Check Archive

September 2009

• Al-Akhbar of September 1 reported that six AUB students, who are also members of the AUB secular student club, participated in a workshop entitled "I want to be responsible" organized towards promoting citizenship among youth in Lebanon.
• Al-Anwar of September 2 announced that AUB's Faculty of Health Sciences is holding a conference on H1N1 Swine Flu virus and the way it is dealt with in the Lebanese healthcare system.
• As-Durub (Other) of September 2 reported that the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) announced on Tuesday July 28 that its Board of Trustees has chosen Beirut as the venue for its annual conference, due to be held in mid November 2009. The paper said that the conference will include the presentation of the results of a study of the impact of climate change on human health carried out by Dr. Iman Nuwayhid, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at AUB.
• Al-Akhbar and The Daily Star of September 3 reported on the conference held under the supervision of the AUB Faculty of Health Sciences, on the H1N1 pandemic. The papers said that the conference included for the first time a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the Lebanese healthcare system in dealing with the current pandemic.
• March 14 and www.tayyar.org of September 3, and An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, Al-Akhbar, L'Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star, Al-Liwa', Al-Bayraq, Weyak (UAE), Masrawy (Egypt), Al-Qabas (Kuwait), and Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (KSA) of September 4, and Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda (Palestine), Al-Watan (Kuwait), Al-Waqt (Bahrain), Al-Ayyam (Palestine), The Peninsula (Qatar), Az-Zaman (Iraq), and Al-Watan (Qatar) of September 5, and Al-Hayat of September 6, and Dar Al-Hayat (Britain) of September 7 reported that an AUB medical team successfully performed, at AUBMC, the first "artificial heart" implant in Lebanon, thus saving the life of a 37-year-old man suffering from terminal heart failure. The papers said that the six-hour procedure was led by two AUB doctors, Drs. Pierre Sfeir and Hadi Skouri, and was deemed successful as the patient survived the first critical 72 hours, showing improvements in all his vital signs. The papers also said that the "artificial heart" implant operation involves the insertion of a device called the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) into the defective heart and that LVAD takes over the functions of the left ventricle of the heart, the dominant chamber which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood via the aorta to the rest of the body.
• L'Orient-Le Jour of September 4 reported that around 400 children participated in summer activities organized by IBSAR, AUB's Center for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Futures, to promote biodiversity.
• An-Nahar of September 5 reported on the college grants and loans being provided by the Islamic Center for Orientation and Education including one they are trying to arrange with AUB.
• An-Nahar, As-Safir, and Al-Mustaqbal of September 5 carried the statement by AUB announcing the death of professor emeritus of biology at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Charles Abu Chaar at the age of 94.
• Al-Akhbar of September 5 published an opinion piece debating whether or not Carlos Ghosn, an AUB Trustee, should be tried by Lebanese Law for brokering a business car deal with Israel.
• The Daily Star and www.cyberia.com of September 5 published a political piece arguing that delays in the formation of a Lebanese cabinet will undermine Hariri's standing and that Damascus is possibly sole player to benefit from this gridlock. The papers quoted Hilal Khashan, head of the department of political studies and public administration at AUB, as saying "The absence of a new cabinet further weakens Sleiman by depriving him of some of his constitutional prerogatives."
• The Daily Star of September 7 published an article surveying the Arabic for foreigners language summer schools being offered in Beirut including the program offered at the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies of AUB.
• The Daily Star of September 7 published interviews with several foreign students who chose to study in Beirut this summer including ones that joined the Arabic summer school program offered by AUB's Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies.
• An-Nahar of September 8 reported on the recent trend at universities in Lebanon to seek US or European accreditations. The paper said that AUB received its first accreditation in 2004 and quoted former associate provost Wadah Nasr as saying that "accreditation is a commonly used terminology but is often misinterpreted."
• As-Safir of September 8 reported on the sit-in organized by the labor union of the employees of UNRWA. The paper quoted the head of the union's executive council Mousa Nimr who questioned why the employees' benefits, which once included medical coverage at AUBMC, no longer existed.
• L'Orient-Le Jour of September 8 published an article asserting the need to treat multiple sclerosis at its early stages to prevent its development. The paper quoted AUBMC associate professor of neurology Raja Sawaya as saying "it is essential to stick to the treatment for MS in order to control it better."
• As-Safir of September 9 published the profiles of four women who were nominated to serve on the forthcoming Lebanese cabinet. The paper said that one of the women, Rayya Al-Haffar Al-Hasan, graduated from AUB with a degree in economics.
