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It was almost a year ago when Social Justice Minor Program Director Courtney Bauder noticed breaking news from New Zealand when he returned home from teaching a class at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

He feared an earthquake similar to those that had devastated Christchurch in 2010 and 2011. But to his horror, he saw there was an active shooter at Al Noor Mosque and later Linwood Islamic Center during their day of prayer. There were 51 members of the Muslim community who lost their lives.

Having taken students to this destination in January the past four years, Bauder knew that if he had another opportunity to accompany students to Christchurch, they would stop to pay their respects.

Bauder and a contingent from UW Oshkosh had that opportunity last month.

Students who were on a study abroad trip to Australia and New Zealand continue to reflect on their visit to Masjid Al Noor mosque―paying their respects as the one-year anniversary of a terrorist shooting approaches.

The visit to the Christchurch mosque wasn’t on the itinerary, but many students were interested in visiting after hearing about the shooting that occurred March 15, 2019.

Students thought they would stop and view a memorial outside Al Noor Mosque, quickly pay their respects and be on their way. Instead, they were welcomed inside―despite the members initially not knowing who they were or why they were there. In observation of the religious customs, members provided students with proper dress and hair coverings before going from the foyer and into the mosque.

Dreadful day

“A year ago their blessed mosque was unfortunately attacked by a man filled with hatred,” said Emily Behling, a senior from Eau Claire who is working on a dual major in early childhood/special education.

The UWO students witnessed a prayer session and marveled at the courage of the survivors and their calm, welcoming demeanor.

Behling, who is student teaching at Read Elementary School in Oshkosh, said the experience has forever changed her.

“This even hits a bit harder being a soon-to-be teacher and knowing that this same tragedy could very well happen to my own future students, school or even community―like it did a short while ago with the students and officer in Oshkosh,” she said. “Even trying to picture any child or person experience such hatred breaks my heart.”

Rachel McKay of Muskego, a senior biology student, said standing in the room where so many people lost their lives was an experience that is difficult to put into words. She said she felt a combination of deep sadness and deep admiration―sadness for the people whose lives were taken in such a devastating way, and admiration for a community that continues to welcome strangers and inspire hope.

McKay said the Imam (equivalent of a minister or pastor), who survived the terrorist shooting, described the events in graphic detail

“It was hard to listen at moments, imagining the fear and trauma the shooter inflicted that day,” she said, adding that the Imam said “the people killed are martyrs for peace, martyrs for love.”

The shooter tried to “divide” them, the Imam said, but it did not and they have been shown compassion from the community and world.

West Bend native Ashlyn Stauske, a junior dual elementary education/special education major, was deeply moved by the experience and said she began crying as soon as she wrapped a scarf around her head to go into the mosque. Her emotions ranged from honor, sadness and anger.

Oshkosh connection

The Imam finished sharing details of the attack and implored students to move beyond hate and spread love.

As the group assembled for a photo, Bauder told the Imam the story of Duaa Ahmad, the high school student from Oshkosh West High School, who had helped fellow students find refuge at Masjid Qamar Oshkosh Mosque during a recent shooting incident.

“I heard that story. That is where you are from?” the Imam said in a moment that linked the two groups.

Later, as Stauske reflected on the day, she hoped people felt a sense of pride―”pride because out of such a terrible tragedy came hope, pride because there are still loving people and pride because two religions came into one place and it did not hurt.”

Stauske said she went on the trip because she had not traveled and wanted to gain cultural awareness.

“Now, since this trip, I realized there are so many important things going on in other countries that I would never have known about if I didn’t go,” she said, adding she plans to continue traveling and learning.

Nicole Heil, a junior anthropology major from Grafton, said she paid her respects outside the mosque but did not go inside.

A student who had told her the Imam said he didn’t understand why the shooting happened since they had not done anything wrong to the community and they had been shown only compassion and understanding by those around them.

Behling said the bus ride to their hostel was silent and when they got back, people sat in their rooms in silence.

“A piece of my heart remains at the mosque with those courageous men, women and children” who welcomed the group from UWO, she said.

Bauder called the opportunity to pay respects at Masjid Al Noor mosque one of the “more humbling and transformative experiences of his life.”

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