Addressing Islamophobia: Dispelling Myths to Break Down Barriers

he post-9/11 era in the U.S. has exposed a significant degree of prejudice and bigotry towards Muslim people. More recently, the aftermath of the 2016 Presidential election has exacerbated the broad vilification of Muslims to serve political agendas. In 2012, a violent hate-motivated attack on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin highlighted the fact that Islamophobia is not just an issue that only impacts Muslims in America. Meanwhile, underscored by the horrific murders of three UNC students, there continues to be widespread racial profiling, hate crimes and bullying throughout the country and on our campuses. In light of this reality, questions remain regarding what administrators and faculty on campuses can do to proactively address these issues. This presentation will educate and update participants on the current realities related to Islamophobia and will challenge participants to develop practical steps that can be made on their respective campuses to address the issue.