Uchicago MSA O-Book 2019-2020 Example

9th EDITION

uchicago
2019-2020, The University of Chicago Muslim Students Association

Table of Contents
Introduction

3

Letter from the Muslim Advisor

4

A Word from the MSA President

5

The MSA Shura

6

Key Locations

7

MSA O-Week Schedule Words of Wisdom

11

Words of Wisdom

13

All Things Food

15

MSA Traditions

18

19

Stay in the Loop

2

Introduction
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,
Congratulations and welcome to the University of Chicago! We are so lucky to have you! Over the
past few years, you have each worked endlessly to get here – take the time to celebrate your
accomplishments and hard work. As you move forward into your next chapter of life here at
UChicago, know that you will face both many challenges and successes, experience new thoughts,
creativity, and perspectives all around you, meet new people that transform into lifelong friendships,
and you will soon find yourself creating a home here on campus.
As your Outreach Chair for the Muslim Students Association, I would like to remind you that
there will always be a community to support you and lift you up as you take these next steps into
your future. During both O-Week and beyond, the MSA is here all year to answer any questions or
address any concerns you may have at any time in hopes of making your transition smoother. Trust
me, you will make good friends in your dorms, classes and campus organizations, but the friendships
that you will make with the brothers and sisters in the MSA will be gems that you carry with you well
beyond college.
With that, I would like to present to you the ninth edition of The Complete Muslim’s Guide to
UChicago! In this guide, you will find a wide variety of resources such as where to pray on campus,
where to find halal food, words of wisdom to help you throughout your four years, and more! We
have also prepared a full lineup of O-Week activities where you can meet other first-years and
upperclassmen who may become friends and mentors for you throughout your time here. Lastly,
please reach out to any of us if you need anything at all. We really are so happy to have you here and
can’t wait to meet you all!
All the best,
Mahy El-Shikh
MSA Outreach Chair
Biological Sciences, 2020
3

Letter from the Muslim Advisor
As Salaamu Alaikum,
Congratulations and welcome to the University of Chicago! As you begin your journey here, I
want to take a moment to introduce myself and welcome you to our campus. My name is Seher Siddiqee
and I, like you, am joining the UChicago community this year as the Assistant Director of Spiritual Life
and Advisor for Muslim Affairs. Change and transition can be overwhelming at times, especially when
this may be the first time you are away from home and you will encounter many new experiences and
people.
The great news is there are many people and resources on campus to support you and help you
with the transition, such as myself and the MSA. I am here to meet with you to chat about life, answer
any questions you have about faith, find the best campus resources, and most importantly, do all of this
over coffee (or your beverage of choice). The MSA is here to be your family away from home and guide
you along the way. With many opportunities for different kinds of programming, from spiritual and
religious gatherings to social gatherings, you will forge many wonderful friendships.
The following guidebook is a quick reference of tips, tricks, and events from the MSA. In the
coming days and weeks, you will have the chance to meet other first year students, upper classmen, and
staff, all of whom are here to be a part of your community.
I am excited to meet you and learn the ropes of UChicago with you in the coming year. Please do
not hesitate to reach out to me, or stop by and say hello!
May Allah bless your path forward with success!
Seher Siddiqee, M.A.
Assistant Director of Spiritual Life & Advisor for Muslim Affairs Office:
Spiritual Life Office 034 (Lower level of Ida Noyes Hall)
Email: sehers@uchicago.edu

