The David Horowitz Freedom Center has declared this week "Stop the Jihad on Campus Week," in hopes of making students aware of what it believes is Islamic extremism.
The Center is working with groups on more than 100 college campuses across the country, including the Penn State chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), which will hold three events this week. The goal of Stop the Jihad on Campus Week is "to raise awareness about radical Islam," said YAF Chairman Joe Ramagli.
Conservative author David Horowitz puts some of the blame for extremism being encouraged on college campuses on the Muslim Student Association (MSA), which he says is more of a political group than a religious group, and hides its agenda under the guise of representing Western students.
MSA public relations officer Syed Fakhri called Horowitz's statements "completely wrong."
"The people who founded [Penn State's] MSA were merely students," he said, adding Penn State's organization is not officially affiliated with MSA National, the national umbrella organization for MSA.
Horowitz acknowledged the average MSA member doesn't necessarily have extremist views but said his focus is more on the leadership of the MSA.
Ramagli agreed most Muslim students are probably moderate and said he recognizes religion is a sacred thing. This week's activities are aimed at exposing radical Islam, not attacking the religion, he said.
"We're not trying to make enemies with the MSA. This is not an anti-Muslim event in any way," he said.
Today and Wednesday, YAF will screen documentaries called Suicide Killers and Obsession, both at 7:30 p.m., in 110 Wartik, and 201 Thomas, respectively. Tuesday Robert Spencer, the director of Jihad Watch, a program affiliated with the Freedom Center, will give a speech titled "Jihad: What Muslims Say It Means -- And Why It Matters," at 7:30 p.m. in 108 Chambers.
Ramagli said he encourages MSA members to attend this week's events and voice their opinions.
Fakhri encouraged students with questions about Islam to come to an interfaith dialogue
The dialogue, which will be held Tuesday, is from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the same time as Spencer's speech in Memorial Lounge in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.
"These kind of events are more productive," he said. "Our attempts are to build bridges between ourselves and other religious organizations on campus."
