Boston College is having its first Islamic Awareness Week from March 14 to March 18. The week is sponsored by Boston College’s Muslim Student Association, a group that aims to educate people about Islam while also bringing Muslim students together. The week will feature lectures, presentations, open questions, and more. A number of the events, like the opportunity to try on a hijab, will occur on O’Neill Plaza during the school day, making them visible and accessible to every student.
One of the greatest accomplishments of this week is that it brings awareness to the Muslim Student Association while also normalizing the idea of Islam and Islamic culture at BC. Many students might not be aware of the Association’s existence, and an increased awareness of the group as well as the various programs they put on benefits both the Association itself and the student body as a whole. This week includes many events that open up the Islamic community and allow other students to experience and better understand their culture. Events such as an invitation to attend the weekly Islamic prayer and listen to a sermon are good ways to educate students about the basic beliefs and experiences of a Muslim student at BC. This kind of cultural education is essential and extremely beneficial for all college students.
The week could benefit from an accessible lecture or event addressing the modern political climate in regards to Islam. These issues can be extremely controversial and a simple informative discussion surrounding them would benefit and inform BC students. In planning future events and programs such as this, the inclusion of this type of talk would be a useful and worthwhile addition to the schedule. The lecture planned for this week regarding Jesus’ role in Islam is a positive and educational opportunity, but an expansion into more accessible and widespread issues affecting Islam would be a useful addition.
This week is an effective way of bringing Islamic culture at BC to the fore and increasing knowledge of the Muslim Student Association. In the future the MSA should continue to promote and sponsor these kinds of events to educate and increase awareness. Hopefully, this week will become a yearly occurrence at BC and will expand to include more events and lectures.
Featured Image by Francisco Ruela / Heights Staff
“A number of the events, like the opportunity to try on a hijab,…”
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When I have encountered these walking tent structures, in which some poor woman is obvious hiding, as she shuffles the tent up the street. The first thing I want to ask them is; “Have they no shame, being part of a murderous cult”? But then I realize they are hiding in a tent, so I already have the answer to my question.
I guess the proper question then would be; “How big of a stick does your ‘husband’ use, to keep you from coming out of that tent and doing something useful with your life?” Sadly, I don’t know of any shelters for Muslim women. I suspect if one was established by someone, it would quickly be blown up.
ISLAM or LIBERTY; PICK ONE! Both ideologies can NOT coexist, as they are diametrically opposed!
“…while also normalizing the idea of Islam and Islamic culture at BC.”
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Islamic culture? Shouldn’t we look towards Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, Somalia to see real Muslim culture? Don’t the people in those countries live and breath Muslim culture?
You know, things like misogyny, hatred of gays, repression, severe punishment for apostasy, etc..
“….the weekly Islamic prayer and listen to a sermon are good ways to educate students about the basic beliefs and experiences of a Muslim student at BC.”
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Basic beliefs? Like no freedom of religion, Muslims are superior to infidels, jihad, caliphate, etc…
“This kind of cultural education is essential and extremely beneficial for all college students.”
Why if it is inaccurate and disingenuous?