2008 Woodie Awards
Future of Muslim Student Association in Limbo
Danielle Bevans
Issue date: 2/10/08 Section: News
The Lincoln University Muslim Student
Association is seemingly inactive.
Where numerous students once congregated in the Living Learning Center for prayer and communion, now stands an empty room desolate from the Muslim community.
"Everybody feels like they have something better to do," says Hafeeza Malik, secretary of the MSA.
Malik, a senior major in Health Science, joined the MSA last year after taking her Shahadah in December 2006. She was appointed secretary last semester.
"My responsibility is to devise meetings and activities and make up fliers," says Malik, who added that she's been leading the organization in the absence of MSA's president, Michael Rahming. Rahming could not be reached for comment.
"When you have a president that is not active, no one else wants to participate," says Malik. "I'm not the president, I just got that title because I do everything. . . I get everything organized," she says.
Malik admits that the responsibility has been a lot to handle. She blames part of the problem on the process that all organizations at Lincoln are forced to follow before planning an event.
"Going through all of that just to post fliers and getting the approval is hard," she says. "It pulls back from me getting the word out."
The larger problem, as Malik sees it, is with the students themselves.
"You don't know who's Muslim and who's not," she says, adding that many Muslim men and women on campus refuse to wear their traditional Islamic garb.
"I think it's kind of sad," she says. "If we can come out wearing tight clothes for the parties, why can't we wear what we are obligated to for our religion?"
Malik has been working with MSA student faculty advisor, Dr. Kaukab Siddique to keep the Association alive. As the advisor, Siddique is responsible for helping the Association organize events and he gives support when solicited. He also volunteers by delivering occasional sermons in the Mosque.
Association is seemingly inactive.
Where numerous students once congregated in the Living Learning Center for prayer and communion, now stands an empty room desolate from the Muslim community.
"Everybody feels like they have something better to do," says Hafeeza Malik, secretary of the MSA.
Malik, a senior major in Health Science, joined the MSA last year after taking her Shahadah in December 2006. She was appointed secretary last semester.
"My responsibility is to devise meetings and activities and make up fliers," says Malik, who added that she's been leading the organization in the absence of MSA's president, Michael Rahming. Rahming could not be reached for comment.
"When you have a president that is not active, no one else wants to participate," says Malik. "I'm not the president, I just got that title because I do everything. . . I get everything organized," she says.
Malik admits that the responsibility has been a lot to handle. She blames part of the problem on the process that all organizations at Lincoln are forced to follow before planning an event.
"Going through all of that just to post fliers and getting the approval is hard," she says. "It pulls back from me getting the word out."
The larger problem, as Malik sees it, is with the students themselves.
"You don't know who's Muslim and who's not," she says, adding that many Muslim men and women on campus refuse to wear their traditional Islamic garb.
"I think it's kind of sad," she says. "If we can come out wearing tight clothes for the parties, why can't we wear what we are obligated to for our religion?"
Malik has been working with MSA student faculty advisor, Dr. Kaukab Siddique to keep the Association alive. As the advisor, Siddique is responsible for helping the Association organize events and he gives support when solicited. He also volunteers by delivering occasional sermons in the Mosque.
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