This week the Muslim Student Association has planned several activities in celebration of Islam Awareness Week.
According to MSA Vice President Galaal Elsamadicy, the basic goal of Islam Awareness Week is to help students make sense of Islam and fight some of the common misconceptions about it.
"The events for this year cover a broad spectrum of Islam, and we hope many people can pick and see which part of Islam that interests them the most and come out and learn about it," said MSA President Emadaldine Elsamadicy.
In comparison to last year, this year's Islam Awareness Week is more serious, according to Galaal Elsamadicy. Last year the week featured an Islamic comedian who approached the topic in a rather lighthearted manner, he said. This year, he expects the week to be more serious.
"We don't have a primary theme, but the main focus is exposing Islam and Muslims to the Western world, fighting preconceptions and presuppositions," Galaal Elsamadicy said.
"The biggest thing is that it shows Vanderbilt campus a different side of Islam rather than the perceptions the media advance," said Middle Eastern Student Association President Jeanine Mansour.
The first of four events is the Conversion Panel, which will feature Christians recently converted to Islam and discuss their motives, experience and knowledge gained as a result of their conversion.
The panel will meet in Stevenson Center, Room 4327 at 6 p.m. today. The event will convene until approximately 6:45 p.m. so as not to interfere with the IMPACT Symposium.
MSA will host World Wednesday at noon in Meeting Room 1 of the Student Life Center. The topic for discussion will be "How Islam Respects Women."
"It's going to be a talk to debunk the impressions people have of women in the media through movies, news and other media outlets," Galaal Elsamadicy said.
The headline event Thursday will feature a lecture by former chaplain Sheikh Yusuf Estes. His speech, "Exploring Islam and Muslims," will start at 7 p.m. in Stevenson Center, Room 4309.
Estes has traveled and spoken all across the world, in both Islamic and Western countries.
"It is particularly interesting because I have never heard of a converted sheikh (an Arabic word meaning a revered elder)," Galaal Elsamadicy said. "Estes converted to Islam in his 50s and is currently in his 70s. Participants will have the opportunity for open questions and discussion following the speech."
Saturday MSA will host a sports night, inviting Muslims and non-Muslims to play soccer at the Natchez Trace field at 7:30 p.m.
"What I would like students to know is that our events are not designed to preach to you about Islam," Emadaldine Elsamadicy said. "The events are held to simply describe what Muslims believe in and how certain actions in the world are against Islamic teachings."
