Offensive flyers about Islamic Awareness Week were posted on
sign boards set up by the Muslim Student Association on Bruin Walk
on Friday ““ the last day of a week coordinated by the student
group to raise consciousness about the Islamic culture and
religion.
MSA members discovered the flyers Friday morning and immediately
removed them, said MSA President Mariam Jukaku. Members of the
group consulted with Berky Nelson, director of the Center for
Student Programming, and CSP filed a police report about the
incident.
The flyers told students to beware of Islamic Awareness Week and
included sketches and descriptions of terrorists and suicide
bombers.
MSA leaders say they were disappointed to find the flyers posted
on their sign boards but say the incident does not undermine the
success of the rest of the week.
This was the first act of hate expressed toward MSA during the
week, Jukaku said, adding that many people did not have a chance to
see the flyers since the campus is generally not crowded on
Fridays.
Leaders also say the act does not intimidate them and will not
hinder their efforts in the future.
Members of the group said they do not suspect the act was
committed by certain groups that have political views that differ
from the MSA.
“We are not blaming any group,” Jukaku said. It was
probably done by someone who was “somewhere out there on the
fringe,” she said.
The forums, speakers and gatherings organized earlier in the
week were effective and answered several questions that members of
the campus community may have had about Islam, Jukaku said.
MSA coordinates Islamic Awareness Week with the aim to counter
misconceptions like those presented by the flyers, she added.
“It is the reason we have Islamic Awareness Week … so
students won’t have to count on others (to learn about
Islam),” Jukaku said.