Re: What's in a name?

[typapay@Rollins.Edu]

Well, I think the only way to choose an appropriate local name might be to
challenge the students to propose alternatives--publish them and see how
it plays out from there.  

What about A Room of Our Own?  (Sorry, but it's always so tempting to
appropriate the lit "turf.")

I've always liked Tom MacLennan's The Writing Place at UNC Wilmington.  

Again, it seems to me that creating a space/place/tent/gazebo/carnival for
writers is entirely appropriate--and usually appreciated.  It may be that
how you advertise--and what your documents look like--say more than what
you call it.  But as there's power in naming, follow Writing Center
pedagogy--give the power to the students.  What do they sense a need and
desire for?

(And I'm a fine one to make recommendations, as the Writing Center, the
Quantitative Center, and the Academic Resource Center at Rollins are about
to be dismantled in favor of a Resource Center primarily served by
academic advisers and some peer tutors in various fields trained an hour
here and an hour there by faculty of varying philosophies on "supporting
the weak," so tutors will not be "limited to all those things Writing
Centers do."  It isn't yet clear whether the entire campus will be served
by this new facility--as it is by the WCTR--or only 1st and 2nd year day
students.  The Dean designed this without any faculty consultation, so the
fallout and ultimate resolution remains to be seen.  The new program I may
design may look suspiciously like an upper-level WAC WCTR with a research
/technology focus--after the dean leaves.  But denying hierarchies and
empowering writers has its dangers as well as its charms. . . .  Still,
I'd ask the students anyway.) 

Twila Yates Papay
Director of Writing Programs
Professor of English/Writing (fortunately!)
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL 32789
typapay@rollins.edu