Muslim Students' Association

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The Muslim Students' Association, or Muslim Student Union, of the U.S. and Canada, also known as MSA National, is a religious organization dedicated to establishing and maintaining Islamic societies on college campuses in Canada and the United States. It serves to provide coordination and support for affiliated MSA chapters in colleges across North America. Established in 1963, the organization now has chapters in colleges across the continent^[1], and is the precursor of the Islamic Society of North America and several other Islamic organizations.

1 History
2 Organization
3 Activities
4 Criticism
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

MSA National was formed in 1963 at the campus of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) by representatives from various campuses. It was started by individuals associated with the Muslim Brotherhood ^[2].

[edit] Organization

The Muslim Students Association of the U.S. and Canada is also known as MSA National. It is an umbrella organization for all of the chapters at various campuses across the continent and promote Sunni Islam. Local chapters are only loosely connected with the parent institution, and often take different names, such as "Islamic Students Association", or "Muslim Discussion Group".

There is no fixed hierarchy between MSA National and local chapters; as such, the policies and views of the national organization are not necessarily shared by local chapters.

The United States and Canada is divided into five zones, three in the US and two in Canada. Each zone has a zonal representative, chosen by the members of the affiliated chapters within that zone. Chapters make up regional councils.

[edit] Activities

The MSA raises funds for the homeless during Ramadan. It is the first national organization to have a convert to Islam who was born in the U.S. as its head.

[edit] Criticism

Before the September 11, 2001 attacks, MSA raised funds for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, an organization that is alleged to have ties with Hamas and whose assets were seized by the U.S. Government in December 2001.^[3]

Muslim organizations on certain campuses have been criticized for explicit demonization of Israel, Israelis, and Jews in general. Common rhetoric includes the comparison of Israel to a Nazi-like regime by likening the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza to the Holocaust and painting swastikas on Israeli flags, morally supporting groups intent on the complete destruction of Israel (such as Hamas), and inviting controversial speakers who share these views to speak to their organizations.^[4]