Let's make SU a great place for Muslim students!
 In the summer of 2000, I was making preparations for a long journey to Syracuse, all the way from Malaysia where I was just finishing my MA in Islamic Civilization. I have never been in the United States before, and I did not know anyone in Syracuse. There was one thing I knew though: I could always count on Muslim solidarity. I learned that there was a Muslim organization on campus - something called Muslim Students' Association - and that the Muslim chaplain and the local Imam were one and the same person. I emailed Ahmed Kobeisy (now Dr.) and soon enough he replied to my email saying that he arranged for somebody to pick me up at the airport (thank you br. Sharif from Egypt wherever you are now, and may God bless you and your family!). Not only that, he said I could stay at a room in the back of the mosque of the Islamic Society of Central New York on Comstock Ave for a few days until I got on a solid footing and found a place to stay.
 I am sure there are many Muslim students - and about twice as many Muslim parents! - who wonder how they (or, in the case of their parents, how their son/ daughter) would fit in on campus. More importantly, many are thinking how to retain their faith and spirituality while balancing the typical student's "campus life", both academic and social, a culture which challenges and often contradicts both. Having a place to go to, a person to confide in, a teacher who will help them grow, and an educator who will enlighten their faith is crucial for this undertaking.
 The idea for Muslim Student Life at SU is not new. For years, there has been a lot of talk about the need to create a permanent chaplaincy. Yet, the Muslim community and SU's Muslim alumni have been rather slow in responding to this need. I remember that we use to brag, in the early 2000s, that SU had an ablution (wudu'; abdest) station, prayer room facility, halal food, and a day off on Eid al-Fitr way before other American universities had similar accommodations for Muslim students. But, SU is no longer a leader when it comes to these things. It is a sign of the growth of American Muslim community that other universities now have full-time, permanent Muslim chaplains. This is definitely positive and we are all proud of the progress of others, but we don't want our alma mater to be left behind. We need to regain our leadership position.
 The kicker is that Duke University (I was going to mention Georgetown too but we're not in Big East anymore) has a full-time Muslim chaplain, as well as a Center for Muslim Life (https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/muslimlife/about-us). So, yes, we can fill the Carrier Dome with 35+k spectators and trash them in front of the whole nation on ESPN (by the way, wasn't that a fabulous win?), but can we match them, or even beat them, when it comes to having Muslim Student Life up and running? I'm sure we can, but we need to push ourselves hard to make it happen.
 As Muslims are getting more established in the US, it is only natural that we will continue building various institutions. Universities are crucial in developing human capital for many reasons: future American Muslim leaders will largely go through the university experience; college is a formative time in many ways; students encounter new ideas and compare them with their heritage, culture, and what they learned from parents. MSL@SU would be a place where American Muslim human capital is developed.
 From an educational perspective, having a knowledgeable chaplain who is able to address not only religious issues but also who is endowed with spiritual insight is crucial in developing strong, healthy spiritual identities for American Muslim students. Spiritual guidance is extremely important. In absence of it, 'Shaykh Google' will fill the void. But, can Shaykh Google help an aching heart? Can he/she/it soothe home sickness? Can it drive you closer to God and His infinite Mercy? And how, pray tell, can we make sense of thousands of results we get while on search engine without some sort of human guidance?
 It's time for SU and its Muslim population to reclaim its spot at the top, next to our competitors. The Muslim student population at SU has remained strong, while the Muslim population in wider community (Syracuse and Central New York) has grown exponentially in the last 10-15 years. When I first came to Syracuse there was only one mosque. Now, there are several. Two new mosques opened in just the last few of years. A professional chaplain will not only serve the SU population, he or she will be able to reach beyond campus gates.
 So, let's make this a reality. Our children will ask us what did we do to make their lives better. Imagine if, in that moment, you are able to say, "My beloved child, I helped build Muslim Student Life at Syracuse University. And, just like your dad and/or mom, I hope you will go to SU and grow there - intellectually, morally, and spiritually - like we did."
 Ermin Sinanovic, PhD (Maxwell, 2007)
Director of Research at International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
