This piece is entirely satirical as a part our April Fool’s edition, the Trinibonian.
When essays are due, professors often urge students to consult the Writing Center. Starting next semester, this service will no longer be available due to budget cuts, and the Writing Center will switch to an artificial intelligence (AI) assistance model.
Students were made aware of this change through a LeeRoy announcement. Landry Grammarly, English and communication double-major and second-year Writing Center tutor, has mixed feelings about the switch.
“I’m sad that I’m losing my job, but I’m glad I don’t have to read bad essays anymore. I’ve read things I don’t ever want to repeat,” Grammarly said.
This change comes in an era where our society is rampant with AI technology available to many students. With ChatGPT, anybody can write a decent essay. Kyle Kegstand, first-year finance and economics double-major, suggests the Writing Center close down permanently.
“I don’t see the point in using AI for the Writing Center when students can use ChatGPT whenever they want. The switch comes across as lazy,” Kegstand said.
To make the newly improved Writing Center worth students’ time, a ChatGPT Plus subscription will be available via Trinity email. The switch especially comes as a surprise since the university received $5 million to maximize student success. Hettie Murray, the director for Academic Support, sees this change as an opportunity.
“We never thought it would come to this. I love the Writing Center, but it’s no longer feasible to have a tutoring service when we have this tool at our disposal. We’re trying something new, and I hope this doesn’t negatively impact our students.”
University President Vabezza Breezly declined to comment, but the president’s office issued a statement after receiving backlash from the Trinity University parent Facebook page.
“While it is unfortunate that a longstanding institution on our campus is going away, this is an excellent opportunity for students to use the amazing Trinity network to their advantage. Paws up!” the statement read.