Fall 2011 Vol. X, No. 1 X, No. Fall 2011 Vol.
All in the Family MainGateAmerican University of Beirut Quarterly Magazine
Departments: Letters 2
President’s views: on the updated logo, student diversity, and alumni in the Maldives
Inside the Gate
Views from Campus Live life abundantly: how it became our motto; children at risk: 6 FAFS studies examine the dangers of childhood obesity; bringing New York to Beirut: the FEA “City as Lab” program Reviews Lovesong and My Father. Reflections by Afaf Zurayk
Beyond Bliss Street
Legends and Legacies Pioneer Scientist of the Middle East: George Edward Post (1838-1909) 41 Alumni Profile Making an Imprint: Mary-Joe Raidy (BGD ’05) 44 Reflections Those Were the Days Luba (Khairallah) Sinclair revisits the wild vibrancy 46 of AUB in the 1960s Alumni Happenings Legacy Ceremony 2011 49 Class Notes Generations of legacy families; Khalil Bitar (BS ’68, PhD ’76) honored by 55 the League of Research Excellence at the University of Michigan; Q&A: CDC Director Rana Hajjeh (BS ’84, MD ’88) battles SARS in Hong Kong, cholera in Haiti, and meningitis in Mecca In Memoriam 65
MainGate is published quarterly in Production American University of Beirut Cover Beirut by the American University Office of Communications Photo collage of AUB’s Main Gate of Beirut for distribution to alumni, Office of Communications former faculty, friends, and Randa Zaiter PO Box 11–0236 supporters worldwide. Riad El Solh 1107 2020 Photography Beirut, Lebanon Editor AUB Jafet Library Archives Tel: 961-1-353228 Ada H. Porter Ahmad El Itani Fax: 961-1-363234 Director of Communications Hasan Nisr Nishan Simonian New York Office 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Responsible Director 8th Floor Nabil Dajani Contributing Writers New York, NY 10017–2303 Maureen Ali Tel: 212-583-7600 Ara Alain Arzoumanian Art Direction and Design Fax: 212-583-7651 Office of Communications Jean-Marie Cook Najib Attieh Susanne Lane Zeina Tawil Sierra Millman [email protected] Printing Tomoko Furukawa Barbara Rosica www.aub.edu.lb Lane Press All in the Family MainGate Fall 2011
25 Between a Rock Up in Smoke and a Hard Place AUB’s Tobacco Control Research Group battled 27 Iraqi refugee families for a smoke free campus, and then targeted the marooned in Lebanon struggle Lebanese Parliament to cope with life in limbo
I proposed as she sat on the bench overlooking the Green Field and the Mediterranean next to Jafet.
I- True Love-AUB Style Campus romances that make you laugh, 30 cry, and remember when you were 17 II- Campus Courtship They met on campus and the rest is history
42 All in the Family The founding families of the Syrian Protestant College have inspired, sheltered, and nourished this institution throughout its history. These are just a few of the branches of their family trees President's view
In the last four months President The Harvard motto, "Veritas," originally A new academic year always Dorman has met with alumni referred to absolute religious truth, brings up questions of diversity in everywhere from the west coast of God’s truth, rather than scientific proofs. the student body. What is being the United States to the east coast done to recruit more international of Africa to the Gulf. The coming So what’s the alumni reaction students? issues of MainGate will explore to the logo overall, negative or We intend to intensify recruitment these lively exchanges, starting with positive? overseas and partnerships with sister alumni interest in AUB’s redesigned Overall it’s been positive, especially institutions in the United States, logo, the class of 2015, and a new among those in the design field. Europe, and even the Far East, WAAAUB chapter in the Maldives. [Designers] appreciate the simplification especially with the interest sparked by that comes with branding, and the fact the Arab Spring. Actually one way we MainGate: It seems from your that the visual symbolism jumps right are hoping to expand student diversity discussions that some alumni were out: the red seal, the cedar tree of is to bring our academic year more concerned about aspects of the Lebanon, the date. No other school [in in line with institutions in the United new AUB logo—especially that the the region] has an earlier pedigree. States, and I am about to appoint motto has been removed. a task force to look into that President Dorman: Every challenge. We need the full buy- institution that competes in in of faculty, staff, and students the modern world looks at its to make such a move. opportunities for branding, [If we] can finish the first and generally that requires semester before Christmas, that simplification and concentration could give us the leeway to on symbolism. The new include a short January term— logo will be used mainly for the way many universities do letterhead, business cards, and in the States—and also finish marketing, so we’ve focused the second semester by the on the seal, the cedar tree, President Dorman with the Maldivian Vice end of May. This would simplify President Dr. Mohamed Waheed (BA ’77) “AUB,” and our founding date. exchange programs for both The logo is streamlined so that these What about those who complained students and faculty. Many US colleges symbols are readable, legible, and that the seal looked like the Red have a January term, so students/ instantly recognizable. But we have Crescent? faculty can come here for a month, do by no means abandoned the Latin I’ve heard this and I thought it was a project or take a course, and return motto. It remains an integral part our the silliest thing—you can quote me! home. This is a wonderful opportunity official seal, which appears on all official If anything, you could say the seal for us too—if we finish the academic documents. You will soon notice the is more like Pac Man gobbling up year by the end of May, our own Latin motto used widely for marketing, the [cedar] tree. The waxing crescent students have a much wider variety so it will actually appear more frequently moon that signals the lunar months of summer internships that they can than it has before. in the Islamic calendar appears in choose to do. reverse: with the horns pointing up. There are many issues to Has anyone objected to the use of overcome. It’s complicated to engineer, a biblical verse for the University Read about the historical evolution of but I think other schools [in Lebanon] motto? the AUB logo are moving toward an earlier academic More On-line I have never heard a complaint against calendar too. using a biblical verse in the motto. It’s always been there [see article page 8]. *** ***
2 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate President's view
Among your summer trips you visited the newly formed WAAAUB alumni chapter in the Maldives. Were you surprised when you learned that you were heading for the Maldives? When I was told I was going to visit the alumni chapter in the Maldives my first reaction was: “Do we have enough alumni there to even form a chapter?” Well, we absolutely do, so we flew down and it was fascinating. We had no idea Maldivian students at AUB, 1980 what to expect. This was my second trip the civil war years. I remember one of As I told them, you’ve always had a to the Maldives. I had been there in 1971 them saying, “I just can’t believe how chapter, you’re just calling yourselves a as a junior officer in the US Navy—I was clueless we were because we had no chapter now. They would love to send on a boat to pay a goodwill visit. idea there was a civil war going on. students to AUB, and they’re working [On this visit,] we had a very We flew to Beirut to take advantage on developing scholarships to send at warm welcome from the alumni group. of this scholarship opportunity and least two kids from there. As you might expect, the alumni are during orientation we heard these major leaders in almost every aspect fireworks going off and it was only Based on this experience and of Maldives society. They are leaders in after a while that people told us it was others, what do you think makes education, government, administration, actually gunfire!” What’s impressive to AUB alumni so faithful? tourism, and the economy. The vice me was that they didn’t go home. I think it’s because AUB gave them an president of the republic is an AUB They stayed for their education. They experience that is totally unforgettable. I alumnus, the past president and past stayed for four years. A couple of think education is not just about learning ministers are AUB alumni, [and they are] them were evacuated more than once in the classroom. It’s about learning all very passionate about the University but they had a really cohesive cohort. how to live. All of our students have the and what they do. The Republic of They showed [us] pictures of an event chance to spend time or even to live the Maldives faces huge challenges in they sponsored called “Maldives on campus and to deal with their peers public health and education in particular, Night,” held in the old Assembly as well as their mentors outside the because their population is spread Room of College Hall. They had dance classroom. It’s those life experiences I over something like 1,200 islands. The performances, the students made all think that make AUB, as well as other other aspect, of course, is that it’s a the national costumes, they cooked universities, so unique to those people very fragile environment. It’s a series of Maldivian food, and they charged an who attend. We enjoy a special situation lagoons, atolls, and little islands; there is entry fee. It was quite typical of all the here; we have a beautiful campus, a very little industry, very little agriculture. cultural clubs at that time. beautiful setting, and a vibrant city, One hundred percent of their fuel and which is denied, I think, to many other energy and something like 90 percent Did they stay interested in AUB? institutions of learning in this area. I of their food is imported. Their major They’ve always been a pretty tight think that’s what our alumni remember industry is of course tourism. group. They have remained in touch most; it’s not just the education, it’s and get together for karaoke nights and the context in which they seek their How many alumni are there? so on. Most live on the main island in the education. And many people have said Around 54 alumni—and their stories of capital of Male, so they’re known locally that it’s life changing.for AUB are fascinating. All of them came as “the Beirut Group.” When they heard —M.A. to AUB on USAID scholarships during about WAAAUB, they formed a chapter.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 3 from/to the editor
When I told Professor Kamal Salibi during our most recent meeting in July that we would be highlighting AUB love stories in this issue, he immediately suggested that we cover the “greatest love story on the AUB campus of the 1940s and 50s,” that of Najwa Shaheen and Kamal Haffar (see page 31). He later sent me the lyrics to a song he had written for a musical comedy called Love and the Handbook that Najwa and Kamal wrote when they were on campus.
In the days of Daniel Bliss / The law was well respected, / And students were expected / To do as they were told. No wonder all was pleasing, / And knowledge was increasing, / And nothing went amiss / In the days of Daniel Bliss.
He was a caring, perceptive mentor, a great historian, a terrific wit, and a treasured member of the AUB family. He was also someone who never tired of “poking” his friends on Facebook late at night. An outpouring of remembrances followed Professor Salibi’s death. Here are just a few. Ada H. Porter Editor, MainGate [email protected] write us [email protected] write us [email protected]
With Kamal Salibi passes a wealth of personally indebted to him for laying the linguistically brilliant—suggestion that private history and stories treasured foundations of modern Lebanese histo- the tales of the Old Testament took by those who heard them and a wry riography, both in the professionalism of place in what is now Saudi Arabia, sense of humor that he found impos- his scholarship and in the pleasure he rather than Palestine, made him a sible to exclude from his scholarship. took in recounting that history. revolutionary. Upon bestowing my doctorate, he Professor Fawwaz Traboulsi Robert Fisk gave me his own ijazah: Abdulrahim Department of History and Archaeology, AUB (The Independent, September 7, 2011) Abu Husayn student of Kamal Salibi, (The Daily Star, September 2, 2011) student of Bernard Lewis, student of Kamal Salibi … re-energized the his- Gibb, student of Arnold, student of He had a complex mind and a simple tory of Lebanon… and jolted us into Wright, student of Dozy, student of heart. He adored his students and questioning and thinking indepen- Silvestre de Sacy. He must have taken maintained their friendships for life. He dently about facts that are repeated a great deal of pride in the generations always said history was a narrative, over and over without any effort to of scholars who progressed under a story to tell. With the rise of post- look at them differently and coura- his tutelage to populate the halls of modernism, that fell out of fashion. geously (as he did). He was gloriously academia and who continue to enrich But then it came back again, and now daring and amazingly informed. the field. We will miss his stories, his it’s come full circle. Leila Fawaz unassuming manner and quick wit, his Professor Tarif Khalidi Issam M. Fares Professor of Lebanese and annual Christmas party, and the diver- Department of History and Archaeology, AUB Eastern Mediterranean Studies, Tufts University sion that his weekly visits provided for (The Daily Star, September 2, 2011) President of the Harvard University Overseers, the AUB History Department. Harvard Governing Boards Professor Abdulrahim Abu Husayn Salibi…was perhaps the finest his- (The Daily Star, September 2, 2011) Department of History and Archaeology, AUB torian of the modern—and the old— Remembrances cont. page 65 Middle East … a man whose work Kamal Salibi raised the history and must surely shine into the future as it historiography of Lebanon to new lev- has illuminated the past. In one sense, Erratum els … He created a space in which his desire to deconstruct history, his Lebanon’s singularity is underlined by almost Eliot-like precision in dissect- MainGate summer 2011, page 53: Arminee Choukassizian received an MA placing Lebanon in its Arab context ing the false story of the Maronites of in 1966, not a BA. rather than abstracting it from it. I am Lebanon, his highly mischievous—and
4 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate At AUB, 2,980 students received financial aid in [email protected] 2009–10. Can you help one more?
“One may know what they are but not what they can become unless they are blessed by challenges and chances that allow them to progress,” says Rachelle Sabbagh. A final-year nursing student minoring in psychology, Rachelle says that the Terry and Pierre Abou Khater Scholarship has made “an immediate and immense difference in my life.” Her post- graduation plans include traveling to London to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX- Supporting RN) and pursuing a master’s degree in community nursing. Until then, Rachelle is taking full advantage of what AUB has to offer. An active member of both the Nursing Student Society and Students Fashion Club, Rachelle is also a member of the AUB swimming of Today and Tomorrow team and the Yearbook Committee.
Hear more: www.aub.edu/ development/scholarship_initiative Can you help To speak to someone about supporting financial aid, contact support an AUB us at [email protected] student?
See what’s possible! Viewfinder
September 16, 2001: international students discover the wilder side of Nicely Hall on their first campus tour
6 MainGate Summer 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate 7 Seen and Heard
In the fall of 2011, AUB had 2,026 registered students who identified themselves as non-Lebanese. Over 65 nations were represented in this group, with the top 10 most represented nationalities being:
1 3 5 7 9
USA JORDAN PALESTINE SAUDI ARABIA UNITED KINGDOM
2 4 6 8 10
SYRIA CANADA FRANCE AUSTRALIA IRAQ
Live Life Abundantly in Latin, however, was consistent with VITAM HABEANT ABUNDANTIUS UT VITAM HABEANT ABUNDANTIUS “the universal custom of educational HABEANT and translated into Arabic HABEANT—even if you don’t institutions in various parts of the as wa-litakuna lahum hayat wa-takuna recognize that Latin phrase, you’ll world.” hayat afdal. Not everyone approves of probably recognize these words: Although the committee did the Arabic translation: As’ad AbuKhalil That they may have life and have it consider an alternative Latin phrase wrote on his blog (http://angryarab. more abundantly. How did this Latin (Lucem Dare, Virtutem Facere, give blogspot.com/) in July 2010 that phrase come to be AUB’s motto? light, give virtue), it chose AUB’s motto the motto should have been trans- Well, it seems that the faculty at least in part because it was from lated as … wa-takuna hayat azkhar. committee that met in early 1921 one of Daniel Bliss’s favorite Bible Although AUB Professor Ramzi to consider the issue decided that verses (John 10:10): Ego veni ut vitam Baalbaki agrees that azkhar is a more a motto in English would be “trite habeant, et abundantius habeant, accurate translation for “abundant,” and undignified” while a motto in which is translated in the King James he says that afdal “is not wrong” and Arabic was “unsuitable because it version as “I am come that they might was probably chosen because it is is not the language of many of the have life, and that they might have it more commonly used than azkhar. students and alumni and would be more abundantly.” Baalbaki, who was awarded the King incomprehensible to these and to At some point—no one is quite Faisal International Prize in Arabic friends of the University in other sure exactly when or if this was done Language and Literature for 2010 (see institutions and in other parts of the deliberately or in error—“et” was omit- MainGate, fall 2010, pages 20-21), world.” They concluded that a motto ted and AUB’s motto became UT also notes that afdal is the word
8 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate “Institutions of higher education in the Arab world have the opportunity, if not the responsibility, to enshrine the values embedded in traditions that are unique to this region, which emphasize such ideals as the centrality of family ties, local and regional histories, the scientific legacy of the Middle East, a notably rich literary and philosophical tradition, the pacifist and universalist kernel of the Islamic and Judeo-
The motto's marble plaque was restored this fall. Christian faiths—the ahl al-kitab—and the historic used in the authoritative 1870 Arabic decide to choose a Scriptural text tolerance of ethnic translation of the New Testament for a motto we would have as prec- strains of all kinds.” (wa-liyakuna lahum afdal), which was edents such institutions as Oxford based on the original Greek text. (Dominus Illuminatio Mea, the Lord is —President Dorman, As the University has moved my light) and Columbia (In Lumine Tuo Opening Ceremony 2011 beyond its missionary roots, some Videbimus Lumen, in thy light shall we have suggested that it is no longer see light). appropriate—if it ever was—that the In addition to having the weight of University’s motto is a verse from history on its side, there is also a good the Bible. Interestingly, this was dis- deal of evidence that the University’s cussed in 1921 when the faculty motto continues to resonate for many committee noted that “if we should current members of the AUB family,
Common Abbreviations found in MainGate (MG): CCECS: Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service IFI: Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy ACS: American Community School FAFS: Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and International Affairs FAS: Faculty of Arts and Sciences KSA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia AUB: American University of Beirut FEA: Faculty of Engineering and Architecture LDEM: Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management AUBMC: American University of Beirut Medical Center FHS: Faculty of Health Sciences OSB: Suliman S. Olayan School of Business CAMES: Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies FM: Faculty of Medicine PSPA: Department of Political Studies and Public Administration CAMS: Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences HSON: Rafic Hariri School of Nursing REP: Regional External Programs CASAR: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Ibsar: Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures SPC: Syrian Protestant College Center for American Studies and Research IC: International College WAAAUB: Worldwide Alumni Association of AUB
9 exposure where more people can marvel at its age and resilience and the sense of history that resonates from its very core. This gigantic cedar log sired the wooden “sculp- tures” in the entrance of College Hall and the Archaeological Museum. The log arrived on campus in January 1982, having lain for some time in Ain Mreisse. Numerous bullet holes bear witness to time spent on the front line during the civil war. The log’s origin is uncertain, but it is believed that it was found on Mount Sannine around 1980 during road construction. At that time it was in a remarkable state of preservation and thought to have been buried for millennia in a dry, anaerobic environment. Radiocarbon dating from two separate samples has independently confirmed that the tree died around 5755 BC (give or take 120 years) when it was about 300 years old. Given its stunning 150 cm diameter trunk, the log is considered to be the largest extant piece of ancient cedar wood in the world. including President Peter Dorman, Some ten years ago, Ramzi who chose it as the theme for his Touchan of the University of Arizona presidential inauguration in May 2009: took a number of core samples, the senses might just be able to catch a "Toward an Abundant Life." longest of which was 40 cm and com- whiff of cedar scent that continues to Special thanks to the Archives prised 240 tree rings. Because the log emanate from the log slice displayed and Special Collections Department of is rotten at the core, it is badly in need in the entrance. Two slices were cut Jafet Library for their help in research- of a clean up, which was in fact recom- from the original log by the Lebanese ing this article. mended at that time. With the applica- sculptor Rudy Rahme in 2004, fol- tion of pesticides and insecticides and lowing recommendations by Peter A Rotten Shame a good polish, maybe this magnificent Kunihold, director of the Malcolm and The Cedrus Libnani log lies, forgotten specimen (now in two pieces) could Carolyn Wiener Laboratory for Aegean and neglected, behind Bliss Hall, a be spruced up and moved to a less and Near Eastern Dendrochronology at magnificent pre-historic relic that few neglected location on campus for all Cornell University. Rahme also fabricat- ever visit. Seen only by playful cats to see. ed the frames on which the slices are and passing gardeners, this poignant Meanwhile, back in College Hall, mounted, leaving behind an estimated piece of antiquity truly deserves better those with well-developed olfactory ton of log slowly decaying behind Bliss.
10 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate New On-line
www.youtube.com/AUBatLebanon
Legacy Ceremony 2011 The AUB and WAAAUB welcomed to campus AUB alumni parents and their children who joined the AUB family in the fall of 2011.
