Every semester, the University of Louisiana at Monroe Muslim Student Association hosts a series of seminars or events to promote the understanding of the Muslim culture and to strengthen the interfaith dialogue on campus.

This spring, the following presentations will occur Wednesday, April 1, in the Student Union Building Ballrooms C, D and F at 5:30 p.m.:

• “Monotheism in the Quran” by Dr. Hasnaa T. Elnagdy. She will highlight the common origin of Islam with other monotheistic religions and explain the similarities in many beliefs and values. Elnagdy was a physician in Egypt and obtained her master’s degree of substance abuse counseling in 2005.

• “Muslim American History, Culture, and Contributions” by Raghda Elsayed. She will briefly discuss the history of Muslim Americans, present their major cultural issues and focus on their contributions to America and the world. Elsayed is a Pharm.D. candidate, and she currently serves on the ULM Diversity Committee, is a P4 Class Representative from Monroe, and is a member of the Louisiana Student Pharmacist Alliance.

ULM students, faculty and staff and community members are invited to attend, and no RSVP is necessary. Following the seminar, there will be a Poster Exhibit and a Cultural Exhibit. Light refreshments will be served, and the event will be open until 8:30 p.m.

The ULM Muslim Student Association is an organization whose purpose is introducing Islam, its history and values to all students. In addition, the MSA promotes friendly relations with other religious groups present on campus.

All students interested in joining the organization or asking questions about the Muslim culture should e-mail msaulm@yahoo.com.