The Paul M. Lisnek LAS Hub is located inside Lincoln Hall, tucked underneath the stairs; unless you know where you’re going, you might miss it. The tunnel-esque space opened in fall 2022 and now holds benches, cozy chairs, and a coffee and tea station for students to take advantage of between classes. Students often struggle to find an empty seat during the day, and what was once a coffee shop has become a gathering space for students and a center for resources including the Peer Mentors and – as of fall 2024 – the Writers Workshop.
The Writers Workshop received funding as part of a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Investment for Growth proposal to hold drop-in hours when writers can come in for help with application essays, for a quick conversation between classes, or to brainstorm. Consultant Graciela B. says, “the Hub can offer a more casual setting” due to its drop-in format and the fact that writers are likely already familiar with the Hub space, even if they have not heard of the Writers Workshop before. The flexibility of timing for each session makes it a popular option for students who have a break between classes.
Within the LAS Hub, there are usually a few groups hosting drop-in hours, including the LAS Peer Mentors (who offer assistance with finding and applying for experiential learning opportunities) and ATLAS internship programs. This means that students can get their questions answered more easily and all in one place. Often, the Peer Mentors refer students to the Writers Workshop, and vice versa, creating a strong sense of community in the space and encouraging more undergraduates to use the Writers Workshop. Some of the writers I’ve met with had not previously used the Writers Workshop and did not know what help they could find there.
Since its inception, Writers Workshop and LAS staff have been refining the procedures to make it easier for writers to find the consultant and get the help they’re hoping to find. Having held more than 100 sessions in our first two semesters in the space, the future looks bright for the LAS Hub satellite location!
By Elizabeth Scherschel, Classics major, History and Anthropology minors, senior (Class of 2025)