After a year-long hiatus, Suffolk University’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) is back and ready for the fall semester. The club was reinstated after the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the organization.
Before Suffolk transitioned to online classes in the spring of 2020, SASA had just collaborated with multiple cultural clubs on campus to produce the annual Cultural Fashion Show. Despite the successful turnout, things quickly changed.
“As soon as COVID hit, it just made it really hard to continue with the club,” said Saad Saleem, SASA treasurer.
Since the organization is returning from a break, no elections were held for executive board positions. SASA President Raina Butt decided to reach out to Suffolk students who she felt would be interested in reviving the school program.
Suffolk senior and SASA secretary, Aisha Fatima, reflected on her previous experiences with the club and her potential worries for the fall semester.
“While I’m happy to be back on campus, it makes me nervous seeing lots of people in tight spaces,” said Fatima. “I still want everyone to be safe.”
Because there are still online classes continuing, Fatima worries if this will limit the student body’s presence on campus, and therefore limit club numbers. She hopes students will look to explore the program during the Tuesday activities period from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
“We want to continue collaborating with clubs like we did before COVID,” said Fatima. “We had so many people come support us before and it was a great experience.”
When Salee joined the organization before COVID-19, he did so with the hope of bringing the South Asian community at Suffolk together. He wants to continue to evoke a sense of unity on campus and give others a sense of belonging.
“We want to create an environment where students want to come and showcase their nationalities, cultures, traditions and where they come from,” said Saleem.
Suffolk had the annual involvement fair on Sept. 23, where campus clubs and organizations showcased their programs for the community. According to Saleem, many students signed up for SASA, and the club hopes to have a big turnout for the semester.
SASA is looking to host various events during the academic year. Some of these possibilities include a food night, where everyone can bring a cultural dish for others to try, a signature game from different countries and other pieces of their cultures.
Although there are no set dates for upcoming events, Fatima says SASA will soon inform students of its plans for fostering a safe space for the South Asian community and anyone looking to participate in it.
“I don’t want people to hesitate to join just because they feel like they won’t fit in,” Saleem said. “We strive for inclusivity more than anything and we’re always welcoming new members.”
Any students with questions about joining or participating in SASA, can reach out to their Instagram, @sasasuffolk.
