Unauthorized Tour of the University of Oklahoma -- Part 2

OU is a state-supported school and supposedly secular. In spite of this, they put a "prayer room" in the student union with a Muslim prayer rug and letter E on the wall. This was to designate the direction east. Muslims are expected to pray toward Mecca. A few years ago, Boren was trying to cultivate a "special friend" in the Muslim community.

On October 14, 2007. The OU student newspaper published an article about the "reflection room" in the OU student union. This room is sponsored by the "religious studies" program and is actually a prayer room.

The article states that a student named Jennifer Faulkner "finds a bit of silence while kneeling on a dark red rug in a dimly lit room in the Oklahoma Memorial Union." It also says that "a large 'E' is hung on the wall to direct Muslim students east to pray towards Mecca."

Finally, the article informs us that the "reflection room" was "spearheaded when Muslim students, who are supposed to pray five times a day, reported that they had no place to pray."

Should a supposedly secular state-funded university be in the business of providing a special room on campus for Muslims and other religious students to have a comfortable place to pray?

Part 3 is a view of an ugly sculpture which Boren added to the campus in 2006. It represents the ancient Greek demon of death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77wOrih-RAA&mode=user&search=

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• University
• of
• Oklahoma
• Islam
• David
• Boren
• Corruption

[seanseanseanseansean]

What do you have against Muslims? If they were Muslim terrorists, then there would be a problem. There is no evidence of that.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Ah. There you go taking the politically correct high ground. How clever. I don't have anything against Muslims, fool. This silly prayer room is also for Christians, Jews, and anyone else who wants to pray to a diety. What do you not understand about separation of church and state, fool? OU is a state institution. It is an atrocity that a room in a state building should be designated as a "prayer room."

[0mgwhat]

This room is just a prayer room for everyone..I'm a Christian and I have been to this room several times to pray.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Why should agnostics, atheists, Wiccans, and New Agers have to pay taxes to support a university providing religious accommodations for Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists? These groups are on the recommended "menu" of the OU "religious studies" program -- the room's sponsor.

[0mgwhat]

It's one room...theres special upkeep or cost for it and there would still be a room there, regardless if people prayed there or not. Wiccans could go there and light candles if they were so inclined.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You holy people just don't get it. You guys can pray silently ANYWHERE. Who's gonna stop you? For a state-funded university to be providing a "prayer room" is ludicrous and a violation of the doctrine of separation of church and state.

[andkierig]

Well, you make a reasonable point OU is a secular institution. Where your are wrong is that more recent rulings that provide for state funded establishments that are open to all as long as they do not support one religion over the other.

A Buddhist monk is just as welcome to meditate on that rug as a Muslim or Christian is to pray.

[sthomas68]

I think that would be a good place to relocate that dog fountain outside the library. (joke)

[grodenbarg]

not surprised, about state run institutions and Organizations sneaking Secular religion in their daily routines (sometimes covertly pushing it on others, while denying it as a "Religion"). Looks like a HUGE legal liability if someone decides to go that route.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Andrew Kierig, you are a typical OU student. You cannot write the English language. Correctly stated, your second sentence would be: "where you're wrong is that more recent rulings provide for state funded establishments that are open to all as long as they do not support one religion over the other..." Even if stated correctly, your argument would be nonsensical. You are making a fool of yourself trying to defend your corrupt friends in the OU administration.