Thirty-four academics, policy makers, religious leaders and opinion makers from across the world gathered at LAU over two days to discuss religious freedom and the construction of citizenship.

The conference, which concluded this afternoon, was organized by The Institute of Citizenship and Diversity Management at Adyan Foundation in partnership with LAU.

“This partnership forms an intellectual edifice of monumental proportions,” said LAU Provost George K. Najjar during the opening session. “We are gathered to discuss issues that are at the very heart of the human condition, anywhere and anytime, let alone in our part of the world here and now,” he added, highlighting the caliber of the participants.

This is the third conference of inter-religious dialogue hosted by LAU and Adyan since 2010. “Having made a series of achievements since our inception ten years ago, we realized it was important to address the issue of citizenship,” said Nayla Tabbara, director of the Institute of Citizenship and Diversity Management Director at the Adyan Foundation. “Our educational work in this regard has been cited and praised by leaders globally… and we welcome this opportunity to exchange experiences and insights.”

Tabbara enjoys, in particular, hearing case studies from other countries and discussions around philosophical questions. These were in great supply throughout the conference.

Father Adrien Sawadogo from Mali and Burkina Faso shared experiences of a loss of diversity in African countries, while Gwen Griffith-Dickinson, visiting professor of theology at King’s College London and Director of the Lokahi Foundation, spoke about the devaluation of truth in increasing narcissistic societies.

“The rise of political Islam... has been a big blow to religious diversity,’ said Sawadogo, adding that the different missionary approaches practiced by both Christians and Muslims – with the former introducing French education and the latter enforcing Arabic education – also created divisions within society. Meanwhile, Griffith-Dickinson referred to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump as a prime example of the growth of narcissism in society. “In the U.S., individual identity has become most important and the truth loses value. Countering such narratives requires a capacity for empathy, and as such we must promote listening and understanding from a very young age.”

Tarek Salem, deputy director of Al-Azhar Observatory, is also concerned with youth engagement. “Such conferences revive discussion and cooperation and I expect that we will develop partnerships that will aid us in our work,” he said. “Islam is not rightly practiced in our countries. There are political and societal reasons for this and many generations have been raised on ideas that can’t be countered or remedied quickly, so we must take a long-term approach to address them.”

Emphasizing the longevity of the problem, Marwan Rowayheb, chair of the LAU's Department of Social Sciences, noted that religious freedoms have been threatened or absent for centuries. “These issues are timeless and borderless. Fundamentalism is everywhere, not only in Islam or our region.”

Fellow faculty member and assistant dean of the School of Arts 
and Sciences Sami Baroudi also addressed religious freedom in his presentation, which focused on the teachings of four contemporary Islamic preachers with regard to the treatment and status of minorities in Islamic states. “In their view, these minorities form protected groups, but they are not consulted. Neither are Muslim citizens consulted. There is no referendum in sharia.” This, says Baroudi, makes the teachings of the religious leaders incompatible with modern European notions of citizenship, despite their proclamation of flexibility and tolerance.

“I find the relationship between state and citizen most fascinating,” said fellow participant Matthias Vogt, head of Foreign Department at Missio. “Particularly the different roles of the state and of parents,” he added, noting that he believes parents have not only a right but a duty to raise their children according to their religious and cultural tradition. “It has been a most engaging conference and a space within which we have reflected on many questions openly and honestly.”

The conference was organized by the Institute of Citizenship and Diversity Management at Adyan Foundation in partnership with the LAU's Department of Social Sciences with the support of the Church of Sweden and Missio.

Participants shared experience through case studies from different countries and discussions around philosophical questions.

Provost George K. Najjar kicked off the conference.

More than 700 guests including business leaders, politicians, philanthropists, and community members, along with the university’s faculty and staff attended LAU’s fifth annual Fundraising Gala Dinner yesterday at BIEL. The event celebrated the close of the university’s $100 million Fulfilling the Promise campaign, and raised scholarship funds for needy and deserving students.

“Each and every one of you made LAU a dream come true. A dream that has been marked by a great deal of excitement and by a greatness in serving the other, in serving each other, in serving society, in serving our beloved Lebanon,” said LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra during his opening speech.

The theme of this year’s event was focused on the success and achievements of the university’s second fundraising campaign. One major achievement was hitting the campaign target one year ahead of schedule and raising a total of $103,995,135―just $4,865 shy of $104 million.

This feat was made possible through 6,245 donations from 3,733 supporters including alumni, friends, and corporations, among many others. These gifts have allowed the university to stay devoted to its promise made clear during the campaign: to remain committed to strengthening academics and becoming a world-class institution.

In addition to paying tribute to the campaign’s success, and all those who made it possible, guests came together to recognize Fouad Makhzoumi’s recent $3 million contribution toward the LAU Fouad Makhzoumi Center of Innovation that is set to launch in spring 2017. The center will focus on educational and training activities in the field of innovation including regular international conferences, scholarly workshops, lecture series, and international research to foster creativity and innovation.

All proceeds from the gala ticket sales and sponsorships are destined for the Gala Dinner Endowment Scholarship Fund, which typically raises $1 to $2 million each year, and is one of the many ways the university enables its students to receive an excellent education regardless of their economic standing. 

More than 700 guests gathered at the annual gala dinner.

Renowned pianist Michel Fadel serenaded the crowd.

President Jabbra with philanthropist Fouad Makhzoumi.

Every year LAU’s gala dinner gathers hundreds of business leaders, politicians, philanthropists as well as artists and prominent public figures.

Two bruised hands hold a broken frame, put it aside and then calmly start what seems to be an everyday makeup routine, stained with blood. “Hiding won’t help,” the message appears, “Report Violence!”

The 30-second video directed by Kourken Papazian, a first year student in TV/Film at LAU, is the winner of an online video competition organized by LAU’s Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) in collaboration with ESCWA Centre for Women, the UN Women regional office for the Arab States and ABAAD-Resource Centre for Gender Equality and within the framework of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign”.

