Today Kobe and I met in the Writing Center to discuss the Alumni Newsletter. We have been putting together a list of names of alumni to contact for updates on their bios and to get the 4-1-1 who we haven't heard from very recently. Kobe and I noticed that our current directory drops off around 2009 so that will need to be brought back up to date. Kobe's hoping to contact many of our recent alums via Facebook.
We have also officially come up with a list of questions for our beloved, past WC consultants. The questions cover where you are now, any marriages we aren't aware of, followed by kiddies if they're there, jobs, travels, and a favorite Dr. Bob story of course to add some pizazz. If I were an alum, mine would say...
1. I currently am inhabiting the campus of Coe College for three jobs, but Batavia, IL is my hometown.
2. I am not married.
3. I don't have kids, but I love them! haha
4. Jobs were mentioned earlier, but I am working for Upward Bound, the beloved WC, the Heritage Office and very soon the bookstore again as well as work as a CAP leader.
5. I am suuuper excited for my spring semester abroad in Paris, France! Yay! :)
6. And my favorite Dr. Bob story is when we went on our trip to Baltimore and D.C. my freshman year at Coe and en route to our night train from Chicago to D.C. at the train station in Aurora, IL we lost Dr. Bob while he was paying for the parking. Good ol' Dr. Bob drove all the way to Chicago to make sure we made our train and then drove overnight to D.C. to meet us for dinner the next day. It was crazy all around, but somehow we managed to get on the appropriate night train with thirty-some consultants and had a grand ol' tour of D.C. before thanking Dr. Bob tremendously for our fabulous, Indian food dinner that night after we had reunited.
Never any dull moments in the W.C., so we can't wait to hear about what you have to share alums!
- Heidi Heaton
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #8
Hey hey hey there readers! Just wanted to make a quick post with kudos to Anna Hegland with help from Kobe Spencer on the fabulous newsletter that either has already greeted, or will be shortly greeting, you by mail this summer. Yikes people, lots of strange stuff we've been eating! My biggest question...and probably concern, lets be honest...is how so many people managed to work their way into consuming animal feces...hmmm? hmmm? Stories to share at the first staff meeting and over our retreat I'm sure.
Speaking of retreats, and thus conferences, I must say I am suuuper pumped for our International Conference to San Diego!! Now that I'll be a junior this year I have a guaranteed spot! Huzzah! Sadly I was not drawn for the Miami Conference this past fall but the trip to Baltimore the year before that was a blast...so very high expectations, which I'm sure will be met two-fold!
Tomorrow Kobe and I will begin work on the Alumni Newsletter, so I'll keep you posted on the goings on of that project!
Ta ta for now ("TTFN" -Tigger...cause the wonderful thing about tiggers are tiggers are wonderful things!)
- Heidi Heaton
Speaking of retreats, and thus conferences, I must say I am suuuper pumped for our International Conference to San Diego!! Now that I'll be a junior this year I have a guaranteed spot! Huzzah! Sadly I was not drawn for the Miami Conference this past fall but the trip to Baltimore the year before that was a blast...so very high expectations, which I'm sure will be met two-fold!
Tomorrow Kobe and I will begin work on the Alumni Newsletter, so I'll keep you posted on the goings on of that project!
Ta ta for now ("TTFN" -Tigger...cause the wonderful thing about tiggers are tiggers are wonderful things!)
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #7
So today we finally began official work on the WC website...kind of. :) Manderson and I met in the Writing Center now that we're both on campus and could find a free hour and began sorting through our list of possible adjustments to be made to the website. Together we went through the list and color-coded the changes according to what would be easy to quickly implement, slightly more challenging, medium difficulty and slightly time-consuming, and more challenging tasks that would also take some time. It seems like the first few things we could get a jump on would be general upkeep of the website, fact-checking, etc. as well as making easier to use tabs, and displaying our hours in a way that is easily noticeable and recurrent on every page of the site.
Other ideas we are tossing around for future updates are adding an "Events Calendar" with "Upcoming Events" which we may have found a google gadget that covers this area and would allow us to post when Sunday Dinners are and Tuesday Teas. We also looked into creating and Online Chat box which students could enter questions and thoughts in from their computers and the sloth in the WC could respond to. We also looked into creating an "Assignment Planner" for students so they can enter in the date the assignment was given in class and the date it is due, and a calendar will generate a schedule which helps them manage their time throughout the writing process until they turn their papers in. And lastly to keep our creative juices running today, we considered a scrolling consultants' advice bar at the bottom of the website page that adds personal flare and appeal.
Manderson is having a meeting with Dr. Bob either on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th and I am also having Dr. Bob sign timesheets that Monday, so we will discuss with him then what he thinks is plausible to pursue in terms of updating the WC website this summer. Should be exciting to start on this new project and get the WC site looking up-to-date and frequented by viewers hopefully...since that's the point of a site like that. ;)
Other than that, not much news for now. Enjoy those WC summer newsletters as they arrive! I saw the copies that are to be sent in the WC and from what I saw, looks like Anna did quite a spiffy job and I can't wait to read mine in more detail. Can't wait to get to know you new staffers!
Happy Summer!
