Center for Middle Eastern Studies NEWS LETTER No.28 The University of Texas at Austin Fall 2001/Spnng2002 Response to Events of September 11 ported responses received by the Cen- ter shortly after the events took place. Kamran Ali, Assistant Professor in Anthropology, Carel Bertram, Lec- turer in Islamic Art History at the Center, and Khaled Mattawa, Assis- tant Professor in English (Creative Writing), along with two other pro- fessors, participated in a panel discus- sion and public forum sponsored by the University of Texas Humanities Institute titled "Lrtemational Perspec- tives on September lL and the Current Crisis" on November 6,2007, which was attended by approximately 250 people. The goal of the event was to offer interested central Texans infor- mation aboutthe perspectives of other Students and faculty discuss issues relating to Islam at the conference on Presenting & Re-presenting Islam communities around the globe on re- cent events. J nd i viduals associated with the Cen- Americnn-Støtesmøn (a complete list is Iter for Middle Eastem Studies con- on file at Center). Reporters, profes- Kamran Bokhari, MA Candidate tinue to respond publicly and privately sors, high school teachers, and average in MES, spoke to 40 employees of to the horrific events of September 11 citizens called the Center looking for SupportKids about the Middle East and their aftermath in a variety of information about Islam, and over time, and the events of September 11 on ways. In accordance with the part of the political and historical background October 8,200I as part of a sensitivity its mission to educate the American of the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well training and cultural awareness pro- public about the Middle East, the Cen- as a host of other issues. gIam. ter and its faculty sponsored lectures, Many professors sought to use Mounira (Maya) Charrad, Assis- symposia, short courses, roundtable these events as opportunities for en- tant Professor of Sociology, in an im- discussions, conferences and inter- gaging students and colleagues in and mediate response to the events of Sep- views. Approxirnately 20,000 people out of class with the issues raised by tember 11, asked students to observe a were reached through lectures and the changing situation. Responses minute of silence and to be aware that conferences alone; adding the num- ranged from the intensely personal- whatever their own emotions and ber reached through interviews contributing funds to various relief opinions, it was necessary to respect printed in newspapers or held on ra- agencies and offering words of sup- all opinions, to realize that achieving dio or TV programs, that sum is easily port to concemed international stu- peace in the world has to begin with in the hundreds of thousands. A few dents-to the very public-marching achieving peace in the classroom. She representative media where inter- in demonstrations and speaking or suggested that these events, whatever views were given include the Associ- writing on relevant issues. they ultimately meant and whatever ated Press, local affiliates of NBC and The Center asked faculty and staff issues were raised, would likely re- ABC, National Public Radio (NPR), to report back how they personally main with them for the rest of their the Christian Science Monitor,lhe Søn responded, and here, in alphabetical lives. Antonio Express-Nerus and the Austin order, are some of the early self-re- continued on next page continued frotn page 1, Clement Henry, Professor in Gov- Esther Raizen Assistant Professor ernment, spoke onWednesday, Octo- of Middle EasternLanguages and Cul- John Downing, John T. Jones, Jr. ber 24,2001 at St. Mary's University tures, gave a talk at a meeting of Hillel, Centennial Professor in Communica- Peace Comrnission in San Antonio on Hadassah, and the UT Jewish Women tion, on September l2was in a gradu- the current situation and prospects Faculty on November 1. The topic was ate video-conferenced course with his for peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict. "The Aftermath of the September 11 own class, a class in the Instituto Hillary Hutchinson, Executive Events from the Perspective of an Is- Tecnológico, Monterrey, Mexico, and Assistant, on September 20, partici- raeli." a class at the Université de Quebec in pated in a discussion with the Austin Christopher Rose, Outreach Co- Montreal. The prior agenda was re- Area Inter-religious Ministries on dif- ordinator, was frequently called upon placedinfavor of a spontaneous three- ferences and similarities among Mus- in the days following September 11, way discussion. About ten days later, lims, Christians, and Sikhs. 