Papazian’s message is simple and straight forward: “By covering their bruises, women are keeping the issue taboo. They are hiding it, while reporting violence is the only way to stop it.”

For Pedro Muñoz Alonso, associate social affairs officer at ESCWA Centre for Women, the strength of the video lies in the fact that it conveys a compelling message without being explicitly violent. “The video does not show a single act of violence and yet is very powerful, which reflects its creativity. It is also very relevant to the situation in the region,” he adds.

In countries where many forms of gender-based violence are not considered crimes, reporting cases of violence remains taboo. “One of the main challenges we have to face is that few women report such acts of violence,” Alonso explains. “In fact, this video could not be more timely.”

At the end of November, a state-owned Moroccan channel raised controversy among activists in the country and then worldwide after hosting a “bruises makeup artist” who showed women how to cover the “signs of beatings” to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

According to Papazian, survivors should be able to share their experience and receive appropriate care and support. He continues: “We have to encourage them to speak. They should not be afraid of the stigma, as this is the only way for them to liberate themselves. This is the only way to put an end to this unacceptable violence.”

While the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in 1993, one in three women still experience physical and/or sexual violence worldwide, UN Women reports. The figure goes up to 70 per cent in some national studies. The agency also estimates that of all the women who were the victims of homicide globally in 2012, almost half were killed by intimate partners or family members.

“[Papazian‘s] video seeks to create a call to action, promoting survivors’ rights to speak out, seek help, receive support and combat stigma,” says Lina Abirafeh, director of IWSAW which has been organizing many activities in conjunction with student clubs, and local and international organizations, within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism and all year long.

“November is a critical month for all of us―academics and activists, policymakers and practitioners―because every year we conduct this worldwide campaign which aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of violence against women, and serves to remind us all that, every day, we should commit to individual and collective action to end this abuse!” 

The four partners are hosting a closed panel discussion on “Estimating the cost of violence against women in the Arab region” moderated by Lina Abirafeh on Friday, December 9 at ESCWA. 

The 16 Days of Activism campaign begins on the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women, 25 November, and ends on International Human Rights Day, 10 December,. This year’s theme is Make Education Safe for All.

Fouad Makhzoumi has pledged $3 million to LAU in order to establish the Fouad Makhzoumi Center for Innovation.

“Since getting to know this institution, I realized instantly that it had a vision, in large part due to my talks with [LAU] President [Joseph G.] Jabbra,” said Makhzoumi during his speech at a signing ceremony held last week on the Beirut campus which brought together his family and friends along with university officials to celebrate the occasion.

“Innovation is missing in this country,” he continued. “You need business incubation. You need to get people to create a network for them in order to come up with those ideas. And this is where LAU, I believe, could do that.”

The Fouad Makhzoumi Center for Innovation, which is set to launch in spring 2017, will focus on educational and training activities in the field of innovation including regular international conferences, scholarly workshops, lecture series, and international research to foster creativity and innovation.

During the ceremony, Jabbra discussed the Makhzoumi family’s dedication to serving society and improving Lebanon, drawing parallels between their strong values and the university’s purpose. 

“Dr. Makhzoumi did not forget where he came from, and his philanthropic efforts and that of his wife May serve underprivileged people by providing them with the opportunity to have health services; micro lending opportunities; and training opportunities in order to make a decent life and live with dignity. And this is why this gathering is very important because that resonates very well with the mission of our institution,” Jabbra declared.

Makhzoumi, who received an Honorary Degree in Humane Letters from LAU last June, is a strong believer in and supporter of the university, citing its innovative spirit in launching unique degree programs. “LAU thinks outside the box in terms of traditional education, setting up a fashion degree program and other similar initiatives. And we need to have such innovation. Innovation is what will procure a better future for our youth,” he explained. 

Makhzoumi is co-founder of Future Pipe Industries, and he and his wife established the Makhzoumi Foundation in 1997. The family has continuously supported LAU since their first gift in 2004. Their generous contributions have benefited a great number of students through donations toward scholarship funds and agreements that enable LAU’s health schools to use and benefit from the Foundation’s facilities, equipment, services and personnel.

Fouad and May Makhzoumi with LAU officials, faculty and staff at the signing ceremony.

Rami Rikka is an unassuming final year student of graphic design who is enjoying his recent success at BDL (Banque du Liban) Accelerate, where he and a team of new acquaintances won the $10,000 prize for best proposal at the convention’s HealthTech Hackathon.

“I’ve never won anything in my life,” says the senior. “It was amazing, and the people I met and spent 48 hours working with were so talented and genuine and unpretentious. I enjoyed it tremendously.”

Rikka had applied with peers from LAU to participate in the hackathon, where teams spent 48 hours working together to build a beta-prototype of a technology-based solution that would disrupt the health and medical sector. Although their application was rejected, Rikka was determined  to attend the event to learn more about the projects being pitched.

There, he introduced himself to the British-Pakistani doctor Mohsan Malik. “I was very intrigued by his idea to develop an app to help people with facial paralysis,” recalls Rikka, who was invited to join the team of eight that went on to produce the winning prototype. “The programmers were amazing, so dedicated,” he says.

The interface of the app is as simple as the backend is complex. People with facial paralysis can overcome their disability in three months through daily exercises done in front of a mirror, but it can be emotionally draining and demotivating for patients to stare at their distorted face day after day. FacePhysio interacts with the human face through a game-like program. In the beta-prototype, a hot air balloon on a screen rises in direct response to the raise of an eyebrow. “So they’re challenged to do the exercises and know how well they’ve done witout being discouraged by the sight of their disability,” says Rikka enthusiastically.

Rikka, himself a developer who chose to specialize in print design at LAU, was in charge of the brand identity of the app during the hackathon, experimenting with different names before settling on FacePhysio and getting to work on a logo.

The young designer has over the years honed the branding and design skills he developed at LAU through internships at international agencies J. Walter Thompson and Impact BBDO, among others.

“I love learning from others and engaging in different projects. That’s what was so lovely about working with this team at the hackathon,” says Rikka of his work with Malik, whose dream of developing an app to help stroke victims became a reality at the convention.

