With the rise of AI becoming increasingly popular in all levels of education, many schools, specifically colleges and universities, are starting to crack down on its usage. Snevets Institute of Technology, the “Innovation University,” has officially banned any use of ChatGPT campus- wide. This ban was put into place almost immediately and left students with many unanswered questions. Where can they literally get their questions answered? All questions that would once be directed to ChatGPT are now being redirected to Tillie, the school’s widely recognized mascot.
To the staff at Snevets, this solution seemed like a no-brainer, and a decision was made almost immediately. The St*te reached out to the President’s office for a comment on their new initiative, in which they said, “ChatGPT has become something students now completely rely on. It was once a source of help and redirection, but now it has a completely different meaning and threatens the integrity of the institution. Students must use what is available to them, a strong and credible source, such as Tillie.”
The question of how Tillie will answer any of the questions being asked has been circulating. She has been given an iPad to wear around her neck, which can easily print as well as display text for anyone who approaches.
The students of Snevets seem to be more confused than anything about the school’s decision to implement this ban. The St*te interviewed a number of students about how they felt about it. A second-year mechanical engineering major, Jayson D. said, “A lot of us are just confused how the dog is supposed to answer literally any of our questions. I asked Tillie for help with my circuits class homework, and she just printed a bitten Yella’s receipt.”
Tillie is no longer just Tillie. She has been given the new title of Chief of Information Operations. She is not just answering any questions that students ask, but she will also serve as a TA across all three schools of engineering, business, and humanities. Although she has been given a major new task and a huge promotion here at Snevets, Tillie will still serve as the emotional support animal she is apparently being trained to be.
Despite the confusion that seems to be circulating, Snevets’ administration has not budged on its decision. Many students have explored different options to combat this. An “illegal” non-Snevets-approved club is apparently said to be operating in the basement of Humphreys once a week. Students write down any questions they have for ChatGPT, and a burner phone is used to look them up; no sources are able to confirm or deny the existence of this so-called club.
Many are wondering if Tillie will continue to work in this position next school year, but it is too early to see if her work will be proven beneficial. The staff seem optimistic and are excited about Tillie’s new position, while students remain doubtful about the capabilities of the campus’s beloved canine companion. The St*te tried asking Tillie herself for a quote, but her iPad displayed a 404 error. After all, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