"You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat;" Jaws and the New Hollywood CASAR hosted this lecture by Dr. William Nolan or the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Nolan teaches film, literary and cultural studies in the Honors College; his work has centered on the The 8,000 year-old Cedrus Libani log behind Bliss Hall role of animals in the emergence of cinema in the late nineteenth century. Over the years dendrochronologists “The book was like their bible,” have expressed interest in studying Raad says, referring to his grandfather From Tahrir Square to a New Republic the log (and its preservation) but right and his five classmates who, in 1871, IFI hosted a now, only the cats seem to enjoy that formed the medical school’s inau- discussion privilege. gural graduating class and became entitled "From —M.A. the Levant’s earliest locally trained Tahrir Square to doctors. “How to treat people, how a New Republic: Fresh Pages from History to save people. When you read it—it’s The Challenges When Charles Raad (BA ’55) decided ridiculous today. Modern medicine is a of Promoting to gift an old medical textbook from his different story.” Democratic grandfather to AUB, their shared alma Recently returned to the Jafet Constitutionalism in Egypt Today" mater, he yielded up a material link to the Library’s Archives and Special by the Egyptian democracy activist institution’s earliest days when Arabic Collections after restoration in and youth organizations coordinator was the primary language of instruction. New York, the 1867 leather bound Abdul Rahman Hamdy Jad.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 11 The 1867 leather bound medical manuscript, before and after restoration
manuscript consists of lectures on Professor Edwin Lewis's enthusias- with the headquarters of his enduring pathology delivered by Dr. Cornelius tic praise for the recently deceased publishing house, when Hamra’s El Van Dyck in Arabic with notes meticu- Charles Darwin. Their departure—and Dorado Building caught fire. “I thought lously handwritten by Raad’s grandfa- the arrival of US medical professors I was saving it,” Raad says wistfully ther Nasir Hatim (MD 1871). who did not speak Arabic—definitively of the certificate. “Somebody [had] Hatim, his peers, and successive extinguished the department’s rebel- come from AUB…and I said, ‘No, this classes at the then-Syrian Protestant lion of several years. belongs to the family.’ Now I regret College studied almost exclusively in Van Dyck’s lectures likely accom- it. That’s why I decided to give them Arabic until the Board of Trustees, just panied Hatim when he relocated to [AUB] the book.” 12 years after the College’s inception Damascus. He practiced medicine for Hatim’s legacy remains a family in 1866 and concurrent with the rise five years there, Raad says, before affair. The bookbinder who restored it, of the “Nahda” or Arab awakening, returning home to Hammana to marry Amy Morris Pickens, is the daughter took the fateful decision to change the a first cousin who died tragically after of Thomas Q. Morris, AUB trustee language of instruction to English. giving birth to their seventh child. emeritus. When the manuscript arrived “Curiously, the liveliest opposition Hatim never remarried. “All I remember at Morris Pickens’s Paper Moon came from the medical department,” my mother telling me is he was tough,” Bookbinding, she assessed it as “a Samir Kassir notes in his intricate Raad says. Hatim died in 1930, three disaster at first glance” due to what history Beirut (University of California years before Raad’s birth. she later described as “profound water Press, 2010). Within six years, Kassir Raad inherited the textbook and damage” to the exterior and “a seri- relates, Van Dyck and his colleagues Hatim’s university certificate from ously impaired cover.” had all decamped from the medical his mother and her sisters, but the The manuscript may itself have school following a controversy over certificate went up in flames, along narrowly escaped destruction, Morris
12 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Pickens says. “The water had not discovered that rather than recognizing cardiovascular risk factors in the same permeated the entire text block, which the health risks involved in childhood individual, was found in 30 percent is good because the ink is very water excess body weight, parents like to of the obese children and adoles- solvent. If the whole thing had been comfort themselves with the idea that cents compared to their normal weight immersed… it would have washed “chubbiness” is a mere phase and that counterparts, none of whom had the away.” children soon grow out of it. Most are metabolic syndrome. The metabolic Morris Pickens grafted loose pages oblivious to the fact that the unhealthy syndrome has been associated with and hand sewed dangling sections consequences of excess fat start at a a three-time increase in the risk of back onto the text block, fitting new very early age and can lead to serious developing heart diseases and stroke leather into the gaps in the cover so health problems including abnormali- and a five-time increase in the risk of artfully that the seams became invis- ties in the blood that can predispose developing type two diabetes, which ible, so that, she says, “the new and individuals to developing cardiovascu- means that one in three obese children the old are really integrated and they lar diseases. By as is at significant risk don’t fight each other.” early as eight years of developing one The newly resurrected manuscript of age, being obese By as early as or both of these is a fitting memorial to Hatim and Van may raise a child’s eight years of age, conditions. Nasreddine Dyck, two stubbornly devoted men. risk of future heart being obese may After resigning from AUB, Van Dyck disease and stroke. told MainGate, raise a child’s risk spent the rest of his life in Beirut and In a recent study, “The research became locally beloved as “El Hakim” Dean Nahla Hwalla of future heart underscores the (the doctor), famed for his familiarity and Assistant disease and stroke. importance of with the Arabic language and culture. Professor Lara early screening When he passed away in November Nasreddine of the of obesity and its 1895, the New York weekly Outlook Department of Nutrition and Food associated metabolic abnormalities recorded in an obituary that he’d resist- Sciences (NFSC) revealed some stark in Lebanese youth and constitutes a ed all entreaties to remain in America conclusions with regard to young- timely reminder of the need to take during two brief visits home. “I entered sters’ weight. The study included 140 action to prevent obesity in youngsters the mission work as a life-service,” he children aged 8 to 10 years old and through the development of successful is quoted as having said, “and I will die 263 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years and culture-specific multi component with the harness on.” old, of whom 87 children and 104 interventions.” adolescents were classified as obese What should parents do to prevent —S.M. based on the body mass index for early onset obesity? What practical age guidelines. The study showed that measures can be taken? As a first 91 percent of the obese children and step researchers recommend counsel- 97 percent of the obese adolescents ing for children and their parents on From the Faculties suffered from at least one cardio- the serious risks of obesity and on vascular risk factor such as low HDL the benefits of maintaining a healthy (“good”) cholesterol, high LDL (“bad”) lifestyle including changing diet and FAFS cholesterol, high triglycerides (fats in increasing exercise. This is obviously the blood), high blood pressure, high easier said than done, but one program Children at Risk: The blood sugar, or elevated waist circum- now being tested in Lebanon could Hidden Dangers of Flab ference (belly fat). prove effective in the fight against early Myths about childhood obesity pre- The study also showed that the fat. AUB in collaboration with Nestlé vail in every society and Lebanon metabolic syndrome, which refers recently launched Kanz Al-Soha a proj- is no exception. Researchers have to the co-existence of at least three ect aimed at promoting healthy eating
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 13 and encouraging physical activity in 9 HSON spinal injury, depression, and certain to 11 year olds in a number of schools vitamin deficiencies. There are two across the country. Myths Vitamin D and types of impairment: Amnestic Mild The program is part of NFSC Dementia Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Non- instructor Carla Habib-Murad’s PhD Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, has Amnestic Cognitive Impairment with thesis supervised jointly by AUB and received a lot of press lately as low lev- MCI being dominant. A Mayo Clinic the University of Durham, UK, and els have been associated with impaired study of 2,000 healthy older individuals of the Nestlé Healthy Kids Global metabolism, immune and cardiovascu- showed that over time 7.2 percent Programme launched in October 2010. lar disorders, and breast and prostate develop MCI; other studies show that The first pilot in Lebanon was cancer. But there’s more. early intervention can prevent or halt its completed in May 2011 in 10 public “Aside from regulating calcium lev- progress from MCI to dementia. schools covering 750 students across els in the body and bones there is In addition to studying blood Lebanon. Its components include evidence showing that [vitamin D] also samples and testing vitamin D levels, classroom sessions, parent meetings, has an impact on the brain,” said Hala Darwish’s study uses a rapid screen- school shop interventions, health fairs, Darwish, PhD, assistant professor at ing tool called the Montreal Cognitive and training of teachers and school AUB’s Hariri School of Nursing. “Our Assessment (MoCA) to assess cogni- health coordinators. Over the next preliminary study [at HSON] has shown tive performance. The MoCA Arabic three years Kanz Al-Soha will target 60 a positive correlation between vitamin version, which was developed at the public schools nationwide. Speaking D and cognitive performance espe- Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams about the first phase Carla Habib- cially in the older adult group.” This was University in Cairo, helps eliminate the Murad said, “‘Kanz Al-Soha had three exciting, because the available literature language barrier that would result in coordinated intervention components already showed an existing relationship misleading outcomes. that address nutrition knowledge and between vitamin D and cognition and “As there is no literature of cognitive awareness, skills, self-efficacy, and learning in animals. “Our study, funded function in Lebanon, we are also in the modelling. Using different games, by AUB’s University Research Board, process of establishing normative values hands-on activities and food prepara- included 98 adults over 30 years of for our country as the existing tests are tion helped to make the learning fun age, but only 17 older adults over 60,” calibrated to US and EU values,” she and interactive for students. Our goal explained Darwish. In that group, she highlighted, “and we are in the process was to go beyond simply increas- says, “60 percent of our sample tested of implementing visual tests that will ing nutrition knowledge: for example, below the standard normal cognitive eliminate the language barrier issue.” knowing that carrots are healthy is function value.” Darwish has been awarded good but eating more carrots is better.” Darwish, who has a PhD in bio- another grant by the AUB Faculty of Statistics based on a joint study car- behavioral nursing with a neuroscience Medicine Medical Practice Plan (MPP) ried out by NFSC and the Department focus, became interested in vitamin D to undertake a related study that will of Epidemiology and Population Health while doing post-doctoral work in the encompass a total of 260 individu- in the Faculty of Health Sciences indi- United States when her own blood als and most specifically include 100 cate that obesity in Lebanese youth (6 tests revealed that she herself had a people over the age of 60. She is also to 19 years) has increased from 6.8 vitamin D deficiency. part of a vitamin D randomized con- percent in 1997 to 13.2 percent in Darwish analyzes cognitive func- trolled trial that is evaluating effects of 2009, almost a doubling in ten years. tion as an intellectual process, with vitamin D supplementation at various In light of such findings, awareness- learning and memory as key factors stages in the life cycle of the elderly raising programs like this are clearly that vary between normal cognition and the effects of such replacements important in the battle against child- (cognition of normal age) and demen- on cognitive growth indices (funded hood obesity. tia. Known causes of cognitive impair- by MPP and the Lebanese National —M.A. ment include alcohol, drugs, brain and Council for Scientific Research).
14 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate “Our biggest challenge remains the difficulty in recruiting healthy older Lebanese adults,” concluded Darwish. “The effect of vitamin D on age-related cognitive impairment has not been fully explored in a clinical setting, but I’m hopeful that our work will lead to the development of more targeted inter- ventions to prevent further progression into dementia.”
—A.A.A.
AUBMC Dr. Rose-Mary Boustany, profes- sor of pediatrics and biochemistry, received the 2012 Sidney On July 16, a group of five dedicated amateur climbers reached the top of Mount Carter Award in Child Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru, Africa’s highest peak and the world’s fourth highest summit. The Neurology from the group of fathers and their sons dedicated their five-day climb to the Brave Heart Fund American Academy to raise awareness for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and to raise funds for needy of Neurology (AAN). children suffering from CHD in Lebanon. CHD is the number one killer in the first year The award is made of life. Learn more at www.braveheartfund.org. in recognition of Dr. Boustany’s outstanding achievements in the field of pediatric neurology. This recognition includes an invitation to deliver the prestigious Carter Lecture at the 64th AAN Annual Meeting on April 24, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Zeina Kanafani, assistant pro- fessor of medicine, On August 16, AUBMC unveiled the new state-of-the-art Dr. Souha Sami Kanj-Sharara received the Young Conference Room on the ninth Floor of AUBMC’s main hospital building. The new gathering Investigators Award area was made possible by a grateful patient who made an anonymous donation in honor from the Infectious of his doctor, Dr. Souha Kanj-Sharara, head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and chair Diseases Society person of the Infection Control Program. The patient wanted to “publicly recognize and honor of America (IDSA) Souha for the exceptional care and dedicated attention she delivered to him during his in October at the illness, which was way beyond the usual call of duty,” said Dr. Fuad Ziyadeh, chair person society’s 49th annual of the Department of Internal Medicine, at the inauguration ceremony. “You have set a very meeting in Boston, high standard and we are so delighted that you are being honored today. . .This conference Massachusetts. room will be a busy hub for our educational mission in the department.”
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 15 R+D
Nametag: Karen Moukheiber, PhD, 10 am Tuesday, 10 am Saturday: Arab and Middle Eastern History, pro- At 10 am almost every day of the jected 2012 week, especially during the summer Life before graduate school: I when I have more time, I am working grew up in Beit Meri and attended the at home often with Ibn Saad’s bio- Grand Lycée. I did my undergraduate graphical dictionary, Kitab al-Tabaqt studies in philosophy at the University al-Kubra, al-Isfahani’s al-Ima al- of Knoxville in Tennessee. I returned Shawa‘ir, or al-Shafi‘i‘s Kitab al-Umm. to Lebanon and obtained a master’s Most admire: I admire all women in Middle Eastern history from AUB. I and men who value integrity, creativity, currently teach history and geography autonomy, and solidarity—and live at the Collège Louise Wegmann and accordingly. In my field I particularly hold a part-time position at LAU. appreciate Marshall Hodgson for his What matters most: In the Arab critical empathy, Julia Bray and Julia world, both secularists and Islamists Meisami for their trans-disciplinary seek to define a distinctive feminine approach to women’s history, and my Arab identity, in part by revisiting adviser, Professor Nadia el-Cheikh, the feminine Arab past. The goal for her academic achievements and of my research is to enhance our pertinent and incisive advice. understanding of the historical roles Why this topic interests me: I of women, which is necessary for am particularly intrigued by the speci- a meaningful discourse on feminine ficities of the institution of slavery agency. in the Arab/Islamic world. The vast Research: Arab/Islamic civilization, majority of Abbasid caliphs were born like most civilizations of the ancient to slave women. Free women were and pre-modern world, was a slave instructed in hadith, slave women in holding society. In my research, I am poetry and music. A free man had licit describing, analyzing, and interpreting sex with his wife and his slave woman. how the legal presence of women Exploring the history of Arab/Muslim slaves contributed to the construction women through the prism of slavery of gendered roles within the fields reveals many changes. of politics, cultural production, and sexual companionship during the early Abbasid period (750-950 AD) focusing primarily on the urban elite in cities such as Baghdad, Mecca, Medina, Damascus, and Cairo. I am reading a specific set of texts belonging to different genres of discourse, annals, biographical dictionaries, and literature (adab), as well as legal treatises.
16 MainGate Summer 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Opening Ceremony 2011
FHS sanctions in Iraq. Both experiences PEPFAR (President Emergency Plan led me to research the intersection For Aids Relief), or international NGOs, Health Costs between medicine, public health, and which in times bypass the state and/ anthropology. or transcend nation state boundaries. Is global health war by other means? What is global health and how These interventions represent a new Professor Omar Al-Dewachi, who does it differ way of engaging recently participated in an FHS meeting from interna- “War represents north and south of the War and Global Health Thinking tional health? and raise issues one of the most Group, explains how even the best- Global health such as who is intentioned global health initiative can is now the pre- significant—and responsible, who have a devastating impact on the lives ferred term to preventable—threats organizes, and of the people it is intended to help. describe health to global public health,” who intervenes concluded Dewachi. where and why. “We want to create Can global an interdisciplinary health interven- tions ever be a network of scholars to force for good? examine these critical Global health questions at the heart interventions cre- of global health in our ate new forms of region of the world classification: who and hopefully offer gets treatment applicable solutions and who doesn’t? Who gets included on the ground.” How did you get interested in the interventions in and who gets left topic of global health? the developing out? They run I have long been interested in this world, coming from north to south. the risk of creating new therapeutic topic because of our regional history These interventions are often initiated economies that could reflect negatively and my own experience as a medical by state and non-state actors such as on the societies and communities. For doctor working during war and under the Gates Foundation, the Global fund, global health to be a force for good it
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 17
President's reception for new students September 29, 2011
must recognize these issues and be by those who do not die but who OSB more involved in prioritizing the secu- instead live with the scars of war in all rity of populations and communities its forms? The Mikati Corporate and the infrastructure of public health. In Iraq, for example, there has been Social Responsibility Unfortunately, global health interven- an unprecedented increase in cancer (CSR) Initiative: Raising tions often end up dismantling the rates, infant mortality, disability, the Awareness in the Middle capacity of states to provide for their collapse of health system, and the loss East own citizens, which is not a good thing. of medical staff, an ongoing war on the “We are aspiring to grow our existing How do you assess global health Iraqi social body since 1990. There initiative into a full-fledged CSR cen- interventions? has been a 150 time increase in infant ter, in line with international trends in We began with a critical view of mortality, more than any other country all pioneering and visionary business global health priorities that tend to focus in history. schools around the globe,” said Dima on infectious diseases in the south and If global health interventions are tied Jamali, convenor (chairperson) at on saving lives rather than on building to war, then war could be the most AUB’s OSB Management, Marketing infrastructure and capacities. preventable global and public health and Entrepreneurship Track. We’re also concerned with what problem. The danger of global health The OSB CSR initiative is unique happens when the primary actors are interventions in such context is the in the Middle East. Established with outside the state. What happens to depoliticization of war, by focusing on an initial endowment of $500,000 state sovereignty when interventions purely health outcomes, rather than in September 2009 by the M1 transcend the state? addressing deeper social and political Group, one of the holdings of cur- We’re also concerned that these questions related to war. rent Lebanese Prime Minister Najib humanitarian or global health inter- These types of issues need to be Mikati, it is raising awareness and ventions often accompany military engaged at every level: What kind of disseminating CSR best practices in interventions, for example, in Iraq and world do we want to live in, what do the region. Afghanistan, which have produced so we allow, and how? These are ethical Its vision is to foster a business many adverse health consequences. and human questions that define our environment where enterprises con- We usually talk about mortality in the era. Where does the limit lie and who tribute value to society by integrating context of war, but what about the is allowed to take those decisions? corporate responsibility in all aspects long term cost and burden represented of their operations and actions. The —M.A.
