Check Archive

February 2009

• tayyar.org of February 1, and As-Safir and Ash-Sharq of February 2 reported that Nokia Siemens agreed to provide AUB with cellular coverage and related devices respective to that service.

• Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Balad, and Al-Anwar of February 1, and Al-Bayraq, Al-Akhbar, Al-Liwa', and An-Nahar of February 2 reported on the inauguration of a two day dermatology conference organized by the Department of Dermatology at AUBMC in collaboration with Lebanese Dermalogical Society, entitled the "9th Dermatology Update." The papers said that the opening hosted Lebanese Health Minister Jawad Khalifeh who briefed the attendants on the recent efforts of the ministry to regulate licenses of dermatology doctors in Lebanon.

• The Daily Star of February 2 published a political editorial in which it argued that Lebanon has become a "conduit" in relations and talks between the United States and Syria. The paper included a quotation by international law expert and AUB professor Chafik Masri as saying that the diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon, and the US attempts to engage Syria in peace talks are interrelated.

• L'Orient-Le Jour of February 2 published a profile of Lebanese otolaryngology doctor Abdul Latif Hamad who is also a renowned musician and pianist. The paper said that when Hamad was a medical resident at the American University of Beirut Medical Center he would try to juggle playing music and his job at the hospital.

• As-Safir of February 2 published the profile of George Habash, the founder of the Palestinian Liberation Front, on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death. The paper said that he graduated with an MD from AUB in 1951.

• La Revue du Liban of February 2 reported on a panel discussion on cultural tourism held at the Cultural Café of L'Orient-Le Jour in which director of AUB's Archaeological Museum Laila Badr and AUB Trustee Myrna Boustani participated.

• An-Nahar and Al-Mustaqbal of February 3 reported that MP Saad Hariri visited the leader of the Liberal Armenian Movement Harag Akian who was staying at the AUBMC for treatment following a failed assassination attempt which he survived a week earlier.

• The Daily Star of February 3 carried the announcement by the American University of Beirut that David Stuart Dodge, AUB's thirteenth president, died on January 20 in Princeton, New Jersey, at the age of 86. The paper said that Dodge came from a long line of AUB presidents and was the son of former president Bayard Dodge, the grandson of former president Howard Bliss, and great-grandson of Daniel Bliss, the founder and first president of AUB.

• The Daily Star of February 3 published a feature story discussing the role that lack of irrigation is playing in reigniting feuds in the Bekaa valley. The paper quoted AUB professor of water resource engineering Ahmed Assaf during a lecture he gave at the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs as saying that "high water demand, negligence over water quality, and over-pumping are serious threats to the region's water supply."

• Al-Akhbar and tayyar.org of February 3 published an article discussing the endangered species of salt water turtles in Lebanon and included an opinion by AUB professor of biology Riad Sadek as saying that sea turtles in Lebanon are facing extinction and the government should enforce laws to protect them from illegal fishing.

• 14 March of February 4 carried an announcement by the Lebanese Forces Student Affairs section demanding to know the destiny of a number of foreigners kidnapped during the Lebanese civil war including AUB president David Dodge and AUB professor of Engineering Frank Regier.

• tayyar.org  and An-Nahar of February 4 announced that Hizbullah leadership appointed Dr. Ibrahim Mousawi in charge of running the information and media unit of the party. The papers said that Dr. Mousawi has a PhD in political sciences from Birmingham University and taught previously at AUB.

• An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Bayraq, and Al-Akhbar of February 4 reported that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Denise A. Herbol presented a check of $1.9 million to AUB President Peter Dorman, as part of an annual contribution toward scholarships for deserving students. The papers said that this fund will help support 812 AUB students as they pursue their education.

• At-Tajdid Al-Arabi (Other) of February 5 reported that the Lebanese ship containing aid to the bereaved people of Gaza has set sail. The paper said that the aid included donations by students of AUB.

• An-Nahar, Al-Bayraq, The Daily Star, and Al-Anwar of February 5 reported that AUB hosted in January the Middle East Photograph Preservation Institute, which consisted of an intensive two-week training course by international experts in the art of photographic preservation. The papers said that workshop was organized by the Arab Image Foundation in collaboration with the University of Delaware and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and funded by the Getty Foundation with additional funding by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

• An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', and As-Safir of February 5 announced that AUB's Acting Provost Waddah Nasr was elected as a member in the new Lebanese University League.

• As-Safir of February 5 reported that AUB professor of health sciences Faysal El-Kak lectured at a forum organized by the Towards Civics foundation on the importance of incorporating sex and reproductive health education in school curricula in Lebanon.

