The Contemplative Space was envisioned as a campus space where people could gather and reflect on the campus and regional history as well as on contemporary issues. A primary goal is to reflect the roles played by three distinct groups and their descendants-Esopus Munsee, enslaved Africans and Huguenot settlers—in the history and present-day culture of the Town of New Paltz and the SUNY New Paltz community.
This capstone of the building renaming process (2017-2019) represents the commitment of the campus community to explore a more honest and inclusive history of how our institution formed. The Contemplative Space will represent the stories of our complex history and will serve as a physical reminder that inquiry and learning is ongoing.
