Winter 2011 Vol. IX, No. 2 MainGateAmerican University of Beirut Quarterly Magazine

Departments: Letters 2

Inside the Gate Views from Campus Running Water: Is Lebanon ready to change water management and usage?; 4 School Work: assessing environmental health in public schools; Safeguarding Our Taps: reducing water consumption on an expanding campus; R+D: health, wealth, and water Reviews Islamic Law and Civil Code: The Law of Property in Egypt by Richard A. Debs; State of Exception and Resistance in the Arab World, Sari Hanafi, editor

Beyond Bliss Street

Legends and Legacies Daniel Bliss’s “Prof” – David Stuart Dodge (1836-1921) 43 Alumni Profile Band in Between: Mashrou’ Leila Makes the Music They Need to Hear 44 Reflections The Right Place at the Wrong Time: interview with Joseph Cicippio 48 Alumni Happenings WAAAUB Legacy Ceremony 52 Class Notes Burning Oil for Water: Q&A with Nizar Kammourie (BE ’86) on the future of 58 water desalination in Saudi Arabia; Calling all architects and media types In Memoriam 67

MainGate is published quarterly in Production American University of Beirut Beirut by the American University Office of Communications of Beirut for distribution to alumni, Office of Communications Randa Zaiter former faculty, friends, and PO Box 11–0236 supporters worldwide. Riad El Solh 1107 2020 Photography Beirut, Lebanon AUB Jafet Library Archives Editor Tel: 961-1-353228 Ahmad El Itani Ada H. Porter Fax: 961-1-363234 Hasan Nisr Director of Communications Nishan Simonian New York Office 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Responsible Director 8th Floor Nabil Dajani Contributing Writers Maureen Ali New York, NY 10017–2303 Jean-Marie Cook Tel: 212-583-7600 Art Direction and Design Raghida Haddad (BS ’75) Fax: 212-583-7651 Office of Communications Susanne Lane Najib Attieh Sierra Millman Zeina Tawil Ralph K. Pedersen [email protected] Printing Tomoko Furukawa Barbara Rosica www.aub.edu.lb Lane Press making waves MainGate Winter 2011

Making a Splash How to beat the summer2 heat 5

Journey to the Arctic Harboring History There’s change... but is it How the Phoenicians tamed the sea and climate change?26 created an empire

(Q&A) Water Worries Everything you didn't want to know about4 0 your water Sea Change Climate Change: A plea for marine reserves in Threat or Lebanon before it’s too late 30Opportunity? Managing Lebanon’s water resources

Saving Water 6 Can safe drinking water save 3 communities?

Secret Life —or Death— of Sea Urchins 34 Their demise is a disaster.35 President's view New Year, New Campus?

This is the first in a series of Student Center, quickly come to be Construction has begun on the interviews with President Dorman. regarded as signature monuments Issam Fares Institute (at the site Email questions for the president to themselves. where the Gulbenkian Infimary [email protected]. used to be) on the Green Oval. A newly renovated cafeteria What are the environmental MainGate: There continues to opened in Ada Dodge Hall last implications? How will the new be lots of construction at AUB. fall, but there are also plans for a building impact the Green Oval’s What do you say to those who are new art gallery in the space once palm trees? worried that this will destroy the occupied by the Milk Bar. Why an PD: The building has been designed to classic character of campus? art gallery? maintain as much of the surrounding PD: The classic character and the PD: Where the Milk Bar used to be is greenery as possible. It’s a remarkable appearance of upper campus has now a collection of offices. The space design by Zaha Hadid. There are a changed very little since the 1960s. will be transformed into its original number of walkways that approach But new construction is inevitable, and open plan, featuring arches that hark the building from different directions I view the appearance of new buildings back to the typical vaulted first floor of that go between the existing trees, so as an expression of our aspirations many old Lebanese buildings. Within the building has been designed around and the new directions in which this space we have a chance to wed the greenery. The great ficus trees that we want to move. New facilities, traditional Lebanese architecture with stand just west of the building site will as they are accepted and used an open gallery that can be used to be preserved, as will the palm trees by the community, eventually display art in a variety of settings. The along the Green Oval. become classic additions intention is to put the arts very much to the campus and, like at the center of campus, in an easily Lower campus: what are AUB’s the Charles W. Hostler accessible, ground floor location, with plans for the site of the Durrafourd doors leading out to a terrace for Buildings that are adjacent to the public events and receptions. new OSB on the Corniche? PD: We have a number of ideas for the

2 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate President's view

Durrafourd lot, but we are leaning very it requires the decanting of those Abdul Aziz Street, replacing it with heavily toward the creation of a building facilities one into the other. a multipurpose structure that has that would house our multidisciplinary multiple parking levels underground, graduate centers of excellence, such as Is the Irani/Oxy Engineering an educational center, a conference the Center for Advanced Mathematical Complex designed to blend hall on the ground floor, and academic Sciences, the Center for Arab and with its surroundings or is it an offices on the upper levels. The Dale Middle Eastern Studies, and newer architectural statement? Home site and the open space around centers such as the Munib and Angela PD: It is a marvelous architectural it will eventually become the location Masri Institute of Energy and Natural statement that will look rather different of a new medical facility, connected to from the present engineering buildings. the original hospital building by bridges Access will be provided at two levels, over the street. with the lower entry connecting to the lower plaza outside the Suliman How will this affect the patient S. Olayan School of Business. The experience in the short term? Irani/Oxy Complex will be open in the PD: The Medical Center will do center, so that it maintains existing everything possible to ensure that the sightlines between upper and lower patient experience is unaffected by campus and does not block the view. the construction, but this presents real In fact, the design for the Irani/Oxy challenges for us, especially during Complex has already been nominated the initial excavation process. The for an architectural award. construction itself will not diminish the quality of care, although there are some With all this ongoing work, how facilities that may have to be relocated does the University ensure nearby. Other medical centers have that “middle campus”—a rare achieved this feat successfully, and we green space for Beirut—is not plan to follow their model. compromised? PD: The preservation of green space In your first interview with is a major tenet of the University’s MainGate as AUB president, you Resources. We are also considering Campus Master Plan, which was mentioned that you remember a special center to promote the study adopted in 2002. No new building is jumping over the campus terraces of humanities and the arts. In the next permitted in the middle campus, so as a child. Given all the changes several months we will have these new construction can only be planned that have taken place since then— plans further developed. where there is an existing structure or the new buildings, the landscaping, a parking lot. This way our precious etc., do you still recognize the What’s the status of the new green space can be maintained. campus of your childhood? Irani/Oxy Engineering Complex PD: It is remarkable how little the and the renovations to the The AUBMC 2020 vision approved campus has changed since I remember Dar Al-Handasah Architecture last year by the Board of Trustees it as a boy in the early 1960s. Apart Building? will mean big changes to the from the lower campus where you PD: Work on the Irani/Oxy Complex Medical Center. What physical have the Hostler Center, the Olayan is projected to begin in early summer. changes are underway? School, and the renovated Green Field, Renovations to the Architecture PD: During the preparatory phase of much of the campus looks the same. I Building will be started only after the construction we intend to remove the know many returning alumni share this Irani/Oxy Complex is finished, because Faculty One residence building on experience.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 3 from/to the editor

For some, this has been a beautiful winter in Lebanon—relatively warm and dry. It’s a bittersweet treat, however, since without enough rain and snow, aquifers aren’t replenished and another dry summer looms ahead in 2011. The quality, quantity, and availability of water defines our quality of life and so perhaps it’s not surprising that in preparing this magazine we discovered professors and students from every faculty studying water issues. They are examining water contamination in the Mediterranean, in small villages, and in the taps in Hamra; they’re calling for a new focus on water quality; they’re discovering that maybe, just maybe, water isn’t distributed fairly. They’re also examining the role of climate change and proposing solutions. But, this is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak… We always welcome comments, suggestions, and ideas for future issues. Ada H. Porter Editor, MainGate [email protected] write us [email protected] write us [email protected]

Fall 2010 Vol. IX No. 1 In conclusion, Acronyms Seldom There are two pictures I want to I enjoy reading MainGate; however Satisfy (ASS). Yes, they are useful comment on. On page 52, I’m the I found it hard to follow “From the when used in very limited numbers guy smoking the nargileh on the left, Faculties” in the fall 2010 issue avoiding repetition of a few words Benny Daher is in the middle, and because of the acronyms (FAFS, FAS, again and again, but it should be clear the late Awny Jarrah is on the right. FM, etc). I once attended a meeting what the acronyms stand for. Every Friday after classes, the three of of the Experimental Hematology in Farid I. Haurani (MD ’53) us held strategy sessions at the Milk Vancouver, Canada. The speaker, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Bar on how to handle our girlfriends. pleasant scientist in his 40s, talked If one of us had a problem with his about a substance he described in We heard your plea… See page 7 girlfriend, all of us would temporarily for an updated list of commonly used the mast cell which had an anti-in- break up with our girlfriends. That acronyms. flammatory action; the acronym for the is what you call solidarity! I am the substance was SHIP; the P stood for Spring 2010 Vol. XIII No. 3 only one who ended up marrying his phosphate. The first slide presented When I read MainGate, I am trans- girlfriend. The picture on the back was a picture of his handsome SHIP. ported back to the “good old days” cover was taken in 1957 of our class He followed that by telling us that he when I was a student in the 1950s. with Dr. Frank O. Smith, who was tried to increase the activity of SHIP vice dean of the School of by replacing P with an amino acid. He Agriculture. tried several amino acids, but he failed My days as a stu- and the amino acid which annoyed dent at AUB were truly him most for not replacing P was the best days of my life. tyrosine. After the session was over, AUB offered a hybrid mix I approached him and told him I was of western and Middle glad tyrosine did not work. He looked Eastern culture, bridging at me surprised and upset. He asked, the two in ways that are “What did I mean?” I told him if tyro- unique to AUB and cannot sine worked, you would have lost your be found anywhere else. handsome SHIP and replaced it with a Abdallah Mohamad Isa (BS ’60) dirty material in your hand. It took him Nashville, Tennessee a few seconds to explode laughing and saying “Why didn’t I think of this?”

4 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate [email protected] write us [email protected] write us [email protected] Viewfinder Pride, greed, envy, wrath, gluttony, lust, or sloth? Students perform the seven deadly sins. More page 24.

6 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 7 Seen and Heard

Every drop counts... 1. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator: every drop goes to you, not down the drain. 2. Only run a full dishwasher or washing machine. 3. Put a brick in your cistern to cut down water usage. 4. Water the garden when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation. 5. Wash produce in a pan of water—then reuse it to water houseplants. 6. Defrost food in the refrigerator—not under running water for water efficiency and food safety. 7. Save up to 750 gallons a month with a water-efficient showerhead. 8. Keep lawn mower blades on the highest setting: this helps grass retain moisture and grow deeper roots. 9. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth: save 25 gallons a month. 10. Turn on water only when lathering and rinsing your hair: save up to 150 gallons a month.

The Dawn of the Third Age There was no shortage of choice for those signing up for AUB’s University for Seniors fall program—just a shortage of places to satisfy the demand. “The response was overwhelming enthusi- asm,” says Professor Cynthia Myntti, who along with epidemiology Professor Abla Sibai, conceived the University for Seniors in response to “people’s aspi-

rations to stay socially connected A packed University for Seniors class meets in the conference room of the REP building. and intellectually engaged in their older age.” through academic and extra-curricular Memory, 1870-1970." Together, they Myntti and Sibai have identified activities with students. will develop the oral history component three core principles that distinguish Akram Najjar is already a seasoned of her research. this pioneering initiative from standard volunteer. He played and discussed There were also tours of Damascus, adult education programs: peer- classical music for a packed house lessons in Oriental rugs, and four learning, community-building, and during the spring 2010 soft launch. “Healthy Aging” lectures revealing the intergenerational connections. Thus Back by popular demand he explored secrets of long life, physical wellness, seniors will learn from one another— “Six Great Classical Works” in the fall sound nutrition, and navigating on-line study group leaders and lecturers are term. PhD student Maria Bashshur medical information. all volunteers; the organization will be Abunnasr co-opted seniors to partici- Still in the experimental phase, the member-run with elected officers and pate in her doctoral research project in University for Seniors will be launched committees, and seniors will be in history: "The Making of Ras Beirut: formally once funds are secured and a touch with the younger generation An Arab-American Landscape of director is hired.

8 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Let’s Talk About It There is even a dedicated MainGate Kicking off a new series of debates, Ta3a tab on the AUB Facebook page. Ne7ke, Ibsar asked the question:“Social Alumni and friends are invited to join Networking—Is Our Natural Language and otherwise participate in the sites Threatened by New Technology?” listed below. Under the watchful eye of debate mod- AUB updates all these outlets regu- erator Assistant Professor Jad Melki larly with recent news and events and from the Department of Social and posts pictures and videos each week. Behavioral Sciences (SBS), four AUB AUB’s social media encourages feed- "Mntle2a ba3den", an arabic equivalent of C u l8tr professors grappled to come up with back through Facebook, questions answers to this provocative question. that things can only get better, Al Ghoul and personal messages on Twitter, Lina Choueiri, associate professor has not only improved his Arabic skills comments on pictures on Flickr, and of English, assured the audience that through social networking, he also met suggestions by email at media@ Arabic—one of the top 10 languages in his wife on the internet. Tamar Kabakian, aub.edu.lb. the world—was alive and well with the associate professor of health promotion potential to evolve, through social net- and community health in the Faculty Marine Rescue working and across dialects to achieve of Health Sciences, considered the A team of scientists and researchers new levels of communication that potential mental and physical problems from Ibsar is playing a leading role in might possibly displace classical and brought on by too much time spent the MAREX project, a six million Euro Modern Standard Arabic. Nidal Najjar, on-line and cited experiments where international consortium for marine bio- SBS behavioral psychologist, explored students had been “unplugged” for diversity. Professor and Ibsar Director how social networking has changed 24 hours to see how this affected their Najat Saliba and Professor Marwan E. patterns of behavior comparing the lives. She concurred with other panelists El-Sabban attended the project launch social conventions of her grandmother’s that substantial research has not yet in Helsinki in October 2010 for this joint generation with that of today. been done to assess the long-term effort of 19 academic and research Mazen Al Ghoul, chair of the effects of social networking. institutes from 13 countries. MAREX Chemistry Department, essentially told Not surprisingly perhaps, AUB has will collect, isolate, and classify marine audience members to buckle their recently launched its own upgraded organisms from the Pacific and Indian seatbelts and enjoy the ride, because social media outlets, a new website, Oceans and the Mediterranean, Baltic, “we ain’t seen nothing yet.” Convinced and an invaluable e-calendar of events. and Arabian Seas.

Website: Flickr: YouTube: www.aub.edu.lb www.flickr.com/groups/aub www.youtube.com/AUBatLebanon

E-calendar: Facebook: Twitter: www.aub.edu.lb/communications/ www.facebook.com/aub.edu.lb twitter.com/AUB_Lebanon Pages/e-calendar.aspx

Common Abbreviations found in MainGate (MG): AUB: American University of Beirut FAFS: Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences IFI: Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy AUBMC: American University of Beirut Medical Center FAS: Faculty of Arts and Sciences and International Affairs CAMES: Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies FEA: Faculty of Engineering and Architecture KSA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia CAMS: Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences FHS: Faculty of Health Sciences OSB: Suliman S. Olayan School of Business CASAR: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud FM: Faculty of Medicine PSPA: Department of Political Studies and Public Administration Center for American Studies and Research HSON: Rafic Hariri School of Nursing REP: Regional External Programs CCECS: Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service Ibsar: Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures WAAAUB: Worldwide Alumni Association of AUB

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 9 molecular tech- niques. Over the years we have developed unique assays that test the ability of some substances to Samih Darwazah interfere with (BS ’54), founder the most dev- of Hikma astating aspect of cancer: Pharmaceuticals, at metastasis. the inauguration of Sea cucumbers, echinoderm-like starfish and sea urchins (photo M. Bariche) “Furthermore the Samih Darwazah we will attempt Center for Innovation to ‘domesticate’ some species Management and for harvesting. Entrepreneurship at We have previ- OSB: ous experience of this at Ibsar with terrestrial “Research is plants. We have anything new used bio-guided fractionation to you discover isolate a single and then use in molecule from Several members of Ibsar will be one native plant that has promis- your product involved in extraction, bio-fractionation, ing anti-cancer activity and then or everyday and screening for important biological cultivated this plant as a sustainable activities and industrial applications source for the raw material.” practice. from marine organisms both from MAREX hopes to gain a better Research means local sources and from partners understanding of environmentally across the globe. Extracts will be conscious sourcing of biotechnol- innovation, studied for several therapeutically ogy products from the oceans and means and industrially significant biologi- increase public awareness of marine cal activities, including anticancer, biodiversity and potential. “The survival." anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and exploration of biodiversity for thera- anticoagulant activities. “We will peutic use and conservation is not — The Jordan Times focus on specific functions related mutually exclusive,” El-Sabban says. to cancer metastasis and inflamma- “Indeed, by highlighting the value of tion,” El-Sabban explains. “At AUB such resources, we may enhance we have state-of-the-art scientific our sensitivity to conserve nature.” equipment from very advanced imag- ing facilities to micro array and other

10 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate New Home AUB’s Regional External Programs (REP) inaugurated its new home in Building 20 (formerly home of the OSB) on October 4, 2010. President Dorman praised REP’s track record in supplying consulting services throughout the Middle East, Europe, and the United States and cited REP’s extraordinarily varied assistance to “governments, inter- national organizations, foundations, non-profit organizations, business- es, and industry.” Congratulations to REP Vice President Hassan Diab and founding Vice President Abdul Hamid Hallab, who gave REP its start in 1976.

• REP’s 125 consultants work in 20 countries and 23 locations.

• REP is involved in higher educa- tion projects in 23 institutions in 14 countries.

• In addition to consulting ser- vices, REP encompasses the Continuing Education Center, the Journalism Training Program, and its newsroom.

