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	Vol.7, No 33, October 26, 1999
	Muslim students regain access to prayer room By Johnna Walker Daily Forty-Niner Muslim students at Cal State Long Beach once again have a place to pray, now that they have regained access to the University Student Union quiet room. These students have the opportunity to pray in this room now that the yearbook staff members have completed their contract with the Student Union, said Toby Sexton, president of Associated Students Inc.  "We appreciate the efforts of Toby Sexton and Eugene Minter [director of the Student Union] to accommodate the religious needs of Muslim students," said Hesham Elgamiel, spokesman for the Muslim Student Association. These efforts became necessary when the Student Union board of directors denied Muslim students access to the Student Union quiet room Oct. 1, Sexton said. The room was designated as a prayer room for the Muslim students during the summer session because of the low student population, Sexton said. "If we continue to allocate the room to one group, then we would have to allocate a room to all groups," Sexton said. Muslim students, along with all other students, have access to the quiet room to pray and engage in other quiet activities, but scheduling of the room will no longer be permitted, he said. A prayer room is important to Muslim students, as followers of the ancient religion of Islam, because they are required to formally pray five times a day at specific times, said Kharram Khawaja, a Muslim student on campus. Four of these prayers take place while some Muslim students are on campus, Khawaja said.  The association, which has been active since last year, also holds prayer meetings every Friday called Aljumaa prayer. Aljumaa prayer, which means Friday prayer, is performed every week as a group by followers of Islam, Elgamiel said. "Our prayer is better as a group, and this Friday prayer is done as a group," he said. More than 200 Muslims students are enrolled at CSULB, and more than 70 of them prayed together at the first Aljumaa prayer meeting Oct. 5, Elgamiel said. "We want to let everyone know the truth about Islam, and what it is about," Elgamiel said.  Social activities, which will help build an even stronger community, are one way the association plans to give people this knowledge, said Elgamiel. One of the first activities that the association plans to offer students is Arabic language classes, which will be free and open to all students, said Elgamiel.		Loved ones say goodbye to student Flower festival celebrates culture   Students meet to repeal textbook tax   A.S.I. consolidates various commissions   Freshman application deadline set   Muslim students regain access to prayer room   CSULB stars combat racism in local schools Call box for the deaf   A.S.I. president leads reform   Help in the lab Jambalaya poetry reading offers expression   Reviewer suggests 'The Shining,' 'Nightshift'   Coroner has light mood   Debate team grabs top spot in contest LBSU hockey team wins   Soccer team can't sweep   Team triumphs despite injuries Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.