DECEMBER 2015

spreading the word
OU CASA mobilizes to raise awareness
BY JOYCE WISWELL
If anyone understands that knowledge is power,
it’s a college student. So the members of
the Chaldean American Student Association
(CASA) at Oakland University are banding together
to create knowledge: ISIS must be stopped.
Dubbing November “Awareness Month,”
CASA held many activities designed to educate
their fellow students about the existential threat
posed by the Islamic fundamentalists.
“Students ask us all the time how they can get
involved to help the relief effort, so we tried our
best to organize the easiest ways possible for them
to join in,” said Halim Sheena, president of OU
CASA.
That included postings signs and chalking
messages all over campus.
“Student organizations are allowed to chalk
but only a few take advantage of that,” Sheena
said. “Our chalk team meets once a week and it’s
proving to be one of our most popular initiatives.
People like to be creative. One day, the campus
was literally decorated – everywhere you went
there were chalk and signs. Our goal is that you
can’t come onto campus without becoming more
aware.”
OU’s CASA is a popular and growing group,
with 260 members this year. A November visit
from Bishop Francis brought out 87 students to
hear about his experiences visiting Iraq.
The group is also raising funds through bake
sales and as of mid-November had collected more
than $600 for HelpIraq.org from just three events.
“It’s more non-Chaldeans giving, I think because
the Chaldeans know what is going on already
and have already donated,” Sheena said.
“When we have an informational table and bake
sale, there are lots of instances where people give
us $10 or $20 and don’t want anything in return.
There are a surprising amount of generous people
out there. Well, I guess it’s not too surprising.”
CASA has had its share of skeptics who question
the effectiveness of their modest efforts.
“Someone said, ‘how can $1 help?’ That day we
raised $200 and can feed refugee families with it,
so they don’t know what they are talking about.
We are not thinking that ISIS will look at the
chalk and stop – we are trying to raise awareness.”
Everyone, not just Christians, needs to be
knowledgeable about ISIS, he said. “All humanity
should be against them. They are against everything
that society stands for, and that type of
thinking is a huge threat.”
Follow the group on Facebook: Chaldean
American Student Association at Oakland University.
CASA members
engage in a variety
of awareness
activities.
30 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2015