Check Archive

May 2010 

• Peyamner News Agency of May 1 reported that the U.S. Time Magazine elected Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid on its list of 100 most influential personalities in the world this year, where she came in the first place in the category of intellectuals. The paper said that Hadid was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq and received a BS in mathematics from the American University of Beirut in 1971.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=180458

   

• BBC World of May 1 and Bhatkally's of May 3 reported on the recently held Doha Debates, led by international media professionals, discussing the motion that "Barack Obama is too weak to make peace in the Middle East." The paper said that Ahmad Moussalli, an AUB professor of political studies, participated in the debate.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.bhatkallys.com/news/news.asp?AID=10510
  

• All Voices of May 2 published an article featuring the Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER), which is a youth network, initiated by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2001. The paper said that Y-PEER network is being governed by young people, with the support of its partners, such as UNFPA, UNAIDS and other international organizations such as WAC, MTV-Staying Alive, GNP+ while it is also taking support of academics from Harvard University, the American University of Beirut, and Yale University.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5725865-call-for-4th-national-tot-on-peer-education
  

• Eventseer.net of May 2 announced that the deadline for the call for participation in OCIS Mediterranean-Middle Eastern Research Paper has been extended to April 22. The paper said that the workshop, taking place on June 29, is jointly organized by the Organizational Communication and Information Systems (OCIS) Division of the Academy of Management (AOM) and the Olayan School of Business (OSB) of the American University of Beirut (AUB).
  Full article available at:
  http://eventseer.net/e/12712/61094/
  

• Inter Press Service of May 2 published a political piece saying that recent warnings by the United States that Hizbullah possesses more rockets than most governments "has once again placed the party’s arsenal under the spotlight." The paper quoted Timur Goskel, defense analyst and professor of conflict resolution at the American University of Beirut, as saying "Hizbullah was successful in the 2006 war because it was able to retain its firing capacity in spite of the Israeli bombings."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51286

   

• Adminet Le Blog of May 3 reported that Lina el-Kanj a student in the American University of Beirut was named among the scholars of the Google's 2010 Anita Borg Scholars and Finalists from the Europe, Middle East, and Africa Finalists list. 

  Full article available at:

  http://www.blog.adminet.fr/introducing-google-s-2010-anita-borg-scholars-finalists-synd00123984.html

   

• Main Line Media News of May 3 published an article surveying the health hazards posed by smoking the "hookah," or narguileh. The paper said that researchers at the American University of Beirut  found that the  practice of smoking hookah "bodes health risks of its own" since smokers tend to inhale more volume of smoke for a longer period of time.

• ADVFN India, RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., and Sctottrade of May 4 published the speech given by U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi following a three-hour economic forum, which convened national experts on economic and financial issues, and addressed the state of America's economy, focusing specifically on the creation of jobs. The papers said that among the participants at the forum was William R. Hambrecht, who is chair and CEO of WR Hambrecht + Co., and who serves on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://in.advfn.com/news_Pelosi-Remarks-at-Press-Availability-Following-Economic-Forum_42659691.html

• Investegate of May 5 reported that Global Investment House ("Global" or the "Company")  held its Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting during which it announced the appointment of seven new board members, including Ali Abdul Rahman al-Wazzan as new non-executive director. The paper said that Wazzan has a BBA majoring in finance from the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201005051442523915L
  

• WXVT 15, My Suncoast, and WRCBtv of May 6 published the speech given by U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi following a three-hour economic forum, which convened American experts on economic and financial issues. The papers said that among the participants at the forum was William R. Hambrecht, who is chair and CEO of WR Hambrecht + Co., and a member of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12434096

• Relief Web of May 7 reported that in April 2010, Mar Elias Camp in Lebanon joined the World Health Organization's "1,000 Lives, 1,000 Cities" global campaign, in which health-friendly cities around the world celebrated World Health Day by organizing events to promote health activities. The paper said that the goal of the year-long campaign is to make Mar Elias a model health-friendly camp. To this end, UNRWA has partnered with local NGOs and community representatives in Mar Elias. Other partners supporting the initiative include the Municipality of Beirut and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EGUA-858P2Y?OpenDocument
  

• Salem News of May 7 published a political editorial by Rami Khouri, director of AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, entitled, "A Light is Cast Upon pro-Israel Groups." In it, he gave examples of how the work of pro-Israeli groups in the U.S. is being forced onto the stage of public analysis and debate.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may072010/israeli-groups-rk.php
  

