As students across the University of Connecticut observe the holy month of Ramadan from Friday, Feb. 28 to Saturday, March 17, many clubs and organizations around campus will provide accommodations and services for students observing.
UConn Dining Services is offering extended hours for the Halal stations in Gelfenbien and South Dining Halls throughout the month, according to their website. With sunset occurring later throughout the month, the stations will remain open until 10 p.m. daily to give students time to pick up food after prayer.
Students will have access to a hot dinner buffet and breakfast items available for pick-up during dinner, according to the UConn Dining website. Additionally, Northwest Dining Hall will have vegetarian and fish options available upon request during regular Late Night dining hours. Dining Services will also provide to-go containers for students who wish to visit during regular dining hours and save their meals for after sundown.
Notably, from March 15 to March 22, meals will only be available at South Dining Hall due to Spring Break, according to Dining Services. Flex passes can also be used for those who are observing Ramadan and do not have a meal plan. Students planning on taking advantage of the Ramadan meals should sign up on the UConn Dining Services website.
A prayer space is available in Room 197 of McMahon Residence Hall. According to UConn Faith, it is “open to all UConn students and staff for quiet reflection, meditation, and prayer” from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 3 to 9 p.m. on weekends. Additionally, there is a Wellness and Meditation Space on Level B of Homer Babbidge Library. The Islamic Center at UConn also holds Jummah prayer weekly and Taraweeh prayer nightly during Ramadan, according to the Asian American Cultural Center website.
As for academic accommodations, UConn Salaam highlighted on their website that if necessary, students can request extensions, reschedule an exam or get excused from class for prayer or to break fast by reaching out to dos@uconn.edu.
The UConn Muslim Student Association (MSA) also will hold some events during Ramadan. Firstly, they are launching a “Ramadan Challenge” in which members are encouraged to sign up to give a recurring payment of as little as one dollar per day during Ramadan, according to a UConn MSA Instagram post.
If 100 people sign up for the challenge, MSA can earn an extra $10,000 for the club as well as support “relief efforts in struggling Muslim communities,” as outlined in the Instagram post. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, Feb. 26. Those interested can sign up via @uconnmsa on Instagram.
Additionally, on Monday, Feb. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom, the UConn MSA is putting on a “Fasting & Faith Banquet,” which will feature trivia, a speaker and dinner to prepare for Ramadan together.