2008 Woodie Awards
MSU food services cater to religion
Muslim and Pakistan student associations team with student senate vice president to help make halal meat available in the student union
by Dannielle Higginbotham
Issue date: 10/9/08
Section: Campus News
Minnesota State recently added halal meat to its menu.
Halal, or permitted meat, follows a dietary practice in the religion of Islam that calls for animals to be killed in a humane and hygienic way.
"Normally when an animal is sent for slaughter, it is given an electric shock to calm it down," said Louay Abu-Shady, former vice president of the Muslim Student Association. "These shocks commonly end up killing the animal before it is meant to be slaughtered."
"With halal meat, the animal is killed with a single, painless cut to the jugular vein, which kills it in a much more humane way," Abu-Shady said. "This also ensures that all the blood is drained from the meat, making it healthier by nearly eliminating the risk of infection or disease."
The idea to bring halal meat to campus began last year. The issue gained more attention this year while Minnesota State Student Association Vice President Murtaza Rajabali spearheaded the campaign and met with a representative from MSU's food provider, Sodexho.
Phil Novak, marketing manager for university dining services, said he was happy to help try to bring halal food to campus.
"When we see the demand for a certain kind of food, we always try to accommodate," Novak said. "With halal meat, we started out with some limited availability during Ramadan and now we're trying it out a little more."
Sodexho will temporarily offer a different halal dish every week in either The Market or La Vincinta in the student union. This week's dish is tater-tot hot dish.
"The food is going to be American food," said Abdirahman Abdinoor, the current vice president for the MSA. "At one point there will be halal pepperoni pizza."
"It wouldn't be fair to make it ethnic food that no one has ever heard of," Abu-Shady said. "Muslims are not just Arabs - they're from Somalia, Europe, Asia- pretty much everywhere. We want this food to be for everybody, and not just for Muslims."
Abdinoor said he is excited to have halal food at MSU.
"I'll definitely start eating on campus more," Abdinoor said. "It's great that Muslims can enjoy eating meat on campus, and it's good for non-Muslims too since the meat is more hygienic."
Abu-Shady added that since the animals are relaxed before they are slaughtered, the meat is more tender, tastier and has a longer shelf life. Abu-Shady also said he appreciates the effort the university is making for students.
"I like the diversity initiative MSU is taking," Abu-Shady said. "This makes the university feel like a friendlier environment and makes me have more respect and appreciation for MSU."
"I am very happy that there is the option of halal meat on campus," said Aather Syed, president of the Pakistan Student Association. "My hope is that one day we can expand the use into a wide variety of options instead of just one or two."
"And by the way, I tried the tater-tot hot dish," Syed said. "It was very tasty."
Dannie Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
Halal, or permitted meat, follows a dietary practice in the religion of Islam that calls for animals to be killed in a humane and hygienic way.
"Normally when an animal is sent for slaughter, it is given an electric shock to calm it down," said Louay Abu-Shady, former vice president of the Muslim Student Association. "These shocks commonly end up killing the animal before it is meant to be slaughtered."
"With halal meat, the animal is killed with a single, painless cut to the jugular vein, which kills it in a much more humane way," Abu-Shady said. "This also ensures that all the blood is drained from the meat, making it healthier by nearly eliminating the risk of infection or disease."
The idea to bring halal meat to campus began last year. The issue gained more attention this year while Minnesota State Student Association Vice President Murtaza Rajabali spearheaded the campaign and met with a representative from MSU's food provider, Sodexho.
Phil Novak, marketing manager for university dining services, said he was happy to help try to bring halal food to campus.
"When we see the demand for a certain kind of food, we always try to accommodate," Novak said. "With halal meat, we started out with some limited availability during Ramadan and now we're trying it out a little more."
Sodexho will temporarily offer a different halal dish every week in either The Market or La Vincinta in the student union. This week's dish is tater-tot hot dish.
"The food is going to be American food," said Abdirahman Abdinoor, the current vice president for the MSA. "At one point there will be halal pepperoni pizza."
"It wouldn't be fair to make it ethnic food that no one has ever heard of," Abu-Shady said. "Muslims are not just Arabs - they're from Somalia, Europe, Asia- pretty much everywhere. We want this food to be for everybody, and not just for Muslims."
Abdinoor said he is excited to have halal food at MSU.
"I'll definitely start eating on campus more," Abdinoor said. "It's great that Muslims can enjoy eating meat on campus, and it's good for non-Muslims too since the meat is more hygienic."
Abu-Shady added that since the animals are relaxed before they are slaughtered, the meat is more tender, tastier and has a longer shelf life. Abu-Shady also said he appreciates the effort the university is making for students.
"I like the diversity initiative MSU is taking," Abu-Shady said. "This makes the university feel like a friendlier environment and makes me have more respect and appreciation for MSU."
"I am very happy that there is the option of halal meat on campus," said Aather Syed, president of the Pakistan Student Association. "My hope is that one day we can expand the use into a wide variety of options instead of just one or two."
"And by the way, I tried the tater-tot hot dish," Syed said. "It was very tasty."
Dannie Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
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