The South Orange Performing Arts Center has apologized to a Muslim student from Seton Hall after the woman says she was racially profiled before a student production of "Steel Magnolias."
A performing arts center has apologized to a Muslim student from Seton Hall after the woman says she was racially profiled during a security screening before a student production of "Steel Magnolias."
Rawda Abdelmenan was in line at the South Orange Performing Arts Center for the student production on Feb. 24 when house manager Tom Cogan asked to check her book bag. The senior said she noticed that other students with backpacks were not checked.
Abdelmenan, who wears a hijab, says that when she asked Cogan why he singled her out, he cited protocol and explained that "no one else is a threat."
Another manager said the senior, who is pursuing a speech pathology degree, needed to be checked due to "things that have been happening in our country," the 22-year-old alleges.
"My peers were walking in casually and I was pulled out of line. In a college town, I don't think a book bag is supposed to be that big of a deal," she said. "Because of everything that's been happening in the media, maybe that's why he thought I was a threat, because I'm not only a Muslim, I'm veiled."
SOPAC, which is funded in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, denies that Cogan made the "threat" comment and that the other manager, Alicia Whavers, referenced current events in America.
The theater investigated the incident, and found that Cogan checked the Jersey City native's "large bag" because the theater has a strict no food or drink policy, Director of External Relations Dee Billia said.
"I don't think she understood that's why he was asking her," Billia said. "She felt singled out because of that, she was very upset, which we regret very much."
Since the incident, Abdelmenam has met with SOPAC executive director Mark Packer to talk about updating policies, providing bias training to the community and to "make amends for what occurred," according to a letter Packer wrote to editor of The Setonian.
"(We) recognized the hurt and embarrassment a member of the staff unwittingly caused a patron. For that, we offer Ms. Abdelmenam out heartfelt apology and thank her for courageously working directly with us on a corrective action plan that will strengthen us as a welcoming community institution and elevate the level discourse around this important issue," Packer wrote.
The student agreed that SOPAC has been proactive in making changes.
"I always think, it doesn't have to be a Muslim who's profiled. It can be anybody and it's such an unfortunate situation to be in," she said. "It's important because it opens your eyes to incidents that happen over and over again that no one is saying anything about."
Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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