Fear this, abdul.
Posted on 10/07/2005 6:24:23 PM PDT by Pikamax
OU's Muslim Students Fearful After Explosion Authorities: No Evidence Hinrichs Had Ticket, Tried To Buy Ticket To Game
POSTED: 9:42 am CDT October 7, 2005 UPDATED: 11:11 am CDT October 7, 2005
NORMAN, Okla. -- Many Muslim students at the University of Oklahoma are laying low after rumors spread that a terrorist plot was behind a deadly explosion near a packed football stadium, Muslim leaders say.
"A lot of students are taking precautions, staying at home," said Houda Elyazgi, an officer with the Muslim Student Association. "I wear the scarf, so I fear for my security now because of all this speculation."
In an e-mail sent Thursday afternoon to students, faculty and staff members, OU President David Boren encouraged all not to "judge others or jump to conclusions about others on the basis of color, race, gender, economic status or freely exercised religious beliefs.
"To rush to judge others or make assumptions about them on that basis is nothing short of prejudice. It has no place in America and it certainly has no place at the University of Oklahoma."
Investigators believe the bomb blast that killed OU engineering student Joel Henry Hinrichs III, 21, was a suicide. Boren reiterated in the letter that there is "no evidence of a conspiracy involving others which creates an ongoing threat to our OU community."
Oklahoma Muslim leaders feared their community would be targeted after the explosion.
"When it first happened, we said, 'Oh, God. Here we go again,"' said Imad Enchassi, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.
Enchassi remembered how suspicion fell on the Muslim community in the days after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, as did Boren, who noted that some speculated early on that the explosion that killed 168 people was the work of a Middle Eastern terrorist.
"As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him," the statement read. "We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions."
At least four Muslim students were handcuffed and questioned after the OU explosion, and Muslim leaders fielded telephone calls from reporters.
Hinrichs' Pakistani roommate, Fazal M. Cheema, is Muslim, although not particularly religious, according to regulars at the Norman mosque.
Cheema worked at the football stadium, according to the OU student directory, and the men lived at Parkview Apartments, a university-owned property popular with Islamic students because it is adjacent to the local mosque.
Some media reported that Hinrichs spent time recently at the mosque, which was denied by the president of the mosque, who asked that his name not be used for fear of retaliation.
Hinrichs' father, Joel Hinrichs Jr., said this week his son was skeptical of ideology and was not Muslim.
Meanwhile, OU officials addressed allegations that Hinrichs had tried to enter the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, which sits about 100 yards from the spot where the explosion happened.
University spokeswoman Catherine Bishop said OU officials reviewed their ticket records and determined that Hinrichs, of Colorado Springs, Colo., didn't purchase a football ticket from any university outlet.
Bishop also said university officials hadn't heard anything to indicate Hinrichs tried to buy a ticket from one of the fans selling them outside the stadium.
The FBI has reviewed video surveillance tapes and, so far, haven't uncovered anything that indicates Hinrichs tried to enter, Boren said.
Norman police, however, reported that an officer became suspicious when he overhead Hinrichs trying to purchase ammonium nitrate fertilizer from a local feed and seed store two days before he died.
The manager of Ellison Feed and Seed said the store no longer carried that kind of fertilizer, which was used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
As for the Muslim community, Elyazgi said it has been particularly difficult because Wednesday marked the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the faithful fast from dawn to dusk.
"I'd rather be focusing on my fast and this joyous month than having to worry about my back," Elyazgi said.
We have ticket scalpers all over campus. You could walk up to any number of people selling tickets and buy one. That's why I think they sent out the email to see what happened to your tickets you didn't use. They know who purchased blocks of tickets and can tell if someone used them all but they cannot tell if it was the person who bought the ticket.
Fear this, abdul.
Is she wearing a pancake on her head?
Found out this week, OU is installing video cameras at the stadium because we didn't have them before. They are not in the parking garages either because ACLU and some student groups protested. Didn't know that until my daughter parked in one and had her CD player stolen. OU police said they are not allowed to have cameras around campus.
Now all of a sudden because of what Boren calls a "lone suicide bomber" we are getting video cameras around the stadium? Freaking unbelieveable the Bravo Sierra coming out of the OU President.
No problem whatsoever :-)
I've read that earlier, but I'm having trouble remembering where I read it. It was a quote from somebody at the MSA in Norman speaking about Cheema. If I find it, I'll try to post it here.
You KNOW. Calling a spade a spade...something the hacks at NBC/CBS never knew...
Nevermind. I guess I need to finish reading the thread before I post.
You mean no more pink pantie raids on College Campuses any longer?
Oops, guess I'm telling my age!
Poor cat!
I am not sure, but I don't think the OU stadium has cameras.....probably an ACLU thing!
Almost revolting!
Me thinks the well is going to run dry soon at UO.
Um...where is your bunny picture with a pancake on its head!? The shame!
I lived in a housing development named "Windsong". Did they name it after you?
If there's another bombing the lawyers can bankrupt the school.
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