Students host Arab Awareness Week

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Editor’s note: This story has been clarified from an original version.

Arab students at MSU will attempt to break down some of their culture’s stereotypes this week, during several events dedicated to what might be one of the most misunderstood regions in the world.

The third annual Arab Awareness Week, hosted by the Arab Cultural Society, or ACS, is a week of events promoting Arab and Middle Eastern culture at MSU, said Mark Joseph, an advertising senior and co-chairman of ACS.

Despite progress since the fallout of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Joseph said many at MSU still are misinformed about Arab society.

“We want to create awareness around campus of the Arab culture,” he said. “It’s getting a lot better since things like (the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks), but we still want to (address) the common misconceptions.”

Many in the Arabic community have been affected by the stigma of extremists, Joseph said, even though very few share those beliefs.

The week kicked off Monday morning as ACS members and friends of the group handed out Middle Eastern food, such as pita manaeesh, at the rock on Farm Lane throughout the day to promote the rest of the week’s events.

Psychology senior Rita Jahshan helped pass out the food, which was from the New Yasmeen Bakery in Dearborn, Mich., because she said she thought it was a great opportunity to meet and talk with people who might not know about her culture.

“I’m Lebanese and I’ve grown up with the Arabic culture around me,” Jahshan said. “There are a lot of stereotypes around Arabs and for us this is a good way to get rid of those stereotypes and share with people what we’re all about.”

Zoology senior Jessica Pociask was one of many students to visit the ACS station at the rock, and said she’s planning to attend some of the week’s events.

“I travel all over the world and I’m always curious about other cultures and hearing what’s been going on,” Pociask said. “It promotes cultural understanding. You can never go wrong with that.”

ACS will continue to try to break down stereotypes Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the International Center with the movie “Reel Bad Arabs.” The documentary is a study of how Arabic people are presented in the mainstream media and whether there is any truth to the perceptions, Joseph said.

But if documentaries aren’t a student’s style, Joseph said there will be other chances for students to be entertained this week.

Arab-American comedian Nader Warah will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Engineering Building, which Jahshan said will reveal Arabic people’s less-serious side.

“We can show that we have a funny side too,” she said.

The week concludes with Aladdin Night, an event ACS community service coordinator and food science junior Lindsay Farah said was the most anticipated part of the entire week.

On Friday night, ACS will take over the Auditorium field and host a dance modeled after the classic Persian story. There will be an Arabic DJ, free food from Sultan’s Place, giveaways and a hookah bar.

“It’s a great way to end off the week,” Farah said.

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