• The New York Times of May 7 reported that the Phoenix Suns wore a jersey that said Los Suns, an act that was misconstrued as a political statement against the new Arizona immigration law. The paper said that Steve Kerr, the general manager of Phoenix Suns, described the new law as something out of Nazi Germany. The paper said that he is entitled "to his vision of what happens when passion and prejudice get out of hand, inasmuch as his father, Malcolm H. Kerr, was assassinated in 1984 while serving as president of the American University in Beirut."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/08/sports/08vescey.html 
  

• WXVT of May 8 published the speech given by Speaker Nancy Pelosi following a three-hour economic forum, which convened American experts on economic and financial issues, and addressed the state of America's economy. The paper said that among the participants at the forum was William R. Hambrecht, chair and CEO of WR Hambrecht + Co., a member of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12434096&nav=menu1344_8_6_1
  

• Salisbury Post of May 9 published an article by Victor Farah in which he recounted his late mother's journey from Lebanon to the United States and said that in her teens she taught English at the American University of Beirut where she also graduated.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.salisburypost.com/Opinion/050910-farrah-column 

• Wellsville Daily Reporter of May 11 reported that pediatrician Dr. Zahi Kassas was awarded a Community Service Award from the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce. The paper said that Kassas is a graduate of the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.wellsvilledaily.com/homepage/x1560853586/Awarding-the-ultimate-family-doctor
  

• HersamAcorn of May 12 reported on the trip of two teachers from Scotts Ridge, Barb Jennes and Rick Taylor, to Beirut to participate in a two-week teacher exchange program at the International College, a school affiliated with the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/theridgefieldpress/people/58142-school-in-lebanon-surprises-two-scotts-ridge-teachers.html

• Uruknet of May 13 published an editorial by Adib Kawar, entitled, "What is Behind Despotic Tolerance." The paper said that Kawar is an AUB alumnus, class of 1954.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.uruknet.info/?colonna=m&p=65931&l=x&size=1&hd=0

• The Free Library of May 13 reported on a seminar entitled "Workers' Rights and Entitlements" held at AUB.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Neo-liberal+policies+undermining+rights+of+workers+-+experts.-a0226108815
  

• Eventseer.net of May 14 reported that the article "What Shapes Global Diffusion of e-Government: Comparing the Influence of National Governance Institutions," by Bizhan Azad and Tony Feghali from the American University of Beirut; Samer Faraj, McGill University; Jie Goh, University of Maryland, was published in the April-June 2010 issue of Journal of Global Information Management.
  Full article available at:
  http://eventseer.net/e/5425/63686/

• Ames Tribune of May 14 announced that Iowa State University College of Design has appointed Marwan Ghandour to serve as its new associate dean for academic affairs. The paper said that Ghandour had taught at the American University of Beirut for 14 years.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.amestrib.com/articles/2010/05/15/ames_tribune/news/doc4bede9b778834765604361.txt
  

• Day Press of May 15 reported on a youth march in Damascus warning of the fatal risks of cigarettes and water pipes. The paper quoted Monique Shaya, a professor at the American University of Beirut, as saying, "The harmless appeal of the water pipe has encouraged 60 percent of 16 to 19-year-olds to try it."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.dp-news.com/pages/detail.aspx?l=2&articleId=37931
  

• AME Info of May 15 reported on the American University of Beirut’s 15^th Annual Job Fair 2010 which took place on May 13 and 14.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.ameinfo.com/232524.html
  

• All Headlines News and The Media Line of May 16 reported that Egyptian Nobel Peace Laureate Mohammed ElBaradei become the most popular Arab political figure on Facebook, overtaking Jordan's Queen Rania's previously dominant position across global social networks. The paper said that Nabil Dajani, chairperson of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the American University of Beirut, was skeptical that ElBaradei's online penetration was an indication of future political success, and quoted him as saying "ElBaradei is very popular among upper class people and university students, but if you held elections today I don't think he'll get enough votes."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=28846

• Econostrum of May 16 published and article arguing that "with a lack of banking expertise, weak financial products and not enough transparency on the stock markets, the backward financial systems in Mediterranean countries are still a barrier to inward investment. However, things could alter quickly if the changes undertaken are followed through." The paper quoted Simon Neaime from the Institute of Financial Economics at the American University of Beirut as saying, “Delays in modernizing the financial systems – banks and stock markets where appropriate – are a key factor."

