Inclusivity During Ramadan

Have students been feeling comfortable on campus? 

By Najma Hussein

Inclusivity is what all schools strive for and what students look for. Being a student here at St. Kate’s, I have experienced warm smiles and welcoming arms. As part of the school’s inclusivity efforts, during Ramadan, the dining hall has served Muslim students halal chicken. This has made me feel more connected with the school, and they accommodate me. Since I am a commuter and leave school right after class, I have not been on campus during dinner, meaning I am not at school for iftar. 

Ilhan Noor ‘25 (Respiratory Care) takes a night class here on campus and usually eats from the dining hall. “The dining hall is doing a good job at accommodating us,” they said, but added, “I wish they could make it a little cheaper since some students lowered their work hours to fast.” 

I decreased my hours at work so I wouldn’t feel light-headed while working, which is what most Muslim students do on campus. The dining hall increasing the price of their halal chicken is somewhat offensive, since accommodating a specific group of people should not force that group to spend additional money on those accommodations. It forces students to choose the less halal option due to price. 

Noor had nothing but nice things to say about her night class professor. After Noor and five other Muslim students gave the professor a heads-up, they could leave the class to pray and break their fast. “We finish up our lab, and we’re like, ‘Okay, time to go,’ and she’s very understanding. And I really appreciated the accommodations she has made for us. You know, I felt like very comfortable coming to her and saying, ‘Hey, is this okay?’”

MIPS and MSA have also made accommodation arrangements for students on campus by providing food once a week. I have attended these iftar dinners, which has allowed me to connect with other students I have not seen much during the school day. 

St. Kate’s has been doing a good job of being inclusive toward the Muslim students here on campus, but some aspects could be improved. For the time being, the school has shown its interest in its students and their success by providing them with the tools and resources they need.