Dunster House will be the first house to benefit from an expanded Expository Writing program that puts professional writing consultants at the disposal of upperclass students.

Beginning this semester, Kerry Walk, an Expos preceptor and nonresident tutor in Dunster, will act as an official writing tutor for students in the house.

"[My position] is a continual reminder of the importance of writing to intellectual inquiry," Walk said.

Dunster House Senior Tutor Suzi Naiburg announced the pilot program last night at the annual Dunster House assembly. Naiburg also an Expos preceptor, took office as senior tutor this fall.

Naiburg said the worked closely with Director of Expository Writing Nancy Sommers during the last year to develop the program, which is aimed at students who have already completed the required one-semester course.

"The idea is that we want someone close at hand to work with students on all phases of writing," Naiburg said.

Walk said she would like to work with students as an instructor on a long-term basis, not merely as a last resort.

"Writing is a process," she said. "I'm not just a crisis management person."

In addition to regular office house, Walk will have an e-mail address and will offer group writing workshops on various topics.

Naiburg said she hopes that the position of writing tutor will eventually become a resident tutor's post--one that will spread to the other houses.

"What you're seeing here is part of the larger integration of the Expository Writing program," Naiburg said.