• Al-Akhbar of February 5 announced the release of a new album by Lebanese muwashahat musician Salim Sahhab. The paper said that Sahhab had performed many times at Assembly Hall.

• Al-Akhbar of February 5 published a profile on Lebanese politician, former PM Omar Karami who had studied at AUB before moving to Cairo to pursue a degree in law in 1961.

• The Daily Star of February 5 published an op ed piece by Michael Young relating the assassination of former AUB president Malcolm Kerr and the kidnapping of its former president David Dodge to the grievances the Arabs have towards the Americans.

• Al-Mustaqbal of February 9 published an article featuring the progress made on the science projects run by three Associated Research Units involving the collaboration of four universities in Lebanon including AUB. The paper said that the research units were funded by Lebanon's National Council for Scientific Research.

• Al-Anwar of February 9 reported on the recent protests and strikes taking place at the Rafic Hariri Teaching Hospital and included an interview with its director Dr. Wassim Shafic Al-Wazzan who said that this hospital trains 25-30 AUB medical students per year.

• Al-Anwar of February 9 reported on the concert held at Assembly Hall on January 15 by Daniel del Pino on piano, and Ara Malikian on violin. The paper said that the concert was organized by Instituto Cervantes Beirut in collaboration with the AUB Office of Information and Public Relations.

• Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Bayraq, and Al-Balad of February 11 reported on the results of a Bank of Beirut Rugby League game that took place on the AUB Charles W. Hostler Student Center Green Field. The papers said that the team of Bank of Beirut for Hope, which included AUB student Nimr Saliba, won against  the President team.

• The Daily Star of February 11 published a political analytic piece on Lebanon's views on whether or not the soon to be elected Israeli prime minister will change the country's policy towards Lebanon. The paper quoted AUB professor of political studies Shafic Masri as saying "there seems to be no place for resuming the peace process if [Benjamin] Netanyahu wins the elections."

• An-Nahar and As-Safir of February 12 carried the ad by AUB's Olayan School of Business announcing the new deadlines for submitting applications to the School's Master's in Business Administration Program, which are April 30 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester.

• As-Safir, Ad-Diyar, Al-Bayraq, Al-Anwar, and Ash-Sharq of February 12 announced that Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, the Shiite religious authority in Lebanon, received a group of faculty members from AUB's faculties of health science and engineering to discuss issues of science, religion, and youth.

• Al-Bayraq of February 12 reported on the check donation by McDonald's Lebanon to the Children Cancer Center in Lebanon  (CCCL) of the American University of Beirut Medical Center-- on January 15. The paper said that Gretta Miknas, Marketing Manager of McDonalds, handed a $30,000 check to the General Manager of CCCL Hana Chaar Shweib.

• L'Orient-Le Jour of February 12 published a profile of beauty expert of Lebanese/Armenian origin Carla Maria Khanjian who received an MS in economics at AUB.

• The Daily Star of February 12 reported on the Poetry on the Walls project that took place in Ras Beirut and was the result of the collaborative efforts of the AUB Neighborhood Initiative and the AUB Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service.

• An-Nahar of February 13 published an article surveying the history of the Damour Bridge located on the road to south Lebanon. The paper said that the bridge was built in 1941 by the Vichy French forces and was designed by Lebanese architect Yusuf Aftimos who studied architecture at the Syrian Protestant College, now AUB.

• An-Nahar and As-Safir of February 13 carried the ad by AUB's Olayan School of Business announcing the new deadlines for submitting applications to the School's Master's in Business Administration Program, which are April 30 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester.

• As-Safir and Al-Anwar of February 13, and Al-Mustaqbal of February 17 reported that, in its annual report, the Cairo bureau of the UNESCO paid tribute and gratitude to late International College Preschool Principal Randa Khoury for her remarkable contributions to the domain of training, via UNESCO, preschool educators in Cairo.

• Al-Akhbar of February 13 carried the announcement by the American University of Beirut that a painting exhibit by Henry Matthews, deputy editor of the Office of Information and Public Relations at the American University of Beirut, will start on February 10 at the Jafet Library of the University and last until February 13. The paper said that the media used by Matthews are acrylics, pastels, and oils. The paper also said that Matthews is a fine arts graduate of the Lebanese American University.

• L'Orient Le Jour of February 13 reported on the illustrated lecture held at the AUB Archaeological Museum by Michel Makdisi, Adjunct Director of Antiquities in Syria, entitled "The Second Urban Revolution from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates." The paper said that the lecture was organized by the Society of Friends of the AUB Museum.

