Congratulations, dear community, we are half-way through our virtual spring quarter! We hope that this week's newsletter and programming at the Digital Markaz bring you feelings of camaraderie and inspiration, however you choose to engage. Join us for Pictionary at Afterzoom Chai, workshop a submission for our Community Creative Archive, or just curl up on the couch and enjoy our latest episode of Mosaic. Whatever feels right, Markaz is here for you!
NEW MOSAIC EPISODE WITH SAMEER JHA
Markaz Mosaic, our audio storytelling initiative, is back with episode #7! In this podcast, freshman Sameer Jha dives into the samosa as a dish that reflects the linguistic, ethnic, and personal diversity of belonging. You can listen to the episode at our websiteor on SoundCloud.
MARKAZ COMMUNITY CREATIVE ARCHIVE: NEW SELECTIONS OurMarkaz Community Creative Archive is growing! Thank you to Rebecca Pattichis and Matt Mettias for your contributions. This week, both pieces have been posted in full to the archive to preserve their artistic impact. Please visit the links to enjoy!
The Virus Keeps Me from Seeing my Countries, a prose poem by Rebecca Pattichis.
Rebecca is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science (IG @rpattichi).
Quarantine Music Machine by Matt Mettias
"Given the current COVID-19 circumstances, however, I was unable to dance with my friends that night; instead, I ended up producing this with music softwares on my computer and creating a mini music + dance party with my family of six –– a groovy effort to lift their spirits despite pandemic-inducing fears." Listen here. Matt is a freshman majoring in Psychology and Comparative Studies of Race & Ethnicity.
SUBMIT TO THE COMMUNITY CREATIVE ARCHIVE: We are accepting poems, visual art, music, and essays on themes of home, explorations of physical and digital space, and otherwise thinking on community in times of quarantine. Submissions added to the digital Markaz website will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. SHARE YOUR SUBMISSION!
UPCOMING MARKAZ EVENTS
AFTERZOOM CHAI: PICTIONARY EDITION Tuesday, May 5 at 3:30 PM PST
This AfterZoom Chai, come join us for Collaborative Pictionary! You'll be collaboratively drawing words for other community members to guess at, simultaneously competing with and getting to know everyone. Tune in to get to know the Markaz community better, brush up on your sketching skills, and catch up on what's been on our minds and canvases this quarantine. Come armed with chai and creativity. Zoom link here.
QUEER AND MUSLIM PANEL Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 PM PST
Join us over Zoom on Thursday, May 7th, 6:30 pm PST, to listen to four student panelists share their journeys. This will be a very special event - we welcome all community members to join us. RSVP HERE to receive a Zoom link and a $25 DoorDash gift card so you can eat Iftaar (or Suhoor, or a snack in between) together, wherever you may be in the world!
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: HAMZEH DAOUD Friday, May 8 at 4 PM PST
Join us for this week's Senior Spotlight! Hamzeh is a senior from Amman, Jordan studying Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity with honors. Through the honors program, they are currently writing a thesis on the continuity of pre-colonial Arab Queerness in Arab Queer literary modernity and teaching a class on their thesis this Spring. As a result of this work, and their own journey with their own queerness, Hamzeh is currently starting the first Queer and Muslim VSO at Stanford and is hoping to hold space for Queer Muslims on campus to foster community, healing, and restorative power and justice. You can find the Facebook event here and RSVP here.
RAMADAN RESOURCES & REMINDERS
During Ramadan, Markaz will keep an updated list of resources for the community in our newsletter. For additional event updates, we recommend following the Muslim Student Union on instagram (@stanfordmsu).
To-go suhoor and iftar boxes: If you are on campus during Ramadan, sign up for to-go suhoor and iftar meal during Ramadan online atdining.stanford.edu/Ramadan.
Weekly Halaqa with Dr. Rania Awad: Thursdays starting at 6:30 PM PSTZoom link
Stay healthy while fasting: For those observing, the Markaz will be providing a weekly wellness tip - or two - on Instagram and re-shared here.
VIRTUAL COUNSELING WITH DR. DAKWAR
Book a 30-minute appointment between 3:15 - 4:45 PM on Mondays with Dr. Enas Dakwar. These telehealth sessions are designed to provide all members of the Markaz Community, wherever you are, with support. Due to legal restrictions, zoom video will be provided for students within the state of California. If you are out of state or country, only zoom audio will be provided.
How to book an appointment: Send Dr. Dakwar a message to request an appointment directly through the VadenPatient portal. Go to: https://vaden.stanford.edu/make-appointment
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
Virtual Screening of Asian Americans. Join Asian American Activities Center, Asian American Students Association, Asian American Studies, Okada, and Stanford Asian Pacific American Alumni Club in a simultaneous viewing of the upcoming PBS documentary Asian Americans. The episode highlights Filipino farm worker leader Larry Itliong, the Third World Liberation Front, and the Viet Nam War and its fallout. This series is especially timely in light of the increasing racism and attacks faced by Asian and Asian American people and communities across the nation. Register atbit.ly/screeningasianamericans
What's your story? Share at FACES 2020! NSO FACES is looking for speakers and student groups to preform for the Class of 2024 next fall. Faces of Community aims to introduce the incoming class to Stanford's diversity. This event includes speakers, dance and musical performances that serve to represent the many faces of the Stanford community. Speakers are encouraged to share their personal narratives to find their individual voice while inspiring others to embrace their own experiences. Applications are due May 15th at 5PM. If interested, please apply here! For questions, please email Hamzeh Daoud (hamzehd@stanford.edu).
Take a class on Contemporary Islam and Muslims in America over the summer: What is really going on for American Muslims in a post 9/11, Trump-era America? How are they managing their identities and commitment? What role do racial and gender dynamics, ideological differences, and politics play in this process? This course (RELIGST 26S), taught by Abiya Ahmed, will explore these questions (and more) and help develop a critical perspective on the American Muslim experience, particularly as a case of how one diverse religious community negotiates religion in a complex sociopolitical setting.
A NOTE ON MARKAZ EVENTS
During Spring quarter, Markaz events will continue to be ways that we learn, engage and relax together. We know that we are a diverse and global community, however, for consistency, all events will be scheduled on PST. We hope that you will be able to join us as much as you can. We recognize that this will be most difficult for our international students and ask that you please let us know what times would be best for alternate events.
For all students, help us plan events that are meaningful to you by taking a few minutes to complete this form.
