American Muslims Find Faith and Community in College

November 3, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On November 3, 2001, The New York Times reported that many "colleges provide a haven for spiritual exploration... [and that] many American Muslims have become more religious at school." The article focuses on the experiences of American Muslim women in college. Nadia Aziz, communications director for a coalition of West Coast student groups, said "'I've see such a change in Muslim students in the past few years. There are so many more coming to Islam... Within this country there's an Islamic revival'... Many of the newly devout are children of immigrants... [who] say they have found themselves adrift, identified neither with the foreign cultures of their parents nor with the American popular culture... College provides an instant support group most never had in high school. Asma Haidri said she was the only Muslim in her high school in Bloomfield, Iowa, but now... at the University of Iowa, she is part of an active Muslim Student Association with 150 members."

See also: Islam, Women, Campus