In light of the current rise of Islamophobia it is now an important time for Muslim students to adopt an active approach on campus. The Leeds Metropolitan University Islamic Society has initiated a campaign with the help of the Student Union to do this.

As Muslims we are commanded to forbid the wrong and enjoin with the good; we are indeed the ambassadors of Islam and this needs to be implemented across campus. Here are some examples of practical solutions that we believe will yield maximum results.

I am good at writing articles; what can I do?

If you have a journalistic flair, why not contribute to the student newspaper? It will look great on your CV and above all you will help break down the misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. Put forward ideas such as the need for articles relating to current affairs issues for Muslim students or the misconceptions about Islam and Muslims that need to be addressed on campus.

I would like to represent my fellow class mates; how can I do this?

Never before has the course representative system been so important. The Quality Assurance Agency (a government body that rates university departments across the country) sees student feedback as essential in order to gauge how well a department works. So you, as course representatives, are essential for giving a student perspective of how your department works and how it could work better for the students. Departments see the course representative system as essential to ensure their teaching is at the highest quality. This also means that you have a say in how you and your fellow students are educated, which is of huge benefit to everybody involved.

I want to make my I-Soc Active; what can I do?

Islamic societues need to go beyond simply catering for the spiritual needs of Muslim students and address wider issues affecting the Ummah. As mentioned earlier there is a frightening rise of Islamophobia in our society and the way to combat this is to be involved at the level which this stems from. For example, being involved in media and polictics. Like it or not these spheres shape our communities, environments and have a huge impact on our daily lives. Muslim students must be taught how the media and political system in Britain work and how we can engage with it for a positive change.

If you require training in how to set up departments and how they would run, simply contact MPACUK and we will set up training for you in easy bite size steps.

I want to attend the NUS Conference; what should I do?

The NUS is the most important student body that you will come across in the field of student politics. The NUS was formed in 1922, and is the national representative body of over 750 further and higher education institutions in the UK and Ireland. Its structure is composed of a national executive committee made up of 26 members who are involved in the day-to-day running of the NUS. This executive committee is held accountable by a national council made up of 70 members. The NUS currently represents 3 million students and is involved in safeguarding and campaigning on issues which affect students and their rights. Recent priorities have included lobbying the government against student fees and student debts. The NUS is a highly important body in the political map of the UK. The Home Secretary Charles Clarke, as well as Jack Straw and the head of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Philips, have all been previous presidents of the NUS. In previous years, the NUS political arena has been dominated by a number of factions including Labour Students, Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, and the Union of Jewish Students. The grip of these organizations on the NUS, coupled with a lack of Muslim involvement, has meant that Muslim organizations have been banned, and any debate on international Muslim issues stifled.

An increasing Muslim involvement at the NUS annual conference has meant that, at the highest level, we have been able to stand up and be counted. The NUS annual conference is the highest decision making body in the NUS, and is where the NUS national executive committee is held accountable by delegates. This four-day event held in Blackpool every spring is also where the new national executive committee is elected and where the NUS campaigning agenda, strategy and policy for the following year are decided.

It cannot be stressed enough how essential it is that Muslim students attend the NUS conference so that we have a say in who runs the NUS and what its policies are. The more Muslims that are involved in NUS and attend the annual conference, the greater the influence we have in the affairs of the NUS – it’s that simple. Getting involved in the NUS also gives us the opportunity to represent Islam in its true and balanced form on an officially recognized national forum. Involvement in student politics is an invaluable means to portraying a correct understanding of Islam. Muslim students should, and should be seen to, care for issues that affect all students such as the funding crisis, environmental problems, and current affairs to name but a few. It is clear that getting involved, and galvanizing the opportunity before us, is a crucial method of building up recognition and understanding of the Muslim presence in the UK.

Keep an eye out on your I-Soc, FOSIS and MPACUK's website for further information on the day of this coming years NUS Conference.

Should I attend events by I-Soc; SU, Fosis?

Do try to attend the meetings in your spare time, meet with other Muslim students and keep up to date with current events. Nothing is worse then a Muslim who doesn’t care enough to give his or her time back to the ummah. Don’t be a pacified Muslim become a practicing Muslim in the true sense of the term. That means first and foremost learning that Islam is not just a set of rituals but a way of thinking and behaving.

Should I join the Student Union?

Joining the Student Union can offer more than discounts at retail shops but it is your means to voicing your opinions in the affairs of the Student Union. If a motion (regulation) is put forward to close the prayer rooms down, ban the hijab, ban Muslim groups, by affiliation you can prevent this motion from being passed. Motions are discussed, debvated an then a vote is taken. You can use your vote effectively.

Should I join the Executive or the Union Council of the Student Union?

Muslims must take leading and prominent roles within Student Unions to ensure that they are not sidelined. Many Muslims have declined to participate in the Student Union as they perceive them to be anti-Muslim without looking beyond the surface to realize that anti Muslim sentiments originate from only a few individuals or organisations who clearly have an agenda of their own. Join it and change it from within.
 

Should I talk to my fellow class mates about Islam and Muslims?

Due to media manipulation and negative reporting many people have a very adverse opinion of Islam and thus Muslims. You can change that at university. This could be by just speaking about Islam to your fellow class mates, giving out leaflets, which you can pick up from the Islamic Society Prayer Rooms, but above getting your ISOC to have regular open days, where non Muslims can come in and learn more about Islam. Remember most of the best non-Muslim minds will go to University, the next journalists and MP’s will all attend one. So it’s an ideal time to tackle their prejudice and ignorance of Islam.

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