Student Organization Spotlight: Muslim Student Association 

February 26, 2024

By Makenna Mincey, Staff Writer

World Hijab Day did not go unrecognized on Xavier’s campus, thanks to Xavier’s Muslim Student Association. On Feb. 2 in the University Center, students were given the opportunity to learn about the cultural and religious significance of the hijab and invited to wrap one themselves, with the help of MSA members.

“The MSA provides both a space of social and spiritual support for those individuals as well as a space to engage the larger community in these diverse thoughts and perspectives, which is a large part of the role HBCUs play in the academic world,” said MSA president Zaynab Al-Rashed, a senior, biology pre-medicine major from New Orleans, La.

The table, covered in eye-catching scarves, candy, and informational cards, intrigued students of all backgrounds and introduced them to a whole new world within their own campus.

MSA plays an important role for students on-and-off campus. Focused on community, MSA recognizes

the unique needs of Muslim students in a mostly Christian space bridging the two faiths together in mutual respect.

In all their campus events, MSA seeks to promote productive and educational dialogue about Islam. On an HBCU campus like Xavier, these conversations are vital, members said. Historically, HBCUs have been safe spaces for racial and cultural minorities and have been the centers for advocacy and service. With recent conflicts in the Middle East, that have played out on campuses across the nation, MSA members said that now more than ever, these safe spaces for understanding are needed.

“People don’t generally know too much beyond what is portrayed in the media apart from those who get to know us as persons. And with the background of the Palestinian genocide and the resurgence of extreme Islamophobia in the West, us getting to know each other becomes more vital,” Al-Rashed said.

Whether through cultural awareness events, social media posts, or protests, MSA is constantly working with both Muslim and non-Muslim students to create change in the world today. By emphasizing awareness and mobilization, the organization strives to contribute to campus culture in a positive way.

In recognizing World Hijab Day and other important days for Muslim students, the organization hopes to be a small, but important part of HBCU life. For Xavier’s MSA, the greatest goal is to make room for everyone.

“I hope to be a part of the larger campus conversation of all of us belong in all spaces,” Al-Rashed said. “We, with our diverse backgrounds, experiences, and talents, are worthy. I believe one of the best ways to create an atmosphere of belonging is to pave the way with us understanding each other, and ultimately that’s what the MSA is all about.”