NE Middle Eastern Students form awareness organization
by Roxanna Latifi, NW News Editor

    The Association for Middle Eastern Students will join the list of student organizations on NE Campus.
    The group is committed to spreading knowledge to all students, not just those who are Middle Eastern.
    All students are welcome to join.
    The focus of this new student organization is not on religion or politics.
    Instead, AMES will concentrate on the cultures, histories and traditions of the Middle Eastern countries.
    According to the club's constitution, AMES will dedicate itself to spreading awareness of the Middle Eastern cultures.
    Group members hope to involve students, faculty, administration and others interested in the cultures and to encourage campus involvement.
    Nancy Roediger, associate professor of English on NE Campus, will serve as advisor.
    Roediger said in an interview that she hopes to see interest in the organization not only from the Middle Eastern students, but students from all walks of life.
    Dena Qaddura, AMES' future president, believes sharing the cultures of the Middle East can bring a positive outcome to the campus.
    Currently, Qaddura is vice president of the Union for Cultural Diversity and helped organize the religion panel this semester.
    After the religion panel, Qaddura said she realized the great interest other students had for her culture.
    The NE student knew then she had to do something more.
    "A lot of people were interested (in the Middle Eastern cultures) after the religion panel," she said.
    "I want people to know the positives and be aware on campus," she said.
    Roediger also sees a vital motivation for the new student organization.
    "I think there is an interest in the Middle Eastern cultures," she said,
    "Because we interact with Middle Easterners, this organization can provide an opportunity to increase awareness of cultures we don't know about," the English teacher said.
    Yasim Alnimer, future treasurer for AMES, hopes the organization will put a stop to the stereotypes of Middle Easterners. She hopes the club will enlighten many people to see the truths of the Middle Eastern people.
    "We have all been faced with stereotypes, and that is a cause for people to miss out on the culture and history," she said.
    Alnimer believes the Middle Eastern cultures have much to offer.
    "The Middle East has over 1,000 years of history; we have a lot of knowledge to offer," she said.
    Because of the interest her Arabic class reflects, Magda Elgaghil, NE Campus Arabic instructor, believes the student body needs such an organization.
    "I have noticed a great interest in the cultures from my class," she said. "There is a need to explain the culture because my students feel there is no awareness and, therefore, want to know more about the culture," she said.
    Although the only requirement for this group is that the future member be interested in the cultures of the Middle East, members must be open and respect the ideas of all cultures and differences.
    Students interested in joining should contact Roediger in FAC 332 or at 817-515-6554.