- Heidi Heaton
Other ideas we are tossing around for future updates are adding an "Events Calendar" with "Upcoming Events" which we may have found a google gadget that covers this area and would allow us to post when Sunday Dinners are and Tuesday Teas. We also looked into creating and Online Chat box which students could enter questions and thoughts in from their computers and the sloth in the WC could respond to. We also looked into creating an "Assignment Planner" for students so they can enter in the date the assignment was given in class and the date it is due, and a calendar will generate a schedule which helps them manage their time throughout the writing process until they turn their papers in. And lastly to keep our creative juices running today, we considered a scrolling consultants' advice bar at the bottom of the website page that adds personal flare and appeal.
Manderson is having a meeting with Dr. Bob either on Monday the 25th or Tuesday the 26th and I am also having Dr. Bob sign timesheets that Monday, so we will discuss with him then what he thinks is plausible to pursue in terms of updating the WC website this summer. Should be exciting to start on this new project and get the WC site looking up-to-date and frequented by viewers hopefully...since that's the point of a site like that. ;)
Other than that, not much news for now. Enjoy those WC summer newsletters as they arrive! I saw the copies that are to be sent in the WC and from what I saw, looks like Anna did quite a spiffy job and I can't wait to read mine in more detail. Can't wait to get to know you new staffers!
Happy Summer!
- Heidi Heaton
Anna's Blog Post #5
Current and Incoming Staffers: this post's for you. Below is an article from the newsletter (which you'll be receiving in a few days!) and we trust you'll all read it, but just in case, here's some very important information that you'll be needing.
"All new Writing Center consultants should plan to arrive at Coe on Monday, August 20 -- two days before the beginning of full Orientation Week activities on Wednesday. The schedule will be as follows:
If you are a new staff member and have a potential conflict with the New Staff Orientation schedule, please let Mike know the nature of the conflict so that alternate arrangements can be made for initial staff training.
For returning staff members: we would love to have as many staff members as possible help with the New Staff Orientation. Please contact Mike if you are already going to be on campus or you would like to come back early and help on August 20 - 21."
Got that? There's a few important deadlines that must be met. Remember to e-mail Mike by July 2!
- Anna H. & the CWC Summer Staff
"All new Writing Center consultants should plan to arrive at Coe on Monday, August 20 -- two days before the beginning of full Orientation Week activities on Wednesday. The schedule will be as follows:
- New staff members can move into their residence hall on Monday, August 20.
- New Staff Orientation will begin Monday at 5:00 p.m. with a meeting in the WC (located in Gage Annex), followed by a group meal and informal socializing.
- Tuesday, August 21, our day-long orientation will begin with a breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and conclude with a group evening meal at a local restaurant.
If you are a new staff member and have a potential conflict with the New Staff Orientation schedule, please let Mike know the nature of the conflict so that alternate arrangements can be made for initial staff training.
For returning staff members: we would love to have as many staff members as possible help with the New Staff Orientation. Please contact Mike if you are already going to be on campus or you would like to come back early and help on August 20 - 21."
Got that? There's a few important deadlines that must be met. Remember to e-mail Mike by July 2!
- Anna H. & the CWC Summer Staff
Anna's Blog Post #4
Hey all!
The Summer Newsletter is officially finished and in the mail! Current staffers: look for it in your mailboxes in the next couple of days. Alums and other interested parties: here is a PDF copy, so you can see what we're up to! It's even in color, so you can see just what a good looking staff we have here at the Coe Writing Center.
Happy Reading!
-Anna H.
The Summer Newsletter is officially finished and in the mail! Current staffers: look for it in your mailboxes in the next couple of days. Alums and other interested parties: here is a PDF copy, so you can see what we're up to! It's even in color, so you can see just what a good looking staff we have here at the Coe Writing Center.
Happy Reading!
-Anna H.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #6
Why hellooooo dear readers!
It's been a long while it seems since I last sent out a post so I thought I'd drop by the WC today and see what material it could provide for another weekly update. I've been incredibly busy with Upward Bound, this being the first week (though I don't anticipate getting more sleep as the program continues), but I have an hour off from 9:40am-10:50am so I decided to give the plants a check-up, distribute the necessary vitals, and hop on to the blog.
Plants so far so good...I haven't killed them yet...yay!! I think that means they've all lasted longer than the flower I had freshman year, though this could be due to the fact that one is a cactus, palm tree, and some other strange, "leave me alone, Heidi, and I'll be fine" plant. They're currently residing outside the WC beneath a much larger, and more successful plant...a tree...and sitting in the shade and mulch.
As for inside the WC, there are now several dirty cups in the sink...which yes...means the WC cannot stay as immaculately clean as when I took Clorox to it...but also that there are actually inhabitants here...yay again!!!
I booted up our trusty, front desk computer after watering the plants and gave my sis a buzz. I had just gotten off the phone when Dr. Bob popped out of his office. We both had no idea the other was there, haha, so much for sound traveling easily in the WC. We then discussed timesheets, which I will be taking care of again this month for June.
I also sent out an email to Mr. Kobe Spencer and Mr. Manderson about our website and alumni newsletter projects. Can't wait to give those a go. Should be very fun and entertaining I am sure. And can't wait to hear the news our alumni have to share!
I'll have to check in and read some updates Anna's been posting too to make sure I'm not sounding redundant, though this post is pretty person specific, but here's to keeping you entertained via our blog this summer!