4

A Word from the President
Assalamu Alaikum,
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
I'd like to extend a warm welcome to you and your family into the beautiful MSA family at the
University of Chicago.
Your first weeks at the University of Chicago should be a time for celebration and reflection. This
is a time to celebrate your past accomplishments that got you here, but to also reflect on the fact that none
of it would be possible without the mercy and blessings of our Lord.
College is a pivotal time of your life. These short four years will play a large role in dictating your
career path and future professional aspirations. However, these are just a small portion of the way college
shapes you as a person. Being your first time away from home (for most), these short four years will
likely determine your lifestyle, personal values, and relationship with spirituality as an adult.
For this reason, I'd like to extend a simple challenge to you all: schedule your other obligations
around your Deen, don't schedule your Deen around your other obligations. College is often a busy time
with academic, professional, and extracurricular obligations and deadlines. However, much like you'd
work diligently to schedule a meeting or a class, work to make time for prayer. Don't skip Jumu'ah
because you have a class from 1 pm to 2 pm; rather, schedule your classes around this Fard. Take
advantage of the multiple Jumu'ah timings to make it work. Don't skip prayers because you have work,
schedule your shifts around your prayers. Take advantage of the prayer rooms in the library and other
campus buildings. If you need help finding any of these places, don't wait a second to ask me or anybody
else in the MSA family! We're more than happy to help.
Lastly, I'd like to emphasize that when I call our MSA a family, I truly mean it. Our MSA acts
much less as an organization and much more as a community. We are a support system, an educational
resource (MashaAllah we've got the best of the best in every field), and just a place to drink tea and chat.
The best time to meet Muslims is at our weekly events: Qur'an Club, "family dinners," Friday halaqas,
and daily prayers in HPUC. We send out information about all of our weekly events via email, so if you'd
like to be notified, please email/text me to get on the mailing list.
Once again, welcome to the University of Chicago and welcome to our MSA family. I look
forward to meeting you all personally InshaAllah.
With peace,
Zeeshan Khan
Muslim Students Association President
University of Chicago | Class of 2021
5

The MSA Shura

Kaothar Oladoja
Secretary
Biological Sciences and
Global Studies, 2021
koladoja@uchicago.edu

Zeeshan Khan
President
Neuroscience, 2021
zeeshankhan@uchicago.edu

Saloni Jaiswal
Vice President
Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, 2020
Center for Middle Eastern Studies (MA), 2021
salonijaiswal@uchicago.edu

Sammy Allaw
Treasurer
Biological Sciences, 2022
sammyallaw@uchicago.edu

Ali Smith
Community/Graduate Chair
Divinity (MA), 2020
alidaoudsmith@uchicago.edu

Mahmoud Yousef
Social Chair
Computer Science and Biological
Sciences Minor, 2020
mahmoudyousef@uchicago.edu

Bushra Akbar
Publicity Chair
Biological Sciences, 2021
bushraakbar99@uchicago.edu

Mahy El-Shikh
Outreach Chair
Biological Sciences, 2020
melshikh@uchicago.edu

Atif Osmani
Fundraising Chair
Public Policy and
Economics, 2021
aosmani@uchicago.edu

The MSA Shura functions as the executive board of the UChicago Muslim Students Association. Depending on the
position, each Shura member goes through either a nomination/election process or an application/selection process in
order to receive designation as one of the official leaders of the organization. In addition to the general duties of helping
make decisions for the MSA and representing the organization on an official basis both inside and outside the UChicago
community, each Shura member has a set of position-specific responsibilities that must be carried out throughout the
year. If you’d like to know more about their roles and what you can do to get involved, please feel free to contact any of
the Shura members.
6

Key Locations
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EPPSDBOCFVOMPDLFEXJUIZPVS*% To gain access and register your ID, please contact Jigna Shah
at jigna@uchicago.eduThe musallah is room 032 on the bottom floor of Ida Noyes Hall, next to the
Spiritual Life Office

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UIFSFThe office of the Muslim advisor JTMPDBUFEIFSFBTXFMM
Muslim Prayer Room in Regenstein Library
1100 East 57th Street
This year we are excited to announce our newest prayer room in the
Regenstein Library for students and other University–affiliated users. The
Prayer Room is located in the northwest corner of B-Level. The door can be
unlocked with your ID. To gain access and register your ID, please contact
Jigna Shah at jigna@uchicago.edu.

