Muslims Celebrate Month of Fasting
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CHEAP EATS AND TREATS - PAGES 4 & 5 TCU Daily Skiff TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1996 TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 93RD YEAR, NO. 60 Muslims celebrate month of fasting BY AMANDA BRONSTAD from TCU's Institutional Research. Fatima Cumber, a junior pre-major. said month of the Islamic calendar, lasts either 29 usually begin to practice Ramadan around TCU DAILY SKIPP Sodiq, who is president of the Muslim Stu- many people do good deeds during Ramadan, or 30 days, depending on the moon's cycle. the age of 13 because it is too difficult for dent Organization, said Muslims abstain from such as volunteer work or just helping others Each year the actual date the month begins younger children to fast all day, she said. Every day around 5:30 a.m., Amina Sodiq. eating and drinking from dawn to sunset dur- Yushau Sodiq. an assistant professor of reli- moves back eleven days, he said. Amina Sodiq said the month of Ramadan a senior psychology major, wakes up for ing Ramadan. She said Muslims also abstain gion who is also Muslim, said Ramadan brings The night before a day of fasting, Muslims ends in a celebration called Eid-Fitr. a day of breakfast before sunrise as part of Ramadan, from smoking and conjugal relations during a person closer to Allah, the Muslim name for often go to the mosque to eat together and pray thanksgiving and forgiveness the Muslim traditional month of fasting the month, which lasts until Feb. 19. God. the tarawih, which lasts about an hour, he said. "Ramadan is an act. what you have to do." which began Sunday. Sodiq said Ramadan teaches Muslims four "Ramadan teaches a compassionate attitude He plans to take his "Introduction to she said. "The celebration is at the end." "My schedule is rough with class every things: self-control over greed and laziness, to all, especially to those who do not have Islam" class to the mosque Feb. 16 in order She said the Muslim Student Organization day," she said, "(but) you still have time to experience of hunger in order to better relate to (one)," he said. for students to witness those practicing plans to celebrate Eid-Fitr by going to the fast." the poor and hungry, self-control over the love He said Ramadan, which is one of the five Ramadan. mosque and thanking Allah for their food. There are currently four Muslim students of comfort and self-control over sexual desire pillars of Islam, is not based on specific dates Cumber said many Muslims simply pray at She said it is usually a two-day celebration on campus, according to the fall 1995 data and anger. but on the lunar calendar. Ramadan, the ninth home and often with their families. Children "It's like a Christmas for us." she said. Face reading, two-stepping, RA spots open sign language for fall semester classes open Residential services hoping for BY AUSHA LAROCHELLE more diversity, Greek applicants TCU DAILY SKIFF Ever wanted to take a class on face BY TASHA ZEMKE The spring RA selection process reading or learn how to two-step the TCU DMLV SKIM usually has more applicants than the correct way? fall selection. Olson said that last For half-price, students, faculty Anywhere from 20 to 23 resident spring there were about 100 applicants and staff can take non-credit courses assistants will be needed for the fall Applications can be picked up in the like these through the Office of 1996 semester, and the department of office of residential services. Studeni Extended Education. residential services is hoping to fill Center 223. and are due back Jan. 29 This special rate does not apply to those positions with more Greek and Last spring, applications were due all courses, but most are included. minority students than in the past. in early Februaiy. but Olson said she Programs Specialist Suzie Mahony The vacancies represent more than wants the selection process completed said. one-third of the entire RA staff - and by spring break so the new K selected The courses are open to anyone in every residence hall will lose at least RAs can make summer plans in one resident assistant. Wanda Olson. the community, but Mahony said she advance in order to be back in time for associate director of residential life, wishes more TCU students would fall training. said she wants to use the widespread take advantage of the opportunity to Students must have a 2.6 cumulative openings to increase the diversity of grade point avenge, must have lived in enhance their education. the staff. a TCU residence hall and mast be a "The purpose of non-credit Approximately 14 women and eight sophomore with good Handing ai 1(1 courses is to give people a chance to men will be needed to fill the empty "We select the most qualified can- continue