Middle Eastern day connects students with culture, shatters stereotypes
Words and phrases used by western media to describe Arabs and Muslims do not exist among natives of the Middle East.
SIUE students participate in Dabke, a traditional group dance that varies by country in the Middle East. (Photo by Joseph Lacdan)
Members of the SIUE Arabic club and Saudi Student Association hand out brochures about Arabic culture during the first SIUE Middle Eastern day on April 13 in the Quad. (Photo by Joseph Lacdan)
“When you say the word Muslim world or Arab world, there is no such thing,” said SIUE Arabic club president Tes Habbal. “Because Arabs are very diverse, Muslims are very diverse.”
The club and the Saudi Student Association organized the first Middle Eastern day in Quad to treat SIUE students to some of the vast diversity of Arab and Muslim culture, including food and dance.
The club created Arab Day to help shatter stereotypes and introduce SIUE students to the delicacies of Arab culture. Students were invited to take the Hijab (head scarf) challenge where students had the opportunity to wear a Hijab. Students also were given free desserts including Basbosa, a pastry made from oil sugar, coconut and flour. About 40 students organized the event and handed out brochures about Middle Eastern culture. Students also participated in a traditional folk dance called Dabke, where participants join hands and engage in group dance movements. The dance is used at weddings and social events and varies by country.
“I feel like our culture is really, really rich,” Habbal said. “Unfortunately, with the politics going on in the Middle East, when the word ‘Middle East’ is mentioned, people often think of war and violence and extremism and they do not often see the beauty of our culture – the beauty of what we have … I do think American students appreciate these aspects of us.”
Habbal, an immigrant from Syria, will graduate with a degree in political science from SIUE on Saturday. She transferred to SIUE two years ago and found that the club had been deactivated for a semester. Habbal applied to become president and bring new life to the club to give Muslim and Arab students a sense of community.
“It’s not only about stereotypes. It’s also about us learning to have a stronger voice — learning to have a stronger presence,” Habbal said. “Two years ago, there was not many Arabs and the Arabic club was not even active. And this gives us a sense of identity. It’s something for us as well. It’s about us just gathering together where we can see each other have a source of unity to get things done.”
The club along with the Muslim Student Association and the Saudi Student association hosted the first SIUE Muslim Dinner at the Morris University center April 29. The event sold more than 200 tickets and was sponsored by Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Maple.
Filed Under: Asian Studies • Historical Studies • Human Interest
