Yale Daily News

Updated: Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:52 a.m.

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A new Muslim resource

Staff Reporter
Published Thursday, September 11, 2008

Three hundred and seven years after Yale was founded as a seminary for Protestant purists, the University has hired its first full-time employee devoted to serving Muslim students.

Omer Bajwa, who will serve as the coordinator of Muslim life in the Chaplain’s office, served as the interim Muslim chaplain at Cornell University before coming to Yale this summer. The appointment is the result of efforts by University Chaplain Sharon Kugler — who arrived at Yale last July — to expand the Chaplain’s office and facilitate contact between students and religious leaders at...

#1 By BK08 3:48p.m. on September 11, 2008

Another example of Yale wasting precious resources. Yale has become a secular school with Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, athiests and agnostics. There is no need to bring in a Muslim chaplain to placate some Muslims but not placate other groups on campus. Will Yale also bring in a Hindu priest or a Buddhist monk? This is a divisive move by Yale that will draw negative attention to the university.

#2 By (Anonymous) 1:26p.m. on September 12, 2008

How is being inclusive of religion secular? Religious life is important, exactly because Yale's too secular!

#3 By Frederick M. 6:11p.m. on September 12, 2008

This only goes to show that Islam is not very secular and is taking advantage of our open and secular culture. Could another religion get this kind of accomodation at an institution in a muslim country? Coming from a muslim background, it upsets me that yale is playing into such demands that are divisive unfair to other religions and that I have seen common in my family/ community.

#4 By Andrew M. 2:14a.m. on September 14, 2008

The Muslim community on campus probably worked hard and petitioned to get their chaplain, and I'd bet the Buddhists, Hindus, or anyone else could do the same.

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