The Middle Eastern North African Student Assembly (MENASA) hosted an opening ceremony at Tommy Trojan on Monday afternoon to commemorate the start of Arab American Heritage Month. Many students drifted in and out as they passed through campus, with nearly 100 attendees present at any given time.
The university, MENASA, the Saudi Student Association and the North African Student Lounge collaborated to plan the event. Attendees listened to remarks from senior leadership, guest speakers, faculty and students, and celebrated the occasion with cultural performances, music and food. MENASA member and junior communications major Zaina Dabbous said she was happy about the turnout and enjoyed the festivities.
“I think we have the best food ever, really good music, really good guests, so I’m really grateful,” Dabbous said.
The theme of the event was “Roots Grow. Branches Reach.” Senior international relations major Nour Myra Geha, the last founding member of MENASA to graduate, spoke to attendees about the impact the club has had on her life and the organization’s history. The assembly was founded three years ago, during her freshman year.
“This year’s theme reminds us that we come from generations who have endured war, exile, erasure and now genocide, and still found ways to sing, to build and to thrive,” Geha said. “We reach for each other, for connection and for understanding. We reach beyond USC to shape the world around us.”
Senior aerospace engineering major Waniya Hasan said she was thrilled to see Arab American culture celebrated on campus.
“Everyone pulled up, people from all different backgrounds and ethnicities, and it’s a really good way to learn more about our heritage and our food and culture,” Hasan said. “I feel like it hasn’t been [represented] much, and this is the first time I’m actually seeing it so strongly represented, and I really like it.”
MENASA co-executive director and junior business administration major Katia Atiyah spoke on how she found the club thanks to her sister at the event, and highlighted some of its accomplishments during her tenure during her speech. According to Atiyah, the group now has 1,500 active members, and has brought 15 small MENA-owned [Middle Eastern North African] businesses to campus. Geha also touched on this growth during her speech.
“We were talking about a true space to be seen, to be heard and to belong on campus,” Geha said. “That whisper grew much louder. It became a voice and then a movement, and Arab American Heritage Month turned from a $100 budget into a full blown celebration that is celebrated every year on a university-wide level.”
According to the USC events calendar, the event was initially scheduled for last Thursday, but was postponed by the university due to “inclement weather,” disappointing organizers and many eager attendees. Thursday was cooler than the rest of the week, with a high of 63 degrees Fahrenheit, but no rain or other disruptive weather. Hasan said she was puzzled by the sudden change.
“When I found out I was really upset because it didn’t make sense. We checked the weather at the time, and it turned out to be completely fine,” Hasan said. “I’m really glad that they rescheduled it. Otherwise, they would have sent the wrong message to the USC community.”
MENASA released a statement on their Instagram regarding the postponement, explaining their frustration at the last-minute change.
“MENASA, along with other registered student organizations, have invested significant time, effort, and financial resources into this event,” they wrote. “Moving forward, we urge greater transparency, inclusion, and the active centering of student voices in decisions that directly affect our communities.”
MENASA will be hosting several other events throughout the rest of Arab American Heritage Month, which can be found on their Instagram account at usc_menasa.