General History

The University of Maryland Bahá'í Club was formed in the 1970's. The Club has been active every year since then.


2006 Spring Semester

  • Regular Club meetings are on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM by the couches above the food court in the Stamp Student Union for the Spring 2006 semester.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at Stampfest on Friday, February 3rd.
  • On Thursday, February 9th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a fireside talk at the Thurgood Marshall room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:30 PM. We had Nabil Bashirelahi, an alumni of the University of Maryland and the Baha'i Club, come give an introduction to the Baha'i Faith.
  • On Saturday, March 4th, some members of the Baha'i Club joined the College Park Baha'i Community in eating breakfast together at IHOP in College Park at 5:00 AM to start the Fast for that day.
  • On Saturday, April 22nd, the Baha'i Club joined the College Park Baha'i Community in celebrating the Festival of Ridvan by having a picnic at the College Park Woods park at 3:30 PM. The Festival of Ridvan commemorates the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh as the Promised One of All Ages in the garden of Ridvan in Baghdad, Iraq in 1863.
  • On Thursday, April 27th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a panel discussion at the Benjamin Banneker A room in the Stamp Student Union at 5:00 PM. The event was centered on the denial of higher education for Baha'i students in Iran. We had a panel of four University of Maryland students that spoke about their experiences of being denied higher education while in Iran on the basis of their religious beliefs. There was a Diamondback article written about the event so if you are interested in hearing about some of the experiences that these students experienced while in Iran then please read the article. Before this event occured the members of the Baha'i Club meet with some professors, administrators, student groups, and fellow students to bring this situation to their attention. If you would like to get more information about the denial of higher education for Baha'i students in Iran you can visit this website.
  • Congratulations to our graduates - Pooya Heiratypoor, Ele Izadi, Pedram Parvini, Pegah Parvini, and Basir van de Fliert.


    2005 Fall Semester

  • Officers for the 2005-2006 School Year have been elected. President - Basir van de Fliert; Vice-President - Pooya Heiratypoor; Treasurer - Payam Sajedi; and Secretary - Nadim van de Fliert.
  • Regular Club meetings are on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM in Jimenez 0118 for the Fall 2005 semester.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at the First Look Fair on Wednesday, September 21st and Thursday, September 22nd.
  • On Thursday, September 29th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a fireside talk at the Margaret Brent B room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:00 PM. We had Chase Foster come speak on the topic of "One Common Faith."
  • On Monday, November 7th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a showing of the movie Baraka at the Hoff Theater in the Stamp Student Union at 8:00 PM. This film has no apparent plot, but it is quit extraordinary and shows images of nature, religion, culture, and society. The event turned out to be a big success.
  • On Tuesday, November 8th, some members of the Baha'i Club volunteered at the Interfaith Concert at the National Cathedral at 7:30 PM. The Interfaith Concert is held every year and is sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.
  • On Thursday, December 1st, the Baha'i Club sponsored a fireside talk at the Margaret Brent B room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:30 PM. We had Chase Foster come back again to speak on the topic of "One Common Faith."
  • On Wednesday, December 7th, some members of the Baha'i Club attended the men's basketball game against Western Carolina University at 8:00 PM. It was a pretty good game. Thanks to the Athletic Department we were given tickets for 12 seats in the student group section of the Comcast Center.


    2005 Spring Semester

  • Regular Club meetings are on Thursdays at 6:30 PM at different restaurant locations in College Park for the Spring 2005 semester. Please contact us if you would like to know the location of our next meeting.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at Stampfest on Friday, February 4th.
  • On Wednesday, March 2nd, the Baha'i Club went to the food court at the Stamp Student Union to break the Fast together at sunset.
  • On Thursday, March 10th, the Baha'i Club had a showing of the documentary called "Abdu'l-Baha's Initiative on Race from 1921: Race Amity Conferences" at the Nanticoke room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:00 PM. This documentary is about how `Abdu'l-Bahá requested the Baha'i's of America to bridge the divide between the races by holding Race Amity Conferences during the early part of the twentieth century.
  • On Thursday, April 7th, some members of the Baha'i Club went to an Exploring Faiths event, which was sponsored by the Religious Diversity Council at the Maryland Hillel at 7:00 PM. This time there was a speaker that spoke about the Jewish Faith followed by a question and answer session, and some refreshments.
  • On Monday, April 11th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a devotional at the Margaret Brent room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:00 PM. There were some prayers and Holy Writings read from different religious scriptures, some music played, and some scenes shown from the movie Baraka to help uplift the spirit and soul.
  • On Tuesday, April 19th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a talk at the Cambridge Community Center room 1205 at 6:30 PM. We had Rosita Najmi come and give a talk about "Servant Leadership" and the event turned out to be a success. There was a Diamondback article written about the speaker and her talk so if you are interested in learning more then please read the article.
  • On Saturday, April 30th, the Baha'i Club joined the College Park Baha'i Community in celebrating the Festival of Ridvan by having a picnic at the College Park Woods park at 3:30 PM. The Festival of Ridvan commemorates the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh as the Promised One of All Ages in the garden of Ridvan in Baghdad, Iraq in 1863.
  • On Sunday, May 8th, some members of the Baha'i Club joined the Rumi Club in a fun pick up game of soccer on the Engineering Field at 2:00 PM.
  • Congratulations to our graduate - Zekre Tsehaye.


