AUB - Media - Local News October 2009

Local News October 2009

AUB in the News - Local version

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October 2009

Al-Hayat and The Daily Star of October 5 carried the announcement by the American University of Beirut that it appointed Hikmat Beaini as director of information and public relations to succeed Ibrahim Khoury. The papers said that Beaini comes to AUB with extensive media experience in Lebanon and the United States, most recently as host of Tele Liban's "Opportunities for All" program. The papers also said that before returning to Lebanon in December 2007, he lived over 20 years in the Washington, DC area where he worked for the Human Rights Commission and founded Arab Media House Inc.
An-Nahar of October 5 published an opinion piece by Habib Afram in which he says that he responded to the invitation of Dr. Fuad Abu Nadir to participate in the Third Freedom Front Conference primarily because of their close friendship that dates back to their student days at AUB.
An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', and Al-Bayraq of October 5 reported that Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah met on October 4 with a group of AUB students to discuss United States policies in the Middle East and Lebanon.
As-Safir of October 5 reported that AUB professor of landscape design and ecosystem management Nadim Farajallah partook in a seminar on fighting global climate change. The paper said that the seminar was part of the closing sessions of the sixth Francophone Games, which took place in Beirut and closed with a resolution to support the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in its fight against climate change.
As-Safir of October 5 reported on the opening ceremony of the "Arab Feminism: A Critical Perspective" conference which took place at AUB's Issam Fares Hall on October 4. The paper said that the conference was organized by the Lebanese Association of Women Researchers (Bahithat) in collaboration with AUB's Anis Makdisi Program in Literature and several other organizations and universities, bringing together around 46 leading academics and researchers from around the world to debate the state, challenges, and future of the multiple discourses within Arab feminism.
L'Orient Le Jour of October 5 announced that the Society of the Friends of the AUB Museum is holding on Wednesday October 7 a presentation on "Cypriot Antiquities in the Archaeological Museum." The paper said that the presentation will be given by Dr. Vassos Karageorghis and Dr. Leila Badre.
An-Nahar, As-Safir, The Daily Star, and Al-Bayraq of October 6 reported that vice president for Medical Affairs and Raja N. Khuri dean of the Faculty of Medicine and the AUB Medical Center Muhammad Sayegh was honored during the closing session of the Asian Society of Transplantation's 11th Conference on organ transplant, which took place at Habtour Hotel, Beirut last weekend.
As-Safir and The Daily Star of October 6 reported on the proceedings of the conference "Arab Feminisms: A Critical Perspective" which started at AUB's Issam Fares Hall on October 4.
L'Orient Le Jour of October 6 announced that the AUB Museum is holding on Wednesday October 7 a book-signing session of a recently issued book on Cypriot Antiquities in the AUB Archaeological Museum by former director general of antiquities in Cyprus Dr. Vassos Karageorghis and the curtor of the AUB Archaeological Museum Dr. Leila Badre.
The Daily Star of October 6 reported that several heads of Lebanon's leading universities, including AUB, have yet to receive requests to reveal private information about their students, following a request by the public prosecutor's office upon a special appeal from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) chief prosecutor Daniel Bellemare. The paper quoted a spokesperson for AUB as saying that "it [AUB] had yet to receive any request from the judiciary to divulge personal information about its students." The paper also quoted Chafik Masri, professor of International Law at AUB, that "it was irregular for police to ask for general information from private universities, specifically concerning foreign students."
Al-Liwa' of October 8 published an article featuring concerns of students enrolled in private universities in Lebanon, including the American University of Beirut, upon the start of the new academic year 2009-10. The paper discussed their concerns regarding increase in tuition fees and the spread of the H1N1 Swine Flu virus.
Al-Akhbar and L'Orient-Le Jour of October 8 announced that the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB is holding a three-day conference on October 15-17 entitled "Education for Social Cohesion in Lebanon." The papers said that this international youth conference is co-hosted by the Center for Lebanese Studies and will address the role of education in fostering social cohesion in Lebanon.
L'Orient-Le Jour of October 8 reported that the British Council in Lebanon hosted the regional initiative entitled "Women at Work" in Beirut to encourage and support women wanting to pursue professional careers, namely in Information Technology. The paper said that the seminar trained women college graduates from AUB and the Beirut Arab University.
L'Orient-Le Jour of October 8 and An-Nahar of October 9 reported on the lecture given at the AUB Archeological Museum and entitled "Cypriot Antiquities in the Archaeological Museum," on October 7, 2009. The papers said that the lecture, presented by the Society of the Friends of the AUB Museum, was given by former director general of antiquities in Cyprus Dr. Vassos Karageorghis and the Director of the AUB Archaeological Museum Dr. Leila Badre. The papers also said that the lecture was followed by a book signing session of a recently issued book in French on Cypriot Antiquities in the AUB Archaeological Museum, entitled Les Antiquitiés Chypriotes dans le musée de l'AUB, co-authored by Karageorghis and Badre.