2001-. On September 14, he spoke to ten he was one of five panelists in a Col- S. Akbar Hydar, Assistant Pro- teachers at Hutto Middle Schoof Hutto, lege of Communication serninar on fessor of Asian Studies, prepared a TX about September 11 events. A fea- the crisis. Having published a lengtþ second surruner session 2002 course ture he wrote, "Horrific Acts not True journal article analyzing Soviet news entitled, "Afghanistan: Religiory His- to the Faith of Islam" appeared on the media coverage of the war in the late tory, and Politics" intended to ad- op-ed page of the Austin Americøn- eighties Afghanistan, Dr. Downing dress the increased interest inAfghani- Støtesmøn (September 16). On Septem- contributed some thoughts from that stan post-September 11. ber L8, he spoke to 25 students in the perspective. On the panel, he read ex- Akel Kahera, Assistant Professor College of Education and was a guest cerpts from a widely internet-circu- of Middle Eastem Languages and Cul- on Jay Trachtenburg's community call- lated letter from an Afghani-Ameri- tures, and Sulafa Abou Samra, Cen- in show on KUT radio. On September can writer living in San Francisco and ter Outreach Assistant, along with 27, he spoke to the student body and another from a prominent Pakistani several other local Muslims, partici- faculty at St. Andrew's Upper School, Muslim commentator. Along with a pated in a two-and-one-half-hour Austin. On September 26,he partici- number of acadernic and graduate stu- rormdtable discussion sponsored by pated in a panel discussion on "War in dent colleagues, Dr. Downing co- the Middle East" sponsored by Sigma the Austín Atner ican- S t qtes t nn andLed signed a letter to President Faulkner, by religion writer Kim Sue Lia Perkes; Kappa Delta (Sociology Honor Frater- indicating their distance from the the result of this discussion was a nity) with about 100 students and 5 President's harshly worded attack in lengthy and well received feature in faculty in attendance. On September tJ¡re Houston Chronicle, that was later the "Life and Arts" section on Sep- 28, he spoke to 40 employees of Ambion reprinted inThe Daily Texan, on Pro- tember 23, 2001.. Sulafa and Keith Inc. as part of sensitivity training and fessor Robert Jensen's (Department of Walters, Associate Director of the cultural awareness program. On Octo- ]ournalism) public expression of his Center and Associate Professor of Lin- ber 2, he spoke to 40 students and viewpoint. guistics, were members of a panel for faculty at School of Social Work. On Saba Ghori, graduate student in the Texas Department of Health on October 10,he participated intwo panel the joint MES/LBJ program/ helped October 17, 2007 on understanding discussions (along with representatives organize a panel at the LBJ School of Islam, which some 125 employees at- from the Islamic Center of San Anto- Public Affairs entitled "Racial and Eth- tended. nio) about Islam and the Middle East and nic Issues Post September 11." to dis- Abraham Marcus, Center Direc- for 100 reporters, editors, staff of t}ne San Antonio Express-News and an- cuss the ramifications of these events tor, and Clement Henry, Professor in questions about accuracy and for Arab Americans, other ethnic mi- Government, participated in two dis- swered sensitivity needs in reporting. On Oc- norities, and immigrants. Discussants cussions with the Liberal Arts Plan II lober 25, he spoke to 100 members of included Kamran Aghaie, Assistant students on September 19 and Octo- the West Austin Rotary Club. On No- Professor of Middle Eastern Lan- ber 1,2001 onthe events of September at guages and Cultures, State Represen- 11. Panelists tried to help students vember 6, he spoke to 300 attendees Hillary tative Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin), and understand the root causes of the dis- UT-QUEST program. With a discussion Arthur Sakamoto, Associate Profes- affection felt by many Middle East- Hutchinson, he led book 28 on Karen sor of Sociology and Asian Studies. erners toward the United States. group on November Dr. Aghaie noted that racial profiling Armstrong's Islam: A Short History. Annes McCann-Baker prepared is an example of groups taking advan- Karen Wilkins, Associate Profes- alistof twelve suitable scholarlybooks tage of a generalbelief that heightened sor RTF, with assistance from her col- for tJre Austin American-Støtesmøn as a security is necessary, and Dr. Sakamoto league John Downing organized a one- added that it "serves a psychological reading list to help the public under- day workshop in the College of Com- need [for] people that something is stand the issues involved in the events munication on teaching controversial being done." of September 11. continued onbøck pøge Publications Duskby Rashid al-Daif and They Die Palmer Auditorium on October 13. S tr øn ger sby Mohammad Abdul-Wali, Thalks to graduate students from the is the Center's tale of a childhood in Center and volunteers from the Mus- Mecca,The Shelt er e d Quar t er,byHamza lim Students' Association (MSA), the Bogary, in reprint. Plønning the F ømily larger-than-expected crowd of 3,500 in Egypt: New Bodies, New Selaesby attendees was able to participate in Kamran Ali, the Center's newbookin hands-on crafts and traditional cloth- its Modern Middle East Series, willbe ing demonstrations.