“It’s great to win, but to work with creative, kind people was the best part of the process,” remarks Rikka. No doubt being approached by professionals from high-profile investment firms and tech-based companies after his team’s prototype won against 20 other high-caliber initiatives was not bad either.

Rami Rikka holds the cheque surrounded by his team mates.

Computer science alumnus Hasan Chocor has landed a job as a product security specialist at Alfa Telecommunications after being inducted in the Google Hall of Fame.

“Alfa contacted me via LinkedIn after the media publicity that followed and, after a series of interviews, I was offered a job,” said Chocor, delighted.

Chocor graduated from LAU this summer with a degree in computer science. He had for years been hoping to join the much-coveted ranks of the Google Hall of Fame, part of a program by the online giant that rewards security analysts for finding and reporting vulnerabilities and bugs on Google platforms. “It’s a dream come true,” said Chocor, whose name was added in November after he reported a vulnerability on one of Google’s sites. “And now I get to hone my skills as a security specialist further at Alfa.”

Seeking out vulnerabilities online is a hobby Chocor expects to continue practicing in his spare time. “I learned how to run penetration tests and security scans at LAU and watch tutorials to further develop my abilities.” He took the opportunity to shine a spotlight on Lebanon by including the flag in his Hall of Fame profile picture. “We have a small population so we must shine a spotlight on every achievement,” said Chocor during an interview on one of the Lebanese local channels.

His success with Google led to a number of media appearances during which he spoke confidently about his field and the skills he learned at the university.

“I was very shy when I first joined LAU, but trough my activism in the student clubs, I developed my confidence and skills in public speaking,” says Chocor, who had been president of the events organizing and IT clubs and vice president of the UNESCO club. His extra-curricular activities earned him the award for member of the year.

Former president of the LAU events organizing and IT clubs and vice president of the UNESCO club, Chocor receives the member of the year award before graduating.

Every year, LAU’s Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW) organizes events, activities and campaigns for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This year was no different. The Institute partnered with UN Women, the ESCWA Centre for Women (ECW) and prominent Lebanese NGO ABAAD on three initiatives that targeted students, experts, NGOs and the media.

An online video competition invited youth from across the Arab region to create short innovative films to highlight gender-based violence. Kourken Papazian, a first year student of film at LAU, won the competition with his video ‘Covering up.’ Papazian was then invited to speak at a discussion held by ESCWA (UN House) in Downtown Beirut which centered around the cost of violence against women in the Arab region, and was moderated by the Director of the Institute Lina Abirafeh. “The talk complemented an ongoing study we are leading together with ESCWA and UN Women,” explained Abirafeh. “Our partnership with them and with ABAAD predates the campaign because our efforts to end violence against women cannot be confined to only 16 days of the year. We are committed to this effort all the time.”

The directors of ABAAD, the Arab Stats office of UN Women and the ESCWA Centre for Women led the discussion with presentations. “The findings presented were startling,” said Associate Social Affairs Officer at the ESCWA Centre for Women Pedro Muñoz Alonso. A study conducted in Egypt last year showed that the estimated annual cost of GBV there amounted to 217 billion Egyptian pounds.

“All the presentations were compelling and very timely, and there was good interaction with the audience,” added Alonso, noting that the four partners have repeatedly worked well together. “We complement each other in expertise and outreach and targeted audience.”

Theatre and music were also on the agenda at an event dedicated to applauding the collective efforts of Lebanese NGOs, the civil society, volunteers, and youths that led to the abolishment of Article 522 which allowed rapists to avoid punishment by marrying their victims.

“This was simply unacceptable, unethical, and a further violation of human rights,” said Abirafeh. “The battle to repeal the law had been fought by the civil society and feminist organizations for a long while and this success is a great victory͟͟͟͟͟͟͟—but one that we should take with caution, because the real work is just beginning.”

In a bid to engage students to understand and join in their efforts, the Institute hosted manned stands at both campuses during the 16 Day Campaign and engaged heavily on social media platforms. Another stand was erected on Corniche-Beirut during an event organized by the European Union, which aimed to engage and raise awareness among citizens.

“By partnering with others—sharing the load of planning and implementation—we expand our support group, and are able to engage with more people by running more initiatives,” said Abirafeh of the many activities and events the Institute was able to hold during the short period of time.

The panel discussion at the UN house hosted key speakers and experts on GBV.

IWSAW encouraged students to join and raise awareness of the campaign on campus.

How do you view Donald Trump’s election to the presidency of the United States?

Trump was a very different candidate and now President-Elect than we’ve ever had before. He hasn’t been in the military and he’s never been elected to any office… But I think that’s in part what people wanted—a change, a non-politician. One should note, however, that Clinton won the popular vote by more than 3 million votes. Still, the election has been described as a “Whitelash,” where almost 70 percent of white men and 53 percent of white women voted for Trump, while minorities overwhelmingly voted for (Hillary) Clinton. I think that’s the most disturbing aspect, because it really calls into question the principles of equality that the country has worked for over the past 50 years.

Going outside the U.S., Trump’s nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, recipient of Russia’s Order of Friendship in 2013, for secretary of state questions another principle of a somewhat traditional opposition to Russia. What does this reveal?

The nomination of Rex Tillerson confirmed for many Trump's plan to create a Cabinet that is business-friendly, breaks with long-standing domestic and U.S. foreign policy, and rewards longtime supporters. Tillerson, unlike some of the other cabinet nominations, is highly regarded by many but his career with—and one assumes allegiance to—ExxonMobil also pits him against current U.S. foreign policy regarding sanctions on Russia. Because of this, Tillerson might find the strongest opposition to his nomination among Republican hawks who see Russia as the U.S.'s greatest threat.

What effect, if any, will this Russia-U.S. reconciliation have on the situation in Syria and specifically around Aleppo?

Regarding Aleppo, Trump has already had an effect. (Bachar al) Assad and (Vladimir) Putin —along with Hezbollah and Iran—have pummeled Aleppo in a quest to begin a final chapter in the conflict. Trump seems willing not only to allow this but to welcome it. The problem, beyond the horrendous humanitarian disaster that has descended on Aleppo, is that the world still needs to deal with the Islamic State and the de facto unraveling of Iraq.

