In the midst of a busy and noisy semester, there are quiet, calming, free sanctuaries for students provided by the Access, Connections and Engagement Center.
“I think it lets students know that we still think about them and know that these are specific needs that they’ve asked for, that they thought have gone unnoticed,” said Shaunte Polk, the director of the ACE Center. “It lets students know that, ‘Hey, no, we heard you, now come over to this space.’”
The ACE Center is a free multi-resource center located in East Hall. One of the more prominent resources is the prayer and meditation room.
“Any student of any faith can go down and use that room any time of day,” Polk said. “Every Bible or book of faith is down there.”
The room and other resources are opened for as long as the building is open until it closes at 10 p.m. However, during Ramadan, the prayer and meditation room is open for longer for students to practice at certain times.
Another main resource in the building is their world boutique, which is a closet with free supplies for anyone in need. It houses clothing options, shoes, accessories, toiletries and home goods, like sheets and blankets.
“We have students who are coming from different countries, international students who get off the plane, they may not have sheets and blankets for the night, they haven’t arrived or haven’t been able to go to the store yet, so they can use that free resource,” Polk said.
The center also features resources and learning centers where students are able to do work or reserve the space. Grab and go food and a kitchen is available to any students on campus.
Many of the resources provided for the food, prayer and meditation room and anything in the world boutique is donated by the surrounding community, helping the students have the resources they need for their college career.
“We just encourage once you get in the door, you’ll know what we have, so we always encourage people to come over to East Hall,” Polk said. “Come here one time, and I bet you’ll keep coming back.”
Trista Honaker can be contacted at [email protected].
