Derec Gregory ('27, left) and Courtney St Onge ('26, right) work on their Lego creations on March 5, 2026. Photo courtesy of Paul McKean. Assistant professor of data science Kristen Gore led a new class titled Lego Robotics this spring semester. This class is not just about Legos and data science, but about learning how to be a teacher and understanding what it means to be a part of an educational community. Throughout the semester, Gore’s students met with elementary school students from Bush and Auburn Elementary for a total of nine sessions, collaborating to build amusement park-themed Lego creations. The kids were first shown a cartoon with a storyline that ended by asking them to build an amusement park ride. They then broke off into groups of one to three facilitated by the WU students. Felicity Chin (’28), a student taking the class, said that she had some kids who hadn’t played with Legos until the class or were not confident to play with them. She learned “how to patiently encourage them and guide them towards answers without just giving it to them,” she said. Once the Lego set was built, the Willamette students plugged it into a computer, where the kids did point-and-drag coding. By the end, they had a fully automated Lego amusement park ride. Assistant Dean for Civic Engagement Tommy Van Cleave worked with Gore to make this class possible through outreach to the elementary schools. He said that the class “is not just about Legos — it's also about developing the lenses for understanding the context of who our community is.” He said that this is why it’s important for students to get an in-depth understanding of educational and local history. Van Cleave wants Willamette students to understand what it means to be part of the Salem community and to be good neighbors. “Whether you are going to be a data scientist, or an accountant, or a nonprofit organization leader, you still have to develop the skills of empathy and compassion because that’s what being a neighbor and being in a community is all about,” he said. Gore said that many of the Willamette students in this class came to know data science from their own unique angles, seeing how data science is beneficial to society in their own way. She emphasized that this course intends to allow this same experience for the younger kids. “Studies show that early childhood experiences with math, science and engineering are critical in framing how a child sees not only the field but also how a child sees themselves in that field,” Gore explained. “Many people come to dislike math because they had a negative experience early in their life. A lot of literature suggests that seventh grade is when people have made their decision on whether or not they are willing to pursue a STEM career.” This is why she hopes this class, which she plans to continue every spring semester, creates a positive experience of STEM for the young children and that through the Willamette students, the children will grow more confident. Her goal is for the Willamette students to “see the importance of service learning and realize the impact that they can have through simple acts like spending time with kids and showing them that STEM is for everyone.”

AJ Avansino ('26) jumps for the ball on March 28, 2026. Photo by Patricia Krepel. Men’s tennis beat the University of Puget Sound Loggers 6-1 at home on Feb. 28. The result marked their first team win since 2019 and signifies a change that has been a long time coming for the Bearcats, who haven’t had a winning season since 2011. Captain AJ Avansino (’26) recalled last year’s difficult campaign, in which the team failed to get a point off of any conference opponent. “Last year, as a team, we lost every single match 7-0. …We legitimately did not score one point last year,” he said. This season, the team made it onto the score sheet against Pacific, George Fox, Lewis & Clark, Whitworth, Linfield, and Puget Sound. “It’s huge progress,” he said. Avansino attributed this rolling momentum of points and individual wins to a new team culture and focus on the growth mindset. On the change, head coach Sam Fecteau said, “Historically, Willamette tennis has struggled, and moving the players into a position where they feel like they can compete, realize their potential and even win has been tricky to change, but we're moving in the right direction.” Before Fecteau took over in the fall of 2024, Avansino explained that the team’s identity was centered around losing every game and that they had already convinced themselves they would lose before the matches even started. “We kind of just went out onto the court, obviously trying to win, but with the expectation we were gonna lose,” he said. In years past, the team struggled with high coach turnover, but in the two years since Fecteau has been in the role, there has been a steady push for more points and a growth mindset. “We've been able to practice, put in the time, put in the work and ultimately prove to ourselves that we are capable of winning. Once we've seen our efforts come to fruition, we can kind of see the results starting to change,” said Avansino on the mindset Fecteau has tried to instill in the team. Bringing in new players each year, each with their own intensity, has also helped the mindset. This year, coach Fecteau recruited five new first-years who were all integral to the ’Cats success, including Sohnosuke Sakaguchi (’29), who led the team in individual wins. “Having new players that haven't experienced college tennis and having high-level players that force everybody to compete and raise their level is something that we've never really had,” said Avansino. This mindset will hopefully endure in the coming years and keep the momentum of scoring points and winning games rolling forward. Building a lasting culture centered around winning will only continue to improve the Bearcats’ men’s tennis team. “I'm not okay with stagnating. I want progress. I want the team to be hungry, to improve,” said Fecteau. “I don't want Willamette to be the bottom of the tennis program anymore, and if we keep doing what we're doing, I don't think we will be.”

