Group hopes to refute Islam
myths
 By
Kelsey VanArsdall
Staff Writer
Ashraf Zaman believes that knowledge is the key
to solving America's ethnic discrimination issues — for him the
United States is full of rich diversity that some Americans have yet
to understand.
The Muslim Student Association is attempting to
disprove the misconceptions surrounding Islam and its culture through
"Discover Islam," a forum designed to educate people on Islam's civilization
and the Muslim community of the Greater Lafayette area.
"Our main purpose is to make people aware of the
true Islamic culture; we want people to get real information and gain
a better understanding," said Zaman, a graduate student and the program
coordinator.
Zaman said that sometimes the media distorts the
image of Islam by showing certain aspects of the country that are true
but that don't represent Islam as a whole.
The forum will be held at 7 tonight in Lilly Hall,
Room 1105. It will begin with lectures from three guest speakers, including
President Martin Jischke. The lectures will cover Islam social issues
and the importance of the Muslim community.
Fazrul Ismail, the president of the Muslim Student
Association, said he hopes people can participate in the event. He predicts
it will be the biggest forum of this type that the campus has had in
quite some time.
"It is so important because it gives people a chance
to learn about (Islamic) culture," said Ismail, a junior in the Schools
of Engineering. He added that the issues to be discussed are also timely
in the wake of the terrorist tragedies.
After the discussion period, attendees will have
the chance to get their questions answered by visiting various information
stations set up in the lobby of Lilly Hall.
Zaman said each table will have handouts, pamphlets
and people ready to answer inquiries about the culture.
"In a campus that prides itself on having diversity,
we want to give that diversity impact so that those who may feel uncomfortable
about what they don't know can gain a better understanding," he said.
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