At 2 p.m. on April 4, the Faculty Senate of The University of Southern Mississippi passed a resolution stating their position against the violence that took place at the Hattiesburg Islamic Center.

Presented by Bob Press, a faculty member of the Department of Political Science, the resolution read, “… On behalf of the faculty, wishes to express their condemnation of the violence against the Islamic Center and their support of everyone to worship freely without fear of violence. Freedom of religion is a basic human right,” Press said. The resolution also expressed appreciation for the Muslim student and faculty and how they add to the diversity of the campus.

On March 19, police were called to the Islamic Center at 221 N. 25th Avenue. There was evidence of fired shots into the Islamic Center. No one was present at the time of the shots, so no one was hurt. However, multiple shots penetrated the front door, the back window, and interior walls.

Two representatives of the Islamic Center were present at the Faculty Senate meeting. They were presented with a copy of the resolution. The two men thanked the Faculty Senate for having them there, and the appreciation they felt for the support the Islamic Center has been given since the incident.