Post by Logan on Mar 28, 2016 21:29:13 GMT -6
A Wisconsin-based secular foundation is calling on the University of Iowa to reconsider a recent decision to set aside full-time prayer spaces on campus.
“This goes beyond any claimed accommodation provided to students,” wrote Patrick Elliott, staff attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, in a letter Friday to UI President Bruce Harreld. “The University may not establish worship and prayer spaces targeted to certain religious persons and practices.”
Earlier this academic year, UI officials agreed to reconfigure two former offices in the Iowa Memorial Union to serve as full-time prayer and meditative spaces to serve the university’s Muslim faculty, staff and students.
“These rooms are certainly going to be used primarily by Muslim students, but they’re not limited to be used by Muslim students,” Tom Rocklin, UI vice president for student life, told the Press-Citizen in February.
Read more: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/university-of-iowa/2016/03/28/freedom-from-religion-foundation-prayer-space-challenges-iowa-university/82358394/
“This goes beyond any claimed accommodation provided to students,” wrote Patrick Elliott, staff attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, in a letter Friday to UI President Bruce Harreld. “The University may not establish worship and prayer spaces targeted to certain religious persons and practices.”
Earlier this academic year, UI officials agreed to reconfigure two former offices in the Iowa Memorial Union to serve as full-time prayer and meditative spaces to serve the university’s Muslim faculty, staff and students.
“These rooms are certainly going to be used primarily by Muslim students, but they’re not limited to be used by Muslim students,” Tom Rocklin, UI vice president for student life, told the Press-Citizen in February.
Read more: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/university-of-iowa/2016/03/28/freedom-from-religion-foundation-prayer-space-challenges-iowa-university/82358394/