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Editorial: Religious Rift
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June 28, 1990 Vol. 88, No. 58
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Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Regents conduct public forum By Keith Purtell
Staff Writer Proposed changes in admissions policies were the focus of public interest at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education June 25 meeting. Seven of eight speakers who gave public testimony were concerned that proposed changes may have an adverse effect on athletes, gifted students and soldiers. Dr. Arthur Steller, superintendent of Oklahoma City Schools; Dr. Ron Brown, director of academic services for athletes at OSU; and Jack Mildren, an independant oil operator, all said they generally favor stan-
dards which would improve the level of quality in college graduates. However, they expressed concern that some borderline students, and students trying to improve on past poor academic performance, might be unfairly excluded from higher education. "Please don't single out athletics as the whipping boy for this policy," Mildren said. "Extend these rules to apply to all extracurricular activities." Mildren said an important part of his overall college experience was participation in sports programs. "When I attended college much of what I learned was also on the football field, in the sense of a social forum. Also, football gave
me, as it does many others, a financial base to acheive a college education, and that gave me an opportunity to succeed," Mildren said. Anita Wadley and Nancy Decker represented Parents of Edmond Gifted Students, and said failure to recognize inconsistencies concerning 4.0 and 5.0 grade point systems may discourage gifted students from pursuing honors programs. "The regents do not allow weighted grading to be figured in to students' grade point average when applying to college," Wadley said. "We are concerned that this will effect decisions students make." "Our kids are competing for scholarships with students from school systems that do
allow for a weighted grading system," Wadley said. "Colleges are looking at GPA and class rank. When we went into the meeting, we didn't know if the regents were aware of these problems." Sam Petrie, director of education at the Ft. Sill U.S. Army Education Center, asked the regents to consider that soldiers do not have the same requirements as other students in the same age bracket. "These guys are not the typical kid who just graduated from high school yesterday," Petrie said. "They have seen something of the world and have a different perspective." The regents assured all speakers that their comments would be seriously considered before final policy decisions are made.
City votes for mosque Prayer hall to be built By Erin Mitchell
Staff Writer Edmond City Council members voted 3-2 Monday in favor of a special use permit for a Moslem prayer hall to be built on the southwest corner of University Drive and Wayne Avenue. The council held a public hearing for consideration of the permit on June 11, but one of the five members was absent, leaving the vote tied 2-2. Before the council heard arguments either in favor of or against the mosque, Mayor Paul Walters said, "There is no question that the applicants are entitled to a place of worship in the city, only whether or not the site should be at University and Wayne." Many Edmond residents gave reasons for their support of or opposition to the mosque.
Digging it! Hamad Nasim, physical plant employee, tends Central State University flower beds planted near the corner of Second Street and University Drive. (Photo by Steven
Akins)
Opposing arguments were that building a public place in a residential area would disturb the peace in the neighborhood and lower the property value of the surrounding homes. There were also concerns that when the parking lot behind the mosque proved inadequate, cars would be parked in front of the
homes on Wayne, blocking mail ate parking, and a stockade fence delivery and garbage pick-up. to the west of the building. Arguments favoring the mosque expressed the need for a place of Moslem worship and the addition of a different cultural setting in Edmond.
Council members Randel C. Shadid, Tom Kennedy, and Mitch Harris voted in favor of the permit, while Jim Roberts and Mayor Paul Walters voted against it.
Applicants for the permit expressed their willingness to cooperate with the requests of the neighbors for landscaping, adequ-
When roll-call votes were given, several council members gave their opinion of the situation and reasons for how they voted.
Objections to prayer hall unconstitutional By Keith Purtell
Staff Writer Objections raised against a planned Moslem prayer hall near the Central State University campus are based in misunderstanding, according to a Moslem student, professor, and a former director of the Wesley Foundation, "For about the last 12-14 years we have been hoping to have our own place of worship," said Muhammad Ashraf, a graduate student at Central State University. "Since about 1978 we have held Friday services in the Y-chapel." Many people simply do not understand the nature of Moslem worship, Ashraf said. "Our worship is not some kind of activity that is against the law," Ashraf said. "We have a sermon, we read from a holy book, and offer the faithful a piece of advice." "In the meetings at city council we have tried our best to clarify this, and avail ourselves to answer any questions," Ashraf said. "In fact, repPlease see MOSQUE on page 8.