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Masjid Al-Faatir
1200 E 47th St
Chicago, Illinois 60653
(773) 548-3624 | www.masjidal-faatir.com
Masjid Al-Ihsan
East 39th St. and South Calumet Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 617-9363
7

MSA O-Week Schedule
We’ve planned out an action-packed schedule for O-Week 2019. It is designed to allow first
years and their families to participate in and attend all mandatory events and as many other
official O-Week events as possible (i.e. Opening Convocation). We encourage everyone to attend
those other events while also coming to ours, as we feel that it is important for students to involve
themselves with campus life and gain a sense of belonging to the greater University community.
Additionally, students are encouraged to spend time in their respective houses, getting to know
the people with whom they will be living with for the upcoming year and possibly more.
Throughout the week, there will almost certainly be times when some MSA members, both old
and new, will want to get together and hang out (play basketball, watch movies, etc.) on an
unofficial basis, and arrangements for such events will emerge spontaneously according to
individual preferences and convenience. These activities are a long-standing tradition of O-Week,
and they’re integral to building a sense of community among MSA members. We look forward to
what will hopefully prove to be an incredible O-Week.

Saturday, September 21
1:00 – 4:00 pm

Family Resource Fair

Location: Bartlett Quad

Come visit the MSA table at the Family Resource fair! Come ask questions, hang out, or
get free swag!

Wednesday, September 25
7:00pm Undergraduate Student Mixer at the Spiritual Life Office
Location: Ida Noyes Hall: 1212 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637

Come meet the MSA shura and fellow undergraduate students! Both incoming and continuing
students are welcome. Enjoy light refreshments while mingling with peers!

Thursday, September 26

Graduate Student Mixer at the Hyde Park Union Church (HPUC)
Location: 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
Meet fellow graduate students in the MSA! Both incoming and continuing students are
welcome. Light refreshments will be served!

8:00 pm

8

MSA O-Week Schedule, Continued
Friday, September 27
1:30 pm

Jummah Prayer & Sirat Welcome Lunch

Location: Hyde Park Union Church at 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
“O you who believe! When the call for prayer is made on the day of Jumu’ah, then hurry
to the remembrance of Allah…” (Qur’an 62:9). Join UChicago’s Muslim community at
HPUC for Friday prayer and stay for a delicious lunch sponsored by Sirat Chicago

Sunday, September 29
12:00pm

Brunch at the Original House of Pancakes (OHOP)
Location: 1358 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60653
Join the Muslim Student Association for a fun brunch where you can eat pancakes, drink
coffee, and meet other Muslims on campus! You can meet us there or meet in front of
Reynolds Club at 11:30 am to go as a group. Changes and updates can be found on
facebook.com/ucmsa.

9

MSA O-Week Schedule, Continued
Monday, September 30
7:00pm

Maghrib and S’mores at the Point (meet at Reynolds Club at 6:30 pm to walk)
Promontory Point, 55th and the Lake
Halal Marshmallows? Chocolate? A beautiful view of Lake Michigan? Check! Join us as at the
Point as we continue our yearly tradition of starting and ending the school year with s'mores.
Almost all remaining students will have moved in by now, so you’ll be able to meet even more
of your fellow MSA members. You can meet us there or meet in front of Reynolds Club at 6:15
PM to go as a group. Changes and updates can be found on facebook.com/ucmsa.

Be sure to keep an eye out for future MSA events, including the 27th annual MSA banquet in
the fall and the first general body meeting of the year!

