Diversity, a prevalent issue after the recent news headlines concerning the September attacks, is an issue that many universities and students are avoiding; however, Mississippi State University is taking a step forward to explore it and the common stereotypes associated with diversity. Two programs will be held Oct. 30 to provide public forums to tackle the topic. These programs will be aimed at dispelling the myths and common stereotypes that people might have about Muslims and Islamic culture. The Mississippi State University Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, under director Stacey Roberson, and the Women’s Studies Program of the College of Arts and Sciences, under Meg Murray, are hosting the programs.
The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center program will be at 4 p.m. in the Union Ballroom, featuring guest speaker Capt. Jeffrey Kendall Sapp, a distinguished U.S. Naval Academy graduate, and the Navy ROTC commander and a naval sciences professor at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, La. Sapp will address the topic, “Twenty-first Century Leadership, Working in a Diverse Society,” with the theme of “Celebrating Diversity.”
“This program is one about leadership and diversity. We are very excited because Captain Sapp is remarkably passionate about coming together and achieving goals for the 21st century. The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center is committed to bringing speakers that will enlighten the MSU body. Our goals for this program are to unify the university and address more diversity and leadership,” Roberson said.
The second program, held from 7-9 p.m. and titled “Mending Rifts: Going Beyond Stereotypical Views on Islam,” will focus on Muslims and their culture. The presentation will feature a panel of guest speakers made up of faculty members, Islamic and Western cultural representatives. It will be open forum with the audiences given a chance to ask questions and discuss prevalent issues.
“The program is going to address misconceptions of Islam that people have acquired from the media and recent events. There are a lot of people who think that Islam promotes terrorism and violence, but it does not,” panelist Carolyn Adams-Price, MSU psychology professor, said.
“I am hoping the program will help people, both within the Muslim community and in other MSU and Starkville communities to come to a clearer, more realistic understanding about relations between the United States and the world of Islam. I am also hoping that we can show the international students that they aren’t being blamed or used as scapegoats,” said Kittye D. Robbins-Herring, associate professor of foreign languages.
Both groups encourage the public to attend and participate and hope to do follow-up programs in the spring and continue to raise awareness about Islamic culture and the role of diversity.
Mississippi State University students expressed their feelings about what they hoped the programs would accomplish at this university and expressed their views on how Americans should have an outlook for the future.
“I hope that Americans would have learned not to stereotype a race or religion, based on the actions of a few,” Tim Jones, freshman, said.
Jason Clayton said, “Among all the things presented at the programs, I hope tolerance is fore-most in people’s minds. Nothing can be accomplished without consideration and open-mindedness.”
“I hope that these programs let everyone know that not all Muslims are bad or possible terrorists, and hopefully they will discourage discrimination against foreigners or people who are not exactly like us,” Bettina Dawkins said.
“I hope that people can allow themselves to be open-minded in situations like this, seeing as the American population is so diverse, to stereotype an entire group of people over the actions of a select few is beneath such a great nation,” Fummi Larinde said.
“People should take a look at the make-up of this campus, and realize that we are surrounded by many different cultures, including Islamic culture. I question why it took such a tragic event to make us aware of different cultures that have been with us for so long. Although I must criticize their late introduction, I believe these programs are a needed addition to the education of MSU students,” Josh Bryan said.
“I feel that MSU students should unite. We are all people regardless of our religion or ethnicity,” Melanie McHenry said. “I hope these two programs will help educate us about Islamic culture so we are able to better understand them as a part of the mixing pot called America.”
Shemeka Gillespie said, “The Sept. 11th incident was a horrific day not only for the U.S., but the entire world. I feel that it is wrong for the entire Islamic community to be blamed for what happened. I feel that everyone is a unique human being and God made us so we could come together as one, and I feel that we should value the differences of others just as we would want ours to be valued.”
“I think the programs will establish a better relationship between Islamic students and American students, and dispel any fear that people might currently harbor about people from different cultures,” Keva Martin said.
“I don’t fell any difficulty not only with Islamic culture, but with any international students at Mississippi State University, but I would like to see more programs dealing with international cultures, that would reduce the gap of cultural differences,” Sudheer Vaka said.
Jawar Smith said, “I think the students of Mississippi State University should look at Islamic culture as a unique culture. Everyone is a part of a unique culture and to stereotype the Islamic culture is wrong. Hopefully, the programs will break down some common mistaken beliefs people have about Islam.”
Nekemia Rich said, “I personally know Muslims and I don’t treat them as just a group or a religion. It is the individual’s that I hold responsible for the terrorist attack in the United States. Americans should continue should come together and continue to strive towards unity.”
“I feel like there are a lot of stereotypes that we have and I think its sad that after the events of Sept. 11, that people would place to blame on Islamic culture, but violence and terrorism is not what Islamic culture is about. I think we just need to realize that the Muslim citizens and Islamic students are no different than we are, and that they are Americans and Mississippi State University students, just like us,” Hunter Jones said.
Some info on the panelists at the Mending Rifts program
Philosophy and religion scholar Dr. Alex Naughton, aerospace engineer Masoud Rais-Rohamni, political scientist Hannah Britton, Islamic community representatives Rahama and Oda Dakhlalla, pediatrician Fauzia Khan and psychology researcher Carolyn Adams-Price.
William “Brother’ Rogers, assistant director of the Starkville-based Stennis Center for Public Service, will serve as forum moderator. Welcome to be given by Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Phillip Oldham.
Co-sponsors include MSU Honor’s Program, the International Services Office at MSU, the school of Human Sciences, NOW, the Faculty and Professional Women’s Association, AAUW, the Campus Activities Board, the A&S Department if Geosciences , the Council on Minority Affairs, the Diversity and Educational Equity Advisory Committee, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and the members of Phi Beta Kappa at MSU.