    2004 Fall Semester

  • Officers for the 2004-2005 School Year have been elected. President - Basir van de Fliert; Treasurer - Ele Izadi; and Secretary - Payam Sajedi. There was no Vice-President elected for this year.
  • Regular Club meetings are on Thursdays at 6:00 PM in Jimenez 0220 for the Fall 2004 semester.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at the First Look Fair on Wednesday, September 22nd and Thursday, September 23rd.
  • We have joined American University's Baha'i Club again this semester in their dialogue and social nights that they have every other Fridays. Please contact us if you are interested in coming.
  • On Sunday, September 26th, the Baha'i Club went to a kabob restaurant called Food Factory in College Park at 6:30 PM to socialize and eat dinner together.
  • On Saturday, October 9th, some members of the Baha'i Club volunteered in a community service event with World CARP at the Compassion Center in College Park at 10:00 AM. We helped the Compassion Center with the building and cleaning of their center and some garden work around the property. The Compassion Center helps people that have lost someone close to them like a family member or friend.
  • On Sunday, October 17th, the Baha'i Club went to Chipotle in College Park at 6:00 PM to socialize and eat dinner together.
  • On Tuesday, November 23rd, the Baha'i Club sponsored an interfaith devotional at the Pyon Su room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:00 PM. There were some prayers and Holy Writings read from different religious scriptures.
  • Congratulations to our graduate - Justin Weinstein.


    2004 Spring Semester

  • We have a new president for the 2004 Spring Semester as the previous one transfered to another university. President - Nadim van de Fliert.
  • Regular Club meetings are on Thursdays at 5:30 PM by the lounge in front of the Food Co-Op in the Stamp Student Union for the Spring 2004 semester.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at the Second Look Fair on Wednesday, February 18th.
  • We have continued our on campus study circle on Friday, February 20th, studying Ruhi book 1, which is called "Reflections on the Life of the Spirit." We will be meeting every Friday at 12:30 PM for about an hour by the couches above the food court in the Stamp Student Union. Please contact us if you are interested in coming. Anyone is welcome to come even if you have missed some of the sessions from last semester.
  • There is a devotional every other Fridays in College Park at the home of Vahid Dejwakh at 5:30 PM. Please contact us if you are interested in coming.
  • We have joined American University's Baha'i Club again this semester in their dialogue and social nights that they have every other Fridays. Please contact us if you are interested in coming.
  • On Tuesday, February 24th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a devotional at the Piscataway room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:00 PM. There were some prayers and Holy Writings read and some music played. Afterwards there was a showing of the first half of the movie Baraka. This film has no apparent plot, but it is quit extraordinary and shows images of nature, religion, culture, and society.
  • On Monday, March 8th, the Baha'i Club went to a kabob restaurant called Food Factory in College Park to break the Fast together at sunset.
  • On Thursday, April 22nd, the Baha'i Club sponsored a devotional at the Pyou Su room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:30 PM. There were some prayers and Holy Writings read. Afterwards we showed the second half of the movie Baraka.
  • On Saturday, April 24th, the Baha'i Club joined the College Park Baha'i Community in celebrating the Festival of Ridvan by having a picnic at the College Park Woods park at 3:30 PM. The Festival of Ridvan commemorates the declaration of Bahá'u'lláh as the Promised One of All Ages in the garden of Ridvan in Baghdad, Iraq in 1863.
  • On Saturday, May 1st, some members of the Baha'i Club went to volunteer and help out at 10:00 AM at the Baha'i Regional Property in Fort Washington, Maryland in Southern Prince George's County. We helped out by cleaning out the old house on the property and doing some yard work. Afterwards we had a nice BBQ and picnic along the Potomac River.
  • On Tuesday, May 11th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a devotional at the Piscataway room in the Stamp Student Union at 7:30 PM. There were some prayers and Holy Writing read for the final exams coming up this week.
  • Congratulations to our graduates - Shamim Sabeti and Eden Golshani with his second major.