The Willamette Dance Company showcase this semester took place on April 16 and 17, and Smith Auditorium was packed for both performances. On Friday night, the line to get into Smith extended all the way to Eaton Hall. Dance Co. is a student-driven performance group that allows students of a wide variety of experience levels to come together and perform original choreography. This was Margareth Ramos’ (’26) last semester of Dance Co. after being the group’s president for two years. All of the dances are designed and produced by students, as well as stage managers. The program features inclusivity within its dances and represents a large variety of cultures and backgrounds. Emma Bryans (’28), participating for her first time in Dance Co., said it was a “positive, fun, uplifting environment — would highly recommend!” All photos taken by Patricia Krepel on April 17, 2026 in Smith Auditorium. The dancers warm up pre-show. Leila Paravicini Rovics ('28) during "Garba." Kayla Davis ('26). A group of "Anxiety" dancers. Winter Bond ('26). Gavin Klipfel ('26) draws a heart in the air during "Lose My Breath." A group of "Still Feel" dancers. Nika Eustance ('28) during "Lose My Breath."

Montegomery Remer ('26) and TPUSA Cascades representative Sawyer Stone debate in Jackson Plaza on Jan. 13, 2026. Photo by Lucy Devlaeminck. Whether it’s the Constitutional Heritage Club (CHC) or Turning Point USA (TPUSA), it’s unclear how Willamette’s prospective conservative club will move forward. This is the lingering question after Associated Students of Willamette University (ASWU) senators voted — for the third time — to refuse affiliation to the group earlier this month. When Lexi Thorsett’s (ʼ26) club was denied affiliation in February, they dubbed themselves the CHC, having been rejected under the TPUSA name in November. This time, for their third try, they filed under the name “TPUSA at Willamette.” On April 2, ASWU unanimously denied their application. The debate over the club’s status has centered around its affiliation with the national TPUSA organization. Some senators have said that while they would support the creation of a conservative club on campus, they don’t support Turning Point’s presence. The February rejection Thorsett’s vision for her club was intended to be as harmonious as possible with Willamette’s campus culture, she said ahead of a Feb. 26 ASWU meeting, in which senators voted to refuse the club for a second time. “I mean, we just want to play board games and debate one another,” she said. “Like, we’re not asking to go picket … and walk campus. We don’t want to do that.” Thorsett was unable to attend the February meeting, but she sent a written statement to be read to the senate. The first paragraph stated: “The Constitutional Heritage Club is applying for affiliation independently from the organization Turning Point USA as stated on our paperwork. However, we still plan to maintain a relationship with them for support.” “I literally need the affiliation just to reserve a space,” Thorsett previously told The Collegian about seeking ASWU’s approval. “I’m not asking for money. We still have ties to TPUSA because they are going to support us financially if we need any money for anything.” When applying for affiliation in February, the club did not list any outside affiliations or avenues of financial support beyond ASWU on its application paperwork, something ASWU requires. Holliday responds to communication concerns In February, Thorsett and the club’s faculty advisor, Aaron Hukari, brought forward concerns about a lack of communication from ASWU and the fact that ASWU maintains no set definition as to what constitutes a “national affiliation.” “As far as I am aware, we are allowed to bring outside guests to campus regardless of a national affiliation,” Thorsett wrote in her statement. “If that is incorrect, please let me know. There is no clear list that defines what ASWU affiliation or national affiliation entails so that may be the reasoning for any confusion.” In comments to The Collegian ahead of the February vote, Hukari said that ASWU had not provided clarity or guidance on what constitutes a national affiliation or on how to dispute the existence of one, despite requests from the group. “I think in general our whole approval process is going to be up for conversation,” said Lisa Holliday, the director of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) and non-voting advisor of ASWU, ahead of the February vote. “What we found, this year, is that communication on our end could have been better.” Holliday spoke about plans for separating the ASWU finance board from the club approval committee and examining the affiliation process as a whole. Holliday also hopes to establish “templates for communication” between ASWU and prospective student leaders and between SEAL and ASWU, the goal of which would be to get students “consistent, accurate and timely communication.” According to ASWU’s March 5 meeting minutes, this separation has been incorporated into the updated Spring 2026 Bylaws, to be piloted next year. One of these updates includes Article 4.4, which places the leadership of the club approval committee under ASWU’s director of administration, rather than the ASWU treasurer. “I think by having separate committees, you place less burden on one committee,” Holliday said, “It’s just a lot for one group of students to handle.” Holliday said the split stemmed