Xavier Newswire 1-21-15

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NEWSWIRE The Xavier

Published by the students of Xavier University since 1915 Fiat justitia, ruat coelum

January 21, 2015

Volume C Issue 17

Muslim students respond to Islamophobia

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BY JUSTIN WORTHING

Staff Writer

Since the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the hashtag #killallmuslims has gained popularity on Twitter, and some Twitter users are claiming that “#killallmuslims is the only viable response� to the attacks. In light of this and similar comments made about Islam in the wake of recent world events and violent acts of terror by radical Islamist groups, Xavier’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) is planning events to alter these sometimes common perceptions of Muslims. Starting Jan. 23, members of MSA will be displaying posters throughout campus in direct response to #killallmuslims. “The content (of the posters) is really boring, generic stuff (about ourselves) with a little bit of funny stuff in it,� MSA President Adnan Ilyas said. “For example, mine would say stuff like ‘I don’t like Organic Chemistry,’ or ‘I am a dog person’ — really, really generic claims that people will be able to identify with.� “The point is to show that I’m

which doesn’t really represent much. So we’re trying to do that. There’s a lot of misconceptions.â€? Mattozzi realized the reality of these misconceptions on campus when collecting student questions about Islam for a previous MSA event. Mattozzi, who is not Muslim, noticed a difference in what he was asked compared to questions received by his Muslim friends. “Some of (the questions I received were about) violence, terrorism and more blunt questions 3KRWR FRXUWHV\ RI IDFHERRN FRP 0HPEHUV RI 06$ SRVH ZLWK &KDLU RI ,VODPLF 6WXGLHV 'U :DOHHG (O $QVDU\ ERWWRP OHIW DQG 5L\DG 6KDPD ERWWRP that people were more comFHQWHU ULJKW DQG 0LULDP 0DUWLQH] ERWWRP ULJKW IURP WKH ,QVWLWXWH RI <RXWK DQG 'HYHORSPHQW ([FHOOHQFH DW WKH fortable asking me because they JURXS¡V ´,VODP Âľ HYHQW ZKLFK LQYLWHG PHPEHUV RI WKH ;DYLHU FRPPXQLW\ WR HQWHU LQWR GLDORJXH DERXW ,VODP knew that I was non-Muslim,â€? a normal person and I happen to YWCA battered women’s shelter. VKRZFDVH WKH LQĂ XHQFH DQG ULFK- Mattozzi said. “That offered what people actually thought.â€? be Muslim, so why do you want MSA will also feature informa- ness of Muslim literature. Ultimately the members of to kill me?â€? Ilyas said. tional posters about the shelter MSA hopes that these events, MSA will also bring back an and the hijab itself. along with general discussion on MSA hope such events will help event they conducted in previStudents who want to try a hi- campus about Islam, will pro- people realize just how much in ous years known as Hijab for jab for a day can do so through mote a more reasonable, more common they have with their fellow Muslim students rather than a Moment. On Jan. 22, any- MSA’s Hijab for a Day event. realistic view of Muslims. one at Xavier, man or woman, The date for this event will be “We’re trying to put a famil- associate them with violence. “A lot of intolerance that is can approach MSA at a table in announced later. iar face to Islam,â€? MSA member Gallagher Student Center and try Throughout the week of Savin Mattozzi said. “We feel like directed towards Muslims is just on a hijab or a headscarf tradi- Valentine’s Day, MSA will also a lot of Americans — and many because of ignorance,â€? MSA tionally worn by Muslim women display excerpts of poetry from people in this school — might Vice President Ali Ahmed said. and some Muslim men. famous Muslim poets throughout think that it’s a foreign concept‌ “And it’s really our job to put a Those who try the headscarf campus. The event, referred to as they may only believe what they familiar face to it and show them can also donate to the local For the Love of God, is meant to see (about Islam) in the news, that we’re really not like that.â€?

O’Connor offers free classes

hammer strength room, the center also has a six-lane, 25 meter indoor pool, a three court gymnasium and two racquetball and handball courts. Student groups and clubs can also rent the facilities on the O’Connor website. O’Connor, located along Victory Parkway next to the socFHU Ă€HOG LV VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ WDLORUHG with students in mind, with its mission statement promising to “provide the Xavier community ZLWK WKH Ă€QHVW SURJUDPV VHUvices, facilities, and equipment in an effort to enhance the co-cur3KRWR FRXUWHV\ RI %U\DQ :DOWKHU ricular learning opportunity and 7KLV VHPHVWHU 2¡&RQQRU 6SRUWV &HQWHU LV RIIHULQJ IUHH Ă€WQHVV FODVVHV WR to foster a lifetime appreciation VWXGHQWV LQFOXGLQJ 3LODWHV ERG\ VFXOSWLQJ DQG \RJD FODVVHV DERYH of individual growth for the BY JESS LARKIN The classes, offered at a variety whole person.â€? Copy Editor of times and days throughout Aside from the free classes, One of the most common- the week, include yoga, barre, the center also hosts intramural ly made and broken New Year’s Zumba, boot camp, Pilates, total sports, club sports and group resolutions is the promise to get body sculpting and TRX. Ă€WQHVV SURJUDPV 6WXGHQWV RQO\ Ă€W DQG VWD\ KHDOWK\ 2¡&RQQRU Students must sign a waiver, need to show their ALL Cards to Sports Center is trying to help which is good for an entire year, enter and use the facilities. students keep that promise by of- prior to the classes. Students can check out the IHULQJ IUHH Ă€WQHVV FODVVHV O’Connor also has a number schedule of classes online a t The classes, sponsored by the of amenities for students to use www.xavier.edu/OSC. More inRecreational Sports Department, LI WKH Ă€WQHVV FODVVHV GR QRW VSDUN formation about O’Connor can are mostly student-run, with interest. Aside from the nauti- also be found at www.xavier.edu/ only one non-student instructor. lus cardiovascular room and the recreational-sports. Š2015 THE XAVIER NEWSWIRE All rights reserved

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Also in this issue: News

The Supreme Court announced on Jan. 16 that it would hear cases involving the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. page 5

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Deadline to apply for spring graduation approaches

All students wishing to graduate at the commencement ceremony in May 2015 must apply for graduation by Friday, Jan. 23. Applications can be accessed through the Student Hub at xavier.edu/students by clicking Student Services and Academic Records/Registrar Information. 3KRWRV FRXUWHV\ RI [DYLHU HGX

Sports Former Xavier forward Justin Martin, who transferred to SMU in the off-season, recently announced he is attempting to go pro. page 6

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