10

Words of Wisdom
Academics
I probably should start off the advice section with something reassuring but I'll get straight to it lol. This
place is not easy. You will likely experience failures here that you've never had to before. It may be the first
time in your life that you don't feel smart enough. You are smart enough. There will be times when you are
working too hard to sleep or eat. Take care of yourself. And in the midst of your busy life here, never forget
that you are in this with other people, and you are all just trying to figure things out. Be kind to everyone
(and trust me, it's not easy with some people at this school. Be kind anyway.)
Afreen Ahmed (Economics, 2019)
Take easy courses your first quarter because you'd want to spend a lot of time getting to know people and
adjusting to college in general. Fall quarter is generally a very fun time so make the most of it! Make sure to
join RSOs because they provide a great means to meet new people and explore your extracurricular interests.
Ultimately, college is what you make of it, so make sure to have fun along the way!
Talha Yousaf (Economics, 2018)
Don't overdo it with your classes! It's your first quarter, so take it easy and cut yourself some slack while
you get used to the U of C.
Aliya Moreira (Biology and Psychology, 2017)
Take a quarter to potentially acclimate yourself, and don’t get caught up in taking harder classes for the heck
of it. Take some time to make sure you can handle it and also make sure you enjoy the intro classes!
Jawad Arshad (Economics & Biological Sciences, 2015)
Never be afraid to take full advantage of your various resources: office hours, TAs, Harper tutors, study
groups, and so on. If you feel out of your depth, don't panic! Remember that you're in a new environment
and you're going to need some time to adapt - and basically everyone you meet on campus can help you out
with that.
Omar Mujahid (Economics, 2017)
Do not be afraid to take rigorous yet interesting classes that upperclassmen may discourage you from taking
otherwise. Furthermore, note that much of your grade will depend on the type of professor teaching the
course and perhaps even the time thereof. While grade should not necessarily be your primary concern, it
should be in the back of your mind when deciding what professors to classes with. I have noticed that taking
classes late in the morning and early/mid afternoon allowed for me to be stay alert in my classes and
permitted critical thinking to a high efficacy. On that note, take advantage of your Core classes and absorb
yourself into your readings because you will not truly enjoy them until you do so!
Saad Khan (Biological Sciences, 2016)
Take Core classes that you're genuinely interested in taking! Taking classes on topics that
you're interested in and passionate about really pays off and will make your academic
journey at UChicago worthwhile.
Saloni Jaiswal (Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, 2020)
Don't try to plan out every second the next four years in advance, you'll just stress yourself out! Just go with
the flow, and see where UChicago takes you!
Areeha Khalid (Pre-Medical Student, 2022)
11

Words of Wisdom, Continued
Academics, Continued

Never be embarrassed to ask any questions you may have. And always help people just like how people have
helped you.
Nora Ibrahim (Biological Sciences, 2019)
If you're a premed, then here's some cliché advice for you: I'm not going to sugarcoat the premed
track and tell you it's easy. It's hard, but definitely doable with a lot of hard work. While you might think you
have to take only science classes, I would suggest also taking classes in other disciplines
that are enjoyable and anyone can tell you there are plenty. It makes the the quarter a lot better.
Also, always go to review sessions. If your TA's review sessions aren't that great, then find a friend whose TA's
are better and tag along.
Fatima Sattar (Biological Sciences, 2019)
If you're looking for a good study spot on campus, never fear! UChicago has a lot of comfortable study spaces
for students. Harper Memorial Library has a cafe with really nice donuts and comfortable sofas (Warning:
These sofas may be conducive to sleep...). The hospital's Center for Care and Discovery has a Sky Lobby with a
24/7 food court. The Reg is nice too -- if you're ever looking for a friend to study with, hit me up on the 4th
floor! I'll probably entertain you with some bad jokes at the cost of your GPA.
Saloni Jaiswal (Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, 2020)
It is easy to get consumed by the academic workload and forget all the great opportunities available on and off
campus. Join RSOs. Meet new people. Go to the gym. Check out downtown Chicago. Time really flies in
college. Make the most of it and enjoy the little things!
Omar Afify (Biological Sciences & Chemistry , 2018)
Your academic experience will be greatly determined by the professors and TAs you have. I'm not necessarily
saying you should choose your classes just based on professors or TAs......actually, that is what I am saying.
Ahmad Allaw (Biological Sciences, 2018)
Religion
During my past 3 years at UChicago, I've learned more about Islam than my previous 19 years of existence
combined. The classes I took on the subject were intellectually stimulating and very often did not align well with
my initial beliefs. My advice is that a little knowledge can shake your faith but a deep understanding will
strengthen it, so learn to the max!
Ijaaz Jackaria (Philosopy 2019)
Have a very strong foundation in the MSA before the workload begins to be intense. You're going to
need this foundation to be able to return back to Allah (SWT) and Islam when times get rough.
Mahmoud Yousef (Computer Science, 2020)
In a place like UChicago, self-care is so so important! Make sure you're taking care of your physical, mental, and
spiritual health. Join a fitness class, make good friends, come to MSA events, and also take time to check in with
yourself. Chicago has some amazing religious classes and resources if you're interested. And if you need advice,
we have plenty of experience trying to keep our lives together (albeit not always successfully) so don't hesitate to
reach out.
Afreen Ahmed (Economics, 2019)
12