Much love from the quiet, used furniture store...aka, the WC. ;)
- Heidi Heaton
It's been a long while it seems since I last sent out a post so I thought I'd drop by the WC today and see what material it could provide for another weekly update. I've been incredibly busy with Upward Bound, this being the first week (though I don't anticipate getting more sleep as the program continues), but I have an hour off from 9:40am-10:50am so I decided to give the plants a check-up, distribute the necessary vitals, and hop on to the blog.
Plants so far so good...I haven't killed them yet...yay!! I think that means they've all lasted longer than the flower I had freshman year, though this could be due to the fact that one is a cactus, palm tree, and some other strange, "leave me alone, Heidi, and I'll be fine" plant. They're currently residing outside the WC beneath a much larger, and more successful plant...a tree...and sitting in the shade and mulch.
As for inside the WC, there are now several dirty cups in the sink...which yes...means the WC cannot stay as immaculately clean as when I took Clorox to it...but also that there are actually inhabitants here...yay again!!!
I booted up our trusty, front desk computer after watering the plants and gave my sis a buzz. I had just gotten off the phone when Dr. Bob popped out of his office. We both had no idea the other was there, haha, so much for sound traveling easily in the WC. We then discussed timesheets, which I will be taking care of again this month for June.
I also sent out an email to Mr. Kobe Spencer and Mr. Manderson about our website and alumni newsletter projects. Can't wait to give those a go. Should be very fun and entertaining I am sure. And can't wait to hear the news our alumni have to share!
I'll have to check in and read some updates Anna's been posting too to make sure I'm not sounding redundant, though this post is pretty person specific, but here's to keeping you entertained via our blog this summer!
Much love from the quiet, used furniture store...aka, the WC. ;)
- Heidi Heaton
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Anna's Blog Post #3
A strange thought crossed my mind while I was once again noticing how quiet the Writing Center is during the summer: what would the Writing Center be like without the people who use it? It's quiet now, when everyone's home for the summer and we're closed for conferences, but what would it be like if we opened this fall and no one showed up? If we had Beavers on duty at the front desk, eagerly awaiting a conference, and Frogs and Sloths doing their homework at the nearby tables and couches, wondering if they're going to get to practice that new conference technique that they promised themselves they would implement this year, but no one came in. What would we do? It's interesting to think about how much we depend on the students who actually use the Writing Center as the resource that it is. But this is true for any business: without customers, there is no business. The WC is special in that we, as consultants, use it as well, acting simultaneously as customers and business-people (that's the gender inclusive word for it, right?), so we wouldn't be totally without conferences; but without outside students to come in, what would the WC be like?
Just some food for thought on this Thursday afternoon.
- Anna H.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Anna's Blog Post #2
Hey everyone! After a busy weekend at Bill and Kayla's wedding (we've been best friends ever since Orientation and FYS class -- and they're married now!) and some hard work cleaning up the CWC (while Heidi was busy vacuuming, I was slaving away over some of Dr. Bob's filing cabinets), I'm back on the blog. Heidi's been doing a great job of keeping everyone updated, while I'm remembering exactly why I don't have my own blog (I never know what to write about and thus, don't ever post anything).
But now it's time for another update on the summer newsletter! The response to our staff biography questions was a little overwhelming, but what else can you expect with a staff of 72! When I sent off the email requesting everyone's information I include a few words of warning: if people didn't turn in their bios by a specific date, Kobe and I would be making them up. True to my word, when three bios never turned up, Kobe and I got to work inventing some creative details about our coworkers' lives. I'm sure one day they'll be able to laugh about it as much as we are.
After a Dr. Bob sighting yesterday, the CWC has once again descended into silence. (For everyone who's wondering, it's still just me and Whitney Houston's greatest hits.) The quiet isn't so bad though. I get a lot done! For one glorious afternoon about a week ago, we had a total of four people in the Writing Center -- three of whom were working! That's right. Kobe, Heidi, and I were all in the CWC at the same time (a first for this summer!). It was kind of fun to hear how much more lively the Writing Center became :)
Regretfully, I must return to the land of file cabinets. Two down, one to go!
- Anna H.
But now it's time for another update on the summer newsletter! The response to our staff biography questions was a little overwhelming, but what else can you expect with a staff of 72! When I sent off the email requesting everyone's information I include a few words of warning: if people didn't turn in their bios by a specific date, Kobe and I would be making them up. True to my word, when three bios never turned up, Kobe and I got to work inventing some creative details about our coworkers' lives. I'm sure one day they'll be able to laugh about it as much as we are.
After a Dr. Bob sighting yesterday, the CWC has once again descended into silence. (For everyone who's wondering, it's still just me and Whitney Houston's greatest hits.) The quiet isn't so bad though. I get a lot done! For one glorious afternoon about a week ago, we had a total of four people in the Writing Center -- three of whom were working! That's right. Kobe, Heidi, and I were all in the CWC at the same time (a first for this summer!). It was kind of fun to hear how much more lively the Writing Center became :)
Regretfully, I must return to the land of file cabinets. Two down, one to go!
- Anna H.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #5
It's official! ...There are now slightly more people on campus now that May term is over. That being said...it is still a verrry slight number, but regardless, nice to have more faces to see. Today when I arrived at the WC to work, Dr. Bob was there after spending May in England. He's leaving again for a conference tomorrow and is busy as ever as our WC director.
