The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the release of its latest resource, the University Administrator’s Guide to an Unhostile Campus. This guide is part of CAIR’s Unhostile Campus Campaign, a project aimed at fostering a campus environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
This resource is specifically designed to address the growing need for university administrators to proactively combat Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, and the problems of a hostile campus environment for Muslims, Arabs, and others who protest occupation, apartheid, and genocide. TheUniversity Administrator’s Guide to an Unhostile Campus includes practical tools to:
- Support Free Speech: Allow protests, personal views, cultural symbols, and memorials without censorship or punitive actions.
- Protect Protestors: Ensure peaceful demonstrations without law enforcement interference and provide training to prevent confrontations.
- Address Discrimination: Adopt policies against hate, support students facing Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, and educate the campus community.
- Respect Religious Practices: Provide spaces for prayer, honor religious holidays, and protect the right to wear religious clothing.
- Foster Dialogue: Mediate during protests, communicate policies clearly, and include marginalized communities in decision-making.
SEE: CAIR’s University Administrator’s Guide to An Unhostile Campus
CAIR’s Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor stated: “The guide is a proactive step towards creating educational spaces where protestors against genocide feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive. By implementing these strategies, universities can lead the way in combating Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism while fostering a sense of belonging for all communities.”
CAIR strongly encourages university administrators, educators, and policymakers to utilize this resource and join in building a future where campuses reflect the values of free speech and academic freedom.
CAIR strongly encourages prospective students and their families to take meaningful and informed actions when considering universities.
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be considered as a potential “institution of particular concern” should complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form. This form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s ‘UnHostile Campus Campaign.’ Students, faculty, and affiliates seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should continue to contact their local office or chapter, or if there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com