At Marywood, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) shines bright. It is a space for students from all backgrounds to come together and “strengthen their faith through service and leadership”. The association is “for all students to connect, learn and grow.” Throughout the course of the semester, the MSA hosts religious, social and educational activities.
The MSA is still a new up and coming group on the Marywood campus, with 12 members in its second semester. President Mameki Kromah shared that there has been so much excitement and growth amongst the students. Last semester Kromah says that they focused on “building community, introducing ourselves to campus and creating a foundation that future students can carry on.”
That foundation is setting the stage for the MSA to continue its growth and legacy for students all across campus, no matter if they are Muslim or practice any other religion. The goal is to be a place for students to feel welcome and right at home.
The MSA aims to support Muslim students both academically as well as socially, all the while sharing their values and culture within the Marywood community. Kromah expressed that the group wants to “build bridges, strengthen faith and promote understanding of Islam in ways that bring people together.”
The MSA offers opportunities for both Muslim students and the entire campus community. For Muslim students, the MSA is “home away from home” and provides a sense of support both spiritually and socially. With the MSA, other students on campus are given the chance to learn and ask questions while also aiding in creating awareness, inclusivity and connection across the campus. Kromah says that the Muslim Student Association sees themselves “as a bridge, bringing awareness about Islam while also building friendships across cultures and faiths. Our events create opportunities for dialogue, understanding and connection that make campus more inclusive for everyone.”
With the involvement from students of all backgrounds, there is room for not only so much growth for the MSA, but also a wider understanding amongst students from all different walks of life to get to know, respect, and understand each other.
Because the Marywood chapter is still taking shape, Kromah says that this allows every member to have a voice in what the MSA can become. The opportunity to leave a legacy all while creating new traditions makes the chapter really special.
Throughout the year, the MSA hosts a mix of events that range from religious and cultural to social events. Last semester, the students had an Eid celebration, to celebrate the end of Ramadan, which Kromah says was a favorite amongst the group. They had English Qurans, henna and fun activities at the event, and students are still talking about it. She says that it showed how much the members of the Marywood community really value community and celebration. This year, the group wants to host an iftar, the meal eaten after sunset during the period of Ramadan, for the entire campus.
Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, and is used as a time for prayer, reflection, and community, drawing closer to God. In this tradition, Muslims refrain from food, drink and other physical needs from dawn to sunset. They engage in prayer and acts of compassion. The MSA wants to commemorate this tradition with the iftar, and celebrate with students of Islamic and other faith backgrounds.
The MSA aims to bring in guest speakers to enhance the students’ experience. She says that they want to focus on “balancing fun, faith and service.” They also want to continue building on those relationships across campus, and keep collaborating with other clubs to reach more students.
For Kromah, she was inspired to take on the role as president to create a community for others, similar to what she had when she first came to Marywood. She hopes to make Muslim students feel “seen and supported” all the while showing the entire campus the “beauty and values of Islam in a welcoming way”. She says that it is rewarding to meet people that share similar values and to see “the spark of excitement when they realize they’ve found a community they belong to”. Planning all of the events is worth it when she can watch people walk away with smiles on their faces, new friends by their side and a wider understanding of Islam.
The MSA isn’t just for Muslims, and the association welcomes all who want to learn more, meet new people or take part in a good conversation. You can attend their meetings, events, follow the MSA on instagram, volunteer with the group or simply stop by to learn more.
The MSA is an organization with so much momentum behind them, and whether it be getting involved on a small or large scale, there is a place for everyone. There is passion and motivation built into the heart of the MSA, and real changes can be made with the smallest interest or action.
Kromah says that “whether you’re Muslim or simply curious, there’s a place for you in MSA, and even a small act of showing up helps strengthen our community”
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