After discussing some of the WC's goings-on, I began looking over our past Alumni Newsletters again, this time paying particular attention to the alums we have contacted in the past so we can contact a diverse group of our alums this summer to get an update on y'alls life. :) So be prepared for an email soon asking you lots of questions about yourselves. We'd love to hear from you, both recent grads...we miss you already seniors!...and you beloved grads from years past.
Well, not sure there is much else to update on. I know...preeetty exciting ;). Happy summer!
- Heidi Heaton
After discussing some of the WC's goings-on, I began looking over our past Alumni Newsletters again, this time paying particular attention to the alums we have contacted in the past so we can contact a diverse group of our alums this summer to get an update on y'alls life. :) So be prepared for an email soon asking you lots of questions about yourselves. We'd love to hear from you, both recent grads...we miss you already seniors!...and you beloved grads from years past.
Well, not sure there is much else to update on. I know...preeetty exciting ;). Happy summer!
- Heidi Heaton
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #4
So I thought I would take it upon myself and through the medium of this blog to announce to all of our WC alumni, current staff, and future staff that our very own, beloved, Mrs. Kayla Borseth is now married to Coe's equally adored Bill Borseth!!! Yay!!! Congratulations to the both of them! The wedding was yesterday, Friday, June 1st, and both Bill and Kayla looked stunning and joyful beyond description.
Some other WC staff members present besides myself were Anna Hegland, Kayla Musjgerd, and Haley Welby. And of course the lovely lady herself, Kayla Borseth. Very weird referring to her by her new last name, but I am so happy for her and the future that she and Bill have ahead of them. None of us could believe we were experiencing our very first, non-relative, friend's wedding. We're all growing up so fast!! haha :)
Our lovely ol' WC is just as quiet as it was pre-wedding festivities and events, but I am happy to say that it still looks nice and clean like I left it that day. Of course not much of a challenge keeping it tidy right now because there are only three of us there on an occasion, though Manderson will be joining us from England very shortly and Dr. Bob soon after that.
Anna is doing a lovely (wow I like that adjective today) job on the summer newsletter and it is almost ready for your eager eyes to see. Some of those bios will be pretty amusing...especially for you dear Ry Ry. ;) As for other events...Kobe and I are beginning to think about the alumni newsletter...aka, we both asked each other if the other had thought about it ;)...and will soon be ready to shoot out an email to all you alums and recent grads to hear about your plans and activities post Coe, so get ready to brag about yourselves! Other than that...the first-year summer writing exercise will be opening up this month, the 22nd, and we already have one first-year signed into Moodle and anticipating the submission date...good for you eager beaver!!
Well that seems about all I can muster up for news right now. Hope everyone is enjoying a summer of incredibly nice weather so far!
- Heidi
Some other WC staff members present besides myself were Anna Hegland, Kayla Musjgerd, and Haley Welby. And of course the lovely lady herself, Kayla Borseth. Very weird referring to her by her new last name, but I am so happy for her and the future that she and Bill have ahead of them. None of us could believe we were experiencing our very first, non-relative, friend's wedding. We're all growing up so fast!! haha :)
Our lovely ol' WC is just as quiet as it was pre-wedding festivities and events, but I am happy to say that it still looks nice and clean like I left it that day. Of course not much of a challenge keeping it tidy right now because there are only three of us there on an occasion, though Manderson will be joining us from England very shortly and Dr. Bob soon after that.
Anna is doing a lovely (wow I like that adjective today) job on the summer newsletter and it is almost ready for your eager eyes to see. Some of those bios will be pretty amusing...especially for you dear Ry Ry. ;) As for other events...Kobe and I are beginning to think about the alumni newsletter...aka, we both asked each other if the other had thought about it ;)...and will soon be ready to shoot out an email to all you alums and recent grads to hear about your plans and activities post Coe, so get ready to brag about yourselves! Other than that...the first-year summer writing exercise will be opening up this month, the 22nd, and we already have one first-year signed into Moodle and anticipating the submission date...good for you eager beaver!!
Well that seems about all I can muster up for news right now. Hope everyone is enjoying a summer of incredibly nice weather so far!
- Heidi
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #3
Dishes...dirty coffee canister...dusty tabletops...chewed gum...three spiders (that were spotted at least)...vacuum...very ripe carton of milk...
Any guesses as to what I was doing this morning?...
...If you guessed: Cleaning the Writing Center...then you're right!
The other day when I was looking through the Alumni Newsletters for ideas for this year's newsletter, I noticed some of the summer consultants took it upon themselves to tidy up the place which, as I'm sure Courtney Marti would agree, is always in need of some good ol' TLC...and a clorox wipe. :)
So this morning I woke up, grabbed my iPod and packed a lunch to-go, and headed to the WC prepared to tackle some dirt and dust. First I emptied out a coffee canister that apparently still had old coffee in it...ew people!...then took care of the dishes, scrubbed all the tabletops, desks, and counters with clorox wipes, sponges, and soap and then took to vacuuming the entire place, moving furniture (no, not the large pieces of furniture which are never to be moved ;) but the small random chairs) and organizing it into specific areas, and then I happened across a carton of milk dated to expire May 13th. Funny how fast milk spoils, because that thing was soon going to look more like cottage cheese than a liquid, haha...yep...ew!