18 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate CSR initiative’s mission is to spread CSR themes, and Audi Bank for com- FEA awareness of the importance of CSR munity development and cultural by targeting academia, the private enrichment.” Tabbouleh and the Big and public sectors, and civil society In another initiative under the CSR Apple You Are What You through teaching, research, publica- initiative umbrella, the OSB is also Eat –No Matter Where You tions, dialogue, capacity building, in the process of contextualizing its Are innovative reports, and solutions. business textbooks originally com- “We have incorporated CSR into piled by US authors featuring case What do AUB Faculty of Engineering our curriculum. It is a required core studies about US and EU companies and Architecture students know about course for all undergraduate business and managers. “We are replacing all New York State farmers? And what do and EMBA students and is an elective these case studies and examples with the New School and Parsons School of for MBA students, many of whom suitable ones from our own region, Design students know about Lebanese choose to take it,” explained Jamali. thus creating a much more relevant food producers? Quite a lot as it turns “Introducing CSR into the curriculum and rewarding experience for our stu- out. Thanks to the innovative “City as has already had a very significant dents,” explained Jamali. Lab” program, a collaborative urban impact on our students.” “The concept of CSR is growing in design and research practice con- According to Jamali, long before acceptance in the regional business ducted in Beirut and New York during it became a “hot topic” in the United community as the idea of giving back the spring and summer semesters, and States and the EU, CSR existed in the to society and directing attention to in Beirut for 10 weeks in the summer, Arab world as philanthropy whereby the public good is highly rewarding students from both iconic cities came individuals and companies give for the and impacts positively on the whole to know a great deal about each other, public good for the sake of doing good. community,” concluded Jamali. “One their food habits, and their cities’ food To date, the Mikati CSR initiative cannot expect any government to networks. has organized a bi-monthly speaker successfully tackle all the problems New York students from the series and hosted high profile speak- and issues, like poverty, unemploy- “Market Cities” course led by Adriana ers from across the region including ment, and education on its own with- Valdez Young, adjunct professor at Fadi Ghandour, Aramex CEO, and out the assistance of the private sec- the New School Graduate Program in George Akiki, Cisco Systems regional tor. For systemic results and impact, International Affairs, worked in collabora- director. “A huge buzz has already all actors need to assume their roles tion with their FEA peers from the vertical been created and interest is pouring in the context of a national CSR studio course, “Market Housing,” led by in from all over the region. In 2012, we agenda, including the private sector, AUB architecture professors Matthew are organizing two panel discussions but also academia, nonprofits as well (spring and fall) including a big confer- as individual citizens and consumers.” ence in March-April, that will feature —A.A.A. high-profile regional and international speakers,” added Jamali. “Currently in Lebanon, the bank- ing sector, multinationals, and large companies are the major players in CSR activities, with others express- ing sincere interest in the subject,” Farmer's Pod: a delivery truck provides a farmer said Jamali. “Some examples include with both commercial and sleeping space Microsoft support for IT development, (Rudy Spiridon) Byblos Bank for education and learn- ing, Sanita with national and patriotic
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 19 Thomas (a former colleague of Young) challenge and displace local producers Having built up a clearer picture of and Bernard Mallet. Both groups of and local food practices.” how the other half lives based on food students were tasked with documenting As a way of documenting these habits, the AUB students paired up the food networks that sustain their cit- issues, during two weeks in the spring, with New School students to conduct ies, focusing in particular on the social, the students created dossiers about research on their cities’ farmers markets. built, and ecological matrices connected themselves including everything they The New York City students carried out to the Union Square Greenmarket in ate in their home cities. This sharing of specific site research for their Beirut New York and to the Souk El Tayeb information about urban lifestyles was counterparts to allow AUB students to (SET) farmers market in Beirut. conveyed through the range of social design market “pods” for Union Square Young, who conceived City as Lab media: YouTube, Tumblr, email, and producers of honey, mushrooms, flow- as an independent faculty-to-faculty ini- Facebook. Even before they met, “The ers, wine, or salad greens. These small, tiative that allows for a flexible cross-city students got to know each other pretty city-based units allow farmers to grow and cross-disciplinary channel for col- well during the course of this exercise,” and sell produce in situ in New York laboration, explains the rationale behind says Young. “The New York students and give them the possibility of sleeping the pairing of New York and Beirut: were super impressed by the AUB over on market days rather than driving “Both cities face the same pressures of student design skills, but they were back and forth to the country. Assessing density, distribution, and price when it shocked by the amount of fast food this part of the collaboration Thomas comes to food choices and availability they ate. They had romantic notions told MainGate: “The collaboration with in this context. Fast food chains and about Lebanon and were not prepared the students in New York enriched the global suppliers step into the market to for this information.” studio for the AUB students on several
20 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate levels… The [AUB] students discovered hoped that this time AUB students will Along with Kara, Danberg-Ficarelli a number of similarities as well as new visit New York. organized a producers capacity build- techniques, technologies, and urban However, eight lucky New Yorkers ing workshop on organic compost- schemes that, in the end, enriched a lot did get to spend the summer in Beirut ing delivered by Ziad Abi-Chaker of their design projects. as hard working interns with various from the Lebanese company Cedar
Farmers Pod: the "pod" expands to hold produce at a farmer's market and collapses into a public sitting area (Joana Dabaj
“This engagement with a group of independent Lebanese social and civic Environmental. “We’ve also done a people carrying out similar tasks allowed organizations. They thrived on the crash course in quality assurance,” he the students a bit of an ‘escape’ from opportunity to get to know Beirut better, explains, “which includes making sure the studio [by] giving them permission as well as applying their knowledge and the food safety rules and regulations at to use social media as a tool for learn- skills to a range of projects. SET and Tawlet are maintained.” This ing. We explored a number of medias Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli, Adam emphasis on quality assurance neces- and while it wasn’t completely suc- Phillips, and Hirumi Nanayakkara were sitated spot check site visits to farms cessful (slow internet, dissimilar social all seconded to the SET group where in various regions to guarantee SET media sites, etc.), a good amount of they teamed up with Yasmine Kara standards of quality and production. information was exchanged—and one and Mohammad Chehab, students For Kara the summer has been or two good friendships came out of from the FAFS agribusiness program. an eye opener. She visited parts of the semester!” Working together and separately, the Lebanon she had never seen before. The program’s initial proposition had students tackled a catalog of food Her work included conducting and writ- provided for the AUB students to visit related issues. ing up interviews with producers all over New York but this proved not to be One of Danberg-Ficarelli’s projects the country. “I learned about places and possible. Thomas says, “If we could was to devise a zero waste garbage things I never knew existed,” she says. have financially provided for a trip to system for SET’s sister restaurant “And I got to know people I would never New York at the start of the semester, I Tawlet. Now that the system—a pos- otherwise have met.” am sure the collaborations would have sible first for Beirut—is up and running Kara and Phillips worked together been a lot richer. I guess it goes to show and yielding 95 percent organic waste, to structure Cooking 101, a Tawlet that we haven’t yet been able to replace she is exploring ways to expand the cooking class; then Phillips put his mind the experience of sitting with another waste system into a network for Beirut to work on a bicycle-sharing scheme. person to share a meal and brainstorm restaurants and is considering turning Both he and Kara, along with three new ideas.” Steps are under way to the project into the subject of her students from FEA’s Graphic Design repeat the program next year and it is master’s thesis. Department researched and helped
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 21 NYU students proposed the site of the Mar Mikhael railway station for a permanent Souk El Tayeb market.
create brand images for five SET pro- for a permanent SET eco-market, theo- “On the other hand, the students ducers to be designed and executed retically grounded in the historic, largely were inspired by the social entrepre- under the supervision of FEA faculty derelict Mar Mikhael railway station. neurs they worked with and by the members Jana Traboulsi and Maya “This has been an unbelievable opportunities for initiative. Here New Sakhaily. work experience: it was trans-disci- York can learn from Beirut. Such things FAFS student Chehab meanwhile plinary, with a convergence of interests exist in New York, but there are many has lived a summer to remember. and expertise and lived experiences,” more constraints. My students were “It has been a great experience; I said Danberg-Ficarelli on behalf of the able to take initiatives and run with them have been involved in every aspect of group. “Beirut is not as saturated as in a way that is not possible in New SET’s business, including managing New York. There is a lot of room for York. They also added an international the market for two weeks while the innovation and entrepreneurial ideas, framework to their own issues—things regular manager was away,” he says. which is so important.” like parking and other every day urban Chehab has taken responsibility for As their visit to Lebanon drew to hassles; they found the context for their stock-checking and distributing and an end, their supervising professor own frustrations linked to an internation- distributing SET's Dekenet products Adriana Young summarized the experi- al context.” Young hopes AUB students in Tawlet and in the signature Sultan ence. “Beirut was a rich context for will be able to visit New York next spring Center in the Beirut Souks. “This sum- studying urban design in an over and and that a new batch of students will live mer has given me practical hands-on under developed context,” she said. the Beirut experience next summer. experience that has helped me learn “The students were hungry for this kind Summing up the project as a whole so much,” he says. Chehab and Kara of exposure and collaboration. They Thomas said, “Overall, the collaboration were an invaluable bridge between the saw how Beirut has been propelled was a success. There is no way you can New Yorkers and the locals, helping into issues facing other global cities: NOT have a deeper learning experience expedite all their projects. real estate speculation, destruction of when you involve more minds, more Sharing her time between SET and heritage, the resulting class divide; only voices, and more perspectives… Our Karaj Media Lab, Hirumi Nanayakkara’s Beirut is worse off because there is built environment is complex and has main task was to design SET’s new no zoning, no intersession, no public an impact on the public realm—we e-newsletter, to be launched soon. As space—the commitment to the idea cannot design in isolation any more.” their farewell project the three New of public space is just not there. In For more information about the proj- Yorkers put their collective talents to Beirut they discovered extreme cases ect consult www.cityaslab.com. work on a feasibility study and design of private interest. —M.A.
22 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Reviews
Lovesong (Rimal Publications, 2011) by Afaf Zurayk
A portfolio of watercolors and poetry dedicated to the memory of her mother Najla Zurayk. www.rimalbooks.com
Forward: my childhood gave me this portfolio speaks of love a crystal bowl love as light and love as shadow for safekeeping transparent love as well as cloudy love i broke the rim for me love become sight it's healing and sight is light love shed its light inward making understanding possible and I grew
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 23 My Father. Reflections (2010) by Afaf Zurayk and photography by Noel Nasr
Published in remembrance of her father Constantine Zurayk on the 10th anniversary of his passing.
Forward: This essay in photographs tells a very personal tale. Yet in its scope, the essay moves beyond the particular to explore an understanding of a very complex relationship of a daughter with her father. The father, Constantine Zurayk, was a historian and a leading force in contemporary Arab thought. The daughter, Afaf Zurayk, is an artist. Drawing on this most basic and formative relationship, Afaf examines visually, through images of light and shadow, the deep roots of bonding as well as the concept of time as it unfolds for a historian and for an artist. These, in their depth, tell of the power of that quest through clay figurines, sculpted by Afaf and at times placed on her drawings, as seen through the subtle photographs of Noel Nasr. The music of Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” and Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Magnificat” is integral to the full creative experience of the artwork.
Special thanks to Mayda Freije Makdessi in the Department of Architecture and Design for her creative interpretation of both books, her high professional standards, and boundless generos- ity. Special thanks also to Ghada Jamal in the Department of Fine Arts and Art History for her guidance and support throughout the making of My Father. Reflections.
24 Although the air outside may be dangerously polluted areas from the national law was being discussed. They (see “Gasping for Air,” MainGate, summer 2011, page responded quickly with a statement that “partitioning 16), the indoor air in Lebanon is about to get a whole indoor spaces into smoking and non-smoking areas does lot cleaner thanks in part to the efforts of a committed not work, even when advanced ventilation and filtration group of AUB students, faculty, and staff. On August 17, technologies are used.” the Lebanese Parliament passed a national law banning As recently as last August, when final vote on the smoking in closed public places, prohibiting tobacco legislation was just weeks away, the TCRG again weighed advertising and sponsorship, and placing larger textual and pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. The passage of this law, which went into effect on September 3 and will be implemented over the course of the next year , has been on the public health agenda of AUB’s Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) since 1999. FHS Assistant Professor Rima Nakkash coordinates the multidisciplinary TCRG, which has spearheaded various initiatives to support implementation of a strong tobacco control law in Lebanon. With generous support from the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and other donors, it also led the drive to make AUB the first smoke-free campus in the country. In both cases, the TCRG launched an extensive media advocacy campaign and marshaled lots of evidence-based research. In January 2010, when it decided to make passage of a national tobacco control law one of its priorities, the TCRG reached out beyond AUB’s walls to partner with IndyACT and the Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI). Executive Director Wael Hmaidan (BS ’99) explains that it was IndyACT’s responsibility to make sure that the tobacco industry was not “corrupting the process and to work with MPs to make sure that the text of the law was strong enough.” The three partners followed the discussions in parliament closely. In spring 2010, they learned that a significantly weaker law that would have exempted establishments that set aside designated “non-smoking”
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 25 in with more evidence-based research. This time it was of waterpipe smoking, the social issues that promote the a study by FHS Associate Dean and Professor Rima Afifi use of this form of tobacco—especially among young and Nakkash evaluating the impact of pictorial warnings people—and the health effects related to the second on cigarette packs that proved that pictorial warnings are hand smoke that is caused by the large volume of more effective than textual warnings. smoke generated by the use of flavored and sweetened AUB’s IFI also contributed in issuing a paper by waterpipe tobacco products.” FAFS Assistant Professor Jad Chaaban and FAS Assistant Although passage of the new law that regulates Professor Nisreen Salti—both TCRG members—that all tobacco products including the narghileh is reason documented the social costs of tobacco consumption in to celebrate, the TCRG and its partners recognize that Lebanon. Some of Chaaban and Salti’s findings are quite there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that it is alarming: smoking-related diseases cost about $146.7 properly enforced. This is a concern for some restaurant million per year; the aggregate cost of environmental owners such as Christine Sfeir (BS ’94) who, although she degradation totals $13.2 million; and working inefficiency describes the law as a “good thing to do,” is worried that due to smoking costs are $102 million per year. it will hurt businesses like hers that “work by the book.” One of the explanations for the high number of Hmaidan, however, says that if international experience is smokers in Lebanon is the popularity of the nargileh any guide, the new legislation may help many businesses (also known as the waterpipe). Although many as customers such as Shihadeh and his family, who have individuals believe that the nargileh is not nearly as been driven away by cigarette smoke, return. “As a Beirut harmful as cigarettes, the evidence suggests that they resident and a parent of young children, I am thrilled are wrong. Writing in the American Journal of Preventive at the prospect of being able to take them out for meals Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Professor without the constant worry that I’m doing them harm by Thomas Eissenberg and FEA Associate Professor Alan exposing them to second hand smoke,” he says. Shihadeh note that “despite the lack of waterpipe specific epidemiologic studies of health risk, the weight Learn more about the TCRG at www.aub.edu.lb/units/tcrg of the evidence… suggests that waterpipe tobacco smoking is likely associated with many of the same tobacco-caused diseases as cigarette smoking, including cancer, cardiovascular and lung disease, and nicotine dependence.” Shihadeh and Eissenberg, who are currently collaborating on grants funded by the US National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, have demonstrated that “relative to a cigarette, a 45-minute waterpipe tobacco smoking episode generates more than 40 times the smoke volume.” FM Associate Dean Ghazi Zaatari, a TCRG member and chair of the World Health Organization Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation, says that one of the TCRG’s most important contributions is the research it is doing related to the nargileh. “We have only limited knowledge,” Zaatari explains, “both about the contents and emissions of toxicants and carcinogens in waterpipe smoke and also about the extent that it is taken up by the human body. There is a need to demonstrate the carcinogenic effect, the biological pathways to this effect, and the harm that is associated with the use of the waterpipe. We also need to assess the addictiveness
26 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Iraqi refugee families marooned in Lebanon struggle to cope with life in limbo
“We entered Lebanon through Syria. We walked with our might be less; no one knows because there is no way of children for seven hours … We left Syria at six in the knowing. You need to count them but to do that you evening. Of course the smuggler kept us in a house for a need to know exactly where they are. You need a list day before we left. The house was a wreck… there was of who has registered with the United Nations High no water even… We stayed down on the floor for four- Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as refugees, but five hours, with only the sound of our breathing… then many don’t register for fear of persecution; others have darkness fell and we walked on foot though the valley, made multiple moves back and forth trying to find a the mountain, the thorns, our bodies were pricked with solution to their situation. Some are in hiding; some thorns all over.” (Iraqi mother) have been thrown in jail because of their illegal status. Struggling to survive in the Beirut “poverty belt”— You don’t know when people arrive and when they leave the slum areas of the eastern and southern suburbs— because Lebanon is a transit country and the system can’t Iraqi refugees often vie with internally displaced keep track.” Lebanese families, Syrian migrants, and Palestinian With support from the Arab Families Working workers for insufficient jobs and inadequate services. Group funded by the International Development Research No one actually knows how many people are caught Centre in 2009–10 Makhoul led a qualitative research up in this degrading scramble for resources because so study into the experiences, living conditions, and coping many of them fall through the “cracks” between under mechanisms of Iraqi refugees, Christian and Muslim, resourced government services, the NGO network, and to try to better ascertain their situation on the ground international agencies ill-equipped to keep up with the and the implications for their future. Some 38 in-depth ebb and flow of people seeking aid or shelter in Lebanon. interviews took place along with focus group discussions “There could be 40-50,000 Iraqi refugees,” says with Iraqi refugees and informal interviews with staff Faculty of Health Sciences Associate Professor Jihad working at relief agencies. Makhoul. “There might be more, there
27 Lebanon’s Refugees “All my research is qualitative,” Makhoul explains, Iraqi refugees “which allows you to listen to the people and gives them a 8,626 chance to tell their stories.” 803 Iraqi asylum seekers It is the stories that bring the refugee plight into 3,135 displaced Syrians in north Lebanon focus: 227,718 registered Palestinian refugees in 12 camps “I am afraid that one day we will go on an outing and then 455,373 registered Palestinian refugees the police would arrest us and make us go back to Iraq.” (A father of six) Source: UNHCR 10/14/11 “Even the embassy tells me: ‘Do you have someone, a Read about the historical evolution of the AUB logo connection in the General Security?’ God, oh God the More On-line connections! You are killing me with the dependence on connections in Arab countries!” (A mother) Until now the Iraqis have suffered in silence. Being Paperwork also provides a massive challenge. The illegal, they stay mostly hidden, keeping their heads Iraqis are essentially in transit hoping to find a more stable down for fear of attracting attention. Their illegal status environment elsewhere. “Many did not want to come here leaves them vulnerable to exploitation from landlords and in the first place. They were smuggled over the border employers. Life is slightly better for the Christian Iraqis from Syria; they had no clue where they were being taken,” who gravitate towards the eastern suburbs where they Makhoul says. They want to move on but the paper trail interact more comfortably with the Lebanese population involved is often Kafka-esque. “UNHCR requires all sorts and with each other. “They live in communities and of papers, while the US Embassy asks for things like social support systems are established among families,” a certificate stating that you did not work for Saddam Makhoul says. “The offices of NGOs that serve them are Hussein. Where do you get such a document?” Makhoul close by and they have venues where they can meet.” asks. “Nearly everyone had to work in the army somehow This comes in sharp contrast to the Muslims living even doing paperwork… The uncertainty makes life in the southern suburbs where fear of the authorities and unlivable,” she adds. “Ambiguity is a killer. They say, ‘if even of each other forces families to isolate themselves you tell me we are here for two years, or your documents from their surroundings. “I was talking to one family,” are missing, or there is something you need to do, then Makhoul says. “Theirs is a Shiite-Sunni marriage. The we have something to go on, but now it is as if we are in couple is so afraid of local reaction that the husband this limbo.’ This is what is so frustrating for them.” lives with his parents in one place and the wife and the What can be done to break the deadlock and children live with her parents in another, and they only process the refugees quickly and efficiently? “I think visit each other by day.” there are many implications for everyone involved. Myriad problems including financial, health, The government needs to relax its approach, to stop inadequate education for the children, along with feelings pressuring them, to support them, and help them while of humiliation and inferiority manifest themselves in they move on. Offer them temporary work permits and depression, low self-esteem, and often suicide attempts. cut down on the fees they have to pay. The fees required “One man went to the authorities and asked them to of them come to hundreds of thousands of pounds. throw him in jail just to relieve the pressure of trying to Where can they get this money? They are required to cope. Another caught his wife taking pills to end it all,” show documents that most do not have and many are says Makhoul, afraid to go to the General Security offices and admit Husband: “One day I woke up at 1:30 am and found that she they are here. Would an Iraqi refugee think, ‘Today I will had swallowed all the pills.” forget about feeding my family and just go and explain Wife: “I woke up and poisoned myself. I took out the pills that I don’t have these papers and get myself arrested at and swallowed them all… This life, I don’t want it.” General Security.’?” Husband: “So if I hadn’t woken up and seen her, if I hadn’t Better communication at all levels would greatly done something about it, she would have been gone.” alleviate the stress, Makhoul adds. The UNHCR
28 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate should provide clearer information to reduce the We hope this will encourage more meaningful interaction applicants’ anxiety. All the agencies would benefit and enhance participatory methods to allow refugees to from communication skills training, which in turn express their needs and opinions,” Makhoul says. “This might improve the level of trust. The agencies hold coupled with a better system of pooling and distributing misconceptions about needs and intentions of the Iraqis resources could have a positive impact. Meanwhile the while the refugees feel devalued, treated as numbers receiving countries need to accelerate the application rather than people. processes for those who have applied for “In October we put together a workshop focusing resettlement and provide transparent guidelines.” on effective communication skills for relief agency staff working in direct contact with Iraqi refugees in Lebanon. —M.A.