What about the Middle East in general?

On the one hand, it might carve out some kind of quiet for Lebanon. From a realpolitik point of view, the situation could get cleared up in Syria sooner rather than later, if the U.S. under Trump achieves some sort of rapprochement with Russia and lets Assad win. Lebanon could be an entryway for the money, engineers, and business people needed to help rebuild Syria.

However, this view leaves out the animosity the Republicans have, and Trump says he has, toward Iran. Because the scenario I’ve just described implies that Iran is the new hegemon in the region, and the Republicans have been adamant that it should not have that power, I don’t see how you can square support for Russia—and Assad—and somehow ignore the growth and strength of Hezbollah, their role in Syria, and ties with Iran. It also leaves out Israel, where Trump’s election has invigorated the settler movement. 

Do you think Trump will withdraw from NATO?

No, but he has already changed the alliance and, in my eyes, weakened it. The potential change in the relationship with Russia is already causing the European NATO member countries to increase defense spending and seek to increase cooperation between themselves, so as not to not to have to rely so much on the U.S. Among other things, the Baltics are very worried, and so are Finland and Sweden.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault warned Trump over his attitude toward China, describing his approach as “not clever.” What do you think?

Sino-American ties are becoming strained by Trump's unorthodox, and frankly cavalier, rhetoric and actions (accepting a call from the Taiwanese President), and domestic opinion in China is quickly becoming very anti-Trump. The relations might very well continue to deteriorate as Trump has already said that he wants to play hardball with the Chinese. 

Yet, Trump’s words and actions reflect a calculated shift in policy that was a long time in the making, with the intent of counteracting the rise of China and allowing for commercial interests—particularly those of Trump-affiliated companies—to be realized between Taiwan (Republic of China) and the U.S. This, in and of itself, shows a strong disregard for longtime national interests.

This week, he cancelled a news conference that was to focus on such possible conflicts of interest between his presidency and business activities…

The least we can say is that ethical implications concerning “conflicts of interest” are pretty stunning, with Trump acting both as President-Elect and as a private businessman. And while it seems that Trump will indeed be elected by the Electoral College on December 19 (though there is still some chance that this will not happen), his ongoing refusal to address his conflicts of interest may well mean that impeachment hearings will start alongside the beginning of his four-year term. What we are witnessing in American politics today is truly unprecedented. 

Photo (here cropped): Trump at ISU by aj.hanson1 (2016), PhotosForWork.com, License

Last week, LAU’s Graduate Studies and Research Office (GSR) held a grant proposal writing workshop as part of its mission to support the research needs of investigators and to foster quality research across all disciplines represented at the university. The workshop was held in collaboration with the LAU Center for Learning and Teaching. 

For Joe Tekli, assistant professor at the electrical and computer engineering department, the workshop was very enlightening. “The links we were provided for funding agencies were also extremely useful. I will definitely look into them,” he said.

The training was led by Rosie Nasser, an expert in the field of proposal writing and grant management in academia, with contributions from representatives of the LAU Budget & Grants Office and GSR. Its objective was to provide faculty with the best practices and practical skills necessary to write proposals for funded research. It covered such topics as identifying funding sources, planning and preparing a proposal (including a specific budget), and the review process. The workshop featured practical examples based on actual proposals that were either awarded or rejected.

Also a participant, Myrna Doumit, assistant dean for the Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing, was very happy with the outcome, wishing for follow-up sessions where funded faculty from different disciplines would share their experiences and volunteer to mentor junior faculty.

Such suggestions were welcomed by the GSR which regularly organizes similar events with the objective to move LAU to yet a higher level by strengthening the institution’s research capacity. According to Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Pierre Zalloua, who also heads the GSR, having a solid research idea is not enough: being able to present it clearly and cogently in a grant proposal is often the key to a successful funding application. “Faculty need to learn how to secure funding, because they need to have money to conduct their research.”

One of the possible funding sources that faculty can apply for resides within the GSR itself, as the office manages research funds available through the university. “There are two application cycles per year at an annual budget of about $200,000,” says Zalloua. Since each grant is approximately $20,000 per project (to be conducted over the span of two years), the GSR gives out around ten faculty grants per year.  

Applications for the GSR grants are “a competitive process,” emphasizes Zalloua. “Faculty have to submit a project proposal based on the guidelines that we have, which state that it should be significant, of a certain utility to the community, and should be interdisciplinary if possible.” At the same time, “the main purpose of this fund is to help our faculty secure pilot, or preliminary data,” he adds. “So if the idea is sound enough from a scientific perspective, the reviewers agree to fund it.”

The workshop was attended by faculty members from both campuses and various disciplines. The highly interactive sessions were greatly appreciated by participants, who engaged in a lively discussion of subjects related to their own research experience.

The GSR’s objective is to strengthen LAU’s research capacity.

New genetics research led by LAU professor Pierre Zalloua has confirmed the existence of isolated populations around the Black Sea and the Northern Levant during the Ice Age. Referred to as refugia, these populations lived apart from each other with no contact or inter-mixing for more than 25,000 years. “This allowed for distinct genetic signatures specific to each refugium to accumulate,” the researcher explains.

Geneticist and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Zalloua worked together with a team made up of members from New Zealand’s University of Otago, Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, and technology company IBM, to collect and study new genetic data. “Archeology indicates the existence of populations in certain areas, but it doesn’t show that people were isolated,” adds Zalloua.

Not only did his team confirm the existence of refugia, but they also traced their migration away from their isolation after the first ice melted some 15,000 years ago by mapping the genetic data against existing archaeological, paleontological, paleobotanical, and climate data.

Using Y-chromosome markers combined with autosomal data, they reconstructed population expansions from regional refugia in Southwest Asia. “We now know that we, in the Levant, migrated through the north around 12,000 years ago, and not directly from Africa,” says Zalloua, noting that such findings enrich our understanding of our historical anthropology and of the significant impact climate plays in the way we live.

