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Published March 22nd:
Last month, two Muslim Students in an introductory art class at Western asked for an alternative project after having been assigned to draw a nude model. The professor refused, and told the students that if they did not complete it, they would fail that section of the course. Instead of continuing to deal directly with the professor, the UWO Senate intervened and gave the students the choice of either drawing the nudes, or failing the course and in doing so would not be able to continue on in the Fine Arts program. Although student groups continue to contest the decision, the ultimatum still stands.
This is one among many stories released in a report Wednesday by the Canadian Federation of Students. The Final Report of the Task Force on Needs of Muslim Students examines Islamophobia in colleges and universities across Ontario. Over 1,000 Muslim students participated in hearings held over the last seven months.
The report addresses the concerns brought forth by members of the Muslim community on university and college campuses. Student testimony is summarized, and outlines solutions to the issues are addressed. CFS hopes that this report will be taken seriously by each of the schools whose students participated in the hearings.
Terry Downey, Executive Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Labour was present during some of the hearings and said she was “shocked” by what she heard. Downey, who is also African-American, said “it reminded [her] of stories her mother used to tell [her] of things said during the civil rights movement in the 1960s”.
One of the many goals of the report was to “develop a better understanding of the needs of Muslim students and to determine how well Ontario universities and colleges are addressing those needs,” said Jesse Greener, Ontario Chairperson for the CFS. The report also aims to encourage students who have experienced Islamophobia to act immediately and register with the appropriate campus office and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Concerns about prayer space were addressed in the report, saying that “lack of access to adequate prayer space was widely reported”. Some Muslims pray five times a day, sometimes interfering with class schedules.
Cramped and overcrowded facilities lead to further delays. The report states the “space is a human rights issue” and “should be made available by the institution”. Ideally,the report states, multiple prayer spaces should be available across campuses for easy access, should be segregated by gender, and should include ablution facilities. Some concerns were voiced as to the cost of these changes, but contributing members of the Task Force insist that the . changes are not drastic, and therefore will not be costly.
But St. George campus already offers four prayer spaces around campus available for daily prayers for Muslim students, according to Student Affairs director Susan Addario.
“Although they will continue to use these spaces, many of them are looking forward to having a dedicated Centre, where they can engage in dialogue around issues related to faith and religion,” Addario said.
With the formal opening of the Multi-Faith Centre on the U of T campus on Sunday, the issue of prayer space has expanded into an even larger issue. The Centre will become an area available for any faith-based student group to use. U of T has over 30 groups that self-identify as a faith or religious community.
The Jewish Students Association in partnership with the Muslim Students Association and Compass Catholic Fellowship have already hosted an event at the Multi-faith Centre to promote conversation between members of the different religions.
Tilly Shames, associate director of Hillel of Greater Toronto, is enthusiastic about the new space, adding that it will “create a more inclusive space on campus.”
Residence life is also talked about extensively in the report. Alcohol consumption, lack of Halal food options, and co-ed residences are among the issues addressed, and although these may not reflect concerns expressed specifically addressed by Muslim students at U of T, these are problems being faced at other Ontario schools. All U of T residence are alcohol-free in public areas, and all offer meal plans with Halal food options. The Muslim Students Association website also has a list of places on campus from which Halal food can be purchased.
Athletic facilities pose another problem when it comes to Muslim women who wear hijab, as they are forbidden to display their bodies to men. Therefore they are cannot use the facilities, but are still required to pay the student fees for use of campus facilities. The report suggests establishing women-only gym hours, which Wahid Chisti Valiante of the Canadian Islamic Congress says will benefit more than just Muslim women, but also women who are also uncomfortable with the co-ed environment.
Those involved in the release of the report hope that it will reach far beyond students, into the hands of University and College administrators, governmental officials, and even to the international community. Valiante voiced her opinions about the need for the schools to cater to the needs of Muslim women.
“We hope this will become a model for the international arena,” she said.