Over the decades since the Lebanese civil war ended in 1990, “You are always psychologically strained. We had a forest. the pockmarked, derelict buildings that stood in silent testimony It was a very beautiful forest full of pine trees and flowers. We to the terrible toll of war have all but disappeared from Beirut. would walk 100 meters and spend the best weekend in spring Nowadays one comes upon them only occasionally, as a sober there. Here, we are restricted.” reminder of violent times past. Out of sight, out of mind, they no For some, trips back home, mainly to the south, bring relief longer trouble the consciousness. So too, unfortunately, those and respite from the crowded, uncertain conditions in Beirut. For largely forgotten groups of people, known prosaically as the others, there is no going back because there is nothing to go IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), who fled from their homes back to. Displaced from the Beqa’a, the IDPs in Naba’a have in different parts of the country and later found themselves severed their links to their former villages, which were largely consigned to oblivion in obscure corners of the Beirut suburbs. destroyed. Trapped in poverty in their new location, they pin their hopes elsewhere. “Nuns from St. George used to visit my house. One nun used to bring the priest along with food rations. The priest used to continuously tell us to keep our faith strong. He would visit us often at our house and pray and preach to us.” (A 33-year-old mother in Naba’a) Born and raised in insecurity and impoverishment, the children of IDPs have a bleak outlook: “Here, I feel… when I come home, I get upset from this area. “They are overlooked and therefore un-served,” says It’s as if it has crushed you, your heart… When my dad comes Professor Jihad Makhoul, who led a qualitative research project back home, he gets irritated.” (A daughter in Raml el Aali) focused on these largely low-income families. They are rarely One tactic to ease the situation is to marry the daughters supported by the government, except through the centers of the off at an early age thus shifting the burden of responsibility Ministry of Social Affairs. Whatever services are available to them elsewhere and in so doing renewing the cycle of early marriage, are meager, Makhoul says. This takes its toll on them. early childbirth, and more mouths to feed. “There is no war anymore. However, people are slowly “We have a number of recommendations, of course,” says psychologically dying (because of) hunger.” (A displaced woman Makhoul. “One is that the government needs to be more in in Raml el Aali) touch with the people, to conduct surveys and visit the places The IDPs are found mainly in Naba’a in the eastern suburbs where impoverishment exists so that decision makers come to and in dispersed pockets throughout the southern suburbs. Some understand the dynamics of the situation. More funding for social of them are on the NGO radar but as Makhoul points out, NGOs in and health services is needed, universal health care, support Lebanon rarely coordinate, and if they ever do they rarely seem to for education, and family allowance. Only 50 percent of the involve the populations they serve in decisions about their services. Lebanese population has access to these, and they are people Makhoul’s 2006–07 research was designed to understand the already employed by the state or the private sector. So people point of view of women whose place of origin is by now almost a like these IDPs—unemployed, semi-skilled, and displaced with mirage and of their daughters who have known no other life: large families—miss out.” —M.A.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 29 True Love AUB Style
One day somebody will write a book about all the wonderful love stories that started on campus and ended in successful marriages. Until then, sit back and enjoy MainGate’s version of true love AUB-style. Kamal Haffar (BA ’51) my hand throughout the movie, then walk out before it was over. If we were lucky and there was no one Najwa Shaheen (BA ’51) we knew there, we would walk back together to Ras Beirut.” Then came “Love and the Handbook,” a musical in three acts which related the story of life at AUB. The late Professor Emeritus Kamal Salibi composed the music and had a hand in writing the lyrics but was unable to attend the performance as he was studying overseas. Though Najwa was originally to be cast in the lead role, she too was unable to participate: “The story included a campus romance which, it is believed, was inspired by our romantic relationship, and Kamal and I were to be cast in the leading roles. My parents lost it completely! No stage was large enough for Kamal and me to appear on together…” remembers Najwa. She was forced to sit out the performance and watch herself being played by someone else. “I was eating my heart out. Of course what my parents failed to realize was that I did not miss one single rehearsal. So it was as if I had actually Najwa Shaheen Haffar started her journalistic career in played the role… Our campus romance went on for 1949 as a student in the first journalism class ever to be two years and I don’t think any girl of that time had as given at AUB and as a reporter and writer on the staff of many love poems written for her. Our correspondence the university newspaper, Outlook. For many years she filled up a small trunk which, unfortunately, was lost was editor-in-chief of the alumni association publication years later when we were moving house. During the Al Kulliyah. Her romance with annual Field Day, Kamal sent me husband-to-be Kamal kept the a note to the bleachers [where I AUB community in thrall. He was My parents lost it completely! was sitting] saying, “If we were a handsome, athletic Syrian and in Spain, I’d be throwing you a she was a headstrong Lebanese rose, but now I’m throwing you with a non-conformist attitude and a healthy disregard my heart.” He then proceeded to send me his medals for parental control. It all started simply enough with as he received them and they were many, with Moses an introduction in class. In the first volume of her Berziganian who was one of the ushers. The irony was autobiography, We Once Were Like That, Najwa writes, that my father was right there behind him, timing, and “On our second day in class Kamal suggested that I measuring the track events.” take the seat next to him… In that one move [I] set Kamal and Najwa eventually married several the course for my future.” However, the course of true years later in spite of all the obstacles. Najwa writes love was not destined to run smoothly. Najwa’s parents with typical humor, “Finalmente, Mamma met ‘that disapproved of the liaison and did everything they young man’ who impressed her no end and they could to put an end to it. Najwa did everything she became friends forever. Everyone teased her after that could to keep it going. about the wasted tears she had shed for the last five “Where there is a will there is a way and boy was years and I told her if they had agreed to meet Kamal there a will!” said Najwa recently. “I would go to the long before, it would have saved everybody a lot of movies with some friends and reserve a seat next to grief. But it would also have done away with a source me. Kamal would walk in after the film started, hold of entertainment for the community.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 31 Nadim Homsi (BA ’60) returned in 1962 I proposed to her and, as she says, the rest is history.” Hala Mukhar (BA ’61) Nadim and Hala are retired in Amman and have two daughters living in Greece and Jordan respectively. They are the proud grandparents of six children, the eldest of whom began university in the United Kingdom in September.
André Dirlik (BA ’61) Raja Ghandour (BA ’60) André writes, “Leaving Jafet Memorial Library you turn right and facing you is a bench that overlooks the lower Nadim Homsi and Hala Mukhar met on campus in 1958. campus, football field, and AUB Beach. A copper plaque In those days freshman women had to pass a swimming on the back of the bench reads: ‘’André L. Dirlik, Raja M. test before beginning the sophomore year. Ghandour courted here, AUB 1958-61’’ (MainGate, fall Hala writes, “It was the end of the year and I had 2004, Vol. III, no.1, “Views of a Lifetime,” page 32). to pass the swimming test. Coming from Jordan, which “Raja and I met in a Russian history class in College at the time had very few swimming spots, I simply did Hall. My majors were history and economics, hers was not know how to swim. A friend, Teddy Abdo, offered political science and through this minor we shared an to teach me a few days before the exam, but he had to interest in the past. We started to go to the Milk Bar cancel because of a last minute seminar. Nadim was a for coffee and cinnamon rolls and then to “our” bench swimming instructor and the to exchange thoughts and manager of the AUB Life Guards; comments on our courses and he was present when Teddy teachers and to get closer. We told me he could not make the One often wonders what Lebanon talked about our families, their appointment, so he offered to might have become had all the traditions which kept us apart, teach me. We met at AUB Beach people mingled in the way they and the future to which we both the next day and in less than half aspired. an hour he managed to get me do at AUB. “After 1961 Raja and I to swim across the pool on my eloped to Canada where we have own, which was good enough been living ever since. During for the test. After the lesson he invited me to Uncle Sam’s our years at McGill University we frequently compared for a coffee. I was so impressed by his manners, the way the mood at university in Montreal with that in Beirut, he held my elbow while crossing the street, pulled out my remarking that Lebanon had greatly contributed to our chair for me, etc. that I took a liking to him, and we began spending more time together. The rest is history. Nadim remembers, “She was the most beautiful girl on campus and was totally oblivious to that fact despite her having been voted Miss Aggie 1958, as well as Miss Jordan later that year. I liked her down to earth attitude and her sense of humor. We clicked immediately and continued to see each other for the following three years. She then worked in Jordan for a year and was sent to the United States on a Fulbright scholarship. When she
32 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate growth. One often wonders what “I lived on campus, and Lebanon might have become on my way down to Jewett had all the people mingled in He wrote me a beautiful message Hall I’d often stop and study the way they do at AUB. We (on a blank card) where he said at the library. At the far end of would never have met and later that he would make me the the library corner was a carrel married had it not been for the that was always occupied by haven of free social intercourse happiest girl “south of Sahara”! the same student, a rather the campus offered us. engrossed and studious looking “McGill provided us with one who seemed to be taking degrees to help us find and hold onto good jobs, Raja as copious notes. He caught my attention as he seemed of a librarian and me as a teacher. We witnessed the cultural South Asian origin, like me. revolution sweeping through Quebec Province in 1960-67, “A few weeks later we met face to face as I was transforming French Canadian society from its traditional, walking towards my geography class at Nicely. We religious orientation to one that blended with the modern looked at each other and smiled! Somehow we felt North American ethos. For us personally, this revolution drawn to each other as we briefly chatted. ‘Would I like of minds and institutions brought us closer to civilization. to go for coffee?’ he asked. The intellectual, moral, and professional enrichment we “That was our very first date around the winter of acquired during our McGill years and during our marriage 1968. Going up Hamra, Nizar spotted a nice little pizza of 50 years would not have meant anything without our parlor called “The Milk Bar.” Over a milkshake and pizza years at AUB.” we got acquainted. We had so many common experiences to share from our language to our cultural background. “On the campus, we had a very special spot on Nizar Nuraney (MA ’70) a bench under a lovely, shady tree overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. It was on that bench that Salma Ismail Paroo (BA ’70) Nizar proposed to me on March 21, 1969. He wrote me a beautiful message (on a blank card) where he said that he would make me the happiest girl “south of Sahara”! “In 1971 we got married in my house in Mombasa, Kenya. We immigrated to Canada in 1972 and settled in Vancouver which has been our home for the last four decades. This year in 2011, we celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.”
Nassib Jihad El Solh (BA ’77)
Salma writes, “The melodic voice of Fairuz fills the room Hanan Budayr (BA ’77) while I reminisce on how my husband, Nizar and I met on the grounds of AUB in the late 1960s. In the fall of 1967 I was a young 20 year-old from Kenya and a proud recipient of a USAID Scholarship to study geography and secondary education. In the fall of 1968, along came a 24 year post- graduate student from Uganda. His chosen field of study was in modern Near East and Islamic history. We didn’t know each other; we didn’t speak Arabic, and this was our Hanan writes, “We met and fell in love on the beautiful first overseas experience. AUB campus in 1974. I remember people insisting
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 33 that I should graduate with a diploma in one hand courses. He was the only person I knew at AUB. He and a husband in the other…and I happened to meet used to wait for me after every class to show me the the most extraordinary guy there. All the girls were in way to the next one. I didn’t notice that he liked me love with him… He used to be in all the plays at the until one day when he was waiting with a flower. Hyde Park which were meant to criticize the situation. “The political situation in Beirut was very bad at He was very funny. When he declared he had chosen that time and on one day when we were with friends me as his girlfriend, I felt very lucky. I still feel very on the West Hall steps we saw students running around lucky. Nassib has proven to be the most extraordinary and heard others saying that we should all go home. I man on earth! asked someone what happened and he said they have assassinated Sheikh Halim Takieddine in his home. This man was Makram’s father. I was shocked, scared, Haydar Abbas (BS ’81, MS ’83) and I didn’t know what to tell him. It was the worst Roula Wehbe (BS ’82, MS ’84) Roula writes, “We were both in the Agriculture School and we had a tutorial at the AUB Farm [AREC] in which From that moment I decided to stay with I was supposed to help him with an experiment in the the man who would become my husband, onion field. This is actually where we met: among the to help him overcome the tragedy. onions with knapsack sprayers on our backs.”
Makram Takieddine (BE ’85) moment in my life. He started running from Bliss Street to his house in Sanayeh and I ran after him. When we Suha Eid (BA ’86) arrived there was army everywhere, detectives taking fingerprints, photographers snapping pictures… and his father lying dead on the floor. You can imagine the situation. From that moment I decided to stay with the man who would become my husband, to help him overcome this tragedy and complete his engineering degree. I am so proud of what we did to help each other in difficult times. “When we graduated from our beloved AUB, the place where we met against all the odds, I promised myself that I would serve AUB in the best way possible. I worked 15 years in the AUB Alumni Abu Dhabi Chapter until a few days ago when I was unanimously elected vice Suha writes, “It all started in 1983 when I first stepped president of the chapter. I am also a council member in through the AUB Main Gate. I was only 17 and I was WAAAUB. We are very proud of our daughter Sirine, who petrified by the idea of leaving school and entering graduated from AUB in June 2011 with a BS in nutrition the oldest most qualified university in the Middle and dietetics. We hope our son will join AUB in two years East. I was looking for someone to tell me what to do time when he leaves high school. and where to start. It seems that I looked terribly lost “AUB has done so much for my family. My father when I suddenly heard the voice of a young gentleman Ibrahim Eid, an AUB graduate (BBA ’57), passed away [Makram] asking me if I needed help. I accepted with a few months after receiving his 50 year Class Reunion pleasure and he started showing me around. The gold medal. My grandfather Sami Eid attained a BS in second day Makram helped me to register for my chemistry in 1934. Long live AUB.”
34 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Hassa Kassem Moussa (BS ’91, Dhabi and when I returned to Lebanon for my summer vacation in 1999 our friend suggested that I talk to Samar, MD ’95) Hera Tashjian (BSN ’95) something I used to refuse to do. I agreed. We met again, Hera writes, “Moussa and I met at AUBMC in 2005 in talked, and fell in love. I proposed and in less than a the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). I was a staff nurse back year, we married and moved to Abu Dhabi. In 2004, we then and he was an intern rotating in CCU. I used to get returned to Lebanon to continue our love story and raise hidden “love” messages from him written in small letters our angels, Karim (eight years) and Lynn (three years), on the board in the conference room of CCU; while for their future AUB successes and love stories. In August distributing medications to my patients I used to get 2011, we will celebrate our 11th anniversary as two heads candies and chocolate! I am now an advanced practice on one pillow; or is it our 20th anniversary as two hearts nurse for critical care at AUBMC and my husband is in one soul? Thank God for Samar, Thank God for AUB.” a neuro-intensivist and practices at several hospitals in Beirut. We have two children, Adam (six and a half years) and Lynn (three and a half years).” Mohamad Omran (BBA ’97) Suzana Mitri (BA ’98) Rida Jaafar (BS ’94) Samar Hossein Mundher (BE ’96) Rida writes, “Our fairy tale is a story of friendship and love born at AUB 20 years ago and still growing. I met Samar in the first week, or maybe on the first day, of the first semester of our first year at AUB; we shared a few courses and friends. We became inseparable but not yet lovers. Thus we spent almost all our undergraduate life at AUB together but not “together.” In 1995 I decided that it was the right moment for our “friendly” relationship to become more serious; Samar went along with the idea for a few months then she confessed that she could not adjust to the notion of me as a lover instead of her close friend,
Mohamad writes, “We first met in Chemistry 101 in the I used to get hidden “love” fall of 1993; both Suzana Mitri and I were freshman messages from him written in science students at AUB. We were also very different. She was short and I was tall. She listened to love songs small letters on the board in the and I listened to rock. She was risk averse and I wasn’t conference room of CCU. at all. She was a Greek Orthodox Christian and I was a Sunni Muslim. “But, every time I spoke to her, I wanted to quickly so we broke up. I was completely devastated, but I found finish my sentence so I could hear her voice. I loved refuge in AUB; I started running every day at the Green her eyes when they narrowed as if to say, ‘I know you’re Field, around the campus and outside on the Corniche, joking!’ and when they widened every time she was come rain or shine. I dropped about 30 kilos in less than excited to tell me something. a year. For two more years Samar and I did not talk but “Her character was like no other. All she wanted to I heard her news from a mutual friend. I got a job in Abu do was to help others. When she was 17, she spent time
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 35 in Brazil helping children and People who barely know her executives learn English as a sense that the world will second language. She took two The bench by the observatory is be worse without her and different buses, risking assault, their sense of urgency can be where Abdoo proposed to me— to get to work and teach. Her felt simmering. We need a favorite story is when she put with a piece of yarn miracle—soon—and we’re as her makeup in her wallet and shaped into a ring. optimistic as we both were the her money in her cosmetics bag first time our fingers wrapped and laughed after somebody together at that beach in stole her wallet on the bus. Byblos over 16 years ago.” “In June 2005, a group of friends were planning to go to Tam Tam Beach in northern Lebanon. They On September 23rd 2011, Sue passed away at her all changed their mind, but Sue and I didn’t. We had home in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Her spirit lives on in her a good drive up and the sunset was perfect. I told her “Moey” and in their three beautiful little daughters: Sireen, that I thought that I liked her and she told me that Leila and Samar. Sue was the most caring and nurturing she thought she liked me, too. I told her that I don’t pre-school teacher, whose pure and loving spirit was a want our relationship to ever jeopardize our friendship bright light of strength and compassion for everyone who and she said yes. I held her hand for the first time met her. She will always be missed. that night as we walked the beach. Two months later, Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. I kissed her near the Engineering Department and —Emily Dickinson I’ve never been the same. I knew from that moment that I wanted her to be my soul mate because I had discovered what true love was. Abdul Elkadri (BS ’00, MD ’04) “Everything I am is because of her. She stood by me as I asked for her hand in marriage that broke both Jana Faour (BBA ’01) our parents’ hearts. She waited for me for nearly two years when I came to the United States after graduation to establish our beginning. She accepted that I couldn’t afford to provide her with an official wedding dress when we went to Castine, Maine to get married at a small inn with only three guests that we knew. She encouraged me to pursue a higher degree and then supported me at home while she worked. She told me to follow my dreams in work and take risks that could have really hurt us financially had they not worked out. She fell one short of fulfilling the promise she made to me when we first fell in love of us having four daughters. “In April, Sue was diagnosed with late stage triple negative breast cancer, and as I type this in mid-August, Jana writes, “Abdul-Aziz and I were both members of the she fights on. She inspires me every single day as she Ushering Club and the folk dance organizing committee, endures bouts of pain that tear me up from the inside which is how we met and later fell in love at the AUB out. She amazes me with her sense of humor during Folk Dance Festival. He was a Canadian Lebanese times when crying seems to be the only logical thing student who had just moved to Lebanon for his studies. to do. Her gravitational pull only grows stronger as I was very familiar with AUB, being the daughter of an she becomes weaker and friends from every corner of AUB professor and having graduated from IC. the world just want to know what they can do to help. “The AUB campus holds many fond memories
36 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate for us. The bench by the observatory is where Abdoo proposed to me—with a piece of yarn shaped into a ring. We were engaged shortly after and spent many memorable times together on the AUB grounds
Our fairy tale is a story of friendship and love born at AUB 20 years ago and still growing.
including endless hours in the library studying, at both our graduations, and as volunteers at campus events. We married on July 31, 2004 after Abdoo graduated with his MD from AUB. Two days later we started off on our journey together; and here we are, over 10 years to the day since we fell in love, celebrating the second smile. On the rare occasions I would run into her, we birthday of our son Kareem. Every time I go to Beirut, I would have a short conversation, far more pleasant for make it a point to visit AUB. Many of the friendships myself I suppose than for her. Somehow I got the idea we made during those years have stayed with us despite that Maha was engaged, and was devastated. the geographic distances that separate us. When I found out she wasn’t, I worked up the courage Life is so busy at times we forget to reflect on these and spoke to her. A few months later we were engaged. special moments, so thank you for the opportunity to I proposed as she sat on the bench overlooking the relive them. To my husband: Aboodi, I love you and am Green Field and the Mediterranean next to Jafet. She so proud of you. Thank you for giving me the greatest jokingly replied she would think about it and then said gift—our Kareem.” yes. One year later, we were married. We’ve now been happily married for five years and have two lovely children, Dalia, three, and Saeed, just two Karim Mansour (BBA ’00, MBA weeks old as I write.
’03) Ramona Khalil (BA ’00) —B.R., M.A. and many loving couples Karim writes, My wife and I met at AUB, in CS class. She used to say hi to me thinking I was another guy— funnily enough, one of my best friends. We ended up going out together and have been together ever since. In August 2011, we will celebrate our 11th anniversary as two Mohamad Elfakhani (BS ’01, heads on one pillow; or is it our MD ’06) Maha Mrayati (BS ’03, 20th anniversary as two hearts in MS ’07) one soul? Thank God for Samar, Thank God for AUB. Mohamed writes, I first noticed Maha on campus during medical school. She was beautiful and had a lovely
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 37 Campus Courtship Lifelong Love They say “Love and Marriage go together like a horse and carriage.” We say “Love and AUB, is here for all to see.”
Fouad Philip Bardawil (BA ’48) and AUB in our hearts, aspiring to ‘have Business Program ’63) married 46 Madeleine Isbir (BA ’50, MA ’77) life and have it more abundantly.’” years ago. They live in Kuwait but “courted” at AUB with campus as a love visiting AUB to sit on their backdrop for their social and cultural Jad Karam (BBA ’59, MBA ’63) and special bench overlooking the Green life. Married in 1952 they are strong Mary Besso (BBA ’59, MBA ’62) Field. supporters of AUB. met as sophomores in 1957. They married in 1971. Their three children are AUBites. The family considers AUB its second home, where Mary has worked for many years.
