Clubs are an integral part of students’ holistic experience at Union College. Categories range from academic, environmental, and political, to recreational, performative and activism. One of the most important categories of clubs on campus is the cultural and identity category. Such clubs play an important role in making students, especially those from minority communities, feel welcome at Union.
Clubs such as Black Student Union (BSU), Students of South Asia (SOSA), Latin Active Students Organisation (LASO), and Asian Student Union (ASU) are among the various such clubs on campus that strengthen cultural awareness and promote inclusivity across our diverse campus through events that they host.
This year, students Zainab Al-Abbasi ‘26 and Tala Aldaher ‘28 have taken on the initiative to start another cultural and identity club on campus for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) students on campus. They call this club “Majlis”, an Arabic word which means “place of sitting” and refers to a space for gathering and conversation between like-minded people with common interests.
The duo’s motivation behind the creation of this club was to allow fellow MENA students to exist within the comfort of a similar cultural and traditional community to the ones they have at home. They hope to create a space for students to feel safe, have fun, and share their culture with the larger Union community. Anyone who is interested in learning about the region, its culture, and its history, is highly encouraged to join.
“In my time here at Union, I’ve seen the MENA population grow quite a bit. When I first got here, it was rather sparse. However, with the new administration’s outlook on people who look like me, I felt responsible to create a space for students to feel comfortable and at home in light of recent developments in the political climate,” shared Al-Abbasi.
Though Majlis is not an official club yet, Al-Abbasi and Aldaher are in the process of gathering interest to become one by week 5. They are currently also on the lookout for a treasurer, PR Chair and Secretary. If you are interested in learning more about the club or joining, watch out for emails from Al-Abbasi and Aldaher about their interest meeting on September 22, from 5 PM to 6 PM. You can also reach out to them with any questions at [email protected] and [email protected].