So needless to say, I believe the WC is slightly cleaner than when I began. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Any guesses as to what I was doing this morning?...
...If you guessed: Cleaning the Writing Center...then you're right!
The other day when I was looking through the Alumni Newsletters for ideas for this year's newsletter, I noticed some of the summer consultants took it upon themselves to tidy up the place which, as I'm sure Courtney Marti would agree, is always in need of some good ol' TLC...and a clorox wipe. :)
So this morning I woke up, grabbed my iPod and packed a lunch to-go, and headed to the WC prepared to tackle some dirt and dust. First I emptied out a coffee canister that apparently still had old coffee in it...ew people!...then took care of the dishes, scrubbed all the tabletops, desks, and counters with clorox wipes, sponges, and soap and then took to vacuuming the entire place, moving furniture (no, not the large pieces of furniture which are never to be moved ;) but the small random chairs) and organizing it into specific areas, and then I happened across a carton of milk dated to expire May 13th. Funny how fast milk spoils, because that thing was soon going to look more like cottage cheese than a liquid, haha...yep...ew!
So needless to say, I believe the WC is slightly cleaner than when I began. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Friday, May 25, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update #2
So my first week on campus this summer is officially coming to a close today with some final work hours before a weekend away for Memorial Day. Wow, way too many rhyming words in that sentence, haha. This week has consisted of...
1. Collecting timesheets and having them signed by the always joyful Steve Singleton while Dr. Bob is away living up England! (We are all very jealous, though my roommate, as well as Manderson, is also in England with Dr. Bob so I'm sure I will hear plenty about the lovely trip!)
2. Watering the plants in the WC before leaving for the weekend (Anna noticed while she was here earlier in May that one is curiously expelling its leaves at an alarming rate...hmm).
3. Blogging...yay!
4. Reviewing the Moodle site for the Summer Writing Exercise for our incoming first-years with Lisa Stroschine, whose computer prowess has never failed to amaze me!
5. Glanced over past Alumni Newsletters for an idea of what Kobe and I will be working on later this summer...mostly hassling you recent graduates to hear about what's keeping you busy post-Coe. :)
6. Sorting through suggestions for how to revamp our WC website submitted by various Topics groups from this past spring.
Manderson and I will be discussing the website suggestions and figuring out how we can implement them when he gets back from England. Many of the suggestions for the website included easy-to-use tabs across the top of the screen rather than down the side to make navigation easier and maybe even adopting a "nesting" technique so we can utilize subcategories within these tabs. Comments also included revamping the website so the colors used are bold and captivating. Other suggestions I read that would really add to the flavor of our website was adding a scrolling consultants' comments bar at the bottom of the page for various consultant quotes, thoughts, and advice to peers or fellow consultants. This way our website can still have its own personality reflective of the people who work in it, but the information conveyed directly on the website's pages can avoid inside jokes and criticisms that may appear confusing or unprofessional to an outside reader/viewer. An event calendar with upcoming events, such as our Sunday Night Dinners and Tuesday Teas, would also be nice to include as well as the expectations we have as consultants of conferences and what we may or may not expect from writers looking for assistance.
As I worked this week, what I found particularly interesting were the Alumni Newsletters from years past. It's really amazing to read stories and comments of consultants from previous years and to notice that your average WC consultant personality--fun-loving, energetic, joyfully unique, passionately involved--has not changed one bit. Photos that accompany the staff newsletter biographies are still helter-skelter with next to no one looking directly at the camera but blissfully happy nonetheless. As a future teacher, it's inspiring and encouraging to read about WC alums who live in D.C. and work for the Teach for America program, or who's most fulfilling job is raising her children and teaching high school English. Not only are the stories and engagements fun to read about, the travel exploits admirable, but there are so many connections out there I don't think most consultants currently working in the WC are even aware of...I certainly wasn't until just the other day!
I was also shocked by the photos included in several of the newsletters of the various homes our Writing Center staff has had on Coe's campus. From what is now Stuart's basement bathroom, to the Peterson tunnel, to the most recent location in Gage annex, it's amazing to see how the consultants quickly adapt to each new space and how it is really the people and not the space itself that truly make the Writing Center the welcoming community it is. I'd love to include in this year's Alumni Newsletter a glance back at the past with all of these photos and maybe some reflection from Dr. Bob of what he has experienced over the years. It would also be great to include a section for "Making Connections" where WC alums can be grouped according to areas of study and work and new/current consultants have an idea of how graduates ahead of them are involved in their prospective communities.
Well that seems like enough to get me thinking for the day and hopefully for you readers as well. :) Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and I'll check-in again next week!
- Heidi Heaton
1. Collecting timesheets and having them signed by the always joyful Steve Singleton while Dr. Bob is away living up England! (We are all very jealous, though my roommate, as well as Manderson, is also in England with Dr. Bob so I'm sure I will hear plenty about the lovely trip!)
2. Watering the plants in the WC before leaving for the weekend (Anna noticed while she was here earlier in May that one is curiously expelling its leaves at an alarming rate...hmm).
3. Blogging...yay!
4. Reviewing the Moodle site for the Summer Writing Exercise for our incoming first-years with Lisa Stroschine, whose computer prowess has never failed to amaze me!
5. Glanced over past Alumni Newsletters for an idea of what Kobe and I will be working on later this summer...mostly hassling you recent graduates to hear about what's keeping you busy post-Coe. :)
6. Sorting through suggestions for how to revamp our WC website submitted by various Topics groups from this past spring.