Musa Freiji (BS ’57) and Amal Ayyub (BA ’57, MA ’67) say AUB has always played a main role in their lives and Karim Abdulla (BS ’67) and Amira dreams. They live near campus and Zeineddine (BA ’68) met at a have been married for 52 years and Friendship International Gathering are blessed with five children and 14 in 1965. They’ve just celebrated their grandchildren. They write: “Our Usama Al-Azm (BA ’60, MA ’64) 40th wedding anniversary with their journey continues, always keeping and Murshida Shaaban (BBP Brief children and grandchildren.
38 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate ’80) met in 1977 at AUH when Andre Haddad (BS ’89, BBA ’91) Ohaness’s dad was sick and Sossi and Roula Hawwa (MBA ’94) had a was a first year nursing student. chance meeting at the business school They married in 1980 and have two in 1992. They didn’t see each other children. Ohaness says AUB not only again until 1999 at reunion. The rest supplied him his education but also is history. They married in 2003 and directed him to the “right partner for hope that their three daughters will the right family.” meet their soul mates at AUB. “AUB was a blessing… We wish everyone as Iliyya Abi Antoun (BBA ’67, MBA ’69) Ali Khalil (BS ’79, MD ’83) and happy an AUBite life as ours.” and Violette Hajjar (BBA ’70) met at Mona Nabulsi (BS ’79, MS ’05, MD AUB in 1963 and married in 1972. ’84) met at AUB. Now their two Three of their four children, Rola (BS boys are studying at the University. ’95), Marwan (CCE ’97), and Tania (MD ’04) are AUBites. Their son Ramzi is studying software engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.
Houssam Hasbini (BS ’89) and Maha Soubra (BS ’91) met in a nutrition course, FTN 221, during Houssam’s last semester, and they were engaged Raja Abdallah (BS ’91, MS ‘93, ME two years later, in 1991. They married ‘96) and Lucy Semerjian (BS ’94, MS in 1992 and spent time in Kuwait and ’00) met at FEA while pursuing their Beirut and currently live in Ontario, graduate degrees. They married in Canada with their children Kareem Faysal Sharif (BS ’71) and Marilyn 2002, pursued their PhDs in the UK, (16) and Rami (12). K. Lewis (BA ’70, MA ’73) met at and now both work at AUB. They AUB in 1968 as undergraduates. have two girls, Larissa and Sophia. Ahmad A. Zayn (BS ’92) and Raghda They married in 1969 and will Mugharbil (BA ’95) met when soon celebrate their 42nd wedding Raghda was a sophomore. She says, anniversary with their children “We had many dates on the Green Ramsey, Karim, Nabeel, and Leila. Field and we share so many romantic memories all around campus.”
Farid Michel Al-Khoury (BE ’93, ME ’98) and Aida Diab (BE ’93, ME ’97) were classmates at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. They Youssef Doughan (BS ’89, MS ’92, married in 2010 and have a son, MS ’06) and Mona Al Hariri (BA ’88) Michael. went to elementary school together, but their love blossomed on campus. Ohaness Nersissian (BA ’78) and Married in 1997 they hope their two Sossi Doumanian (Nursing DIPLM children will enjoy AUB as they did.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 39 Ahmed Saleh (BBA ’02) and Mona Faysal Zok (BA ’00) and Yasminah Tiba (BA ’01) met in the fall of 1997. Abbas (BBA ’99) met in 1998. Every “On February 26, 1998, after our spot of AUB holds memories for accounting class, we were sitting on them. They celebrate their ninth the cafeteria stairs when Ahmed told anniversary this year with their me for the first time that he loved daughter and two sons. “To my lovely me. From that day on and on the wife Yasminah… I love you… Faysal.” 26th of each month we celebrated our love,” writes Mona. Married in Walid Dirani (BE ’92) and Thurayya 2007, they have two daughters, Jana Backour (BA ’94) met on campus and Nour. in 1990 and married in 1996. They live in Toronto, Canada with their children, Mohammed Ali (eight) and Qays (two).
Firas Echtay (BE ’06) and Fatin Baz- Radwan (BBA ’07) met in 2003 and spent their first few years together on campus. They were engaged as undergrads in 2005 and married in 2008. They live and work in Jeddah.
Yorgui Armani (BE ’93) and Marie Carole Elia (BS ’94, MD ’98) met at AUB in 1990 and later in 1998 when Yorgui said, “Fate led us again Adib Takieddine (BBA ’03) and Layal to each other . . .” They married in Harmoush (BBA ’03) first studied 2001 and live in Abu Dhabi. together when Layal realized Adib scored 95 in class. Fate separated them until 2005 when Adib declared his love in the middle of coffee at Bilal Hallab (BBA ’07) and Ruba Sidani Paul’s. Marriage followed in 2007. (BFA ’10). Ruba writes: “We first Baby Ramzi was born this year. met when Bilal was a student affairs volunteer at my first orientation at AUB. A semester later we met again in the cafeteria and I found out that Bilal was about to graduate. We exchanged emails and we’ve been in touch ever Karim Alayli (BE ’99) and Rania since. We got married on September Mehwi (BE ’99) met in class and 15, 2010, the year I graduated with a became engaged just after they degree in graphic design—four years graduated. They married in 2001 and after our first meeting on AUB currently live in Abu Dhabi. campus.”
40 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street legends and legacies PioneerScientistGeorge Edward Post of the Middle East th As far as we know, he is the only one as chaplain of the 15 Regiment of Protestant College as a professor of of AUB’s founding fathers to have New York Volunteers for two years. surgery and botany in 1868. his own website. Lauded as “the Remarkably, while administering to During his more than 40-year greatest surgeon and botanist in the the spiritual and medical needs of career at SPC, Post worked particu- 1 East,” George Edward Post (1838- Union troops, he also managed to larly closely with Doctors Cornelius 1909) played an especially important Van Dyck and John Wortabet. role in founding the Syrian Protestant Together, these three extraordinary College’s Medical Department. In a men lay the groundwork for today’s letter he wrote in 1873, Daniel Bliss AUB Medical Center. In addition tells his wife, “Dr. Post is doing more to being a talented surgeon and for this College than any other teacher, Post also proved to be a man in Syria. His energy and skilled architect (he designed and thoroughness make the Medical supervised the construction of 2 Department. the old Medical Hall and Post Professor Lytton John Hall), a successful fundraiser, Musselman, who created and and a deft emissary who repre- maintains the George Edward sented SPC on several impor- Post Site (http://www.odu. tant missions abroad. Post edu/sci/lmusselm/post/index. died of pneumonia at his sum- html), says that although Flora mer home in Aleih less than a of Syria, Palestine, and Sinai, year after he retired from the which Post wrote in 1884, is still College. In appreciation for the consulted today, it is his study care that he received from Dr. of the plants of the Bible that is Post, Morris K. Jesup (who was Post’s most enduring contribution president of the College’s Board of to the field of botany. (You can find Trustees from 1884 to 1908), donat- out more about the plants described ed $20,000 for the construction of a in Post’s Flora of Syria, Palestine, science building on campus. Jesup and Sinai at AUB’s Post Herbarium, insisted that it be named for Post, http://www.aub.edu.lb/nhm/Pages/ who had designed the building, which herbarium.aspx.) find time to enroll at the Baltimore was completed in 1911 at a cost of This “pioneer scientist of the College of Dentistry and was awarded $40,213. Post Hall has been home Middle East,” as Musselman describes a doctor of dental surgery degree in to the Archaeological Museum since him, was born in New York City. His 1863. He married Sarah Read the 1962; the Geology Department father was a surgeon and professor of same year. It was also in 1863 that the is on the second floor. surgery at University Medical College American Board of Commissioners for
of New York where Post earned his Foreign Missions sent Post to Syria; 1 Henry Harris Jessup, Fifty-Three Years in Syria, medical degree in 1860. After he he and his family spent five years in Volume 1, page 272. 2 Daniel Bliss, Letters from a New Campus, page was ordained in 1861, Post served Tripoli before he joined the Syrian 132.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 41 1940 1930 1920 1910 1890 1880 1870 1860 1840 1830 1820 1810 1950 1900 1850
Ruth Rea Julia Parish William Earl (d. 1993) m. Dodge Cleveland Dodge, Jr.
m.1911 (1886-1965) Hoadley (1832-1903) +7 Laid the cornerstone William Earl Dodge m.1854 of College Hall in 1871 Alfred H. (1860-1926) SPC Trustee Dodge, Sr.
m.1883 +5 Howell James Childs Donor to SPC/AUB, (1883-1903) (1805-83) The founding families of the SPC have inspired, (1912-96) Rea +2 Founder Cleveland H. 1 of 6 Founding sheltered, and nourished this institution throughout Dodge Foundation m.1828 AUB Trustee (1882-1943) Trustees and Treasurer, its history. These are just a few of the branches of (1967-83) Sarah +3 Syrian Protestant their family trees. Alice Bliss College (SPC) President of the (1863-83) Studebaker AUB Foundation Hoadley H. Huntington Grace Parish (1832-1909) (1937-2011) Treasurer of AUB (1858-1949) +2 Amy Blatchford Bliss Obituary in this Board of Trustees Melissa Phelps (1862-1941) (1903-2003) issue (p. 67) (1972-85) (1809-1903) Former Dean, International College David Stuart Daniel Bliss +3 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 Dodge
m.1889 (1836-1921) (1823-1916) Clarence Founding President SPC Trustee Syrian Protestant Howard Sweetser Grace Dodge Phelps Dodge m.1860 (1882-1921) College (SPC) Bayard Dodge (1877-1939) Bliss (1888-1972) Olmsted Guthrie 1st professor David Stuart President +4 appointed to Dodge (1860-1920) (1915-2011) AUB Trustee (1836-1921) (1866–1902) AUB President SPC faculty +2 (1921-36) (In 1920 College SPC President (1923-48) Obituary in this issue (p. 68) renamed American m.1855 (1902-20) +2 University of Beirut) m.1914 Ellen Ada Mary William Phelps David Stuart Abby Maria Mary Wood Dodge Bliss David Stuart (1838-80) (1922-2009) Wood Bliss (1857-1930) (1890-1982) Dodge (1830-1915) (1922-2009) Established School Granddaughter of Emily Dickinson’s of Nursing in 1905 Daniel Bliss AUB Trustee “particular friend” with Jane Elizabeth (starting in 1961) Bayard Van Zandt +2 (Emeritus starting 1997) Norman Dodge m.1879 Mary Bliss VP Administration White Dodge Mary Isabella (1979-84) Gerald Dale m.1880 (1846-1907) (1880-1956) “Belle” Dorman Acting President Marcellus FitzGerald (1908-2011) (1981-82) Hartley Dodge Peter +4 Obituary in this issue AUB President (1881-1963) FitzGerald Dale, Jr. Dorman m.1903 (p. 68) (1996-97) (d. 1886) Harry G. Trustee Emma Hartley Dorman, MD (elected 1906) (d. 1881) NB: We made every effort to provide accurate (1876-1943) Rev. Harry G. Early donor to hospital dates and information with the resources we Dean of School Dorman, Jr. Peter FitzGerald Harry G. had available. If you find any discrepancies, of Medicine (1906-91) Dorman, MD or can fill in the blanks, please let us know. (1918-25) Dorman (AUB Faculty ([email protected]) Professor of Obstetrics “staffite” for 3 years AUB President and Gynecology in the 1930s) +3 (2008-Present) Special thanks to Elizabeth Smith Rea, Bayard (1915-40) Dodge Rea, Helen Leavitt Campbell, and Kleber m.1940 Daniel Bliss William Mary Alfred H. Alexander Campbell III for their assistance. and Abby Earl Bliss Dale Howell Franklin A. Virginia Eleanor Dorman Maria Wood Dodge, Jr. Whitney Johnson Answers to Dorman, MD Children (d. 1927) (1912-2004) time flies (p. 48) Office of Development SPC Trustee Office of the Provost Cleveland (1919-27) (2001-Present) Howard William Earl Melissa Hoadley Sweetser Dodge, Sr. Phelps 42 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Bliss Dodge
1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1890 1880 1870 1860 1840 1830 1820 1810 1950 1900 1850
Ruth Rea Julia Parish William Earl (d. 1993) m. Dodge Cleveland Dodge, Jr.
m.1911 (1886-1965) Hoadley (1832-1903) +7 Laid the cornerstone William Earl Dodge m.1854 of College Hall in 1871 Alfred H. (1860-1926) SPC Trustee Dodge, Sr.
m.1883 +5 Howell James Childs Donor to SPC/AUB, (1883-1903) (1805-83) The founding families of the SPC have inspired, (1912-96) Rea +2 Founder Cleveland H. 1 of 6 Founding sheltered, and nourished this institution throughout Dodge Foundation m.1828 AUB Trustee (1882-1943) Trustees and Treasurer, its history. These are just a few of the branches of (1967-83) Sarah +3 Syrian Protestant their family trees. Alice Bliss College (SPC) President of the (1863-83) Studebaker AUB Foundation Hoadley H. Huntington Grace Parish (1832-1909) (1937-2011) Treasurer of AUB (1858-1949) +2 Amy Blatchford Bliss Obituary in this Board of Trustees Melissa Phelps (1862-1941) (1903-2003) issue (p. 67) (1972-85) (1809-1903) Former Dean, International College David Stuart Daniel Bliss +3 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 Dodge
m.1889 (1836-1921) (1823-1916) Clarence Howard Sweetser Grace Dodge SPC Trustee Phelps Dodge m.1860 (1882-1921) Bayard Dodge (1877-1939) Bliss (1888-1972) Olmsted Guthrie 1st professor David Stuart +4 appointed to Dodge (1860-1920) (1915-2011) AUB Trustee (1836-1921) AUB President SPC faculty +2 (1921-36) SPC President (1923-48) Obituary in this issue (p. 68) m.1855 (1902-20) +2 m.1914 Ellen Ada Mary William Phelps David Stuart Abby Maria Mary Wood Dodge Bliss David Stuart (1838-80) (1922-2009) Wood Bliss (1857-1930) (1890-1982) Dodge (1830-1915) (1922-2009) Established School Granddaughter of Emily Dickinson’s of Nursing in 1905 Daniel Bliss AUB Trustee “particular friend” with Jane Elizabeth (starting in 1961) Bayard Van Zandt +2 (Emeritus starting 1997) Norman Dodge m.1879 Mary Bliss VP Administration White Dodge Mary Isabella (1979-84) Gerald Dale m.1880 (1846-1907) (1880-1956) “Belle” Dorman Acting President Marcellus FitzGerald (1908-2011) (1981-82) Hartley Dodge Peter +4 Obituary in this issue AUB President (1881-1963) FitzGerald Dale, Jr. Dorman m.1903 (p. 68) (1996-97) (d. 1886) Harry G. Trustee Emma Hartley Dorman, MD (elected 1906) (d. 1881) NB: We made every effort to provide accurate (1876-1943) Rev. Harry G. Early donor to hospital dates and information with the resources we Dean of School Dorman, Jr. Peter FitzGerald Harry G. had available. If you find any discrepancies, of Medicine (1906-91) Dorman, MD or can fill in the blanks, please let us know. (1918-25) Dorman (AUB Faculty ([email protected]) Professor of Obstetrics “staffite” for 3 years AUB President and Gynecology in the 1930s) +3 (2008-Present) Special thanks to Elizabeth Smith Rea, Bayard (1915-40) Dodge Rea, Helen Leavitt Campbell, and Kleber m.1940 Daniel Bliss William Mary Alfred H. Alexander Campbell III for their assistance. and Abby Earl Bliss Dale Howell Franklin A. Virginia Eleanor Dorman Maria Wood Dodge, Jr. Whitney Johnson Answers to Dorman, MD Children (d. 1927) (1912-2004) time flies (p. 48) Office of Development SPC Trustee Office of the Provost Cleveland (1919-27) (2001-Present) Howard William Earl Melissa Hoadley Sweetser Dodge, Sr. Phelps Bliss www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGateDodge Fall 2011 43
1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile
Making an would have elsewhere. I guess when you prove yourself, and I was worried about that, it turns out all right.” Now Raidy holds the title, creative director and quality control Imprint manager, of Raidy Printing Group, “the biggest printing company in the region.” Along with her brother Doumit, who runs the Emirates side of the business, she reports to their father, who started working at the age of 11 and built up his printing empire from scratch. “My father is the boss,” she says. “I call him Raidy. I always have since I was a kid; he is my dad and I love him but for me he is Raidy!” Clearly she respects the self-made man whose energy and dedication to work she has so patently inherited. In Marie-Joe Raidy’s philosophy the term family business extends beyond the triumvirate of the father and two siblings: “I strongly believe you don’t have to be blood to be family; any employee who is really dedicated, who travels under the bombs just to get to the office on time every day, is someone I consider as family. Most of our employees are like family. We Marie-Joe Raidy was born to be Instead she went into advertis- believe in empowerment of personnel a printer, but for a while she felt ing, followed by animation and web- to provide the best service in the best compelled to avoid her destiny. The site design. working conditions. Every department daughter of Joseph D. Raidy, one of “Eventually there was an opening here is a link in a chain. If one link fails, Lebanon’s most successful printers, here and my mother [vice-chairman the whole chain breaks; that is why we she may have printer’s ink running at Raidy] told me, you fit the profile, invest so much in our people.” through her veins, but she was not but if you are not going to take it, we Raidy’s Beirut headquarters is prepared to admit it. Petite, dynamic, will give it to someone else and later, housed in a brand new, state-of-the-art and radiating confidence, after gradu- there may not be a vacancy,” she building that provides a “one-stop print ating from AUB with a major in graphic explains. “I decided to take it, get it off shop” servicing clients throughout the design and a minor in business (’05), my conscience, and move on. But I Middle East, the Gulf region, Europe, Raidy decided to give the family busi- discovered that I loved printing. I loved and Africa. Construction began just ness a wide berth because, she says, paper, and I loved ink, the whole pro- prior to the outbreak of the 2006 war, “I was worried it would interfere in cess, everything about it. Business is which caused the Raidys pause for my private life, my personal freedom, business, family is family, and it hasn’t thought. The board voted to stop the especially in Lebanon.” interfered in my private life more than it work, but not Raidy. “My father waited
44 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile
until everyone voted and then as CEO Last year she was one of he said, ‘If we stop now, we might four women selected to never start again . . . and who knows, represent Lebanon for the if they drop a bomb on the site, it might program Policy Advocates help the excavations!’” for Women’s Issues in the Raidy is fiercely proud of the MENA region, a one-year new building where she pursues an advocacy campaign for eco-friendly approach to printing that change. The role of women includes recycling all waste paper and in the work place is clearly practicing environmentally friendly pro- something close to Raidy’s cedures. “We use sustainable paper heart. She is a regular imported from Europe and recycled, attendee at high profile though the sustainable paper is to my global initiatives for women opinion more eco-friendly,” she insists and has twice been nomi- while reaching for a catalog in which nated for the Goldman Raidy is cited for two international eco- Sachs and Fortune Global awards for products printed on the Women Leaders Award, sustainable paper with innovative eco- one of only 20 women conscious printing techniques. Raidy is nominated annually out of proud that the firm’s decision to adopt 10,000 eligible candidates. eco-friendly techniques in 2004 has As an AUB alumna, administration. That challenge turned inspired others to follow suit. A win-win this creative bundle of energy salutes into a passion because, as I noticed initiative, she says it is good for the her alma mater for the soft and hard later, merging creativity and business environment and good for business, skills it gave her. “They really teach is something really beautiful and rather the proof being that in Raidy’s case it you to be professional and humble; rare. Graphic designers who start has attracted many like-minded clients. humbleness is important. When you working usually say, ‘I wish I had done Raidy clearly falls into the category graduate you feel like you are the some business,’ and business people of the doer, not just the talker. As a master of the world and only with time with a passion for art say, ‘I wish I had teenage founding member of the Beirut and experience do you realize that you done some art courses,’ but they say charity, Child of Lebanon, she maintains don’t know everything. AUB students it when it is too late, so I am glad I did her commitment to the charity as its are usually humble; they work harder, it when it was not too late.” head of communications fighting for a and are well trained. Some of the Raidy seems to be ahead of the fair deal for children. As a member of teachers that students complain about game in most things. Just before our the Better Business Group, founded for being too tough or critical turn out interview started she had been saying in 2009 by the American Lebanese to have been the most helpful. I recog- hello to a visitor. It was the man who Chamber of Commerce, Raidy works to nized that earlier because I had worked had produced her first CD when she encourage the implementation of a code in Raidy during summers and I knew was just 12. “I thought I wanted to be of ethics within the corporate work- what it meant when the teachers gave a singer,” she says with a broad grin. space. She is also an active member of us a hard time. You don’t learn from “It is good I got it out of my the campaigning organization Lebanese someone who is always nice to you. system then!” League for Women in Business (LLWB), Anyone can applaud, but not everyone –M.A. a hub for businesswomen to network can teach you something valuable.” and exchange ideas. LLWB fights “When I was an AUB graphic for women’s rights at work and for design student I challenged myself Learn more: changes in the tax and labor laws. to do what I hated most, business www.mariejoeraidy.com/index.html
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 45 Beyond Bliss Street reflections
Those were the Days
After completing a BA at the Beirut and pink among the Oriental rugs. Antonioni, Jean-Luc Godard, Stanley College for Women (BCW, currently Ras Beirut itself was a hub for Kubrick—and included them in my LAU) and an MA in philosophy at AUB, many political refugees and émigrés course reading lists. The students’ Luba Sinclair (then Luba Khairallah) from the surrounding Arab countries response was so enthusiastic that a taught at AUB between 1967 and and also for many European and group of us formed a Cine Club that 1976. She went on to study Plato, American ex-pats. Intellectually and would meet a few times a month. After teach French literature, the classics, culturally we all breathed freely. All you viewing a movie, euphoric, we would political science and brush up on her had to do was sit at Faisal’s Restaurant all go across the street to Café Elissar Arabic before finally settling in Austin, (filled with students, professors, politi- and spend hours discussing the film. Texas, a university town which some- cians, and entrepreneurs) or Uncle Unfortunately, as the students times “fleetingly reminds [her] of Beirut, Sam’s for a few minutes and you would became more highly politicized and the although never quite.” In 2000 she be drawn into some kind of challenging Lebanese politico-confessional feuds returned to academia as a part-time dialogue ranging from politics to the started being dragged on campus, multi-lingual library assistant at the wildest philosophical topic. the academic flow was constantly University of Texas (UT). She writes, interrupted by strikes, closures, even “I’m still at UT 11 years later and have Where did you teach most of your occupation by the military. A group become a recidivist student, attend- classes? of us teachers did give them a bit of ing postgraduate courses, mainly in I started out teaching in the European a hard time. We joined hands in a postmodern thought. I practice yoga Languages and Literature Department. line, separating the students from the and modern dance. It’s a great way to Then I taught in the Cultural Studies soldiers, keeping them from going after grow old, [spending] more time with Program until 1976. Both my office the students. However, it was hard for my children and grandchildren.” and classrooms were in Nicely Hall, my everyone, both students and faculty, to second home. focus on our academic agenda. The MainGate: When did you first gravity of the political situation put an arrive at AUB and what were your What were the biggest changes end to our lightheartedness. first impressions? you noticed while at AUB? Luba Sinclair: I came to AUB as a The first few years I was totally mes- What do you think your students graduate student in philosophy merized by the agglomeration of talent might remember most about your in 1965. After I received my MA, I on campus: brilliant teachers such classes? started teaching in the Cultural Studies as Sadik al-Azm, Tarif Khalidy, Kamal The Cultural Studies Program was a Program in 1967. I had just graduated Salibi, David Gordon, and George highly successful (and I hope still is) from BCW and found the atmosphere Khairallah—I could go on forever. It forum for exposing students to a truly on the AUB campus wildly exciting was indeed a privilege to work with open exchange of ideas. Weekly com- and intellectually stimulating. We were these professors. We were all highly munal lectures encouraging debate surrounded by so much innovation and dedicated to our teaching and were among faculty and students were held renovation in all fields: music, art, litera- given the space to be experimental for each course in Assembly Hall. After ture, theater, politics—even furniture and daring. No one blinked, for exam- the lecture all the faculty members design. All of us were redecorating our ple, when I introduced for the first time met for lunch in the Faculty Lounge homes with splashes of hippy orange at AUB, the films of Alain Resnais, and grilled whoever had delivered that
46 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street reflections
Do you have anything you would like to say to your former students? Yes. Call me if you happen to be in or near Austin, Texas (Luba Sinclair in the Austin Directory), or email lubasinclair@ hotmail.com. I would love to see you again.
