Within the greater Los Angeles area, there is a need for academic work on the study of Islam. UCLA has the world famous G. E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies, but as the name implies, its focus is on the Near East and not on contemporary Islam in North America. UCSB does have a small Islamic Studies Program as part of its religious studies program. A program in Islamic Studies at CSUN would be valuable not only to the 2 million people who live in the valley, but also to those other 9 million people in the greater Los Angeles area. Within this area are many mosques, as well as Muslim institutions such as the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the Islamic Center of Southern California.
The Islamic Studies Program will be developed within the Religious Studies Department at CSUN. Such a program would ideally be supported by the various Muslim communities in the area. This would be of value to the communities, but also to researchers who are interested in the Muslim presence in California. If you are interested in supporting the study of Islam at CSUN, please contact me:
Amir Hussain
Department of Religious Studies
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8316
Phone: (818) 677-2741
Fax: (818) 677-3985
Email: amir.hussain@csun.edu
Web Page: http://www.csun.edu/~ah34999/
On March 2, 1999, the Islamic Studies Program organized a showing of the documentary film As the Land is the Language on the Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish. The director of the film, Simone Bitton, was present to discuss her work with the audience.
On November 11, 1999, Dr. Farid Esack gave a guest lecture as part of the program.
On April 14, 2000, we opened the Wilfred and Muriel Smith Collection at the Oviatt Library. My remarks on that occasion are available online.