The Ice Age forced people who had previously been hunter-gatherers moving from place to place to live in restricted areas where conditions were habitable. This led to the development of communities living in refugia. Among the team’s findings was the existence of a refugium that had not previously been known. “We not only identified the expected genetic signatures within refugia around the Black Sea and Northern Levant, but also identified a genetic signature marking a refugia in the Arabian Peninsula yet to be identified through archeology.”

Details of the distinct and datable expansion routes of these populations into Europe and North Africa are revealed in the study, published today in Scientific Reports. The journal article expands upon these findings with a discussion about the possible correlation between these migrations and various cultural and climatic events evident in the archaeological records of the past 15,000 years.

Such a plethora of discoveries is never anticipated, says Zalloua. “We didn’t set out to say anything in particular. We plotted our data on a map together with climate and archeological evidence and it all made sense.”

Renowned geneticist, Zalloua is dean of graduate studies and research at LAU.

“It’s the most prestigious position a coach can hope to attain,” says Joe Moujaes proudly of his recent appointment as head coach of Lebanon’s senior men’s basketball team. Moujaes, director of athletics at LAU’s Byblos campus, is the youngest coach to ever hold the national position.

His appointment is the result of, and a reward for, a string of successes with other teams. Last year, he led the junior men’s national team to fourth place in the Asia championship and Homenetmen, the local club he has coached for three years, has been heading the national boards for a long time.

Where next for the coach who has reached the top of the national totem pole? “I want to go international, either by taking the national team to international tournaments or by coaching a big club abroad,” responds Moujaes, without hesitation.

Moujaes was a student of engineering at LAU until 2001, during which time he was an avid athlete. He took a position at the university’s athletics department upon graduating and has gone from strength to strength ever since. “When I joined in 2002 I realized that I must not only develop as an athlete but as a manager as well. You really have to be well rounded in everything to reach this level and being at LAU gave me the opportunity to do that. I wouldn’t have grown and developed the way I did to become a great coach otherwise.”

He spoke highly of the practical experience he was gaining at LAU with a master’s in sports management and a coaching certificate from FIBA Europe, as yet the only coach in Asia to earn it.

His success with LAU’s varsity basketball team was also instrumental in propelling him to the national level. In its first international win, his LAU Captains men’s basketball team took gold in the recent AUB’s #150 International Sports Tournament. In fact, Mouajes and his colleagues at LAU can boast a highly competitive athletics program which runs – among many other initiatives – a high-school tournament that provides the university with an opportunity to spot talented youths, many of whom go on to receive athletics scholarships. “I’m delighted hard-working young athletes enjoy this opportunity to gain a strong education at LAU.”

Joe Moujaes with LAU Captains.

Midis Group has pledged $325,000 to LAU to establish the Midis Group Student Computer Center located at the forthcoming Engineering Labs and Workshops Building on the Byblos campus.

“LAU and President Joseph G. Jabbra have achieved so much―bringing the university up to an excellent and international standard,” said Midis Group CEO and Chairman Nabil Bustros at the signing ceremony that took place on the Beirut campus. “We are proud to be part of your achievements, and I hope that our participation will add a small drop to the big achievements of LAU.”

Jabbra was quick to point out that Midis Group’s donation was by no means small. “Your gift is a significant drop!” he declared. “We really appreciate it, and so will the students.”

Slated to open in fall 2017, the center will offer high-quality computing facilities and services for students, faculty and staff in order to support the teaching, research and educational endeavors of the university’s School of Engineering. Specifically, it will house 35 high-end workstations with a dual-boot operating system, and will provide discipline-specific software and resources to fulfill the unique academic requirements of electrical and computer engineering students.

“We are extremely excited about the future and the opportunities this partnership offers to LAU and its students,” commented LAU School of Engineering Dean George Nasr. “We believe the Midis Group Student Computer Center will definitely enhance the overall educational experience at LAU, and we are honored and keen to pursue other possible partnership initiatives with Midis that would help support current and future LAU engineering students reach their academic and personal goals.”

Nicole Barghoud, development director for LAU who helped to facilitate this gift to the university stressed the need for academia and industry to come to together. “Today, more than ever, the only way for any educational institution to stay competitive is to be more creative, more innovative, and faster than the competition,” explained Barghoud. “And in the wake of growing economic challenges due to globalization, there is a need for universities to forge working relationships with the industry in order to be relevant, progressive and to spur a nation’s economic growth,” she concluded.

This is not the company’s first vote of confidence for LAU. In April 2014, Midis Group established the Midis Group Annual Scholarship grant to assist needy and deserving students of the School of Engineering, the School of Arts and Sciences and the Adnan Kassar School of Business. 

President Jabbra and Chairman Bustrus surrounded by several members of the Midis Group team and LAU’s Advancement and Development leaders.

The wall of a bridge in Byblos underwent a creative and colorful makeover recently when students, faculty, staff and alumni from the School of Architecture and Design came together to brighten the lackluster facade.

Students of the Foundation years of studies course worked under the supervision of LAU faculty Melissa Plourde Khoury and Ruth Maalouf as well as artists from NGO Paint Up, more commonly known by their nom de guerre Dihzahyners, to bring color and life to the urban landscape of Byblos.

Seven paintings were selected from a total of 64 pitched, individually, by students of the Foundation program. “All the students however participated in the execution of the mural,” explains Khoury, associate chair of the Department of Art and Design, who initiated the project and who also picked up a brush during the three-day process.

“I proposed the idea to Silia [Abou Arbid, director of the Foundation program] and contacted LAU alumna Lana Chukri of the Dihzahyners, and Ayoub Bark, vice president at the Byblos municipality, and everyone was super enthusiastic from the very start,” recalls Khoury, delighted at the cooperation and support the project received.

The initiative was an extension of the strong partnership the university and municipality forged years ago in the interest of serving the local community and embedding community service within LAU’s curricula and student experiences.

