New Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room open within Stewart Center

Student Life has announced the opening of the Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room within Stewart Center.

The Purdue Student Union Board, Purdue Student Government, Purdue Graduate Student Government and other student organizations worked with Purdue Memorial Union to bring the concept to fruition. The space, located in Stewart Center, Room 213, accommodates students, faculty and staff who wish to participate in prayer, reflection and meditation activities that promote mental health on campus.

This room is intentionally dressed with simple furnishings. The space has a shoe rack to store shoes and other private belongings if desired; a large shelf to hold mats and other materials; a few chairs for resting; a dimmable lamp to adjust lighting; and cleaning/sanitizing supplies to wipe down mats/chairs before and after use. Individuals can bring their own items for personal use, but those items must be removed once the visit is complete.

Purdue Memorial Union will manage the space, which is free to use on a walk-in basis. The space will be open during the normal operating business hours of PMU and Stewart Center.

Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room guidelines

• The room is to be used for prayer, meditation and reflection and not as a lounge, study room, meeting room or other purpose not involved with the aforementioned practices. Respect the requirement for a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
• Per Protect Purdue guidelines, the space is restricted to a maximum of 10 individuals. All individuals must wear a mask and maintain a social distance of 6 feet. Cleaning/sanitizing supplies are available for individuals to wipe down mats/chairs before and after use.
• Cell phones should be set to silent.
• No food or beverages beyond personal water bottles are allowed in the room. Individuals should not drink from a personal water bottle unless they are socially distanced from others in the room; they may remove their face covering at that time to take a drink. Face coverings are to be placed back on immediately upon finishing a drink.
• For visitors who need to wash before or after visiting, there are restrooms on the second floor of Stewart Center down the hall from the Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room.
• Animals are not permitted in the room.
• The use of fire, including lit candles or incense, is not permitted.
• Light music or sound machines can be played, as long as all individuals are in agreement. If a request is made for silence by any individual, the request must be granted.
• Individuals must keep the room clean. Mats and chairs need be returned to the allotted location, and other furniture items must remain in the facility and be restored to their original position.
• Items used for prayer, meditation and reflection that are not already in the space must be removed after each individual or group use. Any items left by individuals will be removed.

Any damages to the space or equipment must be promptly reported to Purdue Memorial Union at 765-494-8899. Building managers from the Union will be monitoring the space and can be stopped to answer any questions or help with concerns.