College of Dupage proudly claims itself to be a school “rich with diversity” on the school’s diversity page. However, when one of its own minority groups need the school’s help, they’re left as an afterthought. Following the unannounced disappearance of COD’s prayer and meditation room, the Muslim Student Association has been stuck with the college’s leftovers as a place to practice their faith.

While the MSA is thankful for having a place to gather and pray, there are significant problems with space. The makeshift “temporary meditation room” is still an active kitchen. Whether it be the large refrigerator in the right-hand corner or the room’s 8 foot by 10 foot dimensions, it’s clear this is not an ideal place for anyone to find quiet and peace.

Qurat Siddiqui, an active member of the MSA, makes it clear the club isn’t asking for much. “[We] would want a room that is a little bigger than what we have right now since there are over 15 students in MSA, and most of the students would be praying together because of the prayer timings.”

So why hasn’t COD been able to find the space for them? Despite questions, the administration has offered no response so far.

The availability of a prayer room is crucial to Muslim students. Many of these students perform up to five obligatory prayers a day. They are still college students, with busy class schedules and student activities. They need a place that is always open and available for them to pray.

Siddiqui explains the personal importance of such a facility. “I myself spend most of my time at college as I have some afternoon and evening classes together, so having a prayer room makes it very convenient to perform the prayer as it would always be available to us.”

COD is a commuter school. If there is not an adequate place for these students to practice their faith, they would potentially have to commute back and forth from home to school multiple times a day.

The worst part is that COD never informed MSA of the fact that they lost their designated prayer space. Siddiqui recalled, “The college had let us use the meditation room that is located in the SRC building, as a prayer room for us to perform our prayers. But around two weeks ago, I went to the room to perform my daily prayer and noticed the room was missing all the prayer mats and certain things that have always been in the room. No one knew what happened as there was no sign put up.”

After a few days, MSA members attempted to reach out to the administration in an act of desperation. They were informed their belongings were relocated so the meditation room could be used as storage for the long delayed food pantry.

Relocating without giving information is not only detrimental to MSA but the the Muslim student population as a whole. “Many students who were not part of the MSA were not able to access the room for a few days till any one of us would see them praying in a corner anywhere in the campus and letting them know where the makeshift prayer room is located,” said Siddiqui.

This isn’t the first time Muslim students have gotten the short end of the stick. “Every [other] club on campus has their own room and somewhere they can conduct their meetings. But MSA has not been provided with its own room,” said Siddiqui.

Students must support their Muslim classmates and question the administration on their poor decision. Make it clear that we will not put up with this any longer.

Although COD may not intend it to come across as such, we see this blatant disregard as discriminatory and unacceptable. While our school may not be intending to send a message by treating Muslim students this way, actions speak louder than words. The college needs to work harder to meet the basic needs of its students, and we all have our eyes on them to see if they fix their mistake.