit:
Mark Russum
A look at the room that inspired
Wilbraham nee Van Der Aa's donation.
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Remember the
question that was supposed to be a conversation
starter: "What would you do with $100,000?" Well,
it is now Eastern's turn to start that
conversation.
Eastern '02 alumna Kelly Wilbraham nee Van Der Aa,
has donated $100,000 to the Cushing Center for
Counseling and Academic Support. CCAS has reported
that they will use this money to develop the
Writing Center located in Walton Hall.
By the request of Wilbraham, the money will be
spent to revamp only the Writing Center. Because
the money is only allowed to be used for the
Writing Center, CCAS and Student Development can
focus on how to make the Writing Center the best
it can be, instead of trying to stretch out every
penny.
Since receiving the donation, Vice President of
Student Development Bettie Ann Brigham has already
interviewed three different interior designers.
Their choice, Larisa McShane and Associates, hopes
to restore the original architecture to the room
while making it a more comfortable place to learn.
Brigham has also said that no final decisions have
been made concerning how all of the donation will
be spent. "Our hope is to improve the computers in
the room and add updated hardware and software
programs for those with reading and writing
disabilities," Brigham said.
As a student at Eastern, Wilbraham used CCAS to
help her through her academics. In the sixth
grade, Wilbraham was diagnosed with dyslexia, a
learning disability that hampers the reading and
writing abilities of the many people who suffer
from the learning disability.
Having documentation of her disability, Wilbraham
used the Writing Center to take tests. "When I
took my tests, I always thought to myself that the
room was so dark and drab," Wilbraham said. "It's
important for any student to reach out for
academic support when they need it, so I want
students to be able to enjoy the room(s) and
atmosphere where they are learning."
For students who use the Writing Center facilities
on a consistent basis, the news of the
refurnishing was a pleasant surprise. Junior and
CCAS tutor Alicia Boaman is excited for how the
donation can help the students she sees on a daily
basis. "One of the main problems here in the
Writing Center is the noise," said Boaman. "If
there was a way to create more but separate space
to quiet the noise, that would be wonderful."
However, Boaman says that caution and careful
planning is needed before any of the donated money
is spent. "What we need in the Writing Center is a
way to prevent the noise and distractions we
already have," Boaman said. "Adding computers to
the room may draw more people. More people means
more noise and distraction."
According to Boaman, "The goal of the Writing
Center is to build better writers, not better
writing." It is the hope of Student Development,
CCAS, Wilbraham, Boaman and other tutors that the
donated money will help do just that.
http://media.www.waltonian.com/media/storage/paper752/news/2007/11/21/News/Writing.Center.Receives.
Donation.To.Renovate-3113860.shtml
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