Dear Students,

On behalf of all of AUB I welcome you back to campus. We all look forward to the successful completion of the academic year, and we wish you well in your course work and examinations.

Needless to say the events of the past several days have raised the political temperature in the country significantly. We all understand that political passions are running high. But this is not the first time that AUB has aspired to function normally in a difficult political environment. In fact we have done so several times across our 141 years of dispensing education and medical care. At this critical time for Lebanon and for AUB, we ask you to remember that great legacy because you are now responsible for it.

In my ten years as president I have admired the way in which students have handled their political beliefs and sentiments. We have held our student elections every year in an exemplary fashion. Students have expressed their views and organized their protests responsibly and always with respect for the rights of others in the AUB family. You, the students, have set a great example which unfortunately is not always reflected outside our walls.

We know we can count on you to continue to set that example, and in so doing you will be showing what the future may and should be like. Welcome back and let.s look forward.

John Waterbury
President

May 16, 2008