from a variety of concerns, including conflicts of interest this year. “I’ve raised it a few times,” she said. “And that’s what led me to suggest that we create a code of ethics, which they did, and we’ll use it even more next year.” Prospective member shares thoughts on TPUSA affiliation, rejections One member of the prospective group, Evelyn Schneider (’26), first became interested in joining the group after hearing about it in the wake of its initial controversy on campus. When asked where she would place herself on the political spectrum, Schneider said she’s a moderate but politically open person. “I don’t think I’m what you would think of as conservative,” she said. “I’m more community-oriented…more like moderate/skeptical.” Schneider said she was uncomfortable, however, with the club’s connection to the national TPUSA organization. The Collegian reached out to the group’s anonymous members via Thorsett for interviews. Schneider was the only member who was willing to be contacted. Schneider recognized the benefits of TPUSA for students looking to get into conservative politics and connect with other conservatives, given that TPUSA is one of the largest conservative youth movements today. According to the club's original affiliation paperwork from the fall, there were 10 students on the Willamette roster. However, Schneider also spoke about its ties to the Trump administration, saying they are “kind of bothersome.” In the wake of the latest rejection, Thorsett maintained the importance of the Turning Point name for the members of her group. “I’m the figurehead speaking for them. I’m like, well, I have to keep the Turning Point name now because, to me, it is important,” she said. “If I’m fighting for them, I want to fight for them correctly for what they want.” TPUSA’s path forward At the April 2 meeting, during which Thorsett’s club was denied affiliation for a third time, Senator and Treasurer-elect Peyton Edmunds (’29) asked Thorsett one of the questions she’s received numerous times throughout the process: How are the goals she wants to achieve “necessarily unique to the Turning Point USA label?” “Turning Point USA gave me the courage to do this,” Thorsett responded. She spoke about the importance of having their resources and support through the process of establishing the group. Senator Matthew Stout (’29) echoed other senators’ past comments when he said that it’s the “overall image that TPUSA holds that makes them undesirable.” Looking forward, Thorsett, who will be graduating in May, said that a current member of the club would be “taking up the torch” as president.Thorsett declined to name the student, who she said has been “heavily judged and bullied” on campus as a result of “assumptions of her political opinions.” “This campus, whether they like it or not, will see a Turning Point back on campus before the end of the year, in some shape or form,” she said.

A duck in a Willamette jersey about to score a goal on the soccer field while the crowd cheers behind them. Art by Wes Mowry-Silverman. Hello, Bearcat Fan! As graduation fast approaches, so too does my sense of impending doom and the end of season for all spring sports. Let’s see how they fared in their last week of regular season play (for the most part). Softball ended their season by getting swept by the Bruins in four agonizingly close games. This year, the NWC has been turned upside down and remained blisteringly competitive, with the Lutes being crowned regular season champions, marking the first time the champion has been someone other than the Linfield Wildcats since the 2017 season. Congrats to the Bearcats on a great season! Baseball also got swept in four games against Lewis & Clark, though fortunately, they have another opportunity to snap their losing streak against the Bruins over the weekend. The Basecats are last in the conference. Lacrosse clinched a playoff berth with a win against Linfield 14-7 on Sunday, riding the momentum of their 15-6 win against Pacific earlier in the week. The No. 4 seed ’Cats face archrival and No. 1 seed George Fox at 4 p.m. on Friday in the NWC tourney. Track and field competed at the NWC Championship over the weekend in Spokane, to great success. On the men’s side, some highlights include No. 1 finishes for Roan Bashioum (’27) in hammer throw and Austin Snodgrass (’28) in shot put, and a school record-breaking No. 3 place finish for the 4x100-meter relay team. On the women’s side, Erica Snyder (’26) finished No. 2 in pole vault, and Lavender Bel (’27) and Whitley Stepp (’26) took No. 3 in the 100-meter and long jump, respectively. The ’Cats took No. 3 overall in team points. Congrats to track and field! In the wider world of sport: The relegation battle between West Ham and Tottenham is coming down to the wire, with the Irons being a mere two points ahead of Spurs with only four more weeks remaining of competition. The Blazers are predictably about to lose to San Antonio in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs after blowing a 20-point lead to the Spurs on Sunday. The Spurs lead the series 3-1, needing only one more win to eliminate the ’Zers. In the coming weeks: Lacrosse heads to the NWC tourney for one last shot to defeat the dreaded Bruins. Track and field heads to Corvallis to compete in the Oregon State High Performance meet on Friday, and baseball looks to snap their losing streak, also on Friday, against the Bruins. Go ’Cats!

