Penn State's Muslim Student Association has spoken out to set the record straight in the wake of a recent New York Times article that says Muslim student organizations are not inclusive of students who don't uphold Islamic traditions.
In efforts to dispel these reported actions of Muslims students, the Penn State Muslim Student Association (MSA) will hold several events during the next few weeks that show the less serious side of the Muslim community.
According to the February New York Times article, "For Muslim Students, a Debate on Inclusion," there have been numerous conflicts in Muslim Student Associations at universities and colleges around the country regarding traditional and nontraditional Muslims.
The article reported that in some cases, Muslim students who did not uphold Islamic traditions were not welcomed members of the community.
"I think the majority of Muslim Student Associations around the U.S. campuses are pretty inclusive. The Muslim Student Association at Penn State, I know for sure, welcomes all kinds of students from different sects, backgrounds and nationalities," MSA President Mansoor Aleidi said.
Aleidi (senior-chemical engineering and energy engineering) said the professional comedic act, Allah Made Me Funny, which is scheduled to come to campus next Tuesday, is a way to decrease the pressure and seriousness of Islam.
MSA Public Relations Officer Judy Bowes (senior-art history), who converted to Islam in 2006, said she is excited for non-Muslim students to attend and enjoy the Allah Made Me Funny comedy act.
"It takes away some of that seriousness that people are kind of afraid of. I think some people are afraid of coming to our events, and all we talk about is what you need to do to be a good Muslim," Bowes said. "That's not what we do."
Aleidi said there are about 600 Islam-practicing students at Penn State and more than 1,000 Muslims total.
A representative from Penn State public information said the school does not keep track of students' religious affiliation.
Saudi Arabia Student Organization President Khalil Al Nammari, who is also the treasurer of MSA, said one of the biggest issues most Muslim organizations face is gender separation.
"Some Muslim Student Association members vote to have separate tables for males and females trying to limit interaction following Islamic tradition; of course, its not a cultural
thing, but we try to satisfy everyone on that issue," Al Nammari (senior-finance) said.
At most MSA events, Aleidi said the group takes the middle ground and gives students the option of sitting at a table with only males, only females or a table with both genders.
Both MSA and the Saudi Arabia Student Organization plan to take part in International Spring Festival scheduled for April 20.
International Spring Festival showcases multicultural exhibits from a variety of groups on campus.
Like MSA, the Saudi Arabia Student Organization, which is a new organization, does not follow any guidelines for students to be allowed in the group, and the issue of inappropriate clothing has not become a problem, Al Nammarc said.
"It should be common sense, I think, for people to know what's right and what's wrong. If not, we're always open for discussion," he said.
