Echo Times

Issue date: 11/28/02 Section: News

Muslim Student Association members provide information tables

In accord with such other faith clubs such as the Bahai and the Christian group association, the Muslim Students Association Club is aiming to make a presence again on campus. Sarah Qaudri, a young motivated student originally from New York took it upon herself to rebuild a club that had been without any activity on campus in order to inform and educate people about the religion of Islam and it's principles. "There are so many misconceptions, particularly with women's issues in Islam" said Qaudri.

Qaudri is a determined individual who doesn't shy away from issues, in a class discussion where one of the attorneys for John Walker Lindh was giving a talk and the subject of Jihad was brought up, she wasted no time in pointing out some of the critical rules. "You cannot uproot trees, plants, kill the old, the sick, women and children, and non combatants," exclaims Qaudri. The attorney replied that if John were there he would have agreed with her.

According to Qaudri it was tough back in New York, especially after the attack on the WTC, "It became real dangerous after Sept 11, there were blocks where Muslims had to walk in groups and my best friend's neighbor had a gun pulled on her and it took an hour and a half just to convince the guy not to kill her." said Qaudri. She also added, "even the MSA (Muslim Students Association) back at my former college was vandalized." According to her, they still wore the hijab (head covering) despite the violence. "There was a time that I did not wear it but I finally had to stop playing games. Because I was just making up all these excuses why I couldn't." said Qaudri. "When I was 8 or 9 I wanted to wear it then but my parents forbade it so I snuck it in my backpack and when I came home I just took it off and hid it", she added, laughing.

The club meets every Monday in the student services at 2:30pm.

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