East Hill Notes: Town and gown, friends and neighbors

By Gary Stewart

“Cornell University’s Muslim Educational and Cultural Association (orgsync.rso.cornell.edu/org/meca/home) has been serving both Cornell and the Ithaca area for over 20 years. We are proud to be an integral part of the lives of many Muslims and non-Muslims on and off campus, (and) to provide an educational view of Islam and Muslim cultures.”

– From “About” MECA

At the end of January, I interviewed Dr. Ahmed Ahmed on the radio show “All Things Equal” (whcuradio.com/podcasts/all-things-equal-january-31-2017) regarding current events, and a future Islamic education center in the Village of Lansing.
Dr Ahmed was born in Egypt, is the vice president of the Al-Huda Center of the Finger Lakes’ (www.alhudaislamiccenter.org) Board of Trustees, and a member of the faculty at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. That conversation touched on concerns and questions many have in the Islamic community, local opportunities for the common good, Dr. Ahmed’s spirituality, and a love of America. It was a privilege to talk with a friend and neighbor.
A few days after that, the local Islamic community held one of its regular open houses, this one at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC). Organizers had to move the event to GIAC because of limited space at their Moosalla (icosithaca.org). The invitation read in part:
“In addition to our regular goals of having a forum for our Tompkins County neighbors to meet Muslims, bring questions, and enjoy and benefit from each others company, we would like to encourage ourselves, and all who feel so inclined, to exercise our democratic rights and responsibilities with a letter-writing session to our elected representatives.”
It was a well-attended, positive event, with friends and neighbors, including MECA members, and local families from all walks of life, many with Cornell connections. It was another slice of American democracy, pure and simple.
Last week, I touched base with a MECA student leader, and asked three questions. Those queries, and answers (name withheld by request) below:
n Is MECA discussing current decisions made at the federal level regarding immigration and refugees, and if so, are there any next steps?
“We have been in contact with different organizations throughout campus to discuss how student lives have changed, and how we as a community can be more supportive about students who fear that they will not be able to come back. If the ban was put in place a week before than it was, several students would not have been able to return. Unfortunately, we fear that the impact of the ban will not be temporary, and we will continue to have conversations with various faculty, staff, and administration to ensure that students feel safe.”
n Are Muslim student groups on other campuses networking about ideas, concerns, opportunities?
“Several organizations on campus have been reaching out to us about organizing protests and letter writing campaigns.The Islamic Alliance for Justice co-sponsored a protest alongside MECA Cornell, Native American Students Association at Cornell, the Cornell Dream Team, and Asian Pacific Americans for Action in reaction to several executive actions that have been taken by the new administration. The solidarity and unity within the community has been amazing and we hope to continue building this momentum.”
n Do you feel supported in the off-campus Ithaca community? How can average citizens be supportive?
“We have received great support from the surrounding Ithaca community. It has been great to see community members organize things such as letter-writing campaigns in support of Syrian refugees in Ithaca. We ask citizens to keep an open heart and learn about what Islam really is.”
A very reasonable request, from friends and neighbors, in our loving, inclusive community.
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East Hill Notes are published the second and fourth Mondays in Tompkins Weekly. Gary Stewart is associate vice president in Cornell University’s Office of Community Relations.