Words of Wisdom, Continued
Food and Fitness
Do not go to Taco Bell's drive-thru at 1 AM with your buddy and order the Mexican Pizza. The next day will be
filled with regrets. Source: Experience.
Salman I.
Sometimes -- let's be real, almost always -- you'll find yourself caught up doing your homework at the Reg or
stuck in RSO meetings. Sometimes -- but almost always -- you'll sleep in and wake up 20 minutes before class
and not eat a warm, delicious breakfast. Even if you have all of these academic and extracurricular
commitments, remember that eating food is a commitment too! Take the time to eat a good, solid meal three
times a day at your dining hall of choice. Looking for a friend to sit with? I'll be in Bartlett.
Saloni Jaiswal (Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, 2020)
Some people apparently sometimes forget to eat. GASP! Don't do that. You won’t be able to function well
without some brain food. Give your brain a break and enjoy some food with your friends!
Aseal T.
You will likely be spending a lot of time in the dining hall (three meals a day almost every day). However,
before long, you'll notice that you aren't there for the food. It is - and I state this as an objective fact disappointingly disappointing. However, that doesn't mean you can't find good food. The food trucks on
campus are a good change of pace. Stop by Hutchison Commons every now and then. Go to restaurants
with friends. And, as a final piece of advice, GrubHub, the premiere online food delivery service, ain't too
shabby.
Ahmad Allaw (Biological Sciences, 2018)
Besides being generally helpful for your health, a morning run by the lake (or whenever and wherever you
prefer) can be great for releasing some stress.
Omar M.
City of Chicago
Chicago is a vibrant city and has so many beautiful neighborhood that are just a train ride away. Make use of
your U-Pass -- don't spend your weekends cooped up in the Reg, go to a coffee shop in Lincoln Park, buy some
fruits from Little Village, thrift shop in Wicker Park, volunteer to do some gardening in Englewood... Bike by
the lake and take your readings with you. Don't stay in Chicago for four
years and leave as a stranger. Nur Banu Simsek (Philosophy, 2019)
I think there are some students who feel that just because they're studying here, they don't really need to claim
the city as their home. Let's be real: you're going to be living here for the next four years. Four years!
(InshaAllah. That's like, the entire lifespan of a hamster. So take advantage of it - explore the city, learn about
the issues, get to know the people and the neighborhoods and not just Hyde Park, or the Loop). It'll be fun, I
promise.
Hafsa Razi (Public Policy, 2018)
Your U-Pass costs you $90 a quarter. Use it. And don't lose it. That costs another $50.
Saloni Jaiswal (Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, 2020)

13

Words of Wisdom, Continued
Everything Else
The world can be a harsh place; but, it can also be a beautiful one. Life is all about choices and their
consequences. My advice is to lead the life you want to, so that no choice deters you from your ultimate goals.
Hany El-Adle (Biological Sciences, 2017)
Do what you love, and you won't regret it.
Aseal T.
Game nights and halaqa are a great, low stress way to meet new people. It doesn't matter what your knowledge
base is and how practicing you are. We usually hang out and get shakes after, and it's a good way to take a break
from academic stresses!
Aamir Hussain (Pritzker School of Medicine, 2018)
UChicago lives within a hub and it's culture often times does not translate outside the confines of Hyde Park.
Very quickly you will come to realize that the UChicago culture loves debate. Though there are times when
debate is useful and needed, do not think it always necessary to approach all conversations with such a mindset.
Active listening--listening to truly understand, rather than listening to simply reply--is an important skill to
have. So, enjoy your time here, but remember that the way things operate at this University, is not how things
operate everywhere else.
Hafsah Mohammed (Social Service Administration (MA), 2018)
Ask for help!! People are usually gracious enough to help you when you ask for anything--academics, career,
spirituality, social life, etc. I think we're really privileged here when it comes to the resources and people that are
accessible to us, and it took me several years to realize I could have improved almost everything I was struggling
with if I'd just asked for the support earlier. Reach out to your professors, career advancement, the Muslim
affairs advisor, counselors, MSA upperclassmen and alumni...the list is endless.
Afreen Ahmed (Economics, 2019)
If you feel like you’re not doing college right because your house culture, or any house culture, isn’t really your
vibe, don’t worry. You’ll find your people here. It might be in the beginning of O-Week or much later, but you
will find them! And luckily for you, you get your very own, personal set of wonderful people right from the start
(hint: us!).
Fatima Omar (Classical Studies, 2017)
Drop by the Spiritual Life Office! I work there and we love having visitors! We have kinetic sand, board games,
tea and coffee and and more often than not, snacks and food (and shelves full of books for you to explore and
borrow). It's a great place to relax, do homework, take a nap, or just chat with friends. Prayer room is right
across from us, so don't leave without saying hi (:
Nur Banu Simsek (Philosophy, 2019)
The winter is not a joke, so it's very important to get a tough jacket (I like Alpha Industries) with a hood.
Basil (International Relations, MA)
14

