Hawzah News Agency (British Columbia, Canada) - Students from the campus women's center in University of Northern British Columbia presided over a box of colorful scarves, offering women on their way to class a chance to wear a hijab around campus.

"I'm not Muslim, but I just got a hijab put on me by another student," said Dara Campbell. "There are a lot of myths and false things that go around about what a hijab means. We should understand other women's choices."

"I don't wear the hijab, but putting it on today, I felt super fierce," said an environmental engineering student at UNBC.

The idea, said student organizer Hira Rashid, is to de-stigmatize and demystify the hijab and encourage people to ask questions.

Hijab 'a symbol of free expression'

"It's not just a piece of cloth. It's not a symbol of oppression," said Rashid, "It's a choice. It's a symbol of free expression."

Social work student Modupe Abioye tried on a Hijab before heading to class.

"It takes a lot of courage to wear it," said Abioye. "You stand out. People look at you. Some are brave to ask questions, [but] a lot of people are looking at me and looking away."

 "People shouldn't be judged for what they put on their head," said Abioye. "That shouldn't be any reason for people to hit you, judge you, give you some nasty words. Having it on doesn't make you a jihadist."

'It takes a lot of courage to wear it' .

Beside the campus Tim Hortons, student Anna Saenz modelled her borrowed hijab for friends.

"It's really cool," said Saenz. "The more you know about it, the less afraid you are of it."

Maria Amir wears a hijab every day. Today, she enjoyed being one among many.

"In class, when you're the only person wearing it, it's a bit awkward. Especially now, when you get so much negative feedback in the media," said Amir. "But when you see so many people [in a hijab], it feels really good."