Thumbnail of speaker Faran Saeed.

Speaker

Faran Saeed

Director of the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program

 Dr. Faran Saeed is a practitioner-scholar whose research focuses on Muslim identity development and Islamophobia. His work has been featured by ACPA, NASPA, Diversity Abroad, Higher Ed Live, AERA, ASHE, and the Student Affairs Collective. In the past he has sat on the NASPA leadership team of the Spirituality and Religion Knowledge Community and was part of the Board of Directors of Convergence ,a national organization focused on enhancing institutional climates for religious, secular, and spiritual identities through policy and practice. He currently serves as the Director of the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program and previously served as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he oversaw global DEI within the International Division. Prior to working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he oversaw the Ettihad Cultural Center, a center that supports students, faculty, and staff from the North African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities.

Speaking in

The Islamophobia Sniff Test: Recognizing Islamophobia On College Campuses and the Impact It Has On Our Community

Day Two: November 14, 2024 | 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Breakout Session Option 2

Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism are deeply rooted prejudices that target Muslims and individuals perceived as Muslim, such as Arab Christians and non-Muslim South Asians. They fuel hate speech, hostility, hate crimes, and intolerance, often manifesting as discrimination, harassment, abuse, and intimidation. In the United States, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism have been used to justify concerning policies, including mass surveillance, guilt by association, and collective punishment of members of the Muslim community. And on campuses, inequitable policies have also led to harassment and bigotry that allows for unsafe conditions for Muslim and Arab students. During this session, UW Muslim and Muslim-Allied Faculty and Staff will share research on the origins of Islamophobia in the US, societal repercussions that has led to inequities for Muslim and Arabs, research on how it has manifested at UW-Madison, and ways the campus community can foster inclusion and belonging so everyone can thrive.

 

Session Objectives

  • Explain the origins of Islamophobia in the US, originating from anti-Palestinian bigotry, evolving as anti-Arab racism, and later as widespread Islamophobia. 
  • Describe case examples of how collective punishment has allowed for justification of dehumanization and deprivation of rights typically afforded to other individuals.  
  • Evaluate results from the 2021 Campus Climate Survey, a fall 2023 listening session with Muslim and Arab students, and 2023 Color of Drinking study, in order to name how Muslims and Arabs at UW-Madison feel.  
  • Identify factors that influence inclusion and belonging for Muslim and Arab Americans at UW Madison.