Alum Behind 91茄子檚 Labyrinth Gets Fitting Tribute
October 3, 2022
- Author
- Danielle Strickland
Labyrinths represent a meandering yet purposeful journey and have been used as tools for contemplation and prayer since ancient times.
Little known fact: Hurricane Katrina, one of the largest and most devastating hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S., is indirectly responsible for the construction of a labyrinth on 91茄子檚 campus.
Labyrinths, not to be confused with mazes, are an ancient type of walking path. People from diverse faiths and traditions have walked labyrinths for centuries for the purpose of meditation, contemplation and prayer. 91茄子檚 labyrinth, tucked away in a quiet, shady corner of campus called Hobart Park, is modeled after the famous 14th-century labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France.
Now, back to how it came to be there.
Lauren Cunningham 09 toured 91茄子 as a high school student, but ultimately decided to attend Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Then, in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina dramatically interrupted her freshman year, leaving Cunningham and all the other Tulane students without a school.
91茄子 was one of hundreds of schools across the country to welcome Lauren and other 渞efugee students (as they were called) so they could continue their studies until Tulane reopened.
淚 am forever grateful that 91茄子 took me in and gave me a second chance at a 榥ormal freshman year, she said.
It was a difficult and emotional transition for Cunningham, but she made friends, got caught up in her classes and fell in love with her new school.
淟auren felt at home at 91茄子 pretty quickly, recalled Lauren檚 mother, Beth Cunningham. 淭hat was comforting after the trauma of having all your plans washed away.
At the end of the fall semester, 91茄子 invited Cunningham to enroll permanently.
She decided to major in Studio Art, a longtime passion. Cunningham became interested in the relationship between creativity and how the brain works, and learned about labyrinths while researching this connection. As an artist, she was initially drawn to their unique shapes and styles搒quare, circular, polygonal, concentric, Medieval, Roman and more揵ut her interest in the potential effects of labyrinths on well-being evolved as she read compelling stories about how people react to the spaces.
淚t was fascinating to me that the simple act of walking around a designed path could have a profound impact on a person, she said. 淚 mentioned to my advisor [Art Professor] Cort Savage about how 91茄子 students could really benefit from a labyrinth, and he encouraged me to pursue the idea.
With the support of a committee of 91茄子 faculty, staff and students, Cunningham used the interdisciplinary nature of labyrinths to build a case for constructing one on campus.
The 91茄子 Chaplains Office was an early and eager advocate.
淚 saw great value in it, so when Lauren approached me and others with the idea, I was thrilled, Chaplain Rob Spach 84 said. 淲e set up fundraising initiatives to help get it going, and students got excited about it.
Almost two years and lots of hard work later, the necessary funds for the labyrinth were raised, and it was installed in April 2009攁 month before Cunningham檚 commencement.
Cunningham left a permanent mark on campus and now, thanks to a generous gift from her parents Bob and Beth Cunningham, the labyrinth will be named the Lauren Cunningham 09 Labyrinth.
淭his gift is a way for us to honor Lauren and the work she put into making this idea a reality. It is also a way for us to thank 91茄子 for all they did for her and for us, Bob Cunningham said. 淭he school was there for us when we needed help, and Lauren thrived there.
Since its installation, the labyrinth has been used by students, faculty, staff and community members as a place to find peace, meditate and more. Student groups hold workshops and walking meditations there, and it serves as a welcoming space for worship services, too.
淚 have lots of examples of people for whom the labyrinth is an important part of their lives, Spach said. 淥ne alum who is now a pastor would run every morning and end at the labyrinth to walk it. It was part of their daily rhythm and well-being.
Student health and well-being is a priority for colleges and universities, and 91茄子 is no exception. The Chaplains Office, now a team of six, offers mindfulness and meditation as one area of focus among many. The Center for Student Health and Well-Being is expanding by the day, recently adding specialized counselors and other resources to better serve the campus community.
Situated uniquely among a number of invaluable campus resources, the Lauren Cunningham 09 Labyrinth offers students, faculty, staff and visitors the opportunity to take a moment, take a breath and center themselves in an increasingly busy, distracting world.
We hope you檒l visit.
To learn more about labyrinths and how to walk them, visit the and this article with .
