File: TTInterview02102017 --- [Music] Q: Can you tell us a little more of what your student group is about? A: So we are the Muslim Students Association. Our student group is about providing services to the Muslim community and also expanding beyond the Muslim community to the wider Ryerson community and the Toronto community as well. We help in charities, we help provide social events. We'll provide professional development events and also religious and spiritual assistance events. Q: I see I know you have the title of vice president external affairs. So what exactly do you do in your role? In my role as a vice president external affairs, at the MSA, I am responsible for connecting our directors to the resources they need. So for a social events director, if they need a restaurant contact for a professional development director, if they need an alumni contact and also keeping in touch with the other student groups for collaboration. As well as the president's office and other administration bodies such as the Ryerson Student Union Q: Well given with what's happening around the world such as the travel ban in America and the mass shooting in Quebec, how have you and your student group been responding to these events? A: So actually our president Miriam Noser has herself participated earlier this week I believe, on Monday in a protest happened in front of the US consultancy building I believe or embassy, and it was against the travel ban. And that is for the reason that she does not believe it's right and so do we as a Ryerson Muslim Students Association also believe we do not believe that the best way to control who's coming into a country is just by banning people from different countries and stereotyping them. So, what we have as an MSA have been trying to do is spread awareness about what Muslim and Muslims are, and what Islam is really is, and this has been long before the travel ban as well. It's been through many things such as our charity events our Islamic awareness week, which is coming up in the end of March for this year where we talk to people about what Islam is really through the eyes of the students, and how this 0.0007 percent of extremists do not represent the whole religion. There have been people who have been trying to get back on track and to trying to get to their life together by moving to the US. Flying away from war zones and I don't think that we should ban them from absolutely coming in. We're separating families by doing that and we're basically stopping people's life. Q: Have you or your student group experienced any discrimination in the Ryerson community? A: Absolutely. A lot of members from our Muslim student group have experienced discrimination, including the president herself Miriam Noser. She did an interview I believe with CBC last year in the TTC about the aggression that she has faced from having her hijab, which is the headscarf, pulled off her head. In another occasion, unfortunately being spat on, and this was a very sad occasion that happened after the Paris attacks because she's a visible Muslim who is also mixed. So her mother is Irish and that's why she is in skin color white, but she's also wearing a head scarf as she is Muslim. So, she's faced the most discrimination out of us actually, but also a lot of other members. Mostly the ladies in our group have faced discrimination, unfortunately. Q: Have you made these incidents known to the university? A: We have made these incidents known to the university in many occasions and it has been the university administration has always been responsive. Whether it was with Mr. Sheldon Levy or recently with Dr. Lachemi as well, have always been supportive to our group and they have enhanced our relationship with them. Q: Oh okay, that's really good then. So do you guys have any plans of educating students outside of the Ryerson community about these issues? A: Absolutely, and we believe that this education that we would like to do to members outside the Ryerson community is not only by talking about what Islam is but actually showing it through actions. So some of you may know that Muslims have weekly Friday prayers. So what we try to talk about in our Friday prayers and what the Ryerson Muslim Student Association really stands for is integrating within the Muslim community. As Prime Minister Trudeau said we are not strong in spite of our differences, in spite of our differences but because of our differences. I do agree with that, and yeah I believe that that's what we stand for. We do awareness through actions rather than talk, and we understand that a lot of people have misunderstandings and misconceptions about Islam. Our prophet Muhammad has been one who always advocated for peace and understanding and respecting of other religions. Q: Wonderful. If we wanted to reach you or find out more about how we can support you? How would the Ryerson community do that? A: We have many communication channels through which any external organizations could reach out to the Ryerson Muslim associate Students Association. I have a personal email which is vp dot external affairs at ryerson msa.com We have the general email as well which is in fort ryerson msa.com but we also have the doors to our office at b30 in the student campus center open to anyone that would like to reach out to us at any time to learn about Islam or even attend one of our Friday prayers. We'd absolutely welcome them to do so. Q: Okay, great thank you!