*WEB CONTINUATION: This article originally appeared in Volume 105 Issue 2 of our news magazine the Amplifier.

Drawing a crowd to participate in their event, the Muslim Student Union (MSU) held a henna fundraiser for their club on Dec. 17. Three members of the club set up stations where they offered $5 for the designs and did the art themselves.

Natati Aman-Tufa and Maryam Al Medyadi, sophomores, are co-presidents of the club and founded it after noticing a lack of Muslim representation and opportunities at the school.

“Our club’s purpose is to provide a community and a safe space for Muslim students on campus, and also people who are interested in learning about Islam,” Al Medyadi said. “Before the club, there was no Muslim representation, and the only religion that was represented was Christianity. We wanted to create a safe space for us as well.”

Henna is a form of temporary tattoo, made from the leaves of a henna tree typically used for mehndi, the style of design on the skin. It originated in Egypt before becoming popular in Southern Asia and the Middle East and holds significance for the Muslim culture.

The presidents of MSU wanted a way to raise money for future events while also allowing others to enjoy their culture. Being a new club this year, the henna event helped spread the word about MSU.

“I think it was very successful, there was not a minute where we didn’t have anyone at our table,” Aman-Tufa said. “We tried to advertise a lot, we tried getting the best quality henna and asked people around, ‘Oh, are you good at henna?’ We practiced a lot.”

The club offered four sample designs, which they had printed out for students to choose from. They also took requests. 

Instead of getting one of the sample designs, Kennedy Toomer, junior, had a faded henna design retraced by one of the artists.

“I got the same one I already had, I got it in Hawaii over Thanksgiving break,” Toomer said. “[This event] is unique. I like it because it’s very inclusive. I like how you can pick your own design, and they’re very friendly.”

Riley Desmarteau, freshman, was also drawn to the henna table, and was not aware of MSU before participating in their event.

“I think it’s really cool, I didn’t really know about [the club] before so it’s good,” Desmarteau said. “I think that it’s cool that [they] are sharing rather than just telling.”

For the pricing of their designs, each was $5 whether it was one of four sample designs or one they had chosen themselves online. 

“We’re not professionals so we wanted to keep it at a pretty fair price, so that kind of made the price a little lower,” Al Medyadi said. “But the henna was a really good quality henna, it lasts for over a week. We took requests as well and each one would be $5 and it would depend on the size of the design or how complex it is.”

MSU plans to use the funds from the henna event, as well as from their potluck events, to do a larger event for Eid, the holiday which takes place after the 30 days of Ramadan, starting this year on the evening of March 29, and ending the evening of March 30. 

The club plans to do similar events in the future. Students interested in another henna or potluck event can stay updated through the club’s Instagram, @wlhs.msu.