2008 Woodie Awards
Muslim Student Association demands apology from ASCC
Omar Gafoor
Issue date: 11/30/06 Section: Web Exclusives
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Muslim Student Association (MSA) is demanding a written apology from Associated Students of Chabot College for alleged actions against them.
The ASCC finally approved MSA as a club during the last ASCC meeting. The club was approved on the condition that it change its mission statement, alleging that it discriminated against non-Muslims.
MSA's old mission statement was, "Uniting Muslims on campus and sharing Islam in a positive atmosphere."
This statement was perceived by ASCC to discriminate against non-Muslims, citing that non-Muslims would not join because of the non-inclusiveness of this statement.
MSA has since changed its statement to, "To unite Muslims and non-Muslims alike to actively participate in gaining and sharing Islamic knowledge in a positive atmosphere."
However, it was brought to ASCC attention that other clubs have a similar mission statement to MSA's old one.
Diverse Indian Alliance's mission statement reads, "The purpose of this organization shall be to unify all the Asian Indian cultures together, and share its diversity and heritage with each other."
Filipino-American Club of Chabot College's mission statement reads, "The purpose of Organization is to unite Filipino-Americans and Filipino immigrants."
The Vietnamese Student Association's mission statement reads, "The purpose of organization is to gather all the Vietnamese students at Chabot College together to introduce our culture to non-Vietnamese."
These three clubs have been approved, but have not been asked by the ASCC to change their mission statements. There is no retroactive action planned to change these clubs' mission statement.
MSA is asking for a written apology, because no other club was asked to change its similar mission statement.
The ASCC has not, as of yet, planned to offer a written apology to MSA, but has verbally apologized at the last ASCC meeting.
In the same meeting, a show of good faith was presented. The ASCC asked the petitioning Black Student Union to change its similar mission statement. This act showed to MSA that another club was being asked to change its mission statement as well.
The ASCC constitution is imprecise about inclusive mission statements. However, the ASCC cites that it is not lawful to exclude others in mission statements. But under the old constitution there are no such guidelines that discuss any specific part of the conflict.
The controversy started when the ASCC Student Trustee, Dayne Nicholls, brought up in one of the meetings that the MSA's mission statement was not fair. Nicholls spearheaded the campaign to change the mission statement of MSA and he has succeeded.
MSA does not want to comment on the situation, unless the ASCC presents a written apology.
The ASCC plans to discuss to this issue further at their next meeting Wednesday, Dec 6.
The ASCC finally approved MSA as a club during the last ASCC meeting. The club was approved on the condition that it change its mission statement, alleging that it discriminated against non-Muslims.
MSA's old mission statement was, "Uniting Muslims on campus and sharing Islam in a positive atmosphere."
This statement was perceived by ASCC to discriminate against non-Muslims, citing that non-Muslims would not join because of the non-inclusiveness of this statement.
MSA has since changed its statement to, "To unite Muslims and non-Muslims alike to actively participate in gaining and sharing Islamic knowledge in a positive atmosphere."
However, it was brought to ASCC attention that other clubs have a similar mission statement to MSA's old one.
Diverse Indian Alliance's mission statement reads, "The purpose of this organization shall be to unify all the Asian Indian cultures together, and share its diversity and heritage with each other."
Filipino-American Club of Chabot College's mission statement reads, "The purpose of Organization is to unite Filipino-Americans and Filipino immigrants."
The Vietnamese Student Association's mission statement reads, "The purpose of organization is to gather all the Vietnamese students at Chabot College together to introduce our culture to non-Vietnamese."
These three clubs have been approved, but have not been asked by the ASCC to change their mission statements. There is no retroactive action planned to change these clubs' mission statement.
MSA is asking for a written apology, because no other club was asked to change its similar mission statement.
The ASCC has not, as of yet, planned to offer a written apology to MSA, but has verbally apologized at the last ASCC meeting.
In the same meeting, a show of good faith was presented. The ASCC asked the petitioning Black Student Union to change its similar mission statement. This act showed to MSA that another club was being asked to change its mission statement as well.
The ASCC constitution is imprecise about inclusive mission statements. However, the ASCC cites that it is not lawful to exclude others in mission statements. But under the old constitution there are no such guidelines that discuss any specific part of the conflict.
The controversy started when the ASCC Student Trustee, Dayne Nicholls, brought up in one of the meetings that the MSA's mission statement was not fair. Nicholls spearheaded the campaign to change the mission statement of MSA and he has succeeded.
MSA does not want to comment on the situation, unless the ASCC presents a written apology.
The ASCC plans to discuss to this issue further at their next meeting Wednesday, Dec 6.
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