Halal food hard to swallow at UTSC [Muslim students refuse to eat in infidel campus restaurant]

The Varsity ^ | October 10, 2007 | Karen Ho

[camerakid400]

The Muslim Students Association at UTSC has ignited a fierce debate on the particulars of halal food on campus, refusing to support a long-awaited halal option at a Bluff’s, a UTSC campus restaurant.

The result of numerous faculty, staff and student requests, the new menu was introduced to the campus on May 29, making all chicken and beef options certified halal. Despite this, many MSA members say that any establishment that also serves alcohol and plays dance music is an unsuitable environment for their dietary needs.

This disagreement between the MSA and the university is not the first. Halal food has long been a hot topic at UTSC. With its large population of Muslim students and the politically active MSA counting hundreds of members, the issue of proper accommodations for halal food has repeatedly come up as a major point in student elections and public task forces.

Some students said the restaurant, in failing to accommodate those who prefer not to eat at an alcoholic establishment, made more of a negative gesture than a positive one with the menu option.

“This initiative was brought forth solely by Bluff’s without ever consulting the MSA or Muslim students. If this was a deliberate accommodation, it’s kind of offensive in giving us the food in a manner unsuitable to us,” said Ahmad Jaballah, a former MSA executive and current Scarborough Campus Students Union VP students and equity.

Jaballah also argued that patronizing such an establishment is wrong because Muslim students would provide revenue for Bluff’s to purchase alcohol—an action forbidden by hadith, a Prophetic saying.

But Food and Beverages Manager Zalia Conde disagrees, noting that the Bluff’s restaurant serves alcohol under the university’s liquor license, rather than a license of its own. In fact, it is through the university that U of T dining establishments purchases alcohol.

When asked about the controversy, a few students argued that simply paying tuition supports the purchase of alcohol by contributing to the salary of the VP business affairs, who oversees the University Alcohol Policy.

While many Muslim students say they will continue to eat only tuna sandwiches from Subway, halal hot dogs, or vegetarian meals and halal-topped pizza from UTSC’s H-wing cafeteria, and while the MSA has officially stated its lack of support, the new venture at the campus restaurant has seen positive results from the new menu.

“A lot of students choose to eat halal at Bluff’s, and there are definitely enough sales to know it’s viable,” says SCSU president Rob Wulkan. “People seem to like these options.”

Reports from Conde agree with this analysis. While refusing to reveal exact sales numbers, Conde does remark upon the “significant number of orders” she observed during the summer testing period that called for a complete switch in the menu. Conde also noted the multiple inquiries by faculty and staff for including halal food in catering orders, in an effort to be inclusive to all students.

Muzna Siddiqui is one student who disagrees with MSA’s stance and now sees Bluff’s as another inclusive option for her.

“Personally, as a Muslim student, I’m happy the SCSU and UTSC are accommodating us,” she said. “For me, I don’t see how alcohol can contaminate the food like pork does. Unless someone is cooking with it, I don’t see the problem of being in an environment that serves alcohol, because it’s not something directly touching my food.”

[RolandBurnam]

ok, all pork menu, with pigskin bound menus and pigskin textbooks and pigskin handles for every door. get out of our country!

[mewzilla]

“Personally, as a Muslim student, I’m happy the SCSU and UTSC are accommodating us,” she said. “For me, I don’t see how alcohol can contaminate the food like pork does. Unless someone is cooking with it, I don’t see the problem of being in an environment that serves alcohol, because it’s not something directly touching my food.”

Neither does Prince Bandar apparently.

[ClearCase_guy]

"If this was a deliberate accommodation, it’s kind of offensive in giving us the food in a manner unsuitable to us,” said Ahmad Jaballah

Appeasement. Accomodation. Tolerance. It's never enough. Bending over backwards for people just offends them and gives them standing to demand more.

[untenured]

Some students said the restaurant, in failing to accommodate those who prefer not to eat at an alcoholic establishment, made more of a negative gesture than a positive one with the menu option.

I eagerly await the defenders of a multicultural society objecting to the MSA's attempt to impose its cultural beliefs on all who dine at the restaurant.

[KarlInOhio]

Jaballah also argued that patronizing such an establishment is wrong because Muslim students would provide revenue for Bluff’s to purchase alcohol

So they restaurant is charging high prices for food to subsidize (and lower) the price of alcohol? D@*#*, I wish I had a bar like that around me.

