More than 240 students got a taste Wednesday of what it means to be hungry and thirsty.
The Muslim Students Association hosted Fast-A-Thon 2010, an event in which students pledged not to eat or drink from dawn to sundown.
The Fast-A-Thon, which occurs during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, has been held at UNC since 2001. It aims to introduce non-Muslims to the Muslim culture and its practices, said Sana Khan, the association’s president.
It also serves as a fundraising event, with this year’s proceeds going to flood victims in Pakistan, Khan said.
“The overall goal is to raise awareness about fasting within the Muslim culture and let the funds raised go to a good cause,” she said. “People can say, ‘I’m fasting and it’s making a difference.’”
Students gathered in the Great Hall at 7 p.m. to await the end of the fast at sundown. They were asked to donate at least $5, which paid for a meal and a hand in helping flood victims in Pakistan.
The money raised will be donated to Islamic Relief, an organization that will then send the money on to Pakistan for flood relief, said Amna Baloch, one of the event’s organizers.
“It’s going to a good cause,” said freshman Danyal Fiza. “I have family there. They need all of the help they can get.”
Apart from the fundraising, many students said they got a cultural lesson and learned how difficult it can be for Muslims to fast every day of Ramadan.
Freshman Kiara Aranda said she has a Muslim roommate who has been fasting since Ramadan began in August. After fasting for one day, she said she has a new respect for her roommate and the social situations she has to face.
“I can’t believe she does that,” Aranda said. “I see people eating and I’m like, ‘Why are you eating?’ Now I see the strength she has.”
Baloch said Ramadan will occur earlier in the coming years due to the lunar calendar. That scenario would make it difficult to host another Fast-A-Thon during the academic year, she said.
But as long as they can, the organization’s leaders said they will continue the tradition of bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together to promote diversity.
“(It’s) to build bridges between different groups and religions,” said Nasser Isleem, an Arabic studies professor at UNC and Duke, “and eventually get everyone together to become more aware about diversity.”
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