All Things Food
Everyone loves food, right? Right. Good thing you’re in Chicago, then, because you’ll
always have plenty of options to suit your tastes and budget. In addition to eating in the
University’s dining system (which all have daily Halal stations for breakfast, lunch, and
dinner), you can travel around to Chicago’s wonderful restaurants. Some of our
resident food experts reviewed several establishments for you. Restaurants with halal
meat are marked with an asterisk (*).
Al-Bawadi Mediterranean Grill*: One of the most popular Arab restaurants in the Chicagoland area,
Al-Bawadi is located in the southwest suburb of Bridgeview and was featured on ABC for its “home
cooking that's gained a supremely loyal following on the Southwest Side.”
Recommendations: Kebabs, shawarma, hummus.
Pros: Food; décor; service.
Cons: Far, location is inaccessible by public transportation; Prices are a bit higher than normal
Anmol*: Famous for its BBQ and grilled items, Anmol offers a unique assortment of Pakistani
delicacies. It is located further west on Devon and is isolated from the main Desi neighborhood.
Recommendations: Chicken 65, karhai gosht, chicken chargha, BBQ platters.
Pros: Food is prepared fresh (if eating inside); butter naan (possibly the best naan on Devon).
Cons: Doesn’t offer too many curry dishes (catered more to a BBQ/grill audience).
Biryani’s*: A restaurant on Devon, this place specializes in serving biryani; so much so that they don’t
serve anything else. It serves what may be some of the best biryani in all of Chicago.
Recommendations: Chicken biryani (freshly served and hot).
Pros: Very courteous staff, fast service.
Cons: Small space; it doesn’t serve anything but biryani.
Café 53*: Café 53 is more or less a regular café, serving coffee, tea, sandwiches, and gelato. Students
who go here say it’s an excellent study location. Plus they have delicious halal sandwiches.
Recommendations: Turkey sandwich, roast beef sandwich, coffee.
Pros: Nice atmosphere for reading and doing work for a few hours; close to campus; delivers
Cons:
Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen*: Located in Kimbark Plaza on 53rd and Woodlawn, Cedars is the
most popular Middle Eastern restaurant in Hyde Park.
Recommendations: Lamb chops, spicy chicken wings, shawarma.
Pros: Décor, kind staff, variety of Middle Eastern food.
Cons: High prices; limited halal options (look for the “H” label).

