DEARBORN — The Omani Student Association (OSA) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD) celebrated Oman’s National Day, on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the “Victor’s Den,” a student center in the university’s residential complex, The Union. 

The students turned the celebration into an opportunity to promote their home country. They wore customary Omani clothing and welcomed students who attended the celebration with traditional Omani music.

According to UMD Vice Chancellor Stanley Henderson, there are about 65 Omani students at the Dearborn campus. However, more than 100 people were present at Oman’s National Day celebration. American and international students joined OSA to learn about Oman.

“We want to introduce the university to our culture, environment and tourist attractions,” said OSA student Abdullah AlAsfour, who co-emceed the event. 

President of OSA Aida AlJahdhami said the celebration is also aimed to bridge the cultural divisions and negate some of the misconceptions about Oman.

“When you say Oman, some people think we live in tents in the deserts and ride camels,” she said. “We are here to promote our country, which is a developed country with a great culture.”

She said the Oman Cultural Division and the university helped organize and fund the event.

AlJahdhami, who is an economics student, added that Omani students in the U.S. are sent on scholarship by the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman.

President of OSA Aida AlJahdhami receives an award from fellow students for her contributions to the group.

AlAsfour said the presence of a large Arab American community in the area helps you UMD international Arab students assimilate in the local culture.

“We don’t feel like strangers here,” he said.

AlJahdhami added that Omani students help Arab Americans feel closer to their countries of origin, as well.

“When they see us, they remember the traditions of their home countries,” she explained. “The community here is very supportive of us.”

Oman’s National Day, which is celebrated yearly on Nov. 18, is the birthday of Oman’s ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, who came to power 43 years ago. This year’s celebration is the second for OSA at UMD.

Henderson stressed the significance of cultural events on campus, adding that the university’s diversity is a part of the education it provides to students.

“One of the things we stand for is the inclusiveness of this campus,” he said. “We have a diverse group of students from different faiths and cultures and backgrounds.”

OSA students at Oman’s National Day celebration. PHOTOS: Imad Mohamad/TAAN

The vice chancellor added that it is important the university to support and provide the facilities for events that reflect the diversity of the university, such as Oman’s National Day.

“That is the whole point behind The Union. We wanted to provide cultural meeting spaces and create more opportunities for the students to plan events,” he said. “The Victor’s Den is like the third floor of the Student Center on the main campus. It’s a great facility.”

The Union, a private 231,000-square foot apartment complex, located on Evergreen, across the street from the University’s main campus, houses about 400 students. UMD has leased 15,000-square feet of the complex for the Victor’s Den, a student center with study and meeting rooms, offices, a performing arts space and a gym that all students can use during school hours. 

To illustrate his point about UMD’s diversity, Henderson told The Arab American News the story of a Jewish student, who joined a fraternity on campus.

“His ‘big brother’ at the fraternity was an Arab, Muslim students,” said Henderson. “He went home to his parents and told them: ‘We can all get along.’ That does not happen in all campuses.”

He added that UMD is a “community for education.”

Fei Yuan, a Chinese student, who attended Oman’s National Day celebration, said he came to learn about the Arab country’s culture. 

“There’s also free food,” he said jokingly.

OSA students performed skits, portraying Omani society as well as their lives as international students in the U.S. They also performed a traditional Omani group dance called “Rass-ha.”  The organizers interacted with the audience with questions and games involving Oman.

AlJahdhami was handed an award by fellow OSA students for her contributions to the group.

She thanked the audience for attending, and added that the student organizations’ activities are made possible by the participation of all of its members.

“This organization is nothing without your support,” she said.