Top and right: Renovated Building 20, built in 1873 as the Medical Building

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 11 and devastating AD 551 earthquake “The Yammouneh Fault From the Faculties and its associated tsunami, Lebanon is the missing part of the remains vulnerable. The unearthing of puzzle. It is important FAS the sediment rich site in the Marjahine because it is the last stretch area in Hermel will help scientists piece of the fault that goes into Shaking Things Up together a more precise history of Syria and because it holds Next time you go swimming at the recent earthquakes and allow them to lots of recent sediment AUB Beach, give a thought to geol- better predict future patterns. which gives us a record of ogy Professor Ata Elias. As the While a thorough grasp of this recent earthquakes. If it was earth scientist who led the success- violent geological history is impor- all hard rock it would be of ful AUB excavation to discover the tant, knowing what to do in the case little interest, but sediment “missing link” in the Yammouneh of an earthquake or a tsunami is tells us its story. We cannot Fault between Syria and Lebanon also vital. With this in mind Elias has predict earthquakes, but we (see side bar), Elias is acutely aware prepared a presentation for the AUB can monitor them and now of the dangers posed by earth- administration on the AUB Beach and we can see how this one acted during the past 1,000 years or so.” — Ata Elias More On-line

A trench revealing the Yammouneh Fault Raging December storm on the AUB Beach

quakes. He is also hot on the trail of other related issues. to get away from the shoreline. I believe tsunami evidence along Lebanon’s “Look at the shape of the beach,” new measures should be taken to facili- narrow, vulnerable coastline, where he says. “You are stuck between the tate evacuation of the beach, such as he has found plenty to look at along sea and a high wall with only a tunnel to wide staircase exits to get people from with pumice, the sea-borne detritus get you away from the shore. The only the beach to the street.” of past volcanic eruptions. good response to a tsunami is to get Elias would also like to see more With a history of earthquakes to higher ground. As soon as you feel being done to inform students, fac- stretching back beyond the infamous tremors, you have two to three minutes ulty, and visitors about what to do in

12 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate the event of an earthquake. Some company of AUB architecture students of his top tips include not placing and one of Lebanon’s foremost graf- New On-line your desk under heavy machinery, fiti artists, Mohamed Kabbani, who like a/c units suspended from the with twin brother Omar form the rap www.youtube.com/AUBatLebanon ceiling; not putting heavy items on crew Ashekman. The journey started higher shelves that might fall during at AUB’s Medical Gate, flanked by Founders Day 2010 a tremor; and standing under the graffiti-covered walls, and progressed AUB's positive doorframe until it is safe to get out of to a number of sites in the city. influence on its the building and into the open. Even for a veteran like Chalfant, neighborhood and “AUB once played a leading role Lebanese graffiti provided some inter- the world was in seismic research in Lebanon; esting new insights. “First, after spend- highlighted during one of the earliest monitoring sta- ing almost 40 years looking at graffiti the University's tions was in the Lee Observatory style that originated in New York and Founders Building,” Elias says. “I think it would consisted almost entirely of the art- Day ceremony. Keynote speaker Michael be very interesting if we could bring ist’s nickname, I'm happy to see new Williams, the United Nations Special back the seismic meter. If you look forms that go beyond the name and Coordinator for Lebanon, lauded the at a map of Beirut, AUB is one of that exploit some of the many other University as a "sacred place" that the few places where you have solid possibilities of art as public expres- promotes "dialogue and coexistence" rock and a relatively calm, traffic free sion,” he told MainGate. “In Beirut, not just in Lebanon but the region. environment, both important assets artists are appropriating public space for Lebanon’s seismic research to express ideas which target the Ghetto Celebrity in the Global Village network.” wider community. These artists don't CASAR held a More On-line hesitate to paint images that criticize lecture by Henry and exhort their fellow citizens to wake Chalfant, sculptor, Artists or Vandals? up—or to think twice before unleash- photographer, Artist, filmmaker, and graffiti expert ing the wrecking ball that destroys documentarian Henry Chalfant recently invited AUBites architectural heritage. I loved some of and guru of to travel back in time to explore the the wonderfully funny stenciled images hip-hop culture, New York City subway in the early and others that symbolize freedom, graffiti art, and urban popular culture. He is the 1970s when city transit authorities or that praise the Iraqi journalist who co-author of the definitive account of New York were pitched in daily battle against a threw his shoe at George Bush, or that graffiti art, Subway Art and a sequel on the art dedicated tribe of paint spray writers. exhort us to practice safe sex. . .” form's world-wide diffusion, Spray Can Art. At the time, Chalfant was a pioneer Chalfant’s lecture and film screen- working on his book, Subway Arts, ings, which also included the poignant IFI and UNRWA International Conference which would become a classic. His documentary Visit Palestine—Ten Ten videos film Style Wars remains a potent visual Days on the West Bank, were cospon- covering the two record of those edgy days when Ed sored by CASAR, the Department day conference Koch, New York’s fast-talking mayor, of Architecture and Design and the entitled "From proposed hiring wolves to keep the Department of Fine Arts and Art Relief and “vandals” at bay. History, and were supported by a Works to Human “My book became a passport grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Development: into worlds I would otherwise never Foundation. United Nations Relief and Works Agency have explored,” says Chalfant. One of (UNRWA) and Palestinian Refugees those trips is surely the one he took After 60 Years” are available on-line. through the streets of Beirut in the

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 13 FEA going to get warmer and dryer, so the event of climate change, the we should be ready to address this. country should still have sufficient Running Water The other main stressors that make water. The challenge, Assaf says, At the close of the recent Arab Forum managing water resources challeng- lies in the delivery. for Environment and Development ing are large increases in demand “You can have a good water supply (AFED) held in Beirut, seven detailed fueled by expansion in agriculture, but unless you change the infrastruc- regional recommendations demographic growth, and improved ture, you will still be thirsty,” he explains. were made including a living standards, in combination with “I believe that the answer to water call for new water man- water quality problems.” shortage problems in Lebanon is a mix agement policies and Because the Arab world is not of several measures including increas- consumption patterns, homogeneous, there is no one solu- ing water storage and transfer capacity, changes in agricultural tion. In the Gulf with its extreme water effective demand management through practices and irrigation scarcity, Assaf concurs with many proper pricing, reducing losses in the methods, more and more others that desalination is the most network, enhancing accountability in effective investment in water realistic strategy. In countries like the provision of water services, effec- delivery systems, and support and Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Sudan—where tive legislation and enforcement to encouragement for wastewater recla- for centuries large agrarian populations control groundwater extraction, and mation and usage. have depended on river-fed irrigation— protecting surface and groundwater Hamed Assaf, AUB assistant pro- he believes that a serious overhaul resources from pollution.” fessor of civil and environ- of agricultural policy is needed. “It is It is a tall order, but without an mental engineering, no longer cost effective to spend 80 effective water policy, Lebanon and contributed to percent of water on agriculture,” he other countries in the region will not the AFED report explains. “In Syria, a recent drought be able to cope. The AFED resolutions and attended decimated whole areas where the are an invaluable starting point. How the conference. population had no other skills except much will have changed by the time of He believes that agriculture, and with crop failure they the 2011 annual conference? there is much that can had no other form of income, so it was be done to minimize shortages and a disaster.” Jordan and Tunisia—places Impossible Utopia conserve water. Assaf cautions that that Assaf calls “middle countries” with Is Beirut your utopia? For the purposes it is too early to confidently predict serious water scarcity and only mod- of the recent conference held at AUB the effects of climate change. “We est financial resources—have shifted by the 12th International Association for have our hypotheses on how water from agricultural to domestic the Study of Traditional Environments things are going to evolve in use and diverted treated wastewater (IASTE) utopia was defined as embody- the future; we have a to agriculture. ing “both the theoretical paradox of an range of possibilities Lebanon, Assaf says, is the excep- ideal place, eu-topia, and a nonplace, and the range is tion. Although it is an “upstream ou-topia, rendering it an impossibility.” upward, meaning country,” its abundant water Some might comment that this sounds things are flows to the sea and to other like a definition of Beirut. countries. More than 160 scholars from diverse The problem professions examined “The Utopia of in Lebanon Tradition” at the prestigious event, which is not scar- architecture chair and IASTE local con- city but bad ference director Howayda Al-Harithy management. had long campaigned to host at AUB. Even in The conference was cosponsored with

14 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate the University of California at Berkeley "utopia of tradition" with all the dynamic 485-question survey concerning the and supported by AUB’s Center for building and reconstruction that is tak- physical and safety aspects of schools. Behavioral Research, the Department ing place and the debates around Based on the results of the study and of Architecture and Design, and the IFI. large scale urban projects that are re- following the 2009 H1N1 scare, priority The host city itself was a favorite inscribing the city as they are designed was given to upgrading the water sup- theme. In “Consuming ‘Tradition’: and implemented." ply and sanitary facilities. “In particular, Piety, Morality, and Leisure,” Associate we needed to find out whether the Professor Mona Harb and Lara Deeb, FHS storage system and water tanks were associate professor of anthropology, suitable, whether there were water Scripps College, considered the phe- School fountains and nomenon of “pious leisure sites” in Work wash basins at Beirut’s southern suburbs (al-Dahiyah). Until recently, no different heights Until recently, no Here hundreds of “ambiance con- one could vouch for different age one could vouch for trolled” restaurants and cafés cater to for the quality of groups, and those who “desire to live pious, moral the water chil- the quality of the whether these lives and enjoy their free time.” Harb dren were drink- water children were were hygienic,” and Deeb’s research shows that many ing in Lebanon’s drinking in Lebanon’s Jurdi explains. places evoke tradition (turath) in their 1,366 public 1,366 public schools. “We wanted to architecture, décor, music, and general schools. In 2009, ensure water was presentation, “thus exploiting notions the World Health safe and avail- of ‘Lebaneseness’ and authenticity to Organization, in collaboration with the able … so we did an exhaustive survey, market their ‘utopic’ vision.” Lebanese Ministries of Public Health identified needs, established priorities, Associate Professor Robert Saliba and Education, and upon the recom- and made recommendations.” tackled “Utopian/Dystopian Strategies mendation of the Faculty of Health The focus in phase two, which for Postwar Reconstruction: The Case Sciences’ Environmental Health is ongoing, is on implementation to of Beirut.” Starting with the develop- Department, initiated a program to upgrade the school environment to ers’ slogan, “Beirut, an ancient city for assess the environmental health pro- insure student health and safety. the future,” Saliba assessed post-war file of public schools in Lebanon. reconstruction in the central downtown Under the leadership of Professor Planning for a Healthy district and in al-Dahiyah. In the former May Jurdi, some 80 public health Start in Life he dissected the tension between the inspectors and 18 senior FHS stu- “I am amazed by the level of commitment global visions of towering structures dents were trained to administer a and follow through on this project,” says juxtaposed with the “imaginary” spaces in areas such as Saifi Village. In the latter he analyzed the results of an urban design studio conducted by AUB stu- dents on “Utopian/Dystopian Strategies for Dahiyah Reconstruction” in which they were asked to “either celebrate the war as a national victory or condemn Hezbollah for totalitarianism and the production of radicalized ‘clones.’” On IASTE at AUB, Howayda Al-Harithy says, "Beirut is an appropri- ate site for the theme of the conference Students demonstrating the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 15 Students participating in Days of Science conducted interactive experiments stressing the importance of biodiversity.

Aline Germani, coordinator of com- primary health care centers. the United States as earmarking or munity and engagement services at the The focus of phase II was on pork barreling exists in Lebanon. Pork- FHS Outreach and Practice Unit (OPU). developing written manuals with barrel politics refers to spending that She is referring to a joint United Nations detailed chapters both for provid- is intended to benefit the constituents Population Fund (UNFPA Iraq office) ers (GPs, nurses, social workers, of a politician in return for his political and Iraqi Ministry of Health initiative peer educators, dieticians, etc.) on support in the form of campaign contri- to implement adolescent and youth- topics such as community mobiliza- butions or votes. friendly health services in Iraq that are tion, social marketing, positive youth Using a public economic model part of a larger Iraqi national strategy for development, mental health, vio- refined to measure the mechanism youth, involving UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, lence, nutrition and also for manage- of pork barreling, economics doc- and the Iraqi Ministries of Education, ment staff covering planning, human toral student Riachi compiled a Youth, Planning, and Health. resources management, information OPU’s role is to provide technical systems, monitoring, and evalua- assistance in all aspects of the proj- tion. The manuals were adopted by The allocation of ect. In phase I, which was completed the primary health care center in water projects in in March 2010, OPU conducted a Erbil after an OPU Training Trainers comprehensive literature survey Session there in January 2011 that Lebanon was not and reviewed existing models in the was attended by 15 master trainers. the result of a policy region. The Iraqi MOH conducted As part of phase III, in early to improve equity focus groups with youth and adoles- 2011 OPU will lead an effort to or efficiency. cents to draw up priorities and struc- establish a monitoring and evalua- tures. During a three-day workshop tion plan to continuously assess the in Beirut, they finalized a six-point performance of the established pilot database covering 26 administrative benefit package covering mental program across Iraq. regions (cazas) with information on health, substance abuse, violence, capital invested in water projects nutrition, sexual and reproductive FAFS between 1994 and 2010: network health, and general health. Because coverage performance, the impact of of its financial and human resources Fair Distribution? wells on water distribution projects, constraints, the Ministry of Health Under the supervision of his supervi- the socioeconomic features of the decided to set aside and reconfigure sor, Assistant Professor Jad Chaaban, regions, and the “political distance” space in existing primary health care Roland Riachi is researching the provi- between the beneficiary region and centers to make them more youth- sion of water in Lebanon to deter- persons in key positions. friendly. The pilot will involve 20 mine whether the practice known in The results of Riachi’s study show

16 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate that the allocation of water projects in Lebanon was not the result of a policy Student News to improve equity or efficiency as poor regions were neglected while certain Natural Science politicians’ jurisdictions benefited. An enthusiastic team of volunteers Riachi suggests that this is particularly from AUB’s Ibsar and the CCECS disturbing given the fact that foreign were on hand for Days of Science donors funded most of the water (Ayam Al Ouloum), an annual three- projects to promote development and day event the Lebanese Ministry of redress regional imbalances. Culture organized in collaboration with the municipalities of Geneva Anybody Hungry? and Beirut and the Swiss Embassy As part of their community nutrition in Lebanon. Because the UN had rotation, and in collaboration with declared 2010 the International Year Amel Association, the students of of Biodiversity, Ibsar decided to the Coordinated Program in Nutrition sponsor a Nature Lab to celebrate and Dietetics spent three weeks in the diversity of life on earth and Tyre surveying 826 households to demonstrate the positive impact of assess their nutritional status and biodiversity on human lives. food security—whether or not they Ibsar’s director, Professor Najat Saliba, have sufficient food to meet their devised a series of experiments for dietary needs. Nature Lab volunteers to demonstrate, Under the supervision of principal including a Hot Box, an eco-friendly investigators Professors Hala Ghattas heater with no CO2 emissions; Sage and Nadine Sahyoun, students asked not Rage, an experiment to develop questions of the individuals in each an ecologically friendly insecticide household who were responsible for cream purely from organic sources; In the 2010 Student Representative Council elections, 263 students ran for 109 slots. food preparation. They also weighed and an air purifier using a 100 percent Elections started in 1949, but were interrupted and measured children under the age green air purifying method. from 1982 to 1994. of five to determine if food insecurity Research assistant Marwa Adawi, helped to attract audiences of various affects childhood nutritional status and who worked closely with Saliba, said, ages and educational backgrounds. child growth in the region. The results “We conducted interactive experi- We all experienced improvements of this survey will allow investigators ments that stress the importance in our teaching and communication to identify vulnerable groups of preserving biodiversity by skills.” within the community in proposing alternatives to cer- Volunteer student coordinator order to help governmental tain actions and/or chemi- Hussein Nassar said, “Kids were and nongovernmental cals which affect nature entertained and at the same time organizations to target adversely. Thanks to our informed about issues. The Hot Box the most vulnerable enthusiastic, team- and Sage not Rage had the greatest subgroups with spirited volunteers, impact. All the volunteers felt a sense interventions to who worked really of responsibility and determination. It improve food hard and gave was really special and the experience security and the event their taught me a lot.” nutritional best, our live status. performances More On-line

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 17 AUBMC

Deep Dedication Dr. Nadim Afeiche recently dedicated the AUBMC Hoda and Nayla Afeiche Musculoskeletal Library in loving memo- ry of his late wife and daughter. A senior clinical lecturer in orthopedic surgery

who has worked at AUBMC since The AUBMC will be expanded to a 600-bed medical complex. 1975, Afeiche (BS ’64, MD ’68), said energy at AUBMC these days as VP now have greater access to AUB- he wanted to provide residents with the and Medical Dean Mohamed Sayegh trained physicians. This is only one space and facilities they needed to per- and his team move aggressively to of the ways that AUBMC is improving fect their knowledge and increase their implement a new vision for the Medical the services it provides to patients, learning. He explained that the library Center, which the Board of Trustees which is one of its top priorities: it has also represented his “appreciation of the approved in 2010. We stopped by also established a “Patient Affairs” leading role of AUBMC in Lebanon and AUBMC to find out what has already team at the Medical Center dedicated the Middle East, my dedication to teach- happened—and what’s in the pipeline. to patient satisfaction. Another priority ing, … my gratitude to my alma mater, Since July 2009, AUBMC has is faculty recruitment. Over the past … and my love for both my departed moved quickly to develop a net- year, AUBMC has recruited 26 aca- wife and my daughter.” work of partner institutions by signing demic faculty members from leading More On-line memoranda of understanding with institutions in Europe and the United Clemenceau Medical Center, Najjar, States—places such as Harvard and Research, Innovation, and Mount Lebanon, Khoury, and Tripoli Yale. Comprehensive Care government hospitals. These partner- Although all parts of AUBMC are being There is real excitement and enormous ships are good news for patients, who transformed, the most visible changes

Reviews

State of Exception and Resistance in the Arab World (Center for Arab Unity Studies, 2010) Sari Hanafi, ed. (in Arabic)

State of Exception and Resistance in the Arab World is the result of a workshop AUB organized with the Arab Sociology Association and the Center for Arab Unity Studies in August 2008. It includes case studies from Palestine, Tunis, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. The edited volume is based on Giorgio Agamben’s work on the “state of exception,” which is a term first coined by German jurist and political theorist Carl Schmitt to describe what governments do when they exceed the rule of law during times of crisis. It proposes a new framework for understanding the reconfiguration of sociopolitical space in the Arab world in the last 15 years that focuses on the interplay among individuals representing states, civil societies, and protest movements. Sari Hanafi is an associate professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

18 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate will be to its physical AUBMC will soon As part of the is the reason for our dramatic impact in appearance, as the become a 600- effort to improve the region. A lot of the innovation that is Medical Center will bed complex that medical education introduced in the region comes from here soon go from being and research, the one way or another, either because it is includes both an a 400-bed hospital Faculty of Medicine actually happening here or because even adult hospital and a to a 600-bed medi- hosted its first though it is being done elsewhere, it is cal complex that pediatric hospital, Clinical Research being done by our alumni.” includes both an which will be one Symposium adult hospital and of the first in the and the second Enduring Legacy The AUBMC will be expanded to a 600-bed medical complex. a pediatric hospital, Middle East. seminar of the AUBMC recently announced the Gladys which will be one Human Research Mouro Scholarship to honor veteran of the first in the Protection AUB nurse and retiring assistant Middle East. The Program in March expanded AUBMC complex will also 2010, bringing doctors from across the boast specialized centers of excellence region to AUB. The Medical Center’s in oncology, neuroscience, and cardio- Executive Health and Travel Center is vascular medicine. also attracting people from the region “All of these initiatives relate to each who are willing to pay a little extra other. The vision is comprehensive. for the convenience of being able to We’re developing partnerships and col- take care of a number of medical laborations to increase patient access procedures in a single facility and in a to care, to strengthen research, and short period of time. improve medical education,” says Rana Although its reputation is growing in Alley (BA ’99), who recently joined all these areas, according to Sayegh,

AUB as director of public relations for “it’s the cutting edge research we do- Mouro, right, was honored for 32 years of nurs- AUBMC and the Faculty of Medicine. and the way in which we do it—that ing service at AUBMC.

