Learning about the people around you is important to the Mary Baldwin University community. In an effort to embrace this diversity, and boost awareness of world cultures, students organized Islam Awareness Week on January 22–25. The observance started off with a discussion on Muslim women’s dress. Junior Amelia Karak (above, on right) led the discussion, addressing several aspects of Muslim dress, including the use of makeup, the use of the color green, and a frequently misunderstood topic: the head covering. “I am glad to be able to share my culture with the Mary Baldwin community,” Karak said. “I think that it is important to understand other cultures.” Islam Awareness Week included, among other events, a lecture from Nasreen Akhtar, professor from the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan, and an open prayer service at a mosque in Harrisonburg.