15

All Things Food, Continued
Goree Cuisine*: Goree Cuisine is a Senegalese restaurant on East 47th and Woodlawn near Masjid
Fatir. The food is extremely delicious and the portions are large and filling. It's a nice break from the
Italian and Thai food you usually find near campus.
Recommendations: Yassa Chicken, Dibi Chicken, Plantains.
Pros: Great food; Close to Campus
Cons:
GhareebNawaz*: Staying true to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Ghareeb Nawaz is truly a benefactor of
the poor. With its drastically low prices and late hours, this establishment is frequented by bachelors,
cab drivers, students, and families alike. Dollar for dollar, you wouldn’t get a better deal anywhere on
Devon.
Recommendations: Any chili chicken dish (paratha, biryani, roll), biryani, gyro paratha.
Pros: Tasty; low priced food (5 bucks will get you a full meal and leftovers).
Cons: Oily/greasy food; middle-school lunchroom type setting and atmosphere.
ItalianExpress*: If the MSA upperclassmen have done their jobs correctly, you will have heard all about
Italian Express soon after your arrival on campus, and a trip will have been planned. Italian offers “feelgood” food from variety of cuisines, but MSA members go there for the pizza.
Recommended: Spicy gyro and pepperoni pizza, spicy gyro sandwich with mozzarella.
Pros: Open late; delicious food; relaxed environment.
Cons: Not particularly healthy; discourteous staff.
Maravillas:Maravillas is the most popular place to go in Hyde Park for Mexican food. Although the
food isn’t the best you’ve ever had, it’s a good change from all the Thai and Italian you get in Hyde
Park. It’s located on Lake Park, between 55th and 56th Street.
Recommendations: Burritos, chimichangas, fajitas.
Pros: Decent food; fast service; kind staff; late hours.
Cons: Prices are just OK.
Max’sTakeout*: Max’s is located Downtown on Adams and Wabash, just a couple of blocks from the
Art Institute, and it offers possibly the best halal burger selection in the city. Their patty isn’t the very
best (places like Coast Burger and UB Dogs have better halal beef patties), but Max’s is where you can
get the biggest variety of halal “American” sandwiches. Even their French fries are excellent. Definitely
check this place out.
Recommendations: Spicy gyro cheeseburger, breaded chicken sandwich, jumbo chili cheese dog. Pros:
Delicious food; friendly staff; easily accessible by the #6 bus; price is pretty good.
Cons: Not on campus.
The Nile*: The Nile is another Middle Eastern option, located on the corner of 55th and Woodlawn.
The service is fast, but the options are rather limited if you’re sticking to halal options.
Recommendations: Shish taouk, lamb chops.
Pros: Food is tasty; service is fast.
Cons: Expensive; limited halal selection (ask your server.)
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All Things Food, Continued
Original Pancake House: “OHOP” is one of the best breakfast places in Chicago. It has been
an MSA ritual of sorts for the upperclassmen to take the freshmen to OHOP at least once a
year. It’s conveniently located in Hyde Park, at the corner of 47th and Lake Park.
Recommendations: Apple pancakes, Santa Fe omelet, Dutch Baby with strawberries.
Pros: Fantastic food.
Cons: Long waits; high prices; crowded atmosphere.
Yassa*: Yassa is a well known Senegalese restaurant in Bronzeville. The food is extremely
delicious and the portions are large and filling.
Recommendations: Yassa Chicken, Dibi Chicken, Plantains.
Pros: Clean restaurant,; caters to a diverse audience
Cons: a little pricey
Tahoora*: You’ll find many stores throughout Devon that offer Desi sweets and snacks, but
the quality and taste of Tahoora is unparalleled. Its popularity is not limited to Chicago;
people throughout the nation visit Tahoora when they happen to be in Chicago. They are not
only restricted to sweets/mithai, however. They also offer a host of snacks, including what may
be the best samosas in Chicago.
Recommendations: Gulab jamun, barfi, samosa (both veggie and meat), kulfi, falooda, khari
puffs, chai. Pros: Every sweet will cater to your sweet tooth; very hygienic; large prayer room
in the basement.
Cons: There is almost always a line in which to wait.
Usmania*: Also known as U.S.-Mania (usually by non-Desis), this establishment relies on
the popularity of its name to attract customers. Usmania is definitely one of the most popular
restaurants on Devon, although it has no relation to the famous restaurant in Karachi,
Pakistan.
Recommendations: Mutton biryani, frontier chicken (the curry as well as the rice). Pros: High
seating capacity; one of the cleaner restaurants on Devon.
Cons: Unprofessional staff; high-priced items.
Valley of Jordan*: This is more a grocery store than a restaurant, although they do make
sandwiches. Valley of Jordan is the only place in Hyde Park to buy halal meat.
Recommendations: Freshly packed chicken breast, roast beef lunch meat, chicken shawarma
sandwich. Pros: Close to campus; extremely nice owner; fresh halal meat.
Cons: Prices.

