the MSA Persian-Speaking Group (MSAPSG),
which appeals to Shii students with ties to Iran.
MSA chapters are encouraged to join the
MSA national network, which is divided into
U.S. and Canadian chapters. These chapters are
subdivided into geographical regions: eastern,
central, and western regions for the United
States; eastern and western ones for Canada.
Each region holds its own “national” conference,
in coordination with MSA national. The MSA
national organization is governed by a general
secretariat, with its headquarters in Plainfield,
Indiana. Women hold visible leadership roles
at both the chapter and the general secretariat
levels. In 2007 MSA adopted a logo that shows
two nested crescent moons, together with sym-
bols and colors of the U.S. and Canadian flags.
The word salam is written in Arabic inside the
logo, which MSA interprets as referring both to
“peace” and the customary expression of greet-
ing exchanged by Muslims: al-salamu alaykum
“peace be upon you.”
Until the 1990s the MSA looked for inspira-
tion to the Islamist reformism embodied in the
writings of sayyid qUtb (d. 1966) and abU al-ala
maWdUdi (d. 1979), which are now seen as too
radical by most members. Today, in promoting
the ideals of religious identity and unity among
Muslim college students, the MSA affirms a list
of values that helps define its place in American
society and contributes to combating anti-Mus-
lim prejudice in North America, especially since
the September 11, 2001, attacks at the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon. These values
include sincerity, knowledge, patience, truthful-
ness, moderation, tolerance, and forgiveness.
The secretariat and the campus chapters hold
conferences and meetings to help realize these
values. One of the major activities they undertake
is organizing an Islam Awareness Day or Week,
which features films, guest speakers, and exhib-
its to educate non-Muslims about Islam. During
ramadan MSA chapters sponsor “fastathons” to
raise funds for charities and evening interfaith
iftar meals, which mark the end of the daily fast.
Many participate in interfaith events throughout
the year that foster mutual understanding and
acceptance in the campus community as a whole,
especially among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
students. The MSA also engages in outreach
through the Internet.
An indication of the remarkable success
that MSA has experienced since it was founded
are the nonstudent Islamic organizations it has
inspired. These include the Islamic Society of
North America (ISNA), created in 1981, with
which it still maintains an affiliation. Professional
organizations have also been established by for-
mer MSA members, such as the Islamic Medical
Association of North America (IMANA), the
Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS),
and the Association of Muslim Scientists and
Engineers (AMSE).
See also coUncil on american-islamic
relations; d a awa; dialogUe; islamism; mUslim
pUblic aFFairs coUncil; reneWal and reForm
movements.Further reading: Geneive Abdo, Mecca on Main Street:
Muslim Life in American after 9/11 (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2007); Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, Com-Women members of the Muslim Students Association
at a campus Ramadan iftar meal (Juan E. Campo)
K 510 Muslim Students Association