• Al-Anwar of February 13 published a letter addressed by the president of the American University of Beirut Alumni Association Khalil Makkawi to the new president of the United States of America Barack Obama in which he hopes the latter would succeed in bringing peace to the region of the Middle East.

• Al-Mustaqbal of February 14, L'Orient Le Jour of February 18, and Al-Akhbar of February 19 announced that Embassy of Spain in Lebanon, Instituto Cervantes Beirut, in collaboration with Office of Information and Public Relations at the American University of Beirut, is giving on February 20 a jazz concert: "Tres Por El Jazz," featuring original compositions of jazz and Brazilian music. The paper said that the group is composed of Ester Andzjar (vocals), Ricardo Belda (piano) and Ximo Tibar (guitar).

• Al-Akhbar of February 14 published a profile of Lebanese literary critic Yumna El Eid whose parents objected to her enrolling as a student at AUB given their conservative background.

• 14 March of February 14 published an editorial arguing that holding international conferences to promote developmental aid for Lebanon was one of the main aims of the late Rafic Hariri. The paper quoted him in one of his speeches at the commencement exercises of AUB as saying that it is imperative to fulfill the terms of the Taif agreement to rebuild Lebanon.

• 14 March of February 14 published an in memoriam piece remembering the individuals who lost their life on February 14, 2005 in bomb attack againt PM Rafic Hariri. The paper said that among those is Rima Bazzi, an AUB alumna.

• An-Nahar of February 16, and As-Safir of February 17 carried an ad by the Continuing Education Center of AUB announcing the dates for enrollment and payment of fees for spring semester.

• An-Nahar of February 16, Dar Al-Hayat (Britain) of February 17, and Al-Liwa' of February 18 published an article featuring this year's Al-Bustan International Music Festival which will include a few concerts at AUB's Assembly Hall. The paper said that the festival will begin on February 18 and end on March 22.

• Al-Mustaqbal of February 16 reported on the check donation by McDonald's Lebanon to the Children Cancer Center in Lebanon  (CCCL) of the American University of Beirut Medical Center--made on January 15. The paper said that Gretta Miknas, Marketing Manager of McDonalds, handed a $30,000 check to the General Manager of CCCL Hana Chaar Shweib.

• L'Orient-Le Jour of February 16 and February 17 announced that the Society of Friends of the AUB Museum is hosting on February 18 an illustrated lecture by Dr. Jeanine Abdul Massih, Professor at Lebanese university and Co-Director of the Cyrrhus Mission. The paper said that the lecture address archaeological discoveries in Aleppo, Syria.

• An-Nahar of February 17 reported that the Robert Tawk, the head of the Lebanese Forces student group at AUB, participated in the DIMIK European conference on human rights held in Lithuania.

• Al-Akhbar of February 17 reported on the new proposed construction project to create a series of islands on the Lebanese coast in the shape of a Cedar tree. The paper quoted AUB professor of civil engineering Ibrahim Mneimneh that this kind of "Gated Communities" project has proven to be unsuccessful.

• An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, As-Safir, Al-Liwa', Al-Bayraq, Al-Anwar, and Ash-Sharq of February 18 announced that a curriculum committee working on integrating the musical work of the Rahbani family into the educational programs in Lebanon has been assembled and includes Dr. Reem Deeb from AUB. The paper said that the committee held its first meeting, which was headed by Lebanese minister of Education Bahia Hariri.

• An-Nahar, As-Safir Al-Bayraq, and Al-Balad of February 18 announced that the Rugby team of the Lebanese American University won over the American University of Beirut team at the end of the 8th round of the Bank of Beirut Rugby League Championship. The paper said that the 9th round of the championship will start on February 21 at the Green Field of AUB.

• Al-Mustaqbal, As-Safir, Al-Bayraq, The Daily Star, and Al-Anwar of February 18, and An-Nahar of February 19 announced that the Charles W. Hostler Student Center at the American University of Beirut recently received, among eight other projects worldwide, the 2009 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture of the American Institute of Architects.

• Al-Akhbar of February 18 published an article debating the widespread claim that eating fish and dairy products simultaneously can cause food poisoning. The paper quoted AUB professor of nutrition at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Farah Naja as saying "eating fish and dairy products together does not cause food poisoning, counter to what many people believe."

• The Daily Star and www.cyberia.com of February 18 published a political editorial arguing that the Hariri tribunal scheduled to start in March 1 will have no impact on the forthcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections in June. The paper quoted AUB professor of political studies and international law Chafiq Masri as saying that the tribunal and developments in US-Syrian talks will proceed along different tracks.