[MoMagic]

"Muslim students refuse to eat in infidel campus restaurant?"

A lucky break for the rest of UTSC students IMO.

[DBrow]

Always another step onward.

And then, even in Muslim countries, sects kill each other over religious practice differences.

[DakotaGator]

What a bunch of nonsense. Bet they don’t serve Kosher!

[John Valentine]

You beat me to it.

Islam = insanity

[SkyDancer]

And how long has kosher food been on the menu????? /sarc/

[CodeToad]

This cult is getting out of hand. The university should tell them to go buy their food elsewhere.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I’ve often wondered why devout and upright Muslims move to the lands of the infidels in the first place when there is something around practically every corner that could compromise their purity and get them on the wrong side of Allah. It’s a wonder they can ever leave the house, or even look out the window.

[Octar]

I’ve had quite enough of these whining pains in the ass. They constantly demand to be “accommodated”. Have they ever done any accommodating? Let them eat road pie.

[hsalaw]

many MSA members say that any establishment that also serves alcohol and plays dance music is an unsuitable environment for their dietary needs

Maybe their dietary needs would be best served by returning to the sand-filled hellholes they came from and squatting in the dirt to eat. No alcohol or dance music to worry about there.

[AppyPappy]

I’m laughing. The administration bends over backwards and gets a kick in the pants for the effort

[NEMDF]

How about, they just find someplace else to eat, then? What is the problem?

[M Kehoe]

Wow, this forum is chock full of stories today regarding accommodations to Muslims in Western countries. Burial spots, food, wash basins, cabbies, alcohol, dogs, etc..

Sheesh.

You know in your heart of hearts what Ann Coulter said after 911 is probably the only way...

5.56mm

[Tennessee Nana]

What university is this?

Why would moslems got to a “infidel” university anyway...

what does the “prophetic” sayings have to say about that?

Mo must be rolling in his grave...

[BigFinn]

As Michael Savage says... let ‘em starve.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Special prayer rooms at airports...allowances for prayer calls in major US cities...specific muslim schools...on and on and on...

Folks this isn’t any kind of diversity to be celebrated...

[Gorzaloon]

I’ve often wondered why devout and upright Muslims move to the lands of the infidels in the first place when there is something around practically every corner that could compromise their purity and get them on the wrong side of Allah. It’s a wonder they can ever leave the house, or even look out the window.

For the same reason Yuppies moved next to Rifle and Pistol clubs and small airports near where I live.

They come with the intention of squealing and squealing, attempting to close the offending places. They buy the property cheap, and throw tantrums for years.

"We'll change it to suit us."

Screw them all.

[ditto h]

This stuff is pissing me off. Remember the terrorists who flew the planes into the trade center visiting strip clubs prior to killing all those Americans??? These muzzies didn't follow their, so called, religious practices. I may be wrong, but I think they drank as they watched the naked dancers.

If you don't like the food being served where alcohol is also served, go somewhere else. We are not going to change this country to suit you.

Oh, and if you don't like the term muzzie, I would like to sincerely say...screw you!!!

[MoMagic]

University of Toronto at Scarsborough.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Okay, I went to The Varsity web site and I still can’t figure out what university we are talking about. UTSC?

[ARE SOLE]

Bending over backwards for people just offends them and gives them standing to demand more.

ClearCase, these boys don't want us to bend over backwards, they want us to bend over forwards. F'm.

Regards

[Socratic]

How about, they just find someplace else to eat, then?

How about another country since this one serves alcohol?

[TruthConquers]

Oh, Canada!!! Figures.

As a naturalized American, I can say that.

[IronJack]

Keep pushing it, raggies. It’s just a matter of time before muslime start getting mysteriously beaten up on campuses ... or worse. You can only piss in our boot so long before even this cowed, acquiescent generation says “enough.”

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

These are professional “I am offended” people. No amount of appeasement will satisfy them. This is how the West will be neutered, one issue at a time.

[headsonpikes]

Let’s start with burial spots ...;^)

[Old North State]

At the bottom of this slippery slope of accommodation lies one big fact, muslims consider non-muslims unclean. They will tolerate non-muslims only until they are strong enough to make the rules, then it is submit or die.

