The Cook-DeWitt Center was constructed by Grand Valley State University in April of 1991 on the Allendale Campus. Primarily put in place to house campus ministry, the building is also home to a 250-seat auditorium, a conference room, a green room and a lounge.

There has been some speculation in the past as to the true ownership of the Cook-DeWitt Center. According to the lease associated with the building, it is under the ownership of GVSU, and it is the university’s responsibility to lease out the building to organizations wishing to use the premise.

With an expanding and increasingly more diverse campus life, there is a demand for more space for religious practices and other organizations across campus, which may not be able to be met solely using the space available in the Cook-DeWitt Center.

Currently, there is a small, additional interfaith space available to students in the Kirkhof Center with plans to expand to better accommodate the increasing needs of students for religious space on campus.

“There is no restriction on the (Cook-DeWitt) center’s use, other than the lack of additional space,” said Mary Lyon, associate vice president of University Communications. “The building’s design and location near a busy sidewalk make it a challenge to expand.”

Though the space is generally used for religious means and is traditionally associated with religions of Christianity, it also plays host to guest speakers on GVSU’s campus as well as private, off-campus users and other organization’s presentations in the auditorium.

Since religious expansion is an important issue on campus, there is also an exhibit in the Mary Idema Pew Library showcasing the world of Islam. It is hoped that with this exhibit, students will have a better understanding of other faiths on and off of the GVSU campus.

While space is limited in the Cook-DeWitt Center, students are encouraged to utilize the space for different events or organizations.

“All student organizations and campus departments may use the auditorium, conference room, and lobby space for meetings and events,” Lyon said. “With off-campus users, generally we have customers who use it for wedding ceremonies.”