Islamic Law and Civil Code: The Law of Property in Egypt (Columbia University Press and The American University in Cairo Press, 2010) by Richard A. Debs In Islamic Law and Civil Code, Debs analyzes the classical Islamic law of property based on the Shari’ah, traces its historic development in Egypt, and describes its integration into the modern civil code. A lawyer by training, Debs elucidates the remarkably sophisticated, coherent, rational, and effective features of Islamic jurisprudence. Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, describes the book as “indispensable” and “of lasting value”; Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies, Columbia University, stated that the work merits a broad readership “from legal experts to scholars of classical Islam and the modern Middle East.” Forewords are provided by Frank Vogel, founding director of Harvard University’s Islamic Legal Studies Program, and Ridwan Al-Sayyid, director of the Arab Development Institute and former director of the Higher Institute for Islamic Studies in Beirut. The book is distributed through AUC Press and Columbia University Press. More On-line

Richard A. Debs is chairman emeritus of AUB’s Board of Trustees and chairman of the University’s International Advisory Council.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 19 hospital director for patient care ser- vices Gladys Mouro for her 32 years of dedicated nursing service. The full merit scholarship will be awarded each year to the top nursing student at the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing (HSON). After earning her undergraduate nurs- ing degree from AUB, Mouro (BS ’76) stayed on to rise through the ranks at AUBMC. She steered nursing services through the rigorous requirements of the American Nurses Credentialing Center leading to the award of the prestigious Magnet designation— an accomplishment for which she received the 2010 Lebanese Ministry of Health Award.

More On-line OSB

Gold Star Decade Speaking on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB), AUB Trustee Hutham Olayan spoke about the relationship between the Olayan family and AUB. She said that though her father Suliman had received his education from the “school of life,” he valued higher education and had been a longtime supporter of AUB. “An investment in AUB is a long-term investment in the intellectual capital of the region,” she added. Among the host of distinguished guests, Lebanese Prime Minister and AUB Trustee Saadeddine Rafic Hariri recalled the day his late father spoke at the OSB inaugural ceremony. He said the 10th anniversary affirms AUB’s role in education, knowledge, dialogue, and freedom of thought in the region. OSB Dean George Najjar stressed OSB’s aspiration to achieve Top: OSB's facility facing the Corniche; middle left: President Peter Dorman and Trustee Hutham Olayan greeting Prime Minister and Trustee Saadeddine Rafic Hariri; middle right and bottom: tenth anniversary events at OSB

20 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate world-class standard as the premier Center. The campus daily consump- to have water in your taps, so every business school in the Middle East. tion is around 1,200 m3, while the building or group of buildings used The evening included a discussion Medical Center consumption is close to dig a well. At that time, the city on the future of business education to 750 m3. Both sewage network with panelists from Georgetown and subscriptions was not prop- Johns Hopkins Universities, the London complement each During the 2010 erly designed nor School of Economics, and INSEAD, other since there implemented, so summer season, the moderated by John Fernandes, presi- is a connection the trapped [well] water authorities dent of the Association to Advance between the cam- water became Collegiate Schools of Business, the pus and Medical could not provide contaminated by leading accreditation agency for Center. enough water for the sewage and sea degree programs in business and During this whole city of Beirut, water. We have accounting. [2010] summer including AUB. a better sewage season, the water network now and Safeguarding Our Taps authorities could the government not provide enough water for the has banned all old wells that were whole city of Beirut, including AUB. not permitted and is not allowing Water was rationed. The government any more wells to be dug. These collects water from a number of stra- days we only use brackish water tegic wells in the suburbs, away from extracted from campus wells (mixed Beirut, which they pump to Beirut. with domestic supply) for irrigation. This year, however, they couldn’t deliver water even from these wells. What kind of water treatment is This year was very bad for us. currently in use at AUB? When we receive water, we always Where is water stored at AUB? add chlorine to kill any germs or bac- We have two major water tanks, one teria. In addition, we provide ultravio- under the tennis courts, which can let treatment for the main buildings. handle 10,000 m3 and a second one The water is actually drinkable, but on the Medical Center roof which it’s heavy. Samer Maamari (BE ’85, ME ’86), can handle 2,000 m3. And we have vice president for facilities at AUB, a pumping station that pumps water Is it safe to drink the tap water? spoke with MainGate about water at from the main storage tanks to Kerr AUB is not any different than the city of the University and ongoing efforts to Hall, which supplies the upper cam- Beirut. Let me put it this way. reduce consumption even as the cam- pus. But to do that, we need some pus grows. pressure. What issues would you like stu- dents to be aware of with regard to MainGate: What does it mean to What is the brackish water network water at AUB? “manage water” at AUB? and how is it used? We need their support to reduce Samer Maamari: It’s two things: Brackish water is [highly salinated] consumption. If they see a leak of any supply and demand. AUB has two water pumped out of a local well. kind they should report it to Physical city water subscriptions, one for the In the 1960s, we used to dig a well Plant at extension 2015. I think we campus with a nominal capacity of to collect water, and it used to be a can always do better in terms of 1,000 m3/day and a second one with bit mixed with sea water. During the being more aware and reducing con- the same capacity for the Medical civil war in Lebanon, it was a luxury sumption, starting from myself.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 21 conducting field observations on safe drinking water and adequate R+D local socio-economic conditions sanitation facilities that lead to • Nametag: Rania Maroun, PhD, and the provision of environmental increased premature mortality, Environmental and Water Resources services in the Tebbaneh neighbor- particularly among infants and Engineering, pro- hood of Tripoli. I children. The urban poor are jected 2012. am also collect- particularly affected by these ing data from the conditions and incur additional • Life before PhD: I Safe drinking most frequented expenditures on medicines and was introduced to water and adequate hospitals and dis- medical treatment for a wide the health aspects sanitation and proper pensaries to deter- range of water borne diseases of environmental hygiene practices mine the incidence like diarrhea, gastro-enteritis, or pollution as an are essential and prevalence of cholera—diseases that cause AUB undergradu- ingredients in the waterborne dis- children to miss school and adults ate majoring in eases. I will then to miss work. environmental fight against poverty. analyze all of this health. I later joined data using two the Interfaculty statistical software packages (GIS Graduate Environmental Sciences and SPSS) to find the most optimal Program, earning an MS degree in approach to solve existing environ- environmental technology. It was ment problems. during this period that I participated in several United States Agency for • 10 am Tuesday, 10am Saturday: International Development (USAID) At 10 am Tuesday, I am probably funded research projects under the at AUB, studying and working on supervision of Professor Mutasem my research. At 10 am Saturday, El-Fadel. After I graduated, I coordi- I am most likely at home with nated a USAID project on the upper my three-month- and four-year-old Litani River basin. daughters.

• What matters most: The availability • Most admires: I have benefited of safe drinking water and adequate enormously from Professor sanitation and proper hygiene practic- Mutasem El-Fadel's vast es are essential ingredients in the fight knowledge and experience. against poverty. I am researching the He has shaped my career health and socio-economic impacts of and helped me acquire poor water and sanitation facilities on the analytical and disadvantaged communities. technical skills I require to tackle • Research: I am interested in better complex envi- understanding the linkages between ronmental local populations and the quality of problems. environmental services that are pro- vided in slum areas in developing • Why this countries to learn why some disad- topic inter- vantaged communities have access ests me: to better environmental services than Nearly three others. I am doing this by adminis- billion people tering household questionnaires and globally lack Arts

Clockwise from top: December 23, 2010: Concert pianist Tatiana Primak Khoury, artist-in-residence at the University of Balamand, plays in Assembly Hall; December 29, 2010: The Ateek Ensemble presents chamber music with an oriental flavor, reintroducing the element of ''classical Tarab'' within a Sufi context; December 13 and 14, 2010: The AUB Christmas concert highlighted works by Monteverdi, Victoria, and Shireen Abu-Khader. Check the AUB calendar at www.aub.edu.lb for upcoming events.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 23 Seven Deadly Sins Along with seven Fine Arts and Art History (FAAH) students, FAAH visit- ing professor Cornelia Krafft pre- sented performance and installation art in December at the official launch of the Lebanese Pavilion for the 54th International Art Exhibition, the Venice Biennale. They performed extracts from 777, which Krafft conceptualized and choreographed and first staged with 40 students in the iconic Dome in the Beirut City Center in May 2010. Formerly a 60s cinema at the epi- center of the Lebanese civil war, the Dome’s unique shape and troubled history gave the performance the extra dimension Krafft was looking for when she first selected it as a venue.

During this riveting 49 minute, gluttony, lust, and sloth, each sin was It was a tour de force performance non-verbal piece based on the seven transformed into a seven minute visual executed on a shoestring budget that deadly sins: pride, greed, envy, wrath, dream that questioned both its religious ultimately made it all the more inventive context and the viewer’s own “sins.” and resourceful. Krafft will represent Lebanon at the June 2011 Venice Biennale along with other artists. Making a Splash

Making How to beat the a Splash summer heat When Lebanese talk about the country’s treasures, they’re diving lessons, contact the National Institute for Scuba usually referring to abundant Roman ruins, staggeringly Diving (www.nisd-online.com). beautiful mountains and verdant valleys, private beaches, If you already have submersion gear, then bring it and ski resorts. along to the Palm Islands Park and Nature Reserve, also As opportunities for rural and eco-tourism known as Rabbit Island, off the coast of Tripoli. Come to expand though, locals and visitors alike are discovering see the protected green turtles, rare birds, and the rabbits opportunities to do more than sunbathe by the introduced during the French Mandate. You may also Mediterranean coast or dine rustic-style on the banks catch a glimpse of flying fish and dolphins. of the Assi, Awwali, and Nahr Ibrahim rivers. After last Every year between May and September, turtles lay summer, we don’t blame you if you’re already thinking their eggs on the beaches beside Orange House (www. about how to escape the coming heat. There are plenty of orangehouseproject.com), a Tyre-based conservation ways to do so without leaving the country: organization and bed and breakfast dedicated to turtle An increasing number of tour operators are offering protection. Visitors stay in one of three available rooms and river rafting on the Assi River, such as Responsible have the option of preparing their own meals in the house Mobilities (mobile: 03-218048). Your guide will collect kitchen and/or helping out with conservation activities. you and your friends at Virgin Megastore in downtown If you’re looking for more man-made options, there Beirut, and after a comfortable three-hour ride (with an are always the water parks at Le Royal’s Water Gate (www. optional stop for breakfast in Chtaura), you need only leroyalbeirut.com/watergate) in Dbayeh and Waves strap on your helmet and life vest before gliding away Aqua Park (www.wavespark.net) in Mar Roukoz. between banks dotted with oak, maple, and apricot trees. —S.M. Look out for the wild turtles taking shelter beneath thick bamboo, as well as goats, cows, chickens, and the occasional horse, not to mention curious families relaxing at riverside eateries. Don’t be surprised if somebody calls out: “Khudny ma3akun!” (Take me with you!) Afterwards enjoy a traditional lunch (read: feast) at a village in the Beqa’a, then ride back to the city with your guide. If you’re looking to enjoy calmer waters, then you can opt for a canoe or kayak ride with SkiLeb.com on Nahr al-Kalb (the Dog River), only 15 kilometers from Beirut. Get out on the river and you’re bound to get wet, but if you’re seeking a more immersive experience, then why not snorkel or scuba dive? Explore the 600 meter deep underwater valley between Beirut and the Bay of Jounieh, swim among Phoenician ruins in Jbeil (Byblos), or head over to Khaldé to explore the long abandoned hold of the Souffleur, a World War II-era British submarine. For

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 25 A Journey in the

ArcticRaghida Haddad (BS ’75), executive editor of Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia magazine, was awarded the Earth Journalism Award at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in December 2009 for a series of articles she wrote on climate change. Haddad, the first Arab journalist to travel far into the Arctic Circle, sent us these snapshots of the journey she took in July 2008.

Last night I slept in a swing—at least that’s what it felt like aboard the Canadian research vessel Amundsen as it tossed in the rough Arctic Ocean. Though our boat was an icebreaker, there was very little ice to break. Most of the Arctic ice has melted, leaving only the “permanent” polar ice cap and the ice masses that adhere to Greenland, Alaska, and the Northern Territories. Even they are shrinking at an alarming rate. When I arrived yesterday by helicopter from Banks Island off Canada’s northwestern coast after a long eight- flight journey from sunny Lebanon, I asked the young Inuit Eskimo who greeted us at the air strip how he and the small native population managed to eke out a living in the barren island community of Sachs Harbor. “My people live on fishing and hunting caribou, and on musk ox and the snow geese that land here by the hundreds of thousands,” he said. The villagers also have an annual quota to hunt 28 polar bears that they sell for their hides, “but we have not filled our quota in the past years. Fewer bears are showing up.” The Inuit, who have lived here for thousands of years, rely on ice floes in the straits to cross to other islands for hunting. With unprecedented high temperatures in the Arctic, ice is melting earlier in the spring and surface water is freezing later in the fall. This is one of the concerns of the 50 scientists I was about to

Top left: Inuit children on Banks Island Left: Lone polar bear, an increasingly rare sight 26 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Banks Island Inuvik

Norman Wells Yellow Knife Edmonton

San Francisco Paris

Beirut

meet who are studying climate change in an area where it appears to be taking its heaviest toll. With 24 hours of daylight, it is never too late in the day to do something. One “night” I went on deck to observe the midnight sun and found four researchers on a motorboat inspecting buoys that mark the location of equipment immersed in the ocean. Three other scientists were carrying water samples from the Rosette, a huge apparatus with 24 computer-controlled cylinders that collect water at various depths, some reaching as far down as 900 meters. Cristina Romera from Spain was collecting water samples for the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar in Barcelona to study the presence of chlorophyll, bacteria, viruses, and other Arctic microorganisms. Heike Link, a German researcher, was in one of the ship’s 12 labs with trays of starfish, clams, worms, and other creatures, documenting their diversity and abundance and the role they play in the ecosystem. I also met Hayley Hung, a chemical engineer from Environment Canada, who leads an international study to measure persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury in the air in the pan-Pacific region. POPs have been found at dangerously high levels in some Arctic marine mammals consumed locally. The Arctic has lost more than a third of its ice since satellite measurements began about 30 years ago.

Monitoring arctic air www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 27 A record meltdown in summer 2007 fully opened the mainly from burning fuels for industry, transportation, Northwest Passage to navigation. If melting continues at and electricity. However, there are those who insist this rate, some scientists project that the Arctic summer otherwise. “Yes, the Arctic is warming now, but it will be could be ice-free as early as 2013. “Over two million cooling again within three years,” said my friend Andrej square kilometers of polar ice pack disappeared between Rubchenya, a Russian oceanographer and assistant 2003 and 2008,” said Gary Stern, chief scientist on the professor at St. Petersburg State University. “There are Amundsen. Described as earth’s air conditioner, the eras of warming and eras of cooling. Carbon emissions Arctic helps cool the planet with its white, sun-reflecting could be a slight factor in the process of global warming, sea ice. With the Arctic warming about twice as fast as but unless a thousand nuclear bombs are detonated, I the rest of the globe in recent decades, the increased can’t imagine any human force able to encounter the melting will reduce this cooling process, disrupting mighty powers of nature.” He concluded, “Climate marine ecosystems and devastating wildlife. The change is just a political issue.” warming is particularly disastrous for polar bears that In August 2007, two Russian legislators in a small use ice floes as a means of transportation to hunt seals. submarine planted a Russian flag on the seabed of the As ice melts, bears get stuck on isolated ice floes and North Pole to assert that country’s claim to 1.2 million drown trying to swim towards land or another floe. square kilometers, about half the floor of the Arctic Scientists widely believe now that ice melting is Ocean. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen due to global warming caused by carbon emissions, Harper announced plans to build two military bases in the Canadian Arctic. With ice melting fast, the issue now is who will own the possibly huge mineral deposits buried under the Arctic floor. Some estimate that the Arctic could hold about 25 percent of the world’s

Page 28: Scientists from the Amundsen icebreaker testing ice and water Page 29 clockwise from top: Haddad receiving the Earth Journalism Award; working in the ship’s lab; spider from the deep; thinning ice

28 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate undiscovered oil and natural gas. As Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Norway assert their rights here, there is increased risk of conflict or a new kind of cold war. Should the ice continue to thaw, the Northwest Passage could become a commercial navigation channel. Although Canada claims sovereignty over this passage, other maritime countries insist that the Northwest Passage should be open to international traffic, just like other strategic waterways. Former US Coast Guard Lt. Commander Scott Borgerson warned that “unless Washington leads the way toward a multilateral diplomatic resolution, the Arctic could become a flashpoint of competing interests.” When I returned from my trip, my six-year-old niece asked me: “Did you see Santa Claus?” I saw many amazing sights, but not Santa. Yet, if he does live in the North Pole, I hope he can water ski!

—Raghida Haddad (BS ’75): [email protected]

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 29 ater orries Lucy Semerjian Can Help Lucy Semerjian (AUB BS ’94, MS ’00; University of Bradford, UK, PhD ’05), a research associate and coordinator of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture’s Environmental Engineering Research Center, tells us what we always wanted to know about water in Lebanon but didn’t know whom to ask.

ucy Semerjian: Well, it f you’re boiling the water, for Is it safe to Ldepends from what tap. Isure you’re killing the germs What about in drink water Water reaching our household and removing chemicals that cooking? Can I from the tap? taps through the government volatilize, like volatile solvents, pipes may come out clean from trihalomethanes, and chlorine, use tap water the major water treatment plants, but this doesn’t mean that you’re to boil an egg but sometimes it is recontaminated while passing through removing other contaminants or make pasta? pipes or residents’ storage tanks. It’s wise to clean the like metals, pesticides or visible tanks periodically—every six months or whenever you sediment and dirt, that will stay see suspended material in the water—and to keep a bit even after boiling. Treated water of extra chlorine in them to prevent recontamination can be used for cooking but again it’s wiser to test the or regrowth of any germs or bacteria. Of course, the water quality at least once per year for better judgment. taps just fed by private wells are not recommended for drinking purposes. They need proper testing; they might ypically, you have either government water pumped be suitable, but for sure they need quality analysis. Tup from somewhere in the basement through water distribution pipes to the roof of the building, or many llegal means they don’t have any buildings have drilled their own wells and they use that Are “illegal Ilicense to be drilled. The problems water for showering and cleaning and other “domestic” wells” a start when there are many wells and purposes, not for drinking. everybody is pumping from these When demand is higher problem in How can I tell wells, using a lot of water, and causing where the water than supply or there is Lebanon? the water volume to decrease, so any water shortage, some pollutant coming into them will be in my building buildings buy water in of very high concentration. Another comes from? tankers. The source of problem, especially for coastal areas and during the end of water may also vary the summer, is seawater intrusion due to over-pumping, seasonally for the same which means sea water will mix with your groundwater, location; for example, in winter a building might be using and this will increase the salinity and hardness of the the public or the well source and in the summer when water, making it unpleasant to consumers and damaging to there is a shortage, the building might shift to using other distribution pipes and water heating elements. sources of water such as the purchase of water in tankers.

