Alumni Blog

Congratulations, Class of 2019!

Welcome to life as a Redhawk alum! As president of the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Council, I am thrilled for the Class of 2019 to join GOLD. Your GOLD Council has been hard at work to make the recent grad experience better and more valuable for all of you.

It’s a season of incredible transition that is both exciting and daunting, and I want you to know that you have a massive network of alumni to support, guide, and advocate for you as you go forth to set this world on fire. The GOLD Council exists to foster and provide opportunities for connection amongst recent alumni, and we are here for you socially and professionally.  Involvement with the GOLD Council has been a deeply rewarding way for me to stay involved in a community I love so much, and give back to the university that has impacted my life in immeasurable ways.

As the textbooks close and the post-grad life is now before you, we would love for you kick off your alumni experience with the Going GOLD celebration TONIGHT and the GOLD Summer Party in August. Join us for the Redhawk Ring-In during Summer in Seattle where we get to greet members of the Class of 2023.

Be sure to activate your SU Alumni Connect profile and connect with us there, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming events and initiatives.

Congratulations on all of your accomplishments; graduation is no small feat. And cheers to a summer free of homework!

Raquel Davalos ‘16
GOLD Council President

By Amina Ibrahim and Anab Nur

Ramadan marks the ninth month of the lunar calendar in Islam. For Muslims around the world, the holy month is spent fasting, refraining from food and drink, from sunrise to sunset.  In Seattle, this means we fast from 4 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. People who participate in the fast wake up before 4 a.m. to eat suhoor (a pre-dawn meal) and then offer a morning prayer. In addition to their normal daily activities, Muslims spend the month of Ramadan increasing their prayers, reciting the Quran, and giving to charity. During this holy month, Muslims reflect on how to better perform Islamic values in their daily lives, such as patience, solidarity, and peace. Each night, as the sun sets, we break our fast with a date and a glass of water surrounded by family, friends, and community members. The end of Ramadan is marked by a religious holiday called Eid-Al Fitr.

Celebrating Ramadan at a university and in a country where many people have never met a Muslim presents an array of challenges. Many people are unaware of Ramadan. Many Muslims I know recall being met with wide eyed shock as they are asked, “Not even water!” after telling a non-Muslim they are observing Ramadan.  Yes, we do not eat or drink anything, not even water. Observing Ramadan while in college sometimes means taking an exam at 2 p.m. when we haven’t consumed anything for over eight hours. It means not always being in community for iftar (the breaking of the fast) as intended, because we are studying for finals.

But, Ramadan at Seattle U has also meant being able to break fast with other Muslim students and Campus Ministry staff members at 9 p.m. It has allowed for Muslim students to pause and spend time reflecting on the purpose of education, social justice, and community. We find ways to connect with other Muslims on campus during this month; we decide on which days we want to break fast together, share tips on how to get through long days full of classes and work, offer up spaces to one another to take quick midday naps, and frequently come together to pray in congregation.

It is difficult to practice a spiritual fast in a community that does not also pause and reflect with you. However, it also offers a unique experience for Muslims in college. We get to find ways to intentionally integrate some of the most beautiful aspects of our faith into our daily lives in hopes that these practices will continue and grow beyond this month. We are constantly looking for ways to reach out to the community around us to share iftar meals, to tell them about our practices, or to extend our patience and solidarity to them when necessary.

 This Ramadan we strongly urge you if you are not Muslim to reach across to your Muslim neighbor. Attend an interfaith iftar at a local mosque and pause and reflect during this holy month.