Assalamu Alaikum,
Dear Muslim students:
Welcome to MSA National's February edition of the E-letter! If you have an MSA success story or would like to share MSA news, we would love to hear from you. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month.
Please send all submissions to eletter@msanational.org.
We are also pleased to inform you that the E-letter is now accepting advertisements. To advertise in the E-letter, contact: advertise@msanational.org
Please note: MSA National does not endorse and is not responsible for any of the activities, events and projects listed in the E-letter other than those organized by MSA National itself.
Thank-you,
Your E-letter Team
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| From the President's Desktop |
Asma Mirza
February 2008
Salams MSAers! I pray everyone has settled into their classes and is ready for the first wave of midterms.
I'd like to start this month's desktop by asking everyone to keep the families of those affected by the two recent school shootings, at Northern Illinois University and Louisiana Technical College, in your prayers. Please also pray for Muslim student Ah-Num Rahman, a sister who was wounded at Northern Illinois.
Campus security is a priority for all students. We applaud the quick response time of law enforcement at both universities, yet it is necessary to find ways to prevent such acts and keep our campuses safe.
In an effort to voice student concerns, I accepted an invitation to meet with other Muslim activists and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Governor Howard Dean. We also discussed ways the DNC can reach out to Muslims and Muslim youth in the upcoming Presidential election. This past month on behalf of MSA National I also attended the ISNA Majlis Meeting in Plainfield, Indiana.
I am very excited to highlight two efforts by our Task Forces. Alhamduillah, this March we will be re-launching The MSA Link. The MSA Link is a biannual, professionally developed magazine dealing with issues facing Muslim students and highlighting their accomplishments. With 17 volunteers and writers from across the US and Canada, The MSA Link will be distributed at the upcoming Zonal Conferences.
Also, the Community Service Task Force (CSTF) Chair Sr. Yasmin Hussein will be representing MSA National at the Clinton Global Initiative's first-ever university forum - CGI U - hosted by former President Bill Clinton. CSTF is also working on Action Hour at the upcoming Zonal Conferences.
Our Zonal Reps and Task Force Chairs have been working hard in preparation for the upcoming MSA National Zonal Conferences. The Programs Task Force, led by Br. Ali and Sr. Farha, has been working closely with the local committees to create a dynamic, relevant program. Members of the MSA National Executive Committee, including Sr. Nura, Sr. Randa, Br. Mohamed, and myself visited two of the conference sites.
The Zonal Reps are also preparing for "Leaving a Legacy: Key Lessons for MSA Workers" by Imam Suhaib Webb this Wednesday, February 27th. To learn more, visit the website.
I hope to bring you more updates as we continue the Spring Semester and I look forward to seeing you all at the Zonal Conferences!
Wassalams!
Asma Mirza
President
MSA National
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| Updates From Your Zonal Reps |
EAST ZONE USA
Asalaamu Alaikum!
InshAllah I pray that all of you are doing well! I know for everyone MSA
events have started up now at your schools so inshAllah everything goes
smoothly! As most of you have already heard, the East Zone 2008 Conference will be held in Newark, New Jersey April 4-6. Be sure to mark your calendars and to check out the Zonal website soon so you and your MSA can register!
MSA National will continue this months scholar call with none other than
Imam Suhaib Webb! The call will be held February 27 at 10PM Eastern time.
This months topic is "Leaving a Legacy: Key Lessons for the MSA Workers" so make sure you don't miss out on this awesome opportunity and that you RSVP to msaconferencecall@msanational.org to get the conference call details!
Lastly, make sure to check out your zonal web page at
http://ezusa.msanational.org/ to see what is going on in your zone and
other MSAs too!
DON'T FORGET! If there is anything your MSA needs, please feel free to
contact me at ezrepusa@msanational.org.
Take
care,
Wassalaam!
Sumrah
Haider
East Zone USA Representative
ezrepusa@msanational.org
EAST ZONE CANADA
Assalamualaikum East Zone!
Show your MSA spirit by contributing and participating in these two very important events!
God-willing, the East Zone Canada Conference, "Ties that Bind: Faith, Family and Community", will be on May 24th & 25th in Mississauga, Ontario.
