LJMU has over 1600 Muslim students, with thousands more identifying with other faiths. 

It is sad and appalling to see the lack of provision around faith spaces for students, particularly around the busist buildings in the University. 

Prayer spaces are multi-faith, but as Muslims, what differentiates us from other faiths is that we have 5 obligitary prayers throughout the day, and coming up to these winter months, up to 3 of them will be within the working student day.*

I have lost count of the number of times I have been in the university and as a visible Muslim, a new student has asked me 'where is the prayer space in this building'. It is shameful and embarrassing having to tell a first year student, 'sorry we don't have one, but you could try and find an empty room' and walking around with them until we find one, hoping noone walks in, or taking them to a quiet stairwell.

And whilst I know (I think?) there are 2 prayer spaces on campus (Henry Cotton and John Foster), a single prayer takes 5-10 minutes, and if a student is not already in those buildings, they would have to walk 10 minutes there and 10 minutes back, taking out 30 minutes for what should be 10 minutes.

Take James Parsons for example. Most students here often have full days of teaching. It also has the most number of Muslim students, and these students simply cannot afford to spend 30 minutes 3 times a day finding a space to pray. They shouldn't have to compromise their faith to study, or their study for faith.

Recently LJMU opened it's brand new 'student life' building - open 24/7. This building of all buildings should have a designated prayer space.  

We are not asking for a beautiful, decorated mosque on every site, but just an accessible, quiet room in every University building. 

There seems to be a taboo or reluctance to support Muslim students, and so this peititon intentionally asks for a 'quiet space' instead of faith space.

This petition is asking JMSU to lobby simply for a guarenteed, advertised quiet space on every site which will be available for students to pray, and it is in the univerisity's interest to be able to provide that.

*Dhuhr prayer will be around 12pm, Asr around 2pm, and Maghrib around 4pm.