Saint Xavier University (SXU) offers its students a plethora of registered student organizations (RSOs) to join.
Students can get involved in academic/honorary, cultural, service, social justice, spiritual, social/political/special interest, student media, government, and student leadership organizations. Each RSO offers events throughout the school year.
One of the cultural organizations is the Muslim Student Association (MSA). It was organized to “establish Muslim Identity at SXU.”
The club was created well over a decade ago. It is not new. According to their board members, “the objectives have shifted and strengthened over the years.”
According to the President of MSA, “ It is an organization geared towards spreading awareness of Islam and true Muslim values. This is because we believe together, united, we are better as a community and misconceptions can be a source of distance between us.”
Although the organization is a cultural organization, the transcript states, “You don’t have to be Muslim to join.”
Like most campus organizations, MSA holds tons of events throughout the school year.
This year, they have already held their
Ice Cream Social in the Diner Atrium and their first bake sale of the school year in the Prayer Room. (Room L307).
The organization has their Fourth Annual Girls’ Volleyball Tournament scheduled on Saturday, November 11 from 12-3 pm.
Later this year, they will host their Fifth Charity Men’s Basketball Tournament. MSA hosts events for charities as well.
According to SXNews, the tournament raised $4K for Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs (MUHSEN).
On the MUHSEN website, their Mission says that they are “a non-profit umbrella organization serving the community to establish a more inclusive ‘Special Friendly’ environment for our Brothers and Sisters of all Disabilities.”
“The importance of this event lies in the fact that, in many situations, people with special needs feel as if their struggles do not matter,” said current MSA president, Aydah Nofal, “Through this event, we wanted to shed some light on the fact that these people do matter, that they are worth a more accommodating life.”
This year, their goal is raise five thousand dollars. They plan on donating it to a charity in honor of a MSA member that passed away this summer, Tara Hill.
Nofal said, “Our goal is to raise $1k more than the year before.”
The charity is has yet to be determined.
MSA also welcomes its members to attend programs at the Orland Park Prayer Center. They recently had the program Unfiltered on Friday, September 29. From their Facebook page, Unfiltered is described as “A program for young adults by young adults. A place made for networking, socializing, and being yourself. From comedy to debates, we have it all.”
For students interested in joining MSA, there are a few things you need to know. Each member is required to attend meetings.
Although board members realize that participants can’t make all the meetings. They have said, “we do understand that some of you may have classes or other responsibilities during this meeting.
In that case, please email us before, during, or within a week after the meeting to get updated on what was discussed.”
The organization even has a Whatsapp in order for those students who missed meetings to catch up. Members are also required to participate in at least one event each semester.
For more information on MSA, you can find them on Facebook, The Den, and Twitter.
Keyword: MSA, or email them at msa.sxu.edu
Shadia Judeh
News Reporter