Update: University seeks to clarify plans for Muslim prayer rooms

“As part of a £2 million investment in new library study spaces and the complete refurbishment of the University’s main lecture theatres the use of a prayer facility near Lecture Theatre 2 will be temporarily unavailable for safety reasons during the building works. That facility will become available to Muslim students again from the beginning of the new academic year”

They went on to add; “The Blackdale main hall will also continue to be available to Muslim students during the evenings but will not be available for Friday prayers for one month while exams take place. As a result, during this period, space will be identified by the University for Muslim students for Friday prayers

Once the exams are over the Blackdale main hall will be available again for Friday prayers and a working group has been established to consider longer-term solutions. The University has been consulting with the Muslim chaplain on these changes since late 2016 and regrets any apparent breakdown in communications. The University continues to work constructively with all interested parties to provide appropriate faith provision on campus.

Extensive construction work in the University’s main lecture theatre block involves new seating with integral writing surfaces, improved acoustics, improved air handling, increasing the seating capacity of the lecture theatres, and redecoration. In the library, work involves moving rolling stock to increase study spaces.”