"Rumi Club" established to promote dialogue on religion
Marjorie Censer. Daily Princetonian Staff Writer, December 2, 2002 - Two new groups have sprung up to remedy what they say is a lack of productive dialogue among people of different convictions on Princeton University (New Jersey) campus.

Four graduate students founded the Rumi Club for Interfaith Dialogue in late September, and the club had its first event Nov. 14. The Princeton Peace Process had its open house Nov. 24.

While the groups have different aims, both were founded in an attempt to facilitate dialogue between groups that often fail to relate to one another.

The Rumi Club was founded by graduate students seeking to establish a medium for interfaith dialogue on campus. Though the club is in its early stages, members said they hope the club becomes a lasting institution for both undergraduate and graduate students.

The group named the club Rumi after the Islamic philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi who was known for his advocacy of tolerance.

Current events such as Sept. 11 and the Middle East conflict were part of the motivation for creating the club.

Baris Coskunuzer GS, vice president of the Rumi Club, said the media's portrayal of both events influenced his participation in the founding of Rumi.

"Last year there was a lot of speculation in the media about Islam and a lot of bad news about Jews and Christians also," Coskunuzer said. "Our emphasis is to separate the media from the majority of people involved."

He said media portrayals tend to focus on the extremists rather than those most representative of the religion.

The club's first event celebrated the International Day for Tolerance. The club invited three speakers of different faiths - Rev. Thomas Breidenthal, dean of religious life; Imam Aksoy, a Muslim scholar; and Rabbi William Plevan, a Jewish scholar.

Though the event attracted fewer people than the group had hoped, members are optimistic about future events.

"The situation on campus is that people are very open to these ideas," said Raif Rustamov GS, the treasurer of the club.
The Princeton Peace Process - founded by four undergraduate students - is primarily geared to undergraduate students, though it will include faculty members and graduate students.

The group hopes to establish biweekly meetings for open dialogue, set tentatively to begin tonight. In addition, the Peace Process plans to document these dialogues in a publication and hold a summit in the spring.

David Kessler '03, one of the co-chairs of the group, said he tended to talk to people with similar opinions on the Middle East conflict.

"I would like to talk to people with different viewpoints," Kessler said at the open house. "I want to try and find solutions. I'm an idealist."

While the groups each have a different focus, both emphasize the importance of campus dialogue.
"The purpose is to create dialogue, not necessarily to create the perfect peace proposal," said Taufiq Rahim '04, one of the co-chairs of the Peace Process. "The point is for you to understand one another's side, not necessarily agree."