When did you leave AUB? Have you been back? I left AUB in 1976. Yes, I have been back to Beirut many times. My old home on Bliss Street has been torn down to give way to another high- rise, but I now have a daughter at Balamand and three siblings in Beirut, Jounieh, and Balamand.
What impact has AUB had on your life? At the risk of using a well-worn Hemingway cliché, I can say that AUB and the Beirut of the 1960s will always remain “a moveable feast” in our lives. Those of us fortunate enough to have lived through that period have been day’s lecture. Then that polemical spirit in English literature I was fortunate marked forever with the joy that true was carried back to the students in the enough to teach were Nabil Matar, intellectual camaraderie induces when classrooms and beyond. PhD, Cambridge University, cur- experienced in a situation of liberal open- I remember having students fol- rently at the University of Minnesota, ness and creativity. Not to mention the low me after class to my apartment and Elise Salem, PhD, University of wild parties we used to throw. A large across the street where we would all North Carolina, formerly at Fairleigh number of faculty members would gath- continue debating. It was almost as Dickinson University, and now vice er for great food, drink, and conversation though the fifth century Athenian agora president at LAU. Another great in each other’s homes on a regular basis. had been transposed into the Beirut of student is American playwright, film We would also all share the latest LP of the 1960s. I hope my students were maker, and actor Michael Cristofer, the Beatles, “Hair,” the Rolling Stones, imprinted by what Isidore Ducasse who won a Pulitzer Prize for his play, and every single new release available calls a ferociousness and boldness of The Shadow Box, in 1977. I still see in Beirut and, of course, we danced the spirit that a true reading of great these former students and hope to until the early hours of the morning. We texts instills. remain in touch with them for a long thought those days would never end. time, inshallah. In fact, Michael has Yet by 1977 many of us were dispersed Are you still in touch with any of promised to introduce me to Angelina all over the world, but the Beirut of the your former students? Jolie. I can’t wait. 1960s remains forever to enrich So many of my former students have our memory. moved on to illustrious careers. Two —J.M.C.
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 47 Beyond Bliss Street time flies
Howard Sweetser Bliss Abby Maria Wood
Bayard Dodge David Stuart Dodge
Q1 Who was Emily Dickinson’s “particular friend”? Q2 Who said: “A university is an anvil upon which ideas are forged, and it is these ideas which influence civilization more than money or guns.” Q3 Who said: “I am rich, as few men are rich, in friends, and I have a great and abiding faith in the College.” Q4 Who said: “For four generations my family has been involved with educational and medical services in the Middle East. We have a great concern for the people of the area.” Answers page 42. WAAAUB 2011 Elections Elections were held in the spring and summer for the leadership
of WAAAUB. Under the newly implemented bylaws, the council Jordan elected all members of the WAAAUB standing committees and the remaining seats for the Board of Directors.
President: Nabil Dajani (BA ’57) Vice President: Abdul Hamid Bibi (BBA ’64) Secretary: Rani Daher (BE ’06) Treasurer: Rima El Kadi (BA ’01, MA ’03) Members at Large: Hiba Bitar (BE ’99, ME ’05), Ionnis Violaris (BA ’78)
New Board members: Sami Haddad (BA ’71, MA ’77) Nasri Kawar, Chair of the Chapter Committee (BS ’56) Georges Riachy, Chair of the Outreach Committee (BAR ’00) Ghada Rihani, Chair of the Programs Committee (BS ’84) Fadlo Touma, Chair of the Governance Committee, Ex-officio (BE ’66)
For a complete list of council members and all standing committee members, please visit our website: www.waaaub.org/ Top: Sawsan Darwazeh, Jean Eid (BEN ’04), Eyad Halabi (BBA ’94), Maha Al Amir (BA ’94), Haya Imam (BBA ’99), Tala Faris (BBA ’06), elections 2011 and Ammar Qweidar (BBA ’04) at the Jordan Alumni Club Bottom: Jordan Club’s annual Ramadan night Alumni in Jordan held their annual reception on July 12 at the Alumni Club to welcome Jordanian alumni who graduated from AUB in 2011. Qatar More than 275 alumni and friends were on hand at the Centro Ramadani in Amman on Friday, August 19 for the Jordan Club’s annual Ramadan night. To become a member or learn more about upcoming events, join the club’s Facebook group: AUB Alumni Jordan Chapter.
On April 1, the Qatar Chapter held a "family fun" trip to the sand dunes followed by a barbecue on the beach. One hundred alumni, "Family Fun" trip to the dunes families, and friends enjoyed the day and the excitement of “car
Hanadi Ghazzaoui El Solh (Radiology- Jordan Chapter Technology ’85) Abdul Hamid Bibi (BBA ’64), President Deema Ali Ghosheh (BA ’98) Haya Imam (BBA ’99), Vice President Nayla Bahaaeddine Halabi (BA ’00) Farah Mustafa Hudhud (BA ’06), Secretary Wael Karameh Karameh (BS ’92, MD ’04) Flare Zawati Majali (BA ’75), Treasurer Najib Badri Makarem (BBA ’00) Members at Large: Aline Nicholas Nassar (BS ’96) Maha Al Amir (BA ’94) Imad Fouad Richani-Haidar (BEN ’83) Omar Nabil Al Ghawi (BS ’06) Recently elected Marwan Mounir Tarabay (BS ’04) Jean Carol Eid (BEN ’04) Fadi Marwan Traboulsi (BA ’91, MMB ’95) Tala Habib Faris (BBA ’06) Antoinette Salim Yazbeck (BS ’86) Abu Dhabi Chapter Eyad Halabi (BBA ’94) Richard Fawzi Feghali (BEN ’93), President Indiana Chapter Rana H. Hazboun (BBA ’04) Suha Eid Takieddine (BA ’86), Vice President Edmond Bendaly (BS ’97, MD ’01), President Randa Nabulsi (BS ’77) Khalil Ibrahim Joudi (BEN ’82), Secretary Abdul Hamid El Chafic (BS ’03, MD ’07), Vice Ammar Mohamed Akram D. Queider (BBA ’04) Wael Abdel Kader Abdul Malak (BA ’94, BBA President ’99, MBA ’03), Treasurer Bassem Razzouk, (BS ’83, MD ’87), Secretary Members at Large: Khalil Diab (BS ’98, MD ’02), Treasurer Abbas Bitar (BS ’03, MD ’07), Member at Large Samia Toufic Bouazza (BA ’01) MainGate Fall 2011 49 Roger Fawzi El Feghali (BEN ’94) skiing” on the sandy hills. On July 3, 70 alumni and their spouses got together for a night of music by a South African band at the Rotana’s jazz club. The popular quiz night, held twice a year, fol-
Maldives lowed on October 8. Upcoming: the gala dinner on December 8.
The recently established Maldives Chapter held an inaugural gala dinner on September 14 in the presence of President Peter Dorman, his wife Kathy and a small delegation from AUB. Among the more than
Maldivian welcome dance 100 alumni and friends at Dharubaaruge (Male) on Wednesday even- ing were Maldividan Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan (BA ’77) and State Minister of Education Ahmad Ali Maniku (BA ’83).
More than 100 AUB alumni, friends, and family attended the
Montreal WAAAUB Toronto Chapter’s gala dinner on April 16 at Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto. After a brief welcome from Chapter President Rana El-Mogharbel (BA ’97, MA ’99), all eyes turned to featured speaker Janice Price, who is the CEO of the Luminato Festival in Toronto. She told the The Montreal Chapter held an iftar celebration on August 14 at the audience that hard work, networking, and collaboration had Damas Restaurant in Montreal. been the keys to success in her “journey to the top.” Alumni also Clockwise from top left: Walid Akkawi (BEN ’95), Bassam enjoyed dancing and the chance to win some of the many raffle Hajj (BBA ’98), Rabih Al Akl prizes donated by local businesses. The Executive Committee also (BA ’96), Zeina Shbaklo (BBA ’94), Hiba Tabbara (BS ’96). honored Teddy Abdo (BBA ’61), who returned to AUB this sum- mer to celebrate his 50th Class Reunion. Congratulations Teddy! Ottawa Indiana
Alumni in Indiana held a BBQ at Broad Ripple Park in Indianapolis on July 3.
The Ottawa Chapter’s iftar on August 18 at the Silk Road Kabob House.
(Top) Lina El-Esber, chapter secretary (BEN ’02), Nada Tamim (BA ’90), Nada Hamade, chapter vice president (BA ’99).
(Bottom) Left to right: Pierre El-Deek, Dunia El-Deek, Hala Boushey, Carol Sfeir-Absi, Rene Skaff, Dr. Roger Milan (former faculty), and Samir Ghanem.
50 MainGate Fall 2011 There was an air of excitement and expec- tation among both alumni parents and incoming students as the AUB Legacy Ceremony 2011 kicked into action. While the speakers exhorted students to seize the opportunities afforded to AUB undergraduates, parents nod- ded earnestly remembering the time when they themselves were embark- ing on the remarkable journey that is life at AUB. Each speaker stressed AUB’s value- added components—its diverse educational offerings and student body; the crucial benefits of a liberal education; that the University is a place where lifelong friendships are formed and that its alumni network is second to none. Addressing the audience in a DVD specially prepared for the occa- sion, HE Education Minister Hassan Diab urged students—and his three children—to “Make use of AUB days to enrich your knowledge through faculty, colleagues, and friends.” He called AUB a “driving force in creating leaders” and added that AUB friendships last a lifetime. Speaking as much to his own children as to the other stu- dents, Salim Kanaan (BS ’77, MS ’79, PhD ’85), director of admissions and financial aid, advised the incoming class to “study hard, have a bal- anced life, and enjoy AUB’s many extracurricular activities.” He added, “AUB is the main gate to great future connections in Lebanon, the Middle East, and the rest of the world.”
—M.A. LEGACY CEREMONY 2011
MainGate Fall 2011 51 Clockwise from top left: May Monia Chmaytelly (BA '87) and her son Issam; Mohammad Al Labban (BEN '80), daughter Raccel and Nada Shatila (BS '82); Nawwar Diab with son Radwan [father is H.E. Hassan B. Diab (BS '81, MS '82, PhD '85)]; Samer El-Jurdi (BEN ’78) and daughter Tamara.
Samer El-Jurdi’s (BEN ’78) daugh- ter Tamara is an incoming student at the Olayan School of Business this fall. “ [An] AUB education provides us with a passport and we do not need visas when using this passport… An AUB education teaches toler- 52 MainGate Fallance, 2011 ethics, respect for others, and above all no discrimination in theory and in practice.” AUB is “a beautiful journey that is going to be tough… AUB will train you and mold you into becoming a leader. Build your strengths and you will become an amazing person,” said Dania Dbaibo Darwish (BBS ’87, MS ’07), psychothera- pist and coach, here with her daughter Kinda Darwish who will be studying landscape design and ecosystem management at AUB. Clockwise from top left: Dania Dbaibo Darwish (BBA ’87, MS ’07) and daughter Kinda; Noura Hamze with her mother H.E. Wafaa Dikhah (BS ’86, MS ’88); Zadour Khachadourian (BS ’67, MS ’70) and son Teddy; Jihad Halabi (BS ’88), daughter Lyn and Maha Chebaclo Halabi (BA '88).
MainGate Fall 2011 53 Identify your photos for future issues!
