The Arab Student presence at the University of Massachusetts has been active since the 1970s. Students of Arab descent always knew it was important to come together and strengthen what was a developing community at the time. However it wasn’t until the late 1990s that Arab students and faculty began to realize the need for an official organization. Just as many other ethnic groups were, it was important that there be recognition of the Arab community by the University. Once a student group was established it would be easier to reach out to the rest of the campus and share their often misunderstood and misrepresented culture. The Arab Student Club was officially formed in January of 1998 with only 30 members, but it never stopped growing since. Now a registered student organization, the club achieved many of its goals to promote Arab culture as well as tolerance and understanding.

The Arab Student Club aims to increase awareness of no only Arabs on campus but Arabs across the nation and around the world. The ASC puts on and is involved with various events that help educate the campus community about their culture and lifestyle. Such activities include educational film screenings, panel speakers, cultural plays, musical concerts, political rallies, peace movements, pot-luck dinners, community socials, fashion shows, dance workshops, “haflis” (traditional Arabic parties) and much more.