Harvard Gym

I came across this article a few days ago, and I'm compelled to at least say something...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23556551/

Basically, one of the few gyms on Harvard's campus is restricted to women only for about 6 hours a week. This is to accommodate female Muslim students on campus who will be able to wear more gym-appropriate clothes with of the absence of males in the facility.

The controversy that has stemmed from this is only to be expected. Some students -and others not associated with Harvard- argue that this measure is discrimination against male students who are normally permitted into the gym. (Only males are temporarily banned, not other non-Muslim women) The group that requested the accommodation consisted of only 6 Muslim girls- far to small a number for some critics.

Although I see how this can be an inconvenience to male students (who will have to adjust their schedule or at least go to another gym on campus), I cant see how this concession made such a big stink.

I live in a state with several blue-laws including the prohibition of alcohol sales on Sundays. These archaic laws that have been on the books for decades are much bigger and bolder religious concessions than allowing women to exercise alone for a couple of hours a week.

Christian holidays are still mostly national holidays, and optional teacher workdays still miraculously fall on Jewish holy days. We make these kinds exceptions everyday. They have become such a part of the status quo that many of us forget that they have nothing to do with our "secular" society.

People should be able to practice whatever they like. Others should respect that. I'm glad that we got Yom Kippour off every year. I never complained about relaxing over "Winter Break." I didn't even mind making up work when I came back to school after Eid-ul-fitr- there wasn't even a half day for that one.

I understand the benefit of having concessions for any faith. Society is a collective product of the people who live in it. Its not the opposite.