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MSA Traditions
Ramadan
During Ramadan, MSA tries to maintain the family atmosphere with at least one iftar per week. People
from the University community and beyond are welcome to attend.
O-Week
This should be pretty self-explanatory, right? The MSA hosts a series of events to help welcome the
incoming first years to the University.
Eid Prayers
The MSA hosts Eid prayers on campus for students and other members of the UChicago Muslim
community. These are generally very well attended.
Community Service & Engagement Dinner
This event involves a dinner featuring guest speakers, and its proceeds go to a different worthy cause each
year. It sometimes takes the form of a Fast-A-Thon, in which university students are invited to fast for a
complete day.
Eid Banquet / Fall Banquet
This event was the Eid Banquet back when Eid Al-Adha took place in the Winter, and when the date moved
back far enough, we just called it the Winter Banquet. We brought it back last year as the Fall banquet.
More details to come soon.
Islam Awareness Week (IAW)
During Spring Quarter, the MSA hosts the Islam Awareness Week. Various symposia, movie screenings,
social gatherings, and lectures are presented by the MSA, often in conjunction with other RSOs.
Study Breaks
We usually put on a study break at the end of every quarter right before reading period. You can expect
fun appetizers or snacks and a great social atmosphere too. Over the past year, we've had a Belgian Waffle
Study Break, Salty Sweet n' Sour Study Break, and others.
General Body Meetings (GBM)
The MSA holds quarterly general body meetings to give MSA members an opportunity to meet each other
in a social gathering. GBMs are also a way for the MSA Shura to inform the general body of upcoming
MSA events, as well as of opportunities for general body members to become involved.
Annual Farewell Dinner
The Farewell Dinner takes place during the last couple of weeks of Spring Quarter. The dinner is held to
bring all MSA members together one last time before the end of the school year, as well as to say goodbye
to the MSA seniors who will be leaving us to enter the real world.

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Stay in the Loop
There are various ways to be informed at all times about MSA activities so that you’re always in the know when it
comes to events and other types of announcements. We’ve provided information about some of these means
below.

Email

MSA currently has three listhosts, which allow wholesale messages to be sent to subscribers. We encourage you to
familiarize yourselves with the purpose of each listhost so that you can use them most effectively should you ever
need to send a message to be widely distributed. To subscribe to a list, go to lists.uchicago.edu, sign in with your
CNET ID, search for the lists you’re looking for, and click “Subscribe.” In the case that the above process does not
work, please email the appropriate administrator of each listhost (identified below) that you wish to be added to.
MSA Forum (msaforum@lists.uchicago.edu)
This list is intended for official MSA announcements, event announcements, general discussion, and messages for
the MSA general body. Here you can send messages about an interesting article you found online, alert people to a
conference coming, announce a sublet, or whatever else you think is appropriate to send to the large number of
people (students, staff, and alumni) who subscribe to MSA Forum. All messages are first approved by list
moderators. Please email Kaothar Oladoja (koladoja@uchicago.edu)to be added.
MSA Shura (msashura@uchicago.edu)
MSA Shura is a listhost that’s open only to members of the Shura, but if you’re a general body member, you can
still email it in order to send messages to the MSA board.
Graduate MSA (gmsa@lists.uchicago.edu)
The gmsa is a listhost dedicated for graduate students in the MSA. It, as the name implies, provides information
for graduate student events, outings, socials, and more. Please email Ali Smith
(alidaoudsmith@uchicago.edu) to be added.

Social Media

Facebook:
Our official page is: msa.uchicago.edu
if you search for “UChicago MSA” on Facebook you can find our official group on Facebook
Instagram:
We're excited to announce our *NEW* Instagram page. Follow us on the gram @UchicagoMSA

Word of Mouth (aka the best way)
Attend Jumu’ah, make friends, and talk to people...these are the best ways to get to know who’s who and what’s what
in the MSA, and they also happen to be the most rewarding.

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