IN THEORY:Are school footbaths appropriate?

The University of Michigan recently approved installation of two footbaths in a pair of unisex bathrooms so Muslim students could wash their feet before prayers, as required by their faith. Part of the motivation was to improve safety, and university officials point out they were paid for by student fees, not taxpayer money. Do you think it's appropriate for a public institution to provide amenities such as footbaths when it's done to improve safety or does it run afoul of the separation of church and state principle?

When anything is done to improve safety or to provide a needed service to the public, then I am in favor of using public or private funds to cover the cost, whether it is to accommodate the disabled, pregnant women, drug recovery centers or religious needs.

The issue here is that there is a serious health concern in washing the feet in the public hand basin and a potential dangerous problem for a slip-and-fall injury. In addition, the enrollment of Muslim students is high and growing, thus making it an even greater risk. Therefore, the resolution proposed by the university is proper.

This should not be looked at as preferential treatment toward the followers of a particular faith or to endorse a religion. In this case, it is a safety issue, and if not taken care of immediately can become a health and liability issue to the school.

Besides, the federal government has a long history of giving to religious groups when they serve the public interest. For example, some students use federal grants, such as the Pell Grant, to pay for religious schools.

IMAM SAYED MOUSTAFA AL-QAZWINI

It is wrong to use general tax money to build a church to be used only for one specific religion. It is also wrong to use student fees collected from all students to build ritual facilities for those of one specific religion.

A basic goal of education, even at the University of Michigan, should be to teach students how to reason and use common sense in relation to everyday life and being part of an overall common society. Clearly, the habit of washing one's feet before saying prayers is not supported by common sense as a way of achieving anything other than showing abject and servile adherence to an arbitrary and illogical rule of a specific religion.