  Full article available at:

  http://www.econostrum.info/Modern-financial-systems-key-to-Mediterranean-growth_a2811.html

• The Times of Malta of May 16 reported that a lecture by Nabil Gholam is being organized by the Kamra tal-Periti (KTP - Chamber of Architects) as part of its series of Architecture Nights lectures. The paper said that Gholam's lecture will focus on the practice's recent works with a particular emphasis on issues of relevance to the Mediterranean culture and climate. The works include the winning master plan competition proposal for the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and Irani Oxy Engineering Complex at the American University of Beirut, as well as a number of residential and commercial projects in the Mediterranean region.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100516/social/contemporary-mediterranean-architecture

• KXNet.com of May 16 published a list of historic incidents that happened on May 28. The paper said that in 1985, David Jacobsen, then director of the American University of Beirut Medical Center, was abducted by pro-Iranian kidnappers, and that he was freed 17 months later.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.kxnet.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=572089

• Yahoo! Canada News, Yahoo! India News, and Reuters India of May 17 and Terra Net and The Daily Star of May 18 published a political piece commenting on how World Cup fever in Lebanon masks how politics infects Lebanese football since sectarianism keeps the local football scene in disarray. The paper quoted Karim Makdisi, a professor of political studies at AUB, as saying, "Sectarian tensions, never doused after the 1975-90 civil war, revived in the late 1990s increasingly tainted club rivalries."
  Full article available at:
  http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100517/sports/soccer_world_lebanon__pix

• Iowa State Daily of May 17 announced that Iowa State University College of Design appointed Marwan Ghandour to serve as its new associate dean for academic affairs. The paper said that Ghandour had taught at the American University of Beirut for 14 years. In 1986, Ghandour received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the American University of Beirut and a Master of Science in architecture and building design from Columbia University in 1988.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2010/05/17/news/local_news/doc4bf15980367bb796168398.txt

• NYMETROPARRENTS of May 19 and City Guide Magazine of May 20 reported that AUB professor of architecture George Arbid will participated in a series of lectures entitled, "World Nomads Lebanon: Modern Architecture in Beirut: Reconstruction and Cultural Identity" on May 20.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.nymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=24931

• Ezine Articles of May 18 published an article on ways to get involved with one's own surgery to gain the best outcome. The paper quoted a study by the Center for the Advancement of Preoperative Health, the Departments of Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, and Child Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, and the Department of Anesthesiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center that has shown that anesthesiologists can reduce the amount of sedation requirements for the patient by controlling noise within the operating room during surgery through music.
  Full article available at:
  http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Involved-With-Your-Own-Surgery-to-Gain-the-Best-Outcome&id=4304866

• 24-7 Press Release and I-Newswire of May 20  announced that the American University of Beirut's Social and Behavioral Sciences Department recently launched a "Diploma Program in Media Communication" that seeks to benefit students who are interested in working in media-related fields.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/aub-social-and-behavioral-sciences-department-introduces-a-diploma-program-in-media-communication-151763.php

• Press Release Point of May 19 published part three of an interview with Dr. Viken Sahakia who is board certified in both Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and assumes teaching responsibilities at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA Hospitals. The paper said that Dr. Sahakian has a BS and MD from the American University of Beirut.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/dr-viken-sahakian-featured-expert-global-ivf

• Axis of Logic of May 19 published a political editorial commenting on Washington's reaction to Iran's nuclear deal that was brokered by Brazil and Turkey. The paper made references to an article previously written by Rami Khouri, the director of AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs.
  Full article available at:
  http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_59923.shtml

• Net India 123 and Yahoo! News of May 19 and Andhra News Net and Yahoo! India News of May 20 published an article commenting on the recently issued resolution by Saudi Arabia's top religious leaders that said financing terror is forbidden by Islamic law, arguing that this will not amount to much, according to skeptical analysts. The paper quoted AUB professor of political studies Hilal Khashan as saying, "This is a political display of opposition to terrorist activities."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.andhranews.net/Intl/2010/May/20/Analysts-skepticalArabia-18475.asp

• MSN Money of May 20 published a list of historic events that took place on the same day. It said that in 1985 David Jacobsen, the director of the American University Medical Center in Beirut, was abducted by "pro-Iranian kidnappers" and was freed 17 months later.
  Full article available at:
  http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20100520&id=11532531

• Eventseer.net of May 22 reported that the AAAI Fall Symposium on Proactive Assistant Agents 2010 will take place in West Arlington Gateway, Arlington, Virginia, on November 11-13, 2010. The paper said that Neil Yorke-Smith from the American University of Beirut is a member of the organizing committee.
  Full article available at:
  http://eventseer.net/e/13376/63997/

• ArticleCat.com of May 22 reported that GME signed an agreement with AUBMC and by extension, Clemenceau Medical Center, to help make AUBMC’s center of excellence globally available to patients who wish to receive plastic surgery. The paper said that through this agreement, GME has become an exclusive partner of AUBMC for facilitating patients originating from North America.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.articlecat.com/Article/GME-Signs-Exclusive-Agreement-with-American-University-of-Beirut-Medical-Center/399754

