click logo for homepage
 
 

	Vol.7, No 9, September 14, 1999
	Muslims stay devoted on campus By Christine Rhee Daily Forty-Niner Every morning, while some students still sleep soundly, a quiet room is available to Cal State Long Beach Muslim students to meet for Eastern-facing prayer and quiet meditation. "I wanted to form a place where Muslim students can gather to get to know one another and to spend time praying in between classes," said Abdulkarim Almotairi, president of the CSULB Muslim Students Association.  "Our goal is to form strong unity among Muslim students here in CSULB by socializing with many of our brothers and sisters," Almotairi said. There are designated dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening prayer times for Muslims but for many students those times conflict with class schedules. A majority of the students come in the afternoon in between classes for prayer and discussion.  "We just have a casual meeting where Muslim students on campus get together for daily prayer and socializing," said Hesham Algamiel, junior, a criminal justice major. "We also want to let the community and the university know about Islam and our culture." Muslim students are still in the process of planning activities for this semester. So far they have planned a debate between Muslim students and Christian students on the topic of Islamic Christianity.  Arabic classes will also be offered to students who wish to learn the language for proper and better translation of the Koran, the holy book of Islam, said Almotairi. "I think the main thing for Muslim Students Association is to bring out the truth and clear many misconceptions and misunderstandings," said sophomore Ahmed Alasbahi, a construction engineer management major. "It is our duty to find the right answer for those people who donít know about Muslims."  "I think it's great that we have this place to come to all as a group because unity is very important in Islamic culture," said junior Sameer Sood, a history major. "Anyone can come in here and pick up a flier or a pamphlet if they would like to join our group." USU-223 is available for students from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday but that may be subject to change.  "We are having problems now," Almotairi said. "Our request for using USU-223 as a permanent room was refused."  "Soon I will be meeting President Maxson to request for a permanent room," he added.  Meetings are scheduled in USU-223 until October. Members of the association will be notified regarding upcoming events and the possible room change.		Jason Steinberg/ Daily Forty-Niner CSULB student Ahmed Alasbahi bows to Mecca in traditional Islamic mid-day prayer.                                                                               Ex-worker accuse of abuse Muslims stay devoted on campus Sci-fi writer shares her experiences Journalism department has new faces Campus construction draws criticism Recycling center makes campus greener Actor portrays famous Gold Rush-era herbalist Faulty local freeways Presidential campus praise Allegations fly in defense of writing exam Hip-Hop radio show bounces 'Legacy of Kain' shines Outer realm has right elements Santana focuses on young crowd LBSU athletic events in tune Only three LBSU runners make trip to invitational Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.