Muslim College Students Protest Inflammatory Campus Newspaper
By Ayub Khan
CHICAGO, Jan. 29 (IslamOnline) - Muslim students at a small Christian university in Chicago are protesting the publication of an offensive article in the student newspaper and are demanding the administration take immediate action, saying the administration has been lax in the enforcement of its own policies.
In the January 25 issue of North Park Press, North Park University's student newspaper, Ben Seeberger made false and misleading statements against Islam.
Seeberger, who is a junior and an English and Biblical studies major, writes: "There are verses within the Islamic Qur’an explaining the use of violence in the name of God. Regardless of however many verses in the Qur’an stating the support of love and peace, the intrusion of these violent verses allows for groups hoarding the love of violence to erupt, and to be scripturally and fundamentally correct."
Continuing his attack, Seeberger writes: "Terrorism is not a new concept in Islam, however much modern Muslims may preach the power of peace. In the year 624 CE, the Prophet Mohammad conducted caravan raids, and during one battle, slew 1,000 caravan traders."
Students at the university say the inflammatory article not only generates hate but also puts the safety of Muslims at risk. They are especially concerned regarding the safety of female students who wear the headscarf (hijab).
Muslim students held a meeting with university authorities and asked them to publish an apology.
The Dean of Students, however, refused the students' demand and instead asked the Muslim students to write a response to the offensive article. He assured Muslim students that university is doing all it can, and will continue to do everything, to protect them.
One Muslim student told IslamOnline: "The writer of the offensive article is spewing hatred and the administration is unwilling to effectively put a stop to it." The student said that the university administration would be held responsible if any Muslim is harmed on campus because of the remarks made in Seeberger's article.
Other students said that university officials have been less than helpful in addressing Muslim concerns on campus.
To date they have been not been allowed to form a Muslim Student Association. They also complain that their repeated requests for a prayer room have gone unheeded.