Keep updated by visiting http://ezcan.msanational.org/
MIST TORONTO IS COMING
MIST (Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament) has finally come to Canada! It is famous for being a fun, educational, interactive program of competitions and workshops geared towards bringing high school students together from around the nation to develop leadership, communication, and other creative skills, all while gaining a deeper understanding of Islam and Muslims
However, a lot of help and planning will be required to make this event successful! It will require resources from possibly every MSA in EZ Canada. Whether your MSA wants to support MIST financially or with volunteers or if YOU would like to step up and join the MIST team then please contact hamzah@misttoronto.ca with the subject MIST in the subject line.
Check out http://www.misttoronto.ca
It will be on May 3rd & 4th 2008 at the University of Toronto - Mississauga campus.
Are you ready to get Mistified?
JazakumAllah khayran
Sincerely,
Qudsiyya Zalgaonker
East Zone Canada Representative
ezrepcan@msanational.org
WEST ZONE CANADA
Assalamu Alaikum, West Zone Stand Up!
I hope this email finds all you zoners in the best of health and in a highly elevated level of iman.
Alhumdulillah its official! West Zone Canada will have a conference this year. Check out this link for more information. http://wzcan.msanational.org/events/
Be on the lookout for a promotional video and a Facebook page coming soon Inshallah. I'm sure some of you have ideas or suggestions and I'm very interested in hearing all about them. To share your thoughts/ideas all you need to do is shoot and email over to wzrepcan@msanational.org
My team and I will be working hard to make sure the conference is a success and we ask that you keep us in your prayers.
Volunteers are welcomed and needed.
Is there any reward for good other than good? Qur'an 55:60
Your brother in Islam,
Samir Hassan
West Zone Canada Representative
wzrepcan@msanational.org
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| Imam Suhaib Webb Leads Continent-wide Conference Call for MSAs
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Join February's continent-wide Zonal Conference Call titled
"Leaving a Legacy: Key Lessons for MSA Workers" with Imam Suhaib Webb. This amazing lecture is a
must-listen for all MSA members!
February 27th at 10pm EST
RSVP: E-mail msaconferencecall@msanational.org to get the call information!
For updates, please visit: http://www.msanational.org/events/conferencecalls/
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2008 Zonal Conferences
Ties that Bind: Faith, Family, Community
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Central Zone USA Conference
March 28-30
St. Louis, Missouri
http://czusa.msanational.org/conference/registration/
East Zone USA Conference
April 4-6, 2008
Newark, New Jersey
http://ezusa.msanational.org/conference/registration/
East Zone Canada ConferenceMay 24 and 25Toronto, Ontariohttp://ezcan.msanational.org/
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| Advertise in the MSA National Monthly E-letter
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The MSA National monthly E-letter is now accepting advertisements from companies, businesses and organizations. For more information please contact advertise@msanational.org.
The E-letter is a project of the Media & Communication Task Force of MSA National and is sent to approximately 10,000 readers each month. Countless others are able to view it online at www.msanational.org/eletter
Thank-you for your interest!
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| MSA National to Attend Forum Sponsored by Former US President Bill Clinton
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Community Service Task Force (CSTF) Chair Sr. Yasmin Hussein will be representing MSA National at the Clinton Global Initiative's first-ever university forum - CGI U. The event is hosted by former President Bill Clinton in New Orleans.
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| MSA National Meets with Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Howard Deen
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Sr. Asma Mirza, President of MSA National, accepted an invitation to meet with Chairman of the DNC Howard Dean. (for more information please refer to the news item "From the President's Desktop").
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MSA National does not endorse and is not responsible for any of the
activities, events and projects listed in the E-letter other than those
organized by MSA National itself. The following activities, events and
projects are not organized by MSA National:
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| Spring Camp 2008 Hosted by MSA at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Yomna Khatib Awarded El-Aggan Family Entrance Scholarship for Muslims
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Yomna Khatib has been chosen as the first recipient of the El-Aggan Family Entrance Scholarship for Muslims. The objective of this annual scholarship is to promote a positive image of Canadian Muslims by promoting a greater understanding of Muslims in Canadian society.
