Check Archive

February 2010

• PRLog of February 2 reported that Academica Press’ announcement of the publication of the first two volumes in a new monograph series, History and Ideas, under the editorship of Paul Du Quenoy, professor of history at the American University of Beirut.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.prlog.org/10516107-academica-pressllc-announces-new-addition-to-history-and-ideas-series.html

• Global Security of February 3 reported on a motorcycle bomb blast that killed at least 20 Shiite pilgrims near the city of Karbala in Iraq. The paper quoted Hilal Khashan, professor of political studies at the American University of Beirut, as saying, “Sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites is on the rise, again, both in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2010/02/iraq-100203-voa01.htm

• Times Online of February 4 and Student-Ready.Net of February 5 published an article featuring the late Hasib Sabbagh, construction industry entrepreneur and philanthropist, who passed away on January 12, 2010. The papers said that Sabbagh, who is co-founder of the Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and an AUB alumnus of the year 1943, “distributed millions of dollars for higher education in the Arab world and the West, with recipients including his alma mater AUB, Bethlehem University, Birzeit University on the West Bank, the Islamic University in Gaza and Georgetown University in Washington, where he set up the Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article7015502.ece  

• Gazette Online of February 6 and Pharmacy Choice of February 7 reported on the need for immigrant skills in the United States in various fields of medicine. The papers quoted Dr. Nader Dahdaleh, who will complete his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2012, and who graduated from medical school at the American University of Beirut, as saying, “There’s a lot of need for neurosurgeons in the United States, especially in the Midwest.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.pharmacychoice.com/News/article.cfm?Article_ID=532903

• People’s Daily Online of February 8 published a political editorial commenting on the recent verbal tension between Syria and Israel arguing that signs for a renewed conflict are looming. The paper quoted Professor and Chair of Political Science Department at AUB, Hilal Khashan, as saying, “One of the possibilities is that Israel wages a preemptive war against Hizbullah, which is supported by Iran, and is a much more imminent threat to its security.”

  Full article available at:

  http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6891217.html

• The Media Line, All Headline News, and Gant Daily of February 11 published a political commentary on recent increasing tensions in Lebanon as the country prepares to remember its former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who was assassinated on February 14, 2005. The papers quoted AUB Professor of Political Studies Hilal Khashan as saying, “It seems that everyone in Lebanon especially the March 14 coalition have come to the conclusion that if they want to exercise any political role in the country they need to be on the good side of Damascus.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=28011

• Oceania Digital Media News and Technology of February 11 and Alpha Trade Finance of February 12 reported that the American University of Beirut Medical Center is one of seven medical schools to participate in the 24^th International Medical Convention entitled, "Medicine in the Next Decade: Challenges and Opportunities" taking place from June 26 until July 1, 2010, in Beirut.

  Full article available at:

  http://finance.alphatrade.com/story/2010-02-11/GNW/201002111440PRIMZONEFULLFEED184174.html

• Tobacco.org of February 12 reported that members of the American University of Beirut's Tobacco Control Research Group (AUB-TCRG ) and health and university officials emphasized the need for comprehensive tobacco control legislation as parliamentarians continue to debate a draft law. The paper quoted AUB-TCRG coordinator Rima Nakkash as saying “the draft is not as comprehensive as we'd want as it only calls for a partial ban on smoking and fails to stipulate the need for graphic warnings or a ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.tobacco.org/news/296865.html

• Canton Rep of February 17 announced that Drs. Andrew Zurick of Aultman Hospital, Mark Tawil of Affinity Medical Center, and Frank Kaeberlein of Mercy Medical Center will be honored during the American Heart Association’s 2010 Heart Ball at the Kent State Stark Professional Education and Conference Center. The paper said that Tawil received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.cantonrep.com/life/x1328937119/Around-Town-Local-physicians-to-be-honored-during-2010-Heart-Ball

• Forbes of February 18 published a political piece commenting on the recent commemoration of the assassination of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The paper quoted an AUB professor, whose name was not mentioned, commenting on MP Walid Jumblat’s recent compromising stance and Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s recent visit to Syria where he met Syrian President Bashar Assad as saying, “It leaves the movement [March 14] with no platform.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/18/lebanon-syria-cedar-revolution-rafik-hariri-opinions-contributors-sarah-lynch.html?boxes=Homepagechannels

