Harvard affords special 'exercise' privileges to Muslim women

The founder of a Messianic Jewish ministry says she isn't surprised that Harvard has joined the growing list of institutions giving special concessions to Muslims that are not afforded to any other group.

According to Associated Press, Harvard University has banned men from one its gyms for a few hours a week to accommodate Muslim women who complained that it offends their modesty to exercise in front of men. The policy went into effect in early February after a group of six Muslim women made the request for special hours.
 
Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, says while she does not have a problem with modesty-based request, she believes a bigger issue is at work. "It's the principle -- and the principle is that political correctness is appropriated only to the Muslim community in America," she disparages. "At least that's at the top of the list. They always get their way."
 
Markell says she can only imagine what would happen if a group of Christian or Jewish students at Harvard made a similar request concerning modesty. "I think if almost any group, particularly Christians, asked for such special rights or conditions, I think we would be laughed off the planet by just about everybody," she states. "It would not be honored."
 
According to a Harvard spokesman, the school tries to honor special requests from religious groups when they arise -- and he notes Harvard has designated spaces for Muslim and Hindu students to pray.
 
Harvard is certainly not the first entity to bow to the demands of Muslims, says Markell. In her home state of Minnesota, she notes, cab drivers demanded and received special foot-washing basins.