[Convert from ECUSA]

It looks like its neck and neck as to which “immigrant” group is the biggest bunch of spoiled brat whiners who constantly are “offended” and having tantrums: the islamists or the aztlantinos. Either way, they think they can have tantrums to get their way and all the PC “leaders” of whatever will bend over to accomodate them. They “demand” “respect” but disrespect everyone else with impunity. Throw them all out.

[WVKayaker]

I’ve often wondered why devout and upright Muslims move to the lands of the infidels...

That is a simple question, which deserves a simple answer. We are AGAIN in an undeclared war, with all of Islam. They are here to dominate us and turn us back to the 12th century, just like themselves. If you think they are impotent, just look around the world. They are doing this everywhere they are ALLOWED!

Their tactics are to murder and violate everyone who will not convert to their wholly man-made crap! They teach their young to explode themselves with promises of virgins. They plant bombs for those with whom they disagree for any reason, and call themselves brave men. (The cowards sure like to hide their true identity from us, though.) They are required to lie and mislead about their strategy.

I still haven't figured out what they expect to do with all those virgins in Paradise? I don't believe they will get that reward where they are heading!

Allah is not a name for any God I know and love... It is the name of the idol of this butchery school! The followers are cowards, and must be defeated by those on the side of our real God.

I am a Christian. I am girding for the battles! I am locked and loaded! Onward, Christian soldiers!

[PAR35]

If they have any students from the southeast, I’m demanding, under the equal protection clause, a restaurant on campus serving barbecue pork, certified pure by an appropriate authority.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

That was the funniest part of this post, I was going through it trying to figure it out too.

University of Texas South Carolina Campus?

University of Texas Santa Cruz Campus?

When I finally got the answer that it was Canada, and it was the Canadians wimping out it made more sense.

Whatever happened to “as a conservation measure, we extend the use of our cooking oils at all campus eateries with bacon grease”?

[50sDad]

Give a Muslim an inch, and he'll take your head. And complain that he had to make his hands unclean as he beheaded you. And your children. After raping your wife, and probably complaining about that, as well.

Everything I need to know about Islam and about the Democrats I learned on 911. Turn the page. Reload and fire at will.

[Recovering Hermit]

[HockeyPop]

The subversive ideological jihadists need a poke in the eye. But who? When? How?

[PurpleMan]

But they serve “Fair Trade Coffee”

“We are proud to offer Fair Trade Coffee through our Beechgrove Cafe located in the Management Building lower level. Fair Trade Coffee is coffee which has been guaranteed by the Fair Trade labeling Organizations International to be purchased at a fair price from the farmers and purchased from certified Fair Trade Coffee growers. To learn more about Fair Trade Coffee please visit the websites below. Please visit the Canadian site at www.transfair.ca for more details.”

[Vinnie]

And the UTSC would be ?

University of Tennessee at South Carolina?

[John D]

Is UTSC the Univ. of Toronto? If it is I can see the problem. They have appeased the muslims so much that they have come to expect that anything that happens there has to be for the benefit of muslims. No regard should ever be given infidels.

[Dumpster Baby]

Their new cafeteria is ready:

[AlexW]

” I still can’t figure out what university we are talking about. UTSC?”

Yes, it is so irritating when someone post a local story without posting at least the state, city, or country in the title line.

[TheThirdRuffian]

The Jewish doctor I know just brown bags his lunch all the time; I don’t see him bitching for the hospital to become Orthodox Union certified.

But, we have to accomodate muslims.

Pfffft.

[353FMG]

Another concession in the many already extended to Islam. It is an affront to all the men and women who gave up their lives for the sovereignty of this nation. No other group in our history has ever been so pandered to.

[isrul]

This primitive cult of otherworldly beasts needs to be extinct. Our accommodation of the insane and rabid is suicidal.

[B4Ranch]

If I was operating the restaurant, I would hang pictures of Jesus Christ on all four walls with a prominent crucifix above all the doors. All furniture would be covered in pigskin leather and only country music would be played on the sound system. There would be a Star of David centered on all the tables and picture frames. In the restrooms only toilet paper with pictures of Allah would be permitted.

I am sure that the rugrider clientele would be pleased. If they weren't then I would have telephones with direct lines to Camelback Airways available where they could book reservations on the next flight back to the dustbowl from which they came.

[stephenjohnbanker]

All pork, all the time!

[DakotaGator]

But they serve “Fair Trade Coffee”

Oh. That's OK then ;-)