30 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate ’ve done a recent study on Is it safe to ndeed, the water that we have is classified as hard Ithis: We have many bottled drink so much I(total hardness >300 mg/L as CaCO3), and that means water brands, and according it is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, bottled water? ater to the 2008 Beverage because of our geology, which is limestone. Limestone Marketing Corporation, has many minerals, and they end up in the water Lebanon was categorized as the eighth leading country because of ion dissolution or exchange between the for per capita consumption of bottled water within the water and the surroundings. Healthwise it’s not a orries global bottled water market. The regular brand names problem to drink hard water, licensed by the Ministry of Health—they follow up on though this issue has recently the quality of water and are fine, but there are many become more controversial. Of What does it other brands that are not licensed, not monitored, and course, we’re talking within mean when it’s sometimes come from questionable sources that may not limits, not extremely hard water. be safe to drink. Even if they are packaged, labeled, and When it comes to showering frequently said sealed, still the water might be contaminated. in hard water, you’ll need more that Lebanese As far as the major brand names are concerned, soap to make it foam, and you’ll water is “hard”? they come in several packages—from 500 cc up to 19 feel that your hair is drier, but liter containers—and the disposable containers are less it’s not really harmful up to a risky because one tends to drink and dispose of them. certain level, probably up to 350-400 mg/L as CaCO3. The larger containers are reused and they need special People who are used to soft water may be more sensitive cleaning. Also, consumers might be contaminating to hard water. Now the problem of hard water is more the water by not cleaning their coolers. So there are with the piping systems, because when you have high measures that have to be taken to make sure that one is concentrations of calcium, these will form scales and drinking safe, packaged water. they could ruin the pipes and water heating elements. And there is the vended water, where people buy water in filled but not sealed containers or fill their own n urban settings, there’s a higher chance of refill containers. This vended water is usually stored in Icontamination because of the industries, the big tanks that might not be regularly cleaned, and the seawater intrusion problem, overpopulation, and active source of the water might not be that safe. transportation; the demand is much higher than in the villages or rural settings, plus more sources of water pollution exist. Also, because construction work could f you’re seeing particles in the accidentally break wastewater pipes. Rural settings tend water, if you’re smelling something How do you I to be cleaner, but contamination different—these are for sure indicators know that you could come from agricultural that something is wrong with the activities. We’re talking about should get water and that it should be tested, but Why is the water pesticides, nitrates, chemicals your water it doesn’t mean that clear and non- in the cities used in farming. Rural areas also odorous water is always safe, because tested? tend to use groundwater, and it considered to be you might have contamination even is easier to protect such water if there’s no visible change. So it’s less clean than than city water, where many advisable to test the water at least once per year (better the water in the uncontrolled activities occur. seasonally) or whenever you see something wrong mountains and with it, smell-wise or aesthetic-wise. At the end of the summer is the best time, because the water quality will countryside? be at its worst—the volume is low so the concentration of pollutants, if there are any present, will be high.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 31 lthough we have a good Aamount of rain compared Why are to other countries in the there water region, the precipitation period shortages in is short and the amount of Climate Change precipitation is decreasing by Lebanon? the year. We have heavy rain in December and January but MainGate sat down with Nadim most of the precipitated water goes out to the sea and is Farajalla to talk about how climate not exploited. These are the natural and geological factors. change will affect water resources Other factors include mismanagement, population growth and development—especially because our peak water in Lebanon. In addition to being an demand is in the dry season—and irrigation practices. On associate professor of hydrology and the other hand, contamination is caused by the lack of water resources, Farajalla was a wastewater treatment with much discharge into surface research faculty director at the Issam water resources. Fares Institute’s Research and Policy Forum on Climate Change and the he solution is teamwork What can Tcoupled with an integrated Environment in the Arab World. be done to approach to water resource management: rainwater harvesting You recently said that climate improve the and dams, effective wastewater change was an opportunity for situation? treatment schemes, institutional reforms and capacity building, Lebanon. What did you mean and raising awareness at various by that? public and private levels. Water conservation schemes are adim Farajalla: Everyone involved in the water needed especially in the irrigation sector: efficient water Nsector in Lebanon has known for some time use, water pollution prevention, proper metering and that there are serious problems related to water adequate cost recovery (i.e. collection of fees), and legal management in the country—problems related to water connections mandated and monitored by regulatory irregular water supply, waste, depletion of water authorities and adhered to by consumers. In short, supply sources, pollution, intrusion into rivers and flood and demand management by all concerned stakeholders is plains, flooding, etc. Despite widespread recognition necessary. that these serious problems exist, however, very few people have offered constructive suggestions. I think that the whole issue of climate change introduces a sense of urgency that could transform the debate about o get your water tested, contact Lucy Semerjian at water in Lebanon in a very positive way, which is why TAUB Ext. 3500/1/2, Monday through Friday, between I see it as an opportunity. 8 am and 5 pm. The Environmental Engineering Research Center charges a range of fees for testing done for non- How is climate change impacting academic purposes; funds go to restocking lab supplies. Lebanon’s water resources? any of the impacts in Lebanon are the same ones —S.M. Mthat are being felt throughout the world. Climate change is leading to significant changes in precipitation

32 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Climate Change Threat or Opportunity?

(both rainfall and snowfall) patterns—in the amount What type of response has there of precipitation, in its predictability, and also in its been to your proposal? intensity. This is having an impact on the agricultural hat I hear most often is that nothing can be done sector, disrupting planting and cropping patterns because of the political situation, because of thereby decreasing the productivity of Lebanon’s W petty politics, etc. The current minister of energy and agricultural land. water (Gebran Bassil), however, has proven that this is In addition, because of the decrease in snow cover, not the case. Even though he is a high profile member there is less surface and ground water, which also has an of an opposition party, he has been able to push forward impact on the agricultural sector, of course, but also has with actions and plans with support from political serious health implications because there is less dilution opponents. This shows that if there is a champion for a of pollutants in our water supply. cause, politics is not an obstacle.

What is Lebanon doing to deal with Is there anything people can do the effects of climate change? on an individual level that will lthough there have been some individual efforts help to alleviate the pressure on Aat the ministerial level—the Ministry of Energy and Water has a ten-year plan, for example—there is Lebanon’s water resources? currently no comprehensive national plan to address eople can—and should—teach their children to be anticipated climate changes. Pwater-conscious and to save water by turning the tap off when brushing their teeth, by taking showers instead of filling bathtubs, etc. (By the way, it’s not What do you think Lebanon should just children who need to learn to be water-conscious. do? Adults, for example, should learn to turn the tap off ebanon needs to improve water resources when shaving and when they are lathering up in the Lmanagement on both the national and local levels. shower.) Individuals can also install in their homes and workplaces some of the many water saving devices that I made a presentation at the UNDP recently in which are now available such as dual flush toilets, automated I outlined a national water management plan based on and/or timed water faucets, low-head showers, etc. These three main components: demand management for water devices can lead to a decrease of 15 to 20 percent in the (both for agricultural uses, which currently account for amount of water used in the home. There are also things 67 to 70 percent of the total demand, and for domestic we can do related to recycling grey water and black use, which is relatively small at the moment compared water, which will affect water demand. to agricultural demand, but is growing rapidly); water Although the role of politicians and public officials storage (such as reservoirs, hill lakes, groundwater is important in addressing this issue, “charity begins at recharge, and dams); and also the development of home.” alternative water sources through the use of treated sewage effluent, desalinization, and water harvesting. We need to tackle all three areas.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 33 Prepare to get wet next summer! saving ater Water means life. Without it • There is also a complementary non-piped water supply system from a private well outside the nothing thrives. Where water is village that is delivered to households by cisterns. in short supply, contaminated, In addition, many people buy bottled water or or otherwise compromised, water supplied by water shops. the health and future of a Water contamination, primarily community is threatened. bacteriological, was verified by the presence of total and fecal coliform bacteria; this was probably due to sewage discharge through cesspools in As part of the Faculty of Health Sciences the absence of a sewage network, which led to (FHS) Community Engagement and Services a contamination of the source. The situation Initiative in the town of Zawtar El Charkieh is compounded because the water distribution (ZeC) in southern Lebanon, the Department process is not disinfected. of Environmental Health, led by Professor May Jurdi, In the short-term, simple but effective measures has analyzed the local water supply to insure it is safe for including regular water quality tests, flushing and domestic consumption. cleaning the storage system, and strict water treatment The brief was to assess water quality from source to procedures can be taken to ensure proper water end user at the household level and identify short-term disinfection and an acceptable free chlorine level in the management actions and long-term strategies to improve distribution network. water quality. In addition, Jurdi and her colleagues FHS has shared the study’s findings with the gathered data to inform decision makers and researchers municipality and the south Lebanon water authorities as they considered different approaches they might adopt to insure the implementation and monitoring of the in rural areas of other developing countries to ensure proposed interventions. The faculty will continue testing sustainable access to safe drinking water. water quality (including new unregulated water supply ZeC in the Nabatiyeh province of southern outlets that appear regularly in response to increasing Lebanon has around 600 households water demands) as well as teaching water treatment comprising some 4,000 residents. In addition procedures to keep the supply networks clean and to concerns about the quality of their drinking to disinfect the water. water, local residents also worried about the A second component of the ZeC water potential toxic effects of the July 2006 war. project, which was introduced in summer 2009, was ZeC water comes from a variety of sources: an assessment of recreational river water in a popular • Al-Beer network pumped from a well inside the swimming/camping spot on the Litani River. The team village to a sole storage tank from which it is conducted tests in 2009 and again in summer 2010 distributed by gravity to community households. for comparison and verification and identified specific • Nabeh Al-Tassi network supplied from a spring locations as being particularly susceptible to pollution. outside the village from which it is pumped and “We have given our recommendations and are confident distributed directly to the households. In both that they will be taken on board, “says Jurdi. “We cases, the networks operate only intermittently and will follow up again next summer.” the water is stored in tanks. —M.A.

34 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate secret Life— or death— of sea urchins

In one incarnation, Carol Sukhn supervises toxicology marine biodiversity has been destroyed. Every so often analyses in AUB’s Environmental Core Laboratory, testing garbage inevitably falls into the water. It has covered the food, water, soil, petroleum products, human sperm, substrate and now only a few organisms grow, nothing and much more. She is also a marine biology doctoral thrives. The sea urchins that remain are accumulating candidate exploring the murky waters off the coast of toxicants. As they are at the center of the marine food Sidon at the site of Lebanon’s infamous garbage mountain. chain and are vital to it, their demise is a disaster.” For her dissertation entitled “Ecotoxicological Sukhn is analyzing the toxic bioaccumulation in all Studies on the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus off the parts of the sea urchin, looking for significant differences Lebanese Coast,” Sukhn is using sea urchins as a bio- that can be correlated with distance from a polluted indicator of pollution to analyze whether proximity to a site. To further understand the toxic differences in the major source of pollution affects the number and size of urchin’s body parts, she is using an in vitro cocktail a living organism. of toxicants (including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, Sukhn has spent seven years collecting samples pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria) to determine the in water so dirty that it was not safe for her to dive. rate and concentration of bioaccumulation, which she She has had to rely instead on invaluable help from plans then to extrapolate and apply to the broader field. Lebanese Army divers whose availability was sometimes She has also tested Paracentrotus lividus for its ability compromised by the national emergencies Lebanon faced to cleanse itself of the toxins either naturally or through between 2006 and 2008. chelation (a chemical therapy that helps the body bind During those seven years, Sukhn has seen the sea and excrete toxic metal) to assess fully its role as a bio- urchin population shrink and almost disappear through monitor for pollution. Given that heavily polluted sea a combination of pollution and over-fishing. Although urchins are poisonous to both human and marine life, the urchins reproduce between May and their toxic condition is of great significance. September when fishing is officially Sukhn is currently on leave in Australia prohibited, no one is enforcing writing up her thesis. the law. “We have a dead sea —M.A. off Sidon,” Sukhn says. “It is not a sea, it is a desert. The

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 35 Calling for a network of marine reserves in Something amazing is happening off the Lebanese coast. Lebanon before Ask any marine biologist and he’ll tell you that amazing things are always happening in the oceans it’s too late that cover 71 percent of the earth’s surface. Still the Mediterranean Sea does have some unique bragging rights. It may make up only 0.7 percent of those ocean waters, but it is home to at least six percent of their biodiversity. For Michel Bariche, associate professor of marine hundreds of new species have been making a one-way biology at AUB, there are prolific reasons to care about trek through the passage opened from the Red Sea into protecting the Mediterranean and its marine life from the Mediterranean. What is amazing is what they have to a range of relentless threats—even if you didn’t happen do to stay. to grow up wandering the Lebanese coastline and “Just to give you an idea: One fish—it spawns over wondering about the water that lapped at its shores. One eight months in the Red Sea,” Bariche says. “Off the in particular he calls a “lifetime project.” coast of Lebanon, it was shown to spawn in only two Since the building of the Suez Canal in 1869, months.” In order to survive, the fish had to reproduce

36 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate before the onset of a cold season that doesn’t exist in its practices along the shore line, the near absence of former tropical habitat. In other words, it adapted. limits on tourist and recreational marine activities, the “By digging the Suez Canal, we connected two expulsion of untreated waste water into the sea and, oceans that otherwise could have been connected over perhaps most catastrophically, the imminent collapse of geological times, over millions of years,” he explains. the local fishing industry. “We are witnessing a flow of organisms from the Indo- “If you ask someone from the government, they’ll Pacific to the Mediterranean, and we’re observing tell you that we have very good rules and they are not evolution live.” What geographers call the Levantine enforced. I don’t agree,” Bariche says. “I think that our basin, a sea area between Egypt and Turkey, forms the rules are not enforced—that is true. But we don’t have entrance to one of the few places in the world where very good rules.” Many Lebanese laws haven’t been scientists can watch ongoing evolution, where they don’t updated since they were instituted during the French have to rely on an incomplete and arbitrarily amassed Mandate. fossil record, according to Bariche. For the Bariche wanted to dedicate his career to this last few years, 5 research, but he quickly realized that he also needed Bariche has to play an active role in persuading others to see value teamed up in the oceans and to inspire them to band 2 together to make marine life less vulnerable. Persistent dangers include environmentally irresponsible building 4 1

3

with the international environmental NGO Greenpeace, writing two recent scientific reports supporting a recommendation to create

1. Small fishes: a clear sign of overfishing a network of 18 marine reserves along the (Ouzai, fish market) 2. Dead dog washed up on shore Lebanese coastline, in addition to the two that (Saida, beside garbage dump) already exist: the Palm Island Natural Park (also 3. Chemical and thermal pollution (Zouk, electric power plant) known as Rabbit Island) off the coast near Tripoli and 4. Bovine guts on sandy beach (Daura, north of Karantina slaugterhouse) the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve. 5. Abu Charbel repairing his nets (Daoura, fishermen’s port) The collaboration is a natural one, in part because Greenpeace’s local oceans campaigner, Garabed Kazanjian

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 37 (BS ’07), is one of Bariche’s graduate students. Kazanjian enemies, he says. “The fishermen are the best people to calls the 2009 report “a very important tool, something protect their own land…and you cannot do anything concrete to provide to the politicians and key players that is against the will of a fisherman.” It is will, [and] to push for better policies to manage coastal life.” however, that local fishermen increasingly lack. Bariche purposely selected areas far from or with “All over the world, the fisherman wants to keep limited human activity, including the airport and port of the tradition; he wants his son to be a fisherman— Beirut (both of which have a military presence), the Tyre except here,” Bariche says. “They want their kids to do peninsula, the Damour estuary, and the Raouche cliffs medicine or to travel.” Meanwhile, mounting fatalism and caves along the coast. (To read the full report and has made over fishing chronic. “It’s like all the people at list of proposed reserves, go to http://www.greenpeace. AUB decided that AUB would not function anymore, and org/raw/content/lebanon/ar/press/reports/network-of- let’s rob it,” he says. marine-reserves-en.pdf). The marine reserves, Bariche wants to convey, are The proposal fits not a net to ensnare fishermen, but a lifeline the industry into a larger campaign sorely needs; along with other measures, they can by Greenpeace to make fishing sustainable again. establish “a global 1. Dead sea gull: hunting or In the Mediterranean region, and especially bioaccumulation? (Batrun) network of marine 2. Sea bottom after blast fishing (Northern reserves covering Lebanon) 4 3. Small mesh beach seine towing: a 40 percent of the destructive fishing method (Khaldeh) world’s oceans,” 4. Endangered sea turtles easily caught in longlines (Enfe) according to the organization’s official website. 2

1

3

The Lebanese network also needs to be treated as one entity, Bariche emphasizes. “If one location is not feasible, we should look for another similar location; otherwise something will be lacking.” At the same time, Bariche says most of the reserves must allow some human activity—contrary to Greenpeace’s original plan—in order to be feasible in a small country like Lebanon. It is also essential that fishermen not be treated as

38 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate in Lebanon, marine biologists also remain an endangered Both say students have to weigh their own species. Kazanjian says Bariche is one of only a handful interests against the potential dampening influence of marine biologists in Lebanon, all of whom have of an unsupportive environment. Right now, no large different specialties. “When we have such opportunities research institutes exist in Lebanon, and there is little or job vacancies, there aren’t enough [qualified] people funding for studies and a dearth of data from previous applying,” he says. decades. “When I did my sampling Kazanjian himself majored in biology and he after the [2006] oil spill, it would estimates that of about 150 peers who graduated with have been very beneficial to be him, more than 100 went to medical school. Fewer than able to compare my samples a couple of dozen others opted to do graduate work in with those taken before biology. “If Lebanon wants to establish itself 7 5. Professor Bariche preparing as a global scientific for a dive (Ras Chakaa)) 6. Industrial water cooling, another source of community, not just pollution (Selaata) touristic… we have to 7. Marine biology students sampling for a lab session (Palm Islands) create the opportunity 8. A sewage-filled river (Tripoli, Nahr Abu Ali) for the research to be 9. Beirut Corniche on a clear day (Ras feasible in the country Beirut) and [that’s] how more people will be drawn

