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UNIVERSITY LOSES PRESIDENT MALCOLM H. KERR
President Malcolm H. Kerr was assassinated on Wednesday morning, January 18. As the tragic news spread the community was stunned, refusing to believe it. Overcome with sorrow, small groups of students and other community members gathered close to College Hall where the President lay dead. Security forces thronged over the campus. The telephone exchange rang continuously with calls seeking information and offering sympathy. Late in the morning the Office of Information released the following statement: Around nine on Wednesday morning, two gun men fired at President Kerr as he came out of the lift and headed along the corridor leading to his office on the third floor of College Hall. President Kerr was hit in the head by two bullets from a gun equipped with a silencer. The two gun men managed to escape. The President -was taken to the Hospital at the University's Medical Center but his life could not be saved. The Military Tribunal magistrate and Internal Security officers arrived at once and began the necessary investigation. All gates were closed and no one was allowed to leave the campus or come to it. Vice President Samir K. Thabet called for an urgent meeting of the University's deans. Dr. Thabet announced the suspension of classes for five days, until Monday, 23 January in mourning for the late President.
UNIVERSITY ACTIVITY SUSPENDED To enable members of the community to express their sympathy, all university activity was suspended on Friday and Saturday, January 20-21, the two days reserved for condolences to be presented to Mrs. Kerr, her children and university officials. The Medical Center and departments providing essential services were required to ensure adequate attendance to go on with their work. Private clinics and the OPD were closed, and the Emergency department received severe cases only. When the news was released, the Office of Information remained in constant contact with local, Arab and international media. Countless telephone calls were received by its Director all through the day from most American networks and from representatives of local and foreign agencies. TV interviews were organized for Acting President Thabet with American and other chains. In reporting the news of the assassination, both the Lebanese Television and Radio Lebanon presented recorded live passages from Dr. Kerr's speeches in Arabic on various occasions. The following statement from the Board of Trustees in New York was released late in the evening in Beirut to various media.
BOARD DISMAYED BY NEWS The Trustees of the American University of Beirut are shocked and dismayed by the news of the assassination of Dr. Malcolm Kerr, president of the university. The entire AUB community extends its deepest concern for the sorrow borne by the Kerr family and offers its condolences during this time of bereavement. Dr. Kerr exemplified the modern educator spirit, which was one of self-sacrifice and total commitment. Undaunted by the difficulties he faced, he persevered toward the goals and aspirations of the mission of AUB: to educate and to heal. The Board of Trustees pledges to continue its commitment to education, reason and persuasive dialogue as the sane alternative to violence, assassination, terrorism and despair. Through the death of Dr. Malcolm Kerr, the motto of the school takes on greater meaning, "That they may have life and have it more abundantly." Successive processions of condolers continued for two days to file through the spacious halls of the Alumni Club where they expressed their sympathy to the late President's family in its bereavement. Mrs. Ann Kerr and two of her children, John and Andrew received the condolences. Acting President Samir Thabet, Mrs. Salwa Es-Said, representing the Board of Trustees, Mr. Michel Doumet and Dr. Nicola Khuri, members of the Board of Trustees, Vice President Abdul Hamid Hallab, Mr. Fawzi Maalouf, president of the Alumni Association, Mr. John Saba, president of the Syndicate of AUB Employees and Workers, Deans of the University and senior Staff members were also beside Mrs. Kerr and her children. Among the unbroken line of sympathizers who called all through Friday and Saturday, January 20-21, figured Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, former prime ministers and ministers, rectors of universities, professors, religious dignitaries of all confessions, Arab and foreign diplomats, senior Government officials, political leaders, many notables and faculty and students from AUB.
UNIFICATION OF STUDENTS Mrs. Kerr was quoted as saying: "What I hope is that the death of my husband will bring about the unification of students of AUB and that somehow AUB can be an institution that helps to hold Lebanon together." John Kerr said of his father: "Not only am I proud of my father, but he was a perfect, wonderful father that people do not hear about." For a father he was the best one could have", Andrew added. John flew to Beirut from Cairo where he is a student. Andrew attended the American Community School in Beirut.
Below is Dr. Kerr's contribution to a projected brochure for fund raising, written the day before he was killed: Many people are surprised to hear that AUB is still in business, even more so to learn that our academic programs are running normally and that we are actually making plans to expand them. But the fact is that as the fighting in Lebanon has moved through ail its destructive phases since 1975, AUB has been respected and preserved as an institution that serves the common good. We continue to receive students of all Lebanese communities, and still today some 20% of our students come to us from other countries. Students of all backgrounds find at AUB a solid American-style education, a quiet and beautiful campus, an active extra-curricular life, and the chance to make life long friendships. NEW PROGRAMS Our University Hospital and Medical Faculty continue to be pioneers in medical care, teaching and research. Our Faculty of Engineering continues to turn away seven out of eight applicants, so great is the demand. In Arts and Sciences, the cornerstone of the University, students still sweat through the two years' Cultural Studies course on classic readings in history, literature and philosophy. Work goes on as before in Public Health, Education, and Agriculture, although our farm in the Beqa'a is not currently accessible. We have opened new programs in Computer Studies and in Money and Banking. WILL WEATHER STORM Of course, there are severe strains. It is hard to recruit new full time professors. We are cramped for classroom and off ice space. Some buildings and equipment have become badly run down. Much of the normal clientele of our Hospital are unable these days to reach it because of security conditions, so it is underutilized and revenues are down. Overall, AUB is facing the steep inflation of the Lebanese economy and having a difficult time raising enough money to meet the costs, despite large annual increases in tuition. Particularly it is imperative for us. to make strenuous efforts in soliciting contributions. We believe, however, that with faith, hard work, and the support of our Alumni and friends, AUB will weather the storm in Lebanon and will be ready when it has finally passed to enter a new golden age of academic distinction and service to mankind. We are counting on you to share in this faith and this effort. Taken from AUB Bulletin Volume XXVI No. 6, Monday, January 30, 1984 |
 Material provided by the Office of Information & Public
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