When Mariatu Okonofua walked into the room, Kristina Meyer looked up and giggled.
Both are sophomores at Elon University, and their yearlong friendship has morphed from simply being hallmates to having constant outbursts of laughter and inside jokes. As friends often do, they complimented their outfits — but like their unique bond — they were dressed completely different. Okonofua, an African-American Muslim, rushed back to campus from her Raleigh-based internship, leaving no time to change from her pantsuit. But Meyer, a white Christian, was cloaked in a raincoat and boots for the dreary Friday afternoon.
Their differing choices of wardrobe somewhat exemplifies their contrasting ideologies. The bulk of history says these two groups — white and Christian; black and Muslim— are not to get along. Those points were hammered extensively during this coarse political climate. But after 18 months of a divisive election season, the two have bonded to proclaim Elon’s campus — and the rest of the world — that unity outlasts hate.
Their project, Hijab Day, will unfold Feb.16 throughout Elon's campus. Then, people of all different backgrounds will wear the traditional Islamic head covering in solidarity toward Muslim women.
While Okonofua is Muslim, Meyer has actually taken charge of planning the event, which is designed to give women only a taste of the realities of being judged for practicing their faith.
To Meyer, even though she said some people may find this odd, that is the least of her concern.
She just wants to do what it right.
“I think that God wants us to love our neighbors — all of our neighbors — and this hate stemming from this political rhetoric is not love,” Meyer said. “I want to show the love that I find from my faith and my religion and I want to share that with everyone. This is the most effective way that I can do that and it's just a bonus that I can do that with someone I find so amusing and that I love so much.
“I don’t think of Mariatu as a Muslim — I think of Mariatu as Mariatu.”
Kristina Meyer and Mariatu Okonofua are two students who spearheaded this year's Hijab Day. Photo by Diego Pineda
United through fear
President Donald Trump’s 13th executive order, which bans travel from seven majority-Muslim countries, was one of the last straws for Okonofua.
She feels he has personally attacked her for an entire year.
His refrain of “radical Islamic extremists” troubled her as a Muslim. His remarks on inner city communities astounded her as a black person. His Hollywood Access Video infuriated her as a woman. When Meyer approached her with co-organizing Hijab Day, she couldn't refuse. It’s her chance to make a statement.
“To hear him making so many derogatory comments about all of these aspects of my life, it kind of overwhelmed me and I knew I had to do something somehow, some way,” Okonofua said. “By me advocating for this and putting my name behind it, I am standing up to the man who wants to be my oppressor.
“At the end of the day, I am an American citizen, I was born here and it is my right to tell you that you are wrong about me and people who look like me or worship the same God that I do.”
Meyer reacted similarly to Okonofua, though she admitted she was not affected the same degree. She’s in the majority demographic, but she sobbed after the election without knowing why. She’s participated in Hijab Day — which is an international event — for five years. Many of her peers neglected its significance in the past. Now, based on current events, she said it's blatantly obvious why others should participate.
“One of the things that is so important in my faith is loving other people, and I have a very big heart for people on the periphery,” Meyer said. “Seeing them so hurt and being so scared, it tore me apart...
"One of the things that is so important in my faith is loving other people, and I have a very big heart for people on the periphery. Seeing them so hurt and being so scared, it tore me apart.” ”
Kristina Meyer
Hijab Day Co-Organizer
“I think there are a lot of things that happened that make people more willing and understanding of why it's important to rally together and show support. Last year was kind of like, ‘I don’t know if I should be doing this.’ But this year, the community understands.”
University Chaplain for Religious and Spiritual Life Jan Fuller shares Meyer’s concern for Muslims as a Christian. Growing up in Lebanon, a country rich with Islamic traditions, she’s been taught to show compassion for all creeds. Last year’s political sphere disheartened her, but she’s perused different avenues to advocate for the afflicted.
Posted on her office door is a sign saying, “This is a safe haven,” a gateway for many who have confided in her on her couch. She’s also called politicians such as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) to voice her concerns about current events, such as the executive order.
Now that students are beginning to organize events in support for the Muslims, she hopes the entire community will take notice.
“What I hope is going to happen is that our community — and I can hope this only for our community, I don’t know if it’s happening anywhere else — but I can hope that our community realizes, or begins to realize, that we don’t know enough about our Muslim students or their lives,” Fuller said.
Imam Shane Atkinson, Muslim Life coordinator at Elon, agreed. According to Elon's Fall 2016 Registrar's Report, only 14 students — 0.2 percent of Elon's population — are Muslim. Atkinson also said there may be Muslims scared to profess their faith for fear of be chastised, and he said he couldn’t blame them. But while their numbers are small, he said their cause is applicable everywhere. Atkinson said their voice can be loudly heard for if others to stake claim in the fight.
That’s the only way he said progress can be made, he said.
