Posted on 01/15/2007 2:06:40 PM PST by Cagey
Amid the cheering Northwestern football fans at Ryan Field, all Ashar Wasi wanted was a quiet place to pray. The only place he could find was a spot of less-than-clean floor in a public walkway.
"We had to pray in front of the concession stand, in front of all the people," the McCormick junior said.
Perhaps someone noticed. At last Wednesday's ASG meeting, the Muslim-cultural Students Association proposed a bill establishing a designated prayer area at Welsh-Ryan Arena for Muslim students for football and basketball games.
McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game.
"Oftentimes while students are at sporting events, the prayer time falls during the game," the Weinberg senior said. "If there was a space to pray, or even an opportunity for students to leave and re-enter, things would be better. Right now, it can be difficult."
John Mack, associate athletic director of external affairs, said McSA contacted him about the problem as early as mid-October. Despite discussing the request in staff meetings, Mack said they couldn't provide a solution.
"This is a request we took seriously," he said. "We appreciate all student support, but we didn't feel there was a suitable area for prayer. There's not enough space in the arena."
Mack said the athletic department doesn't allow any spectators to leave and re-enter the facilities during an event.
"When you give preferential treatment, while respecting their group's religion, it's tough to determine where to draw the line in terms of our entire fan base," he said.
Regardless, some Muslim students said the current rules present an inconvenience that warrants more discussion.
"Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying," said Ramah Kudaimi, a Medill senior. "It's a lot more convenient to have a designated area than having to pray at different times."
Kudaimi said she occasionally uses the designated prayer area in Parkes Hall on Friday, the Muslim holy day. Another area was established in the Technological Institute for a similar purpose.
"It's a lot more comfortable for other students who may not want to come upon someone praying," she said.
Siddiqui said he hopes the ASG resolution, if passed, will open up a dialogue with the athletic department.
"If we just had an opportunity to talk, we could find a solution," he said.
For his part, Mack said he would be willing to listen again. He doubts, however, that much can be changed for this season.
But Wasi, who frequents the prayer area at Tech five days a week, wishes it were different.
"All I want is a little bit of privacy, he said. "Carpets would be nice. It doesn't need to be soundproof, just clean."
...And I want a cheerleader to jump my bones... get in line whiner!
McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game.
More than 20!? Good Lord! Quick, build them a mosque!
</sarcasm>
Foooolish.
Well if twenty people out of thirty thousand at a football game have a request the University damned well better accomodate them.
If the game interferes with your religion, don't go to the game! Geez.
Hey, I worship beautiful women... can I get one of those clean private rooms too?
Let me understand this. These devout Muslim students, who simply can't miss a single one of the Islam-mandated several-times-a-day prayers, require a private prayer room at the football field, so that they can conveniently attend these games which feature scantily-clad cheerleaders?
F**k 'em! If they want to pray they can damn well do it at home!
Going to a game ISN'T a right!
Heck, just stop the game and call for silence for the prayers.
Cry me a river. One of the first baby steps to dhimmitude.
So you mean, when Hell freezes over?
Sounds like they will:
"This is a request we took seriously," he [John Mack, University Lackey] said.
Oh, so they can pray at times other than the scheduled ones, but it's "annoying" and inconvenient. Looks like we have whiny Muslim and whiny spoiled college brat all rolled up into one here.
They need to do what the rest of us praying-type people do -- pray on our own time in our own space.
And your saying that just reminded me of Sandy Koufax. But then, he had principles and wasn't looking to make a statement and bring attention on himself.
Put up a Crucifix along with other religious symbols from other faiths and I'm all for it. If not? Forget it.
sure..it's called the VIP room and for a small charge on your gold card (before tip), you can take as much time in the clean, private room as you need..:)
didn't Koufax once miss a start in a very, very important game because of Sabbath?? seems to me he did..
Translation: "...all Ashar Wasi wanted is the Muslim camel's nose into your tent..."
I wondered about that; are there scheduled times each day, or is it at their discretion? I mean, if the times are scheduled, wouldn't it be a different time in each time zone around the world??
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.