    2003 Fall Semester

  • Officers for the 2003-2004 School Year have been elected. President - Kamyar Sanatian; Vice-President - Eden Golshani; Treasurer - Ele Izadi; and Secretary - Shamim Sabeti.
  • Regular Club meetings are on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM by the lounge in front of the Food Co-Op in the Stamp Student Union for the Fall 2003 semester.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at the First Look Fair on Wednesday, September 24th and Thursday, September 25th.
  • We have started our second ever on campus study circle on Friday, October 17th. We will be studying Ruhi book 1, which is called "Reflections on the Life of the Spirit." We will be covering topics such as understanding the Baha'i Writings, prayers, and life and death. We will be meeting every Friday at 5:00 PM for about an hour by the couches above the food court in the Stamp Student Union. Please contact us if you are interested in coming. Anyone is welcome to come.
  • We have joined American University's Baha'i Club in their dialogue and social nights that they have every other Fridays. During the dialogues they have discussions on social and religious topics, and afterwards some socializing and dancing. Please contact us if you are interested in coming.
  • On Wednesday, December 3rd, the Baha'i Club co-sponsored and participated in an Inter-religious Symposium sponsored also by World CARP and several other student groups. There was a panel of different religious groups that spoke about their respective religions, which was then followed by a guest speaker. Eden Golshani represented the Baha'i Faith on the panel.
  • On Wednesday, December 10th, the Baha'i Club sponsored a devotional at the Nanticoke room in the Stamp Student Union at 5:00 PM. There were some prayers and Holy Writings read for the final exams coming up the following week.


    2003 Spring Semester

  • We were again present with a very colorful table at the Second Look Fair!
  • Regular Club meetings were Thursdays at 5pm in Jimenez 1120 for the Spring 2003 semester.
  • There is a devotional every Sundays in College Park at the home of Eden Golshani. Please contact us if you are interested in coming.
  • Again this semester the Baha'i Club participated in and co-sponsored World Scripture Night with World CARP.
  • The Baha'i Club co-sponsored again and participated in an InterFaith Conference sponsored also by the Hindu Student Council and the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.
  • Congratulations to our graduates - Nabil Bashirelahi, Elham Erfani, and Eden Golshani.


    2002 Fall Semester

  • Pictures from the Semester
  • Officers for the 2002-2003 School Year have been elected. President - Kamyar Sanatian; Vice-President - Basir van de Fliert; Secretary - Shamim Sabeti; and Treasurer - Elham Erfani.
  • We were again present with a very colorful table at the First Look Fair! Pictures.
  • Regular Club meetings were Thursdays at 5pm in Jimenez 1120 for the Fall 2002 semester.
  • There is a deepening every week in College Park at the home of Nabil Bashirelahi and Eden Golshani. Please contact us if you are interested in coming.
  • The Club participated in and co-sponsored World Scripture Night with World CARP. It was always uplifting and a unique experience.


    2002 Spring Semester

  • The Baha'i Club attended the February 3rd basketball game against North Carolina State. What a great game! Thanks to the Athletic Department, we were given tickets for all 24 seats in Row 5 of Section Q in the famous Cole Field House. It was fantastic!
  • The Club had a table at the "Take Another Look Fair" where we gave out literature, talked with students, and connected with other student groups.
  • We completed our Ruhi Book 1 Reflections on the Life of the Spirit study circle on campus. It was great! The sections of the workbook are Understanding the Baha'i Writings, Prayer, and Life and Death. It was fun, creative, and a unique way of learning.
  • Members of the Club participated in planning meetings for a new Interfaith Student group based on service, leading to the clubs official formation in Fall 2002.
  • Congratulations to our graduates - Marie Tomarelli, Shahrzad Taavoni, and Sy Majidi.


    2001 Fall Semester

  • At our first meeting, we elected officers. They are as follows: Chair - Eden Golshani, Vice-Chair - Elham Erfani, Secretary - Marie Tomarelli, and Treasurer - Navid Dejwakh. Here is a picture of those who attended our first meeting:

  • Once again, we hosted a table at the First Look Fair on the mall. We answered peoples questions and offered Baha'i literature to those interested. We also had a sign up sheet for the Events e-mail list. Please see the Links Page if you wish to be included in this list.

  • Three members of the Club went to North Carolina September 28-30 for a Regional Meeting for Bahá'í Campus Clubs. There, we met youth from all over the Southern Region (from Texas east to Florida and up to Maryland). The youth consulted about a process called "Study Circles" and spoke about implementing them on campuses. Our Club has decided to start a Study Circle on campus called "Relfections on the Life of the Spirit." This material involves understanding the nature of the soul through the Bahá'í Writings and is interesting and informative whether or not your are a Bahá'í. Starting Sunday October 21st, we will start this study circle which will then continue every Sunday from 2 to about 4pm. The whole time will not be spent reviewing the workbook - there will be socializing and other activities (games, etc.). Please contact us if you wish to participate or if you would like to find out more information. Here is a picture from the gathering in North Carolina:
  • The Club participated in the Campus Walk for the Homeless on October 21st. Our contributions were directed to the Silver Spring Inter-Faith Housing Coallition. It was a beautiful day and we were able to march with our banner.
  • We started our first ever on-campus Study Circle also on October 21st! It is a very exciting and diverse group of people. Everyone is welcome and can still come! We meet every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm in Montgomery Hall. Write us for more details.
  • On December 5th, the Baha'i Club had a party to celebrate our four graduating students! Here is a picture of some who attended, pictured graduates are William Land, Farinaz Mahdi, and Navid Dejwakh. Not pictured: Bukky Salako.


