She was minding her own business eating breakfast on Sept. 11 in the campus cafeteria when it happened.
The 20-year-old biology major, who was dressed in a skirt, blouse and a hÖjÖb, a traditional scarf, was surprised when two white male students approached her.
“(Expletive) you. Go back to your country. Go back, you terrorist A-rab,” one of the young men told her, mispronouncing the word “Arab.”
The student, who asked to remain anonymous for this story, heard similar words from his friend.
She ignored them and they left. She went on to class. It was Sept. 11, the day of the terrorist attack. The Muslim student dropped out of BC the following week.
She and her family made a decision that it was not safe to be on the BC campus for this period of time.
Because of her fears, she has to put education on hold for one semester, which will set her graduation goal back further.
But she definitely plans on returning next semester.
“Not all Muslims are terrorists, we are very much against terrorism. Muslims are people. Islam is the religion of Muslims,” she said.
Patrick Fulks, biology professor, confirmed the incident and that the student had dropped out of school.
“If this individual is severely, verbally harassed by individuals who are emotionally overcome with the moment because of the tragedy, it strikes deep fear into these people’s lives,” he said.
The student didn’t yet know about the attack on the East Coast when the men approached her at 7:30 that morning.
“It happened because they stood out,” said Fulks. “I think our students need to be aware it happened, that it happened here, that it’s part of the tragedy, and need to speak out in support. Not only in school, but also in their neighborhoods and family,” he said.
“The fact that this nation is the one with the many freedoms draws foreign students here,” said Shohreh Rahman, ESL/international student counselor. “We can’t allow terrorists to take our freedom, and these students need support more now than ever,” she said. According to Muslim Student Association President Walaa Rasheed, “Four to five students are not coming to school who are in the nursing program.
“We are Americans, we are not going to stand by and be mistreated. This is all our crisis, we’re all hurt, we’re all sad. Don’t judge us because Islam is our religion,” she said.