• UNDP of February 18 reported that the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon organized on February 16, an informative session on the work of UNDP in Lebanon at the UN House in Beirut. The paper said that the session gathered 80 students majoring in Political Sciences and International affairs, including some from AUB.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.undp.org.lb/communication/news/NewsDetail.cfm?newsId=210

• WAToday and Brisbane Times of February 19 published a political piece commenting on the status and role of Iran in the region and beyond. The paper quoted Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, as saying, “The US could actually try talking to Iran and following its own policy of engagement.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/unneighbourly-neighbour-spooks-a-region-20100219-olwt.html

• The Post Chronicle and United Press International of February 19 reported on a lecture given by Amr Moussa, the secretary general of the Arab League, at the American University of Beirut following an invitation by AUB’s Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs. The papers said that the lecture was entitled, “The Situation in the Middle East: A Vision for the Future.”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_212285654.shtml

• East Bay Business Times of February 19 published a brief profile of Omar Haffar, founder, president, and CEO of Presidio Pharmaceuticals, and said that he is an AUB alumnus.

  Full article available at:

  http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/02/22/tidbits2.html

• 4 Hoteliers of February 21 and Hospitality Net of February 22 published an article by Hala Matar Choufany and AUB alumnus Nehme Ayoub entitled, “Hotels in MENA: How Much Can You Invest?”

  Full article available at:

  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4045508.html

• Syracuse.com of February 22 and Victoria Advocate of February 25 announced that the editor-at-large of The Daily Star newspaper in Beirut and the Director of the Issam Fares Institute at American University of Beirut Rami Khouri will be speaking on February 26 at a Michigan State University conference on the portrayal of Muslims and Islam in the media.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.syracuse.com/religion/index.ssf?/base/national-107/1266861014304230.xml&storylist=religion

• Ekklesia of February 24 reported on Professor Elizabeth Kassab’s recently published book entitled Contemporary Arab Thought: Cultural Critique in Comparative Perspective (Columbia University Press: 2009). The paper said that Kassab taught for many years at the American University of Beirut and Balamand University.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11346

• The Wall Street Journal blog of February 25 published an article, asking, “What Carson City, Nev., the Idaho Department of Corrections, Lebanon, Mo.’s police department, and the American University of Beirut have in common?” It said that they are on a list of “stimulus scofflaws, according to the stimulus police.” The paper said that the board which oversees the economic-stimulus package today “is naming and shaming recipients of stimulus dollars who it says have failed to file quarterly reports explaining what they’ve done with the money.”

  Full article available at:

  http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/02/25/biggest-stimulus-losers/

• Global Voices of February 27 reported that Director of AUB’s Journalism Training Program, Magda Abu-Fadil, lectured at a three-day workshop for bloggers from Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, held from February15 to 17, 2010 in the Rabat, Morocco.

  Full article available at:

  http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/02/27/morocco-maghreb-bloggers-search-for-common-ground/

• Biz Journals of February 28 announced that Annenberg Fellow Ellen Hume, Khalilzad Associates President and CEO Zalmay Khalilzad, and Columbia University Professor Andrew J. Nathan have joined the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy. The paper said that Khalilzad studied at the American University of Beirut, where he received his BA and MA.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/District_of_Columbia/2010/01/26/DC43920

• Biz Journals of February 28 reported on a recently published book by Dr. Adel Yunis entitled Call Me Del: Dogged in the Pursuit of Excellence. The paper said that Yunis graduated with a Medical Degree from the American University of Beirut in 1954.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/California/2010/02/25/PH60244

• Biz Journals of February 28 announced that the American Health Information Management Association's Board of Directors announced the appointment of Alan F. Dowling, PhD, as next chief executive of the “55,000-member health information management (HIM) leader.” The paper said that Dowling lectured at various universities including the American University of Beirut.

  Full article available at:

  http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/Illinois/2009/12/02/DC19785