6 8

5 9

into the field.” the oil spill,” Kazanjian says. The Both Kazanjian and Nancy Sayar only samples he could find were (BS ’05, MS ’07) deepened their own taken by an American in the ’60s. knowledge of marine biology by going on The opportunity to contribute report-related field trips with Bariche. For Sayar, teaching is clear, Sayar says, but so are the drawbacks. “It’s a the department’s marine biology course presented another bit more appealing, because there is a lot of work to opportunity to learn more, following her degrees in be done,” she says of the field. “But also people general biology. “Basically, I was learning, for the last year, should appreciate it more.” about everything … so at the end of the summer, I was personally engaged in this field.” She and Kazanjian are —S.M. both trying to decide whether they should pursue PhDs.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 39 H a r b o r i n g History How the Phoenicians tamed the sea and created an empire

The Phoenicians of ancient Lebanon created the world’s merchants from Egypt came to Byblos to trade for logs of first maritime mercantile empire. Sailing in ships of cedar for use in temples, palaces, and to build even more cedar, they traded throughout the Mediterranean and ships. The importance of Byblos in these ancient times out into the Atlantic Ocean. Their ships were innovative, is attested not only by ancient texts, but by the temple influencing ship design for centuries. They were also at Byblos filled with anchors given to the gods in return influential in another way—they were the first to create for safe, and profitable, sea journeys. At about 1200 BC, harbors on the sea. many of the eastern Mediterranean cities and cultures Harbors are the nexus, or connecting point were destroyed by invaders from the north known as the between land and water. They provide protection Sea Peoples. Byblos from this point on was supplanted from the elements and give merchants access to the in importance by the two southern giants Sidon and goods of the land. At first, harbors were simply places Tyre. that afforded natural shelter to ships, such as behind Sidon was a center of ancient glass making, an island or next to a peninsula. These suited small exporting glass throughout the Mediterranean world. watercraft for millennia, but as ships and fleets grew Together with the production of purple dye from the larger in response to greater trading opportunities, murex sea snail, the city thrived on international harbors needed to adapt. At the same time, changes in commerce. Little remains today of ancient Sidon—much the environment, such as rising sea levels, threatened is lost under modern construction—though the ancient to make natural harbors along the Lebanese coast harbor remains alive with fishing boats and other unusable. By the Iron Age, about 3,000 years ago, the watercraft. The harbor at Sidon is, however, more than Phoenicians had made the ingenious leap forward by just a place for boats to call home: it is a testament modifying the coastal seascape to accommodate their to Phoenician inventiveness. Modifications to the ships and protect their seaside cities. coastal seascape enabled the Sidonians to keep their Three great harbor cities dominated Lebanon’s harbors functioning for centuries. Such engineering ancient sea coast: Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre. Byblos, or feats included a system of sluice gates carved out of the Gebail, is perhaps the oldest seafaring city in Lebanon. natural rock to cleanse the harbor of silt carried on the With remains dating back to the Stone Age, 7,000 years northward flowing current. Perhaps more importantly, ago, Byblos was the key city in ancient Lebanon linking protective walls and quays were carved out of the solid the resources of the hinterland to the desires and needs rock. The Phoenicians developed this technique to deal of the Egyptians. Sailing in wooden ships, crews and with the gradual immersion of natural protective barriers

40 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Harbor in Tyre www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 41 that had served well enough in earlier periods but were the island and its harbors from the ravages of the sea. now less effective. One way they created these walls and Although much of the ancient harbor and city now quays was to cut solid blocks on the landward side of lie under modern construction, it is still possible to rocky outcrop and then stack these blocks on top of the see some impressive examples of the ancient harbor remaining outcrop, thereby creating walls with sheltered technology underwater both at the entrance to the quays behind them. Another technique was to cut stone northern harbor, where a stone-built jetty of uncertain from both sides of an outcrop leaving a solid rock wall date was constructed, and at the “Egyptian Harbor” on standing between harbor and sea. the city’s southern edge where wall tops outline the now The rock-cut protective walls in Sidon no submerged area. longer exist; they were demolished to build a modern The innovations first seen at Sidon and Tyre were breakwater and for the construction of the new harbor- prototypes for what eventually evolved into harbor side road—but the technique can still be seen today to construction where none had existed before. During the the north of Sidon on Ziri Island. Here a man-made flat first few centuries of the first millennium BC, Phoenician platform of cut rock on the protected, landward side engineering skills were transferred to colonies in Sicily of the island was created as a mooring place for ships and most notably to Carthage in Tunisia where a new and is still used as a landing place for boats. Another feat—a superb double harbor—served both commercial Lebanese site better illustrates what has been lost at and military purposes. The harbor at Carthage enabled Sidon: at the ancient city of Batroun, massive solid the Phoenicians to dominate the western Mediterranean rock walls, several meters high, still stand facing the for centuries until the Romans began their expansion sea protecting the settlement behind it as well as the out of Italy in the third century BC. entrances to the city’s harbors. Although the harbors of Lebanon have yielded Like Sidon, the harbor city of Tyre has existed much information about the capabilities and activities of since at least the fourth millennium BC. Spanning both the Phoenicians, further explorations will undoubtedly an island and a mainland settlement, Tyre was well reveal even greater insights into the ancient harbors of positioned to be a center of Mediterranean trade and Lebanon and perhaps to far flung Phoenician ports of power until it was conquered by Alexander the Great in call yet to be discovered. 323 BC. In deep antiquity the island of Tyre was larger, but over time the sea level rose and the land subsided, —Ralph K. Pedersen, PhD, teaches nautical thus shrinking it. Over the course of the second archaeology at the Philipps-Universität Marburg. From millennium BC, Phoenician engineering skills 2006 to 2008, he was the Whittlesey Chair Visiting were put to the test once again as Assistant Professor at AUB. it became necessary to secure

Batroun

42 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street legends and legacies Daniel Bliss’s “Prof”

Although his father was one of six moved permanently to Beirut, Dodge explain to him the nature of the work, people to sign the Syrian Protestant worked closely with Bliss, not only the aims and spirit of the College, to College’s Certificate of Incorporation to find a site for the new College, make sure that the applicant for a on April 14, 1863 and also laid but also to “solve all engineering and position had the right conception and 3 the cornerstone of College Hall in construction problems, supervise the the right motive.” Not surprisingly 1871, it was David Stuart Dodge laying of every stone and iron beam, perhaps, Daniel Bliss often referred to 4 (1836-1921) who “truly represented Dodge as “The Prof.” in his person the entire history of the A year after Dodge died in 1921, 1 institution.” In addition to being a his great-nephew Bayard became member of the Board of Trustees for president of AUB—a position he would 40 years, serving at various times as hold until 1948. Bayard’s father, its secretary, treasurer, and presi- Cleveland H. Dodge, founded the dent, Dodge was appointed the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation College’s first faculty member that continues to support AUB. in 1864 and achieved the posi- Bayard’s son, also named David tions of chair of English and Stuart Dodge, became a lifetime Latin (1869-73) and later pro- champion of AUB, serving as fessor of modern languages trustee (1961-2009), adminis- (1880-81). trator, acting president (1981- Born in New York City, 82), and president (1996-97) Dodge was a graduate of before he died in January Yale College (1857) and the 2009. Union Theological Seminary One of the many gifts (1860) and was also an ordained Dodge made to the College Presbyterian minister. Dodge first was for the construction of Ada heard about the plans to estab- Dodge Memorial Hall in memory lish a college in Beirut when Daniel of his daughter, who died in 1883 Bliss addressed a meeting of the at the age of 21. In addition to Ada American Board of Foreign Missions Dodge Memorial Hall, AUB is also in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1862 home to Mary Dodge Hall, named shortly after Dodge and his wife for Bayard’s wife, Mary Bliss Dodge, returned from a visit to Palestine and pay the workmen, and, in fact, be the grand-daughter of AUB Syria. Both he and his father, William always present and give attention to founder Daniel Bliss. E. Dodge, who cofounded the Phelps every detail.”2 Dodge Corporation (a very successful Even though he was not a per- 1 mining firm) with his father-in-law in Stephen B. L. Penrose, Jr. That They May Have manent member of the faculty, Dodge Life: The Story of the American University of Beirut 1832, were sufficiently impressed with was deeply involved in the academic 1866-1941, p. 207. 2 The Founding Fathers of the American University what they heard that day to offer not life of the College as well: “It was his of Beirut: Biographies, compiled by Ghada Yusuf Khoury, p. 77. just financial support, but logistical custom to see personally every man 3 Ibid., p. 78. 4 assistance as well. Although he never appointed to a teaching position, to Daniel Bliss, Letters from a New Campus, p. 261.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 43 Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile Bandin Between Mashrou’ Leila makes the music they need to hear It’s a warm Thursday night in mid-October and most of the seven members of Mashrou’ Leila are lugging heavy equip- ment down to a rented base- ment studio in Geitawi. As soon as they’ve plugged in and checked the sound, they start to play.

44 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile

Their next performance at the 2010 Haig Papazian and keyboardist Doha Tribeca Film Festival is just a Omaya Malaeb—both received their week away and they’re wasting no bachelor’s degrees in architecture in time picking up where they left off at 2008—turned down opportunities to the Byblos International Festival, their work abroad in order to see where first and most recent big time gig. the band might go. “And now we’re These days, band members are waiting for others to graduate and in between a lot more than two high- see if they’re willing to make the same profile bookings. sacrifice,” Malaeb says. You don’t Mashrou’ Leila’s songs—consist- need to tell someone in their early 20s ently folksy, feisty, tender, frank, and that a lot can happen in a year or two. transporting—lately show a synth-rock Indeed, it already has. influence. They sing exclusively in Lebanese Arabic, often about topics not discussed openly in Lebanese society. What would become the group, Their music forms an intimate Mashrou’ Leila, began in early 2008 record of the rapid changes in their with a simple suggestion by Papazian, lives and world, increasingly a sig- Malaeb, and guitarist Andre Chedid nificant draw for young Arabs tired (BAR ’09): If we can’t find time to of the bland pop ballads dominat- rehearse regularly in other bands, why ing the airwaves. Mashrou’ Leila has don’t we try bringing together musi- not been able to tap fully into this cians in the department? audience because the band’s first They posted a handwritten self-titled album cannot yet be legally notice, and more than a dozen people purchased online. attended the first meeting, including Mashrou’ Leila emerged just three an instructor with a melodica and an years ago from AUB’s Department accordion player. Over a period of of Architecture and Design—a place weeks though, individuals peeled away, they haven’t completely left. Violinist revealing a core group with vocalist

Left: Benefit concert at AUB

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 45 Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile

Hamed Sinno (BGD ’11), guitarist accent, even while I was singing, was and only doing stuff if they had a Firas Abou Fakhr (BAR ’11), and ridiculous,” he says. “I sounded like a concert coming up,” Badr says. “If it drummer Carl Gerges (BAR ’11) stick- tourist.” He made a determined effort weren’t for him pushing us like that, ing around. Bassist Ibrahim “Bob” to improve: talking with more people [our progress] would have been much Badr (BE ’09) gravitated into the band in Arabic, reading the newspaper, and slower,” Malaeb volunteers. about nine months later. listening to endless Arabic pop—then Badr continues to perform the Meanwhile, then-department head trying not to sound too much like it. same function, but in a different role Professor Leila Musfy asked the group He concludes: “I guess a lot of people since he left Beirut to pursue a mas- to perform at a design exhibition open- have this problem, because most of us ter’s degree at the Massachusetts ing, and that meant they needed a are people in between languages.” Institute of Technology in Cambridge, name. “We went from ‘Overnight’ to Massachusetts. During summers and ‘Nuit Blanche’ in French and then to vacations he returns to Lebanon and ‘Leily’ and then, oh, ‘Mashrou’ Leily,’ The story of Mashrou’ Leila, as the rehearses with the band as he once so it means ‘night’s project’ or ‘What’s members tell it, is grounded in a series did. The group has turned down tonight’s project?” Chedid says. “And of fortuitous events, the mounting concert organizers who declined to Photography by Tanya Traboulsi Photography Tanya by

then we said, Okay, that’s a cool enthusiasm of their broadening fan pay for his airline ticket during the name—let’s say Mashrou’ Leila instead base, and a well-timed radio con- school year. of Mashrou’ Leily.” test that culminated in the release At this point anyway, they see little At the outset, they made a delib- of an unexpectedly popular album in distinction between their commitment to erate decision to sing in Lebanese December 2009. the band and their commitment to one Arabic. “What we felt was missing in “Right after our first concert at another. What is Mashrou’ Leila after all our culture was music in Arabic that AUB, we said, Okay this is serious,” if not the sum of their collective talents we could relate to,” Malaeb explains. Chedid recalls. “But our definition of and strikingly divergent influences? “We felt like we could relate much more serious back then wasn’t what it is “Since we started, we kind of to songs in English than to the Arabic now.” Other band members confirm have this folky kind of side to us,” music that’s available here and that’s that and say that their seriousness Chedid says. “If, say, I want to write kind of frustrating.” has multiplied with each opportunity to music for myself, that’s not the music Not all of the band members grow, not to mention the influence of that I would write, you know, not that felt confident at first about singing Badr, whose engineering background style, but we kind of told each other to in Arabic; Sinno even goes so far initially elicited some skepticism. think in that style while we’re writing… as to disparage his language abilities. “Before I joined they were practic- because we could come up with any- “When we first started playing, my ing once every two or three weeks thing. It can sound good, but we still

46 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile

have to maintain a [distinctive] sound.” reach an end product,” he says. “You to take on and master the manage- Although Sinno usually writes the just have to present it at some point.” ment responsibilities they now share. lyrics, the band as a whole composes Perfection then is not possible, “In Lebanon, you don’t really have the the music. Doing so effectively meant but integrity is still worth striving for: concept of a ‘band,’” Gerges says. learning to listen in a different way, “We’re trying to create music that “You don’t have managers and firms Abou Fakhr says. “If you’re a guitarist every one of us is happy with, and that working with bands. They only work … somehow something happens; it’s every one of us feels says something with individuals and pop stars.” not conscious, but you end up focus- about ourselves.” If they can attract one of the larger ing a lot on the guitar part of the song Malaeb invokes one song, “Shem production companies, of course, they and then, after you play with the band el Yasmine” (“Smell the Jasmine”) to won’t need to worry about manage- for a really long time, the umbrella of illustrate her take on the band’s appeal. ment, but to do that they’ll have to sounds becomes much more impor- “I mean [Hamed’s] basically saying, prove they can be profitable, Badr tant. At some point, you really start to I wanted to wash your floors and says. Until now, they’ve invested all listen to the song all together, as one feed your kids. The simplest sentences their profits into the music: a new block of music, while also differentiat- convey a sense of intimacy that really sound system, better equipment, and Photography by Tanya Traboulsi Photography Tanya by Traboulsi Photography Tanya by

The band at the Byblos Festival ing between what every element is only couples can understand. And… a rehearsal space. doing and when.” because he talks from experience, It’s tough splitting their time This attentiveness is visible on the lyrics come out honest and sensi- between music and their other voca- each player’s face during rehearsal. tive that way, and because the music tions, but they do it because they have When they’re not playing, they’re doesn’t try to be sweet, the music’s to, because they can’t yet imagine watching and listening, and no one also honest.” doing anything else, and because it’s thinks twice about talking during a a way of planning for the future without quiet section to make suggestions having to think too much about it. for improvement. Their songs are It’s no surprise that the seven remain “When you’re seven people, it’s harder constantly evolving, retaining, in Abou uncertain about what they want out to decide we’re all going to do this for Fakhr’s words, only a “semblance” of of life, but the band, at least, offers the rest of our lives,” Chedid says. “So their original forms. a horizon on which to fix their gazes. I’d like to do this for as long as it lasts.” Papazian sees a particular strat- They want to play more shows outside “I’m just taking it one day at a egy at work in both architecture and Lebanon. They want to craft a second time, because if I want to choose, I musical composition. “It’s a constant album that builds on and surpasses can’t,” Malaeb says. “And whatever attempt at creating something and the first. I choose, I’m gonna miss the working on something and you never They want to find someone else other one so much.” —S.M.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 47 Beyond Bliss Street reflections

The Right at the Wrong Place Time

During the dark days of the Lebanese civil war (1975-90) many Lebanese and foreign nationals were kidnapped and held hostage under harsh circumstances in Lebanon and elsewhere. Eight were associated with the University—administrators, staff, an instruc- tor, and professors. Among the Americans was Joseph Cicippio, who was kidnapped from campus on September 12, 1986 and released on December 2, 1991. A banker and financial investor by profession, Cicippio came to AUB as acting comptroller in 1984, a position he held until his release from captivity in 1991. Unable to return to the University, Cicippio spent a little over a year on a speaking tour of the United States, worked for USAID for seven years, wrote a memoir of his experience as a hostage, served as treasurer of AUB’s Washington, DC alumni chapter, and founded his own IT company, Technical Specialties, Inc., TSpec, where he serves as president to this day.

MainGate: When did you first London, the president of AUB at the 1985]. I enjoyed every minute of life in arrive at AUB and what were your time, Harold Hoelscher, came by my Lebanon. first impressions? office one day and asked if I’d be inter- Joseph Cicippio: I started as acting ested in working for the University. A You were working at AUB and comptroller in early summer of 1984. I few years later I’d had enough of Saudi married for only a little over a year was impressed with AUB, and I was so Arabia, and I went back to the United when you were kidnapped. What content to be here. It was a whole new States and started looking around. Bill did you do at AUB? life I was stepping into. I didn’t expect Rice asked me to come to the New As acting comptroller I worked both on to see such a beautiful campus, such York Office, and the next week the job campus and at the hospital, so every interesting faculty members, the mod- was mine. day was split between the two. ern hospital. Everything. The happiest days of my working life were those What was it like when you arrived During those years when you were days at AUB. in Lebanon in early 1984? first working at AUB a number Those months were the happiest times of Americans [AUB Professor How did you come to take the job of my life. For the first three or four Frank Regier, Benjamin Weir, and as comptroller at AUB in the midst months, I was free to move around the William Buckley in 1984; AUH of the Lebanese civil war? country—Baalbek, Byblos, Tripoli— Director David Jacobson, Jeremy I’d had some experience of the area before we were advised to remain on Levin, Terry Anderson, and AUB working for [a] Saudi [company] in campus. And then I met Elham at the Dean Thomas Sutherland in London from 1975 to 1983. When Alumni Club on a blind date. Three 1985; AUB librarian Peter Kilburn I was working for Saudi Arabia in months later we were married [August and Professor Leigh Douglas in

48 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street reflections

But the gunmen did come on campus for you on September 12, 1986. Tell us what happened. I went out to work as usual. Just the day before I was kidnapped we had raised the tuition fees, and the kids were furious. I was told not to come to the office because the students were after me. And when I was attacked on campus, I thought it was the students coming for me.

