Ramadan officially began on March 10 and will continue until April 9, 2024. Many University of Connecticut clubs and organizations will provide free services and accommodations for students observing Ramadan. Organizations participating include, but are not limited to, the UConn Muslim Student Association (MSA), UConn Salaam through the Asian American Cultural Center and UConn Dining Services.
UConn MSA will provide a weekly iftar meal that will be held at the Islamic Center at UConn every Monday and Thursday during Ramadan. These iftar meals will be open to all students, with tonight’s iftar meal being catered by Haven Hot Chicken. Community iftars will be held every Saturday during Ramadan, also at the Islamic Center at UConn. UConn MSA also provided information on how to volunteer and donate and provided details for iftar parking on their Instagram page.
UConn MSA expressed that providing these services to students promotes community and support within the student body.
“Ramadan at UConn is a time of spirituality and support. We understand the difficulty of fasting without the support of close-by family and friends. With daily events, iftars, taraweeh, and more, we aim to make your Ramadan at your home away from home a memorable experience for all,” UConn MSA said via an Instagram post.
UConn Dining Services will also be providing support for students observing Ramadan. Beginning March 17, all students with a residential meal plan will be provided hot meals at the Halal stations at both Towers and South Dining Halls until 10 p.m. throughout Ramadan. These locations will also be providing packaged and refrigerated suhoor for students to eat the following morning before sunrise, according to UConn Salaam. To receive these meals, students must sign up in advance on the UConn Dining Services website. Additionally, UConn Dining Services will provide fish and vegetarian options upon request for late-night dining at McMahon and Northwest Dining Halls, which does not require prior sign-up.
Additionally, prayer spaces for students during Ramadan will be located at the Islamic Center at UConn, the basement of Homer Babbidge Library and the Stair 1 Penthouse in the Information Technologies Engineering Building. All listed locations will provide prayer mats to students as well. Additionally, individual prayer space will be provided by any of the UConn cultural centers upon request, and the Asian American Cultural Center will provide portable prayer mats for students seeking to pray somewhere where none are available. The Islamic Center at UConn will also be providing daily prayer sessions from 6:30 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. every day of Ramadan, according to UConn Salaam.
UConn Salaam encouraged students to check out its calendar of events for March and April to learn more about services and activities provided for students observing Ramadan, with the calendar acting as a collaborative effort between the organization and other Muslim-affiliated student groups and the broader university community.
Finally, UConn Salaam encouraged students to seek academic accommodations for any interference that occurs because of the observance of Ramadan, including rescheduling for exams scheduled during prayer times or asking to be excused from class to break fast. They encourage students to contact the Dean of Students for any questions regarding academic conflicts with religious obligations.