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.
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[edit] History
MSA National was formed in 1963 at the campus of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) by a conference of Muslim students from around the U.S. and Canada. One of the largest MSAs in the United States is the UIC MSA.
[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 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. The event known as Fast-A-Thon started at the University of Tennessee and now has several MSAs across the United States and Canada who participate.
The MSA recently launched a "Peace...not Prejudice" campaign to dispel stereotypes. [1]
It is the first national organization to have a convert to Islam who was born in the U.S. as its head.
The former President of MSA National was an American-born female.