• An-Nahar and Al-Mustaqbal of February 19 carried the announcement by AUB that the AUB Rafic Hariri School of Nursing will be inaugurated on the same day in Issam Fares Hall. The paper said that AUB President Peter Dorman, AUBMC Dean Nadim Cortas, Director of the School of Nursing Huda Huijer, and AUB Board member, MP Saad Hariri will be giving inaugural speeches during the ceremony.

• The Daily Star of February 19 reported on the lecture entitled "Peace-making Under the United Nations Flag: Reflections on a Quarter Century of Mediation," by Swedish Ambassador Jan Eliasson. The paper said that the lecture was organized by the AUB Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and is the 6th in the Bill and Sally Hambrecht Distinguished Peacemakers Lecture Series. The paper also said that Eliasson served most recently as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Darfur.

• 14 March of February 19 published a profile on Lebanese political leader Nazhem El Khoury who received a BA in political studies from AUB in 1970.

• An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', As-Safir, Al-Bayraq, Al-Balad, Al-Akhbar, L'Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star, Al-Anwar, and Ash-Sharq of February 20 reported that the American University of Beirut inaugurated on February 19 the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing in Issam Fares Hall at AUB. The papers said that AUB President Peter Dorman, AUBMC Dean Nadim Cortas, Director of the School of Nursing Huda Huijer, and AUB BOT member, MP Saad Hariri gave inaugural speeches during the ceremony which was followed by a visit to the cedar tree planted on AUB campus in memory of Rafic Hariri. The papers also said that the AUB School of Nursing was named after late PM Rafic Harir following a $10-million pledge by MP Saad Hariri to name and endow the School of Nursing at the University.

• As-Safir of February 20 reported that debates on the Waad master plan and architectural projects guiding the post-2006 war reconstruction of Beirut's southern suburbs (Dahyeh) were conducted at the headquarters of the Lebanese Order of Architects. The paper said that AUB professors of architecture George Arbid and Mona Fawaz participated in those debates.

• L'Orient-Le Jour of February 20 published an article about the late Lebanese artist and intellectual Mai Ghoussoub on the occasion of the second anniversary of her death. The paper said that Ghoussoub is an AUB alumna.

• The Daily Star of February 20 reported on a lecture organized by the AUB Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR) entitled "Who are the revolutionaries in today's Middle East?" by Christopher Hitchens, author, literary critic and journalist.

• The Daily Star of February 20 reported on a lecture organized by the AUB Issam Fares Institute's Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World Program. It was titled: "Seawater Intrusion in Greater Beirut Current Situation and Correlation to Climate Change 2004-08" and was given by Mark Saadeh, Consultant, Litani Water Authority.

• An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', and As-Safir of February 21 reported on the round table session discussing the demise of the popularity of Arabic language among Lebanese youth. The papers said that the event was organized by the national council of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Day of the Mother Tongue. The papers also said that AUB professor Fawaz Touqan participated in the discussion, which was headed by Lebanon's minister of education Bahia Hariri.

• An-Nahar of February 21 published a review of former AUB's Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Elie A. Salem's recently published book, My American Bride. The paper said that the 280-page book tells the story of how Dr. Salem met his wife-to-be Phyllis in Washinton DC. And looks at their extraordinary relationw. Phyllis died a few years ago. The paper said the book was published by Quartet Books press in London, 2007.

• Al-Mustaqbal of February 21 announced that AUB and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) will hold on Monday a press conference at NSSF Beirut office to announce their new payment and medical coverage agreement.

• The Daily Star of February 21 reported on the new amendments to the Lebanese employment contracts legislating foreign domestic work in Lebanon. The article started off by recounting a suicide committed by a domestic worker living in Hamra, a few blocks away from the medical gate of the American University of Beirut.

• The Daily Star of February 21 published the obituary of Lebanese journalist Kassem Jaafar who had received a degree in Middle Eastern history and Islamic studies from AUB before moving to King's College in London in 1979. The late Jaafar was born in Nigeria in 1956 and worked for The Daily Star newspaper  in the 1980s. He passed away on 20 February.

• An-Nahar of February 22 reported that AUB professor of agriculture Musa Nehme took part in a seminar on water and sustainable development in Lebanon. The paper said the seminar was organized by the Lebanese Order of Engineers.

• Al-Mustaqbal of February 22 reported that AUB professor of education Rima Karami participated in a conference entitled "Rafic Hariri in the Presence of Education," held under the auspices of Lebanese minister of education Bahia Hariri.

