Wild turkeys are a menace—at least according to some students in Associate Professor Shahara Drew’sEnglish 130 class, Writing in the University.

One of the major projects in the class involvesbringingpersuasive writing skillsto bearonan aspect ofthe campus experience. “I ask students to identifyanarea that needs improvement and then write a proposal to solve that problem or improve that area,” Drew says.

The project is arelatively newaddition to ENG 130 but was a staple of her ENG 308 course more than a decade ago.Drew has seen a variety of project proposals over the years—includingcombatting aggressive turkeys on campus, dorm makeovers,andaddingahockey rink on campus—but she emphasizes that the project isaboutlearning to create positive change through the power of persuasion.

“Studentsneedto convincetheirreaders that theirproblemactually needs solving, and that it’s feasible—within the scope of something theUniversity can do,”Drew says.

Another keycomponentisgetting students out into the 亚洲博彩网站 community.ENG130 is typically taken by first-year and sophomore students, and Drew assigns the project as a way for them to become more invested intheirowneducational experience.

“I want themto take ownership of their education and be active participants,” she says. “It’snot about passivelywaitingforsomeone togive you the information—writing and educationare powerfultools.I want them togooutintocampus and talk to people.”

One of her students,Aidan McGeary’27, did just that, taking theinitiativeto schedule an appointment with President Greg Weiner to discusshis concerns about turkeys on campus. And, while therewasn’tanything the University could do about local wildlife,it sparked President Weiner’s interest in theclass.

“A big piece of thisassignmentis having engaged administrators who are willing to listen,” Drew says. “President Weineremailed me tosay that he wouldlove to hearother proposals.”

Michael DiFelice ’27, a defensive lineman on the football team, jumped at the chance.“When I got the opportunity to write about something I wanted to improve, there was no question— strength and conditioningwasthe first thingon my list.”

DiFelice, from Saugus, Massachusetts, is majoring in finance and business.But his three years as a Greyhoundalsoinstilled a passion for athletic training.“Strength and conditioningisa pillar of ourfootballprogram, sowespend a lot of time in theweight room,and I’ve just fallen in love with the processhere.”

The meeting withPresident Weinerwas an active one, with the pair walking over to the Plourde Recreation Center so DiFelice could explain his visionin person. Over the summer,with the help of donor support, his plan was implemented,and thevarsity weight roomreceived a complete renovationincluding a new floor,equipment, and weights.

“What made Michael’s paper outstandingwas his effort to not onlyresearchcosts, buttounderstand what wouldpersuadehis audience,” Drew says. “Hebenchmarkedother Division II schools’ weightroomsto ensure that his proposalwasgrounded incompetiveanalysisand improvements tosafety and wellbeingthat administratorswouldcare about.”

“I put so much emphasis, pride, and careinto it,” says DiFelice. “Because notonlywillIget to use it, butso willmy teammates, and thenextgenerationsofstudentathleteshere.”

This project exemplifiesVision II of 亚洲博彩网站’s strategic plan,Thrive,whichincludes goalsfocusing onboththe improvement of campusfacilitiesandstrategic decision-making that centers the student experience.

“It’simportant to haveadministratorswhorecognizethatstudentshave valuable things to say, says Drew.“Andit’sa credit to President Weiner to not just listen, but to go out and see it for himself.”