• An-Nahar of September 10 published an opinion piece in which the author Sqr Youssef Saqr reviews and reassesses the published history of Lebanese families. The author cited a book found at the American University of Beirut library entitled "Mudhaffar Pasha."
• An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, and The Daily Star of September 10, and Al-Mustaqbal of September 11 reported that recent AUB engineering graduates Bassam Jalgha and Mohammed Amin Abou Harb ranked first and third respectively in the newly-created Stars of Science reality TV show--the Star Academy of science wiz-kids. The papers said that Jalgha won $300,000 for inventing an automatic oud tuner, and Abou Harb received $10,000 for inventing goggles that allow viewers to watch two TV channels simultaneously.
• As-Safir of September 10 reported on the recent philanthropic activities of community outreach organization Ajyaluna which included a child epilepsy awareness program operating in collaboration with AUBMC's Department of Pediatrics.
• L'Orient-Le Jour of September 11 published an interview with former secretary of the US department of health Elias Zerhouni on the challenges facing modern medicine in the Middle East. The paper said that Zerhouni was recently honored by AUB [he was given an honorary doctorate.
• The Daily Star and www.cyberia.com of September 11, and Electronic Intifada (USA) of September 12 published a political editorial questioning whether or not the Shebaa farms hold the key to Lebanon's security. The papers quoted Mutasem al-Fadel, director of the Water Resources Center at the AUB as saying "Water is no doubt one aspect of the socio-political conflict [with Israel], but it is not the main driver."
• 14 March of September 11, and An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, The Daily Star, Al-Liwa', Ad-Diyar, Al-Balad, and The Central News Agency of September 12 announced that HSBC recently donated $50,000 to go to scholarship funds for students of AUB's Olayan School of Business.
• As-Safir and The Daily Star of September 12 reported on a lecture given by director of AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs Rami Khouri who was the keynote speaker on the first day of the Third Encounter of Euro Mediterranean Youth in Lebanon 2009.
• An-Nahar of September 14 published an article featuring the curriculum changes of universities in Lebanon to keep up with the recent political, scientific, and technological developments. The paper gave the example of AUB and the University of Saint Joseph as prestigious universities in the Middle East.
• As-Safir of September 14 published a feature article discussing the vibrant and eclectic nature of Hamra street in Beirut, and said that one of the activities one can do on Hamra is visit a doctor at AUBMC.
• Al-Akhbar of September 14 published an article featuring Lebanese singer Sumayya Baalbaki. The paper said that Ballbaki's debut performance took place at AUB in 1993.
• Al-Ahkhbar of September 14 published an opinion piece criticizing some aspects of the Lebanese society. The author gave the example of a Lebanese woman who parked her car at an intersection next to AUBMC.
• L'Orient-Le Jour of September 15 published an interview with AUB professor of Hematology Oncology Dr. Ali Bazarbachi on lymphoma.
• Al-Balad of September 15 reported on the $40,000 check donation by Pepsi Co. to the scholarship fund of AUB's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
• An-Nahar and As-Safir of September 15, and Al-Akhbar, Al-Liwa', and Al-Balad of September 16 reported that a group of university students, including Khulud from AUB participated, on the occasion of the World Democracy Day, in a mock parliamentary session held at the Lebanese parliament building.
• Al-Anwar of September 16 announced that AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs will be hosting, under the auspices of Lebanese Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, a conference on sustainable urbanism on October 2-3.
• L'Orient-Le Jour of September 16 reported that Rami Khouri, Director of AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, gave a lecture during the Third Euro-Mediterranean meeting which took place in Lebanon end of last week.
• Al-Mustaqbal of September 16 announced that HSBC recently donated $50,000 to scholarship funds for students of AUB's Olayan School of Business.
• An-Nahar of September 18 published an article featuring the Stars of Science reality TV show in which AUB engineering graduates Bassam Jalgha and Mohammed Amin Abou Harb won first and third respectively. The paper said that Jalgha won $300,000 for inventing an automatic oud tuner, and Abou Harb received $10,000 for inventing goggles that allow viewers to watch two channels simultaneously.
• As-Safir, Al-Anwar, The Daily Star, and Al-Mustaqbal of September 18, and An-Nahar of September 19 reported on a press conference held at AUBMC by the medical team that performed a successful "artificial heart" implant life-saving surgery on a 37-year and the patient who underwent the surgery.
• The Daily Star of September 18 published an opinion by AUB Associate Dean of Student Affairs Talal Nizameddine in which he gives possible solutions to the successive political crises in Lebanon.
