While most students at the Student Involvement Fair on Wednesday displayed colorful trifold posters and multicolored handouts, one group, The Saudi Club, decided to do things its own way.
Because the fair fell on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Saudi Club wanted to take the opportunity to make a gesture of friendship and inform students that they too mourn what happened that day 12 years ago, according to Saud Al Otibi, petroleum engineering senior and vice president of the club.
Outside of the Student Union, the group gathered behind a table overflowing with more than a hundred red, yellow and orange roses, handing out the flowers to passersby as they crossed the group’s path.
“We hope that the flowers are a gesture to students that we grieve with Americans for those that were lost on Sept. 11,” Otibi said. “Today is an important day to the American people, and we want to share that with the students.”
Otibi said he wants people to know Saudi Arabia is more than the world’s largest producer of oil; it’s a place full of culture, art and religion.
“Saudi is the center of Islam because of Mecca and Medina,” Otibi said. “We want to introduce our culture to other people.”
Student reaction to the roses was positive. Before the fair was over at 1 p.m., the had completely run out of roses to give away.
Dozens of students walked around the fair with a rose clutched in one hand and a card in the other, explaining the rose was to commemorate the innocent lives lost in the attacks.
Holly Lions, computer science sophomore, said she was impressed with the efforts of the club and that it goes a long way with showing that differences between cultures are not always bad.
“I went up and asked them why they were giving out flowers, and they said it was to show sorrow for those that lost their lives,” Lions said. “It is a way of showing that there is a lot of good in the world.”
Otibi was also pleased at the reception the roses received from students, and he said he hopes the gesture can help make a positive impact on the perception of Saudi and Muslim students on campus.
Promoting good will between students of all cultures is a main goal of the Saudi Club, Otibi said. While their Student Involvement Fair initiative focused on the Sept. 11 anniversary, Otibi said the goal will be prioritized year-round also.
“We want to show the people that we want peace to them and the world” Otibi said, “We don’t want innocent people to die from conflicts.”
The Saudi Club is planning other events to be held later this semester, which will be publicized on the club’s Facebook page.
Saudi Club member Ammar Banafea hands out roses Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, at the Student Involvement Fair in Free Speech Alley.
