It’s a question often posed by those who walk in. If you’ve ever had a WRD class on the third floor of the SAC, you’ve most definitely walked by Room 302. The Invention Lab is open 11:00 to 6:00 Monday through Thursday to any student needing a space to work and study, offering technology and furniture for your convenience. Here’s a run down of why you could stop by the Invention Lab.
For those in rhetorical studies, you might know that “invention” is one of the five canons of rhetoric, referring to what Aristotle acknowledged as the systematic investigation of rhetorical practices. When we write an article or compose a speech, we are enacting invention. Appropriately then, SAC 302 is a place to pursue critical thinking on the composition of your work with the resources of the Lab made available to you.
The room is staffed by WRD graduate assistants, the very ones who write for this blog. We monitor the room and offer assistance when needed, typically providing answers about the department and giving advice when appropriate.
The first thing you will probably see when walking in the room are the monitors around the room. The Lab offers three Macs to students in need of a computer, as well as a color printer for whenever you need physical copies of your work. These Macs offer the multiple programs, from the standard Microsoft Office products to Adobe Suite. Along with a Wifi connection, you can conduct online research or complete a variety of digital work. The Lab also hosts a wall-mounted TV that is often used for video calls and presentations (please see staff before attempting to use the TV).
Students who have come in the past have not always been limited to studying and work. There have been occasions where students took advantage of the furniture area for their produced video projects or have come in for meetings with others for a variety of purposes. The furniture area also makes comfortable resting, and the room is often populated with those waiting for the late night graduate courses. If you simply need some place to sit down and collect yourself, then the Lab’s couch awaits you.
The Invention Lab is also host to a variety of events, ranging from student presentations to walk-ins where food is provided and students can meet with professors. Earlier this quarter, WRD hosted one such event, inviting students to learn more about the department and a chance to speak with faculty. The room has even been the hiding place for Peebles the Gnome during the annual Gnome Hunt!
Aside from being open to students, the Lab also operates as a professional meeting space for faculty. Many a video-call interview has been held with the TV, and consensus for future plans for WRD have been reached at its tables.
If you haven’t taken advantage of the space, whether to do work or just relax, then come in! The Invention Lab is an environment that accommodates the many general needs of students, and it’s as easy as walking through the door.