In the midst of a breakdown, Jane (left, Grae Siebenaler-Ransom ’26) falls at the feet of John (right, Basil Doucette ’28) during dress rehearsals on April 15 2026. Photo courtesy of K.J. Photography. Willamette University Theatre has taken on a lot of interesting themes and styles, from the surreal dystopia of “Far Away” to the innovative set of “Bloom Bloom Pow,” but “Room of Forgotten Souls” is by far the biggest swing the department has taken in a while. The show, directed by Jonathon Cole, does not have a traditional sit-down format — instead, it is an interactive walk-through event. Both actors and audience members move freely between rooms, interacting with their physical settings and one another. The lines between audience and actor are blurred, and by extension, so are the distinctions between their reality and yours. When audience members first arrive, they are directed to pick up a map of the set and name tag, which indicates whether or not they’d like to be interacted with. Guests who abstain from the interactive component are left alone to observe the performance, while guests who prefer participation are engaged in conversation throughout the show. On Wednesday night, some guests were taken into the rafters to observe the performances from above. Others were interrogated by the sharp-tongued doctor, played by Ivy Gessinger (’28). Due to the interactivity component, no two performances are exactly alike, and anyone who is interested has an opportunity to shape the story. The title and premise for the show were inspired by the Room of Forgotten Souls, a room in the basement of Oregon State Hospital. The facility, formerly called Oregon Hospital for the Insane, specialized in a variety of outdated and cruel mental health treatments, including lobotomies. Many of those who died while in residence at Oregon State Hospital were cremated, put into small copper canisters and then forgotten, overlooked both in life and in death. The show combines this tragic local history with Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” in order to explore interconnected themes of misogyny, mental illness and control. These already heart-wrenching themes are only made more visceral by the structure of the performance. Audience members are surrounded by emotion, awash in the same deep blue or same suffocating gold light as the cast. In some moments, screams or brief snippets of pop music can be heard from across the set. In others, the space is quiet enough to hear muffled sobs or the scraping of fingernails against the yellow wallpaper. The cast’s excellent performances also add to the immersion. The cast rotates every night. Jane, the woman being held in captivity by her husband, is played by Grae Siebenaler-Ransom (’26) and Ember Isabelo (’28). Her husband, John, is played by Basil Doucette (’28) and Wavey Glasson (’28). One of Jane’s attendants, Jennie, is played by Ava Hultquist (’28) and Tabi Momeyer (’27). Rayla Shepherd (’28) and Zin Huie Arneson (’29) play the woman behind the wall. These actors switch their roles every night, playing other employees or side characters when they are not in their primary role. The two casts helps add to the unique nature of every individual show because each cast has their own energy and their own interpretation of the characters. Double casting also helps the performers deal with the emotional intensity that results from both the structure and subject matter of the show. At various points throughout the show, characters faint, shout and cry, so having the support of other actors who have been in the same role can help create the best circumstances for those moments. Admittedly, not all of the actors are double cast. Ivy Geissinger (’28), who plays the doctor, Loki Saldivar (’28), who plays Clotho the Spinner, and Sam Barrett (’26), who plays Lachesis the Apportioner, remain in their roles every night. The effort and craftsmanship put into this show are evident from the moment you walk into the space. The set, designed by Leeloo Rohe (’26), is brilliant. It somehow manages to fit four rooms, each with distinct lighting and sound cues, into a tiny space. The set allows for audience members to push against the walls, becoming the woman in the wallpaper that Jane reacts to. At other moments, Jane and the woman behind the wall swap places, seamlessly disappearing and reemerging from rooms, beneath their bedspreads. None of these descriptions do the experience justice. One of the main joys of the show was stewing in confusion and anticipation, before the clarity and emotional release the ending provides. Nothing will compare to the feeling of being in the room, talking with the cast and feeling their passion for their craft and their story. The reason for their love for this project is evident: the play is not only an innovative format, it focuses on an important topic. It shines a light on an issue and a community that has largely been disregarded by centering their stories and immersing the audience in the emotional reality of confinement. For those who have yet to see the show, it’ll be running tonight and tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday as well. Go see for yourself!