FHS research associate Rouham Yamout’s (MPH ’07) daughters chose to study abroad so she was thrilled when her son Rayan, who is pursuing an engineering degree, decided to attend AUB. She told him, “AUB allows students to get the best knowledge and at the same time allows them to Clockwise from top left: Rouham Yamout (MPH '07) and son Rayan Charafeddine; Vatche Kalindjian, daughter Karine, Sossie get the best connections for Babahekian Kalindjian (BBA '84, MBA '87), and daughter Christine Kalindjian (BBA '10); Khaled Khatib with his father Amer A. Khatib (BEN ’90); Fawaz Abou Hasan (BA '82) and daughter Shereen. their future.” More On-line
54 MainGate Fall 2011 Beyond Bliss Street class notes
1940s Lana Mahmoud (BA ’95) writes about two AUB Suhail Bulos (BA ’46, MD generations of AUB couples. Generations ’50) recently retired from AUB after working for 47 years as My parents, Samia Al Khairy and Junaid an orthopedic surgeon and Mahmoud (BS ’64, MD ’68), met at AUB even professor. Rimal Press has though my mother actually graduated from the nearby just published Rue du Mexique Beirut College for Women (BCW). Their love story began when and Other Stories, the AUB Medical Students Society was invited to the BCW campus for the first co-ed dance on October 17, 1967. They met at that dance and have been together ever since. writing a book on her experi- My paternal grandparents, Dr. Najib Mahmoud Ahmed ence in Egypt and the exodus (Jiddo) (MD ’35), a pulmonary physician, and Maida Al of her family due to political Haidari (Neneh) (BA ’40) were both AUBites. Neneh, my upheavals. Her artworks can inspiration, gave the valedictorian speech at her gradua- be seen at murielangelil.com tion ceremony. She went on to become a teacher, Amal Freiji (BA ’57, MA ’67) an inspector of schools, and head of the Iraqi Red Crescent. In 1947, at the a collection of short stories age of 31, she headed about his childhood in the Iraqi delegation to the Jerusalem that “tell the tale of International Woman’s people getting on with their Congress at the UN. She normal lives against the began her speech to the odds—occasionally losing, UN with, “I come from the but often succeeding.” Bulos land of Scheherazade and and his wife Shermine the 40 thieves. Alas, we Rawlah (BA ’48) live in Beirut. is an educator and author no more have They have three daughters whose developmental pro- Scheherazade, but we and six grandchildren. grams and books for children have more than 40 include Lughati An-Namia thieves!” Jiddo loved my 1950s (My Developing Language), Neneh dearly but for Muriel Angelil (BS ’55) Beituna (Our Home), Al’abuna years she was busy had an exhibit last July at (Our Games), and Ashabuna focusing on her educa- the New Century Artists Gallery (Our Friends). Her work has tion, career, and traveling in New York City. She showed been described as “based on the world representing paintings inspired by her a deep understanding of the her country. After seven childhood years in Alexandria, child’s basic physical and years, my Jiddo man- (Top) Samia Al Khairy (second from Egypt, which included abstract psychological needs, the right) and Junaid Mahmoud (BS '64, aged to win the heart of figurative works of danc- social-cultural needs of the MD '68) (second from left) at the BCW one of the most beautiful Dance in 1967 ers, Arab women, little girls, community, the learning pro- (MIddle) Maida Al Haidari (BA ’40), the and accomplished and horses rendered in bold cess in general, and Arabic valedictorian at her AUB graduation women in Baghdad at (Bottom) Maida Al Haidari (BA ’40) and strokes and colors. Angelil’s language learning in particu- Najib Mahmoud Ahmed (MD ’35) with that time. son Junaid Mahmoud (BS ’64, MD ’68) studio is located in Amesbury, lar.” [info(at)amalfreiji.com] and daughter Lina Massachusetts. She is also [www.amalfreiji.com]
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 55 Beyond Bliss Street class notes
1960s MBA at Texas Tech University Bliss Studebaker (MS ’67) Teddy D. Abdo (BBA ’61) is and his PhD in 1972 from the (since deceased, see obitu- University of Georgia. ary, page 67) and husband Adbullah is the author of Joel hosted by Barbara and dozens of accounting books Harry Purnell (former ACS and numerous research students). Khalifah present- papers published in reviewed ed the Studebakers with journals. He has supervised North Carolina WAAAUB more than 100 PhD disserta- Chapter-designed T-shirts in tions. Adbullah has four chil- recognition of their enduring dren and lives in Amman, friendship and their stead- gram at OSB. In 1979 he Jordan. [khalid_99_jo(at) fast and generous support earned an MBA at INSEAD a board member and former yahoo.com] of AUB. [rkhalifah(at)alumni. and in 1992 he completed chairman of Meirc Training princeton.edu] the Advanced Management and Consulting. In 1965 he After spending parts of Program at the Harvard earned an MBA, majoring in 2008-09 in Princeton, New Wasi Naz (BS ’62) has Business School. Dimechkie labor and management, Jersey helping NephroGenex retired after 30 years in the has three children: Talal, who is from the University of Iowa. Inc. launch a new clinical pharmaceutical quality and an investment banker living in Abdo and his spouse Diana trial, Raja Gabriel Khalifah compliance field, though he New York; Kenza, who works Domian Abdo have two mar- (BS ’62) returned home to is still working as a consult- for Médecins Sans Frontières ried children and four grand- ant. He writes, “Most of my in Africa and South America, children. They live in Toronto, old friends may remember and Karim, who is currently Canada. me from my involvement with enrolled in a master’s program. the Folk Dance Club while at Khalid Adbullah (BBA ’61) AUB. After moving to Canada 1970s I lost touch with many of my Samir M. Hanash (BS ’68, old classmates and friends. MD ’72) is program head I am anxious to renew con- of Molecular Diagnostics at tact, especially with my old the Fred Hutchinson Cancer friends Raja Asaad (BA ’62) Research Center in Seattle, and Madeleine Tashjian.” Washington. [shanash(at) Cary, North Carolina with his [Va3naz(at)rac.ca] fhcrc.org] wife Lilla and is now semi- retired as a consultant to Looking for old friends Nizam Peerwani (BS ’72, and classmates! NephroGenex. This April, he MD ’76) has been appointed is dean, College of Banking and Lilla traveled back to chair of the Texas Forensic and Financial Sciences, at New Jersey to attend the Mary Arevian Bakalian (BS Science Commission. He the University of Banking dedication of a stunning ’69, MPH ’79) is a clini- completed his residen- and Financial Sciences in new chemistry building at cal associate professor at cy in pathology at Baylor Amman, Jordan. Formerly, Princeton University (where the Hariri School of Nursing. University Medical Center he served as minister of Khalifah and his son Peter [mb00(at)aub.edu.lb] in Dallas and is board cer- planning for Jordan, presi- both earned doctoral tified in clinical, anatomic, dent of a private university, degrees in chemistry). While Riad Dimechkie (BA ’69) and forensic pathology. He and professor at several uni- there, they attended a small is a senior lecturer and the is an advocate of child safety versities. He received his private dinner for Alice director of the EMBA pro- and human rights and serves
56 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street class notes
as an expert consultant for engineering, and business Bahij Riachi (BBA ’76) is Partners Contracting Co. in genocide and human rights as well as a doctorate in Saudi Arabia. He is married violations around the world electrical engineering from to Marie El-Khouri and they for Physicians for Human the University of Cincinnati. have two children who live in Rights under the auspices of Previously, Qayoumi served Saudi Arabia and in Beirut. the United Nations Tribunal. as associate vice president [bahij_riachi(at)hotmail.com] for administration at San and [bahij(at)nesma.com] Mohammad Qayoumi (BEN José, president of California ’75) was recently appointed State East Bay, and vice Ioannis M. Violaris (BA president of San José State president for administration ’78) is an associate pro- University. He holds master’s and finance and chief finan- fessor of economics and degrees in nuclear engineer- cial officer of California State the dean of the School of ing, electrical and computer Northridge. the CFO of NESMA and Economic Sciences and
Rima Shadid (MA ’73) writes, [My father] HE Ambassador Joseph Shadid (BA ’39) was born in 1914 in Jdeidat, Merjeyoun. He is married to Salma Iskandar Hourani and they have four daughters, nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. After graduation, Joseph (also known as Yousef) taught in Baghdad and Bir Zeit, Palestine. In 1944 he was appointed first secretary to the first Lebanese Embassy in London headed by Camille Chamoun. His postings then took him to Liberia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa where he was in charge of the Lebanese missions. He then returned to AUB where he completed all coursework for his master’s degree, but he was posted to Liberia in 1952 before completing his dissertation. In 1966 he was appointed ambassador to Turkey and, in 1970, ambassador to Austria. After retiring in 1978, he returned to Beirut where he served as adviser to the Institute of Palestine Studies. In 2001 he completed his autobiography Between Politics and Diplomacy (in Arabic) published by Dar Al Nahar and available at the AUB Library. He was honored at a signing ceremony on the occasion by the Lebanese Press Syndicate. The Shadid family has a long legacy at AUB. It includes Joseph’s father Naguib
Shadid (MD 1896), maternal grandfather Asaad Rahhal (MD 1883), brother Emile Class of 1939 (Political Science and History) (Seated left to right) department head Dr. Pritchard, Shadid (MD ’34), brother Faris Shadid (BA ’32), who earned his MD in the United President Bayard Dodge, and Professor of History States, father-in-law Iskandar Hourani (MD ’13), uncle Adib Rahhal (MD ’09), and Sobhi Mahmassani. Joseph Shadid standing, sec- ond from right. brother-in-law Farid Hourani (MD ’53). In addition, there are three sons-in-law (two MDs, one BEN), a daughter (MA), a grandson (MD 2009), as well as other family members who received their degrees from AUB in various disciplines. In 1981, Shadid and other retired ambassadors founded The Circle of Retired Lebanese Ambassadors that publishes the quar- terly La Revue Diplomatique in Arabic, French, and English. He is 97 years old and active. He is an avid reader who attends lectures and social functions and loves to visit with family and friends. Decorations: AUB • Commander of the Order of National Cedars (2007) Honored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Generations in a ceremony at the Lebanese Press Syndicate • The Star of Africa – Liberia (1953) If your family has generations • The Grand Cordon of Austria (1978) of AUB graduates, send your story to Rima Shadid teaches in AUB’s English Department. [email protected]
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an LAU graduate in interior 1980s Gida, Ibrahim, and Ramzi. design, have one daughter, Robert Moumdjian (BS [cotrand(at)mmv.org] who is a lawyer. They live in ’80, MD ’84) has been Nicosia, Cyprus. [m.g.violaris promoted to full profes- Ahmad Jamal Anis Balaa (at)cytanet.com.cy] sor in neurosurgery at the (BS ’81) is general manag- University of Montreal. He er at Ed Zueblin AG, Abu Ohaness Nersissian (BA earned a master’s in neu- Dhabi branch. He earned an ‘79) is a training manager at roimmunology and glial cell MBA in structural engineer- Arabian Bemco Contracting biology at McGill University ing at George Washington Co. Ltd. In 1979 he earned in Montreal in 1990. He also University in 1983. Balaa and Administration at Frederick his BA in public administra- had a fellowship at Columbia his wife, Hanan Riad Cheikh, University in Cyprus. tion at AUB. His spouse, University. Moumdjian is who earned a fine arts diplo- In 1982 he earned an MS Sossi Doumanian (DIPLOM married to radiologist Mona ma in 1983, have four chil- in international management Nursing ’80), and their two El-Khoury, and they have dren: Abdallah Balaa (BBA and in 1984 a doctorate in children live in Beirut while a 17 year old daughter, ’06), who earned an MBA in economics at Kensington Nersissian works in Jeddah, Camille. [rmoumdjian(at)vid- 2010 at Concordia University, University. Violaris and his Saudi Arabia. [onersissian(at) eotron.ca] Montreal; Omar, who earned spouse Evangelia Markidou, hotmail.com] a BS in civil engineering in Adib Nuruddin (BEN ’80) 2010 at McGill University, Montreal; and Baha, who is Ranwa Haddad (BS ’75) writes, My great grandfather… a second year mechanical Ibrahim Haddad was a man from simple origins who converted engineering student at McGill to Protestantism in order to better his life and that of his fam- University. Balaa and his wife ily. He worked as an assistant to Professor Edwin Rufus Lewis live with their 11 year-old and helped him gather a great collection of fossils daughter Dima in Abu Dhabi. and set up a museum which is now the [Ahmadbalaa(at)yahoo.com] AUB Archaeological Museum at AUB. Sadly, his Generations mentor… [had to leave SPC] after making a Edwin Bell Hanna (MA ’81) pro-Darwin, pro-evolution speech [Editor’s note: at the College’s annual ceremony for is country manager at Eaton awarding degrees in 1882]. In spite of that Corporation. He works in event, Ibrahim’s family benefitted immensely from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AUB. My great grandfather’s three sons went to AUB for free [AdibNuruddin(at)eaton.com] and studied medicine, medicine, and pharmacy respectively. My grandfather, Dr. Sami I. Haddad (MD 1913), went Diana Touma (BBA ’77, on to become a very successful physician who taught at MBA ’80) is vice president AUB. His children went to AUB, including my father, Dr. of operations at Medicines Farid S. Haddad (BA ’41, MD ’48) and my uncle, Dr. Fuad for Malaria Venture, a not- S. Haddad (BA ’44, MD ’48), who also taught at AUB (neu- for-profit organization based lives at Plantation Manor rosurgery). Their children went to AUB and did quite well. I am in Geneva, whose mission Assisted Living in McCalla, an admirer of AUB and I do appreciate its contributions to my is the discovery and devel- Alabama near the home of family and to Lebanese society in general. opment of new anti-malarial his son Richard Hanna. From Ranwa Haddad is principal director at The Aerospace drugs. Touma is married to 1947 to 1985, Hanna worked Corporation/GPS Program in El Segundo, California [Ranwa. Dr. Khalil Cotran (BS ’70) mostly in Lebanon, first as a haddad(at)cox.net] and they have three children: teacher and later as a pastor
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with the National Evangelical UAE. In 2007, after living for Synod of Syria and Lebanon. 18 years in the United States, In 1981, he authored The she relocated back to the Rise of Wahhabism in Saudi Middle East with her family Arabia: a Socio-Ecological and is now happily residing Interpretation. in Dubai. Hatoum is married to Mohamad Hatoum, and Muhammad Ali Nsouli they have two daughters: Nawal (19) and Sarah (12). [Iman3808(at)yahoo.com] specialist in women’s health ism for the past 18 years at AUB. He completed his Carol Tayyar Khoury (BS holding executive positions residency at AUBMC in ’88, MS ’92) has over 22 at publications such as 1995, spending part of it at years of experience in retail The Daily Star, The Middle Union Memorial Hospital in banking. Her current position East Reporter, and Monday Baltimore, Maryland. El-Kak is head of product develop- Morning. He has translat- is also a senior lecturer at ment and customer man- ed several books including FHS, a woman’s health agement at Bank of Beirut. David Hirst’s The Gun and (BBA ’81) is managing direc- activist and consultant, and In 1992 she earned her mas- the Olive Branch and Joseph tor and senior adviser at president of the Lebanese ter’s in mathematics at AUB. Stiglitz’s The Roaring 1990s. Bank Julius Baer & Co., Ltd. Society of Obstetrics and Khoury and her spouse Imad in Geneva. [ali.nsouli(at) Gynecology. He lives in Beirut Khoury have two children: gmail.com] and in the Beqa’a, and he Christopher and Natalie. Rabieh Khudr (BEN ’92) has a fourteen year old son, They live in Beirut. [khoury_ Rana Zeine (BS ’83, MD Nadım. [fk011(at)aub.edu.lb] carol(at)yahoo.com] ’87), who earned a doctor- ate at McGill University and Wafa El Ahwal (BAR ’82) Adib Jaber (BS ’89, MD is pursuing an MBA from is technical and contracts ’93) has been an ophthal- Keller Graduate School of audit manager at Solidere in mologist in private practice Management, is prepar- Beirut. since 1997 in Beirut where ing a chapter on organi- he lives with his spouse zational culture in higher Amin Assaad Abou Nada Sbeity and their three education for The Strategic Ezzeddine (BA ’86) is a jour- children. [adjaber(at)inco. Management of Higher nalist at Al Jazeera network in com.lb] is business development Education Institutions: Qatar. Abou Ezzeddine and and export manager at M/S Serving Students as his spouse Maya Chams have 1990s Faisal Jassim Trading LLC. In Customers for Institutional two children: Raja and Adam. Abdel-Rahman Ayas (BS 2007 he became a member Growth to be published by They live in Doha, Qatar. ’90) is the business editor of the Professional Engineers Business Expert Press in [aminai7(at)hotmail.com] of Al-Hayat. He heads and Association of Ontario. December 2011. [aminmaya(at)gmail.com] directs the business news Khudr is married with two department and writes children: Dylan and Isabel. Faysal El-Kak (BS ’83, MS Iman Idlibi Hatoum (BA ’86) regular analytical and opin- The family lives in Dubai. ’85, MD ’90) is an obste- is a consular officer assis- ion pieces on current busi- trician gynecologist and tant at the United States ness and economic affairs. Bassel Al-Khatib (BS ’94, a public health practitioner Consulate General in Dubai, Ayas has worked in journal- MS ’99) is now a senior
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 59 Beyond Bliss Street class notes
industrial development offic- Mohamad Z. Koubeissi Technology and in economic er in the agribusiness devel- (BS ’95, MD ’99) is an assis- development from Harvard opment branch of UNIDO tant professor of neurology University. She lives with her (United Nations Industrial and program director of the husband Paul Khoury (BEN Development Organization) Clinical Neurophysiology ’82) in Beirut. [sawayal33(at) in Vienna, Austria. Previously Program at University hotmail.com] he served as deputy regional Hospitals Case Medical representative for UNIDO in Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Abdullah Al Mikati (BBA West Africa. [bassel_alkhatib ’01) is managing partner (at) hotmail.com] at M-Squared Research Training Program and has Company, a competitive Joseph Elkhoury (BEN worked there as a radiog- intelligence firm, and senior ’92) is vice president of rapher ever since. Wazzeh engagement manager at information solutions at and his wife, Suzanne, have the Hardwick Partnership, Schlumberger. He has com- two girls, Luna and Jouanna, an executive search firm. pleted advanced coursework and a son named Abdallah- He resides in Dubai, in business management and Omar. [rw03(at)aub.edu.lb] UAE. [abdullah.almikati(at) supply chain management at msquaredresearch.com] the International Institute for Koubeissi and his wife, Maha Jaafar Sleiman Haidar (BS Management Development Haddad, have two children. ’99) is a senior scientist at Nayla Al-Akl (BAR ’02) is the in Switzerland. Elkhoury and [mohamad.koubeissi(at) ImClone Systems. In 2007 Beirut office director for the his spouse, Jocelyne Bou UHhospitals.org] he earned a PhD in biomedi- international landscape archi- Khalil, live in Sugar Land, cal engineering at Boston tecture, planning, and urban Texas and have two children: Naji Mouaness (MMB University. He lives in New design firm SWA Group. In Mike and Thomas. ’95) is the head of con- York City. [jaafar.haidar(at) 2007 she earned her mas- sumer banking at Standard imclone.com] ter’s in landscape architec- Mohamad Mokahal (BEN Chartered Bank Lebanon. ture at Harvard University ’92, MEM ‘95) is a senior He earned his financial man- 2000s Graduate School of Design. project manager at BMO agement certification from Diala Aschkar-Martin She is currently a member Financial Group. In 2010 the Institute of Management (BGD ’00) and her husband of the American Society of he earned project manager Accountants, New York. Arnaud Martin, a software Landscape Architects. Al-Akl professional certification Mouaness and his spouse, designer, are based in Paris. and her husband Nader from Project Management Myriam Tohme, have three They recently launched a Kehdy (BAR ’00) live in Institute. Mokahal and his children and live in Lebanon. new social network, Seen Beirut. spouse Iman Tabbara have [naji.mouaness(at)sc.com] This [http://seenthis.net], three children and live in about social and political Jad Kawtharani (BS ’02, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Ramez Abdallah Wazzeh issues, digital media, and MS ’07) is the director of [mohmok99(at)gmail.com] (DIPL’95) works as a picture new internet technologies. admissions and registration archiving and communicat- [diala.aschkar(at)gmail.com] at the Arab Open University in Tina Badran Kfoury (BBA ing systems coordinator at Lebanon. He is also a project ’94) is managing direc- AUBMC’s Department of Leila Sawaya El Khoury manager at the Lebanese tor for Business Lobby, Diagnostic Radiology. He (BEN ’00) earned two mas- National Contact Point for Recruitment and Talent graduated first in his class ter’s degrees in construc- the European Commission’s Management in Beirut. with distinction from AUB’s tion management from the Funding Program for [tina(at)businesslobby.net] Radiologic Technology Massachusetts Institute of Research and Technological
60 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street class notes
Development. Currently, power generating sets in Directorate where she works mer 2010, Al Samara mar- Kawtharani is pursuing the Middle East and North on high-level projects and ried Dima Khoury. his doctorate in business Africa. ARJ received the research. El-Berjawi and her administration at Grenoble International Europe Award husband Youssef Chaar have Mona Shaban (BBA ’06) Ecole de Management. in 1999 for best quality in the two boys: Mohammad and was selected as one of the [Kawtharani(at)gmail.com] Middle East. Jubaili currently Hassan. [daniaeasydiet(at) top finalists in the Miss Arab resides in Beirut. [Nader(at) yahoo.com] USA 2011 pageant, which Joseph Malkoun (BEN jubaili.com] took place on September 10 ’02) is a doctoral student Ali Abdul Sater (MS ‘05) in mathematics at Stony Azmi Sayadi (MBA ’03) is is a postdoctoral research Brook University, New York. a strategy manager at Huta scientist in the Department [joemalkoun(at)hotmail.com] Hegerfeld. He and his wife, of Microbiology and Najwa Kabbara (BA ’03), Immunology at Columbia Maher Itani (MEN ’03) is live in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. University. He earned his [azmi.sayadi(at)gmail.com] PhD from the University of California in 2010. His wife, Hamza Daroub (BS ’04, MS Samar Moussa (MS ’04), ’09) is an instructor in FAFS’s is a postdoctoral research Nutrition and Food Sciences scientist in the Chemical at the Talking Stick Resort in Department. [hd25(at)aub. Engineering Department of Scottsdale, Arizona. Shaban edu.lb] Columbia University. They live writes that she is very proud in New York City. [aa3068(at) to be an AUB alumna and to Dania H. El-Berjawi (BS columbia.edu] celebrate Arab-American cul- ’05) completed her internship ture by participating in this a systems analyst at FEA. He in nutrition and dietetics at Mershed Al Samara event. [http://www.facebook. and his wife Maya (MEM ’07) AUBMC in 2006. In addition com/pages/Mona-Shaban- have just welcomed daugh- to working in her diet clinic in for-Miss-Arab-USA-2011] ter Tala to their family. Mazraa, Beirut, El-Berjawi [mi19(at)aub.edu.lb] Sarah N. Aboulhosn (BBA ’07) is a program coordina- Nader Jubaili (BA ’03) is the tor in the Office of Student and Community Relations at Texas A & M University, Qatar. Her job entails a great deal of logistical coordination and communication with the (MPH ’05) earned his medi- community, job and internship cal degree from Aleppo placement for current and for- worked as a clinical dietitian University, Syria. He is doing mer students, and organiza- at the Clemenceau Medical his internal medicine resi- tion of recruitment and out- Center for about three and a dency in Detroit, Michigan. reach events for prospective managing director at A.R. half years prior to being From 2007 to 2009, he students. Aboulhosn and her Jubaili & Co. (ARJ). Since recruited by the Ministry of worked as a research asso- spouse, Mohamad Noueihed, 1979, ARJ has been one of Economy and Trade, ciate at Oregon Health and live in Doha, Qatar. [sarah. the leading companies in Consumer Protection Science University. In sum- aboulhosn(at)qatar.tamu.edu]
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 61 Beyond Bliss Street class notes
Rana Hajjeh (BS ’84, the meningococcal meningi- was my training in managing MD ’88) is director of tis vaccines. Meningococcal large outbreaks that made the Division of Bacterial disease causes horrible epi- me part of the response Diseases at the United demics in what is called team in the anthrax attacks States Centers for Disease the African Meningitis Belt, in Washington, DC in 2001. Control and Prevention which is sub-Saharan The fascinating thing about (CDC)’s National Center Africa. Our group helped to epidemiology is that you’re for Immunizations and develop the vaccine and to not only looking at the clini- Respiratory Diseases. A provide the infrastructure cal and pathological aspects world renowned epide- for implementation at the of disease but also at the miologist who spends as country level. The new vac- interaction with the environ- much time in the field as cine was recently launched ment, society, culture, and in the office, Hajjeh dis- in Burkina Faso and is human behavior. cussed her wide ranging expanding to cover other work with MainGate. countries. It may soon elimi- nate meningitis epidemics in Are global travel and the You were a young medical with clinical medicine and the region. ease with which people student at AUB at the the fact that patients were move around the world height of Lebanon’s civil repeatedly coming in with You’ve been all over the now leading to infections war. That must have been recurrent medical conditions world from South Africa, spreading more quickly? quite challenging. that could have been easily Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, Yes. Two recent examples The civil war started when I prevented, so I signed on the Middle East… are the 2003 SARS epi- was in the sixth grade and for the two-year Epidemic CDC is the national public demic, which originated in was at its height when I was Intelligence Service program health agency for the United Hong Kong, and the H1N1 at AUB from 1981 to 1988. at the CDC in 1993. It made States, but we also serve as influenza, which originated Growing up in an emergency me a very firm believer in technical experts and con- in Mexico. They both spread war situation can make you prevention and the impor- sultants for the World Health rapidly throughout the world. a lot more flexible in dealing tance of good public health. Organization (WHO) and for I was involved in the Hotel with emergencies. I’m not I now work on vaccines, various other countries who “M” investigation—the hotel immobilized by unexpected which are the ultimate pre- appeal to the CDC for assis- in Hong Kong where the events, which has served me vention intervention. tance. In 2001 there was first SARS case occurred. well in my career at CDC a big outbreak of meningo- From one case the virus responding to public health Does your focus on coccal meningitis during the spread all over the world emergencies and dealing vaccines mean that you’re Hajj. Being a Muslim, I was within weeks. The Hajj men- with global health issues. mainly concerned with the only member of the CDC ingitis epidemic was due to childhood diseases? team able to make it all the a new strain of the meningi- How did your interest in I trained as an internist and way to Mecca. It’s interest- tis organism. Again, weeks epidemiology or infectious an infectious diseases spe- ing how my background as after the outbreak occurred diseases originate? cialist; my interest is broadly a Francophone in Haiti and in Mecca, small clusters I’ve always been interested in public health with a focus as an Arabic speaking infec- began appearing in various in public health, but my inter- on infectious diseases. The tious diseases medical epi- countries, including places in est really took root during vaccines I work on now demiologist in Saudi Arabia Europe and North America my residency and fellowship are also given to adults. helped get me to the front as pilgrims returned home. at Emory University. I was Recently, my division played lines. However, background Microbes are like humans, getting somewhat frustrated a major role in introducing can only take you so far. It they keep evolving.
