BY NIKKI WILSON

Staff Writer

The Muslim Student Association is an organization that has taken form at Winthrop over the past few years. Although the organization hosts cultural events and shows movies for students, the MSA has a deeper meaning to contribute to campus.

“The whole idea of the MSA is to teach people about Islam; to clear out the misconceptions the west has about Islam,” said Rahman Rasheed, a junior communication disorder major who is a member. “Our goal is to enhance the understanding and knowledge of Islam among the Winthrop community through social and academic events that involve all members of the university and all religious faiths.”

The MSA recently hosted a two-night cultural event in which members showed a documentary movie and hosted a discussion afterwards. The movie and discussion were followed by a feast put together by members of the organization.

“[The MSA] invited the campus to feast to celebrate the ending of the month of fasting and discipline called Ramadan,” said Peter Judge, assistant professor of religious studies and faculty advisor for the MSA. “Like any other religiously oriented groups on campus, they are there to support their fellow believers and to inform others about their faith and its impact on their lives.”

According to Judge, the most common misconception about Muslims is that they are all the same and get stereotyped by dress, attitudes and ethnic features. The MSA is open to all people, on or off campus, to join in the understanding of what the Islam faith is, as well as other religious and cultural aspects of Muslims.

“Some people think that all Muslims dislike or hate Jews and Christians, or people of other religions and want to see them destroyed. [They think] that they are against America and that they are all terrorists,” Judge said. “Anyone who observes the Muslim Student Association will quickly see that Muslim students are unique individuals who enhance the life of our campus and yet are ordinary, everyday students with the same concerns about life and health and family and studies and career that every student at Winthrop has.”

Erika Totherow, a sophomore interior design major, said the main problem people have with any religious faith is a lack of knowledge.

“People will judge other faiths before understanding them because it’s easier to go with first impressions than to find out what something or someone is really about,” Totherow said. “People don’t have to go to church to figure out a religion. They just need to do some research and be open minded to what they find. The MSA is present to help others with their research about Muslims.”

According to their Web site, Birdnest.org/msa, the organization tries to meet three key points: help Muslim students adapt to college life and meet others of their own faith, encourage friendly relations with other religious groups on campus and to introduce Islam and its values to Muslims and non-Muslims. They want to involve all people of the university and all religious faiths.

“The MSA is open to anyone and everyone,” Rasheed said. “We want to hear from you, know what you think about Islam, and share what we know. We want people to join us in understanding.”

The Muslim Student Association meets every week on Winthrop’s campus. For more information, go to their Web site, talk to a member or all people are highly encouraged to attend a MSA meeting.