Utah State Students Offer New Perspectives on Islam

Utah State Students Offer New Perspectives on Islam

Since the tragic events of 9-11, hostility toward Muslim culture has reached new heights in the United States. Many people associate Muslims with terrorists, but a few Utah State University students, in conjunction with Utah State's Office of Study Abroad and Office of International Students and Scholars, spent the month of March trying to prove otherwise.

Kay Forsyth, director of Study Abroad, applied for a grant through the National Association of Faculty and Students Abroad (NAFSA) last summer to fund the Muslim Cultural Awareness project, a program that would work to dissolve existing misconceptions about Muslims through presentations at local elementary, middle and high schools. After the grant was funded, student Keri Tolboe was chosen to head the project.

"Up to this point the Muslim community has remained somewhat isolated," Tolboe said. "Now Muslim students aren't seen as threatening or foreign, but as members of the community. Mere exposure of the Muslim citizens to Cache Valley has made this project a success."

More than 34 classrooms and 1,600 elementary and middle school students, as well as some university students, were visited during the project. Each presentation included a video, created by faculty advisor Al Forsyth, about Islam and practicing Muslims. Following the video, Muslim and non Muslim Utah State students gave presentations on dress, traditions and common misconceptions about Muslim culture.

Students asked a variety of questions, ranging from sports to political and religious issues. All university students involved with the project expressed appreciation for an opportunity to address the often biased view Americans have of Muslim’s since 9-11.

"I think the general public depends mainly on the media as far as their knowledge about Islam is concerned, and I wanted to help out so I could clear up misconceptions for students," said Muhammad Hussain, a Muslim Utah State student from Pakistan. "I believe first hand knowledge is a better way for people to understand our religion and culture. When people meet these Muslims and see for themselves that they are nothing like the media representations, it makes a huge difference in their attitudes."

Another Muslim student, Youssef Filali from Morocco, agreed that having up close and personal experiences with the public creates better understanding.

"Many people don't realize that only 20 percent of Muslims are actually Arabs, who are known for terrorism," Filali said. "Of course, there are bad faces of Islam, those who are terrorists. But we have to show the good faces, too."

For more information about the Muslim Cultural Awareness project or related programs, contact Kay Forsyth at 435-797-1253.