A group of Muslim students – attending a Christian University – are upset that the school focuses too much on Christmas.

Loyola University Chicago, a private, Catholic school puts up all sorts of religious decorations around Christmas. Wreaths, trees and manger scenes. It’s a school with a Christian focus, where 60 percent of students identify as Roman Catholic and the vast majority of the rest are some other Christian denomination.

The Muslim students who attend Loyola ostensibly knew they were attending a Catholic school, yet many of them are now complaining about the lack of decorations for Muslim holidays. Some are even asking for parity.

In an article in the student newspaper, Sajedah Al-khzaleh reports on their whining:

It’s that time of year again, and Loyola has decked out its buildings with decorations for the holiday season. But Christmas gets more attention on campus than other religious holidays. Although Loyola fosters a space for non-Christian religions to practice their faith — such as in the Damen Student Center’s second floor of Ministry Offices for Muslim, Hindu and Jewish students — there is a lack of public festivity compared to Christmas, such as decorations and activities of other religions’ holidays the entire student body could be part of.

I must come in here and opine that it’s rather nice that a Catholic school “fosters a space for non-Christian religions to practice their faith.” Do all religious school do that? Does BYU? Does the Muslim Al-Azhar University in Cairo “foster a space for non-Muslims”? I doubt it.

Sajid Ahmed, the “prayer coordinator” for the sketchy Muslim Student Association, said he likes the Christmas decorations, but just wishes that the “Muslim holidays were just as prominent.”

Sorry, Sajid. It doesn’t work that way.

The article continues, complaining that the entire campus is invited to the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, while Muslim students are relegated to private ceremonies.

“For someone who lives far away and doesn’t have the opportunity to meet up with family, I would say making Loyola’s Eid as festive as possible would be great so that [Muslim students] can feel connected with their heritage and with their religion,” said Ahmed. “I think if the leadership is exposed to the Muslim voice, the voice who wants to make campus more festive for other holidays, I think that’s definitely one step.”

It looks as if Loyola is bending over backward for these students. Bryan Goodwin, the school’s associate director of the Student Complex, said they would always recognize any religious holiday upon request.

“We feel that we do a good job at the student center of allowing other faiths to [join the holiday season],” Goodwin told the Loyola Phoenix. “We pride ourselves on wanting to make sure we’re aware. We always lend ourselves the conversation.”

We’re not sure exactly what would make the Muslim students happy, but we’re guessing that nothing short of complete equality of celebrations would do.

Which brings us back to the original question: Why did they enroll in a Catholic school in the first place?

H/T: TruthRevolt