• Topix of May 24 announced that the American University of Beirut's Social and Behavioral Sciences Department recently launched a "Diploma Program in Media Communication" that seeks to benefit students who are interested in working in media-related fields.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.topix.com/business/public-relations/2010/05/aub-social-and-behavioral-sciences-department-introduces-a-diploma-program-in-media-communication

• Midwire News of May 24 reported that different forms of tobacco smoking may have varying effects on reproductive outcomes among women undergoing fertility treatment. The paper quoted Dr. Antoine Hannun from the American University of Beirut Medical Center, as saying, "Nargile smoke has harmful components similar to those found in cigarette smoke."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.medwire-news.md/45/87710/ObGyn/Conflicting_evidence_for_effect_of_tobacco_on_IVF_outcomes.html

• Globe and Mail of May 25 published a political editorial by Rami Khouri, the director of AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, entitled, "The Paradoxical Arab World," in which  he argued that the region has been transformed into a peculiar array of countries that are both stable and vulnerable.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/the-paradoxical-arab-world/article1576423/

• Tobacco.org of May 24 reported that different forms of tobacco smoking may have varying effects on reproductive outcomes among women undergoing fertility treatment. The paper quoted Dr. Antoine Hannun from the American University of Beirut Medical Center, as saying, "Nargile smoke has harmful components similar to those found in cigarette smoke."
  Full article available at:

  http://www.tobacco.org/news/301999.html

• Ashrae of May 25 reported that AUB is an ASHRAE grant recipient for its project "Study of Performance of a Solar Assisted Liquid Desiccant System to Supply Building Fresh Water and Cooling Needs by Modeling and Experimentation."

  Full article available at:

  http://www.ashrae.org/pressroom/detail/17532 

• Mid Dekalb Neighbor of May 26 announced that Nadine Chamseddine has joined Prudential Georgia Realty’s new office in Buckhead. The paper said that Chamseddine is an AUB alumna.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.mid.nn.marietta.new.adqic.com/detail/159896.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=&page=

• Zikkir and Harvard Public Affairs and Communications of May 27 reported that neurologist Raymond Delacy Adams, who is Bullard Professor of Neuropathology Emeritus at Harvard Medical School, died on October 18, 2008 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The papers said that "Dr. Adams recognized the need for an international neurology community and regularly visited laboratories in Europe and elsewhere. He developed an abiding relationship with the American University of Beirut and extended himself to take residents from there and many sites abroad."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.zikkir.com/index/289118

• The Free Library of May 27 reported on a study being conducted in the village of Zawtar El-Charkieh  in southern Lebanon on drinking water sources that are anticipated to be microbiologically contaminated. The paper said that as part of an ongoing partnership between the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut and the municipality of the village, an initial assessment study of the quality of drinking water was conducted in summer 2007.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+challenges+of+sustainable+access+to+safe+drinking+water+in+rural...-a0227353478

• Inside Bay Area.com of May 27 and The Daily Journal and Herald Net, Texarkana Gazette, News Channel 25, Sunsentinal.com, CBS3.com, Vindy.com, and Charter of May 28 reported in their "This Day in History" and "Today in History" sections respectively that in 1985, David Jacobsen, the director of the American University of Beirut Medical Center was abducted by "pro-Iranian kidnappers" and was freed 17 months later.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=132333&title=This%20Day%20in%20History

• Article Alley of May 26 reported that GME signed an agreement with AUBMC and by extension, Clemenceau Medical Center, to help make AUBMC's center of excellence globally available to patients who wish to receive major or plastic surgery. The paper said that through this agreement, GME has become an exclusive partner of AUBMC for facilitating patients originating from North America.
  Full article available at:
  http://www.articlealley.com/article_1569153_23.html

• Sify News, Times Daily, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Romesentinel, Citizen.com, and Republican American of May 28 and Q13 Fox of May 29 reported in their "Today in History" section that in 1985, David Jacobsen, the director of the American University of Beirut Medical Center was abducted by "pro-Iranian kidnappers" and freed 17 months later.
  Full article available at:
  http://sify.com/news/today-in-history-news-international-kf2wOkghbii.html

• The Media Line and All Headline News of May 30 reported that Walid Al-Saqaf, a Yemeni who developed a software that allows netcitizens throughout the world to circumvent government censorship of websites, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship by the non-profit international innovation organization TED. The paper said that AUB professor of communication Nabil Dajani described al-Saqaf's invention "as one play in an endless game of cat and mouse."
  Full article available at:
  http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=28977