Students rave over new Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine

Students in line at Halal Shack waiting to try the new addition to campus.// Photo courtesy of Giovanni Salsa

In Arabic, the word halal means “permissible.” It is commonly used in the religion of Islam to describe a multitude of things that follow the guidelines of the faith. Halal food refers to how certain foods are made to remain lawful to the religion. The halal cuisine primarily consists of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Hofstra University kicked off the fall semester by launching the new Halal Shack station in the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center.

A larger halal station in the Student Center has been requested by students and staff for years. The new station provides a wider variety of food options on campus and invites further inclusivity to students who feel underrepresented.

“The Halal Shack was introduced to the Student Center to provide a diverse and inclusive dining experience that accommodates various dietary preferences and cultural backgrounds,” said Lexis Meehan, the marketing manager for Campus Dining.

According to Meehan, the decision was guided by data from Campus Dining surveys that displayed a strong desire for more halal food options on campus. “Campus Dining has been working closely with the Muslim Student Association and other student groups to ensure that the dining options reflect the needs and preferences of the student body. This collaboration helps create a welcoming environment for all students,” Meehan said.

Many students shared their thoughts on the new station and how it will affect the Hofstra community.

“I feel very included and happy that halal food is on campus,” said Zainab Mozawalla, a senior majoring in political science, global studies and economics. “I have been waiting for there to be halal food on campus and anytime I go to the dining hall, I always felt like there was nothing for me to get and oftentimes I wouldn’t even eat on campus because I just knew that there was nothing that would include me. But I’m grateful that Hofstra did this because now I feel included and represented.”

Representation can take shape in many ways, such as through clubs, a diverse environment and food. Efforts to provide students with meaningful representation can open up a community to opportunities for learning and engagement.

“A lot of my non-Muslim friends are learning about Islam and what counts as halal and haram food and asking questions about it,” said Alisha Paracha, a sophomore political science major. “It’s exciting that a lot of new people are learning about religion and it’s kind of creating this inclusive environment at Hofstra for Muslims, which I never really felt in my first year.”

Janelle Laroche, a freshman biology major, shared a similar sentiment on inclusivity and its importance in the Hofstra community.

“I think it’s very thoughtful of them to the fact that they got to think about other people and their needs,” Laroche said. “Especially since most of us are going to be living here for probably the next four years, so just being able to adapt to our needs is very thoughtful of them.”

Salim T.P. Daniels, chair of the Anthropology Department, shared his thoughts on the relationship between food and community and how the new restaurant would benefit the broader Hofstra community.

“I was excited actually to see it because, over the last couple semesters, I’ve been requesting that they expand the halal food station in the cafeteria,” Daniels said. “And it does seem like it was bringing a lot of people together because the food was very fresh, very healthy; it had spinach, a lot of healthy dietary choices that vegans can eat, or people that are concerned about eating good, clean food.”

Students had previously felt that the food choices on campus lacked healthy options and the selections were limited. Halal Shack offers more range as to what they can choose, including more vegetables in their diets, which was included in previous concerns.

Food can also be used as a way to bring different people and cultures together and bridge gaps within the community.

“And so, I was excited because definitely food can bring people together and it can create a sense of belonging,” Daniels said. “And I think at Hofstra; there were some Muslim students and faculty since they hadn’t worked out the halal issue to have a food station that had consistently halal food options, there was a feeling that we weren’t fully included or fully belonging to a community because food is very important. It can be inclusive, or it can [create] a sense of people being isolated or left out.”

Daniels also shared that food not only provides Muslims with an inclusive community but also brings Muslims and non-Muslims together.

Since the inclusion of Halal Shack, the Student Center has been busier, with long lines of students eager to try different options from the halal menu.