Ramadan 2023
In preparation for Ramadan (expected Wednesday, March 22nd through Friday, April 21st), which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the Division of Talent and Inclusion, the Office of Diversity Inclusion and Multicultural Education (ODIME), the Dean of Students Office, and Chartwells - Dining Services are working together to develop resource guides for the health and nutrition of students and employees (as needed) who fast during the month from dawn until sundown. “Ramadan gathers us” is a common saying which means Ramadan gathers all Muslims with their families, children, and friends worldwide.
We believe this sacred time during Ramadan can also gather all of us. Along with providing “build-a-bag” and preferred dietary options for participating Muslims to break fast, we also remind our community of faculty and staff members to be aware of this month of Ramadan and the high holidays that follow this observance, Eid Al Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.
Every year, during the month of Ramadan, observing Muslims change their eating pattern. Ramadan is an Islamic holy month during which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking each day from dawn to sunset, eating only within a short overnight period. With this lifestyle change, changes in sleeping, eating, and physical activity levels are consequently affected. These changes can also affect the health and nutritional status of students and employees. Thus, our Muslim students and colleagues may be hungry, tired, lethargic, or dehydrated periodically throughout their day.
As Ramadan gathers us all, in support of our Muslim community we ask all faculty and staff to employ leniency in terms of how this lifestyle change during the month might impact schoolwork, deadlines, projects, examinations, and class attendance.
“In a verse from the Qu’ran referring to Ramadan, it was in the Ramadan month the Qu’ran was revealed and made clear as guidance for humankind. As Ramadan gathers us all, we remember to rest, and be guided by whatever truth is made clear, whatever is birthed during this time.”
-Kalvin Cummings (He/Him), Assistant Director for Religion and Spiritual Life
If you have any specific questions or need support, please contact Kalvin Cummings (He/Him) at diversity@wpi.edu.
For more resources and information about Ramadan, please visit:
The Collegiate Religious Center (CRC) provides a space to WPI students, faculty, staff, and community members for the purpose of religious exploration, devotions, worship, prayer, education, administration, and fellowship. Our team of Campus Chaplains serve as spiritual advisors for students, and can offer support and guidance irrespective of students' primary religious traditions. As spiritual advisors to the WPI community, Campus Chaplains counteract the inequality of varied expression(s) of religion, spirituality, and any form of meaning-making practice and support student meaning-making expression to tend with systems of oppression as well as any other stressors. This center includes several reservable spaces to suit both spiritual and non-spiritual needs, including a Multifaith Meeting Space, Islamic Prayer Room, and Multifaith Worship Space.
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees all student facing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.