By: Audrey Miller
Newly elected president, Mardhiat Ajetunmobi, is rewriting the narrative of Kean University’s Muslim Student Association (MSA). Inspired by how media influences negative thinking surrounding Muslim culture and Islam, Ajetunmobi’s initiative is to create a place where students can feel comfortable and be a part of a community.
“I want to bring together as many people as possible. One of the main reasons why I became president is to change the bad things that people have been saying about the MSA here at Kean,” said Ajetunmobi.
Dismantling rumors on campus and in the media is a mission Ajetunmobi is passionate about. Throughout the past years, an ideology about the MSA has been forming. Misconceptions arise from the belief that it is an exclusive club only for Muslims or that the members are unfriendly. Ajetunmobi is here to set the record straight.
“Everyone is here to make friends and to become a community. Everyone thinks MSA members are stuck-up, thinking they are better than everyone else,” she said. “We are just a club like every other one. It is not a secret society that only a few people can join.”
When speaking to Ajetunmobi, the word community was continuously mentioned.
According to a study conducted by the World Population Review, 3% of New Jersey’s adult population is Muslim, making it one of the highest muslim populations nationwide. Approximately 25% of students at Kean are Muslim. Those of Muslim faith are a minority at the university and in the United States, making solidarity and connection important.
“Muslim values and popular values in this country are very different. If you are doing it by yourself, it can take a toll on your mental health and become difficult. So having that community, those people, you can do these things and live life with, makes everything so much easier,” said Ajetunmobi.
Junior Humera Syed credits the MSA for allowing her to create new meaningful friendships. Syed highlighted the importance of making friends with other hijabi women.
“Ever since joining the MSA, I have made three friends with other hijabi women. It is really nice as we can teach each other about our cultures and where we are from,” said Syed.
Both Syed and Ajetunmobi emphasized the integral support of Kean University toward the MSA. Ajetunmobi identified Kean’s support with examples such as halal dining options, prayer rooms, and accommodating professors.
“They have been really supportive and there is nothing more we could ask for,” said Ajetunmobi.
The university has a designated prayer room located in the Center for Academic Success, Room 442. It is for students and staff of all faiths to practice their beliefs. Ajetunmobi said the room was recently repainted and provided with new carpets. There is also another prayer room located in the Townsend Building, Room 116.
Muslim students at Kean and worldwide observed Ramadan. The holiday is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and lasts around 29-30 days. This year, it started on the evening of February 28 and ended on March 29. It is a month of communal prayer, fasting, reflection and community. For the entire month, devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. During Ramadan, those observing increase charity, worship and good deeds. Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Fitr, which means feast (or festival) of breaking the fast. Eid al-Fitr concluded on March 30.
Many members of the MSA face adversity through Ramadan. However, Ajetunmobi put the comfort of her members first. She provided dates and water in the prayer room for those who weren’t staying late to break their fast. She also hosted multiple events to capture a familial feeling and allow traditions to succeed.
On March 20, they hosted an annual Iftar event for students on campus. Iftar is the daily evening meal Muslims have each night of Ramadan to break their fast. On Friday, March 28, the MSA provided henna artists to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr.
Their annual Iftar event was different this year. With catered food, a guest speaker, games and goodie bags, the event had a substantial turnout. There was a record high of around 60 attendees. Reflective of the hard work of the e-board was an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the event.
Recent graduate, Ayse Elmali, was involved with the club last year. She spoke highly of the event.
“This is going much better than last year, it is much more organized. In previous events, we only had potlucks, and everyone had to bring the food. There is more attention towards the club and the board is doing amazing,” said Elmali.
Ajetunmobi is pleased with the success of the annual Iftar dinner. She advocates for attendees to just bring themselves and have a good time. “I tried to make it as magical as possible without having financial strain on anyone,” stated Ajetunmobi.
The club’s recent success could be attributed to its newly elected e-board. For the first time, the MSA government consists of all women. Criticism followed the election of the all-women e-board.
“The people available to take on these roles just happen to be women; It doesn’t matter our gender,” said Ajetunmobi. “Some people didn’t like it, but at the end of the day, nobody really cares. It is empowering because, especially in a lot of cultures, women in leadership are frowned upon, and we want to change that. In Islam, it is not like that.”
Ajetunmobi stresses the importance of unity amidst rising global conflicts. With the ongoing war in Gaza fueling Islamophobia and antisemitism, she’s actively working to dismantle misinformation and build bridges between communities through collaborative efforts with other religious clubs on campus.
“We want to show we have nothing against anyone and we are very open to anything,” she said.
On April 3, Kean’s Interfaith Council, alongside the Hillel Club and the MSA, hosted an event in the Human Rights Institute Gallery titled, “Comedy For Peace.” The tag line for the event read, “Come join us for all faiths, no politics, just LAUGHS!”
The Iftar and Comedy For Peace events are a small spectacle of what Ajetunmobi has planned for the MSA.
Ajetunmobi’s final goal is to allow anyone, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or gender, to join the MSA.
“Even if you are not Muslim, you can experience what it is like to be Muslim and to see what Islam is about outside of negative media portrayals… Anyone who wants to join the MSA, our doors are open. Feel free to come,” said Ajetunmobi.
To learn more, you can follow the MSA on Instagram @kean.msa and on Cougar Link for future events.
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