Religion of ... College Football?

Prayer Space Requested

Muslims say they need quiet room at Welsh-Ryan

By Dan Fletcher and Paul Takahashi
The Daily Northwestern

Amid the cheering Northwestern football fans at Ryan Field, all Ashar Wasi wanted was a quiet place to pray. The only place he could find was a spot of less-than-clean floor in a public walkway.

"We had to pray in front of the concession stand, in front of all the people," the McCormick junior said.

Perhaps someone noticed. At last Wednesday's ASG meeting, the Muslim-cultural Students Association proposed a bill establishing a designated prayer area at Welsh-Ryan Arena for Muslim students for football and basketball games.

McSA President Amir Siddiqui estimates more than 20 Muslim students are in attendance at nearly every game.

"Oftentimes while students are at sporting events, the prayer time falls during the game," the Weinberg senior said. "If there was a space to pray, or even an opportunity for students to leave and re-enter, things would be better. Right now, it can be difficult."

John Mack, associate athletic director of external affairs, said McSA contacted him about the problem as early as mid-October. Despite discussing the request in staff meetings, Mack said they couldn't provide a solution.

"This is a request we took seriously," he said. "We appreciate all student support, but we didn't feel there was a suitable area for prayer. There's not enough space in the arena."

Mack said the athletic department doesn't allow any spectators to leave and re-enter the facilities during an event.

"When you give preferential treatment, while respecting their group's religion, it's tough to determine where to draw the line in terms of our entire fan base," he said.

Regardless, some Muslim students said the current rules present an inconvenience that warrants more discussion.

"Right now, we have to pray late afterwards or early and it's annoying," said Ramah Kudaimi, a Medill senior. "It's a lot more convenient to have a designated area than having to pray at different times."

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Kudos to NW's athletic department for eschewing the easy way out and denying the camel of Dhimmitude an opening in the tent to poke his nose through.

We wonder how their "peers" on the academic side will react to such insensitivity.

And of Ramah Kudaimi we ask: If you're such a devout Muslim, why attend an event where alcohol is served, scantily clad strumpets frolic on the sidelines and a ball made of pigskin is featured?

Didn't Sandy Koufax once postpone a World Series start to observe a Jewish holy day?

He musta been one of those pigs and/or monkeys the Koran speaks so highly of.