The Writing Center, located across from the Science Center parking lot, is a central component to Keene State College students’ academic success.

The center offers individual tutoring, classroom workshops per faculty request and various outreach projects to generate student interest.

The center has also recently set aside a room for a writing “nook” where students can have a quiet, comfortable space to write and ask questions.

The Director of the Writing Center Dr. Kate Tirabassi remarked that the goal of the writing center is to help students become more confident and successful writers.

Tirabassi said she has experience leading writing workshops and developing students’ writing abilities.

Passionate about her work, Tirabassi said that she is interested in  “composition and rhetoric, which is the study of how people write.”

She also remarked that she enjoys finding ways to “help students to write drafts while not feeling too overwhelmed and to be better communicators.”

An accomplished writer herself, Tirabassi said she has published several scholarly articles and chapters on the writing process.

Tirabassi said the Writing Center “is a real collaborative effort to provide the best experience for students.” 

She also said she appreciates the, “dynamism of working at the Writing Center. It is interesting working with tutors to incorporate their ideas into improving the peer tutoring program for students.”

Recently, the center incorporated more in-depth, online feedback forms for students to fill out after a tutoring session.

Dr. Tirabassi said that the center “takes that feedback and then discusses it as a group in staff meetings to become better tutors.”

KSC senior and English literature and writing double major Emily Cackowski, is in her third year of working at the Writing Center.

Cackowski said tutoring is “really nice. It’s nice to see people come in, and I get a better connection to the campus this way.”

“Sometimes people schedule recurring appointments with me and I’ll see their writing develop. It’s always nice to form that connection with a student and to watch their writing grow and change,” she said.

Cackowski  said that working at the Writing Center is a great experience and that she loves her job.

Cackowski said that the “one-on-one work is always enjoyable, partly because I can help other people improve, but I also improve as a writer by working here.”

“The staff is always talking about what we can do to better ourselves as tutors and writers. I think part of what makes me so glad to work here is that we help people and also try to help ourselves,” Cackowski said, “We are on an equal playing field with the students we tutor.”

The staff at the Writing Center also takes students’ privacy seriously.

Cackowski said that tutors are not allowed to share information or the names of individuals without prior consent.

After a tutoring session, Cackowski said she wants students to feel “more comfortable and confident in the writing that they are doing.”

“I hope that they carry over the writing skills they learned to other classes and careers. Writing is such an important skill for students when they go out into the world,” she said.

To new Keene State College students, Cackowski said she recommends “finding places where you are comfortable writing for long periods of time.”

“Do not be afraid to take breaks if you are stuck. When you get stuck [with writing] don’t stop. Just enjoy yourself as a student. Focus on your work and get involved in activities on campus,” Cackowski said.

KSC senior English major Aidan Bolduc has worked at the Writing Center for two years.

Bolduc said he enjoys working in the Writing Center “since it’s interesting to see the work from many different types of classes and the interests in the subjects of many different types of students in papers. We definitely see a wide range of people’s thoughts on campus.”

Bolduc said that he works with students to “translate students’ really good ideas into really good writing, or present it in a way that’s going to boost their grade to one they deserve based on what their actual knowledge is.”

“That’s what I’m here to do, and I’m really happy to be able to do that,” Bolduc said.

From a peer tutoring session, Bolduc said he hopes to instill some “hope” in them.

He said that “tutors are here for the pep talk as much as we are here for advice. I hope students can walk away with a better understanding of a mechanic of writing or of organization.”

As a tutor, Bolduc said his motto is, “If I taught them [students] one thing that will stick in their mind, then I’ve done my job.”

Bolduc said that the Writing Center offers help on every stage of writing a paper, not just the final editing stage.

He said that while most people come for a last check kind of thing, the center also offers assistance with “brainstorming and writing a thesis. The earlier people come, the more we can do for them.”

Tirabassi and tutors remarked that the Writing Center is increasing its presence on campus.

Tirabassi also mentioned that Keene State tutors have presented at the Northeast Writing Center Association conference that was held on the KSC campus last year.

On Oct. 20, the Writing Center is hosting an event located in the Student Center atrium in commemoration of the National Day of Writing.

Bolduc said the purpose of the National Day of Writing is “to celebrate why we write.”

To all Keene State College students, Tirabassi said to come to the center as early as possible in the writing process. She said that the “[Writing] Center is here for everyone.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

After classes have finished for the day, Keene State College senior Athena Nathan is often thinking of her next work of art on Sunset Rock overlooking the city of Keene. Nathan remarked that Sunset Rock is a great location “to get your mind off of everything, feel more zen and to get some art inspiration.”

A New York native, Nathan is a dual major in studio art and graphic design.

Last semester, Nathan had the unique opportunity to study art abroad in Italy. This experience  was the “biggest challenge” of her college career. She said, “Going to a whole different country, you have to experience new life and learn to live like they do for four months.” While the trip to Italy was demanding, Nathan said “It was a great challenge, and I faced my fears.”

Nathan said the trip to Italy had a significant impact on her art. “You meet so many local artists who are so welcoming and willing to help,” Nathan said. “I’ve had artists teach me how to do all different types of art and new techniques. Street artists offered me the opportunity to draw next to them.”

While in Italy, Nathan also “visited local art galleries and talked to the actual artists from the galleries who explained their art and materials.” Nathan was amazed to see the difference in how the local Italian artists created their works. She said that watching “how they paint or even hold a pencil could be different.”

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

James Harvard, a senior at KSC, has known Nathan throughout all four years of college. He said that Nathan “works across all mediums of art and has a very specific style with a new, fresh design.”

Harvard praised Nathan’s artistic abilities saying that she “is an artist who excels at anything she wants to excel at, broadly across whole spectrum of art mediums.”

KSC Senior Steph Giang said that studying abroad can really open a student’s eyes, regardless of their major. Giang said while she was Italy, her roommate was an art major and witnessing her develop with her art changed her perspective on art.

“I realized that other majors, even the non-traditional ones are hard and have to put in a lot of effort as well,” she said. Giang said seeing her roommate complete projects helped her appreciate the work put into them. She continued, “I’m a psychology major so it’s interesting to see what did the person intend, what do they want others to get out of it?”

Nathan said that she is mainly interested in creating abstract art. She said that the quote, “art for art’s sake,” defines her perspective on her artistic projects. Nathan said she is inspired by the avant-garde art scene and the Modernist art movement. She said she is also influenced by the work of Terry Winters, Joan Mitchell and Mr. Brainwash. Salvador Dali is her “favorite artist of all time.” Nathan said her primary art medium is mixed media. She remarked that she also creates pieces with paints and charcoal. Last semester, one of her monotypes was showcased at The Works Cafe in downtown Keene.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

KSC senior Angelo Virone said for himself personally he enjoys landscape artwork. However, he said in regards to abstract art, “If it’s coming from a place within that person, it’s more meaningful.”  Virone said that going to school for art can open up the door to many jobs. “There’s beauty, design, being an art teacher. It’s a good foundation,” he said.

KSC senior Cameron Cummings said that he used to be a music major but then was concerned he wouldn’t be able to find a job. “[Art is] a hard way to make money,” he said. Cummings said that for some it could work if they really have the skills. He said that he would guess it takes a lot of work as well. “It could take a while [to complete a project], but it depends on the talent,” he said.

After she graduates from Keene State College, Nathan hopes to “find a successful job with [her] major, specifically with graphic design.” A profession as a package designer also interests her.

To incoming first-year students, Nathan emphasizes to pursue “a major that you love and enjoy because you are going to be doing it for four years and possibly for the rest of your life.” Nathan advised that while college is stressful, this is the “time to push yourself.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com