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I recently interviewed at AECOM and experienced gross questioning and comments regarding my being Muslim. Please find the letter I sent to administrators at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in its entirety. I am curious to know if others have had similar experiences during interviews, not just at AECOM.
--------------------------
Dear Dean Spiegel:
I am writing to express my total disgust with the inappropriate
behavior of Dr. [name removed] during my visit to your campus yesterday
for an interview or medical school admission. Never in my life have I
been subjected to such anti-Islamic sentiments in any setting, much
less a professional one. I want to bring his comments to your
attention right away in the hope that it does not reflect the
prevailing attitude of Albert Einstein College of Medicine towards
Muslim applicants and students, and that steps be taken to ensure that
it does not happen again.
My incredulity at the experience was heightened by the sad realization
that Dr. [name removed] is a leader on the front of diversity at Albert
Einstein, as the Associate Dean of the Office of Diversity
Enhancement. After sitting through more than thirty-minutes of
offensive and biting commentary on Islam according to Dr. [name removed], I
left AECOM with the sense that religious diversity is not encompassed
in the school's vision of greater diversity. I shall describe below
a few choice moments from our encounter.
We initially spoke casually about my junior year abroad in Cairo,
Egypt. After a few minutes of highlighting special aspects of my
experience, Dr. [name removed] interjected, "Did you become radicalized while
you were there?" The question understandably caught me off-guard, and
I responded glibly. I figured this was a poor display of off-color
humor. Inappropriate, I thought, but overlookable-if he had halted
there; however, he continued on.
I was regaled with Dr. [name removed]'s views on Ramadan. I found particularly
curious his assertion that "you Muslims are a bunch of hypocrites"
because we eat a break fast at sundown and a light morning meal before
sunrise. The allowance of two meals while the sun is down apparently
did not sit well with him. He offered, "That's easy! I do that
sometimes myself. I drink coffee in the morning and nothing else until
three or four in the afternoon." His simplistic view on the most
blessed month in the Islamic year would have been easily overlooked
had he not gone that crucial step of mocking and disparaging the
significance of the month-long fast.
The inappropriate and unproductive line of questioning continued. He
asked me no less than three times: "What do you do wrong?" Initially,
I refused to believe that he sought an answer from my perspective as a
practicing Muslim. I spoke of personal traits that I had identified
as weaknesses and that I had sought to improve upon as I embark on the
journey towards becoming a physician. This answer did not satisfy his
now-apparent urge to find discrediting or disparaging intelligence
about my personal practice of Islam, in order to fuel his ignorance
and animosity towards Muslims. As such, he repeated the question until
he was satisfied-or until it became clear that he would not receive
any additional personal information.
One final comment I would like to draw to your attention related to my
brothers' level of religious observance. After inquiring about their
fields of work, Dr. [name removed] asked if they were "regular guys" or
practicing Muslims--presenting the options as if they are
diametrically opposed. If there was any doubt as to his perspective
on Islam, this comment cleared the smoke.
I could expound ad infinitum the myriad reasons why Dr. [name removed]'
behavior was so reprehensible. I will be brief and touch on the most
glaring considerations. First, Dr. [name removed] abused the interview's
inherently unequal power dynamic. The majority of applicants would
withstand stressful and bizarre interview conditions if it meant a
shot at medical school. Dr. [name removed] no doubt understands this and
unfairly took advantage of his position of power to snidely attack
various aspects of my chosen way of life. I fully appreciate that
the field of medicine exposes physicians to a wide variety of
difficult patients who have no qualms about expressing their views, no
matter how incendiary they are. Moreover, I appreciate that some
interviewers find it useful to pelt controversial or uncomfortable
questions at their interviewees to glean applicants' level of maturity
and poise. If this was indeed Dr. [name removed]' intent, then I still reject
the manner in which he carried out this goal. I was forced to maintain
my composure through unnecessary insensitivity and overt ignorance.
As we spoke, Dr. [name removed]' title of 'Associate Dean of the Office of
Diversity Enhancement' continuously swirled through my mind. The irony
would not have been lost on even the most obtuse. If this is the type
of welcome I may expect to receive if I were to matriculate at Albert
Einstein College of Medicine, I would promptly decline such an
experience. Candidly, I was hesitant to seriously consider AECOM due
to my double minority status—both Muslim and African-American. I was
concerned about how international political and historical divides
might color my experience on both interview day and upon
matriculation. However, as an individual resolved to remain optimistic
as long as reality will allow, I decided to move ahead with the
application process. I am sorry to say that my initial instinct was
vindicated, albeit by an unfortunate and surprising source.
In the second millennium, public tolerance of racial bigotry appears
to be at an all time low. As an African-American, I can personally
vouch for that statement. As a Muslim, I can say just as certainly
that public outrage on religious bigotry, especially as far as Islam
is concerned, continues to lag. It is absolutely essential that
institutions of learning take strong positions of leadership on issues
of intolerance and injustice. After all, is not an education supposed
to make one more enlightened and thoughtfully critical? Unfortunately,
Dr. [name removed] displayed the opposite attributes through his vulgar
comments and questions.
I am quite open to discussing my religious observance. I have had
much experience answering the questions of strangers, which is why I
think I was able to maintain my composure. However, the difference
between thoughtfully articulated questions and the boldly crass manner
in which Dr. [name removed] voiced his ill-gotten views was limitless.
Before Dr. [name removed] or another individual at AECOM does such a profound
disservice to the stellar reputation of your medical school, I would
strongly recommend that AECOM invite local Muslim leaders to the
medical campus to discuss Islam with not just students, but faculty,
staff, and administrators. I am doubtful that Dr. [name removed] presents an
isolated case of religious bigotry. As such, the culture of silent
complicity must be broken. Please let me know if you need suggestions
of appropriate Muslim presenters in the New York City-area.
