Friday, November 4, 2011

technology free breathing space

This from the chaplain's office at Yale University:

The newest space opened by the Chaplain’s Office aims —as its name suggests —to give students juggling hectic schedules a chance to “breathe.”

Breathing Space, an initiative that began on Sept. 4, opens a reading room, bathroom and meditation room in the basement of Welch Hall’s entryway C to students from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The goal of the center is to provide undergraduates and graduate students alike with a technology-free zone that offsets the “hustle and bustle of their days,” University Chaplain Sharon Kugler said in a Wednesday email. Though student organizers said publicizing the new spot has been difficult, they said they hope Breathing Space will become a popular hangout once more students learn of its existence.

At Breathing Space, students can read religious texts, talk with friends, grab free snacks, meditate in a room with floor cushions and an indoor waterfall, and take part in various arts and crafts activities. Though the centeroffers weekly religious text studies, Kugler said Breathing Space is not designed to target any specific religious or spiritual traditions but rather offer a spot for students to unwind.The center is staffed by 10 student workers every week, Breathing Space’s coordinator Ivy Onyeador ’11.

In an effort to separate students from constant emails and other daily stresses, Breathing Space does not allow technological devices such as cell phones, laptops and iPods. Kate Stratton DIV ’12, who runs a weekly arts and crafts session called “Time for the Soul” at Breathing Space, said the absence of these personal electronics creates a “no-pressure zone” that gives students a way to “recharge.”

“Breathing Space is a no-gain zone —people don’t come to accomplish something,” Stratton said. “But there’s something meaningful about stepping out of your rat-race schedule to stop and just ‘be.’”

Notice the contrast with Moody who adopted the current innovations in marketing and to some extent technology in service of his religious message.

1 comment:

Steph Van Dyke said...

This makes me want something like that here!