For the last several years, Capital University has been home to a small, and steadily growing, Muslim student community. Now members of this faith community are taking steps to create an official organization on campus, the Muslim Student Association (MSA).
“[We want] to raise awareness about our existence on campus, to let people know that we are on campus and let our voices be heard on issues that pertain to us as individuals and students as a whole,” said Naima Ilmi, sophomore.
The organization is meant to be more than just a space for its members to congregate on campus.
“We want to use our platform to educate people on Islam … to educate Muslims and non-Muslims. Sometimes we don’t even know about our own religion, but we can find out by listening,” said Muna Abu, first-year.
Members of upcoming MSA also hope to be able to help debunk many common myths about Islam, such as Islamic dress, and unify the campus.
“[We] want to debunk certain myths about the religion, and show people that what you see in the media is not always right, and that we are living proof [of that] … One of the biggest things we wanted to speak about was the Muslim dress … and let people know why we dress the way we do. One of the programs we are going to hold is a skit that makes fun of misconceptions of why we dress the way we do, which will also be educational,” said Ilmi.
The organization aims to not just be active on the Capital campus.
“We want to be involved in the community … [We] want to focus on giving back to the community and using our platform to help those who are less fortunate because that is one big part of our religion, charity,” said Ilmi.
In addition to working with Muslim students, the current MSA members also hope students of all faiths will join and they hope to work together with many groups on campus.
“We are open to working with any group that is willing to work with us,” said Ilmi. “We will be under the office of Diversity and Inclusion [because] we don’t want our organization to be viewed as just strictly religious. We are very open to other individuals. There is no preaching, we just want to be inclusive. We want to make students feel comfortable enough to come to us and ask questions … We won’t be offended by questions,” said Ilmi.
Other regional campus that have Muslim student associations include OSU and Columbus State. Members of the MSA also hope that having a Muslim student association on campus will attract further Muslim students
“We are starting this group because there are more Muslim students on campus, and I feel like [it] will attract more students to the school when you feel like there is a group for you,” said Ilmi
Despite the work that still needs to be done on campus to educate non-Muslim students, many of the current members of the MSA agreed that Capital was a welcoming campus for them.
“It is not like in high school where people just want to ask you dumb questions. People are not ignorant … I have not had anyone show any prejudice towards me for being Muslim,” said Abu
“The first couple of weeks [students] were fascinated with me…but after a while they were used to me,” said Suad Ali freshman.
“My first year going here I never really experienced anything, but I did feel a little off because there was not a place I could go to, and not many Muslim people I could identify with … but from students as a whole, I never personally felt discriminated against … but I do have friends who have been discriminated against,” said Ilmi
Currently, the MSA is still looking for a faculty advisor in order for the organization to register itself officially on campus and begin recruitment.
“We are a very motivated group of people, and we just need … someone there to say I am leading this group,” said Ilmi.