“Regardless of what group we’re all from, I’ve seen a lot of people stand in solidarity saying, ‘I got your back,’” Atkinson said. “Humanizing each other and getting to know each other breaks down a lot of these barriers. This threatens all of us, and it's not in harmony with our values as Americans.”
Taking action as the voice of the students
Elon’s SGA attempted to do just that — make sense of the crazy situation affecting its constituents. The organization switched its Feb. 2 town hall meeting theme from sexual assault to the immigration ban to spark conversation. While the logistics of the ban were a focal point of the discussion — including whether Elon should be a sanctuary campus — many of the officers humanized those touched by this circumstance. Sophie Zinn, Class of 2019 vice president, studied abroad in India during Winter Term, a country whose second largest religion is Muslim. Spending three weeks immersed in the culture broadened Zinn’s perspective, and she said Muslims desire a sense of inclusion.
“The religion is very beautiful and they feel really silenced,” Zinn said. “They want to feel like they can have someone to talk to.”
"The religion is very beautiful and they feel really silenced.”
Sophie Zinn
Class of 2019 Vice President
Muslims forged that opportunity Feb. 6 when the Elon community congregated for Global Solidarity March. Senior Suad Ibrahim planned the event,to cultivate momentum for her Muslim peers. Originally from Kuwait, Ibrahim said she genuinely doesn't understand how Trump expresses “such little regard for other human beings.”
When Trump issued his ban, she said her mother told her to publicly shun her faith. Her grandmother, who is Sudanese wanted to surprise Ibrahim for graduation. Trump’s ban drastically altered those plans.
In her Elon career, she said she and other Muslims weren’t assertive in making their voices heard.
Trump made her change her approach.
“I should not fear to be who I am … but that is the reality that I am facing every day right now,” Ibrahim said in her speech before the march. “What happened to love, equality, fairness and the values of humanity? It is our duty as human beings to stand up against these acts of injustice and bigoted rhetoric. Although the past two weeks have been difficult, I feel they have made me more proud to be an Arabic, Muslim woman.”
Around 100 people attended the march, which was preceded by student and faculty speakers. In her speech, Shereen Elgamal, lecturer in Arabic in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, emphatically denounced Trump. Wearing her hijab, the Egypt native proudly said she is unafraid. She said that America is not defined by the actions of one man and the country can overcome anything Trump might do.
"Politicians come and go, but we will stay,” Elgamal said. “Take your term, leave, and we will continue to do what we are going to do.
"Thank you, Mr. President, for bringing us all together. We have nothing to apologize for. We are good people. Thank you for highlighting to us how important it is to recognize our differences.”
“Thank you, Mr. President, for bringing us all together. We have nothing to apologize for. We are good people. Thank you for highlighting to us how important it is to recognize our differences.”
Shereen Elgamal
Lecturer in Arabic in the Department of World Languages and Cultures
A wide range of students and faculty attended the march. Present senior level staff included Associate Provost for Inclusive Community Brooke Barnett, Provost and Executive Vice President Steven House and Associate Vice President for Campus Engagement Randy Williams. Similar to the Black Lives Matter March in September, Williams said when a certain sect of the community feels demonized, the university will deliberately and willingly show support.
“Relationships are important here and if members of the Elon community are being afflicted in some way, the senior staff of the university will show out and support,” Williams said. “While we want to offer a great education and give great life experiences, we want to console the community as well. All together, we want to facilitate our students, faculty and staff to flourish together.”
Comfortable being uncomfortable
Fuller said Hijab Day hinges on togetherness. She guessed many would flirt with participating in it, but might still be hesitant. As of Feb.1, 68 people said they would participate, and 102 people said they were interested on Facebook. Even Meyer —a Hijab Day veteran — said she will probably have jitters the night before. But Fuller said it is great that women of privilege feel uncomfortable.
That’s the entire point, she said. And for the people who are scared, she had a solid list of suggestions for them.
“First, I’d say, ‘Good for you’ for identifying that you feel scared, because it’s a moment of privilege to realize that I can get dressed and not feel scared,” Fuller said. “I would say, ‘Well done’ for identifying that you’re scared, and then I would say, ‘You’re going to be among friends,’ that it will be a good learning experience. We’re not going to let you be alone, and we’re going to get together at the end of the day.”
Though the last year has been hard for her, Okonofua said she feels “amazing” that so many people want to uplift her. While there is still much work to be done, she hopes the example she and Meyer are setting will open the floodgates to helping the Muslim community feel more connected and accepted.
But she said it will take time, and she is glad to contribute to further this effort.
"It feels amazing that people are showing you that they care and that you matter, and I think that's the most important thing.”
Mariatu Okonofua
Hijab Day Co-Organizer
“This really shows that there are people who recognize that we are just as important, just as valuable, just as deserving to be in this country as anyone else,” Okonofua said. “In a society where there is an overwhelming majority of religious values that are different from ours, it's nice to see someone who's at least wearing something that reminds you of your difference from the main group. It feels amazing that people are showing you that they care and that you matter, and I think that's the most important thing.”