Writing center honors former magazine editor

Members of the University community gathered yesterday to dedicate a new writing center to a woman who believed a sentence should march.

The Gayle Morris Sweetland Writing Center honors the former editor and owner of "U, the National College Magazine," who used to describe herself as "one hell of a tough broad." She is the late wife of University alumnus John Sweetland.

Housed in Angell Hall, the center will train graduate students to teach writing and work to incorporate the teaching of writing into all disciplines across the University.

"(Writing) is becoming, in some places, an endangered species," Sweetland said. "We are creating a center that is saying its goal is to make writing an important part of the curriculum."

Sweetland donated the $5 million needed to fund the center because he felt it was an appropriate way to honor his late wife, who was a graduate of Pasadena College.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily John Sweetland speaks with University President Lee Bollinger and LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg after they cut the opening ribbon for the new Gayle Morris Sweetland Writing Center.

"Writing was a part of her life and that's what she did so well," Sweetland said. "I thought this was the best place in the country to do this. There aren't many schools like Michigan."

Although LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg said the center will define itself over time, the group of graduate students and faculty who are Sweetland Fellows are in charge of deciding how the center will proceed.

University President Lee Bollinger said the new center corresponds with the University's commitment to improving teaching and emphasizing the liberal arts.

"It's unusual to have significant gifts of this nature devoted to these types of programs," Bollinger said.

Bollinger said it is important to focus on writing because it is something many students have trouble with during and after college. "As a scholar, as a teacher, I think we all share the experience of writing as one of the most difficult things we do," Bollinger said. "There are few things more satisfying in life than having written something that you're proud of."

Goldenberg said that when the idea of the writing center was first mentioned more than a year ago, she never dreamed it would become a reality in such a short time.

"It was an instant fit of his ideas and our interests," Goldenberg said. "I am enormously pleased to recognize John as one of (LSA's) friends."

Lauren Shubow, president of the LSA Student Government, emphasized the need for improving students' writing and said one of students' biggest complaints is the quality of teaching.

"This center has the capacity to assist in both of these regards," Shubow said.

English Prof. Ralph Williams said he is excited about the new center.

"It's my conviction that we need more time given to writing and this center will lead the way in showing ways we can responsibly do that," Williams said.

Sweetland said he made the donation because he feels that successful alumni have a responsibility to give back to the University in order to keep it strong.

"It's earned the accolade 'the leaders and the best,'" Sweetland said. "My hope is that the Gayle Morris Sweetland Writing Center will be regarded as one of those academy-changing additions."

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