Art by Basil Allen. Disclaimer: The Devil’s Advocate is a satirical column that does not reflect the views or opinions of The Collegian.  I just adopted a cat over spring break, but he does not have a name yet. What should I name him? - terrible with names Naming a cat can be a difficult task, especially if this is your first animal, as this one sets the tone for any future furry friends you might be adding to your fray. If this cat is your first, I would suggest thinking of themes and going from there. Possible themes include: characters from the hit children's movie “Cars” (2006), commonly played board games, verbs or adjectives, and things that go boom in the night. The first two themes in this list will lead to a very cutesy crew of characters living alongside you. The latter half serve as warnings to come. Going the route of naming your animals after verbs or adjectives is perfect because it provides an automatic cautionary signal to whoever hears their name. Since you have already had this nameless creature for some time, their personality, and all of the odd intricacies of it, have certainly come to light by now. For the last few months, you — and everyone else coming into contact with your cat — have had to find these habits blindly. If you named this cat after one of their more alarming habits (Lick, Stare, Judge, Pant, Scoff, or any variation of such words), future people that the cat comes into contact with will have proper warning.  A perfect example of these naming techniques lies in the cat that I am currently living with: Squash. His name originated from the fact that his mother, my roommate, found him after he had been hit by a car. With this origin, there are two themes that emerge for any future animals that my roommate might obtain: tragic things that have happened to that animal prior to them being adopted by my roommate, and things you can grow in a garden. In another life, however, I would have named him after an adjective. Specifically: Biting. Because sure enough, if you come into our household, friend or foe, he will be biting you.  My last suggestion in the list above is self-explanatory and also a precautionary note to any new pet owners out there.

Art by Eli Fukuji. Topic: Campus classrooms Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are from the individual staff members and do not reflect the perspective of The Collegian as a whole. The submissions are unedited and unaltered from what was submitted by individual staff members. The Pick: Eaton 211 and Collin’s 205 Submitted by: Eli Fukuji, Digital Art Editor  Staff Comment: eaton 2nd room 211 with awful desk chairs vs epic collin’s 205 lecture room The Pick: Eaton 211 Submitted by: Gimena Baez Baez, Opinions Writer Staff Comment: i hate room 211 on eaton 2nd. the desks are WAY too tiny The Pick: Art Building 310  Submitted by: Alma Snotrum-Phelps, Layout Editor Staff Comment: room 310 (the painting studio) in the art building! i love the windows in there The Pick: Walton B21  Submitted by: Robin Linares, News Editor  Staff Comment: Walton B21 sucksssss (tiny rooms, not insulated)

A duck in a Willamette jersey about to score a goal on the soccer field while the crowd cheers behind them. Art by Wes Mowry-Silverman. Hello, Bearcat Fan! Spring sports, as they are wont to do, continue to ride a very chaotic, poorly-designed rollercoaster that is putting both their playoff hopes in jeopardy and their hearts in blenders. I am speaking from experience. Let’s find out how things fared this week.  Lacrosse  continues to baffle their opponents and themselves but are managing to keep their playoff hopes alive despite being the most inconsistent team in the conference. They faced the Whits over the weekend, losing to Whitman 4-15 on Saturday, but they managed to rout the Pirates 16-9 on senior day to round out their conference record to 3-3. The latter game saw standout performances from seniors Claire Kisielnicki (’26) and Brooklynn Pearl  (’26), who totaled eight goals and two assists between themselves.  Baseball  was swept by the Puget Sound Loggers at home on Saturday and Sunday but had won a one-off game against the Bruins earlier in the week on Wednesday 11-6. Despite the win, they remain in last place in the conference.  Softball  also found themselves being swept over the weekend by No. 2 Lewis & Clark, extending their losing streak to 11, a là the New York Mets. Despite the tough losses, there were bright spots in the form of the ’Cats’ pitching, including a solid outing from Maya Filger  (’28) in the second game of the series. She only allowed three hits in seven innings from the otherwise offensively dominant River Otters.  Men’s golf  secured the No. 1 spot in the team rankings at the NWC championship by a wide margin, with Brock Olson  (’26) tying for No. 1 in individual rankings. Go Bearcats! Women’s golf  does not have enough players to qualify for the team rankings, but Saida Seelig (’26) tied for the No. 29 spot in individual rankings.  