The Daily Star of October 8 reported on the last day of the three-day conference "Arab Feminism: A Critical Perspective" which was organized by the Lebanese Association of Women Researchers (Bahithat), AUB's Anis Makdisi Program in Literature, and several other organizations and universities.
An-Nahar and Al-Bayraq of October 9 reported on the proceedings of the "Arab Feminisms: A Critical Perspective" conference, which kicked off at the American University of Beirut's Issam Fares Hall on October 4, and was organized by the Lebanese Association of Women Researchers (Bahithat) in collaboration with AUB's Anis Makdisi Program in Literature and several other organizations and universities. The papers said that the conference debated the state, challenges, and future of the multiple discourses within Arab feminism.
As-Safir of October 9 published an article about the new director of information and public relations at AUB, Hikmat Beaini. The paper said that Beaini hopes to adopt new marketing strategies that focus on furthering media communications and using electronic resources and web channels to reach out to a wider audience.
Al-Akhbar of October 9 reported on the recent archaeological findings in downtown Beirut of a market place that dates back to Roman era. The paper said that the site was originally excavated by four different groups of archaeologists including a team from AUB.
Al-Mustaqbal and Al-Liwa' of October 10 reported that the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association will be granting scholarships to Makassed high school students of high academic performance, giving them a chance to pursue their higher education at various universities in Lebanon including AUB.
Ad-Diyar of October 11 announced that the American University of Beirut will be holding its opening ceremony of the new academic year 2009-10 on Monday, October 12, 2009 at 12:00 noon at the Assembly Hall where AUB President Peter Dorman will deliver a speech on the utility of liberal arts education. The paper also said that AUB's fall semester 2009-10 had started on October 5, 2009.
Al-Mustaqbal of October 11 reported on the farewell reception held in honor of outgoing director of the AUB Office of Information and Public Relations, Ibrahim Khoury, who retired after almost two decades of dedicated service to the University. The paper said that the reception, which was hosted by AUB President Peter Dorman at Marquand House, was attended by Lebanese ministers Muhammad Jawad Khalifeh and Yusef Takla, in addition to a number of MPs and dignitaries.
An-Nahar of October 12 announced that the newly constructed building of AUB's Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) will be inaugurated on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 5:30 pm. The paper said that the new structure is four-story high and is designed by Machado and Silvetto Associates.
An-Nahar of October 12 and Al-Hayat of October 13 reported on the farewell reception held in honor of outgoing director of the AUB Office of Information and Public Relations, Ibrahim Khoury, who retired after sixteen years of service to the University. The papers said that the reception, which was hosted by AUB President Peter Dorman at Marquand House, was attended by Lebanese ministers Muhammad Jawad Khalifeh and Yusef Takla, in addition to a number of MPs, dignitaries, and AUB administrators and staff.
As-Safir of October 12, and Al-Mustqbal and As-Safir of October 13 announced that AUB is holding the "Special Employment Day" career fair on October 12-16. The papers said that the fair will give hundreds of graduating seniors and AUB graduates the opportunity to meet representatives of potential employers and to discuss with them career opportunities.
L'Orient-Le Jour of October 12 reported on a photo exhibit by Rania Mattar called "Ordinary Lives," showcasing at Gallerie Jannine Rubeiz until October 23. The paper said that the content of the photo exhibit partly touches on the identity of women behind veils and gives the example of a group photo of veiled women studying medicine at the American University of Beirut.
The Daily Star of October 12 published a political editorial arguing that future threats of water scarcity in the Middle East are causing concerns that a "water war" could be sparked off in the region. The paper quoted Stefan Schurig, Director of Climate and Energy for the World Future Council, during a recent speech at AUB, as saying that "Lebanon's water is more than just a bargaining chip on the table."
An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', As-Safir, Ad-Diyar, Al-Anwar, and The Daily Star of October 13 reported on AUB's Opening Ceremony, held on October 12 at Assembly Hall, formally inaugurating the academic year 2009-10. The papers said that AUB President Peter Dorman gave a speech entitled "The Essential Inutility of Higher Education," in which he argued that, despite the recent economic crisis, liberal arts education, such as that offered at AUB, will help people overcome the "world's greatest failures." The papers also said that members of the AUB Board of Trustees, faculty, and students attended the ceremony.
L'Orient-Le Jour of October 13 published an article featuring the auto-immune disease of rheumatoid arthritis. The paper quoted professor of rheumatology at AUBMC as saying that "The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still unknown, but we suspect that it could be caused by an infection, or could be hereditary."
An-Nahar of October 14 reported that the Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association announced, during a celebration honoring its high school graduates with high academic records, that it will be granting them scholarships to pursue higher education at various universities in Lebanon including AUB.