    2001 Spring Semester

  • On February 21st, the Club had a table at the Take Another Look Fair. We gave out literature and chatted with guests and members of other clubs. We had a good time seeing all the people there!
  • On March 5th, the Club had some guests from the Hindu Student Council at our regular meeting. We dicussed future collaborations and inter-faith events. We also had pizza available for all partly because the meeting was during the Bahá'í period of fasting and the sun set right before the meeting.
  • On March 10th, a number of Club members attended an artistic performance in Greenbelt by the One World Bahá'í Youth Workshop. The performance included modern dances, Persian classical music, drumming, freestyle poetry, and readings of Bahá'í quotes. What a diverse mix of people and performances!
  • On April 11th, the Bahá'í Club co-sponsored and participated in an InterFaith Conference sponsored also by the Hindu Student Council and the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. The event brought together a group of people of different Faith persuasions to share their experiences and find common ground. The event went really well and encouraged the represented groups to take steps to have more Interfaith events.
  • Other events - regular events, social gatherings, and attending events on an individual basis from other groups such as the Hindu Student Council and the Muslim Student Association.


    2000 Fall Semester

  • The Club had a a booth at the First Look Fair where we gave out literature and people signed up for our e-mail list. Thanks for coming by!
  • On September 25th, we had an informal chat about the Bahá'í Faith.
  • On October 23rd, the Club hosted the first of a series of Inter-Faith prayer gatherings. We contacted other student groups to participate. We had prayers from 7 different religions and then a dialogue about how to promote peace on the campus. We decided on having an on campus peace candle-light vigil. Thank you to everyone who came and shared their very helpful ideas.
  • On November 17th, the Club held a Candle Light Vigil for Peace. This event was attended by students of at least four different religions. Each was given a candle and we huddled together in a circle and passed around the flame, with each person sharing their comments for peace and their desires for peace. The diamondback also wrote an article about this event. The text of this article will be coming soon.
  • On November 26th, the president of the Bahá'í Club, Eden Golshani, was interviewed on the Washington D.C. Persian radio program "Payam-e-Doost". He discussed some goals, missions, and activities of the Bahá'í Club for the semester. You can listen to the program online from their website. Just click the 26th on the calendar. Although the program is in Persian, the interview was conducted in English and simultaneously translated.


    2000 Summer

  • The Club partly sponsored a team from the Crimson Ark Project on campus. This group of diverse youth ages 12 to 23 gave two performances at the Nyumburu Ampitheater and also maintained a booth outside the Student Union. The performance included African and Carribean dances as well as dances with the themes of the equality of men and women and elimination of racism and prejudice. Thank you for everyone who dropped by - hope your summer classes went well.


    2000 Spring Semester

  • The Club had a booth at the Take Another Look Fair where various Bahá'í literature was available. Thanks for dropping by!
  • The Club sponsored a public talk every month:
  • The Club networked with other campus faith organizations during the semester:
  • The Club co-sponsered the Racism Awareness Day on April 13th - this event gets bigger and better each year - look for it next year.
  • The Club met regularly to discuss the Bahá'í writings, including "The Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh" - a letter written by Shoghi Effendi describing the Stations of the Central Figures of the Faith, and "The Advent of Divine Justice" also by Shoghi Effendi which described America's destiny to be a spiritual leader and example for the world.


    1999 Fall Semester

  • The Club had a booth at the First Look Fair where various Bahá'í literature was available.
  • The Club also had a booth at the All Nighter in the Union in the cultural section.
  • The Club supported the Anti-Hate Rally at the Nyumburu Ampitheater with members present with a "Unity in Diversity" banner.
  • The Club supported the "We will not be Afraid" march around campus by having members present with the aforementioned banner, by passing out stickers to all that were present, and giving copies of the "Power or Race Unity" statements to those who were interested.
  • The Club met on Mondays throughout the semester to read and discuss the text, "The Seven Valleys". A greater understanding of spirituality was gained through reading and discussing the entire text.


    1998-1999 School Year

  • A photograph of some 1998-1999 Bahá'í Club members:

  • The Club enetered a poster into the the Unity in Diversity Poster Competition and won. This poster was then transformed into a banner as a part of the prize.