Embracing religious diversity: Respect for Judeo-Christian-Islamic faiths
Below is a message from Dr. Arrick Jackson, Provost & Senior VP for Academic and Student Affairs
Fellow Dragons,
MSUM’s dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion recognizes that we must respect all faiths of our students and employees. This year, three holidays of the Judeo, Christian, and Islamic faiths all occur at a similar time. We ask you to respect our MSUM community as they practice their spiritual beliefs.
Ramadan
March 10-April 9, 2024, is the holy month of Ramadan, where Muslims worldwide recognize when the Qur’an, Islam’s sacred text, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset to build a stronger relationship with God. Please show respect for our Muslim population by not bringing food or drink into classrooms, allowing Muslim students to acquire food from campus dining facilities before they close, and recognizing that fasting may take a physical and emotional toll, thereby impacting workload, assignments, and exams.
Ramadan ends on April 10 with the Eid al-Fitr celebration, where Muslims end their fasting. Muslim colleagues and students may be absent from class or miss work.
Dining options during Ramadan
Kise Commons will have extended hours Monday-Thursday, March 17-April 9, from 7 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. Students can use meal swipes or pay at the door. Beginning at 8 p.m., hot breakfast (eggs, turkey sausage, breakfast potatoes, fruit, dates) and to go boxes will be available.
Created with Love, located in the CMU food court, will be open 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 22-24 and April 5-7. Students can use meal swipes (during this time only) or pay at the till. Options will include hot breakfast (eggs, turkey sausage, breakfast potatoes, fruit, dates) and dinner (chicken, beef, or lamb burgers, chicken skewers, rice, garden salad, and drinks.) To go boxes are available.
Passover
April 22-30, 2024, is Passover, one of the most revered holidays of the Jewish faith. Passover is a festival of freedom, commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their transition from slavery to freedom. The central ritual of Passover is the seder — a festive meal that involves re-telling the Exodus through stories and song and the consumption of ritual foods, including matzah and maror. The central Passover practice is a set of intense dietary changes, mainly the absence of hametz or foods with leaven. Please be respectful to our Jewish friends during Passover.
Lent and Easter
Lent (February 14-March 28, 2024) is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and service or giving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Celebrated by many Americans, it’s a period of preparation to remember the Lord’s Resurrection, celebrated on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024. Because Easter is considered the default religious holiday in the spring, we set time off for its commemoration at the national, state, and local levels. MSUM’s non-instructional and non-duty days (March 29-April 1) coincide with this year’s Easter holiday.
Respect for all Religions
As our community and country become more diverse, it’s important to recognize the beliefs and non-beliefs of those in the Dragon family. We ask everyone to be respectful of our MSUM community’s spiritual practices and make accommodations in the following ways:
- Supervisors: Support your team members by providing them with the time needed to observe their respective holidays.
- Employees: Communicate with your supervisors in advance if you require additional time and space for your religious observance.
- Instructors: Ask students to provide advance notice if they will miss class for their religious observance. Offer accommodations and time extensions if needed.
- Students: Notify your instructors if you need a religious accommodation.
Thank you for your continuous effort in making MSUM a more inclusive institution.