Supporting Students, Faculty, and Staff During Ramadan
Ramadan is a holiday practiced by Muslims* where they focus on introspection, communal prayer, and religious fasting. This year, Ramadan will take place from Feb. 28-March 29**.
Here is some information about Ramadan:
- Individuals refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and intimate contact from dawn to sunset.
- Individuals increase their focus on personal restraint, proper conduct, and empathy with the less fortunate through giving to charity and engaging in local projects.
- Muslims who have reached puberty are obligated to fast. Individuals who are not at puberty may choose to fast anyway. Exemptions are made for individuals in situations where fasting would be a hardship, such as illness, pregnancy, nursing, etc.
In an effort to support the members of our community, here are some items for your consideration:
- New York Education Law section 224-A outlines the requirements for academic accommodations.
- Please be flexible with scheduling, as individuals may need to pray during class, meetings, etc.
- Due to fasting, individuals may struggle to concentrate. Consider allowing individuals to keep their cameras off during any virtual classes, meetings, etc., or to take a quick break if needed.
- Individuals may begin to wear hijabs during this month. Remember, it is not the individual’s responsibility to educate the community.
- Prayer rooms are available in the library for individuals to use if needed. Additionally, there is group prayer on Fridays from 12-1:00 p.m. in Science Hall Room 105. Offices may also want to consider identifying a designated space for prayer. If you would like signage to help identify these spaces, please reach out to the ALANA Student Center.
Chartwells will provide Halal sourced foods in the Social Dining Hall. Breakfast packs are available upon request. The dining hall will be open Sunday-Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday until 7 p.m.
Consistent with our institutional statement on diversity and inclusion, these efforts will help us achieve our goals of “creating a culture of acceptance, awareness, learning, respect, and understanding inside and outside of the classroom.”
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, at rodrig23@canisius.edu.
*The term Muslim refers to individuals who practice the religion of Islam.
**Dates may vary depending on the individual’s religious school of thought.
Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean for Diversity & Inclusion, Academic Affairs
