Saudi Arabian students are making their presence known on campus with the help of the Saudi Club.
The group was last seen at the Student Involvement Fair wearing traditional Saudi dress, and now the Saudi Club is planning an event to celebrate Saudi National Day, which took place Sunday and marks Saudi Arabia’s 82nd birthday.
“This year, we’re trying to invite American students and different departments so they can understand part of our culture,” said petroleum engineering senior and Saudi Club Cultural Secretary Ibrahim Al Sowayigh. “Our main goal is to show Americans and especially LSU students our country and our culture.”
Petroleum engineering junior and Saudi Club president Ammar Siddiqui, who founded the club, said the club has roughly 70 members.
Siddiqui said he hopes approximately 100 people will attend the National Day event, which the club is planning to hold Oct. 3.
Updates and more information are available on the club’s Facebook page.
Although petroleum engineering senior and Saudi Club vice president Akram Al Barghouti did not have any big plans for National Day, he said the holiday in Saudi Arabia is much like the Fourth of July in the U.S.
“Everyone takes a break. People go to the beach or concerts. They recite poems or verses from the Quran. There’s fireworks,” Al Barghouti said.
Saudi clubs are present at universities throughout the U.S., but they must adhere to terms and conditions of the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, the branch of the Saudi Arabian Embassy located in Washington, D.C., that oversees campuses’ Saudi organizations, among other things.
The SACM grants funding to Saudi clubs to hold events like the LSU Saudi Club’s National Day event.
“Every Saudi student abroad is an ambassador for their country and religion, and they should seriously consider the responsibility by presenting the right picture about Saudi Arabia and Islam,” Al Sowayigh said in a text message.
Although the University’s Saudi Club was founded and held gatherings for traditional Saudi holidays last year, the club was only recently recognized by the SACM.
Al Barghouti spent most of his childhood in Jordan, but he was born and completed high school in Saudi Arabia and considers himself a part of both cultures.
Al Barghouti said he moved to the U.S. to study petroleum engineering because he “wanted to learn a new culture and language. It wasn’t about the major, really.”
The Saudi Club is a resource for Saudi students considering studying at the University. Siddiqui said Saudi students feel more comfortable moving to the U.S. knowing the University has an active Saudi community.
“It’s easier for the new guys since we started the club,” Siddiqui said.
Al Barghouti said there are some differences, but also many similarities between Saudi Arabia and the United States.
“I love the food, except that like everything here has pork,” Al Barghouti joked.
