Last year I took a first year seminar class on the topic of Sense of Place. The class generally was about the connections you build with a certain space or area, but there was a particular idea by Ray Oldenburg that people and communities should have something called a Third place. Ray Oldenburg defines a Third place as an “informal gathering place in which people gather between home and work”. Some examples given in his book are bars, coffee shops, book stores, and back in the day a drug counter at a pharmacy. These are all places where people can go freely, hold neutral conversations, feel welcomed, and also have the chance to run into those of their community. When thinking about the sense of place of The Coe Writing Center (CWC) I realized it was much more than a job but actually a Third place for writing consultants.
The two things that make the Coe College Writing Center(CWC) a Third place
- A place for open conversation
The CWC has been a place where consultants talk about their day, brainstorm ideas, and enjoy other consultants' company. An example of this is the white board that is dedicated to a special question in the CWC. The question is not always related to writing and often starts interesting discussions. These conversations are what makes the time spent more enjoyable and away from the formal discussions that occur at work or even in a home setting.
- Has a comfortable and welcoming vibe
The environment in the CWC is set up with couches, free tea, and plenty of unique things. Having an informal setting of free tea and couches allows the environment in the CWC to feel welcoming and comfortable. This particular vibe attracts consultants to come and hang out. There are also things like an Abe Lincoln poster, plants, and sometimes even consultant’s art on the whiteboard that make this place more relatable to a coffee shop than a formal job
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A Third place is important for healthy communication in communities according to sociologist Ray Oldenburg. By having the writing center be a Third place in the community of consultants has allowed strong friendships to form and build a productive working environment. The CWC is still a formal job, but due to the comfort, conversation, and the social aspect it brings I would consider it to be more of a Third place.
Would you consider the writing center a Third place for consultants?
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