• The Daily Star of September 18 published a political editorial that argues that Lebanese regional relations are still viewed as an obstacle towards forming a national unity government. The paper quoted Hilal Khashan, head of the department of political studies and public administration at AUB as saying "With unaltered internal and external obstacles to creating a cabinet, Lebanon will likely endure a much longer wait for a new administration after the June general elections."
• www.tayyar.org of September 18 reported on a press conference held at AUBMC for the medical team that performed a successful "artificial heart" implant surgery on a 37-year-old man suffering from terminal heart failure, and the patient who underwent the surgery, Muhammad Awada.
• The Daily Star of September 19 published an article written by director of AUB's Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs Rami Khouri following his recent participation in a seminar organized by the Danish Foreign Ministry in Copenhagen. Khouri questions the degree to which the Middle East can handle threats of climate change, basing his analysis on the 36-page report entitled "Climate Change: Global risks, challenges and decisions-Synthesis Report," which summarized the deliberations of 12 leading international scholars who met in Copenhagen in March under the auspices of the International Alliance of Research Universities.
• An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, L'Orient-Le Jour, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Liwa', Ad-Diyar, Al-Bayraq, and Al-Balad of September 24 reported that Bader Group will be awarding six scholarships to academically-outstanding students to pursue undergraduate studies at universities in Lebanon. The papers said that four of the students will be studying Business, Entrepreneurship, and Management at the AUB's Olayan School of Business.
• An-Nahar, Al-Anwar, Al-Akhbar, The Daily Star, and Al-Mustaqbal of September 25 reported on a lecture held at AUB on medical ethics principles as a priority in case of a swine flu pandemic. The papers said that the lecture, entitled "Who will live and who will die? Moral decision-making in an influenza pandemic," was given by Dr.Philip Rosoff, a pediatric oncologist and the director of clinical ethics at Duke University, and was organized by the "The Ethics Matters Initiative" at the AUB Medical Center.
• L'Orient-Le Jour of September 25 reported on the safety conditions of the structures of three Lebanese House of Justice (Palais de Justice) buildings in Beirut saying that according to an assessment report published in 2003 by AUB professor of civil engineering Bilal Hamad, the buildings' foundations cannot withstand tremors and earthquakes.
• The Daily Star of September 25 published a story featuring the local graphic novel series of Samandal. The paper quoted the co-founder of Samandal who also teaches graphic design at AUB Fadi Baki as saying "Comics are something as a wild, untamed terrain."
• An-Nahar, Al-Anwar, Al-Mustaqbal, and Al-Liwa' of September 26 reported on the ceremony and dinner held at Falamanki restaurant, Beirut to honor Ibrahim Khoury, the director of the American University of Beirut Office of Information and Public Relations, who is stepping down after almost two decades of service to the University. The papers said that the dinner was organized by the Dean of Student Affairs Maroun Kisirwani and was attended by AUB staff, AUB professors, and a number journalists and reporters. The papers also said that Dean Kisirwani gave Ibrahim Khoury a commemorative plaque and quoted him as saying that Khoury "is stepping down after two decades of service and dedication to an institution to which he was its ambassador and representative."
• As-Safir of September 25 and Al-Mustaqbal of September 26 carried the announcement by AUB that its Journalism Training Program, in collaboration with the Continuing Education Center at AUB, is now offering a Journalism Certificate.
• As-Safir of September 26 published an interview with Egyptian author Muhammad Al-Makhzangi. The paper quoted Al-Makhzangi as saying that "his novel Lahadhat Gharaq Jazeerat Al-Hout, or (The Moment When the Whale Island Sank), did not get the attention it deserves even after it was translated and published by AUB."
• Al-Anwar of September 26 announced that Former Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Issam Fares will be honored at a ceremony held in New York to be attended by former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush senior. The paper also said that Fares was founder of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB.
• Al-Akhbar of September 26 published a story featuring the Lebanese Forces party and its leader Samir Geagea. The paper said that Geagea attended the latest Majida El Roumi concert given at AUB.
• Al-Akhbar of September 26 carried the announcement by AUB that the academic year 2009-10 will officially start on October 5.
• Al-Mustaqbal of September 26 carried the announcement by AUB that it will host on October 4-7 a conference entitled "Arab Feminism: An Analytic Reading."
• www.tayyar.org of September 29 carried the announcement by AUB that its  Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs will be hosting on October 2-3 an international conference on urban sustainability entitled "Transnational Tides and the Future of the Arab City." The paper said that the conference is organized by the Yale Arab Alumni Association, with the support of Council on Middle East Studies at Yale University and held under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ziad Baroud Lebanese Minister of Interior and Municipalities.