Members of the UTM Saudi Arabian Club celebrated Saudi National Day on Monday, Sept. 23, outside Gooch Hall by giving students education on the Saudi Arabian culture.
The table the group set up included a station where students could receive their names in Arabic, along with stacks of informational handouts. Several at the table were dressed in traditional Saudi Arabian dress.
The club was established last year, but the current president, Abdullah Alnasser, and co-president, Naif Alnammi, hope to build it more this year with new members.
“We are trying to give something back to the community of campus since it has given so much to us. We’re trying to bring other cultures to the campus, since America is supposed to be the melting pot,” Alnammi said.
Alnammi said that, by educating people, he and other club members hope to give people a clear picture of Saudi Arabia.
“We’re trying to remove the superstitions and show the real picture of Saudi Arabia,” Alnammi said.
In the future, the group hopes to plan an event for Eid al-Adha, a holiday celebrated by Muslims honoring Abraham for following God’s command in sacrificing his first-born son. The club hopes to honor the day in October by showing students how those in Islam would celebrate.
“[Eid al-Ahda] is a celebration we have in Islam. We get together with the whole family, sitting together [and] having breakfast, lunch and dinner. [For the event], we [hope] to reserve a room [and] show exactly how we celebrate it like in my country, serving Saudi food,” Alnammi said.
Along with educating the campus, the club hopes to create an opportunity for students from Saudi Arabia to connect with one another and get involved.
“Everybody can get involved [with the club]. We basically try to be a Saudi home over here. … [We help others] try to avoid homesickness,” Alnammi said.
As a new organization, the club is still planning for activities to be involved in and hopes to implement those plans as the year unfolds.
“We do have many plans and activities to add to the campus,” Alnammi said.