Manderson and I will be discussing the website suggestions and figuring out how we can implement them when he gets back from England. Many of the suggestions for the website included easy-to-use tabs across the top of the screen rather than down the side to make navigation easier and maybe even adopting a "nesting" technique so we can utilize subcategories within these tabs. Comments also included revamping the website so the colors used are bold and captivating. Other suggestions I read that would really add to the flavor of our website was adding a scrolling consultants' comments bar at the bottom of the page for various consultant quotes, thoughts, and advice to peers or fellow consultants. This way our website can still have its own personality reflective of the people who work in it, but the information conveyed directly on the website's pages can avoid inside jokes and criticisms that may appear confusing or unprofessional to an outside reader/viewer. An event calendar with upcoming events, such as our Sunday Night Dinners and Tuesday Teas, would also be nice to include as well as the expectations we have as consultants of conferences and what we may or may not expect from writers looking for assistance.
As I worked this week, what I found particularly interesting were the Alumni Newsletters from years past. It's really amazing to read stories and comments of consultants from previous years and to notice that your average WC consultant personality--fun-loving, energetic, joyfully unique, passionately involved--has not changed one bit. Photos that accompany the staff newsletter biographies are still helter-skelter with next to no one looking directly at the camera but blissfully happy nonetheless. As a future teacher, it's inspiring and encouraging to read about WC alums who live in D.C. and work for the Teach for America program, or who's most fulfilling job is raising her children and teaching high school English. Not only are the stories and engagements fun to read about, the travel exploits admirable, but there are so many connections out there I don't think most consultants currently working in the WC are even aware of...I certainly wasn't until just the other day!
I was also shocked by the photos included in several of the newsletters of the various homes our Writing Center staff has had on Coe's campus. From what is now Stuart's basement bathroom, to the Peterson tunnel, to the most recent location in Gage annex, it's amazing to see how the consultants quickly adapt to each new space and how it is really the people and not the space itself that truly make the Writing Center the welcoming community it is. I'd love to include in this year's Alumni Newsletter a glance back at the past with all of these photos and maybe some reflection from Dr. Bob of what he has experienced over the years. It would also be great to include a section for "Making Connections" where WC alums can be grouped according to areas of study and work and new/current consultants have an idea of how graduates ahead of them are involved in their prospective communities.
Well that seems like enough to get me thinking for the day and hopefully for you readers as well. :) Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and I'll check-in again next week!
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Heidi's Blog Update: #1
I noticed in Anna's last blog she mentioned how absolutely silent the WC is now that it's summer break. I couldn't agree more! I just got back to campus yesterday and it seems strange that all the buildings and chubby Coe squirrels are still present while the students are not. Along with Anna, Manderson, and Kobe, I'll be working in the Writing Center from May through August as one of my three summer jobs. Lucky you, you get to hear me babble once a week about all the amazingly exciting (let's hope for all of us WC staffers' sanity) activities that are taking place in the WC and on campus this summer!
My jobs this summer in the WC consist of updating the WC website, making sure people get paid (verrry important stuff there), blogging once a week of course, assisting in the publication of our Alumni Newsletter, formatting and working on the summer exercise for incoming freshman (any questions freshman and prospies...ask your's truly), and keeping our lively group of three plants in the WC healthy and happy (which could be quite a challenge seeing as I am to be blamed for the death of one unlucky flower in my dorm room last year).
Aside from those jobs, if you're interested in a few fun facts about me, here goes...
Over the course of this summer and the fall I will be working for the Writing Center, Upward Bound, the Heritage Office, working as a CAP leader, bookstore employee...yep, I think that's it. This fall I will be a LIGHT team leader for Intervarsity, our Christian organization on campus, play ultimate frisbee like it's one of my many jobs, and will also be working as a Writing Fellow again this year for an FYS class.
As for the spring semester, I am incredibly excited to be traveling abroad in Paris, France! I cannot wait! Although I am incredibly nervous at the same time to be dropped into a new country, with a different language, new family (I'll be staying with a host family), and new school (the Sorbonne- heck yes!), I can't wait to try something completely new! I am a French major, Secondary Education minor, with an English endorsement and hope to teach high school French, so what better way to be more knowledgeable on my subject than to go to the lovely and vibrant country itself! Anyone seen Ratatouille? It's going to be exactly like that, swap the cooking for school work, subtract a talking rat and add a fumbling French-speaking American student, and yep, that's basically my life in the spring! ;)
Well here's to an amazing summer and hopefully exciting updates to come! Enjoy these sunny skies and hot days. :)
- Heidi Heaton
My jobs this summer in the WC consist of updating the WC website, making sure people get paid (verrry important stuff there), blogging once a week of course, assisting in the publication of our Alumni Newsletter, formatting and working on the summer exercise for incoming freshman (any questions freshman and prospies...ask your's truly), and keeping our lively group of three plants in the WC healthy and happy (which could be quite a challenge seeing as I am to be blamed for the death of one unlucky flower in my dorm room last year).
Aside from those jobs, if you're interested in a few fun facts about me, here goes...
