Posted on 09/11/2004 9:53:34 AM PDT by yonif
University of South Florida will ask the NCAA to grant an exemption to its uniform policy by allowing a Muslim player to wear Islamic clothing on the basketball court.
Andrea Armstrong, a 22-year-old Muslim convert, left the team and lost her athletic scholarship last week after allegedly being told by her head coach that she could not wear religiously mandated clothing during practices or games. She wanted to wear long pants, a top with long sleeves and a head scarf.
In a meeting Friday between Armstrong, university officials and a representative of Council on American-Islamic Relations, officials agreed that the team would accommodate her Islamic attire and reinstate her scholarship. The university also agreed to work with the National Collegiate Athletic Association on the scarf issue.
"An athlete should not be asked to choose between engaging in healthy sporting activities and her deeply held religious beliefs," said Ahmed Bedier, who took part in the meeting as Florida spokesman for CAIR.
USF officials said Armstrong voluntarily left the team and was under no pressure to do so.
"She is a valuable member of the team," said university spokeswoman Michelle Carlyon.
Other team members said they has no problems with Armstrong's conversion.
"We're not going to judge her by that," said sophomore Rachel Sheats.
Armstrong said she did not think her clothing would distract other players or hamper her abilities on the court.
Religion and sports intersected elsewhere without clashing. At Towson University in Maryland, star player Tamir Goodman, an Orthodox Jew, wore a yarmulke on the court and did not play on the Jewish Sabbath. At the Olympics in Greece, several female athletes wore head scarves.
dont be france ........ no scarfs......
You have GOT to be kidding.
Too bad Christians can't get the same consideration in this country. There should be a barf alert on this one
Then let her play basketball in a muslim country at a muslim university.
USF - the school that collaborated with Sami al Arian - providing safe haven to terrorists for 25 years. This school is a threat to national security.
F them all, she can go play on the Saudi team, but then, could she?
I swear I think I'll send my degree back to USF if they cave on this. Alma Mater no more.
So will there also be an exemption for wearing the Christian cross and the Star of David?
but then she'd need to shave her beard and mustache off.
(just kidding)
What is the Muslim viewpoint on a girl playing basketball?
NCAA to USF: No! God-dammit No!
You just know the NCAA will bend over for this one.
Just what I was thinkin'...
Also, not all Muslim women wear headscarves, so, as far as I know, it's not a requirement.
In accordance with muslim beliefs her coach should beat her for insolence. Also she should not play sports in accordance with muslim beliefs.
The Christian cherry pickers (people who pick out which parts they'll believe) were amusing. The muslim cherry pickers are just plain silly.
Funny. Before 9/11 I can't remember Muslims making a big issue of this. Looks like aiming for victimhood to me. Either that or it's an in-your-face thing.
Sure, let her play basketball with all those clothes... watch how fast she gets cut for SUCKING so bad!
In accordance with being a Catholic school, Notre Dame players should be permitted to wear cassocks and bishop's mitres during their games.
"University of South Florida will ask the NCAA to grant an exemption to its uniform policy by allowing a Muslim player to wear Islamic clothing on the basketball court. "
This week just can't get any funnier for news stories. I'm busting a gut over this!
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