• An-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Balad, Al-Akhbar, The Daily Star, and Al-Anwar of February 24 reported that AUB and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) held on Monday a press conference at NSSF Beirut office during which the two parties signed a new payment and medical service agreement, and sorted out outstanding payments. The papers said that AUB President Peter Dorman and the general director of NSSF Dr. Muhammad Karaki signed the agreement.

• An-Nahar, Al-Bayraq, Al-Balad, Al-Akhbar, and Al-Anwar of February 24 announced that the rugby team of the University of Saint Joseph won over the AUB team during the ninth round of the Bank of Beirut Rugby League Championship. The paper said that the AUB team will be playing against the Balamand University team during the tenth round of the season.

• Al-Akhbar of February 24 published an article reporting the recent finding of a mummified body of a Durzi Sheikh in Lebanon. The paper quoted AUB professor Sami Makarem as saying that the Druze faith does require the tradition of corpse preservation.

• Al-Akhbar of February 24 published an article featuring the "Poetry on the Walls" project hosted by AUB's Neighborhood Initiative and Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service.

• Al-Mustaqbal and Dar Al-Hayat (Britain) of February 25 published the obituary of Lebanese journalist Kassem Jaafar who had received a degree in Middle Eastern history and Islamic studies from AUB.

• Al-Liwa', The Daily Star, and aljazeera.net of February 25, and cyberia.com of February 26 reported on the photo exhibit called Panorama and the discussion on the Hizbullah party with political studies instructor at AUB Timor Goksel. The paper said that the event was organized by the AUB Cultural Club of the South, and was followed by a feature film on the "Resistance."

• Al-Bayraq and Al-Anwar of February 25 reported on the 5th Middle East Metabolic Group Meeting, held on February 20 and 21 at Le Royal Hotel in Dbayyeh. The papers said that the conference was organized by AUB's Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in collaboration with Orphan Europe Middle East. The papers also said that the conference included presenters from Lebanon-six from the Faculty of Medicine at AUB-- France, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Holland, Egypt, Britain, Iran, and Bahrain and discussed metabolic problems among newborns and adolescents as well as treatment possibilities.

• Al-Akhbar of February 25 published a profile of Lebanese architect Assem Salam, who helped establishe, along with professor Raymond Ghosn, the Architecture Department at AUB where he taught until the year 1977.

• Al-Mustaqbal of February 26 published an editorial criticizing the assault on British American author Christopher Hitchens on Hamra Street following a talk he gave at AUB on February 18.

• The Daily Star of February 26 reported on the lecture given by LBC war correspondent Tania Mhanna at AUB on February 24. The paper said that Mhanna was invited by AUB's student newspaper Outlook.

• The Daily Star of February 26 reported on a lecture organized by the AUB Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR) entitled "Who are the revolutionaries in today's Middle East?" by Christopher Hitchens, author, literary critic and journalist.

• Al-Liwa' of February 27 carried the announcement by AUB that the Brave Heart Fund at AUB Medical Center is holding a press conference to launch its 4th Annual Awareness Campaign For Congenital Heart Disease, in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, on March 3 at 11:00 am in the Intercontinental Phoenicia Hotel, BYBLOS Room.

• Al-Akhbar of February 27 reported that a group of American students visiting from the United States toured the American University of Beirut during their journey to a number of universities that follow the American curricular system.

• An-Nahar and Al-Anwar of February 28 carried the announcement by AUB that Fawzi Maalouf, member of the AUB student scholarship fund committee and former vice president and later president of the AUB Alumni Association, has passed away. Born in Ain El Qabou on 1 January 1926, he graduated from AUB in 1948. All his brothers worked in journalism, including Hilmi Maalouf who headed AUB's Office of Information and Public Relations

• An-Nahar and L'Orient-Le Jour of February 28 reported on the recent collaboration agreement signed between AUBMC 's cardiothoracic surgery program and Notre Dame of Lebanon teaching hospital. The papers said that a consequent conference took place at Notre Dame entitled "The Heart Link."

• As-Safir of February 28 carried the announcement by AUB that the Brave Heart Fund at AUB Medical Center is holding a press conference to launch its 4th Annual Awareness Campaign For Congenital Heart Disease, in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, on March 3 at 11:00 am in the Intercontinental Phoenicia Hotel, BYBLOS Room.

• The Daily Star of February 28 published a political editorial discussing the Hariri assassination international tribunal that will start in The Hague, arguing that "regional entente could influence the tribunal." The paper quoted AUB chair of the department of political studies and public administration Hilal Khashan as saying that "the tribunal will surely be emasculated by political considerations."