Over the course of this summer and the fall I will be working for the Writing Center, Upward Bound, the Heritage Office, working as a CAP leader, bookstore employee...yep, I think that's it. This fall I will be a LIGHT team leader for Intervarsity, our Christian organization on campus, play ultimate frisbee like it's one of my many jobs, and will also be working as a Writing Fellow again this year for an FYS class.
As for the spring semester, I am incredibly excited to be traveling abroad in Paris, France! I cannot wait! Although I am incredibly nervous at the same time to be dropped into a new country, with a different language, new family (I'll be staying with a host family), and new school (the Sorbonne- heck yes!), I can't wait to try something completely new! I am a French major, Secondary Education minor, with an English endorsement and hope to teach high school French, so what better way to be more knowledgeable on my subject than to go to the lovely and vibrant country itself! Anyone seen Ratatouille? It's going to be exactly like that, swap the cooking for school work, subtract a talking rat and add a fumbling French-speaking American student, and yep, that's basically my life in the spring! ;)
Well here's to an amazing summer and hopefully exciting updates to come! Enjoy these sunny skies and hot days. :)
- Heidi Heaton
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Anna's Blog Post #1
Who would have thought that the Writing Center would ever be quiet? It's amazing, really. With the academic year at Coe finished and the majority of students at home, the Writing Center has been silent for days. As one of this year's summer staffers, I've taken it upon myself to remedy that situation (mostly for my sanity, but also because it just doesn't feel right to be in a quiet WC). However I'm not particularly creative right now, so "making sure the Writing Center isn't too quiet" has turned into "play all the Whitney Houston songs."
One of my tasks this summer is to put together the Summer Staff Newsletter. Every year, the student in charge of the newsletter gets to pick a new set of questions for staff members to answer, interview-style, in order to introduce the current staff to the incoming staff and vice versa. I'm posting this year's questions below so that all you alums (and whoever else happens to be reading) can play along at home. I'll also be posting a PDF copy of the newsletter once it comes out in mid-June, so you'll get to compare your answers with those of our staff.
So without further ado, our newsletter interview questions:
1. Name:
2. Year at Coe:
3. Major:
4. Hometown:
5. Summer Plans:
6. Weirdest Thing You've Ever Eaten:
So far there have been plenty of interesting answers to question six, ranging from playground pebbles to "my grandfather's cooking" to mac 'n cheese with chocolate chips. What an interesting bunch of people we've got here in the good old CWC.
- Anna H.
One of my tasks this summer is to put together the Summer Staff Newsletter. Every year, the student in charge of the newsletter gets to pick a new set of questions for staff members to answer, interview-style, in order to introduce the current staff to the incoming staff and vice versa. I'm posting this year's questions below so that all you alums (and whoever else happens to be reading) can play along at home. I'll also be posting a PDF copy of the newsletter once it comes out in mid-June, so you'll get to compare your answers with those of our staff.
So without further ado, our newsletter interview questions:
1. Name:
2. Year at Coe:
3. Major:
4. Hometown:
5. Summer Plans:
6. Weirdest Thing You've Ever Eaten:
So far there have been plenty of interesting answers to question six, ranging from playground pebbles to "my grandfather's cooking" to mac 'n cheese with chocolate chips. What an interesting bunch of people we've got here in the good old CWC.
- Anna H.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Weekly Wisdom
The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed. - Henry Ford
I like how simply profound this quote is. We all have something—a talent, a fortune, a family, an education, and right now time to study for finals. What are you going to do with your something? I charge all of you to be optimistic and think of everything you could do and not just the things you can do. If I was an amazing singer I could say I will use my talent in the shower, however it is much more beneficial to think about the opportunities like joining a choir, auditioning for a talent show. More relevant to most college students, you have to ask yourself what you are going to do with your time this weekend. You can spend your time thinking about what you are going to do, or you could actually study for finals. There is enough time in the day to study for all of your finals, you just have to ask yourself how much can I accomplish in this time. You may have something as big as all the time in the world or as small as a dollar; but just remember that there are no limits to imagination, and imagination can often create something amazing in reality. So study hard and think of all the possibilities.
Thank you,
Margaret
Framed quotes can be found pretty much anywhere in the WC.
Before I started writing this post, I didn’t realize how many there actually
were, but once you start looking for them, they show up everywhere.
One of the great things about Coe is the number of guest
speakers they’re able to pull in every year. On the walls of the writing
center, there are framed quotes or excerpts of some of these guests’ works,
along with their own signature.
Last semester, I, along with the rest of the student body,
got the chance to hear from one of the speakers, whose quote now on one of the
walls in the new WC. Firoozeh Dumas, Iranian-American author of Funny in
Farsi and Laughing Without an Accent, came to Coe back in September.
The first time I heard her speak was during a presentation
she gave to all first years. Persepolis, the book all incoming students were
required to read, was written her friend, and fellow Iranian, Marjane Satrapi,
so she spoke about Persepolis. She also talked about the basics of the Iranian
Revolution and the history of Iran. It was a lot more interesting than I’m
making it sound, because Mrs. Dumas is hilarious and tied in so many funny
personal stories during her talk.
I got to hear her speak a second time during my Writing
Center class (Topics in Composition) the next day. This was definitely more
personal, since there were only twenty or so of us, versus the entire
first-year class. She talked more about her personal life and the process of
writing than she had the day before, and I definitely loved being able to hear
about things straight from a published author.
