Whether it’s on a flyer or in the classroom, generative AI is here to stay at MTSU, but that hasn’t come without its fair share of pushback from students across campus and through social media.
One Instagram account, known as the “AI Slop Troopers of MTSU,” regularly posts alleged examples of “AI slop” found across campus.
Lizzy Hernandez, a junior majoring in computer science, expressed their frustration at the many AI-generated advertisements they had seen at the start of the semester, seemingly created by fellow students.
“Generative AI for posters is kind of ridiculous,” Hernandez said. “We have an entire department of students [art majors] who will gladly do it for free.”
Eliza Mustell, a junior also majoring in computer science, shared Hernandez’s sentiment. Mustell was concerned how generative AI could affect the environment in the long run.
“All AI relies on data centers, so how much do we think silly posters or having a computer write an essay for us is worth in fifty years if we don’t really have much of a home anymore?” Mustell said. “It’s truly not hard to make your own poster, and it can be really fun. The MakerSpace has so many tools and resources to make your own as well.”
MTSU also offers creative services to faculty associated with the university through MTSU’s Creative and Visual Services department. Kristy O’ Neil, the Director of Creative and Visual Services, said that AI could be a useful tool for creatives, but she was also disheartened that it was being used by students as a replacement instead of as inspiration.
A poster pinned to the bulletin board outside of the Keathley University Center on Sep. 2, 2026. (Jesse Ammons)
“Seeing some of this content, it kind of hurts our hearts because this is our livelihood,” O’Neil said. “This is what we do. This is our passion. And knowing that people think that because they can type in a prompt they think they created something? Well they didn’t create that. AI created that, you just typed in a prompt.”
Valerie Hackworth, the Program Director of MTSU’s MakerSpace, didn’t think the issue of the “elephant in the room” was as black-and-white as it appeared. In 2023, Hackworth wanted to test the potential of DALLE-2’s image generation as a mode of creative expression through the use of various exhibits in the MakerSpace that showcased student talent inspired by AI.
“It’s a tool, and I think it should be used as a tool,” Hackworth said. “I can’t help how other people use it, though. We need to give room for other people to use it in a way that fits their values. I’m not in control of their values, I’m only in control of my values. Give people room, and what they grow and learn from is beautiful.”
Hackworth said her opinions do not represent the opinion of her student workers, the MakerSpace or the university at large.
“We did have some pushbacks amongst our workers, and these are lessons learned,” Hackworth said. “When you use AI and you want your students or your workers to use it, you have to provide them alternatives. You have to. Because this is very provocative, very controversial.”
AI usage on campus is not limited to image generation, either. Generative AI refers to machine learning technologies capable of generating new content, including text, images, videos and music, according to MTSU’s 323 Instructional and Assignment Use of Artificial Intelligence policy, which was updated in June 2025 to reflect MTSU’s current standards for AI usage. The policy also encourages instructors at MTSU to provide broad guidance on instructional and assignment use of AI, according to Section IV.
MTSU has also seen a variety of new AI-focused courses and programs being offered to students across majors such as the Grad-AI initiative, a program launched in Summer 2026 that seeks to advance ethical AI integration across graduate programs at MTSU.
R.J. Hudson, a senior majoring in business administration, is currently enrolled in Introduction to Business Analytics and disapproves of the way AI is being applied in her coursework. One assignment required students to have a conversation with an AI chatbot, according to Hudson.
“As someone who is very environmentally aware, and politically aware, and likes to get into topics of justice and racism around data centers and AI, I’m just disgusted,” Hudson said. “…You can protest all you want, but unfortunately MTSU is basically telling us just to deal with it, and I hate that. I hate that it’s so normalized.”
Hudson said she would use AI as little as possible in both her professional and personal life, but she also knew she would have to use it in her career in the coming years.
Jaida Linier, a freshman interior architecture major, agreed that generative AI was not a tool she wanted to use in her career but felt it was necessary for her to land a job as a creative.
“I am also taking some AI courses myself…I think that other people should learn how to [use AI tools] because it’s a good backup plan if all else fails,” Linier said.
To contact the features editor, email [email protected].
For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, and follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on X and Instagram at @mtsusidelines. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter here.