their education," Mahony positions, she said. didates and then match the strengths of said. "It's an opportunity for lifelong "1 want our RA staff to represent the RAs to the needs of the various halls." learning." student body, and 1 don't think we Olson said. Registration for some classes is have that." Olson said. "I want stu- Characteristics of RAs do differ closed, but there is still time to dents to identify with the resident from hall to hall, she said reserve space in others. Mahony said. assistant staff." For example. Olson said that RAs Registration is open until the day the She said that in the past the univer- with a high level of enthusiasm. class begins. Many classes fill up sity has had a better representation of energy and patience are better suited quickly, so waiting until the last Greeks and minority RAs. but those for positions in freshman dormitories minute is risky. Mahony said. numbers have been low in recent years such as Colby or Sherley. This year about 30 of the 80 non- because not as many of those students "Regardless, I look for dependabil- credit courses being offered are new, applied for the positions. ity and those who take responsibility Mahony said. This fall, there are 25 Greek-affili- seriously," she said. "I want students "Fort Worth Fiction," taught by ated resident assistants — seven males who are mature, sensitiv e. and want to Judy Alter, director of the TCU and 18 females. The number of make an impact on others' lives." Press, is just one of the new classes. minorities is unknown. Once chosen. RAs are responsible Students will read works by local "I just want a good mix," Olson for overseeing anywhere between 45 authors and hear lectures from sev- said. "All majors, upperclassmen. and 52 residents, attending weekly eral guest speakers. TCI' Dally skin/ Rebecca Newltt underclassmen, out of state, in state." staff meetings, fulfilling office hour "Quit Smoking? Of Course You Graduate elementary education student Tracy Fielder shoots a free throw for a Olson said she tries to ensure that no duties, creating monthly programs for grab bag at halftime during Monday night's men's basketball game. one group on campus is too heavily residents and general]} being avail- see Classes, page 2 represented. able for students. Kappa Beta's numbers falling BSC honors King's memory Non-traditional students have little time for social activities gospel choir, a dramatic interpreta- last weekend." said Mary Baugh. a B<i CHRISTY I IAWKINS TCI I D\in NMII tion by Stormey White and a senior finance major and a former in programs like Kappa Beta because non-traditional stu- speech by Rev Charles Henderson. president of BSC. BY ANDREW P. DESJARDINS Baugh said King will always be TCU DAILY SKIFF dents have families to take care of. and it is not uncommon TCU's Black Student Caucus The celebration was held one- for an adult to take a class during their lunch break. So honored the memory of Martin week late because many students a role model Kappa Beta, the TCU non-traditional student organiza- attending college is a challenge in itself." Luther King, Jr. last night in the were not on campus Jan. 16 when "Very few leaders after him have tion, is suffering from dwindling interest. This group was established in 1992 and gives members Student Center Ballroom with King's birthday was a federal holi- had great ideas that transcend Larry Markley, Student Center director, said many adult the opportunity to meet a few times during the semester to song, praise and information about day. About 30 people attended. time," Baugh said students don't have the time to spend with extracurricular socialize and participate in seminars. Topics covered in the how King's dream lives on in gen- "We held the celebration today Nicole Lee. a sophomore activities. Most "non-traditional" students devote their free seminars generally revolve around practical issues such as erations to come. because all of the students weren't accounting major and the event's time to family activities, he said. time management and studying techniques. The memonal celebration, titled going to be here on campus last coordinator, said she hoped the Vicki Whitaker, president of Kappa Beta, said her group Previously, most activities have been scheduled at nexm "Remembering His Dream," Monday and many of the members memorial celebration would help has seen the effects of this trend. and 6 p.m. Because of the decreasing number of partici- included a candlelight march, per- attended the Southwestern Black Rebecca Calvert, a senior accounting major and vice pants, no activities have been scheduled yet this semester, formance bv the Word of Truth Student Leadership Conference see Caucus, page 10 president of Kappa Beta, said, "It's very hard to participate Markley said.