“We wanted to give the students an opportunity to give back to the community in which they live and learn, and to show that it is possible to give life and expression to neglected urban spaces in the local landscape through innovation, dedication, partnership and paint,” Khoury enthuses.

It stood to reason that the ideal candidate for supervising the process would be none other than Dihzahyners which was established by a group of LAU artists and graduates in 2012. It has since grown from a community-based initiative, best known for its colorful geometric designs on staircases across Beirut, to an organized registered non-profit organization dedicated to embellishing spaces country-wide.

Creative campaigns of this kind are inspired by a review of the Foundation program which seeks to place students in real-world settings where they can implement what they have learned in the classroom. For this reason, Khoury would like to see this activity take place every year. “One wall at a time, our students can make a difference within communities in Lebanon. Some of the most fundamental elements of design—form, color, line and space―when set within even the most mundane spaces, can uplift and alter our everyday experiences.”

Students get creative during three days of mural painting.

The finished mural is over 10 meters wide.

Rima Mismar began the new year with a new role as executive director of the Beirut-based Arab Fund for Arts & Culture (AFAC). “I have grown with and contributed to the growth of the institution,” says the LAU communication arts graduate, who has been with the organization for over five years, first as head of its film program, then as deputy director. “It’s very fulfilling and rewarding to now be entrusted as head,” adds the one-time journalist and film critic whose appointment followed an open competitive call.

Mismar sees her transition from writing critically about film and culture to managing grant programs for the arts as a natural evolution. “I was on the receiving end and now I’m in the kitchen.”

Known to most independent cultural actors in the Arab world, AFAC has for ten years been among the only sources of independent funding for many artists working in visual arts, film, music, writing and other disciplines related to and advancing arts and culture in the region. To date, AFAC has awarded close to one thousand grants.

“We have accumulated a great deal of experience and created a sense of support for artists across the region, so now we can think about broader strokes,” says Mismar of AFAC’s vision moving forward. “We want to expand on the strong foundations we’ve built by promoting and enabling collaborative and cohesive structures and initiatives.”

The media is often among the actors that support and push the boundaries of cultural expression, but Mismar is skeptical about the role it has played in the arts in the region. “There’s a lack of art criticism in journalism and little sense of obligation to the reader. I don’t know if it has any real impact on the processes or products of arts and culture,” she explains, adding that a general lack of appreciation for the direct impact the arts have on society is part of the problem. “The arts are societal, political and humanitarian, and have an impact on independent and critical thinking.”

Such thinking is what she remembers most about her time at LAU―from which she graduated in 1998―when Lebanon’s independent art scene was flourishing after the war. “There was a burst of questions during my student years. People were experimenting and we developed a critical eye.”

Discovering new films, working collectively and researching for critiques are among her most vivid memories of her years at her alma mater. “Each critique required multiple visits to the library,” recalls Mismar, acknowledging the dramatic shift brought on by digital technologies. “The arts are more accessible now, to both audiences and producers of art. It is no longer intimidating or a privilege of the few.”

This mainstreaming of the arts among students is also, however, a point of concern. “Students are being taught how to reach out to mainstream audiences. This may be a practical consideration, but students should explore and experiment unhindered by concepts of marketing,” explains Mismar. “University is a place where hearts and minds are shaped.”

Saloua Raouda Choucair, avant-guarde artist, died on January 27. She was 100 years old.

Increasingly acclaimed painter and sculptor, Choucair is considered to have introduced modern and abstract art to the Middle East.

“For generations to come, LAU alumni will take pride in remembering Saloua Raouda Choucair as one of their own,” says Abdallah El Khal, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations at LAU.

Choucair’s interests and passions were as diverse as her art. Her scientific curiosity shows in almost every piece of work, where wood, water, nylon or brass among others, become the means to express her philosophical wonderings. An art that shows exactly what she was about, a fusion of science, Islamic art and Arabic poetry, reflected in her academic path.

In 1938, with a degree in biology from LAU (then the American Junior College of Women) under her belt, Choucair went on to pursue graduate studies in philosophy and Arabic sciences at the American University of Beirut. She began her artist career in the studios of prominent Lebanese painter Mustafa Farroukh while still a student, eventually enrolling at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, where she worked with some of the most prominent artists of the time. The artist then moved to the United States where she received additional training at the Pratt Institute in New York City and the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. 

Her work was increasingly recognized in her late years. In Lebanon, a retrospective of her career was hosted at the Beirut Exhibition Center in 2011. Before that, her last major exhibition in the country dated back to 1974. More recently, in June of last year, the Sursock Museum celebrated the artist’s 100th birthday.

“In her early career she [Choucair] was… at best ignored,” her daughter Hala Choucair Gharzeddine had declared. But the artist received numerous distinctions and her work has been showcased in museums around the world including at Tate Modern in 2013.

Showing an indefatigable support to its alumna, LAU (then BCW) acquired in 1975 a sculpture of hers that now adorns one of the Beirut campus gardens.

In an autobiographic article written in the early 90s, Choucair describes her college years with enthusiasm, recalling the publication of her caricatures — of classmates, teachers, and other campus figures — in the annual Trireme publication and on the college’s posters, which she designed.

“She loved her years at AJCW,” says her daughter. “She found an audience there who has always appreciated her style.”

Saloua Raouda Choucair was born on June 24, 1916 and died on January 27, 2017.

Students, professors, and staff of LAU, both current and former, gathered in the Riyad Nassar Library on the Beirut campus on Friday evening to pay homage to the founding director of the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW), Julinda Abu Nasr. “She has been a pioneer in more ways than we can imagine,” said the Institute’s fifth and current director Lina Abirafeh of the alumna (B.A.’ 55) whose many achievements include the establishment of the early childhood education program at LAU (then Beirut University College).

Students of the program benefited from hands-on experience at the university’s daycare center, which Abirafeh attended for a few months as a child. “I have been following your footsteps for a long time,” she said to Abu Nasr. “I have big shoes to fill.”

Abu Nasr has certainly trodden the road less travelled, and that evening she and many of her former colleagues shared a number of anecdotes with the men and women who gathered to honor her dedication, perseverance and hard work that impacted the lives of women across the region and societal divides.

