To mark the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid-al-Fitr on Thursday night, March 19, the college’s Student Diversity and Inclusion office invited students to grab snacks and treats earlier in the day.
Inside the SDI office, students assembled treat bags, picked up “Ramadan Mubarak” bracelets and chose from a spread of Middle Eastern desserts and snacks during the “Grab-and-Go” event.
First-year illustration major Taylor Cooper came to the “Grab-and-Go” because she was curious to find out more.
“I was like ‘Oh, my friend observes Ramadan,’” Cooper said. “I thought it was really interesting that the school would honor Ramadan like this.”
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it’s considered the holiest. During that time, Muslims obverse it by fasting during the daytime, praying, practicing self-reflection and focusing on community. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long fast by having festive meals with family members, communal prayer and giving to charity.
SDI Director Charee Mosby-Holloway said the “Grab-and-Go” was created in response to student feedback about the challenges of fasting during the academic day.
The two-day event was designed to serve as a resource for Muslim students to have access to food to end their fast — though it took place on the last day of Ramadan — and as an educational opportunity for non practicing students.
“One of our students suggested having some snacks available for students to either eat here or take with them for later,” Mosby-Holloway said. “We wanted to make sure to have something in recognition of such an important cultural celebration.”
In previous years, the SDI office assisted the Muslim Student Association with hosting cultural events. After its core leadership graduated in Spring 2024, the organization was disbanded. Last year, students told the Chronicle that they struggled to find community.
Across Chicago, other universities hosted multiple Ramadan events this year. DePaul University hosted an interfaith community iftar dinner, the evening meal eaten by Muslims to break their daily fast at sunset during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The University of Illinois Chicago’s Muslim Student Association hosts two iftars a week during Ramadan.
Columbia’s South Loop TV reported that President and CEO Shantay Bolton attended an Iftar dinner on Feb. 26 hosted by the city and attended by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, but the college did not host its own dinner.
“Unfortunately we do have finite resources, so we try to spread the recognition as much as possible,” said Mosby-Holloway, “sometimes that means we can’t do everything every single year.”
Columbia’s Students for Justice in Palestine previously collaborated with MSA during Ramadan to host check-in meetings and workshops.
SJP president Taika Clark, a senior game and interactive media design major, said the organization has had trouble coordinating events recently, leading to a lack of recognition for Ramadan on campus.
“I’m unsure of the best times, availability, space reservations, and especially getting the word out there,” Clark said.
The recent political climate also has made it difficult to focus and plan anything, he added.
Ramadan this year comes at a moment of heightened strain for many Muslims in the United States, shaped by ongoing conflict abroad, increased immigration enforcement and a rise in anti-Muslim incidents. Those pressures have disrupted gatherings, limited participation and made organizing events more difficult.
Ameilia Lutz, executive vice president of the Student Government Association, said SGA does not host individual religiously affiliated events but instead supports student groups that do.
Mosby-Holloway said SDI fills the gap.
“We have a relatively small Muslim student population here, but that doesn’t mean that population doesn’t deserve representation,” she said.
Copy edited by Brandon Anaya
