Jordan Gerard/Winonan

Shhh. It’s quiet here.

Students have a new place for meditation, prayer and reflection with the installation of a meditation room.

The new space, located in the Student Activity Center in Kryzsko Commons on the Winona State University campus, was a meeting room before the Muslim Student Association and Inclusion and Diversity Committee repurposed the room in July 2015.

“The meditation room is for all faiths, all people, any type of quiet time that you need,” Student Senate President Josh Hanson said. “Anyone is able to go in there.”

Students from the Muslim Student Association approached the Inclusion and Diversity Committee because they did not have a convenient place to pray and meet after the Islamic Center burned down in September 2013, Inclusion and Diversity Chair Rebekah Bailey said.

“Those students and other students not of Muslim background but just other religions and spiritualties, were like ‘Hey, this place on campus would be a lot more convenient and nice to have,’” Bailey said. “So with the Inclusion and Diversity Committee, a lot of it was brought to us and continued pushing through with the Muslim Student Association.”

The cost of the room was very minimal, Hanson said. The meeting table and chairs were taken out and replaced with more comfortable chairs, and letters were added above the doorway, naming the space the  “Meditation Room.”

Hanson and Bailey hope the room will be used appropriately with respect to other students using it.

“It’s an area for students to have a quiet space. Some Muslim students use it for praying, but any student can go in there and use it as a quiet place. Sit, meditate, anything,” Hanson said.

Bailey added it is a spot that is quiet, and people are not pushed to be in and out at a certain time. She also said it is convenient because of its location on campus.

The reaction to the room has been positive.

“When it was first introduced on social media, people said it’s a bad place to put it, because it’s so loud sometimes in that area, but other than that, people have been excited it’s there,” Bailey said.

Hanson said students should be encouraged to use it and respect others who use it as well.

“As a student body we’re collective, and we have to be kind to one another and respect one another’s space, respect one another’s beliefs,” Hanson said. “If you need to use the meditation room, you’re more than welcome to use the meditation room.”

Bailey said several people had told her they used it, and it has been beneficial to them.

“I am very glad it’s there. I didn’t realize while we were trying to make it a thing, how big of an impact it had until it existed and now that it’s here, I’m glad that we got it,” Bailey said. “It’s open to students and the Winona State community, even for a homework break, to meditate. It’s a good place to do that.”