By Isabel Mascarenas
Tampa, Florida-Slowly word is getting out to USF's estimated large Muslim student population. They no longer have to look for a place to pray on campus because students now have a private place to worship.
Members of USF's Muslim Student Association are introduced to the school's Serenity Room in the new Marshall Student Center.
Twenty-one year old Narjis Zaidi says the small room on the north side of the Marshall Center's third floor brings the peace and quiet she looks for. "During certain times of day the beams of the sun they reflect into the room in a very soothing and relaxing way. I've come here to pray and to relax or take a breather for a few minutes," says Narjis.
There's also a wash room for Muslims to cleanse their feet, hands, arms and face before prayer. Until now they'd wash their feet in the school's bathroom sinks they'd pray where possible on campus 5 times a day.
School officials say there are students from 36 religious denominations on campus and many asked for this space.
"It sends the message this is the students building they were involved in designing it and they asked for it," says Joe Synovec, Director of the Marshall Student Center. "Because they are funding this it's not paid with tax dollars we tried to accommodate as much of the requests students gave us, this was answering their prayers." Synovec says students are paying for the 65-million dollar student center using student fees not tax dollars. The Serenity Room is designed after one at the University of North Carolina.
When she first started attending USF as a freshman Narjis says she felt out of place but the new worship center helps her fit in, "I'm an American first. I feel recognized as an individual that it's OK to be a Muslim nothing to be ashamed of that you have to feel really bad about. It gives me an opportunity to come practice my religion in a safe and convenient manner and along the way it gives me so much pride being a student at USF."
School officials say the Serenity Room is there for students of all denominations and the school's Muslim students encourages others to use it. "I want to welcome all faiths to come here and pray with us that would be wonderful," says 23 year old third year medical student Muhammad Hassaan Iman.
Narjis sees the Serenity Room as a way for all students to tear down any religious prejudices, "I think the more time we spend with each other the more you realize how much you have in common."
Video
Tampa, Florida-Slowly word is getting out to USF's estimated large Muslim student population. They no longer have to look for a place to pray on campus because students now have a private place to worship.
Members of USF's Muslim Student Association are introduced to the school's Serenity Room in the new Marshall Student Center.
Twenty-one year old Narjis Zaidi says the small room on the north side of the Marshall Center's third floor brings the peace and quiet she looks for. "During certain times of day the beams of the sun they reflect into the room in a very soothing and relaxing way. I've come here to pray and to relax or take a breather for a few minutes," says Narjis.
There's also a wash room for Muslims to cleanse their feet, hands, arms and face before prayer. Until now they'd wash their feet in the school's bathroom sinks they'd pray where possible on campus 5 times a day.
School officials say there are students from 36 religious denominations on campus and many asked for this space.
"It sends the message this is the students building they were involved in designing it and they asked for it," says Joe Synovec, Director of the Marshall Student Center. "Because they are funding this it's not paid with tax dollars we tried to accommodate as much of the requests students gave us, this was answering their prayers." Synovec says students are paying for the 65-million dollar student center using student fees not tax dollars. The Serenity Room is designed after one at the University of North Carolina.
When she first started attending USF as a freshman Narjis says she felt out of place but the new worship center helps her fit in, "I'm an American first. I feel recognized as an individual that it's OK to be a Muslim nothing to be ashamed of that you have to feel really bad about. It gives me an opportunity to come practice my religion in a safe and convenient manner and along the way it gives me so much pride being a student at USF."
School officials say the Serenity Room is there for students of all denominations and the school's Muslim students encourages others to use it. "I want to welcome all faiths to come here and pray with us that would be wonderful," says 23 year old third year medical student Muhammad Hassaan Iman.
Narjis sees the Serenity Room as a way for all students to tear down any religious prejudices, "I think the more time we spend with each other the more you realize how much you have in common."
Video
Source: Tampa Bay's 10
H/T: Creeping Sharia
Latest recipient of The Dhimmi Award
Muslims Against Sharia protest USF decision to promote Sharia on its campus. "Serenity Room" in a student center is used for religious purposes by students of a specific religion, which amounts to a blatant violation of Constitutional separation of Church (Mosque) and State. The silence of ACLU and Florida authorities is deafening.
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