TU breaks ground for new mosque

The University of Tulsa broke ground Friday on a new mosque to serve the campus's growing number of Muslim students.<br><br>The project is being called the first of its kind on any college campus in

Saturday, September 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The University of Tulsa broke ground Friday on a new mosque to serve the campus's growing number of Muslim students.

The project is being called the first of its kind on any college campus in the nation.

The News on Six's Craig Day tells us there are 185 Muslim students at The University of Tulsa

Madiha Cheema, a TU Student says, "There are so many Muslims on campus. We've been needing something like this to go to, especially for Rammadan coming up. It's good for all of us."

The 3900 square-foot Islamic church will cost about $330,000 dollars. It will have seperate prayer areas for as many as 150 men and women.

University and Islamic officials believe the building will be the first constructed specifically as a mosque on a U.S. university campus.

Amen Al-Hosani, a TU Student says, "I like it very much. It's really good when you go to a place, and you find a gathering place already for you."

But while Muslim students welcome the construction, some wonder why a school with ties to the Presbyterian church is building a mosque?

Dr. Bob Lawless is TU's President says, "Universities are places where people come to learn. With knowledge and understanding, they know more about each other and they have respect for each other."

The Islamic Student Association at T-U will supervise and schedule programming at the mosque. The group will pay a nominal rent to lease the university's land.