Your agonizing days as a hostage—five years, three months, and ten days in captivity—are chronicled in your book, Chains to Roses, published in 1993. It is difficult to imagine what it would be like to lose more than five years of one’s life in such a way. Well, I’ll tell you what my son said: “Dad, the way you drive, those kid- nappers kept you alive for another five years.” 1986] and other foreigners were The kidnappers had never come on I was one of the hostages who kidnapped. Did you not feel any the campus. wasn’t given any outside information. anxiety for yourself? For five years I was Rip Van Winkle. That didn’t bother me at all, because But they’d taken David Dodge on I didn’t know about anything at all— I was at the University. I had been campus in 1982. what was happening in the outside warned to stay on campus to avoid I never knew that. I believed I was world. I had no newspapers or TV, but I being picked up. So for about eight safe. Twice I even helped evacuate had a few books which I read over and months I did not leave the campus. Americans. And twice my wife wanted over again: Jane Eyre, Robin Hood, Elham did everything to be done me to go with them. and the Koran. outside the University. I left campus only to go to the Board [of Trustees] How did you cross from the Do you ever think of anything you meetings in Cyprus. Medical Gate to the hospital? would like to say to the guards Elham was worried and begged I always went down into the tunnel who held you captive? me to leave. So I told her, “You go to underneath the street because David I have no animosity towards them at the US and you wait for me because Jacobson, the director of the hospi- all. They all needed money, and they I’m not leaving.” I didn’t want to be the tal, was kidnapped in 1985 walking were doing what they had to do to eat last American to leave the University, so across the street from the hospital to and provide for their families. They had they would say, “Oh, all the Americans the Medical Gate. lost family members to Israeli bomb- left us.” I didn’t want that on my ings. I do not have any bitterness. I left shoulders, so I had no intention of there, that was the end of it—the first going home. I felt safe on campus. day of my new life. We just happened

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 49 Beyond Bliss Street reflections

to be Americans in the wrong place at Are you still in touch with I was making the decisions as to the wrong time. people you worked with in the whether I was going to stay or not. The Comptroller’s Office? Americans were asked once, twice, When did you first return to AUB Oh, yes. And whenever I go in there I three times to leave, but I said no. after your imprisonment? get a big hello from those who worked It was about nine months after my with me—people like Mufid Dagher, Your affection for Lebanon and release—around August 1992. Two Tony Irani, Antoine Khoury, Majida AUB has expressed itself in major weeks after I was released, I offered Khoury, Howard Ray [now retired], philanthropy. Can you tell us to come back to work. I wanted to Assad Rayess, and others. about that? come back, but the New York Office In 1992-93 over the Christmas said I should take a year off. I thought What impact did AUB have on holidays, my wife and I brought 32 I would be returning to my old job, your life? Lebanese orphans to the United States but the University was worried about My experience at AUB just superseded for two weeks. We stopped first at the possible danger for a former hostage everything I’d done before. You know, Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia in Lebanon. being in contact with the students, to check on the health of the 11 to watching them day after day, seeing 14 year-olds, and then took them to When you finally did return to them coming out of exams, the kids New York, Washington, Disneyland, Lebanon, what changes did you with their books—was special. Most of and the Tournament of Roses on New notice at the University? the time I was among the medical stu- Year’s Day. When I first came to AUB in 1984 dents, and I was always fascinated by My wife and I raised most of the the beautiful old buildings were what them. The day wasn’t long enough. money for the trip, but the hospital, struck the visitor. But when I returned If I had a kid now I’d want him to other organizations, and private citi- in 1992 it was an entirely different, come to AUB, just for the atmosphere zens in the United States and Lebanon modern place, with many new build- and for the campus. Plus I still think it’s all helped. We gave those children, ings. And now there’s the Hostler the best education, especially in the who’d known nothing but bombs all Center and the new laboratory building medical school. In Washington we have their lives, a chance to taste a world near the new women’s dorm, and AUB-trained Lebanese doctors around where there were no bombs. now plans for a whole new hospital town, and they are the most successful, complex scheduled to be completed the most sought after doctors in the city. And then just last year in April you in the year 2020. Now, whenever I return to announced a research fund for the After I came back, I was just Lebanon, the first thing I want to do is Faculty of Agricultural and Food happy to be here, and since that visit AUB. I’d met my wife here. I was Sciences (FAFS) at AUB. first time, I’ve always been coming married in Beirut and we had our wed- Yes, we have many projects for AUB and back—two or three, maybe four times ding reception at AUB, in Marquand for Lebanon. This fund, the Elham and a year. House, by special dispensation from Joseph Cicippio Endowed Research the Board of Trustees, because I was Fund to support student research, was You talked about the physical unable to leave campus. designed to help FAFS students travel to changes. What about the regional and international conferences atmosphere, the academic and Surely a great impact AUB had to present their research in person. social changes? on your life was your being taken AUB and Lebanon remain in our I think there is more separation between hostage from campus. Did you hearts. I’ve loved this place from the the faculty and students now. In the old ever hold a grudge against AUB minute I got here. I’m going to retire days it was one big family. Now you for your kidnapping? here. Elham and I have a home have more than twice the number of Oh, no. Not at all. They did everything here now. students; it’s a big campus now. they could. It was me, it wasn’t AUB. —J.M.C.

50 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street time flies

Can you help us date this photo of the Ada Dodge Milk Bar? In 2010, a newly renovated cafeteria (inset) opened in the same building. While many AUBites fondly remember the Milk Bar's Arabic coffee, today's students also indulge in pizza, Chinese food, Lebanese specialities, and Caribbean coffee.

More On-line

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 51 WAAAUB in Wolverine Territory North American alumni were joined by President Peter Dorman when they met in Ann Arbor, Michigan November 12-14, 2010 for the third WAAAUB North American Regional Gathering hosted by the Michigan Chapter. After a warm wel- come from Chapter President Abir Assi (BS ’96), WAAAUB President Khalil Makkawi (BA ’54) offered a quick update on WAAAUB’s standing committees and introduced various WAAAUB committee representatives: Vice President Genane Maalouf (California and BA ’91) for the Chapters Committee, Program Committee Chair Ghada Rihani (Washington DC and BS ’84), Nominations Committee Chair and Board Member Maha Zabaneh (Toronto and BA ’84), and Council Member Hiba Al-Ali (Montreal and BS ’83). WAAAUB board member and noted television personality North American Regional Gathering Ricardo Karam (BS ’91) led a discussion with Mira Kaddoura (BA Top to bottom: Participants in the business meetings; WAAAUB ’00), Randa Slim (BS ’81, MS ’84), and Fawwaz Ulaby (BS ’64) President Khalil Makkawi (BA '54), AUB President Peter Dorman, Rima during the afternoon panel, “AUB Made Me.” (You can view biogra- Kronfol (BA ’82), Dr. Ziad Kronfol phies of all the participants at www.waaaub.org/program.html). (BS '70, MD '74), and Dr. Manal Assi, (BS '91, MD '95) at Of course no AUB alumni weekend would be complete without the welcoming reception; Alumni dancing to live arabic music; Arab a lavish dinner with dancing and a keynote address. This was no American National Museum exception, and featured President of the Arab American Institute James Zogby, who shared some fascinating insights from his latest book, Arab Voices: What They are Saying to Us and Why it Matters. After a wrap-up business session on Sunday and one more meal together, everyone headed off for a tour of the Arab American National Museum in nearby Dearborn. To find out more about the business meetings and watch a slideshow from the weekend go to http://www. flickr.com/photos/aubalumni/sets/72157625411613122/. You can view a tape of the “AUB Made Me” panel at: www. waaaub.org.

WAAAUB WAAAUB Legacy Ceremony WAAAUB Legacy Ceremony More than 300 first-year students and their parents—all alumni—flocked into Bathish Auditorium on September 24, 2010 for the Legacy Ceremony. “The fact that so many of our alumni are grandmothers and grandfathers, mothers and fathers, and sons and daughters enriches … the educational experi- ence of [all] students on campus,” noted WAAAUB President Khalil Makkawi in his words of welcome. (cont. page 53)

AUB Legacy Ceremony Sept 24, 2010: alumni parents and their children Admissions Director Salim Kanaan was also on hand to share some interesting statistics including the fact that 22 percent of this

year’s entering class has direct alumni connections. Alumni parent and Suhoor former faculty member Rita Merhej Muffarrij (MA ’81) encouraged current students to allow the AUB legacy to “uplift and inspire them.” Hussam Bakkar, who will be pursuing a business degree at AUB and enjoys the diversity he has found on campus, was accompanied by WAAAUB his parents, Mohamad Bakkar (BA ’80) and Sawsan Madi Bakkar (BS ’85). ”We chose AUB for our son because we both studied here, and we know the culture and standard of education you can receive Alumnae at the Al Dirwandi Café at AUB,” said Bakkar. “It’s an open-minded university with a great reputation in the Middle East.”

More than 80 WAAAUB members celebrated suhoor on August Oman 27, 2010 at Al Dirwandi Café in Beirut. President Khalil Makkawi, Treasurer Karam Doumet (BBA ’78, MBA ’80), and AUB Trustee- elect Fawzi Melhem (BS ’01, MS ’02) were among those who enjoyed the good company, delicious food, and warm ambience.

More than 600 AUB alumni and friends gathered at Al Hayat Afrah Ballroom in Oman on October 7, 2010 to welcome President Peter Dorman at yet another exceptional gala dinner. Chapter President Fathi Alaaiddin (BE ’73, ME ’75) reminded everyone that the chapter’s mis- sion was to create opportunities for younger generations to pursue an Dressed to the nines for the Oman gala excellent education and to create a dynamic and supportive network in Oman as well. During his remarks, President Dorman briefed alumni on major developments at AUB including some of the new ways AUB students and parents will be able to connect with the administration and faculty to the benefit of both AUB and its community. Montreal

At a packed lecture organized by the Ottawa Chapter on October 12, 2010 Hassan El-Taher (BA ’65) took a rapt audience back in time some 2,300 years to discover the history of the ancient library founded by the Greek Ptolemies in Alexandria. During remarks that Chapter iftar celebration at Restaurant Zawedeh in Montreal on ranged from the library’s influence on learning in the Mediterranean to August 24, 2010.

Mira Abu Shusheh (former student) Secretary Butrus (Pierre) Thomas Khuri-Yakub (BE ’70) Sawsan Dweik Huleileh (MA ’86) Member Member Olivia Qandah (BA ’73) Member Nesrine Nazih Akkari (BE ’89) Member Violet Fasheh (BA ’68, MA ’75) Member Beqa’a Chapter Nadya Muzaffar (former student) Member Nicola Saba (BE ’89) President WAAAUB Engineering and Ghada Karawi (BBA ’04, MS ’06) Vice President Architecture Chapter Tala Mahfouz (BBA ’04) Treasurer Abir Teliani (BS ’07) Secretary Samir Rafic Traboulsi (BE ’73, ME ’75, Hisham Kharroub (BS ’09) Member WAAAUB: Chapter MBA ’80) President Mohamad Rahal (BS ’91) Member Elections Salma Dannawi Oueida (BE ’92) Vice Mohamed Salla (BS ’04, MS ’08) Member Palestine Chapter President Samar Salloum (BS ’84) Member Marwan Durzi (BA ’97) President Firas Nazih Bou Diab (ME ’05) Treasurer Manal Harawi (former student) Member Simon Kuttab (BS ’68) Vice President Hiba Talal Bitar (BE ’99, ME ’05) Secretary You can contactMainGate the newly elected Winter committee 2011 53 Gizelle Toubassi (former student) Treasurer Nadim Nasri Abou Rizk (BAR ’81) Member members at [email protected]. the significance of some of the symbols that feature most prominently in its recent reconstruction, El-Taher impressed everyone with his intimate and penetrating knowledge of the library.

Philadelphia President Emeritus and Mrs. John Waterbury hosted a happy hour for the Philadelphia Chapter at their home in Princeton, New Jersey on September 18, 2010. About 30 alumni, trustees, and friends from

Alumni and friends at the Philadelphia Chapter reception on the Princeton area including Trustee Emeritus James Wei and four September 18, 2010 members of the chapter’s Executive Committee were on hand for the informal gathering. At the chapter’s annual banquet at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin on

Atlanta October 9, 2010 more than 70 alumni and friends from the tri-state area enjoyed an event-filled evening that included a silent auction organized by Chapter VP Asma Ghannam (BS ’82) and Committee Member Samir Akruk (BS ’65, MS ’67). During the following busi- ness meeting, Chapter President Nasri Kawar (BS ’56, MS ’59)

Atlanta Chapter reception with President Dorman on August 6, 2010 briefed attendees on WAAAUB and chapter activities. Featured guest at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia speaker Professor Edgar Choueiri, director of Princeton University’s Electric Propulsion and Plasma Dynamics Lab and president of the Lebanese Academy of Sciences, challenged everyone to imagine how Lebanon and AUB might spark a scientific renaissance in the region—in a speech that was both captivating and inspiring. To find out about upcoming activities, visit the Philadelphia Chapter’s web-

North Carolina site: http://www.aubphiladelphiadevalley.org/index.html.

On a beautiful early August Saturday evening, over 100 AUBites and North Carolina Chapter celebrating Halloween on October 23, 2010 at Lake Wheeler in Raleigh, North Carolina friends from the New England Chapter converged on the home of Dr. Ghaleb (MD ’84) and Rima Kaddurah-Daouk (PhD ’83) near Boston to meet and greet AUB President Peter Dorman. After hearing welcoming remarks and chapter news from Lamya Shihabuddine (BS ’87, MS ’89), guests enjoyed a musical interlude by Randa Khuri (BS ’67) on the flute and Meredith Ghattas at the piano. President New England Dorman spoke briefly about the University before presenting Dr. Nizar Nuwayhid (BE ’91) with the AUB achievement medal in recognition of his service to AUB as an ENT surgeon, alumni leader of the New England Chapter, and generous supporter. The celebration continued late into the evening with a perform- ance of traditional Arabic music by Dr. Mohamed Saab (BS ’65, MD ’65) on the oud and Jamal Sinno on the qanun.

More than 100 alumni and their families and friends gathered near Frog’s Pond in Boston Common on September 25, 2010 for the New

(Top) Left to right: Lamya Shihabuddine, President Dorman, Dr. England Chapter’s picnic on a beautiful fall day. Old and new friends Ghaleb Daouk, Dr. Nizar Nuwayhid, Dr. Rima Daouk, and Noreen Hafez Ayan (center) alike shared delicious manakeesh while trading stories and soaking (Bottom) Alumni at the New England picnic up the glorious sunshine.

54 MainGate Winter 2011 The Bahrain Alumni Society hosted its annual Ghabga Dinner at Al Bait El Lebnaneih on August 26, 2010 for alumni and their guests. Society President May Al Otaibi (BA ’72) welcomed every- one and thanked them for their continued support. It was a memo- Baltimore rable evening with delicious traditional Lebanese food, a live band playing classical Lebanese songs, and a raffle draw that featured stunning prizes including airline tickets, jewelry, electronics, coupons for high-end retail stores, and much more. The newly elected board is already hard at work organizing “a night at the opera” and the always popular tarwee’a gathering. Chapter alumni at the Lebanese Taverna in the Baltimore Harbor East Pavilion on May 28, 2010. Left to right: Elias Ghandour (BS ’81, MD ’85, former president), Maen Farha (MD ’82, vice president), On September 4, 2010 AUB alumni in the Beqa’a met at the Al Salma Kodsi (BS ’85, president), Lama Shikani (BS ’78, MD ’83, treasurer), Alan Shikani (BS ’76, MD ’81, former president), Ramzi Qadri Hotel in Zahle to elect the WAAAUB Beqa’a Chapter com- Namek (BE ’90, secretary) mittee before sharing an iftar meal. WAAAUB Council Chair Samir Abu Samra (BE ’68) and former president of the Beqa’a Chapter Dr. Faysal El Kak (BS ’83, MS ’85, MD ’90) were on hand to congratu- Beqa'a late the newly elected committee members.

Around 180 AUB alumni and friends attended Ramadan Night at the View Point Terrace in Amman on August 20, 2010 organized by the Jordan Chapter with the LAU Alumni Club. In addition to live entertainment, the alumni enjoyed bingo, cards, board games, and a tasty suhoor. Beqa'a Chapter iftar

The WAAAUB UK Chapter organized a very special brunch at the award-winning Noura Central in London on Sunday, September Riyadh 19, 2010.

The WAAAUB Riyadh Chapter hosted the Autumn Gala Dinner at the Arizona Golf Resort in Riyadh on November 4, 2010. Almost 300 alum- ni and many friends including Abdulaziz Issa, the Lebanese Embassy Consul in Riyadh, enjoyed the very special surroundings provided by a beautiful setting, interesting sound and light effects, tempting food, and music by Lebanese pop star Walid Tawfic and his band. Left to right: Hassan Hoteit (FEA ’81), Ghada Hoteit, Walid Tawfic, Samar El Zein, and Jamal El Zein (BS ’79, MPH ’81) About 600 alumni and friends attended a gala dinner hosted by the WAAAUB Qatar Chapter November 4, 2010 at La Cigale Hotel.

President Peter Dorman and Trustee Omar Alfardan attended the Qatar event featuring entertainment by Lebanese singer Josiane El Zir. Over 600 AUB graduates working in a wide range of fields including construction, business, trade, and the oil and gas industry reside in Qatar. The principle object of the event was to raise money for the student scholarship fund at AUB; the highlight of the evening was the presentation of a check for 1 million Qatari riyals (QAR) to President Dorman for the fund.

Qatar Chapter gala at La Cigale Hotel

MainGate Winter 2011 55 At AUB, 2,980 students received financial aid in 2009–10. Can you help one more?

