Muslim Student Association held its Elections last night and it was a complete disaster. The elections got pushed to another 2 weeks. This decision was made through a “Point of Order” I didn’t initially know what that meant, but I found out that a Point of Order “is a matter raised during consideration of a motion concerning the rules of parliamentary procedures.” Basically, it is used if individuals believe that rules have been broken.
Now, this point of order was being used to call upon our Election Procedures. To trail back a bit, I think that it is necessary to talk about what happened a week ago. My board and I had done the best we could to follow the Election procedures written in the constitution. We sent out an email, talked about election procedures during our meetings, and sent out emails for clarification.
The Saturday before Elections a few member of the Muslim community had called me to arrange a meeting with my board members and I. There we were, on beautiful White and Blue weekend sitting 3.5 hours inside the Knowledge Commons of Pattee and Paterno Library being interrogated and coerced to make “an agreement” on extending membership dues as well as nominations for elections. Members must be able to pay $10 in order to vote in Elections. We had already passed the deadlines – little did I know at the time but the three individuals before me had ulterior motives in having us extend the deadlines. They had realized that they had procrastinated in campaigning and now wanted to rally votes to return the Muslim Student Association back to its “Islamic Roots.”
I had decided to run again for Presidency and this had upset my opponent Zaid Balushi as well as the other two members that had arranged the meeting for that day. I was taken aside by these two members and kindly asked not t0 run again. The reasons given to me by these individuals were because that I had made mistakes as President and that they believed that I needed a break. They emphasized the fact that I needed a break from the stress of Presidency – this was just a friendly justification for telling me that they didn’t like how I ran things and that they needed me to leave.
This was wrong. Completely. However, at the time, I saw them as sort of mentors – they are Seniors and Graduate students that have had a lot of experience under their belt. I was very wrong though and I felt betrayed when I found out what they had actually been plotting. They made us feel as though that we had made GRAVE mistakes with elections and that we should try our best to amend the “hurt community” that had not even bothered becoming members until 4 or 5 days before elections.
So why was this happening? Why was the community “offended”? Had they always been this “offended” or did someone incite them? The truth was that someone had incited them to believe that we were turning the MSA into a complete mess. They believe that in order to preserve the message of Islam it is necessary to implement stringency that naturally excludes Muslims that are different from their own beliefs (which they believe is right way).
I am inclined to believe that these actions tell us that they will not make a mission for tolerance, acceptance, and diversity. They believe that their interpretation of Islam is the truest form and no other interpretation will be humored in MSA.
I have taken a couple of days to think critically analyze my actions and theirs. I have come to the realization that there are two paths that I may choose from: I can decide to step down form the continuation of stress or I can fight selflessly for a cause that I believe in. The last couple of days have been a sanity battle between stepping down from running for re-election or remaining in this political tug-o-war. Thinking back on my experiences in PLA, I think that most would recommend the latter.
I am still thinking about my options, but I will try to remember the recommendations of PLA speakers that we have heard and spoke to in classes.
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