Arab Cultural Club Hosts Former SNL Comedian Emil Wakim

Rutgers students and the public enjoyed an evening of comedy, culture, and charity at the Nicholas Music Center.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:22pm

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring sharp, geometric shapes in bold red and white, conceptually representing the energy and diversity of a student-organized comedy and cultural event.A student-led comedy night celebrates Arab culture and community at Rutgers University.New Brunswick Today

The Arab Cultural Club at Rutgers University hosted a comedy night featuring former Saturday Night Live comedian Emil Wakim on March 28th at the Nicholas Music Center. The event featured an outdoor bazaar with Arab food, drinks, and cultural vendors, followed by Wakim's stand-up performance that touched on relatable student topics as well as important issues like mental health. The club worked to bring Wakim to campus and ensured that any profits went to charity.

Why it matters

The event provided Rutgers students an opportunity to experience Arab culture and comedy in a student-led setting, rather than a university-organized event. It highlighted the importance of student-driven programming that reflects the diverse interests of the campus community.

The details

The Arab Cultural Club coordinated with Wakim's agent to book the former SNL comedian for the event. Prior to the show, an outdoor bazaar featured Arab food, drinks, and cultural vendors. Comedian Shaunak Gookhindi warmed up the crowd before Wakim took the stage, delivering a set that blended humor with discussions of mental health and other serious topics. The club ensured that any profits went to support two student organizations, United Mission Relief and the Palestinian Children Relief Fund.

  • The event took place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • Doors opened at 7 p.m. for the 704-seat Nicholas Music Center performance.

The players

Ziad Burghli

The event coordinator and future co-president of the Arab Cultural Club, a junior at Rutgers Business School.

Aly Okasha

The secretary and fellow future co-president of the Arab Cultural Club, a sophomore at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

Emil Wakim

A former comedian on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, who headlined the event.

Shaunak Gookhindi

A comedian who warmed up the crowd before Wakim's performance.

Arab Cultural Club

The student organization that hosted the comedy night at Rutgers University.

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What they’re saying

“At the time, we really couldn't host it because it was too late into the year, but Aly had decided to circle back to it … so we contact the agent and after a lot of back and forth, they said they would still be available to do it.”

— Ziad Burghli, Event coordinator and future co-president, Arab Cultural Club

“We also made sure that any profit that we would have made for this event is going directly toward charity, toward two student clubs on campus: UMR, which is United Mission Relief, and PCRF, which is the Palestinian Children Relief Fund.”

— Ziad Burghli, Event coordinator and future co-president, Arab Cultural Club

“I wish there were ... more student-led events. Because we do have big events, like concerts and stuff, but they're generally not student-led. It's generally proctored by the university. This is something that we thought would be interesting for students, and specifically our community in the Arab Cultural Club.”

— Ziad Burghli, Event coordinator and future co-president, Arab Cultural Club

What’s next

The Arab Cultural Club plans to continue hosting student-led events that celebrate Arab culture and provide opportunities for the broader Rutgers community to engage.

The takeaway

The successful comedy night organized by the Arab Cultural Club demonstrates the value of student-driven programming that reflects the diverse interests of the campus community and supports charitable causes.