Jamil Samsatly, a biology graduate and currently a master’s student in plant protection, says his undergraduate experience at AUB was an important step on the path to self discovery. The journey he started here is taking him to Montana State University in the fall, where he will work on characterizing bacteria on water precipitation as part of his doctoral thesis. From a modest family in Aleppo, Jamil earned his BS at AUB on a full scholarship. AUB has a lot to offer, he says. As a scholarship recipient, he felt a heightened sense of responsibility that pushed him to make the most of his Supporting experience at AUB. When he graduated, one of his AUB professors introduced Jamil to the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), where he worked with some of the leading experts in the field. Both at ICARDA Students and at AUB, Jamil participated in several important research projects that led him Of Today and Tomorrow to discover his true interests. Jamil sees his future in organizations like ICARDA, AUB, and the Food and Agriculture Organization—places where he can realize Can you help his passion in life: using plant sciences to maximize benefit for human beings. support an AUB Hear more: www.aub.edu/ development/scholarship_initiative student? To speak to someone about supporting financial aid, contact us at [email protected]. Here’s one of their stories. Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

1950s was also national director of Samir Abu-Absi of Toledo in Ohio, Abu- Fayez the European Union project Absi is the editor of Arab Suidan on Agricultural Planning Americans in Toledo: Cultural (BA ’51, MC ’55) joined and Policy Preparation and Assimilation and Community AUBMC in 1962 after com- Master Plan (APPP-MP). Involvement (University of pleting a four-year residency Jiha was recently elect- Toledo Press, 2010). Poet in general surgery at AUBMC ed president of the Koura and essayist Naomi Shihab and a three-year residency Development Council (KDC) Nye writes: “Many of us have in OB-GYN at the University for a two-year term. He and long believed a 'world of of Chicago Lying-in Hospital. his wife Mai Saba have four education' or a 'world of He enjoys working with medi- children, ten grandchildren, exchange' could be much cal students in the Outpatient and one great-grandchild. (BA ’63), earned his PhD more useful than a 'world Department, surfing the [kdc1991(at)hotmail.com] in linguistics in 1972 from at war' and here’s a strong Internet, communicating with Indiana University. He was vote in that direction—Abu- a visiting assistant professor Absi promotes meaningful of English at AUB from 1972 dialog and inspires discovery to 1973. Currently profes- in community.” [samir.abu- sor emeritus of English and absi(at)utoledo.edu] [http:// linguistics at the University www.utoledopress.com/]

and has two lovely daugh- ters; my daughter Maysoun married Khaled Dimassi in September 2009; and my second son, Wissam, got married last June. My wife Sawsan and I are now friends, listening to classical Wehbe alone at home in Beirut as music, and playing with his Shuayb we started 43 years ago. Supporting eight grandchildren. Suidan (BS ’56, MD ’60) prac- 2003. He and his wife [wzsaadi(at)gmail.com] sent this photo with Dr. ticed general and thoracic Magda El Zein have two Randa Jalloul, who gradu- and vascular surgery at daughters (Wafa and Samar) Talal Toufic Farah ated from AUB in June 2010. Emory University Hospital and several grandchildren. (BA ’62, MA ’70) is a retired [drfsuida(at)idm.net.lb] in West Virginia (1960-66), [wmshuayb(at)hotmail.com] academic who still works as was an associate in sur- a writer and consultant. Farah George Jiha gery at AUBMC (1967-72) 1960s has served as president of (BS ’56, MS ’71) and president of Al Janoub Wael Saadi the WAAAUB UK Chapter, a is a pioneer in cereal and fod- Hospital (1970-2010). He (BE ’60) writes: “After work- WAAAUB board member, and der production in the desert also served as president ing for 32 years at Khatib a member of the WAAAUB regions of Saudi Arabia. of the American College of & Alami as partner and Chapters Committee. [talal_ Prior to retiring in 2005, he Surgeons’ Lebanon Chapter general manager, I retired farah(at)yahoo.com] was agricultural adviser to (1998-2000) and has been in April 2004 and opened the Ministry of Administrative a member of the Board of a small consulting office in Hagop Akiskal Development for 12 munici- Governors of the American Ras Beirut. My eldest son (BS ’65, MD ’69) is director of pality unions in Lebanon. He College of Surgeons since Khaldoun married in 2000 the International Mood Center

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 57 Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

and distinguished professor service officer in Bogotá, Firyal Yamut (BS ’75, MD of psychiatry and internation- Paris, Moscow, Cairo, ’80), who is an anesthetist. al health at the University of Istanbul, and Washington, They have three sons: Basil, California, San Diego. Also DC. [HCWiener(at)aol.com] Maher, and Hani. [bassam_ editor-in-chief of the Journal bekdash(at)hotmail.com] of Affective Disorders, he 1970s writes, “MainGate is a great Artin Saouma magazine to keep in touch Aivazian BouJaoude with AUB and AUBites (BS ’70, MA ’77) retired (BS ’71) is professor of sci- throughout the world.” in September 2009 after ence education and director (ME) in Ramallah, Palestine 38 years as a mathemat- of the Center for Teaching [yelyousef(at)deloitte.com] Hadia Hallak Ramadan ics teacher at the Melkonian and Learning at AUB. He (BA ’65) has taught Arabic Educational Institute and is also the director of the Basem Hani Qablawi at the Lebanese American the American Academy Science and Math Education (BBA ’75, EMBA ’05) is liv- University for the last 10 (Limassol) and eight years Center at AUB. [boujaoud(at) ing in Qatar and working years. Ramadan earned as principal of the Nareg aub.edu.lb] for ExxonMobil as company her master’s with distinction Armenian School in Cyprus. interface manager. He has in Arabic studies from the [araivazian(at)yahoo.co.uk] Loutfi K. Echhade three children: Leen, a law- American University in Cairo yer in the UK; Hani, a third- and her doctorate, also with George Karawani year engineering student, distinction, in Arabic litera- (BE ’70, ME ’72) is vice and Nadeen, a third-year ture and language from the president of wholesale and economics student, both at University of Helwan in Cairo. renewable energy at Olco McGill University, Montreal, Ramadan taught Arabic in Petroleum Group, Inc. He Canada. [bhq1975(at)yahoo. Kuwait for many years where actively promotes the use com] her husband was head of the of biodiesel blends, main- press section at the Ministry ly in the public transport sec- Rita Mufarrij Merhej of Foreign Affairs. She has tor in Quebec where he lives. (BA ’77, MA ’81) is a psy- two sons: Tarek, a cardiolo- [karawani(at)videotron.ca] (BBA ’73) has been appointed chologist with a specializa- gist and Ahmed, a professor. to the Finance Subcommittee tion in clinical psychology [hadia.ramadan(at)lau.edu.lb] Bassam and the Audit Committee of from the Sorbonne University Bekdash Ernst & Young’s EMEIA region (Paris). She is the director of Sharon Anderholm (BS ’71, MD ’76) is a fel- (Europe, Middle East, India, the Friends of the Disabled Wiener low of the Royal College and Africa) where he is also Association for Children (former student, 1968-69) of Surgeons of England senior principal of assurance and Youth with Intellectual attended AUB as a junior (FRCS) and an intercollegi- and advisory business ser- Disabilities, a former AUB year abroad student with ate fellow. He is a color- vices. Echhade was recently faculty member, and a con- the Great Lakes Colleges ectal/laparoscopic general certified in financial forensics sultant in rehabilitation. She Association. She received surgeon, clinical director of by the American Institute of and her husband Kamal her BA in 1970 from Ohio the Department of Surgery, Certified Public Accountants. have three children. [rita_ Wesleyan University and and associate medical direc- [Loutfi.Echhade(at)sa.ey.com] merhej5(at)hotmail.com] her MA and PhD in interna- tor of elective services at tional relations from Duke Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Yacoub El Yousef Basheer Aref Makarem University. Since 1978, Cambridgeshire, England. (BBA ’75) is office managing (BS ’79, MD ’83, MPH ’86) is Wiener has been a foreign Bekdash is married to Dr. partner for Deloitte & Touche currently working as a con-

58 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

sultant family physician with Grace Abyad Medical Center, edi- the Ministry of Health and Ghannoum tor-in-chief of three prestig- as an assistant professor at Khleif ious journals in the Middle the Arabian Gulf University in (BA ’81) is now a life coach East including World Family Bahrain. Makarem is married working in Lebanon. She has Medicine, chairman of the to Salwa Tabet and they have her own business, “Blossom Middle East Academy for two children. [bamakarem(at) into Life.” Khleif is married to Medicine of Ageing, and yahoo.com] Hazem Khleif and they have chairman of the Middle East three boys. [gracekhleif(at) Association of Ageing and 1980s ing industry since moving gmail.com] Alzheimer’s Disease. He is Sabia Kanafani with his family to Vancouver married to Rima Khatib and from Kuwait in 1998. In Mohamad H. they have three children. 2003, he earned a BBA. He Yamani [aabyad(at)cyberia.net.lb] is a member of the board (MD ’81) is a fellow of of directors of the British the American College of Naila Lakkis Antonios Columbia Chapter of the Risk Cardiology and American (BS ’82, MS ’85) works in Management Association Heart Association. He is budget and finance for the (RMA). Samman and his wife the director of the Heart United Nations in New York. Etizaz Natafji (BS ’79, Failure Clinic at the Mayo [na918(at)aol.com] MS ’81), who manages her Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. own recruiting agency, have Yamani is married to Bonnie Haydar Frangoul (BA ’80) is an executive man- two children. [azsamman(at) Maynard; they have two chil- (BS ’84, MS ’86, MD ’90) ager in the Rector’s Office shaw.ca] dren, Maddie and Tarek. He is an associate professor of at the Arab Open University, writes: “AUB has filled my pediatrics and director of the Kuwait. Her daughter is cur- Nagib life with special memories Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant rently at AUB; her son gradu- Batlouni of affection and friendship.” Program at Vanderbilt ated in dentistry from Queen’s (BA ’81) is senior manager at [Yamani.Mohamad(at)mayo. University Medical Center University. [sabiakanafani(at) Credit Libanais SAL in Beirut edu] in Nashville, Tennessee. hotmail.com] and the head of the Central He did his pediatric resi- Operations Department. He Abdulrazak Abyad dency at Duke University Mohamed Abdelmonem is also treasurer of Saint (BS ’82, MD ’86, MPH ’88, and a pediatric hematology Samman Elias Church in Rabieh. He Family Medicine ’90) is a fel- oncology fellowship at the (BS ’80, MS ’81) is vice pres- is married to Mona Suidan low of the American Geriatric Fred Hutchinson Cancer ident of credit at Envision (BBA ’81); their children Society, director of the Research Center in Seattle, Financial in Vancouver, Salim and Karim are both Canada. He has been work- AUB students. [nbatlouni(at) ing in the Canadian bank- cl.com.lb] all AUBites working in the field of architecture. Attention Alumni in We’re building Send your details to: Architecture! our database of [email protected]

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 59 Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s Burning Oil for Water The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world; its desalination plants are burning through oil at an alarming rate to keep up with the demand. Nizar Kammourie (BE ’86) talks about the future of water in the KSA.

MainGate: What are some of KSA’s major challenges in What are the benefits of foreign investment in water terms of water resources and water management? development? How was your company, Suido Kiko NK: KSA has very limited natural water reserves that are not Middle East, established, and what does it do in terms sufficiently replenished by rainfall to balance the rapidly growing of water management? demand of what is perhaps the largest growing economy in NK: Foreign investment is sought after not only for financial the Middle East. The kingdom relies on desalination to close reasons, but because it brings much needed expertise on the the gap in its water resources. However, water desalination operation and maintenance side. Foreign investment leads to consumes a lot of power generated by burning fossil fuel the infusion of new and advanced technologies, new efficiencies derivatives. So, KSA is faced with the dilemma of burning oil for to guarantee good return on investment, introduction of new its power and desalination plants and depriving its economy of and advanced management styles, and the freeing of public an essential income source or facing severe shortages in both funds to invest in other capacities. power and water. It is estimated that KSA currently uses up to Suido Kiko introduced Membrane Bio Reactor (MBR) 20 percent of its daily oil production to power its desalination technology to KSA’s municipal sector, which is a primary tool plants, with some estimates reaching 40 percent by 2025 if no to bring both municipal and industrial waste water up to re- alternative energy sources are found. Another area of concern use level. Hence, it provided KSA with new sources of water is that as much as 40 percent of desalinated water pumped that otherwise would have been wasted. There are plenty of into the network is lost to leakage. Finally, in a country that beneficial applications for re-use water from waste water that replenishes less than 10 percent of its consumed natural water can reduce the demand on existing desalination plants. reserves by rain, water consumption per capita is among the highest in the world at above 300 liters per day. What should be done about diminishing aquifers? NK: We need to implement the following agenda: What steps are being taken to address the high cost and Create awareness about water consumption. pollution issues associated with desalination plants? Reduce the use of aquifer water in irrigation where it does NK: The drive to decrease the carbon footprint of new plants not make commercial sense. is leading us to experiment with renewable sources. Solar- Grow arid-friendly crops that require less water. powered desalination is a hot topic but still a long way from Replenish exhausted aquifers with re-use water (water commercialization especially for large capacities. Regarding that derives from treated waste water). the brine that goes back to the sea, there are serious efforts Adopt more efficient irrigation methods. (On average, to study and mitigate the effects of added salinities to the irrigation consumes 70 percent of all aquifer water.) salty bodies of water in the Middle East, but there are no published comprehensive studies that have led to concrete recommendations to date.

60 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

Washington. Frangoul is to Wehbe Said and they the local AUB community an examiner and a biol- married to Allison and they have two children, one of and other community service ogy workshop leader for the have two boys. [haydar. whom entered AUB in fall organizations. international baccalaureate frangoul(at)vanderbilt.edu] 2010. [massarakabbani(at) diploma program. Sleiman is hotmail.com] Rada Dagher married to Elie Yared (MS Mira Franjieh Harrouk ’92) and they have two sons. (BS ’85) is married with Raafat Shabti [ssleiman(at)acs.edu.lb] three children. She lives (BS ’85, MD ’89) is an internist in Sahel Alma, Jounieh. in Alexandria, Virginia where 1990s [miraharrouk(at)hotmail.com] he lives with his wife and Ali H. Badawi four children. From 2005 to (BA ’90) is a group man- Mohamad Ladki 2009 Shabti worked at the aging director for Unifoam Saad Hospital in Khobar, Group International, a com- Saudi Arabia. [rayshabti(at) pany that produces a wide hotmail.com] variety of foam products (BS ’88, MPH ’00) is an and furniture. He is based assistant professor in the Nizar Kammourie in Lebanon and travels fre- Department of Health quently to Europe and Africa. Services, School of Public [jafcoa(at)inco.com.lb] Health, University of Maryland, College Park. Dagher, who Nesrine El-Bizri was previously an assistant (BS '90, MS '92) earned her professor at the University (BBA ’85) writes: “I work at PhD in cell biology from the of Florida, received her doc- Emirates Lebanon Bank SAL University of Sherbrooke in torate from the University of (formerly BNPI) in Beirut. Quebec, Canada, and began Minnesota in 2007. Her dis- Last year, I was honored her post-doctoral training at sertation was nominated for to be chosen to represent the Hospital for Sick Children the University of Minnesota the Class of 1985 at Class (BE ’86) is general manager in Toronto. She then moved to Dissertation Award. Reunion 2010.” of the Saudi-based water California to continue her post- [radadagher(at)yahoo.com] desalination utility SAWACO- doctoral studies on pulmo- Souhail Samad Water Desalination; CEO of nary hypertension at Stanford Suheir Sleiman (BA ’85, MA ’88) lives in the Japanese-Saudi engi- University. At the end of 2007, Ontario, Canada. He is mar- neering company Suido Kiko El-Bizri joined the pharma- ried to Lina Cocony (BA ’87) Middle East; and manag- ceutical company Gilead and they have three children. ing director of the chemi- Sciences, Inc. as a research Samad is the district man- cals services company scientist. She currently lives ager for Staples Northern Chemsbro. Kammourie in Palo Alto, California with Ontario region. [souhail. is married to Lina Iliyan; her husband and daughter. samad(at)staples.ca] they have three daughters. [nesrineel_bizri(at)hotmail.com] [nizarkam(at)sawaco.com] Massara Mariam Wehbi Kabbani Nayla Nassif (BS ’88, MS ’90) is a high (BS ’90) lives and works as (BBA ’86) is the head of (BE ’86) resides in California school biology teacher at a clinical dietitian in private the Bank of Beirut office in and works in performance the American Community practice in Saida and as a Abu Dhabi. She is married engineering. She supports School in Beirut. She is also consultant for nutrition and

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general hospital services Bana Kalash Kobrosly Elie Bou-Zeid with the American Society (BS ’95) has been country (BE ’97, ME ’00) earned If for Management (ASFM). manager of Boecker Public his PhD at Johns Hopkins you graduated Her job with ASFM focuses Health in Beirut, Lebanon University and is an assis- from AUB in on hospital accreditation, for the past three years. tant professor at Princeton 1956, 1961, 1966, an area of particular interest She is a certified trainer from University. He writes that he to her. [wehbimariam64(at) the Chartered Institute of is happy to be close to New 1971, 1976, 1981, hotmail.com] Environmental Health, UK, York where he can find great 1986, 1991, 1996, and holds an advanced mana’eesh. [eliebz(at)yahoo. 2001, or 2006… Muhammad diploma in food hygiene com] Shibli and safety from the Royal Save the Date (BS ’91, MD ’95) is medi- Society of Public Health, Mustapha H. Madi for cal director of the Sleep UK. Kobrosly is married and (BAR ’98, MUD ’05) is senior Disorders Institute and assist- has two children. She is a urban designer and project ant director of the Intensive board member of the Rotary manager at Dar Al-Handasah CLASS Care Unit at Providence Club of Saida. Shair and Partners in Beirut. Hospital in Washington, DC. He joined Dar in 2005 after [mshibli(at)aol.com] Wassim spending six years as a REUNION Fares senior urban designer and Antoine Samaha (BS ’96, MD ’00) is a fel- architect with Solidere. 2011 (BS ’92) was recently low in pulmonary and criti- Madi and his wife Maya O. This invitation comes only once appointed regional com- cal care at the University of Aleywan (BA ’00, MMB ’04) every five years, so make your mercial leader for Dow Oil North Carolina. He lives in have been blessed with two plans now to attend. and Gas for the Middle East Chapel Hill, North Carolina. daughters: Lana and Nour. Contact us at in Dubai. Samaha was pre- [mustapha.madi(at)hotmail. [email protected] viously sales director for Shirine Shaar com] or [mustapha.madi(at) www.aub.edu.lb/ reunion Paradigm in the India, Middle dargroup.com] East, North Africa region. He holds a master’s degree in Zaher K. Otrock petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Hanadi Adib Youssef (MPH ’95) is the floor super- visor of the middle and high school divisions of the (BBA ’97, MBA ’00) is a Al-Bayader School in Beirut. planning manager at the She writes, “Thank you AUB pharmaceutical company for all the opportunities you Eli Lilly (Suisse), SA. She is (BS ’98, MD ’03) is a resi- made easier, the excellent married to Samir El Hoss. dent at AUBMC specializing learning experience, and the They have two children: in laboratory medicine. He has cherished memories you left Leana (three years) and published more than 80 arti- us with. . .” [hyoussef111(at) Ali (six months). [shaar_ cles in prestigious international hotmail.com] shirine(at)lilly.com] peer-reviewed journals. With

