After the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, 68 frightened and angry students of Middle Eastern descent withdrew from classes at UA and returned home to the relative safety of family and familiar settings.

Luckily, because of our local climate of diversity and the perseverance of Imam Omar Shahin, the director of the Islamic Center of Tucson, 39 of those students - mostly from the United Arab Emirates - came back to school this semester. We would like to see University of Arizona President Peter Likins and other campus organizations follow suit and encourage more Middle Eastern students to return to class.

Some members of the general public reacted to the attacks by condemning Muslims in general, thereby propagating an atmosphere of terror and hatred here and around the world.

According to readers' letters published in the Arizona Daily Wildcat, some Muslim community members felt they were treated poorly in Tucson and feared future prejudice. They deemed it best to discontinue their American stay until the danger of another attack (be it personal or large scale) was somewhat less imminent.

These students presumably wish to meet their educational goals without having to deal with the fear of terrorism-related persecution. Of course, their families needed to be convinced that this university is indeed concerned with their children's personal safeties.

Without assurance, these worried parents probably would never have conceded to let their children return to the university, to Tucson and possibly to the United States at all.

And without the credible pledge of concern from Shahin, many students would never have been permitted to return.

Nasser Alnuaimi, president of the Muslim Students Association, said in an interview with the Wildcat that Shahin was integral to getting these students back in attendance at the University of Arizona.

"He is trying to convey that things are safe here for them to go to school. It really helps on the level of the parents, not just on the level of the students," he said. "He has a lot of weight when he goes over (to UAE) and talks to them and reassures them because he is a spiritual leader."

The Wildcat appreciates the Imam's gesture, and encourages him and leaders of other faiths to continue to soothe the frazzled nerves of students and parents alike. We feel your calm presence not only reflects well upon the university, but on Tucson as a whole.

Now, though, we ask you to perform this task in a more public manner. We invite you as well as other campus leaders to show your support of all students at the university, perhaps by writing a guest column for publication in the Wildcat to make your feelings known. Other options, such as making a speech or presenting a public forum welcoming returning scholars to the university, could be a way to foster a welcoming UA environment.

President Likins and other university leaders should publicly praise the Imam's hard efforts to re-recruit these students. People of all faiths and descents look toward university and religious leaders for assurance. Let's not let them down.