Controversy over the recently established Muslim prayer space on campus seeped into the state Board of Regents’ discussion on Thursday at the Iowa School for the Deaf, and officials said they would review policies for clarification.
Regent Subhash Sahai questioned University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld about the prayer spaces’ constitutionality.
“The specific law in our Constitution says that we cannot stop anyone from praying to their specific religion and as long as provide that space, we’re fine,” Harreld said in response.
“How many people of different faith go there?” Sahal said.
“I can tell you that at least one Christian has prayed there,” Harreld said.
“One Christian group, or one Christian?” Sahal said.
“I haven’t looked at the data, but I can assure you that one Christian has prayed there,” Harreld said. “Me.”
He then deferred questions to Aimee Claeys, the associate counsel for the regents.
“I do believe there has been some misinformation in the press about the specific rooms being provided on campus,” Claeys said. “It is an incorrect statement that the rooms are being segregated by gender. They are open for any student for any purpose.”
Claeys acknowledged that Muslim students were segregating the genders.
“There is an agreement for the Muslim students that they will segregate the genders, but the university will not be keeping individuals of opposite gender or opposite faith out of the room,” she said.
Claeys also said that the prayer rooms were constitutional as long as they were neutral.
“They are prayer and meditation rooms, and they are neutral spaces,” she said. “To put it simply, providing these spaces, which may be used for religious purposes, is not a violation of the Constitution.”
Harreld also spoke about the UI’s 2016-21 Strategic Plan. He highlighted the budgeting process that the UI is going through.
“We didn’t get the money that we wanted from the Legislature and the governor, nor did our other universities,” Harreld said.
Harreld said it would be more challenging to address faculty pay without more funding.
“It’s obviously going to be more challenging. We’re probably going to have to stretch it out over a couple of years, and we’ll have to prioritize certain colleges,” Harreld said. “Resource allocation is job one.”
The UI Strategic Plan Development Group will lead seven open forums to discuss and develop the UI’s 2016-21 Strategic Plan, Harreld said.
“Over the last 20 years, development processes for the UI’s strategic plans have taken up to 18 months, while only hosting two to four open forums for broader community input,” said a UI news release. “The current development process will take less than six months and will include seven open forums.”
Newly re-elected Regent President Bruce Rastetter praised Harreld for including larger groups of constituents in planning.
“One of the interests the board had when you became president is your commitment to collaboration, inclusiveness, to broadening the group rather than top-down approach,” Rastetter said.