“Julinda believed in the empowerment and development of women long before they became buzzwords,” said LAU alumna Ghena Ismail, who worked with Abu Nasr at the Institute in the 1990s. “The office was a vibrant space open to new ideas and people, transcending sect, age, and race. It brought together scholars and laypersons free from discrimination.”

Reflecting on the strong roots and vision of both the university and the Institute, President Joseph G. Jabbra spoke of the importance of the many initiatives and programs that strive toward gender equality in the region before handing Abu Nasr a glass trophy in honor of her considerable contribution. “We salute you, Julinda, for what you did, and [former university president] Riyad Nassar for all you did to ensure its success.”

The former LAU president then took to the podium to speak of his admiration for Abu Nasr’s resilience, efficiency and innovation. “Despite the war, she worked hard, with integrity and to high standards,” he said. “The Institute became a strong arm of the university in advocating women’s rights… and there is no better reward for such creative people than to see their creation cherished by future generations.”

Among the women who nurtured IWSAW was its fourth director Samira Aghacy, a professor of English and comparative literature who, like Abu Nasr, continued to teach while at the helm. “Julinda is an outstanding woman with boundless energy,” said Aghacy. Referring to the proverbial saying and motto of Abu Nasr’s school “It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness,” she added: “Julinda is a woman who has lit many candles.”

Declarations of admiration and compliments were plentiful throughout the event, and, as an expression of gratitude, the women and gender collection at the Library, which includes more than 8,000 books and is housed on the 5th floor, was named after Abu Nasr. “We want Julinda’s work to be immortalized so generations to come know of her contributions to LAU, to women and to society,” said Abirafeh, during the surprise announcement.

The collection was initiated by the Institute in 1975 under Abu Nasr’s leadership, as was IWSAW’s flagship journal al-Raida (Arabic for “The Pioneer”) the following year. An article in its first issue notes that the newly established documentation center housed in the university library included more than 600 books about women and gender.

Abu Nasr spoke warmly about the journal, the books and all the programs she initiated and engaged in. Following a recital of various humorous and heart-warming highlights from her 25 years as director of the Institute, she asked her former colleagues, many of whom remain dear friends, to stand up among the crowd. “This is a true honor to all of them.”

From left: Lina Abirafeh, current director of IWSAW, Myriam Sfeir, assistant director of IWSAW and managing editor of Al-Raida, Julinda Abu Nasr, President Jabbra.

Abu Nasr receives a trophy from former LAU President Riyad Nassar (left) and President Jabbra.

Harvard professor Peggy Levitt has concluded her first visit to Lebanon where she taught a postgraduate course entitled ‘Migrating People, and Cultures’ to students of the M.A. in Migration Studies. “I learned so much during my time here,” said the professor of her experience at LAU. “The material and theories I presented were developed in the U.S., and through discussions with the students and cultural actors in the country, I learned a great deal about how Lebanese people view the concept of nations and cohesion.”

Levitt and her LAU students visited a number of sites during the intensive two-week course, taking in the Sursock, National, and Beirut museums. “I wanted the students to be aware of and document the different representations of Lebanese nationalism at each site,” explained the professor.

“We learned so much in a very interactive way,” said student Karim Ziade.  In addition to off-site visits and discussions about identity and culture, the students watched videos, gave presentations and conducted surveys.

“We asked people in Lebanon to identify things they considered national treasures and national rubbish and many of the responses were unexpected and eye-opening,” added Ziade. Among the treasures cited were the country’s gold reserves, which keep the currency stable, and among the “rubbish” were the cultures of sectarianism, corruption and consumerism, he explained.

The course, instigated by Director of LAU’s Institute of Migration Studies Paul Tabar, was complemented by a lecture, attended by faculty members as well as students, during which Levitt introduced her research on social welfare and transnationalism.

According to the professor, more than one in seven people in the world today is a migrant and almost a quarter of a billion people live in a country in which they do not have citizenship. As such, access to social welfare is often complex, incorporating formal and informal resources from more than one state, explained Levitt. “With the rise in xenophobia and heightened nationalism, and an increase in migration, this issue is particularly timely,” she added. “Some borders may be less permeable now, but others are more so. Mobility will not be stopped. The world is still on the move,” she insisted.

Lebanon, with its huge diaspora and migrant populations, would make a great laboratory for such a study, said LAU Vice President for student enrollment Elise Salem. “The Lebanese are very clever in traversing the cultures they inhabit. Our reality here on the ground is also very interesting.”

Students and professor Levitt visit the National Museum.

Alumnus Fadi Mikati has returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos with fresh insights that will reinforce his work as head of a Tripoli-based organization dedicated to promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship.

“Learning about how other youth training programs around the world work and overcome challenges was insightful,” said the President of the Tripoli Entrepreneurs Club (TEC), a grassroots non-profit organization he cofounded with LAU alumna Najwa Sahmarani and others in 2013.

“It was also nice to talk about our achievements and see peers appreciate our initiatives,” added Mikati, referring to a talk he was invited to give in Davos as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. Among his audience were globally prominent CEOs, politicians and royalty to whom he highlighted key TEC initiatives including a pre-accelerator boot camp, a mentoring program and a pitching festival, all designed to prepare youths from northern Lebanon for entrepreneurship.

“Tripoli is Lebanon’s second capital but it is underdeveloped despite its resources,” said Mikati, speaking of the motivation behind TEC. “We have a port working at only 25 per cent capacity and an airport that is closed, but despite the lack of funding we do have human capital, so we decided to focus on developing that.”

Mikati’s job at Kafalat, a financial firm he joined upon graduating from LAU’s M.B.A. program in 2009, gives him insight into the needs of the TEC community. Each of the organization’s volunteers possesses a skill, specialism or knowledge, shared by and benefiting a community that aims to increase entrepreneurship and raise the employability of youths in the north.