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Dr. Khaled Musallam, Otrock CBC International. He is mar- tographer and researcher on founded “Manuscript Experts,” ried and has two children. early colonial influences on providing editing, writing, [joe5503333(at)hotmail.com] the Islamic world. [psaad(at) and publishing services for alum.mit.edu] medical manuscripts. [www. Alicia A. Mansour manuscriptexperts.com] (BS ’00, BS ’02, MS ’04), Fidaa Shaheen [zaherotrock(at)hotmail.com] after graduating from AUB, (MPH ’00) is working went to the University of towards her PhD in holis- 2000s Cincinnati, where she was tic nutrition at Clayton Tania Al Aghar a graduate assistant in the College of Natural Health Department of Civil and in Birmingham, Alabama. Environmental Engineering. [fidaa00(at)yahoo. com] In 2007, she joined the the past seven years, she has research center of Veolia Gaby E. traveled around Europe and Environnement in France. Gabriel North America presenting [alicia.mansour(at)veolia. (BS ’01, MD ’05) is a resi- and managing clinical stud- com] dent in diagnostic radiology ies at various international at the University of Kentucky research centers. Elassaad Ghiath Refai Medical Center. He is mar- writes, “AUB was a unique (BBA ’00) is a vice president ried to Rawan A. Shoucair (MA ’00) moved after remar- and a wonderful experi- in Morgan Stanley’s invest- (BBA ’01). They live rying in 2006, to Abu Dhabi, ence, a strong foundation ment banking business in in Lexington, Kentucky. where her son Adam, step- for my international profes- Saudi Arabia. [grefai(at) brother to her older daughter sional career.” She married hotmail.com] Wissam Tala, was born. She is cur- Lieutenant Nicolas Gardez Jean Halabi rently pursuing a doctorate last year and is living in Paris. Philippe Charles Saad (BS ’01, MD ’05) is a gen- in teaching and learning at [hebanese(at)hotmail.com] eral surgery resident at the the University of Leicester. Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He Al Aghar has worked exten- Nadine Hayek lives in Phoenix. [wass39(at) sively as an instructor and (MS ’00) is institutional hotmail.com] as a director in educational sales manager for HMBR testing and administration Manufacturing & Distribution Issa Abu-Dayyeh at several higher education in Beirut. [nadinehayek00(at) (BS ’02), after finishing his institutions in Lebanon. In hotmail.com] undergraduate work and the UAE she worked as a completing one year of his training coordinator for Al Nader Kehdy master's degree at AUB, Khafji Joint Operations (KJO). (BAR ’00) is a director at (BAR ’00) earned a mas- enrolled at McGill University [t_alaghar(at)yahoo.com] Aramas Offshore SAL in ter’s degree in architecture at in Montreal, Canada, where Lebanon. [nader.kehdy(at) the Massachusetts Institute he completed his master’s Hiba Elassaad gmail.com] of Technology in 2005. He and earned his PhD in (BS ’00) completed her grad- lives in Boston and works microbiology and immunol- uate studies in France where Joe Khoury at DiMella Shaffer as project ogy in 2009. He is currently she is currently an interna- (MS ’00) has been living in designer/manager/LEED AP a post-doctoral research- tional project manager at a Dubai since 2003 where he for higher educational clients. er in tumor immunology pharmaceutical company. For is a country manager for Saad is also a freelance pho- at the Weatherall Institute

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 63 Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

of Molecular Medicine at company based in Lebanon, Dania El-Berjawi Chaar Oxford University in the UK. and the founder of SoftKube, (BS ’05) is a clinical dieti- [uniqueissa(at)hotmail.com] a startup company offer- tian, owner of EASY Diet ing the kind of high quality Clinic, and a food inspector Bruno Atieh software and web solutions in the Consumer Protection (BA ’05) is project manager he hopes will one day put Directorate of the Ministry at the American University Lebanon on the informa- of Economy and Trade. Center for Global Peace in tion technology grid. [mario. She previously worked for Washington, DC. He received awad(at)softkube.com] more than three years at his master’s degree in devel- the Clemenceau Medical makes me feel so attached to opment management from Roy Boulos Center as head clinical dieti- this great institution, my sec- an American university. (BBA ’05) After graduation, tian. El-Berjawi is married ond home. I found it very sat- Boulos went to Grenoble, and has two young boys. isfying to serve on the organ- Ahmad Atwi France to pursue his mas- [queen3558(at)yahoo.com] izing committee for Class (BS ’05) spent three years ter’s in international business Reunion 2010 last summer. as a software developer for at the Grenoble School of Khodr El Harakeh It was exciting to meet old a Saudi company based in Business. He interned at friends.” [sarakhaddaj(at)hot- Beirut before joining Murex Calyon, a corporate and mail.com, sk56(at)aub.edu.lb] (Beirut) as a software engi- investment bank in Paris, neer. Atwi has three siblings: and spent a year writing his Ghada Slim his brother is a third-year thesis while working at the (BS ’05) With her degree in mechanical engineering stu- bank’s trade finance depart- environmental health, Slim dent at AUB; his youngest ment. He is now at Ernst & quickly found work as a health, sister is a sophomore study- Young, where he is a senior safety, and environment (HSE) ing computer science. Atwi auditor and a senior consult- consultant at Det Norske writes: “I am still single :).” ant in the banking sector Veritas (DNV), Middle East, a [ahmadatwi23(at)gmail.com] financial services office. [roy. (BE ’05) works as the equip- Norwegian-based life, prop- [www.ahmadatwi.com] boulos(at)fr.ey.com] ment support manager for erty, and environmental risk Future Pipe Group in Dubai management company. She Mario Awad Maral D. Boyadjian and is currently pursuing lives in Dubai, UAE with her (MA ’05) is an educational a master’s degree in busi- husband Mohammed Jomaa, and clinical psychologist ness administration from the who is a credit and risk man- in Lebanon working on a University of Strathclyde in ager at Obegi Chemicals. doctorate from St. Louis Glasgow, UK. [elharakeh(at) [Ghada.Slim(at)dnv.com] University in Missouri. gmail.com] Boyadjian lectures in psy- Ari Kassardjian chology at AUB and at Notre Sara Ibrahim Khaddaj (BS ’05, MS ’07) is pur- Dame University, runs her (BE ’05, ME ’07) is an instruc- suing his doctoral studies own clinic, and offers medi- tor at AUB’s Electrical and in molecular biophysics at tation and spirituality train- Computer Engineering Florida State University. ing. She is the author of Department where she is also [arikass(at)hotmail.com] (BS ’05, MS ’09) is chief The Armenian Diaspora: a laboratory engineer. She technical officer at TT Ethnicity and Psychological writes, “Being at AUB is a real Karim Masrouha International Group, a unique Wellbeing. [mboyadjian(at) pleasure; studying as well as (BS ’05, MD ’09) is a and innovative translation hotmail.com] working in this special place research assistant at the

64 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

University of Iowa Healthcare Nour Raad at Washington University in Department of Orthopedics (BS ’05) After earning her St. Louis. [fkaraki(at)dom. and Rehabilitation in Iowa BS in physics, Raad was wustl.edu] City. [kzm02(at)aub.edu. awarded an MD from the lb] and [kmasruah(at) University of Balamand Amelia Altz-Stamm hotmail.com] (Lebanon) in 2009. Her keen (MA ’10) After finishing interest in the study of car- her master’s in Middle Ahmad J. Naous diac arrhythmia associated Eastern studies at AUB’s with sudden cardiac death, Center for Arab and won her a scholarship from Middle Eastern Studies the International Max Planck (CAMES) in June 2010, Are you a Research School (IMPRS) Altz-Stamm moved to for the PhD program at Damascus where she is the Göttingen Graduate studying Arabic and pur- MEDIA School for Neurosciences suing an interest in water personality? and Molecular Biosciences policy that was the (GGNB). She is currently a focus of her master’s doctoral student in a col- thesis: “Prospects laborative program between for Sustainable If you are an alumnus (former student 2006-07) IMPRS for Dynamics and Water Management currently working in the joined CCC in Saudi Arabia Self-Organization and the in Lebanon: The editorial departments of in 2005 as a project admin- Department of Translational Horse Will Reach print, broadcast, or on-line istrator before moving to and Molecular Cardiology at the Water, But Will media outlets, send us Qatar where he now lives the Georg-August University It Drink?” In her the- your details! Spread the with his family, including Medical Center in Göttingen, sis, Altz-Stamm noted word and get in touch: his son Mohamad Jamil. Germany. [nour.raad(at)med. that although Lebanon [email protected] He would like to be in con- uni-goettingen.de] is fairly water-rich com- tact with his friends from pared to its regional AUB. [ahmadnaous422(at) Fatima neighbors, the “absence hotmail.com] Karaki of a centralized and impar- tial state working for the Looking for old friends public good has been the and classmates! overriding obstacle to devel- opment in the water sector. Suleiman E. Qawasmeh Growth will only be forth- (ME ’05) is the business coming when the Lebanese development manager at state is able to achieve a Blue Diamond Trading, an political consensus to sup- import, export, and market- port institutional reforms that ing company. He and his provide clear objectives and wife Nada Sayegh have a (BS ’06) received her medical roles for all involved offices young daughter. Qawasmeh degree from the University and agencies, as well as a plans to earn a doctorate of Michigan in May 2010. body of adequately skilled in strategic management. She is currently doing her personnel to tackle the many [suleiman(at)diamond-jo.com] internal medicine residency tasks at hand.”

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 65 Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

RECENTLY the first Arab to lead this inter- AUB Trustee Rima Khalaf- Engineers (ASABE) 2010 HONORED national body, which I believe Hunaidi (BA ’76) has Kishida International Award in Zaven Messerlian is an accomplishment for all been appointed by United recognition of his leadership Arabs. I feel proud to assist Nations Secretary General and contributions as a teach- in developing information and Ban Ki-moon as undersec- er and researcher, and for the communications technology retary general and execu- global impact of his work. As in the Arab communities and tive secretary of the United professor of environmental worldwide,” Abu-Ghazaleh Nations Economic and Social and natural resources engi- stated. Commission for Western neering and director of the Asia (ESCWA). Global Engineering Program Eileen Hadidian As assistant secretary at Purdue University, Mohtar general and director of the has been instrumental in (BA ’59, MA ’64), principal Regional Bureau for Arab developing global partner- of the Armenian Evangelical States at the United Nations ships between several US College of Beirut, historian, Development Programme institutions and countries and author, was awarded (UNDP) between 2000 and such as Palestine, India, the Medal of Education by 2006, Khalaf launched pio- Tunisia, Jordan, Brazil, and Lebanese President Michel neering projects to promote France. Sleiman. Messerlian received good governance, human In 2009 Mohtar was the medal from Minister of rights, and human devel- invited to join the World State Jean Oghassapian (BA ’72) Founder and artis- opment in Arab states for Economic Forum’s Global during a banquet held by tic director of the non-profit which she received several Agenda Council on Water the Armenian Evangelical organization Healing Muses, international honors including that was established to College at the Phoenicia Hadidian was named Albany the Prince Claus Award and address the systemic issues Intercontinental Hotel in May. Woman of the Year for 2010 the King Hussein Leadership facing the world’s water sup- Messerlian, who has worked for her significant contribu- Prize. Prior to joining the ply through broad-scale col- at the college for the last 50 tions assisting critically and UNDP, Khalaf held many sen- laborative efforts. Mohtar is years, has been the college chronically ill people in the ior policy-making positions a founding member of the principal for the past 43 years. San Francisco Bay area. in Jordan, including minis- Qatar Research Initiative and He has published five books. Hadidian, who used sooth- ter for industry and trade a member of the Qatari Arab ing music played on wooden (1993-95), minister for plan- Expatriate Scientific Joint Talal Abu-Ghazaleh flutes and Celtic harps as ning (1995-98), and deputy Committee. (BBA ’60), chairman and part of her healing process prime minister (1999-2000). chief executive office of Talal when she had cancer, began She has participated in a Elie El Noune Abu-Ghazaleh Organization to play at medical facilities number of international com- (BE ’10) has received a (TAG-Org), has been appoint- for other cancer patients. missions including the High- 2010 AES educational grant ed chairman of the Global The professional musicians Level Commission for the from the Audio Engineering Alliance for Information and of Healing Muses draw on a Modernization of the World Society (AES) Educational Communications Technologies diverse range of music from Bank Group Governance Foundation. El Noune, who (ICT) and Development by the classical, folk, and various (2008-09). earned an undergraduate United Nations Department of world traditions to create engineering degree in elec- Economic and Social Affairs a peaceful sound environ- Rabi H. Mohtar tronics and computers, will (UNDESA-GAID). He will suc- ment conducive to the well- (BS ’83, MS ’85) won pursue a master’s in music, ceed Craig Barrett, CEO of being of patients and staff. the American Society of science, and technology at Intel. “I am very honored to be [ehmuse(at)comcast.net] Agricultural and Biological Stanford University.

66 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate ALUMNI Menashi (Maurice) After graduating from Henry H. Mouradian Haddad (MD ’45), born AUB, he emigrated to the in Baghdad, Iraq in 1921, United States to begin his passed away on September internship and surgical resi- 27, 2010. He complet- dency in Chicago. From 1956 ed his medical residency to 1962 he trained as a gen- at Columbia University’s eral surgeon, then as a heart Roosevelt Hospital in New surgeon at the Mayo Clinic York City. While a fellow at in Rochester, Minnesota, Tampa General Hospital he earning his master’s in 1960 decided to remain in Florida and his doctorate in 1961 in so he could play tennis, his surgery from the University He was a scholar, an author, favorite sport, year round. A of Minnesota. Dumanian and a humanitarian who pioneering ophthalmologist entered private practice in became interested in the and otolaryngologist with 1962 in northwest Indiana Middle East while taking a private practice, Haddad as the first heart surgeon in a year off from college to was also a founding physi- the area. During the next 26 travel. After graduating from (former student) passed cian at St. Joseph’s Hospital, years he performed more Yale University in 1964, he away in Ticonderoga, New where he served for over 55 than 17,000 surgeries includ- received a master’s degree York in July 2010 at the years, and at Tampa General ing 3,500 open-heart surger- in Middle Eastern studies age of 105. Born in Aintab, Hospital. Committed to pro- ies. He is survived by Edma and Arabic language at AUB Turkey, Mouradian attended viding health care to under- Dumanian, his wife of 52 and a doctorate in social the German Elementary served populations both at years, three children, seven anthropology from Oxford. School and then AUB until home and abroad, Haddad grandchildren, and a brother. From 1977 to 2007 1920 when the family emi- started the free eye clinic at he served as president of grated to the United States. Tampa General for indigent Adib Kutteh (BS ’55) died American Near East Refugee After graduating from New people. He received the key August 2, 2010. Born in Aid and helped found the York University College of to the city when he retired Ramle`, Palestine in 1932, National Council on US-Arab Dentistry in 1929, at 86. After retirement, he he was especially popu- Relations. He was an adjunct Mouradian set up his prac- continued to mentor young lar among his classmates professor at Georgetown tice in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, physicians and to be a tough and much liked by his pro- University’s School of Foreign where he remained until competitor in tennis and fessors. After marrying in Service (1995-2003) and 1973. He then moved to bridge. He is survived by 1958, he moved from Beirut a board member of the Ticonderoga until his retire- his five children and his wife to Cairo, Egypt, to work with Foundation for Middle East ment in 1985. Janice Kerlick Haddad. his brother Azar, who grad- Peace, Builders for Peace, An avid traveler uated from AUB's School of and other groups support- who spoke six languages, Ara Vahan Dumanian (BA Pharmacy in 1941. In 1967, ing humanitarian efforts in the Mouradian visited 37 coun- ’49, MD ’53) passed away Kutteh returned with his Middle East. tries on five continents; he in August 2010 in Palo Alto, family to Beirut and became The author of several and his wife went on medical California. He was born the pharmacist in charge of books, in April 2010, he pub- missions to the Dominican in 1929 in Alexandretta Biopharm. He retired in 1996. lished a major biography of Republic in 1970 and Taiwan (Iskanderoun), Syria. Deeply He is survived by his wife of Saladin, the 12th-century in 1975 with the Christian committed to Armenian caus- 52 years, May Kutteh, his Islamic leader who fought Medical Society. He is sur- es, he and his wife partnered sons Issam and Ramzi, and against Christian crusad- vived by his wife of 55 years with the United Armenian daughter Leila (MD ’86). ers. He is survived by his Joyce (Schmeling) Mouradian, Cultural Association in 1977 wife Annie Yenikomshian a son and a daughter, six to establish the Armenian Peter Gubser (MA ’66) Gubser (BA ’66), his mother, grandchildren, and two great Studies Program at the passed away on September two daughters, two grand- grandchildren. University of Chicago. 2, 2010 at the age of 69. daughters, and two brothers.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2011 67 A Son’s Remembrance We Remember Fouad G. Major, AUB physics Samir J. Abdul-Malik instructor 1952-55, remem- BS ’56 bers his father, George Farouk W. Agha Nohra Majais, a former Former student AUB student. Wadi H. Akkawi BBA ’53 My father, George Nohra Raja Suhayl Al-Saadi Majais, was born in Former student Anwar I. Aswad Shweir, Lebanon in 1885. BBA ’70 With sponsorship from the Yousef A. Barakat Sursuq family, he began a BS ’35 promising academic career Ghassan F. Baydun in 1902, entering directly BBC ’49 from school as a sophomore Antranig H. Boghossian at the Syrian Protestant BA ’46 College. At the end of the Ammar Abdul Salam year, his benefactors decid- Bouhairi BE ’92 ed he should transfer to an Roland A. Bustani agricultural college in Egypt. BA ’50 Daniel Nicholas Egan Unfortunately his academic Former student career was prematurely cut Mounir El-Khatib short by Egyptian student Former faculty member riots at the British-run col- Dr. Ahmad A. Fakhri lege. He returned to Shweir BS ’71, MD ’75 to be with his mother for Nabil N. Ghazal the duration of World War I, George Majais BE ’70 which were years of utter Fuad F. Haddad deprivation under a harsh It is a testament to family BA ’50 Turkish blockade. solidarity and Majais's inner Rashid Elias Haddad Majais married Hanneh strength that he was able to BA ’49 Nadyah Hamadeh Chalhoub in 1920 and taught endure the manual jobs he BBA ’59 at a government school in had to take in a paint fac- Muhamad Ahmad Hijazi Kfarhabou. In 1925 the family tory, a laundry, and finally in BA ’47, MD ’51 emigrated to New Zealand a book-binding shop. But he Ibrahim M. Kharma to join a sister, Helen, but remained with his family in BA ’48, MA ’53 returned to Lebanon because New Zealand, where his sons Adib W. Kutteh Hanneh was ill and also and daughters established BS ’55 because of Majais's strong their families throughout the Joseph H. Matta attachment to Lebanon and 1940s and 1950s. In 1954 BE ’56 his love of Arabic poetry. Majais suffered a massive Said M. Mughabghab Around 1931, Majais moved stroke while living in Shweir; BS ’56, MS ’59 Mamdouh I. Mughrabi the family to Amyoun where he died at the AUB Hospital BS ’45 he taught. He also read and (now AUBMC) in April Adam N. Safi wrote Arabic poetry, becom- 1954. BBA ’09 ing a local celebrity as a Ibrahim Abdur-Rahim “Shaa’ir”—a poet. Yamut BBA ’47 Eventually Majais Albert Na’man Zaynun returned to New Zealand. BA ’53

68 MainGate Winter 2011 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Last Glance Photo © AUB Photography Department / Ahmad El Itani

A winter sea: January 2011

Lonely Planet lists a visit to the AUB beach as #16 of 111 things to do in Beirut and #130 of 1,021 sights in the Middle East. Return Address

American University of Beirut 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza 8th Floor New York, NY 10017-2303

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AUB Beach, 1940s