MSO, Scroggs come together on prayer concerns
MSO and Scroggs will attempt to make this year's Ramadan go smoothly.
Published Feb. 9, 2010
To support Muslim students, MU plans to help improve prayer locations and extend dining hall hours during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.
Because Muslims pray five times a day, students often need to find a close, quiet place to pray on campus between classes.
Muslim Student Organization President Malik Al Jarad said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs suggested MSO reserve a room for Muslim students to pray in. Al Jarad spoke with Scroggs about prayer locations and Ramadan dining hall options in a meeting Monday.
"What we can do is reserve rooms, between maybe 12 to 3 p.m., so we can use these areas," Al Jarad said.
Al Jarad said Muslim students often pray in the second floor of the A.P. Green Chapel but folding chairs and boxes have sometimes gotten in the way.
"She promised that the second floor, they'd make sure to clean that area and make it uncluttered, for us to use," Al Jarad said. "We can use this for anyone who wants to pray, or a quiet place."
MSO spokeswoman Bushra Naz said she usually prays in the Ellis Library study rooms or the lactation station in the Life Sciences Center. She said leaving the lactation station after prayer sometimes feels strange.
"Just because it's called a lactation station, I've gotten some weird looks coming out of there," Naz said.
Naz said she likes praying in the lockable lactation station.
"It's pretty comfortable,” Naz said of finding a prayer space. “It's nice and roomy. Basically that room, if it's not called a lactation station."
Scroggs said prior to the meeting, MSO adviser Farouk Aregbe told her there would be a space in the student center Muslims could use for prayer, judging from the floor plans.
Because Muslims cannot eat until after dark during Ramadan, it's difficult for them to buy meals at dining halls, Al Jarad said.
"I talked with Dr. Scroggs to see if it's possible to extend hours into late at night, so those Muslims can eat something before it closes," Al Jarad said. "She told me they're working on this, extending one of the dining hall hours."
Al Jarad said MSO members e-mailed him their thoughts about prayer spaces and Ramadan meals after he asked for their suggestions. One student said he appreciated the additional takeout options Campus Dining Services offered Muslim students during Ramadan this year, Al Jarad said.
"We have a general body meeting with MSO members, so maybe we can talk about these issues with them and hear more of their issues and comments," Al Jarad said.
Scroggs said she scheduled the meeting to catch up with Al Jarad, whom she had not yet met with this year.
"I'd also like to see if there are any other issues that this particular student org has," Scroggs said. "They're large, and I think a lot of our Muslim students can sometimes feel that they get singled out on things, and I just want to make sure they're doing all right."
Al Jarad said Scroggs' suggestions were very helpful.
"I just want to say I'm grateful Dr. Scroggs e-mailed me and offered to help us with finding space to pray and suggestions," Al Jarad said.