As-Safir of October 14 published an opinion piece in which the author assessed whether or not publishing in Lebanon is a result of an individual endeavor or that of institutional guidance. The paper cited the example of the AUB's former president John Waterbury who followed the "Publish or Perish" motto when he instituted new regulations at the university to prod professors to publish.
Al-Anwar of October 14 reported on an exhibit of a Lebanese stamp collection dating from 1900 to 1968, collected by Charbel Matta. The paper said that the collection, which showcased as part of the 2009 Francophonie Games celebrations in Beirut, included stamps from the year 1920 that featured the American University of Beirut campus.
L'Orient-Le Jour of October 14 reported on a concert organized by Kulturzentrum and held on Monday, October 12, 2009 at AUB's Assembly Hall, featuring a group of four saxophonists called "Le Quatuor Kokopelli." The paper said that the group played an assortment of Baroque style music, jazz, French songs, and modern American songs.
The Daily-Star of October 14 published a photo caption of the farewell reception held in honor of outgoing director of the AUB Office of Information and Public Relations, Ibrahim Khoury. The paper said that the reception was hosted by AUB President Peter Dorman at Marquand House, and was attended by Lebanese ministers Muhammad Jawad Khalifeh and Yusef Takla.
An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', As-Safir, and Al-Anwar of October 15 reported on the inauguration ceremony of the new building of AUB's Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) on October 13, 2009. The papers said that the building includes a hi-tech, interactive trading room, dynamic classrooms and labs, and modern open spaces. The papers also said that OSB Dean George Najjar; Sheikh Khaled Olayan (Suliman Olayan's son and the chairman of the Olayan group), AUB President Peter Dorman, AUB BOT Chair Philip Khoury, and former Prime Minister Fuad Siniora gave speeches at the ceremony. The papers also said that attending the ceremony were dignitaries from the United States, the Arab region, and Lebanon, including Education Minister Bahia Hariri, Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, Minister of the Displaced Raymond Audi, Former Minister Bahij Tabbara, and members of the Olayan family and the AUB community.
An-Nahar of October 15 announced the start of a three-day conference on October 15-17 entitled "Education for Social Cohesion in Lebanon." The paper said that this international youth conference was organized by the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB and held under the auspices of Lebanese President HE Michel Suleiman, and is co-hosted by the Center for Lebanese Studies at the University of Oxford. The paper said that the conference addresses the role of education in fostering social cohesion in Lebanon.
An-Nahar, Al-Liwa' and As-Safir of October 17 announced that the Worldwide Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut (WAAAUB) held its second North American Regional Gathering in Montreal, Canada. The paper said that the gathering included a gala dinner at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel featuring Raghida Dergham, columnist and senior diplomatic correspondent for the London-based Al Hayat newspaper since 1989, as keynote speaker. The paper also said that Former United Nations Ambassador Khalil Mekkawi, president of WAAAUB, attended the dinner.
Al-Akhbar of October 17 reported on the opening of the new building of the Aramoun Public School, which was built with a grant from the World Bank. The paper quoted the principal of the school as saying his students participated in a music competition at AUB.
The Daily Star of October 17 and 19 and Al-Anwar of October 19 reported on the three-day conference entitled "Education for Social Cohesion in Lebanon," which started on October 15. The paper said that this international conference, which addressed the role of education in fostering social cohesion in Lebanon, was organized by the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and was co-hosted by the Center for Lebanese Studies at the University of Oxford.
Al-Akhbar of October 19 reported on the memorial ceremony held in honor of Shafik El Hout, one of the founders of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) who served as its official spokesman between 1974 until 1992 and as its longtime representative in Beirut. The paper said that the ceremony was organized by El Hout's colleagues and friends, some of whom recounted their experiences with him as student activists at AUB.
An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', As-Safir, and Al-Anwar of October 20 reported on the end of the three-day conference entitled "Education for Social Cohesion in Lebanon," which started on October 15. The papers said that the conference, which addressed the role of education in fostering social cohesion in Lebanon, was organized by the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB under the auspices of Lebanese President HE Michel Suleiman, and was co-hosted by the Center for Lebanese Studies at the University of Oxford. The papers also said that during the conference international academics presented various ways to promote social cohesion and recommended programs to achieve mutual understanding.
Al-Bayraq of October 20 reported on the farewell reception held in honor of AUB's outgoing director of Information and Public Relations, Ibrahim Khoury, who stepped down after sixteen years of service to the University. The paper said that the reception, which was hosted by AUB President Peter Dorman at Marquand House, was attended by Lebanese ministers Muhammad Jawad Khalifeh and Yusef Takla, in addition to a number of MPs, dignitaries, and AUB administrators and staff.
Al-Akhbar of October 24 published an article featuring the local music band Mashrou' Laila composed of seven musicians who are also AUB students. The paper said that the band is due to issue its debut album soon, and has recently won the Radio Liban 96.2 FM's Contemporary Music Competition.
