This is a time when anyone who is
identifiable as Muslim may be targetted. It's a good idea for sisters,
and brothers, to stay in groups on campus and when walking home. Get some
brothers to volunteer to walk sisters to their destination in pairs,
brothers walk in groups. If this is not possible have a phone-ring, call
a specific person when leaving home and then again when arriving at your
destination.
Also, this is *not* a time for playing hero. Be
careful, do not take unnecessary risks. If someone provokes you, do not
respond in kind out of a desire to defend Islam or Muslims.. the best
thing to do is stay calm and remove yourself from the situation asap.
Again, do *not* respond to aggression.
Get in contact with Dean
of Students/Head of Student Life and let them know that there is a real
risk of hate crimes being perpetrated against Muslims on campus, and
request a beefing up of security for Muslim students. Lock down your MSA
office and Prayer room, as they may be targetted. Have security at any
known Islamic events, like Salatul Jummah, weekly Halaqas etc.
Designate one
person to be in charge of any incidents of harassment, whether physical or
verbal, on your campus and in your community. Let people know that this
is the person that should be contacted if anything happens. Make sure
his/her reports are given to the police, on-campus security, and to CAIR.
This person can also report actual incidents to the media instead of
relying on speculation and rumors.
Come up with a plan on how to deal with local media. One thing
to consider is issuing to the local tv stations, radio stations,
newspapers etc, an official statement for your MSA that includes contact
info for ppl willing to be interviewed. Have a meeting where you discuss
*exactly* what to say when interviewed; hype on sympathy for those who
were victims of this and their families, that Islam does not sanction
violence and Muslims condemn terrorism in the strongest terms possible.
Yes, injustice has been committed against others, but two injustices do
not make a right and this is not the time to address such issues. Keep
your comments clear, direct, and focused on Muslims in America and their
outrage at this act.
Also have some people keep a close watch on
local media coverage; have people call in to radio shows, request
television stations to have more fair coverage and to interview Muslims in
the area.
Get in touch with
other religious groups on campus and get involved in any and all
inter-faith activities or vigils in the coming days. Get local Imams to
speak, and get as many Muslims as possible at these events to show that
Muslims do not in any way condone what has happened.
Also, try
to get involved if there is a blood drive on campus.
wAllahu 'alam.. feel free to add any suggestions you may have.
wasalaamu alaykum.
Shazia SUNY Albany
--------------
From MSA Nat'l VP Tabraiz
Mohammad...
Please pass this on to as
many as you can.
Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
Alhamdulillah muslims all across the country are coming together
to help out
those who most need it.
We at MSA National
encourage all MSA's to some of the following ideas.
1. Donate
Blood. I received word that they are extremely short on O positive
and O negative in the NY area. Br Altaf Husain (MSA National
President) and
Faisal Matadar (DC Council Chair) are currently
standing in line at the Red
Cross waiting to donate blood. I
encourage more of you to come out. Let them
know the muslims care.
2. Condemn the act. Talk to the media, write to local newspapers,
call up
radio stations. Voice your opinions. Let America know how
muslims despise of
terrorism.
3. Talk to University
officials, Deans, student affairs, local police
departments regarding
the issue and the safety of muslims on your campuses.
Remind them
that it is unfair and that there is no need for muslims to
recieve
backlash because of what happened. MSA's formulate a program of
rides, so that people dont have to worry about walking alone.
Here is a summary of events from different campuses. Please let
us know what
you're doing, so that we can use in different parts of
North America. We
have much to learn from everyone.
Here
What we are doing as U of Guelph, ON (CANADA):
-------------------------------------------
1-We typed a
condemnation that has been sent to you earlier, it is posted at
our
office door, handed in to the Ontarion, our campus weekly paper.
2- We have been approched by a reporter from the Guelph Mercury daily
paper. We have input and it took more than two thirds of his report.
under the title "Attacks deplored by Muslims"
You can
read this report in their paper. search for Guelph mercury.
He showed
outstanding understanding and pointed out how the society is
going
wrong pointing with accusation to islam and muslims.
3- A
round-table descussion is to take place in the Guelph campus radio
station that hosting campus ministers of chrestianity, Islam,and other
faiths also a muslim student will be there. that will be transmitted
on
Friday.
4- contacts with the Human rights office in
campus and the city have been
made and a meeting between one of our
students and the office has been held
today.
some officers
of the Student board have approached us to offer us any help
possible
in this regard and even they used our islamic greetings
"
Assalamu Alaikum".
Univesity of Michigan Ann Arbor:
We met with the Student Activities and Leadership and made them aware
of our concerns for the safety and well-being of the Muslims on campus
they expressed solidarity and supported many of our efforts to try to
serve the needs of Muslim students on campus.
We also met with
Sgt. Gary Hicks of DPS and requested that security be
tightened,
especially around areas with concentrations of Muslims as well
as
public places. Sgt. Hicks was quite helpful and is ready to offer any
assistance. He can be reached at 936-4167 if any concerns need to be
taken up with DPS.
Also, a letter expressing sympathy, condemning
the acts of terror and
showing solidarity as a diverse campus was
spearheaded by the MSA which
was then sent to various student groups
to be signed. Insha'Allah this
will be in the Daily tomorrow.
We
also had a meeting that included assemply leaders, VP of Student Affairs
Royster Harper, and other administrative and campus leaders. We
discussed ways to help the students cope and deal with any potential
backlash. The administration was very concerned with the psychological
and physical well-being of the Muslim students. As a result of the
meeting, one could say the tone of increased tolerance of the vigil
was
established and the email from VP Harper was sent to all students
on
campus with a similar tone. We also were allowed a speaker at the
vigil,
which I hope most of you attended. Alhamdulilah, I think it
had a
positive impact on the image that Islam and Muslims have on
this campus
with respect to the rest of the student body. We were
blessed to be able
to get Dr. Jackson in time (jazahu Allahu
khairan).
Tomorrow we will meet with the Office of Multi-Ethnic
Student Affairs to
discuss how to address the concerns of the
Muslim/Arab students and
possibly set up support centers if needed.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Wednesday:
12:00-(Open Ended) Reflection Day at Krannert Amphitheater
Thursday 7-8 pm at Krannert Great Hall
A Time for Remembrance
and Unity
Chancellor is the MC
Many Groups including Muslims
will be presenting their ideas.
For the Next Continuous Food,
Clothing, and Donation
Few Weeks Collection in the masjid at 106
S. Lincoln between Green
and Springfield
Proceeds will be going to the Red Cross
Oct 1-5 Blood Drive. For
more info contact: http://vip.union.uiuc.edu/
If there are other
MSA's with some different ideas, or/and are doing
somethign different
pls contact me immediately.
jazak Allah khair
May
Allah help the muslims and those in need
wa salam alaikum
Tabraiz Mohammed
University of Illinois @ Urbana Champaign
VP-US MSA National