Waiting for halal

Getting the right food may not be as easy as the proverbial pie if you happen to be a Muslim student at UB.

Nearly four months after they thought a deal was done to bring halal foods to Putnam's, Muslim students are still waiting for the food option to become available on campus.

In September, the Faculty Student Association, which runs campus dining, expected to have halal food available by early October.

Logistics, however, have yet again delayed halal's UB debut.

"We were working with a vendor who wanted to supply us with the food to be sold in one of our units," Jeff Brady, assistant director of dining services, said in an email. "We requested information from the local vendor to satisfy regulations stated by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Erie County Health Department in order to sell the food in our units back in September 2005."

Brady said the vendor has still not responded to any FSA requests, so the organization is researching alternative qualified vendors.

Viqar Hussain, president of the Muslim Student Association, said he is frustrated by FSA's apparent inability to find a vendor.

"Many obstacles face the young Muslims on their four- or five-year journey through college, from appropriate gender relations to avoiding bad company to studying on an empty stomach in Ramadan," said Hussain in an e-mail. "Where to find a bite to eat however should not be an issue, and unfortunately right now, even finding lunch or dinner on-campus is a major dilemma for most Muslims."

Hussain, who initiated the campaign to get halal food in Putnam's, cited the dietary choices available to Jewish students and said the university should not neglect the needs of Muslim students.

"A university as diverse as UB should celebrate that diversity, and just as kosher food is provided for devout Jewish students, the needs of Muslim students should be met as well. The campus should uphold its image as a center for education, tolerance and greater thinking," he said. "Not accommodating the reasonable dietary needs of a large population of its students goes against this institution's very ideals, especially when the costs associating the accommodations are so minimal."

Asad Rizvi, a Muslim student, agreed UB has not provided him with adequate dietary options.

"There is one place to get halal food in Buffalo, and you need a car to get there. On-campus, there is not one halal food joint," he said. "The campus prevents you, if you're Muslim, from fulfilling your dietary needs."

Hussain said there are between 1,500 and 2,000 Muslim students and faculty members at UB. Because of the tangible demand, FSA promised to create a food stand specializing in halal food and according to the original plan, The Golden Corner, a downtown deli and caterer, would supply a shop in Putnam's with halal food.

Cindy Youngers, assistant director of Dining Services, said she disagrees with Hussain's assessment of the situation.

"The kosher deli at Bert's also provides halal food. Besides, I believe that we are also working to bring a halal vendor to campus," she said.

Ely Bokobza, supervising chef for kosher foods at Bert's, said Bert's does not have Halal food specifically, but Muslims are allowed to eat kosher foods, as kosher maintains standards at or beyond halal levels.

"We do not serve halal meat because it is not kosher enough for us," he said.