62 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street class notes
You returned from a is available to the rest of the naïve and vulnerable to the However, there are many cholera relief effort in country. In Haiti, especially in organism which spread very global efforts ongoing right Haiti last spring. What did rural areas, people go to the quickly. Even the physicians now to change this trend, you see there? rivers directly for everything weren’t trained because they such as the work done by They haven’t rebuilt anything they need. Until the infra- had never seen a case of GAVI [the Global Alliance for yet and there are piles of rub- structure in Haiti is rebuilt cholera. Vaccines and Immunization]. ble still in the street. Water so that people have access and hygiene infrastructure is to safe water, it will be very Are you seeing wider What makes you most almost nonexistent, which difficult to control the cholera gaps in public health hopeful about the work significantly contributed to outbreak completely and to between developed and you do? the rapid spread of the chol- prevent future outbreaks. undeveloped countries? I strongly believe that the era epidemic. I had to stay Some public health inter- implementation of public in a tent on the US Embassy Is there a vaccine for ventions can be costly. In health interventions is the grounds for three weeks cholera? developing countries it takes way to better health for the because there aren’t many Cholera vaccines are not a lot more resources to world. You are literally saving hotels in Port au Prince that very effective. There’s a new implement them. New vac- thousands of lives as you are safe enough to stay in. In one now, but it’s available cines that deal with pneu- go. To see so many children terms of the cholera, people only in limited quantities. The monia and diarrhea are have access to life saving in refugee camps actually main intervention is to edu- much more expensive than interventions and feeling that fared much better than peo- cate the public about the routine vaccines, so they’re I’ve played a part in that is ple outside because most importance of using clean generally introduced in the extremely rewarding. of the refugee camps are water. They hadn’t had a United States and other high —B.R. operated by relief organiza- single case of cholera in income countries at least tions and NGOs and they Haiti for 100 years, so the ten years before they make More On-line provide cleaner water than population was completely it to low income countries.
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RECENTLY dency at AUB, Nassar was HONORED selected for the competitive Zaven Messerlian (BA ’59, AUB/Hopkins exchange pro- MA ’64) was recently award- gram for fellowship training ed the Golden Medal of the at Johns Hopkins University Ministry of Education and where he earned an MPH. Sciences for the Republic He returned to AUB in 1970 of Armenia. The medal was to teach in the Department of presented by the Armenian Internal Medicine and to head Ambassador Ashod Kocharian University Health Services, at the 84th commencement better known as “the infir- exercises of the Armenian mary,” which he restructured. Evangelical College of Beirut. In 2004, he established the Bitar’s research, which has Students’ Organization Messerlian is an educator, his- Executive Health and Travel been supported by the Science and Technology torian, and prolific author. He Center and has served as its National Institutes of Health Young Professional has been the principal of the director ever since. for more than 30 years, focus- Achievement Award in 2011. Armenian Evangelical College es on novel approaches using At AUB, Refaat earned his for the last 44 years. Khalil N. Bitar (BS ’68, biomedical engineering and medical degree with distinc- PhD ’76), American regenerative medicine to treat tion and was a Penrose Nabil T. Nassar (BS ’61, Gastroenterology Association neuromuscular diseases of Scholar in 2003. He later MD ’65), professor of medi- Fellow, is a research profes- the gastrointestinal tract. completed an internal medi- cine in the Department of sor and the director of the cine residency at Internal Medicine, Division GI Molecular Motors Lab at Marwan Refaat (BS ’99, Massachusetts General of Infectious Diseases and the University of Michigan MD ’03) received the Hospital, Harvard Medical director of the Executive Medical School. His labora- School, and was a recipient Health and Travel Medicine tory has pioneered research of its Department of Medicine Program at AUB, was in neuro-gastroenterology Award in 2007. He complet- recently honored at the and motility. Bitar was hon- ed a fellowship in cardiovas- 2011 annual graduation cel- ored at the inaugural dinner cular medicine at the ebration of the Department for the League of Research University of Pittsburgh of Internal Medicine for his Excellence in April 2011 by Medical Center and received long service to the depart- the dean of the University of the Pittsburgh Young ment. While doing his resi- Michigan Medical School. Investigator Award and the Dr. Ziady Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in the care of cardiac patients in 2010. Refaat is a cardiologist specializing in cardiac elec- trophysiology at the University of California San Francisco Heart Rhythm Society Medical Center. He’s also a Kenneth Rosen Award in car- scientist at the Gladstone diac pacing and electrophysi- Institute of Cardiovascular ology and the Massachusetts Disease. [rifaatmarwan(at) Institute of Technology Arab hotmail.com]
64 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate saw him walk- some reasonable metrics. ing around first This is how he spent his in squares and vacations, walking the land. then in circles, The desire to see and touch all the while the land, to walk all over it, scribbling notes to imagine how it might have to himself, I been, and thus to render the thought he must past somehow tactile is the be loony. I didn’t most important lesson I took expect some- away from Kamal Salibi. I one with his have tried to apply it to my reputed political own scholarship, but never views to be trav- with his imagination or suc- eling there. cess. Eventually, —Philip S. Khoury my curiosity got Chairman of the the better of me AUB Board of Trustees Kamal Suleiman Salibi was and I went up to a cherished member of AUB’s Kamal Salibi is best known ask him what he was doing. family. Of the outpouring of for his interpretive, provoca- He didn’t seem surprised to Most people don’t know that remembrances we received, tive histories of Lebanon and see me. His response was Salibi was a talented musi- here are just a few. the wider Middle East, but simple and to the point and cian as well. Kamal led the to those of us who knew it is one that has remained AUB Men’s Glee Club when him, he was also a delightful with me all these years. He I was at AUB in the early Professor Kamal Suleiman raconteur and always good said that he could not write 1960s. He wrote a number Salibi was a great historian of for a glass of whiskey and history without first imagin- of excellent arrangements modern Lebanon, the Arab a cigar. But, when I first met ing how the land he was of well-known songs for the world, and the Bible; and a him in 1970, he was… the man of outstanding human intellectual guru of the right- qualities. No words can fully ist Lebanese student league express what Dr. Salibi has on campus. And so when meant to all of us who came I appeared in his course, to know him or know his The Arab East, 1516-1920, work. He was a courageous I expected that I would be critical historian, always will- getting the Phalangist ver- ing to question received wis- sion of history, and that dom and even to change Mount Lebanon would be his own views in light of his the center-piece of the story findings. To us at AUB, he of the Arab East. Salibi did was an inspiring teacher who have a distinctive slant to his influenced generations of version of Arab history, but I students and colleagues. We found the course full of eye- writing about looked. He Glee Club, including one will always remember him opening comparisons that I said that he was preparing of the Lebanese National for his intellectual integrity, had not anticipated. a book on Syria in classical Anthem. Kamal’s late broth- passion, humility, and above My most valuable expe- Islamic times and that he er, Sami Salibi, who owned all for the love and care he rience with Salibi occurred needed to get a feel for the and operated a music school provided to his students and outside the classroom. On countryside and the towns near AUB, conducted us friends. one Spring break, I ran into and the distances between during concerts. —Ahmad Dallal, AUB Provost him in central Syria. When I places, and to establish —John Makhoul (BEN ’64)
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 65 FRIENDS and Mohammad Diab (BA ’51) 1966-69. Malone was the war. He retired to Atlanta, COLLEAGUES passed away on August 8 number two man at the Georgia in 1983. For the Lebanese historian and AUB in Damascus, Syria. Born National Institutes of Health next 10 years he served as a Professor Emeritus Kamal in Damascus, Diab earned (NIH) under three US presi- part-time professor at Agnes Suleiman Salibi (BA ’49) a master’s degree from the dents. His son Tom Malone Scott College. Badre was passed away on September University of Chicago, and a Jr. writes that although his an international educator, 1. Born in Beirut in 1929, Salibi PhD, also in economics, from father had a colorful and suc- a scholar, and a recipient attended primary and second- the University of Rotterdam cessful career, “none of his of many awards and hon- ary school in Bhamdoun and in the Netherlands. A distin- positions were more enjoy- ors from governments and Brummana, obtained a BA guished member of the AUB able than his time at AUB. associations. He is survived in history from AUB in 1949 Economics Department, Diab Not only did we grow to love by Lily Badr, his wife of 73 and a PhD in Middle Eastern went on to hold a number our neighbors, but the people years, their five children, six history from the School of of important positions includ- of Lebanon as well! My father grandchildren, and six great- Oriental and African Studies ing economic adviser to the will no doubt be remembered grandchildren. (SOAS) at the University of Syrian Ministry of Planning. by the hundreds of students London in 1953. Salibi spent He also authored many he guided, both profession- Khalil M. Kharma (BS the greater portion of his publications and helped to ally and personally. His life ’61, MD ’65) passed away career from 1953 to 1997 establish Capital Intelligence, was forever touched by AUB in August 2011. He served at AUB as a highly valued now widely recognized as a and I know he always felt he his residency in obstet- member of the Department leading credit rating agency was a part of its past, as well rics and gynecology at of History and Archaeology. in emerging markets. He is as its future.” Temple University Hospital in In 1999, he was appointed survived by his wife, Afaf, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. professor emeritus at the and their two sons, Amine ALUMNI Kharma had a private practice Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Zafer. Albert Y. Badre (BBA ’34) in Waterbury, Connecticut for at AUB. Salibi also held visit- passed away in October 29 years before retiring in ing appointments at SOAS, Tom Malone Sr. passed away 2010 at the age of 98. He 2002. During that time he Manchester University, Oxford earned his master’s and worked as a clinical profes- University, and Smith College. doctorate degrees in eco- sor at Yale University School From 1994 to 2003, he served nomics from the University of of Medicine. He is survived as the director of the Royal Iowa. For 25 years he taught by his wife Jean (Palmer), Institute for Inter-Faith Studies at AUB where he became their three children, and his (RIIFS) in Amman, Jordan and head of the Economics brother Ziad. in 2004 he was appointed Department and chairman of honorary president for life AUB’s Institute of Financial Nizar S. Nuwayhid (BS at RIIFS. Professor Salibi’s Economics. In the 1960s ’62, MD ’66) of Belmont, publications include: The he worked for the United Massachusetts died in Modern History of Lebanon Nations as chief econom- August 2011 at the age of 70. (1965); Crossroads to Civil ic adviser for the Belgian The son of the late Suleiman War, Lebanon 1958-1976 Congo. He then taught eco- and Adele Alameh Nuwayhid, (1976); The Bible Came from nomics at the University of he grew up in Beirut where Arabia (1985); A House of last March after a brief illness. Iowa and at Southern Illinois he met and married his wife Many Mansions: The History He was a longtime resident of University. In 1973 Badre of 41 years, Siham Tawfic of Lebanon Reconsidered Potomac, Maryland. Born in returned to Beirut as presi- Salih (DIPLOM Nursing ’65). (1988); and The Modern Raleigh, North Carolina in dent of Beirut University Nuwayhid began his career History of Jordan (1993). 1926 and educated at College (now Lebanese as a member of AUB’s Salibi is survived by his sis- Harvard where he earned a American University) where Faculty of Medicine. In 1987 ter Sanniyah and his brother doctorate in biology, Malone he helped to navigate the he moved to Boston where Mounir along with several served as chairman of AUB’s college through the turbulent he maintained a private nieces and nephews. Biology Department from years of the Lebanese civil medical practice. He was an
66 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate was AUB founder Daniel focusing on major cities of Bliss’s great-granddaughter the Ottoman Arab world. For (see family tree on page 42). more than 20 years start- She spent much of her early ing in 1975, Raymond was life in Bulgaria, Istanbul, a pillar of Middle Eastern, Damascus, and Beirut. After Ottoman, and North African receiving a BS in zoology studies at the University of from Mt. Holyoke College Aix-en-Province. During that and a master’s in biology time he played a vital role in from AUB, Studebaker many influential Arab institu- taught science in private tions, including the Institut schools and worked as a du Monde Arabe, the Institut research assistant to the de Recherches et d’Etudes active member of the AUB curator of spiders at the André Raymond (DHL sur le Monde Arabe et Alumni Association’s Boston Museum of Comparative ’07), widely considered the Musulman, and the Center Chapter as well as a long- Zoology at Harvard premier social historian of for Research and Studies time supporter of St. Jude University. She married Joel the Arab world, passed on Mediterranean Societies, Children’s Research Hospital. Studebaker in 1969 and they away last February. As among others. The works of He is survived by his beloved moved to Princeton in 1979. a young doctoral student André Raymond are staples wife Siham; sons Ousamah Her survivors include her at Oxford (D. Phil) and of Middle Eastern studies S. Nuwayhid and Ramzi N. husband Joel, children Anna University of Paris (doc- course syllabi in count- Nuwayhid; daughter Nadine of New York City and Daniel torat d’état), Raymond less universities throughout Nuwayhid Nassar; six grand- of San Diego, two grandchil- was mentored by two great the United States, Europe, children; two brothers Bahij dren, and two sisters, Joan historians: Albert Hourani China, and across the Arab (BS ’64, MD ’68) of El Paso, Wilson and Margit Orange. and Charles André Julien. world. In 2007 he received Texas and Hikmat (BBA Her family will miss her gen- He went on to produce an an honorary doctorate of ’66) of Beirut, Lebanon; and erosity, her incandescent incomparable body of work humane letters from AUB. one sister, Mona Nuwayhid smile, and her flair for meet- Ibrahim of Beirut. ing new people. to the Washington, DC area Alice Bliss Studebaker Mohammed Tajuddin in 1985. Tajuddin’s life pas- (BS ’64) of Washington, sions were sports, theater, a DC, died last July at the love of learning, and limitless age of 71. He was born devotion to his family. He is in Delhi, India in 1940 and survived by three daughters, spent his childhood in one son, and four grand- Pakistan until he received a children. scholarship to attend AUB. He continued his studies Michael W. K. Malouf (BE at Columbia University and ’71) passed away on July 27 Massachusetts Institute of in McLean, Virginia. He was a Technology where he earned past president of the Greater a doctorate in biochemis- Washington, DC AUB Alumni communications technology try. His biomedical com- Chapter. Malouf earned a company. He also worked pany RIA Products became doctorate in operations extensively in Lebanon (MS ’67) passed away last part of Rohm & Hass and research from the University and Saudi Arabia in elec- August at the age of 73 in eventually of Dow Chemical. of Illinois in 1980. He was tro-mechanical contract- Princeton, New Jersey. Born Tajuddin and his family the founder and CEO of ing, telecommunications, in St. Louis, Missouri, she moved from Massachusetts Aztech, a US electronics and and systems engineer-
www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Fall 2011 67 ing. Malouf served as Robert Djerejian passed (see family tree on page 43). chairman of the Board of away in August. He earned Guthrie was educated at Scientific Advisers and was a degree from Pratt Institute’s Vassar College and the a member of the Board of School of Architecture in Peabody Conservatory of Directors of Technologies 1955. Djerejian was the Music. She authored Legacy Development for the Future lead architect for HLW, the to Lebanon, which recount- (TDF) International LLC. As architecture and engineering ed her childhood experienc- a student at AUB he was the firm responsible for rebuild- es growing up in Lebanon Engineering Student Society ing College Hall after it was and her family’s role in estab- president and a member of destroyed in 1991. lishing American style higher the Student Council and the education in the region. Her Drama Club. He started an Grace Dodge Olmsted lifelong passions were play- endowed memorial scholar- Guthrie passed away in ing the piano and choral ship for engineering students singing. She is survived by understanding and abiding in the name of his father, three children, Dodge affection for Lebanon and Professor Khalil Michael Olmsted, Mary Olmsted, and the Lebanese” (see fam- Malouf (BA ’41, BEN ’45). Stuart Guthrie; four grand- ily tree on page 42). After Malouf is survived by his children; and six great- earning her undergradu- wife, Mona; his children, grandchildren. ate degree at Vassar, Rugh Khalil, Ramzy, and Sana; his taught in Beirut at the girls mother Laurice (BA ’45); Mary Isabella “Belle” school, Al Madrisi, and at his brother, Ramzi; and his Dorman Rugh was born in the American Junior College sister, Lina Saad. Lebanon in 1908 and passed for Women. With her hus- Suheil Muasher writes away in Seattle, Washington band Douglas Rugh, who on behalf of the WAAAUB on May 22, 2011. President predeceased her, she lived Greater Washington, DC Peter Dorman remembers in China, Lebanon, and the Alumni Chapter: “We will all his aunt, who was a mem- United States. In addition to remember Michael, his great June in Falls Church, Virginia ber of both the Dorman and teaching, Rugh wrote three smile, enthusiasm, and big at the age of 96. She was Bliss families, as “a remark- popular children’s books. heart. He will remain in our the daughter of Mary Bliss ably warm and affection- She is survived by daugh- minds and hearts forever. Our Dodge and AUB President ate presence in our family, ters Molly Newcomb and deepest condolences go to Bayard Dodge (1923-48) whose irrepressible humor June Rugh; two grandsons; Mona, his children, and all his and the sister of longtime and lively interest in every- and four great-grandchil- family. May God rest his soul AUB Trustee and President one whom she met were dren. (Photo: Bruce in peace.” (1996-97) David S. Dodge matched only by her deep Minturn)
We Remember Friends and Colleagues Naim E. Shahin Elie George Birbari Shawki G. Kanazi Rana Azhari BBA ’42 BA ’53 BS ’68, MD ’73 Friend of AUB Bisharah N. Azzam Abdul-Hafiz Rifai Rabi’ F. Abdul-Malak Walid Gholmieh PHCH ’44 (Pharmaceutical BA ’53 BAR ’70 Friend of AUB Chemist) Nabil F. Beydoun Najiyyah G. Murani Alumni and Students Ridha Mustafa Hillawi BBA ’54 MA ’72 BA ’46, MD ’51 Frederick Maluf Nahed Hassib Osseiran Hanna Elias Sarkis DDS ’39 (Doctor of Dental William A. Attiyah BA ’56, MA ’59 BS ’75, MS ’77 Surgery) BBA ’52 Maurice E. Bardawil Kamal E. el Batal BBA ’59; MBA ’69 BEN ’87
68 MainGate Fall 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Last Glance
The view from upper campus Return Address
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Medical faculty with Daniel Bliss (seated, center) 1898 (Moore Collection)