I SHALL FAST

Hamza, PR officer of the Muslim Society Club sings the "Call to Prayer"

Last Tuesday the Muslim Society Club invited CSULB students to break fast with them during the holy month of Ramadan.

About 100 people attended the event and speakers educated the students about what Ramadan is and the discipline to fast for a full month from sun-up to sun-down. Hamza, the public relations officer for the Muslim Society was the host of the night and provided ample information from everything to the rigors of going through a fast to the "Testimony of Faith" that takes place 5 times a day in the Muslim religion.

I participated in the prayer and only the men were allowed to attend the secluded room adjacent to the USU ballroom. After taking off my shoes and kneeling northeast, the direction of the holy site that pilgrimages are made to annually, we kneeled and prayed to Allah.

Magic Lamp, a Lebanese restaurant on 2nd Street in Long Beach catered the event and provided more than enough food for the public. As we ate, several volunteers, non-muslims that participated in the fast, some for the entire month, some just for a day expressed their experience and how it affected them. Students described being a little tired, at times forgetful of the fast (which includes not drinking water) but overall overcoming personal challenges and disciplining one's self.

http://www.sunnah.org/ibadaat/fasting/fast.html

Follow the Leader!!!!

Everyone wants to be the leader at some point in their lives. Not everyone possesses these qualities though. It takes a certain kind to be able to utilize this prowess when it is attained. It comes from within, that innate destiny which benefits this person to take a trip to the Lois J. Swanson Leadership Resource Center.
As stated by Carmen Long, a contributing writer to the Daily Forty-Niner, "A lot goes on in the center, but it is home to an extracurricular student organization on campus called Leadership Academy." The center's goal according to Long is to "empower those with leadership potential", and with great resources such as The O'Dell Family Leadership Resource Library, it would be difficult to be led astray from that mantra. Topics such as event planning to leadership strategies can be researched and help you to be well on your way to a bright future.
Make sure to stop by the Student Union in room 313-A and inquire about the program to become enrolled in the academy. There is no cost or GPA requirement and a handly little letter of recommendation can be used at your disposal when you are applying to be the next CEO at IBM.

SELF DEVELOPMENT

Weekly I would like to attend a different organization's meeting or event and interview heads of that club and discuss their mission statement and what they are all about. Whether it be events, discourse, community involvement and all around opportunities, I want to be able to relay first hand what it is these clubs and organizations offer.
I think that on hand field reporting is really the best way to get to the core of the source since it is a social congregation, why not be social!!! Also, you can get a better idea of how the members feel as of yet, and i will report, good or bad reviews, but one on one reporting is the most credible and verifiable way to form an opinion when seeking information about a club.

YOU'RE NOT A DRONE

There may be a few of you who would like to finish your college career and never look back twice at the campus you graduated from. But if your like myself, you want to make most of the opportunity, because regret is a hard thing to live with.
Your first semester here may be overwhelming, especially if you're from a small town or just don't have the friend base you're use to. Boasting 30,000 students, it's no wonder one can just melt into the masses.
Fortunately, CSULB has one of the most varietal and diverse student life and development programs. With a gamut of social clubs abundant, these associations enable you to bolster your student career and in fact, beef up your resume in the real world while establishing life long friendships. http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students2/sld/.
Check out the student organizations office in the student unions' 2nd floor and join up with a weekly break-dancing crew while discussing right-wing issues that same night.