WILL SEBBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat Yousuf Al-Kaabi (front), vice president of UA's Muslim Students Association and Ahmed Al-Junaibi, mechanical engineering senior, listen to a meeting about Muslim student security on campus last night.

A recent racially motivated assault on an Arab UA student has many in the Islamic community fearing for their safety, in light of misguided anger from the war in Iraq.

President Pete Likins addressed about 50 Muslim students and Islamic community leaders at a meeting Wednesday of the Muslim Students Association, to diminish growing fears sparked by the Feb. 14 attack on a UA student. The Muslim student's life was threatened after two men forced their way into his apartment.

The attack, the only reported hate crime targeting Arab students at the UA since talks of war with Iraq began, is one of less than 30 hate crimes reported at UA post Sept. 11. Yet some said they fear they could face similar situations.

"The war has empowered the hate crime in the community," said Omar Shahin, director of the Islamic Center of Tucson.

Shahin said that he has seen an increase in verbal threats on Arab students since the beginning of the war, but that a fear of retaliation may cause some violent instances to go unreported.

"What we report and what we know are two different things. I am sure that there are tons of incidents that go unreported," Shahin said.

The Tucson Police Department has boosted the number of officers patrolling area mosques.

TPD Special Investigations Detective Tim Rupel said that the recent escalation in tensions has evoked legitimate concern among local law enforcement.

"We are finding that during these tense times, Jewish people and people of Arab descent have really come under attack," Rupel said.

UAPD Chief Tony Daykin said the department is prepared to spend more than its budget to deal with the heightened threat of violence on campus.

"We're committed to making sure that everyone has the environment to be safe, to learn, to live and to enjoy the university," Daykin said.

Campus officials said they want to open the lines of communication between authorities and students that believe they are in danger.

"What we hope to do is let them know we are available and just stress the importance of reporting something, should it happen to them," said Associate Dean of Students Alexis Hernandez.

A UA law administration researcher Mohyeddin Abdulaziz recently formed a local chapter of the Arab-American-Anti-

Discrimination Committee in response to personal attacks on people in the Arab community.

"We need to be vigilant and watch the people that try to ruin this excellent community," Abdulaziz said. "We are all nervous, and we are all worried, but with cooperation and understanding we can eliminate these incidents."

Many Arab students did not want their names printed because they fear retaliation. Some said, however, they have been the targets of verbal harassment, and chants of "Go Home!" and "Get out of our country!" are common.

Despite the fears of many, Muslim Student Association Vice-President Yousuf Al-Kaabi, a computer engineering junior, said he mostly feels safe at UA.

"I feel like I am safe most of the time," Al-Kaabi said, adding that increased police presence has quelled his anxieties.

However, police said they cannot protect people against incidents that go unreported, something that Center of Middle Eastern Studies Director Anne Beteridge says happens more often than one might think.

"People are just a little worried, and understandably so," Beteridge said.

Beteridge also said ignorance is the primary fuel for hate-crimes.

The center provides outreach programs to educate people on Middle Eastern cultural issues as well as providing educational information at UA's International Affairs office.

Dean of students Melissa Vito vowed to increase campus awareness about the Middle East by working with Provost George Davis to establish events to promote campus harmony.

Education is something that many Muslim students believe will bring an end to their persecution.

The most common misconceptions are that Muslims are anti-American and that they are Iraqi, Shahin said. However, both are inaccurate and unfortunate byproducts of ignorance and media portrayal, he said.

We should know that the anger should be directed toward the right people - Omar Shahin, director, Islamic Center of Tucson

"We should know that the anger should be directed toward the right people," Shahin said, adding that each Muslim has his or her own opinion regarding the war with Iraq.

Al-Kaabi also expressed frustration with ignorance, citing that he is from Qatar, an American ally that is being used as the command center for "Operation Iraqi Freedom" ÷ something Al-Kaabi shrugged off with laughter.

Arab leaders hope education and events like Wednesday's forum will bring an end to Arab student's fears.

"We all share one concern," Abdulaziz said. "It is important that we maintain a civil society in Tucson and set an example for the nation and the whole world."