Oakland University’s Student Program Board and the Student Congress teamed up to present the new event Arabian Nights.

The event highlights authentic Moroccan cuisine and a chocolate fountain.

There will also be a variety of entertainment including henna tattoos, palm readings and belly dancers. There will be giveaways, prizes, and a costume contest.

Jibran Ahmen, diversity chair of SPB, is involved with the events organization. The diversity chair, a new position created by SPB this year, focuses on organizing events that promote and celebrate diversity.

“I think that the school could really benefit from having more diverse opinions and events,” Ahmed said.

According to Ahmed, SPB gathers student’s opinions and uses them to create new events.

The idea for Arabian Nights came about when Ahmed and other members of SPB attended the National Association for College Activities convention.

“At the convention, many schools get together and share their ideas,” he said. “That’s where I got the idea for Arabian Nights.”

Ahmed did not organize the event alone — he had help from OUSC member and multicultural affairs director, Emilia Allen.

“We are a part of OUSC, but we are still separate members,” Ahmed said.

Allen stressed the importance of the two groups working together.

“By collaborating with SPB on Arabian Nights, we are able to bring bigger and better events to OU and reach an even more diverse groups of students,” she said.

Ahmed agreed that the work between the two organizations results in better events.

“The direct collaborative goal is to work together on more events, to promote each others events and to support each other,” he said. “When we do that, it shows students that we can work together.”

Allen hopes that the event will bring in many students.

“If I had to give you a number, I would say that our goal is 1,000 students,” she said.

Allen said that her concern with this event, as is with any event that she works on, is getting students to enjoy themselves and learn something new.

She continued by saying that she is very lucky to have the opportunity to work with Ahmed and SPB as a whole and is looking forward to a successful event.

The event takes place on Nov. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Oakland Center banquet rooms.