Resolution 2023-S8-3005

Resolution 2023-S8-3005

Chief Sponsor(s): Vice President Michael Fernandes, Representative Saba Ali, Representative Nora
Alsaadi
WHEREAS, Ramadan is a month in which Muslims participate in fasting from before dawn until sunset
by abstaining from food and water. Muslims also participate in nightly worship; and
WHEREAS, Ramadan is expected to begin on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 and last through April 21,
2023; and
WHEREAS, in a recent email sent out, the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine stated “in
addition to special considerations for disease management during Ramadan, the COVID-19 Pandemic
continues to place social and emotional hardships on those observing Ramadan”; and
WHEREAS, due to fasting, Muslim students can experience higher amounts of fatigue and hunger, and
WHEREAS, UIC is a school that has 15.6% of its student population identifying as Muslim; and
WHEREAS, UIC is an institution that prides itself as being inclusive of all its students; and
WHEREAS, the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine released an email to its listservs that
informs students, faculty, and staff of information regarding Ramadan and urges sensitivity and
understanding during this time; and
WHEREAS, the UIC Senate updated its policy on ‘Religious Holidays’ by extending the original
deadline to submit religious exemption requests from 10 days to four weeks; and
WHEREAS, members of the Undergraduate Student Government have observed both students and
faculty not being aware of this change; and
WHEREAS, UIC ‘Official_Student’ emails are sent to everyone on its listservs, spanning the entire
undergraduate student body, faculty, and staff; then

LET IT BE RESOLVED, the Undergraduate Student Government requests that an email informing the
UIC community about the start of Ramadan and encouraging sensitivity and accommodations for
students in observance be sent via “official_student@listserv.uic.edu”. This email will emulate the one
sent by University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, this email should be sent before March 21st to inform the UIC
community about students observing Ramadan.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, the Undergraduate Student Government requests that the updated
UIC Senate policy on ‘Religious Holidays’ also be included in this email to educate students on the
newly updated religious exemption process.