Halal Options at Hofstra

Muslims now eat Halal at Hofstra!!

By Maryam Qureshi '18

 

Eating meat on campus was not an option for me until Monday, October 23, 2017, not because I chose to, but because I am a Muslim and adhere to the halal dietary lifestyle. I had few dining options to choose from and would struggle to finish up my meal points by the end of the semester.  As an involved commuter, I oftentimes found myself having to drive back home in the middle of the day to eat a meal with protein (or carry a cold turkey sandwich in my bag) to fuel me for the rest of my busy day.

When I became president of Hofstra Muslim Student Association (MSA), I began to hear similar complaints. In fact, some students even felt less inclined to dorm here because of the unavailability of halal dining options.  I was especially devastated to hear when my friend, Zain, told me that he hadn’t eaten meat in weeks – he didn’t have a car and home was Texas for him, there was no going back and forth for him.

‘Halal’ in Arabic means “permissible,” according to Islamic law. For Muslims, meat is Halal when it is slaughtered and prepared in accordance to Islamic guidelines.  Also, Muslims cannot consume foods with pork, blood, or alcohol.  That’s why Muslims also take precaution to check that foods do not contain ingredients of animal origin. 

Halal is a dietary restriction that Muslims have to follow, but anyone can eat Halal. By serving Halal chicken at the Asian food station and Hot Food Market, now Muslims can eat those entrees also that were otherwise not permissible for them. Knowing that this school now serves Halal gives me a sense of belonging to this campus. I don’t have to drive home now to eat lunch but I can stay on campus and eat in the main dining hall with my friends. 

In order to preserve the integrity of Halal meat on campus, however, there are a few things that we would like Campus Dining to make sure of.  Some of these things include, no cross contamination while cooking and serving, clearly labeling each Halal entrée at the serving stations, and making available the Halal certification for students to see. 

 

It’s Not Just a Knee

Reflections on the Kaepernick Effect

by Genesis Rivera '19

On September 28th, Hofstra’s NAACP held a talk called “the Kaepernick Effect” discussing the #TakeaKnee movement that has been in the spotlight for some time, especially when Trump called protesters “sons of bitches”. Several issues such as the whitewashing of the movement, the treatment of women by Munroe Bergdorf and Jemele Hill, and the third stanza of the national anthem were discussed, but for minority clubs on campus, one small highlight was the attendance of athletes who had not been part of the social justice environment on campus.

While few may acknowledge or even realize it, student members of minority organizations at Hofstra have long shaken their heads at some of our NCAA team members, who seem disconnected from the rest of the campus community. When the NAACP, Black Student Union, or any other club holds an event, we can expect a certain amount of Black students, Latino students, White students, students in Greek life, and even academics to attend. No one, however, holds their breath for attendance by members of the sports teams, including the athletes of color.  Nevertheless, when asked whether they would take a knee at games this semester, two basketball players and two soccer players, who attended to learn more about the issues, gave their perspectives on how this will impact their own games.

If you’re wondering what will happen, don’t expect anyone to take a stand at any renditions of the national anthem this season. Largely because of the restrictions that the NCAA and Hofstra University places on our athletes, they are worried about the status of their scholarships and their standing on the teams that they are using as a stepping stone to launch their careers and feed their families. These student athletes, however, expressed how they wholeheartedly supported the cause and gave unique and intelligent perspectives on national issues.

There are constant complaints from coaches and players that the Hofstra community does not support the basketball team specifically at their games. From the perspective of the minority students who are a part of our social justice oriented community, this was due to the lack of interest and support we received from the basketball team at events and discussions on campus. If you don’t know the players and they seem not to care about the things that are vitally important to you then why would you go to a game?

I believe that when more athletes across the board interact with other students and build bridges through common interest, school spirit can begin to return to Hofstra.

We are the Oasis in the Middle of the Desert

By Genesis Rivera '19

Hempstead, NY is what is called a food desert. A food desert is an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food. Hofstra University exists in a bubble. We are an oasis in the middle of the desert. Once a week an organization named Community Solidarity arranges stands across the street from the Hempstead Train Station to hand out food to people who will wait in line all day to receive apples, peppers, and a gallon of milk. On Sunday, September 24, 2017 I had the opportunity to volunteer by handing out food to dozens of people who struggle to feed their families with the meager selection of food they can find locally. They lined up to receive rotting fruits and vegetables, day old bread, and dairy products on the verge of expiration. They desperately grabbed for the nutrients they needed, no matter the condition of the food, they needed to grab as much as they could so they could eat for one more week. The unfortunate arguments and mobs that resulted were kept under control so that people could efficiently and safely collect subpar items with enormous smiles on their faces. And all of this took place down the street at the Hempstead Train Station. Has your mother ever told you, “Finish your food - there are children starving in Africa?” Well, as much as we attempt to ignore it, they’re suffering here too.

Many of us never have to confront the reality that the people around us are malnourished because of the privileges Hofstra allows us. You may not like the dining options on campus, but you will always find fruits, vegetables, and other necessary nutrients to eat your meals. The shopping shuttle may always arrive 5 minutes late, but it's a convenient ride to Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Fairway should you choose to cook for yourself. And yet, there are still several students on campus that still cannot provide for themselves and must use the food pantry on campus.

The dozens of people that wait in these lines are grateful for whatever they can grab and more than willing to speak to the “angels” who bless them every Sunday. While we may not be able to aid them financially, lower prices at the supermarkets, or even provide them with transportation to a local grocery store with nutritious food, we can donate our remaining meal points to the campus food pantry at the end of the semester, hand out hot meals at the Mary Brennan INN, or take a quick shuttle ride on a Sunday afternoon and hand them their groceries with a smile on our faces knowing that we are not just attending school on Long Island, but bettering the community while we are here.

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Editor's Note: The Pride Pantry is available to all members of the Hofstra community