MSAs nationwide exclude unjustly

At the beginning of every year the hallways are littered with flyers and posters urging students to join different clubs, all recruiting indiscriminately. But what if the officers of the club felt that you did not belong or that your presence alone was a negative effect on the club. This is what is happening across the nation at universities and high school chapters of the Muslim Student Association (MSA).

In the past, the University of California, Davis had turned down female members because of non-Islamic dress, such as short skirts or revealing shirts. Activities where males and females mix freely are also coming under fire such as in George Washington University, when a dodgeball match was the center of the debate.

If MSA chapters are established to help Islam and Muslims become an accepted aspect of the community, they must accept everyone despite their flaws.

Many MSA chapters around the nation are being faced with the difficult challenge of setting a level of tolerance for un-Islamic activities and aspects within their organization. Some of the chapters have adopted a very strict doctrine in which some members are being unjustly turned away and shunned by the group. Turning potential members down and casting them out as pariahs is defeating the purpose of having a club that raises awareness of and promotes Islam.

In certain chapters around the U.S., students have been denied membership because of un-Islamic dress or participation in un-Islamic activities. The definition of un-Islamic is determined by the leadership of each chapter through their interpretation of the Quran, even though each chapter is part of, and loosely governed by, the growing network known as MSA National.

The Muslim Student Association was first established in 1963 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by a large congregation of Muslim students who desired a place to meet and pray together all the while promoting their religion. All chapters are student run, but rely heavily on their surrounding community and local mosques for support. The AHS chapter of the MSA holds an annual dinner and in the past has fundraised to provide college bound senior members with scholarships. The chapter has also collaborated with area mosques such as Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center and Masjid Mustafa.

According to the MSA National website, the organization is driven by nine guiding principles. The most integral (and relevant) is “Tolerance is the banner of our outreach.” Turning members away completely contradicts this guiding principle and defeats the purpose of having a club that educates the public about Islam.

One of the most controversial issues is and has been the integration of males and females in casual situations. Many of the stricter chapters strongly discourage any activities in which males are females mix freely. Also, some chapters have discriminated against people who are known for dating or having friends of the opposite sex.

What those specific chapters need to realize is that when put in an environment such as a public school, or college campus, integration is unavoidable. There is no use fighting something that you cannot stop.

Before any of the officers of the MSA chapters turn anyone down, they should ask themselves, “Who are we to judge?” Excuse my ironically Biblical tone, but many of these officers are kids, save for the seniors in college.

The AHS chapter has been good about accepting and inviting members from all backgrounds and faiths to their meetings and functions. In my experience, as I was Treasurer for the MSA my sophomore year, people who are interested in joining are not out to corrupt the Islamic values of the organization, but are willing to listen to and embrace many of the teachings. I hope that in the midst of all the chapters realigning that our chapter remains true to the cause, leaving the door open to everyone.

No one should ever be denied membership into an organization if his or her intentions are sincere. No matter how base the person may be, if they are interested in Islam and the organization, they should be accepted. These groups were created to raise awareness and educate the public, so what kind of regressive philosophy are these chapters that are turning members away employing?