After her visit, I went out and bought a copy of her book,
Funny in Farsi, and I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone. If
my recommendation isn’t convincing enough, because of this book, Firoozeh was
nominated for the Thurber Prize for American Humor- the first Iranian author to
be nominated. It’s definitely worth the time it takes to read!
By Rachel Epperly
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Stars and Spools
-Julia Pillard
The forces which come before the poet
Permit the magic of the musician
Shaping pure form in its final state
A perpetual freedom which indulged the dancer
Should I risk what lurks in the mundane
It is not as imaginative as I wondered
The acrobat freely transformed thought
Little pictures remaining cold
I am a safe distance from alarming innovation
“We used to play outside when we were young and full of
life”
This river of time settles in rhythm
Nature is a practitioner of the absolute
And will anoint my fear with fantasy
The stars of the universe appear unconfined
And express the power of distance
The sage is drawn to painful art
Susceptible to forces of cloudy power
While parachutes drift in opaque clouds
Words carry me to the holy
And express themselves on a spool of light
Thoughts on Springtime
-Julia Pillard
Dawn.
The light of the sun filters through the misty morning haze, creeping down
across the academic buildings, slithering across the lawn, and sweeping through
the branches of evergreens, aspens, and oak trees before it hits me full force.
A gentle breeze arcs around me. It’s eight a.m.
I find
it is necessary, at this time of the year, to actually sit back and reflect on
life. A lot of people do this in the autumn or New Years, but I believe it is
far more productive to do it in the spring when everything feels new and
remarkable and beautiful. Think about it. On that first day filled with
sunshine, everyone around you slips into their tank tops and flip flops,
grabbing sunglasses and a Frisbee and heading out to enjoy the warm weather.
This is the time of year when everyone comes out from their homes and apartments
to say hello to the sky and sun, to their friends, to the world once more.
Doesn’t that sound like the perfect time of year to begin again, just as the
earth itself is doing?
Iowa is
stickier than where I’m from, but the humidity cools off enough in the evenings
that taking walks around campus is just about the most enjoyable thing I can
think to do right now. The other night, while walking around campus as the
stars were coming out, I listened to people chattering, laughing, walking
through quads and tossing footballs to their friends. I heard music spilling
from the music hall, watched theatre students run, skip, and hop rambunctiously
to rehearsal, and listened to seniors elaborate on how good it felt to be
graduating…but how scared they were about what they were going to do next.
Don’t
be scared. If we live our lives wondering what comes next, then we won’t have
time to enjoy what comes at this moment. Springtime isn’t the time to think
about the future. It’s the time to think about the now; the beautiful sky, the cotton-candy clouds, the flowers peeking
out from beneath the hardened earth. So seniors, and everyone, don’t be scared.
I have found that, when you need it most, life has a way of pulling you
through. For now, why don’t you grab a Frisbee, call up some friends, and head
out into the sun again.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Formspring Fun
Hey guys!
Sorry it's been a while since we updated, but we're going to get back on track as soon as we can. For now, here is our favorite question that you asked us on Formspring:
Q: Why does the sun shine?
A: According to the band They Might Be Giants: "We need it's light, We need it's heat, We need it's energy, Without the sun, without a doubt, There'd be no you and me."
According to me: Because in this crazy, messed up world, we need a constant. We need something to brighten the days and give us hope. We need something beautiful that we have no control over, something that shows us it's possible for the clouds to burn off. Something that shows us we can still shine even if the world seems to be trying to cover us up. Because we need something to look to or wish for even in our darkest days.
Also - because it does. If we knew why everything in the world was there and how everything worked, what would be the point of living?
- Kelci de Haas
Sorry it's been a while since we updated, but we're going to get back on track as soon as we can. For now, here is our favorite question that you asked us on Formspring:
Q: Why does the sun shine?
A: According to the band They Might Be Giants: "We need it's light, We need it's heat, We need it's energy, Without the sun, without a doubt, There'd be no you and me."
According to me: Because in this crazy, messed up world, we need a constant. We need something to brighten the days and give us hope. We need something beautiful that we have no control over, something that shows us it's possible for the clouds to burn off. Something that shows us we can still shine even if the world seems to be trying to cover us up. Because we need something to look to or wish for even in our darkest days.
Also - because it does. If we knew why everything in the world was there and how everything worked, what would be the point of living?
- Kelci de Haas
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Weekly Wisdom
An average person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear, focused Goals. - Brian Tracy
Too often people sell themselves short. They say they aren’t good enough, they don’t have what it takes, and that they aren’t smart enough. But let me tell you…anyone who thinks this way is WRONG! Each and every person is good enough, each and every person has what it takes, and each and every person is smart enough. Don’t sell yourselves short. Set a goal and pursue it. Everyone has a quality inside of them that will “outstrip the most brilliant genius” and if it just takes a goal to bring it out, why wouldn’t we all set those goals (whatever it may be for you)?
In terms college life, this semester is almost over as well as so far from over. At least for me, I am at the point in the semester where getting motivated is hard. I may occasionally even think that I cannot do it because I am not smart enough. However after reading Brian Tracy’s quote, I will have the motivation to finish strong. After writing this, I am going to sit down and make some goals for myself. I may not be the most brilliant, but I certainly can work to bring out whatever brilliance is inside of me.
- Margaret Gruhler
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