RESOLUTION 37

A RESOLUTION TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO URGE THE UNIVERSITY TO ADOPT A STATEMENT CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF TESTS AND MAJOR PROJECTS ON JEWISH AND MUSLIM HOLY DAYS.

WHEREAS,   North Carolina State University is a diverse institution composed of students observing a multitude of faiths; and,

WHEREAS,   the community of North Carolina State University strives to treat all students equally regardless of faith; and,

WHEREAS,   tests and major projects administered on days of major religious observances infringe upon the rights of some students to practice their chosen religion; and,

WHEREAS,   the Muslim Student Association estimates over 450 students practice the Islamic Faith; and,

WHEREAS,   North Carolina Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, estimates over 300 students practice the Jewish Faith; and,

WHEREAS,   Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur represent significant occurrences in the Jewish religious calendar; and,

WHEREAS,   Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha represent significant occurrences in the Islamic religious calendar; and,

WHEREAS,   these days of religious observance prohibit many everyday tasks and inhibit the ability of these students to function in an academic setting;          

WHEREAS,   the existing policy only allows for the administration of make-up tests and is unfair to both faculty and students; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED,  that the North Carolina State University Student Senate requests that the Office of the Provost issue an advisory statement to faculty urging said faculty not to administer tests or major projects on the aforementioned holy days.