Before graduating in May, Dabi Malum aims to be the bridge between ECC and Muslim students and their need for community and connection.
To do this, he hopes to reinstate the Muslim Student Association (MSA) that ended in 2021.
“Creating MSA would be creating a safe space, to reach out to all who may be in need, and an effective way to meet fellow Muslims and communicate,“ Malum said.
It is unclear how many Muslims attend ECC.
According to the Communications Department, “ECC does not collect or maintain information related to students’ religious affiliation, so we are unable to provide counts for Muslim students.”
“I don’t feel represented at all,” said Zanab Syed, a dual credit student. “We need a club.”
Malum has compiled a list of more than 20 Muslim students who are willing to join the future club; however, he has hit a major roadblock. Malum needs to find a college employee to be an advisor to the club.
“Ideally, the advisor would be Muslim,” he said. “However, as long as the advisor [has an] open mind, heart, cares, and understands the importance of this club, backs us, then that’s where I’ll lean.”
Malum has taken the initiative to organize and complete the necessary steps to turn in applications to relaunch MSA.
”A club for Muslim students by Muslim students means we won’t have to compromise our beliefs,” said Aisha Smith, a Muslim student in her second semester.
“[A] Muslim student Association can benefit Muslim students by creating a Halal (permissible) environment, educat[ing] others about Islam, and creating an Umah (community) amongst peers,” Malum said.
“A club here would be great,” said Muslim student Zoeya Bhurgari, who is now in her second year at ECC. “We could host events like, for Ramadan, or having Hijab (Islamic head covering) booths to teach people what it is, normalizing hijab…or just being Muslim in general.”
In the meantime, Malum keeps searching for a potential advisor, and he continues connecting with his Muslim peers.
He said, “ECC tries to be inclusive, but they can benefit from Muslim students’ input when trying to include or represent us.”
