Posted on 02/22/2007 10:59:47 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
a Feb. 4 New York Times article...described Cornell and Georgetown as “oases of tolerance” among members of the Muslim community. Muslim students said they are inclined to agree.
“Cornell is the epitome of a cohesive Muslim community,” said Ahmed Abdelwahab ’09, social coordinator for the Muslim Educational and Cultural Association (MECA).
Many Muslim students at Cornell attribute their community’s cohesiveness to its small size. Another explanation...lies in its unique choice of leadership. Shaan Rizvi ’07, president of MECA, is Shiite.
“Our president is Shiite — that says it all,” Ahmed said.
Many of the Muslim students on campus attribute Cornell’s status as an “oasis of tolerance” to ...Cornell’s encouragement of diversity education.
To raise awareness of Islamic religion, culture, and heritage, MECA will be running Islam Awareness Week, a week of speeches, art displays, movie screenings and discussions...every night from April 9 through April 13.
Though the Muslim students feel their community is accepted with open arms, they do feel one thing is missing.
“We need a knowledgeable chaplain that is a valid scholar,” Ahmed said.
Prof. Ross Brann, Near Eastern studies, as well as the faculty advisor to IAJ, agrees.
“...they deserve a chaplain to work with them so that everything does not fall directly upon the students,” he said.
At present, an exploratory committee for the establishment of a Muslim chaplaincy is in the works. As the Muslim community at Cornell continues to grow, “we are at a junction where there is a strong need for such a person on campus,” Rev. Kenneth Clarke said.
“I wholeheartedly support the effort to establish a Muslim chaplaincy at Cornell, given the growing numbers in the Muslim community, as well as its growing need for a religious authority,” Clarke said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cornellsun.com ...
Replace "muslim" with Christian in the above article and think about what the university's reaction would be.
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An oasis of tolerance just so long as it isn't white, male, Christian or capitalist.
Its easier to unite when you have a common enemy - America. Congrats you Cornellian Muslims, for living in the belly of the Beast.
Cornell has had Protestant and Catholic chaplains on campus for decades. They have an entire building devoted to religion with space for worship services and counseling of students. It has always been a tradition that pretty much every religion has representation there. Cornell has always had a huge number of graduate students from many foreign countries.
Story makes no mention of Cornell's substantial Jewish cohort. Interesting they chose to omit something that would have strengthened the story's thrust.
Why in hell would we want a "cohesive muslim community" ??
does anyone know when the bombings will start?
Second semester of 08.
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