By Nina Mendes
Beat Reporter
When Taylor Tetreault scrolls through Twitter, she is searching for her next masterpiece.
She shuffles through tweet after tweet and scans the app’s explore page, on the hunt for inspiration.
The dry erase whiteboard stares blankly back at her, waiting for this week’s meme to debut outside of Reed Hall.
After a whiteboard drawing made an appearance on the FGCU’s Barstool Instagram page, the Communication Lab recognized that Tetreault’s whiteboard art was gaining traction.
FGCU’s Communication Lab is an on-campus center devoted to working with students on improving their public speaking and presenting skills.
This is Tetreault’s first semester working as a consultant for the lab.
In addition to helping students, Tetreault is also one of the artists that draw the humor-based advertisements the center is known for.
“I look for things that are relevant, like memes that I can draw, and people will recognize,” said Tetreault. “We change the board every week, and we alternate. One week will be something funny, and the next will be something more serious. We try to tie it into current events too.”
Sophomore Emily Fine is another consultant at the lab and helps students with their papers alongside Tetreault in Reed 151.
“I think this helps get people’s attention because [students] stop to look at the sign and get a laugh out of it,” said Fine. “Even on some days, we have serious topics, and people come in and start a conversation.”
One recent topic on the whiteboard reflected the current political situation in Hong Kong.
The art not only makes students chuckle but attempts to leave an impression on the viewer and educate them.
The Communication Lab also hosts interactive tabling to allow students to become more familiar with the services the center offers.
Students can visit the lab to receive free feedback and criticism on their work during the week from 9 to 4.
“It’s rewarding to see people who come in very nervous and see their confidence grow over the course of the semester,” said Tetreault.