For Islamic students, questions on prayer space
Abigail Lapin
Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: News
The Islamic Center at NYU, currently located in the basement of the Catholic Center, has raised enough money to rent its own prayer and gathering space for the upcoming three years. Plans are being made to find a location in case the Thompson Center, which houses the Catholic Center, is sold to a developer.
The Archdiocese of New York owns the NYU Catholic Center building, which NYU leases. The archdiocese is in the process of selling the building, according to Islamic Center chaplain Khalid Latif. At last night's town hall meeting, NYU President John Sexton said the university is interested in purchasing it.
The Islamic Center currently rents the basement of the Thompson Center from NYU, and it serves as a prayer space and social center for Muslim students at NYU and in the local community.
Although NYU gives the center funds, the university says it cannot accommodate the club in one of its buildings. While other clubs meet regularly in the Kimmel Center, Kimmel doesn't have enough room for the club to have a permanent space where Muslims can pray five times a day, said Robert Butler, the director of the Office of Student Activities.
"It's a privilege to already have the basement in the Catholic Center," Butler said.
But students said they believe it is NYU's responsibility to provide a space for the center.
"The Muslim students aren't the only ones who benefit from the IC," CAS freshman Wally Omar said. "If the IC didn't have such a presence at NYU, we would all be a lot more ignorant about the world around us."
The Islamic Center is recognized as an All Square Club by the NYU student government. It receives $11,000 a year to fund events and, during the month of Ramadan, free dinners for students to break their fasts, which cost approximately $600 a night. But this is not enough to pay for prayer space.
Mission: Masjhid, the Islamic Center's fundraising effort, started in summer 2005 to help pay the rent at the Catholic Center. It was later turned into an effort to raise money for a permanent space.
"Students are motivated to help fundraising because of the idea of not having a long-term space," Latif said. "Students want people who come after them to have the same spiritual experience as they did."
Father John McGuire, the director of the Catholic campus ministry, confirmed in an e-mail that the building was being sold, but told WSN that "no one has placed a bid yet."
"IC members are just nervous and want to make sure they keep a prayer space," Father McGuire said.
But members of the Islamic community fear that without space, their community will "disintegrate," IC president and CAS senior Fariah Amin said.
GSAS graduate student Amir Mohammadi said the space is "more than just a place to do my daily prayers, to see friends and study - the IC has been my portal to NYU life."
CAS freshman Momtaz Yaqubie said, "If the IC no longer existed, we would be missing a vital voice here at NYU."
At the town hall meeting, a large group of students from the center approached Sexton to ask about the center's future. At the meeting, Sexton said "we don't know what's going to happen" to the center, but he assured the group that the university had placed a bid for the building and would continue to accommodate and find space for the group.
The Islamic Center was placed in the basement of the Catholic Center in fall 1999 after its past location, the Loeb Student Center, was demolished to build the Kimmel Center.
IC may lose chaplain
Islamic Center chaplain Khalid Latif may leave the center, he said.
Latif is currently an unpaid volunteer at NYU who also works part-time as a paid chaplain at Princeton University. He is being offered paid positions at Harvard and Yale universities; he said he is considering the offers.
At his town hall last night, President John Sexton said that the university will do what it can to keep the imam.
CAS senior and Islamic Center president Fariah Amin said Latif is important to Muslim students at NYU.
"Losing Khalid would be detrimental to all students," Amin said. "We need someone who understands our religious background and guides us throughout college."
- WSN Staff
The Archdiocese of New York owns the NYU Catholic Center building, which NYU leases. The archdiocese is in the process of selling the building, according to Islamic Center chaplain Khalid Latif. At last night's town hall meeting, NYU President John Sexton said the university is interested in purchasing it.
The Islamic Center currently rents the basement of the Thompson Center from NYU, and it serves as a prayer space and social center for Muslim students at NYU and in the local community.
Although NYU gives the center funds, the university says it cannot accommodate the club in one of its buildings. While other clubs meet regularly in the Kimmel Center, Kimmel doesn't have enough room for the club to have a permanent space where Muslims can pray five times a day, said Robert Butler, the director of the Office of Student Activities.
"It's a privilege to already have the basement in the Catholic Center," Butler said.
But students said they believe it is NYU's responsibility to provide a space for the center.
"The Muslim students aren't the only ones who benefit from the IC," CAS freshman Wally Omar said. "If the IC didn't have such a presence at NYU, we would all be a lot more ignorant about the world around us."
The Islamic Center is recognized as an All Square Club by the NYU student government. It receives $11,000 a year to fund events and, during the month of Ramadan, free dinners for students to break their fasts, which cost approximately $600 a night. But this is not enough to pay for prayer space.
Mission: Masjhid, the Islamic Center's fundraising effort, started in summer 2005 to help pay the rent at the Catholic Center. It was later turned into an effort to raise money for a permanent space.
"Students are motivated to help fundraising because of the idea of not having a long-term space," Latif said. "Students want people who come after them to have the same spiritual experience as they did."
Father John McGuire, the director of the Catholic campus ministry, confirmed in an e-mail that the building was being sold, but told WSN that "no one has placed a bid yet."
"IC members are just nervous and want to make sure they keep a prayer space," Father McGuire said.
But members of the Islamic community fear that without space, their community will "disintegrate," IC president and CAS senior Fariah Amin said.
GSAS graduate student Amir Mohammadi said the space is "more than just a place to do my daily prayers, to see friends and study - the IC has been my portal to NYU life."
CAS freshman Momtaz Yaqubie said, "If the IC no longer existed, we would be missing a vital voice here at NYU."
At the town hall meeting, a large group of students from the center approached Sexton to ask about the center's future. At the meeting, Sexton said "we don't know what's going to happen" to the center, but he assured the group that the university had placed a bid for the building and would continue to accommodate and find space for the group.
The Islamic Center was placed in the basement of the Catholic Center in fall 1999 after its past location, the Loeb Student Center, was demolished to build the Kimmel Center.
IC may lose chaplain
Islamic Center chaplain Khalid Latif may leave the center, he said.
Latif is currently an unpaid volunteer at NYU who also works part-time as a paid chaplain at Princeton University. He is being offered paid positions at Harvard and Yale universities; he said he is considering the offers.
At his town hall last night, President John Sexton said that the university will do what it can to keep the imam.
CAS senior and Islamic Center president Fariah Amin said Latif is important to Muslim students at NYU.
"Losing Khalid would be detrimental to all students," Amin said. "We need someone who understands our religious background and guides us throughout college."
- WSN Staff
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Noor
posted 3/29/07 @ 4:12 PM EST
Thanks for reporting on this! It is a very important issue for the Muslims at NYU and in the community. Having a private, safe place to pray and have religious studies is something the University should offer the MSA at NYU which is one of the most active student groups. (Continued…)
md yusuf khalil
posted 11/12/07 @ 1:16 AM EST
At first my Salam.I am a new muslim. I am studing in International Islamic University Chittagong in coputer science and Engineering. I am very very poor student. (Continued…)
IA
posted 11/12/07 @ 10:54 AM EST
hey genius its not islamic students- the correct term is muslim students
riyazur rahaman
posted 3/28/08 @ 3:21 AM EST
dear sir iam a pharmacist of 35yrs not married looking for a girl, my problem is when ever we( my parents) will go for search a female for me some power is not allowing we to have a relation building aceceptence with any of the oppesite party, this is happening since from 5yrs, hope u will show me away of success inshalla. (Continued…)
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