An-Nahar of October 25 reported on the Francophone Book Fair, which included a book signing session of As-Safir Daily's cultural editor Abbas Beydoun's new poetry book, “Abwab Bayrut wa Qasa'id Ukhra” (Doors of Beirut and Other Poems). The paper said that the book contains a section describing Beydoun's relationship with the city of Beirut, which describes his walks around various parts of the city including the American University of Beirut.
As-Safir and Al-Bayraq of October 26 reported that AUB Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and head of the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Nutritional Sciences, Nahla Hwella participated in a conference entitled "Current Nutritional Challenges among Children, Youth, and Adolescents" organized by the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Nutritional Sciences. The papers said that Hwella recommended managing and eliminating the "obesogenic environment" that is causing obesity among the youth in Lebanon.
As-Safir of October 26 published an editorial written by Dr. Anis Al-Sayigh presenting the newly published memoires of the late founder of the Palestinian Liberation Front, George Habash, who graduated with an MD from the American University of Beirut in 1951. The paper said that the book is entitled “Ath-Thawriyyun la yamutuna Abadan” (Revolutionaries Never Die).
An-Nahar, As-Safir, and The Daily Star of October 27 reported that US Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison presented a check for educational scholarships to AUB President Peter Dorman, on October 26 at West Hall. The papers said that the $457,457 check, which is the latest installment of $2.3 million the United States government has allocated to AUB in scholarship assistance over the past fiscal year, will help finance the education of over 700 students.
Al-Mustaqbal and Al-Bayraq of October 27 reported that AUB professor of agriculture Mustapha Haidar gave the opening remarks at the 10^th Arab Conference on Plant Protection, held at the Crown Plaza Hotel Beirut, under the auspices of outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and organized by the National Council for Scientific Research and the Arab Association for Plant Protection.
As-Safir of October 27 published an article featuring former Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares, who is due to be honored on October 29 by the global NGO International Crisis Group at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City alongside former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush senior. The paper recounted Fares's philanthropic projects including, among others, his grant to build the Issam Fares Auditorium at the American University of Beirut.
As-Safir of October 28 announced that The Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development is holding a ceremony hosted on October 28 at 4:00 pm at Bathish Hall, West Hall by AUB’s Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs to release the results of the study entitled "Higher Education and Labor Market Outcomes in Lebanon." The paper said that the study was conducted by AUB’s Alumni Relations Office in collaboration with the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development.
Al-Akhbar of October 28 published the National Soccer Federation’s lists of the distribution of groups competing in the forthcoming national soccer tournament. The paper said that the American University of Beirut team will be part of the second group.
L'Orient Le Jour of October 28 published an article announcing the showcasing of the graphic design exhibit by America Sanchez at the American University of Beirut Dar Al-Handasah engineering building entitled Tutti Frutti. The paper said that the exhibit, which will last till November 20, is organized by the AUB Department of Architecture and Design in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain. The paper also said that the exhibit will be preceded with a lecture by America Sanchez on October 28 at 7:00 pm.
The Daily Star of October 28 reported that Wednesday night will witness the second "no smoking night" in a year at night clubs, restaurants, and pubs in Gemmayze, Beirut in a bid to raise awareness on the dangers of tobacco. The paper quoted professor Rima Nakkash, Assistant Professor of Research at the AUB Center on Population Research and Health, as saying "It [Lebanon] is an easy, enabling environment for smokers."
Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', Ad-Diyar, and Al-Bayraq of October 29 reported on the funeral services held in Saida for the late mother in law of outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Mariam Mahmud Al-Bsat. The paper said that her family will receive condolences on Thursday and Friday October 29-30 at the AUB Alumni headquarters in Al-Wardieh, Beirut.
The Daily Star of October 29 published a commentary piece by Paul Salem in which he highlighted the threats of educational poverty in the Arab world and criticized world governmental and non-governmental organizations in dealing with the issue. Salem said that despite the fact that AUB positively contributes to the region due to the education it provides, it still receives limited funds by the US government which allocates more funds to armies and weaponries in the region.
Al-Mustaqbal, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, and Al-Bayraq of October 30 reported that Lebanese President HE Michel Suleiman, Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister elect Saad Hariri were among many politicians and prominent figures who paid condolences to outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and his wife Huda upon the passing away of her mother Mariam Mahmud Al-Bsat. The papers said that the condolences took place at the American University of Beirut Alumni Association headquarters in Wardieh.
As-Safir, Ad-Diyar, Al-Anwar, Al-Akhbar, and Al-Bayraq of October 30 reported that a delegation of administrators from the American University of Beirut attended on October 29 the ceremony honoring Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares by the global NGO International Crisis Group at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The papers said that Fares was honored alongside former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush.