Muslim Student Association (MSA) leaders said they are pushing for the administration to hire a chaplain or other mentor figure for the Muslim community on campus. After six years of making the same request, they have said they hope to see a Muslim leader at Brandeis by the start of the fall semester. "The MSA has been trying to work with the administration for several years now as I understand it," said Bariza Umar '03, co-president of MSA. "We have honestly not really seen any concrete steps that I'm aware of, except perhaps the moving of our prayer room from the basement of one residence hall to another. As far as a chaplain goes -- nothing. There isn't really anything the students or faculty can do; it's all up to the administration."

According to Umar, one reason the MSA is requesting a mentor be brought to campus is because they would like more spiritual guidance and support. "As students, we should not have to feel solely responsible to defend our religion or advocate for it, especially while being under the attack since September 11th," Umar said. "Our need for a chaplain was evident long before the events of September 11th, but we believe that after such an event it has become even more essential."

New Intercultural Center Director Suzie Talukdar '96 is helping with this process and said she can identify with MSA's request. She was a member of MSA while she was a student here.

"Especially since the tragic events of September 11th, many MSA members are feeling stereotyped and are experiencing different forms of discrimination or mistreatment," Talukdar said. "All too often, Islam, as well as their cultures, are misunderstood. Many Muslim students are in need of counseling and support. A Muslim mentor could provide students with that, just as the chaplain, priest and rabbi do for students of other faiths."

According to Umar, the MSA wants to share a place with other religious groups on campus. "The MSA in recent years has wanted to work closely with Hillel and BCF (the Brandeis Christian Fellowship), both of which have a place in the chaplaincy," Umar said. "Not having such a connection, it is difficult to build bridges even with all three groups trying."

Talukdar said she sees the need to hire a mentor figure for the Muslim community on campus, and is in regular communication with members of MSA and Assistant Dean of Student Life and Coordinator of Diversity Services, the Rev. Nathaniel Mays.

"At this time in their lives, many college age students and other adults seek spiritual guidance and mentorship (regardless of what faith they follow)," Talukdar said. "MSA members are looking for someone whom they can turn to engage in scholarly discussions with and to learn more about their faith through regular readings of the Qur'an and Hadiths. Someone who will help to strengthen or deepen their faith and understanding of their faith."

According to Mays, the mentor does not necessarily have to be a chaplain; rather, it could even be a faculty member able to enlighten MSA members about the tenets of Islam. "(MSA) wants someone on a more personal level and the administration is trying their best to go about doing it," Mays said.

Mays said he also recognizes the growing need for a Muslim mentor on campus. "With the growing number of Muslims, there needs to be a presence on campus," he said. "Acknowledging this is a student development issue."

The task of finding a new mentor, however, poses some problems for Brandeis administrators. "It's going to be a challenge, and right now the world is focused on Islam and it's hard to find top scholars because we're competing for top scholars with other universities," Mays said.

Mays said he accounts for the delay in finding a Muslim mentor to various other issues the administration is dealing with now, including diversifying Brandeis' faculty.

"It's not something (the administration) put on the back burner," Mays said. "It's put along with other concerns that need to be addressed."

Umar added that MSA is strongly pushing for a Muslim mentor figure and to be a part of the Chaplaincy for funding reasons as well. "Having no basic funds is difficult for us in regard to planning events in advance, as we never know whether or not appeals will be able to fund us," Umar said. "By being under the Chaplaincy, we would have access to funds, as well as the support and guidance so necessary at this point in time."

Umar said a Muslim mentor figure will also help promote diversity on campus. "(The MSA co-presidents) think that having a Muslim chaplain on campus will extend the diversity Brandeis hopes to offer a great deal, while furthering aims of co-existence, as well as being an important resource for the non-Muslims on campus as well," Umar said. "It would be a resource for all Brandeis students.