You are athletic director at a major University, and a Muslim student-athlete has asked to meet with you to discuss a dispute he has with his coach. The coach insists that student-athletes maintain a rigorous diet, which includes eating certain meals each day. The Muslim student desires to follow his religious conscience and fast on certain days and avoid eating some of the meals prescribed by the coach. He also eats a more vegetarian diet than the high-protein fare established by the coach. The coach has denied his request indicating that the diet was devised in conjunction with his trainer and is believed to maximize performance on the part of student athletes. Required:
What do you say to the student athlete?