In the wider world of sport: The Trail Blazers lost in Game 1 of their series against San Antonio in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which will surely not deter them from an inevitable victory against the Wemby-led Spurs. West Ham and Tottenham have been fighting — or rather, failing to put up a fight — in the English Premier League to avoid relegation, with the Hammers being a measly 2 points away from the No. 18 spot that Tottenham currently holds. The race will come down to one question and one question only: who will suck more in the remaining fixtures? As an Irons supporter, my money is on West Ham. I have no faith. In the coming weeks:   Track and field  heads north to Spokane to compete in the NWC championships on Saturday, and lacrosse  has to win out their remaining games against Pacific on Wednesday and Linfield on Sunday to secure a spot in the NWC playoffs. Baseball  faces Lewis & Clark over the weekend and hopes to crawl out of the last-place spot, and softball  looks to snap their losing streak against the Bruins away for their last series of the season.

Amelia DeSentis ('27, right) and Maddie Strate ('27, left) working in the Writing Center on March 11, 2026. Photo by Mac Childers. Open Monday through Saturday, the Writing Center is a space where all Willamette students can come to receive help from Writing Center consultants, regardless of discipline or where the student is in the writing process.  However, the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI chatbots has raised concerns about how students use AI when approaching the center. While emphasizing its lack of judgement for students or courses solely based on AI usage, Writing Center staff stressed the importance of awareness for its consultants on course policies regarding AI and promoted the benefits of human editing and human connection in an AI age.  “[AI] is forcing conversations and forcing us to be more explicit about pedagogy and the teaching of writing,” said Writing Center Director and English professor Annette Hulbert.  She shared that she “frequently will see other writing center directors talk about how they are worried about writing centers not being used as much” because students are turning to AI instead.  Hulbert added that while she can’t “say definitively,” she thinks that the number of students using the Writing Center has not “gone down drastically.” The Writing Center keeps record of the number of students who use it through an after-visit consultation form.  Writing Center Consultant Kate Crosby (’27) noted a sometimes contradicting stance toward AI at Willamette. “We’re both creating a lot of classes that plan to use AI in them and at the same time trying to discourage or encourage AI [use] depending on what field of study you’re in,” she said.  She added that students have come into the Writing Center saying that their professors have told them to use AI on an assignment.  During weekly staff meetings, “we regularly discuss how to address AI usage,” said Hulbert.  This includes conversations about what consultants should do if they see AI coming through the Writing Center and how the differing policies surrounding AI usage can “impact the work coming through the Writing Center.” Hulbert shared that different classes’ rules on AI can range from a complete ban on usage, to requiring an AI disclosure statement, to requiring students to write a short essay about their use of AI. If consultants see a “clear usage of AI,” they are instructed to first check in with the visiting student to see if AI usage is permitted on the assignment, Hulbert said. But, she added, “It is rarely this clear-cut. … We want to make sure that we are following course policies and not aiding someone in violating a course policy.” Consultants aim not only to help students with a specific paper, but to improve on their writing skills overall. But Crosby noted that the rise in AI usage has impacted the way that students are approaching writing at times. “We’re seeing an increase in a desire for quick results [and] to become a better writer really rapidly,” she said. Hulbert stressed the importance of the “human connection” in the Writing Center, as there are benefits to “having another student, having a peer, sitting across from you and having a dialogue with you.” She added that it is important to have more of “that kind of connection with somebody who has read your writing and is asking you genuine questions.” Hulbert acknowledged that AI is “something that most students on some level have probably used,” and she doesn't “want to scare off people who have used ChatGPT from ever using the Writing Center.” In Crosby’s words, “We’re not going to judge you in here.” The Writing Center is a space where students can come even when they are not quite sure what to write about.  “Instead of turning to an AI bot, you can come and talk to us instead,” Crosby said.