coe-fac: FW: Solidarity with our Muslim colleagues, students, and community members

[Juliet Baxter]

Dear COE,
We live in a time of wide-spread anti-Muslim and anti-middle eastern sentiment in Western countries.  The actions of a few are taken to be indications of the character of most, creating an atmosphere of threat and intimidation for Muslim citizens throughout the West.  Recent highly publicized comments by national political figures have intensified this atmosphere of threat and intimidation in the United States.  Assaults against citizens believed to be Muslim has risen lately.  And reports of unkind and bigoted remarks are increasing.  This is having effects on the daily experiences of our Muslim colleagues, students, and community members as well as anyone presumed to be Muslim.
 To our Muslim colleagues we say: Although we cannot change the national and international discourse, we can make clear that the voices of hate do not speak for us.  On behalf of the Education Studies faculty and staff, we want to state clearly our solidarity with our Muslim colleagues and students, their families, and their community.  We stand with you against this hate and bigotry.  When you walk in our door we see good people whom we want to know and with whom we want to work.
 For individual faculty and staff who are looking for a way to signal this solidarity, some of us will be posting fliers on our doors that say “As-salamu alaykum” which translates roughly to “peace be upon you.”  It is a greeting regularly used in Muslim gatherings.  The Arabic spelling is: السلام عليكم‎    I have attached a sample pdf.  The greeting has religious origins, but has become a casual (though still meaningful) convention.  It will serve to signal solidarity with and respect for Muslim community members.  (The idea for this gesture was inspired by this article: http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/12/letter-to-non-muslim-allies/ )
As-salamu alaykum,
Jill Baxter, Jerry Rosiek, and the EDST Department

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