SUNY New Paltz Muslim Student Association Fall 2024
SUNY New Paltz’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted its annual event week throughout October during the Fall 2024 college semester. By organizing engaging activities that connect students to their heritage within a college setting, MSA aims to foster community and raise funds for orphans and children in need. Their events, designed to be universally appealing, included a club banquet, a henna night, and a dodgeball tournament, offering students to have opportunities to connect both within their culture and across cultures. According to MSA, making ideas a reality takes commitment and effort, even if they are as straightforward as setting up an area for meaningful social interaction. These events result from the MSA board members’ combined work and shared stories, influencing the organization’s desire to survive and remain inspired within the venues they create.
Massandje:
A friend urged me to join MSA, and I worked my way up from vice president to my current position as president. Growing up, my parents emphasized the value of prayer and religious practice, although this occasionally caused a split in my beliefs. However, the college has allowed me to create a more personal, self-sufficient relationship with Islam. Joining MSA provided me with a supportive group in which I could develop my faith and interact with people who hold similar values. As president, I’ve seen the power of community building, as MSA not only enhances my faith but also helps others reconnect with Islam and discover what it means to them as well.
Aisha:
Growing up in a West African environment where religion was heavily enforced, I joined MSA as an event planner to form a more personal connection with my faith. I wanted my connection to Islam to stem from my understanding and choice, rather than being forced on me. This path, particularly in preparing events, has enhanced my relationship with Islam, allowing me to see life’s happenings as part of Allah’s creation rather than mere chance. With friends of various religions, particularly Christians, my faith has provided a chance to learn and grow. I see the difficulties, but rather than focusing on religious symbols such as wearing a hijab, I try to view individuals for who they are and what values they embrace.
Kadijah:
As MSA’s treasurer, I find the community here to be a soothing presence, especially when I’m away from home. MSA helps me alleviate the isolation that might come with college life by providing an atmosphere for me to connect with others who share my ideas. I never imagined I’d wear the hijab full-time, but being surrounded by those who do has given me the confidence to try it, and in doing so, my spiritual journey has greatly improved. Most of my friends are Muslim, and we support one another via shared experiences, but I also embrace diversity and avoid casting judgment. My dedication to Islam influences my decisions, but I value each individual and believe that nondiscrimination is essential to my faith.
Lamine:
Jameela:
As one of MSA’s event coordinators, I am committed to fostering a Muslim-friendly environment at SUNY New Paltz and teaching our primarily non-Muslim campus
about Islam. My responsibility is more than just event planning; it is also about encouraging understanding and inclusivity among people of many faiths. College
can make it easy to lose sight of one’s faith, but being a member of MSA keeps me grounded, particularly with the people I surround myself with who help me stay
connected to my roots. I genuinely admire my friends’ commitment to deen (faith), in which we encourage each other to resist temptations such as drinking or partying that contradict our principles. I also strive to connect with my non-Muslim friends by sharing insights about my religion, in the hopes of creating mutual respect and understanding.
Mina:
I joined MSA to become more involved on campus and meet other Muslims. Initially, it was about developing relationships, but with time, my faith has developed
and my understanding of Islam has expanded. I’ve learned that no one is a “perfect Muslim,” and that we all connect around the same values, despite our differences. The college has also altered my perspective. Moving from a fast-paced urban atmosphere to New Paltz has helped me become more open-minded and empathetic. I’ve learned to gradually identify the invisible problems that others suffer as I strengthen my communication skills, which has allowed me to be more compassionate and supportive of others around me.
Rabia:
As the youngest of five sisters, my involvement with MSA began by witnessing my older siblings participate in their college MSAs. Growing up in a predominantly white, Christian community, where I was one of only two Muslim girls in school, I frequently felt a sense of isolation. Hearing about my sisters’ college experiences and how they met Muslim friends prompted me to join MSA in the hopes of feeling more welcomed and understood. Since joining, I’ve not only gained new friends, but I’ve also discovered an opportunity to reconnect with my faith in a more socially connected setting, which has been quite valuable to me.
I consider my Muslim identity to be a crucial part of who I am and the reason I am working in MSA as one of the heads of a customer organization. My faith is a means of encouraging and bringing others together around a common belief, not only for me personally. I often look back on experiences that have improved my relationship with Allah, and I make an effort to improve every day because I know that even if I’m not perfect, my faith provides me with direction and a growth path. Since it’s simple to become distracted while in college, I constantly advise my friends to maintain their prayer routines because I think that prayer helps us stay focused even when we misstep. My goal at MSA is to create a “family” where we can support each other’s views and form long-lasting bonds.
Hawa:
As MSA’s secretary, I joined to connect with those who share my values, but my involvement has deepened my knowledge of unity during diversity by demonstrating that everyone approaches Islam differently. I’ll admit it’s difficult to make prayer a daily habit, but since entering college, I’ve reinforced my faith by viewing prayer as a welcome break—an opportunity to reconnect with God— rather than a chore. I cherish all connections, regardless of religious affiliation, but I instinctively bond with people of Abrahamic religions since we have a belief in one God. I believe that spiritual and human relationships may live peacefully, providing a sense of belonging to everyone, regardless of whether they share my faith or not.
Artist Reflection:
Documenting these students felt like a valuable personal experience. At first, I admit it was hard addressing them since I have always felt a different connection to my Muslim roots than some of the MSA board members. Growing up, I lacked the same sense of pride in my faith that many of them appeared to have. That distinction made me hesitant. However, as I listened to their stories, I found it meaningful to learn how each of them identified their reasons for understanding religion for themselves rather than for others. Their views shed light on something I had long struggled with. The unwillingness to embrace faith is frequently caused by the impact of the people before us; our parents, as well as the pressure created from it to meet the expectations to strictly practice religion that would be enforced. As a result, it can become a really difficult thing to embrace considering the upbringing of each generation.​​ My interactions with these students have reminded me of the importance of having an environment where people can express their faith freely. Such an environment not only allows people to connect with faith on their terms but also helps to reduce generational repression, which can limit self-discovery. Listening to their views of Islam motivates me to approach my relationship to faith with curiosity and compassion, realizing the importance of giving others, and myself, the opportunity to explore faith in personal and meaningful, non-judgemental ways.