By snoadmin
Correction: When published, the article said that the Quite Room was renamed as the Reflection Room in spring 2012. It was renamed from the Malibu Room to the Quiet Room in spring 2012 and is now in the process of being named the Reflection Room.
Imagine a place that offers students a quiet escape from the chaos of midterms, work and the daily buzz of student life – right in the middle of campus.
Students and professors will find this place if they venture up to the third floor of the University Student Union.
Formerly the Malibu Room, USU room 308 was renamed the “Quiet Room” at the beginning of spring 2012 and is a space designed for students to pray, reflect or meditate. The white walls are adorned with a few serene images of nature, and the room is fashioned with plush chairs, a rug and fluffy pillows scattered around the floor.
Ojaala Ahmad, Associated Students Inc. Secretary of Cultural Diversity, said the idea came from students on campus who expressed a need for a quiet, peaceful place.
“My hope when I envisioned this room was that any and all students could come here to relax, reflect, meditate or pray,” Ahmad said. “The idea is to help melt away the stresses of college life.”
On some days, however, students can be found talking, eating or working on their laptops in the room.
On one of those days, two Muslim students walked into the room to pray amidst noise and distraction.
Still, junior nutrition major Sulaima Abdin said she was excited when she found out about the quiet room at a recent Muslim Student Association meeting.
“We pray five times a day, so it was nice to find this space,” Abdin said. “There are so many other rooms students can use to study or socialize, so it would just be nice for it to actually be a quiet room.”
Director of the Multicultural Center (MCC) James Sauceda said students have yet to understand what the room is about.
“It’s not a sleep room, it’s not a praise room, and it’s not a sectarian room,” Sauceda said. “The idea is that a person can be an atheist and still find as helpful a quiet space as a believer.”
Ahmad said she is concerned that misuse of the room will discourage students from using the space.
“There are so many other rooms students can use to study, socialize or chill out, but this is the one specific room designated the quiet lounge to be used for reflection and quiet time,” Ahmad said. “I feel like we are doing a disservice to those students who have needs and want to use the room.”
Senior international studies major Morgan Barrett said she went to the room to recharge before cramming for a midterm. She said it was occupied by a group of really loud students who all turned to stare as she walked in.
“I felt really unwelcome, so I left and found a place on the grass where I could lie down and relax before my next class,” Barrett said.
Barrett said that if the room was truly a quiet space, she would utilize it much more often.
Students are prohibited from playing music, using cell phones or laptops and holding group study sessions or meetings in the Reflection Room. ASI Vice President Jonathon Bolin said he walked by the room a few weeks ago and saw a student playing the guitar and singing worship music.
“There are signs posted all over about it being a quiet space, but some students [are] still unaware of its purpose,” Bolin said.
Sauceda said the MCC is in the process of changing the name to “Meditation Room” in hopes of clarifying its purpose. In an attempt to improve the space, he said he donated an image of the Japanese Gardens to hang on the walls.
“It’s peaceful, it’s on our campus, and it’s a quiet, sacred place, so I thought it just fit,” Sauceda said.
The room is available during USU operating hours from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday.
