Schuyler Burke

Editor’s note: This column was submitted by a member of the UT community whose name has been withheld to maintain anonymity.

“Smile, it’s Sunnah.” 

Everyday I make a conscious effort to smile at those around me. The Prophet Mohamed PBUH (Peace be Upon Him) explains through his practices (Sunnah) that smiling could be seen as a form of Sadaqah (charity), having a multitude of benefits on the relationship between others. Shaping my actions, mindset and goals, Islam has the answer to everything and provides me with the blueprint for the best ways to deal with difficult situations. In the face of loneliness, my religion has offered me an irreplaceable companion I can turn to – Allah SWT (Subhana Wa Ta’ala, Glory to Him, the Exalted). The remembrance of Allah SWT in everything I do has shaped who I am today. 

When I came to UT, maintaining my religious beliefs became a more arduous task than I had anticipated. While this religion was always a part of my upbringing and family values, the new college environment led me to choose Islam on my own. Determined to make all 5 of my prayers, going to the mosque, and taking care of myself during Ramadan, I became closer to my religion in college. Bound by our home away from home, Nueces Mosque has increased accessibility for faith-based events and religious leaders and created our strong community that was built on encouraging one another to become the best versions of ourselves, both as students and Muslims. 

During my earlier years at UT, I never experienced any negative sentiments about being Muslim. Rather, this secular university has fostered an environment where all religions are accepted and openly shared. Conversing with my friends of various religions, I further appreciated the similarities and differences amongst our beliefs and gained a greater perspective of the various ways people interact with their faith. 

Unfortunately, this comfort and security was recently falsified. On October 12th, former Israeli Defense Forces came on UT campus and started calling my brothers and sisters “terrorists,” while shamelessly boasting about “killing Arabs” in Palestine. As a minority, I was always aware of racial harassment; however, when UTPD claimed that “no criminal offense” had taken place, I had never felt so helpless and betrayed. It felt like not enough action was taken to catch these perpetrators, and the situation felt like it was entirely overlooked by UT leadership. Seeing that no one would stand up for our community, how could I comfortably wear my hijab? Would I be subjected to the same blatant racism while my peers turned a blind eye? These growing questions towards UT made me fearful to attend class the next day. 

Hence, to better support the Islamic community, the University needs to explicitly address the Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism prevalent on campus. Thorough investigation and heightened security measures need to be taken for the Islamic community, as they have been taken for other religious groups. In college-wide statements on global disputes, the genocide of the Palestinian population cannot be overlooked. Regardless of political affiliation, the lack of acknowledgment for the murders of ethnic people shows extreme apathy. In moments of grief for the Islamic community, the lack of support is indicative of UT’s stance towards our religious population.

To be acknowledged as part of the UT community, we have to be acknowledged as individuals first. To be recognized as individuals, we must be treated with the deserving safety and equality promised as a student body. Therefore, we must be treated accordingly. It is UT’s responsibility to make the Islamic student population feel safe and supported to encourage their continued education. Bring back our smiles by alleviating the weight of our grief and fear.