--------------------------
Dear Dean Spiegel:
I am writing to express my total disgust with the inappropriate
behavior of Dr. [name removed] during my visit to your campus yesterday
for an interview or medical school admission. Never in my life have I
been subjected to such anti-Islamic sentiments in any setting, much
less a professional one. I want to bring his comments to your
attention right away in the hope that it does not reflect the
prevailing attitude of Albert Einstein College of Medicine towards
Muslim applicants and students, and that steps be taken to ensure that
it does not happen again.
My incredulity at the experience was heightened by the sad realization
that Dr. [name removed] is a leader on the front of diversity at Albert
Einstein, as the Associate Dean of the Office of Diversity
Enhancement. After sitting through more than thirty-minutes of
offensive and biting commentary on Islam according to Dr. [name removed], I
left AECOM with the sense that religious diversity is not encompassed
in the school's vision of greater diversity. I shall describe below
a few choice moments from our encounter.
We initially spoke casually about my junior year abroad in Cairo,
Egypt. After a few minutes of highlighting special aspects of my
experience, Dr. [name removed] interjected, "Did you become radicalized while
you were there?" The question understandably caught me off-guard, and
I responded glibly. I figured this was a poor display of off-color
humor. Inappropriate, I thought, but overlookable-if he had halted
there; however, he continued on.
I was regaled with Dr. [name removed]'s views on Ramadan. I found particularly
curious his assertion that "you Muslims are a bunch of hypocrites"
because we eat a break fast at sundown and a light morning meal before
sunrise. The allowance of two meals while the sun is down apparently
did not sit well with him. He offered, "That's easy! I do that
sometimes myself. I drink coffee in the morning and nothing else until
three or four in the afternoon." His simplistic view on the most
blessed month in the Islamic year would have been easily overlooked
had he not gone that crucial step of mocking and disparaging the
significance of the month-long fast.
The inappropriate and unproductive line of questioning continued. He
asked me no less than three times: "What do you do wrong?" Initially,
I refused to believe that he sought an answer from my perspective as a
practicing Muslim. I spoke of personal traits that I had identified
as weaknesses and that I had sought to improve upon as I embark on the
journey towards becoming a physician. This answer did not satisfy his
now-apparent urge to find discrediting or disparaging intelligence
about my personal practice of Islam, in order to fuel his ignorance
and animosity towards Muslims. As such, he repeated the question until
he was satisfied-or until it became clear that he would not receive
any additional personal information.
One final comment I would like to draw to your attention related to my
brothers' level of religious observance. After inquiring about their
fields of work, Dr. [name removed] asked if they were "regular guys" or
practicing Muslims--presenting the options as if they are
diametrically opposed. If there was any doubt as to his perspective
on Islam, this comment cleared the smoke.
I could expound ad infinitum the myriad reasons why Dr. [name removed]'
behavior was so reprehensible. I will be brief and touch on the most
glaring considerations. First, Dr. [name removed] abused the interview's
inherently unequal power dynamic. The majority of applicants would
withstand stressful and bizarre interview conditions if it meant a
shot at medical school. Dr. [name removed] no doubt understands this and
unfairly took advantage of his position of power to snidely attack
various aspects of my chosen way of life. I fully appreciate that
the field of medicine exposes physicians to a wide variety of
difficult patients who have no qualms about expressing their views, no
matter how incendiary they are. Moreover, I appreciate that some
interviewers find it useful to pelt controversial or uncomfortable
questions at their interviewees to glean applicants' level of maturity
and poise. If this was indeed Dr. [name removed]' intent, then I still reject
the manner in which he carried out this goal. I was forced to maintain
my composure through unnecessary insensitivity and overt ignorance.
As we spoke, Dr. [name removed]' title of 'Associate Dean of the Office of
Diversity Enhancement' continuously swirled through my mind. The irony
would not have been lost on even the most obtuse. If this is the type
of welcome I may expect to receive if I were to matriculate at Albert
Einstein College of Medicine, I would promptly decline such an
experience. Candidly, I was hesitant to seriously consider AECOM due
to my double minority status—both Muslim and African-American. I was
concerned about how international political and historical divides
might color my experience on both interview day and upon
matriculation. However, as an individual resolved to remain optimistic
as long as reality will allow, I decided to move ahead with the
application process. I am sorry to say that my initial instinct was
vindicated, albeit by an unfortunate and surprising source.
In the second millennium, public tolerance of racial bigotry appears
to be at an all time low. As an African-American, I can personally
vouch for that statement. As a Muslim, I can say just as certainly
that public outrage on religious bigotry, especially as far as Islam
is concerned, continues to lag. It is absolutely essential that
institutions of learning take strong positions of leadership on issues
of intolerance and injustice. After all, is not an education supposed
to make one more enlightened and thoughtfully critical? Unfortunately,
Dr. [name removed] displayed the opposite attributes through his vulgar
comments and questions.
I am quite open to discussing my religious observance. I have had
much experience answering the questions of strangers, which is why I
think I was able to maintain my composure. However, the difference
between thoughtfully articulated questions and the boldly crass manner
in which Dr. [name removed] voiced his ill-gotten views was limitless.
Before Dr. [name removed] or another individual at AECOM does such a profound
disservice to the stellar reputation of your medical school, I would
strongly recommend that AECOM invite local Muslim leaders to the
medical campus to discuss Islam with not just students, but faculty,
staff, and administrators. I am doubtful that Dr. [name removed] presents an
isolated case of religious bigotry. As such, the culture of silent
complicity must be broken. Please let me know if you need suggestions
of appropriate Muslim presenters in the New York City-area.
