Muslim Student Network Building Foundations for Tomorrow

By Laila Al-Arian

Last summer, with shows like “Survivor” and “Big Brother” earning top ratings, so-called “reality TV” was at its peak. The formula was quite simple: put a group of strangers together and watch the drama slowly unfold in front of a disturbingly voyeuristic American public. This summer, I had an experience in Washington, DC quite similar to MTV’s popular reality show, “The Real World”—minus the cameras and television exposure. For two months, I was involved in a program called Muslim Student Network (MSN). I had heard about MSN from a friend of mine at Georgetown who had participated in it the previous summer.

MSN’s goal is to help American Muslims become more active in the political process. After watching my father rally the American Muslim community on the local and national levels in support of then-presidential candidate George W. Bush, I realized the importance of the American Muslim community’s participation in politics. In that respect, I knew MSN would bring me into contact with like-minded individuals.

MSN is the brainchild of Marghoob and Iffat Quraishi, a Palo Alto, California husband-and-wife team that has been actively empowering the American-Muslim community since the 1960s. Iffat, a part-time English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher, was involved in the civil rights movement. She now directs her activism toward educating and encouraging young American Muslims to be proactive and involved in the American landscape, especially in public policy.

Since MSN’s inception in 1994, over 100 students have participated in the program, interning in such places as Congress, the State Department, the Department of Justice, Voice of America, Market News, BET, and the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. Some interns choose to work in consulting firms or policy-related law firms.

Two conditions that program directors place on students are that their internships must be policy-related and that they can’t be with programs that could just as easily be found locally. Additionally, working for Islamic organizations is not allowed, says Iffat Quraishi, “because we are teaching kids how to become respected within the American system.”

One common problem in the American-Muslim community, she continued, is that the majority of American-Muslim organizations are reactive, not proactive—meaning they tend merely to react to anti-Muslim policies, rather than to prevent them from the beginning. She described MSN as a program that looks for a payoff in the future. “We are trying to get ahead of the curve,” Iffat said.

In order to provide them with a more well-rounded experience, MSN requires students to attend classes on public policy from an Islamic perspective three to four times a week. These lectures have been beneficial and engaging for most students. Distinguished professors and authors like Georgetown University’s John Esposito, George Washington’s Seyyed Hossain Nasr, and Dr. Aziza Al-Hibri have been among the guest lecturers. This past summer, students were also required to attend a Tuesday-night series entitled “View from the Hill,” in which they were treated to informative dialogues with Muslims working in the House or Senate. Usman Malik, a graduate of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas who interned with Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), described the lectures as “interesting and thought provoking, while maintaining a casual atmosphere.”

Classes and internships are not the only activities that keep MSN participants busy. Cleaning and cooking duties, as well as weekend social events, bring the interns together, creating a virtual family. “I can truthfully say that I now have 24 more brothers and sisters in my life whom I will always be ready to aid, guide and support when needed,” said Kenan Basha, a junior at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor who interned for Americans for Tax Reform. “Such a valuable support network will work for years in preserving our religious identity as we work toward Muslim empowerment.”

Opened Eyes

Students consider MSN a good opportunity to get to know fellow politically active Muslims. “It not only opens your eyes to the variety of Muslims in America,” Basha added, “but it also makes you realize that progress and success can only be achieved through a joint and unified effort of all Muslims.”

Asad Rahman, a junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas who worked at the White House, agreed. “Often we feel isolated in our own schools or hometowns, so it is always a pleasure to meet and learn from other Muslims who share our experiences.”

MSN prides itself on bringing together Muslims who reflect the diversity of the Muslim population in the United States. Lubabah Abdullah, a senior at the University of Missouri at Columbia and a summer intern at the Council for the National Interest, said, “I loved getting to know people from all over. We came from everywhere, with so many different backgrounds and life experiences, but we’ve managed to survive these eight weeks and have learned something from one another.”

With 25 interns participating in the 2001 summer program (MSN’s largest class yet), MSN officials appointed Wesahl Agherdien, a South African law professor, as program assistant director and house manager. Her job was to schedule classes and make sure everything else in the program ran smoothly. One of the unique aspects of MSN is that it is a cooperative effort between the Quraishis and alumni. Sana Fadel, Sumreen Mirza and Wasim Rahman, this summer’s residential assistants (RAs), were all MSN interns last summer.

A nonprofit organization, MSN relies heavily on donations to pay its expenses, which include providing housing and board for summer interns. Next year, according to Iffat Quraishi, the program will be split into two sections, one devoted specifically to those hoping to get into law and public policy, with the other serving a more interdisciplinary group.

I’ve learned a lot this summer. For one thing, running a program like MSN is a lot harder—and more expensive—than one would think. As trite as this may sound, it really does take teamwork, dedication, patience and cooperation to both run and participate in a program like MSN. Oh, and one last thing: living with complete strangers looks a lot scarier on TV.

Those interested in contributing to MSN may contact the Muslim Student Network, 1901 Old Middlefield Way #19, Mountain View, CA. 94043.

Laila Al-Arian, an MSN intern with the Washington Report for summer 2001, is a junior at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

SIDEBAR

MSN Concludes Another Successful Summer Intern Program

The Muslim Student Network wrapped up another summer with a July 28 banquet at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC. A group of some 25 excited interns and their guests, sponsors, and mentors gathered to celebrate their graduation from the MSN summer intern program. Following a short reception, guests were ushered into dinner and treated to a program by the graduating interns.

The evening opened with a Qur’anic recitation by intern Shuaib Atique, a second-year law student at the University of Michigan, who interned for the Department of Defense. The verses were ably translated by Lubabah Abdullah, a senior at the University of Missouri, Columbia, who served her internship at the Council for the National Interest.

Saira Sufi, a recent graduate of the University of Kansas and an intern for Congressman Richard Gephardt (D-MO), welcomed guests. Then Laila Al-Arian, a junior at Georgetown University who interned here at the Washington Report, and Faiz Shakir, a Harvard senior and an intern at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, presented a talk and slide show detailing some of the highlights of the MSN summer of 2001. Prosaic dishwashing, fun picnics, and stimulating presentations all added to the work experience MSN interns gained during their stay in the national capital.

A Brown University senior, Sumaiya Balbale, who interned at Voice of America, provided “An Inside Perspective” of her experience as a participant in the MSN program. She amused the audience with her personal glimpses into the everyday life of a diverse group of strangers, young Muslim Americans brought together for a summer to learn about working within the American system while retaining their Muslim identity.

Green Party presidential candidate and long-time consumer advocate Ralph Nader was present to congratulate the young interns on proactively working for their interests as American citizens. He emphasized the importance of civil society within a democratic system, stressing the fact that a democratic government could only function effectively through the active participation of its citizens.

Nader pointed out to the attentive audience that there was one interest group in the U.S. that had used their civil rights particularly well, and that it would behoove the Muslim students to learn from them. The group? AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Though it might be considered ironic that Muslim students should learn from a group whose interests often clash with their own, the point was well taken. Finally, Nader encouraged the MSN graduates to continue their civic activities because by working toward their goals, he said, they would be expanding the rights and protection of all peoples in American society.

Following his speech Nader graciously took questions and signed autographs, while the graduates of the MSN summer intern program and their guests enjoyed dessert. The MSN class of 2001 ended its stay in Washington a little wiser in the workings of their government and non-government agencies, with memories that will last a lifetime, and with many new friends and supporters. We wish them all the best.

—Sara Powell