Student Life and Ministry Center

A word from our current and past ASWWU Presidents...

Community, that collective belonging we all crave, is something that God created us for. Our togetherness matters to Him. And students need a place to be together. 

If you walk into the Atlas, our study house, you’ll find students hosting meetings or study groups, and people lingering by the counter to chat. The Atlas draws students because it has a warmth that reminds us of home. But it fills up quickly.

ASWWU events are a key part of campus life, yet we struggle to find venues that are large enough because our current Student Association Center and the Atlas are too small to hold our events. This was acutely felt on Friday nights, when students, especially those who live in the dorms, didn’t have a place to go after vespers. In response, our spiritual team created “Sabbath Sigh,” a gathering in Bowers Hall for friends to spend time together after vespers. But this space is not ideal, and it is temporary.

One of the most fun parts of being ASWWU president is simply working side-by-side with my team in the office, a small space that’s set aside for us. But the space is too small, and physically separate from other student leaders. 

We at WWU feel a strong pull towards being together. Yet none of the current settings are sufficient to meet the need for a communal space on our campus. The solution, a Student Life and Ministry Center, would create a central place where work and life could mix for all students. Today’s students are still recovering from the loneliness of the pandemic, and our underclassman are more enthusiastic than ever to be engaged on campus. The SLMC would harness this enthusiasm and help rebuild a thriving campus life. 

I’ve experienced the joy of collective belonging at Walla Walla University, and it’s up to us to ensure every student that steps on this campus can experience that, too. 

Annaliese Grellmann
Senior Humanities/Pre-Law major
2022–2024 ASWWU President

Campus life at Walla Walla University is centered around a vibrant and active student body, made up of individuals who crave meaningful connection and conversations. As a student leader, I experienced firsthand the powerful impact of bringing people together. Friendships are formed, ideas are born, and the school is drawn closer together
when time and space is facilitated and protected for students to interact. The SLMC will make a tremendous impact on campus as it will provide a space—outside of classes, work, and residence halls—where students can gather and mingle in a convenient and organic way. It will centralize services that are currently distributed in varying areas of campus; this will benefit students by focusing student life activities on one vibrant heart. The focus on service and ministry provides the essential underlying why of our institution, and the space provides an area for this purpose to grow.

During my time as ASWWU President, a common request among students was to create more spaces for informal interactions, both for studying and socializing. The SLMC addresses this need well and promises to further facilitate a Walla Walla University culture where strong friendships and connections not only complement but fuel a rich learning environment.
Eric Welch
2020-2021 ASWWU President