Changing the World: One Meeting at a Time | Mahrukh Maqsood | TEDxUNCCharlotte

TL;DR

The speaker shares her experience as a religious minority student and tells how she worked towards making her university more inclusive.

Transcript

[Applause] I've only practiced it a million times no pressure laar is a centuries old city located in the heart of Pakistan it's a city that wakes up with the sound of aan call to prayer as the sun rises from behind the Glorious arches of the Grand Mosque the streets fill in with delight and laughter of students young some of my age going to school... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 Religious minority students may face challenges in finding halal food and dedicated spaces for religious practices on university campuses.
• 👻 Advocacy, joining committees, and organizing town halls can help bring attention to and address the needs of religious minority students.
• 💦 Universities should create platforms for students to voice their concerns and work towards implementing inclusive policies.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were some challenges faced by the speaker as a religious minority student on campus?

The speaker faced challenges such as finding halal food options and a designated space for ablution, a mandatory pre-prayer ritual. These challenges affected her ability to practice her religion and made her realize the lack of accommodation for religious minority students on campus.

Q: How did the speaker advocate for change on campus?

The speaker took initiative and joined various committees to have a seat at the table where decisions were made. She organized town halls, lobbied for immigration and physician awareness, and worked towards ensuring halal food options and ablution stations on campus.

Q: What steps does the speaker suggest for other universities to follow in creating an inclusive environment?

The speaker suggests a four-step process: listen to students' needs and concerns, create platforms for them to voice their opinions, strategize how to implement cultural and religious policy changes while embracing technological advancements, and finally, implement and improvise based on feedback and progress.

Q: How did the speaker's efforts lead to positive changes on campus?

As a result of the speaker's advocacy and efforts, the university announced the inclusion of halal food options in both student dining locations and the construction of an ablution station in the fall of 2023.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker, a Pakistani Muslim international graduate student, shares her journey and struggles as a religious minority on campus.

• She describes the challenges of finding halal food and a space for ablution on campus.

• The speaker takes initiative and advocates for change by joining committees and lobbying for improvements in religious and cultural policies.