“We have a core team of six people and a membership base of 150 people, including start-up entrepreneurs, mentors, professional freelancers, wantrepreneurs and intrapreneurs,” said Mikati enthusiastically, adding that within five years he hopes to see the membership swell to 1,000.

“We’re focusing on what we have and what we need, so we’re targeting youths who aren’t catered for by the Beirut-based incubators or 331,” he added, referring to the Banque du Liban Circular 331 that supports tech start-ups. “We can focus on existing sectors, such as furniture building, and modernize and build upon them by focusing on skill gaps and nurturing graduates and students to offer them an alternative to full-time employment or emigration,” explained Mikati, noting that TEC was willing and able to support affiliated student clubs at universities and invites students of his alma mater to do so.

Informal dinner discussion session in Davos about generational change gathers crown princess of Norway, President & CEO of PepsiCo Inc., and Huthan Olayan, President & CEO of Olayan America.

Mikati with participants in one of TEC’s numerous workshops.

At the 2016 TEC Startup Seeds Pitching Festival.

A thorough understanding of the relationship between society, digital technologies and data is not only essential to ensure survival in a dynamic media industry but also because journalists are increasingly at the forefront of promoting social and political change.

With this in mind, the Multimedia Journalism Program at the Department of Communication Arts, together with the Canadian NGO Journalists for Human Rights, is running a three-day workshop on data journalism for human rights this weekend.

The event, which will focus on methods to identify and combat hate speech against refugees with data-driven stories and multimedia skills, is highly relevant and timely.

“It’s primarily for students of our new course on the social life of information, but it’s also open to students from other courses and universities,” said Assistant Professor of Digital Journalism and Social Communication Monika Halkort, who will be running the workshop which is part of the new Data and Society course she developed.

“Data can be used in strong impactful ways―through analysis and visualization― to engage audiences and promote civic activism,” she explained. “It can also be used to spread false information and, as such, it is essential that we build skills to counter self-appointed propaganda activists with decent information and learn how to read data critically.”

To address this need, the Data and society, offered this semester for the first time, is one of a number of new courses developed to complement the B.A. in Multimedia Journalism launched this year following the redesign of the previous B.A. in Communication Arts. “The course focuses on introducing data as a critical political force and understanding the political and ethical responsibilities that come with it as we increasingly start to generate our stories through data,” said Halkort, who teaches the course, as well as another on data journalism which focuses on the use of data in generating journalistic stories.

Two additional courses, multimedia journalism basics and multimedia feature, which are also new, teach students how to integrate video, data visualization, and animation into journalistic texts. “The focus is not only on how to produce them, but also how to structure stories with these components in mind and not say everything in words but actually speak through these visual means.”

Such a multidisciplinary approach is sorely lacking in Lebanon, added Halkort, but is an essential skill in journalism in the digital age. “Most newspapers have a weak and traditional online presence while others are dying without ever having considered what they can do online.”

While Halkort is concerned with the increase in misinformation, her main area of interest and research revolves around the ownership and social impact of mapped information. "There are new politics of visibility and invisibility, bias, and power at stake when we gather and use data and approach communities and society through statistical representation," she stated.

Halkort has contributed to the study of the relationship between digital data and social impact through a number of studies, one of which took her to the Nahr El Bared refugee camp in north Lebanon to consider the impact of data gathering by NGOs on the life chances of its residents. She references this field work, detailed in the recently published journal article “Liquefying Social Capital. On the Bio-politics of Digital Circulation in a Palestinian Refugee Camp” and other pertinent examples in her classes.

“I also reach out to other disciplines and ensure all my multimedia classes are linked to a civil society organization to teach students how to use these new tools to promote issues that foster social interest.”

The workshop on data journalism and human rights is open to all and will run from 10-12 February inclusive, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Those interested in attending the free three-day workshop may contact Monika Halkort directly to ensure availability of spaces.

Four panelists from different backgrounds came together on Tuesday at LAU Beirut to discuss the role of the arts in politics and how politics have influenced art and artists throughout history.

“With what is happening in the Middle East and the United States, we need a strong weapon or an element that can bring people together, and I believe that music and the arts in general can effectively open up discussions and incite conversations when times are tough,” said Adjunct Faculty Seba Ali, who organized the event.

A classical pianist and educator, Ali believes that the power of music goes beyond language and its constraints as everyone relates to music; listening is the key to enhancing communication, and music, by virtue of being a universal language, teaches you just that.

Ray Furuta, artistic director of Chamber Music Silicon Valley and lecturer of flute at Santa Clara University in California, could not agree more. For him, his mere presence in Lebanon is an indirect form of protest against the U.S. presidential elections and the false xenophobic beliefs that it has brought with it.

At the concert that will be held on February 13 (LAU Byblos) and 15 (LAU Beirut) ―a co-joint event to this panel discussion―the flutist will be performing a selection of eclectic pieces that evoke stories from conflicts around the world dating back to the Second World War and including compositions mourning the victims of 9/11. He will be accompanied by Assistant Professor of Music Amr Slim on the French horn, and who not only plays occidental music but also oriental tunes. As an educator, Slim feels compelled to enlighten students on the history of Arab music, especially in an age where they are easily drawn to mainstream music, mainly occidental, he explains. 

With his social sciences perspective, Associate Professor Imad Salamey, believes that the power of music resides in its ability to mobilize the masses. From Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come”―which denounces racism against African Americans―to Nizar Qabbani’s poem “Asbah 3andi Boundoukiya” (I now have a rifle) extolling the Palestinian struggle, and performed by Umm Kulthum, Salameh gave examples of music and songs that moved people because they spoke of their hardships.

“Art is a healer,” said Associate Professor of theater Mona Knio. “Sometimes theater is better than medicine,” she declared, adding that the ability to express oneself is what makes the community a safe space. She reminisced about the time Masrah al Madina opened its doors to refugees during the July 2006 war in Lebanon, and how the art and theater workshops created for kids helped reshape their daily lives. 

Within the framework of this event, several concerts and workshops will be organized involving national, regional and international experts and artists. Click here for more information about these events.

The panel discussion is the first in a series of events organized at LAU around the theme of music.