The terror attack by a White Supremacist on the Christchurch Mosque in New Zealand costed 50 Muslims their lives. And while the event may have taken place more than halfway across the world, the Muslim community at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI, felt the impact all the same. While a fairly sizable community, Muslims at CMU still represent a small religious minority, and practicing the faith during the height of Islamophobia is by no means an easy feat. For this report, Muslim students at CMU were solicited to document not only their reactions toward the terrorist attack in New Zealand, but also discuss their experiences as Muslims on an American college campus.

Winter at CMU: An Experience Different for Every Student

When it comes to the blistering cold temperatures and enormous blankets of snow found prominently during the winter months on Central Michigan’s campus, each and every student has a different way of coping with the extreme weather. For many, the weather provides nothing but chaos, as the conditions complicate vehicular and pedestrian travel. Others, however, find the climate to be of no problem whatsoever, and simply go on about their routine unbothered. In this project, three CMU students—Engram Marcum, Mike Earehart, and Dezmond Earl, were interviewed to provide their own take on how to go about handling the winter weather on CMU’s campus. And in the end, each subject offered a unique experience and a different opinion on the issue.