Harvard Caves To Six Female Muslim Students
Now, this is amazing… Harvard University has caved to the request of six — that’s right, six — female Muslim students who wanted women-only workout hours at one of the campus gyms. The decision has rightfully angered a number of students attending the school.
Since Jan. 28, the Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center has been open only to women from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays.
The change was prompted by a request from the Harvard College Women’s Center, which was approached by six female Muslim students, said Robert Mitchell, communications director of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
“It was done for religious purposes, but it’s not closed to other women who may want to participate,” he said.
Ola Aljawhary, a student and a member of the Harvard Islamic Society, said the women-only gym is needed.
“These hours are necessary because there is a segment of the Harvard female population that is not found in gyms, not because they don’t want to work out, but because for them working out in a co-ed gym is uncomfortable, awkward or problematic in some way,” she told Boston University’s Daily Free Press.
Then perhaps they should go to Curves, instead of making the entire student body adjust to their needs.
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Matt Margolis is co-author (with Mark Noonan) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at The Buffalo Bean. Follow Matt on Twitter.
After all they are members of the Religion of peace and tolerance. If you believe that one may I call you an ostrich?
Reminds me of when they had that sign at the entrance to Harvard Yard: NO CATHOLICS ALLOWED! THIS MEANS YOU, PADDY!
Back in the 60’s UMASS along with many other institutions had Male and Female gymnasiums. Maybe Harvard should build a female only gym, they have the money. This way they could haled as understanding the need of their Islamic students.
I took an Irish Bodrahn drum course at Harvard, they grew to love the Irish.
It’s affecting one gym for six hours per week. It’s the least-used gym on campus. And let’s be honest, women-only gyms are not just appealing to Muslim women. They appeal to many women–look at the success of Curves. (The MOST successful gym franchise in the world. Including the non-Muslim world.) Jewish women, Mormon women, and even some Christian women prefer modesty. Women with body-image issues may prefer some women-only time as well. This has nothing to do with Islam. It’s sad it was framed that way.
If one could prove to me that Harvard would have set hours for a group of Hassidic women or a group of ultra modest Christian women, I might buy the fact that it has nothing to do with Islam. However, that is not the case.
Harvard is a private institution but they are still setting a dangerous precedent.
Perhaps we could all learn more about the plans of certain Islamic groups if we attend this weekends lecture
Living in the Modern World: The Maqasid (aims) of the Shari`ah
http://misskelly.typepad.com/miss_kelly_/2008/03/learn-about-sha.html
The lecture and workshop are sponsored by the Harvard Islamic Society, the same group who requested women only hours for the gym.
This is creeping sharia and we must stop it before we end up with the problems of Denmark and Great Britain.