Picture taken by: Mary Laing/Photo Editor
AMANDA DEDIE
Special to The Leader
The Saudi Students Club celebrated Saudi National Day this past week on Oct. 7. Saudi National Day is celebrated every year on Sept. 23, in celebration of the day King Abdulaziz announced the country as a kingdom in 1932. This year was the 84th Saudi National Day.
The Saudi Students Club is an organization on campus, made up of primarily international Saudi students. The Saudi Students Club FSU4U page states, “The objectives of the organization are to promote interest in history and culture of Saudi Arabia. To provide fellowship among students and faculty and to provide a forum of understanding between our two countries as a benefit to the University community.”
This year is the second semester that the club has been running.
“It started off with only four people,” said Ali Alfaifi, a graduate student in teaching English to speakers of other languages and member of the Saudi Students Club. “We wanted to make a club to be able to have a way to communicate with officials on campus, and now we are able to display our cultures and what we are like to others.”
It is said that now about 20 percent of the international students are a part of the Saudi Students Club and helping to make this event happen not only this semester, but during future semesters.
“It is important for others to know about our culture, about our way of receiving people and guests, how our culture really started, and how it goes on,” Alfaifi said. “What are the differences between 30 years ago and now?”
The Saudi National Event was open to the public and had many activities and presentations available to help further knowledge and understanding of the Saudi Arabian culture.
The night began with the singing of the national anthem of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, more commonly known as Sārʿī. There was then a speech, followed by a presentation about Saudi Arabia and its landscapes and places. Afterwards, there were dances by the men and children before the crowd broke up to enjoy the different displays and booths set up around the Multipurpose Room.
On one side of the room were informational displays about Saudi Arabia, such as the country itself, as well as their economics, culture and small demonstrations on how to make their famous Arabic coffee. On the other side were more interactive booths. At one, attendees could dress up in traditional Arabic clothing and get a picture taken in an Arabic tent display. There was also a table handing out free jewelry, a table where someone could get their name written in Arabic, a face-painting table and Henna tattoos available. Later, traditional Arabic food, including tea and dates, were served.
Adel Alshammari, a graduate student studying curriculum and structure and president of the Saudi Students Club, explained the purpose of the club and the events. He said that the club meetings every week are devoted entirely to planning this event in hopes of not only celebrating National Saudi Day, but to help others learn about Saudi Arabians and their culture.
“We paid a lot of money to organize this event. The funding that comes from the university doesn’t cover the costs of this event, but the Saudi community and SUNY students are generously paying from their pockets so we can make people in Fredonia happy and help them know about Saudi Arabia,” says Mosa Almalki, a senior majoring in teaching English to speakers of other languages and vice president of the Saudi Students Club.
“[The Saudi Students Club] want people to know about Saudi Arabia. We want to represent our culture. We want people to know that we are kind people, we like the American society, and we want to express our feelings to the American society by delivering to them this food and welcoming them to this event.”