Loke Hall

Windows computers are available to students both in the study rooms and in the Brave Space. These computers require a student login to be used. They also connect to a black-and-white printer in the Brave Space that is available for students to use. This printer can be accessed through Papercut.

A private conference room is available. The conference room has eight chairs but can fit more if needed. A computer and a whiteboard is available in the space.

All three of the bathrooms in Loke Hall are gender-neutral to ensure that all gender non-conforming students feel safe and welcome.

Loke Hall has a kitchen available for students to use. This kitchen contains a refrigerator, a small stove, a microwave, a sink, and a coffeemaker. Utensils are also available for use.

A private lactation room is available for nursing-parents. This room is equipped with a white-noise machine, mini-fridge, and a comfortable chair.

A mediation room is available in the Brave Space. This room is stocked with books on wellness, an essential oil diffuser, a moon chair, yoga mats, and a white noise machine.

An outdoor patio is available directly behind Loke Hall. This patio has 2 outdoor tables available for seating. A bonfire and a grill are also available upon request. A portable ramp is also available to increase accessibility. Beyond the patio is a massive field that is perfect for outdoor games.

Three study rooms are available for student use in the Brave Space. These rooms have computers, desks, whiteboards, and plenty of seating. These rooms are used on a first come, first serve basis.

A room is available for telecounseling in the Brave Space. This room is equipped with a computer, a webcam, and a white-noise machine to ensure our students’ privacy.

The goal of the Valparaiso Brave Space is a space where students can fully express their identities.  It is a shared community space that provides platforms for students to be their authentic selves and that validates their backgrounds and identities. Marginalized groups may include Black, Indigenous, Latinx, people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, women, and other groups. Thus, it is important to provide a space for students to share their stories and experiences where they feel heard and validated. It is a home for students who may not otherwise find such spaces on- or off-campus. 

The brave space promotes cultural understanding by providing day-to-day interactions and opportunities for students to foster and maintain connections. The brave space focuses on creating a community that feels like family, and that allows students to grow on campus as a group. The brave spaces cultivate a culture of care and belonging for students. It also fosters student coalitions by expanding the understanding of the value of cultural diversity. 

We seek to foster meaningful relationships that uplift students, staff, faculty, and the off-campus community through shared values and experiences that will empower the individual and the collective to serve as advocates for positive change in our communities

We encourage the use of scholarship and practice to share and mobilize the stories and experiences of members of our diverse communities to create an environment where all people are welcomed in their identities, valued for their contributions, and feel their identities can be openly expressed. By combining their assets and celebrating who they are, students can find solutions to common challenges on our campus and in their respective communities. 

Our goals are to host community building, foster a sense of belonging, and encourage a space where students feel comfortable enough to share thoughts candidly, but also work at the margins of their comfort zones to increase understanding of the many ways being human and value this humanity in all individuals. 

We hope that the brave space facilitates activities for students to connect and encourage and support intergroup contact. We hope it is a place for students to share announcements about events that improve their college experience and their understanding of the society in which they live. We hope the brave spaces allow students to recognize multiple forms and styles of intellectual and creative work that enriches society and has the potential to transform the world. 

The Brave Space is committed to creating a community grounded in the principles that everyone deserve a space to thive. We follow the guidance as a welcoming community grounded in the Lutheran tradition, built on values of mutual respect, positive regard, freedom, and reliance on grace. We strive to boldly include all individuals and groups who contribute to the life of our campus in a mutually beneficial way.

The Brave Space doors are open for coming together, holding up one another, and realizing the values of respect, belonging, safety, dignity, and love.