Yomna is currently President of the Muslim Law Students' Association (MLSA) at the Faculty of Law where she has been organizing a conference on social justice and human rights. Yomna also helped organize digital recorders for recording law lectures this past fall as a means of accommodating religious observances during Ramadan. She is involved in forming a mentorship program which has been undertaken by the MLSA. This program will pair up uOttawa undergraduates with current law students to provide guidance, support, and motivation.
Keep up the great work, Yomna!
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Receive Free DVDs of Cities of Light Sponsored by Cordoba University
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Cordoba University and Unity Productions Foundation, makers of Muhammad:
Legacy of a Prophet are offering a free DVD of their new PBS documentary,
Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain, an important story
of how Muslims, Christians, and Jews built a thriving society together, but also
of how it was torn apart by greed, fear and intolerance. This offer is extended
to every MSA chapter free of charge and is in conjunction with the outreach
program 20,000 Dialogues. To receive your free DVD of Cities of Light, go to
'Start a Dialogue' on the Website: www.dialoguesforpeace.org
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| Free Summer Abroad in Turkey for Muslim Students (correction)
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Program: Islamic studies and Quran for teen girls and
women. **Please note that this trip applies to residents in Atlanta only**
Location: The Aziz Mahmud Hudayi Quran Center for Woman - Istanbul, Turkey
Cost: Free! This includes room and board, three meals a day, and trips to major
Islamic sites in Istanbul. AIRFARE AND VISA IS YOUR RESPONSIBLITY.
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Interfaith Youth Core
Fellows Alliance 2008-2009
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Interfaith Youth Core
Fellows Alliance 2008-2009
Apply NOW!!
The time is right for college students to lead the movement for religious pluralism
WHO: Student leaders from diverse faith communities on college and university campuses across the country.
WHAT: IFYC Fellows receive year-long stipends to support interfaith organizing work on their college campus, IFYC staff mentors, a network of peer colleagues, access to the national network of interfaith youth work organizers, specialized trainings, media , and other leadership development opportunities.
HOW: Visit www.ifyc.org/fellows to download the Fellows Alliance application. Deadline to apply is March 15, 2008.
For more information, contact Megan Hughes at 312-573-8911 or megan@ifyc.org
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KashmirCorps Summer Public Service Program
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June 1st, 2008-July 13th, 2008
KashmirCorps is happy to announce that applications for the 2008 Summer Public Service Program are now available to download on our website. This year's program offers several more opportunities for interns in fields related to healthcare, education, and economic development. We are seeking mature individuals with a strong passion for public service and research to utilize their skills and knowledge to assist our partner NGOs with their specific projects.
If you are concerned about potential funding for our program, please do not hesitate to email us. We can assist you in locating sources of funding, and when possible, can offer small grants to subsidize costs associated with your stay in Kashmir.
The final deadline for all application shall be on March 3rd, 2008. Please Contact Hafsa Kanjwal (hafsa.kanjwal@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
Please visit http://www.kashmircorps.org/apply.php for more information and to apply!
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The Muslim Students Association National, headquartered near Washington
D.C., has been serving Muslim students on colleges and university campuses across the United States
and Canada since 1963. There are over 250 MSA chapters on university and college campuses throughout the
United States and Canada.
Sincerely,Your MSA National Board of Directors: Ex-officio: Mohamed Sheibani President: Asma Mirza Vice President of the USA: Hajar Abdul-Rahim Vice President of Canada: Zeina Sleiman Treasurer: Randa Kuziez
Your MSA National Zonal Representatives: East Zone Canada Rep: Qudsiyya Zalgaonker
East Zone US Rep: Sumrah Haider Central Zone US Rep: Nura Sediqe West Zone Canada Rep: Samir Hassan
West Zone US Rep: Zeeshan Qasim Your MSA National Task Force Chairs: Community Service: Yasmin Hussein
COMPASS: Idris El-Bakri Dawah/Interfaith: Nasreen Badat
Media and Communication: Zainab Khan Information Technology: Meraj Ahmed Political Action: Asma Rehman
Programs: Chancey Gannett
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Spotlight on MSA
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Thanks to the efforts of the MSA at Pennsylvania State University, the campus is now offering halal food at one of its dining halls. Penn State is now the second of the only two halal food vendors in the town of State
College, PA. Keep up the great work!
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