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February 28, 2008
Harvard University Caves In To Muslim Students Wanting Women-only Gym Time
To accommodate Muslim students, Harvard tries women-only gym hours
The Daily Free Press at Boston University
Harvard University has moved to make Muslim women more comfortable in the gym by instituting women-only access times six hours a week to accommodate religious customs that make it difficult for some students to work out in the presence of men.
Men have not been allowed to enter the Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center during certain times since Jan. 28, after members of the Harvard Islamic Society and the Harvard Women's Center petitioned the university for a more comfortable environment for women.
Harvard Islamic Society's Islamic Knowledge Committee officer Ola Aljawhary, a junior, said the women-only hours are being tested on a trial basis. The special gym hours will be analyzed over Spring Break to determine if they will continue, she said.
Aljawhary said that she does not believe that the women-only gym hours discriminate against men.
"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 said.
Though the policy was in part initiated by the school's Islamic group, Aljawhary said women-only hours are not a case of "minority rights trumping majority preference" and said women of different faiths have showed interest in the hours.
"We live together in one community, it only makes sense for everyone to compromise slightly in order for everyone to live happily," she said. "This matter is simple: Can't we just display basic decency and show tolerance and inclusion for people not a part of the mainstream majority?"
Harvard junior Nick Wells said he believes the women-only hours are inconvenient for the residents that live near the facility and discriminate against men.
"It is unfair to impose a stringent policy that inhibits students from using their own facility in order to further a useless policy that doesn't have any real effect," he said.
"I don't mind that Harvard is trying to give space to women and religious minorities, it's just that it seems that it's not making a real effort," Wells said. "Just one that is impractical and purely symbolic at the cost of people like myself."
Wells lives near the Quad, and said the response to and use of the women-only gym hours so far has been underwhelming.
Harvard freshman Kyle Harasimowicz said women-only gyms have been successful and women-only gym hours fill the same need.
"I guess as long as the time is divvied up fairly, there should be no issue," he said.
Boston University Islamic Society President Mohamed Serageldin said he thinks women-only gym hours would benefit Muslim women at BU.
"Because the FitRec is co-ed, a Muslim woman would most likely be compromising her modesty. He said modesty can be compromised on both the part of the man and the woman when physical action is involved."
BU's Fitness and Recreation Center facilities manager Alex Southall said FitRec's design easily accommodates sectioning off areas for groups.
"It depends on the arrangement with the particular group, so we aren't playing favorites with space, but the FitRec does have the capability to section off for special use," he said.
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Wild Thing's comment........
Good Grief! If they can't blend in with our culture, they can go home. When is America going to wake up and stop all this PC BS. Isn’t this what happened in the UK....and the slowly Sharia Law is beginning to take over.
These pandering fools should be reminded THIS IS AMERICA. It is NOT a Muslim country. They came here to live, in our country. That means they abide by our rules, laws and customs. In other words, assimilate.
For a moment, let’s assume the a Christian organization asked Harvard University to prohibit women from using a University gym during certain hours so that men could have it for themselves. Their argument is that their religious feelings made co-ed work-outs uncomfortable for men. Do you think women’s groups at Harvard would accede without protest and (2) that Harvard would grant the request? Not likely!
The thing is our freedoms and hard won rights are eroded in very small increments, and that the strategy of Islamists and their sympathizers is to do just that!!
Posted by Wild Thing at February 28, 2008 02:45 AM
Comments
Well, knock Harvard off the list of colleges that I would send my kids to.
I don't mind working out in front of men. They don't mind working out in front of me.
Most guys I know really like to see me work out because I have a tendancy to pack on pounds very easily since I am short and short legged. I look like an egg!
They're very supportive. If muslim women would just realize that we Americans are supportive and would gladly share with them...but...their Great Crayon tells them they can't accept anyone other than another muslim. Too bad, they're really missing out on some great friendships.
Posted by: Lynn at February 28, 2008 04:54 AM
More concessionary crapola to the muslims. Making muslims happy, a never ending task, seems to be the new political correctness fad in America. My usual response to fads is to ignore them because they don't affect me. However, this is a dangerous fad and one that will grow on itsself like a cancer as muslims demand more and more. It is difficult to understand the head in the sand attitude of so many Americans to the growing danger.
Posted by: TomR at February 28, 2008 05:19 AM
I thought men and women were equal. Must be that Adam's rib deal. Allah forbid when the burka gets caught in the treadmills..."OUCH!" Burkas in the steam rooms? This is insane, eh? Where's the supposed "...A wall of separation between church and state?" - Thomas Jefferson, 1803 in his letter to Danbury Conn. Baptists?
Posted by: 2bornot2b? at February 28, 2008 05:21 AM
If you make a place safe and comfortable for rats to live...rats will move in and set up a home for themselves. Then, when the rats take over and push you out of your home you'll be standing in the street wondering what the hell just happened. This is what we're doing to ourselves with the muslims - we put down the welcome matt for people who don't want to live WITH us, they want to change the way we live and believe!
Posted by: PeteSuj at February 28, 2008 06:30 AM
Too bad Harvard does not have the intestinal fortitude to tell them to take a hike much like what Australians did when Muslim students there demanded class schedules be modified to not conflict with their prayer times.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23269447-12332,00.html
Posted by: vilmar at February 28, 2008 08:11 AM
Global Christians - 86%
Global Jews - 2%
Global Muslims - 2%
And WE THE PEOPLE defeated the Japs, Nazis and Italians in 4 and 1/2 years?
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 29, 2008 12:19 AM
Lynn I agree, I never felt weird working out at the same time the guys are in the gym. They are very helpful and also Nick and I have made some wonderful friends at the gym over the years.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 01:11 AM
Tom I don't understand it at all. Not only 9-11 but all the other attacks as well that have happened should tell a person that these are dangerous people with an agenda.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 01:17 AM
2bornot2b, LOL good one.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 01:19 AM
PeteSuj, that is a great way to put it!! And that is exactly what has been happening.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 01:21 AM
Vilmar, thanks for the link. That is great how they did it in Australia.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 01:22 AM
Darth, thanks so much, and we could do it again the war we are in now too if we had a united country, at least more united then we have been.
deep sigh from me but not giving up
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 01:26 AM
I've got to say, I love Wild Thing's comments about how all the PC BS is affecting the UK; it's completely true!!!
For example, recently Nursery Schools (Pre-schools) have been forbidden to tell the story of the Three Little Pigs... Because it will offend Muslims as they do not eat Pork. You are no longer allowed to sing the nursery rhyme, 'Ba, Ba Black Sheep' as it may offend peopl of African descent, so you must sing about a 'Rainbow Sheep'.
More and more each day the British Government implements new laws because they are absolutely terrified of insulting a person of ethnic/religious minority, whilst alienating the British people, and so British emigration rates are at an all time high.
oh, and as a foot-note... recently a British Think-Tank advised the Government that the British people should stop celebrating Christmas because it insults other religions. Or, if that wasn't possible, then people should spend money to celebrate the holidays and festivals of other religions.
Would that mean I would get more public holidays? :)
Posted by: UK Patriot at February 29, 2008 05:00 AM
UK Patriot, thank you so much.
Well let's see, yes I think so, it could mean more holidays for you. hahaha What a mess all off this is, here in America and the UK, two places that should learn to say NO to these people and can't do it.
Stay safe and thanks for stopping by.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 29, 2008 06:02 AM
