This is a repost from Raja's blog. I am pasting here as it is because I support it word for word. Makes me proud to be a member of the AUB alumni:
The response to the homophobic article published in Outlook (as well as the ridiculous response to it by the Editorial Board) continues to grow, and many good things have come as a result of it.
This may just be the most important though: Over 50 AUB faculty and staff members have come together to release a clear statement against the article and against hate and bigotry. This shows that a great number of faculty members have decided to stand in support of AUB’s LGBT community, and more importantly, against hate of any kind. The signatories include people from every faculty on campus, as well as the Dean of Student Affairs.
Here’s the letter: (and please share it as much as you can to reach all of the people that were affected by Outlook’s horrible post)
If you would like to add your name to the list, or if you’re interested in being a part of the work that is coming together as a result of this, please send an email to AUBGSA8@gmail.com.
Subject: Hate speech and bigotry on AUB campus
This letter is in response to the homophobic article published in Outlook titled “Please me at any price” (Issue #21, Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012, http://issuu.com/outlook-aub/docs/issue_21_44/15)
As members of the AUB community, we are committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity and ethics and should ensure our students do the same. The article in Outlook goes against basic human values in general and those of AUB in particular.
A respectful, fact-based discussion of issues is not only necessary for the development of any society but is core to AUB’s mission statement of seeking to “foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue. Graduates will be individuals committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.”
Bigotry and hate speech should not be given a platform to thrive. Such speech should be denounced swiftly, publicly, and unequivocally.
AUB is not immune from society’s discriminatory and prejudiced opinions, but it is our duty as faculty and staff to create a safe space for all our students to express themselves while encouraging and developing a critical, informed, and compassionate student body.
The right to exercise free speech and expression should not come at the expense of targeting any group, including but not limited to: gender, color, religious belief, or sexual orientation. This freedom should not inflict nor incite harm; and it should maintain the respect for and the rights of others.
We are AUB faculty and staff who want to express our rejection of any intolerant and hateful speech while maintaining our commitment to the right of everyone to freedom of expression, and underscoring the important responsibility that comes along with this freedom.
Sincerely,
1. Haitham Khoury, Assistant Professor, OSB
- Lina Daouk-Oyry, Assistant Professor, OSB
- Ramzi Mabsout, Assistant Professor, Economics/FAS
- Rola Yasmine, Research Assistant, FHS
- Charlotte Karam, Assistant Professor, OSB
- Nidal Najjar, Assistant Professor, Psychology/FAS
- Carole Levesque, Assistant Professor, Architecture/FEA
- Bana Bashour, Assistant Professor, Philosophy/FAS
- Victor Araman, Assistant Professor, OSB
10. Hala Ghattas, Assistant Professor, Community Nutrition/FAFS
- Pia Zaynoun, Psychometrician, AUBMC
- Talal Nezameddin, Dean of Student Affairs
- Raymond Brassier, Chair, Philosophy/FAS
- Hans Muller, Associate Professor, Philosophy/FAS
- Nadiya Slobodenyuk, Assistant Professor, Psychology/FAS
- Lina Choueiri, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Thomas Kim, Chair, Fine Arts and Art History/FAS
- Syrine Hout, Associate Professor, English/FAS
- Johnpedro Schwartz, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
20. Michael James Dennison, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Kasper Kovitz, Assistant Professor, Fine Arts and Art History/FAS
- Robert Myers, Professor, English/FAS
- Alexander Hartwiger, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Karim Barakat, Instructor, Philosophy/FAS
- Rima Akkary Karami, Assistant Professor, Education/FAS
- Kristen Scheid, Assistant Professor, Anthropology/FAS
- Sawsan Abdulrahim, Assistant Professor, FHS
- Bashshar Haydar, Professor, Philosophy/FAS
- Christopher Johns, Assistant Professor, Philosophy/FAS
30. Mayssun Succarie, Visiting Assistant Professor, CAMES/FAS
- Tariq Mehmood Ali, Visiting Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Sari Hanafi, Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Mass Communications/FAS
- Rima Afifi, Professor, Health Promotion and Community Health/FHS
- Faysal El Kak, Senior Lecturer, FHS
- Suzann Kassem, Program Coordinator, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs
- Nate George, Instructor, English/FAS
- Livia Wick, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies/FAS
- Samer Jabbour, Senior Lecturer, Public Health/FHS
- Ruba Ismail-Hamadeh, Instructor & Program Administrator, Center for Research on Population and Health, FHS
40. Nisreen Salti, Assistant Professor, Economics/FHS
- Rima Nakkash, Assistant Professor, Health Promotion and Community Health/FHS
- Omar Dewachi, Assistant Professor, Public Health/FHS
- Mayada Kanj, Coordinator, Health Promotion and Community Health/FHS
- Nasser Yassin, Assistant Professor, FHS
- Ghalya Saadawi, Instructor, Psychology/FAS
- Amy A. Zenger, Associate Professor, English/FAS
- Jasmina Najjar, Instructor, English/FAS
- Leila Khauli-Hanna, Instructor/OSB
- Mona Fawaz, Associate Professor, Architecture and Design/FEA
50. Mariana Yazbek, Instructor/FAFS
- Alain Shihadeh, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering/FEA
- George Arbid, Associate Professor, Architecture/FEA
- Sirene Harb, Associate Professor, English/FAS
- Margherita Abi-Hanna, Instructor, Architecture and Design/FEA
- Bilal Orfali, Assistant Professor, Arabic and NEL/FAS
- Ahmad Gharbieh, Instructor, Architecture and Design/FEA
- Maya Saikali, Instructor, Architecture and Design/FEA
- Rima Rantisi, Instructor, English/FAS
- Mihran Gurunian, Lecturer and Lab Engineer/FEA/ECE
The response to the homophobic article published in Outlook (as well as the ridiculous response to it by the Editorial Board) continues to grow, and many good things have come as a result of it.
This may just be the most important though: Over 50 AUB faculty and staff members have come together to release a clear statement against the article and against hate and bigotry. This shows that a great number of faculty members have decided to stand in support of AUB’s LGBT community, and more importantly, against hate of any kind. The signatories include people from every faculty on campus, as well as the Dean of Student Affairs.
Here’s the letter: (and please share it as much as you can to reach all of the people that were affected by Outlook’s horrible post)
If you would like to add your name to the list, or if you’re interested in being a part of the work that is coming together as a result of this, please send an email to AUBGSA8@gmail.com.
Subject: Hate speech and bigotry on AUB campus
This letter is in response to the homophobic article published in Outlook titled “Please me at any price” (Issue #21, Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012, http://issuu.com/outlook-aub/docs/issue_21_44/15)
As members of the AUB community, we are committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity and ethics and should ensure our students do the same. The article in Outlook goes against basic human values in general and those of AUB in particular.
A respectful, fact-based discussion of issues is not only necessary for the development of any society but is core to AUB’s mission statement of seeking to “foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue. Graduates will be individuals committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.”
Bigotry and hate speech should not be given a platform to thrive. Such speech should be denounced swiftly, publicly, and unequivocally.
AUB is not immune from society’s discriminatory and prejudiced opinions, but it is our duty as faculty and staff to create a safe space for all our students to express themselves while encouraging and developing a critical, informed, and compassionate student body.
The right to exercise free speech and expression should not come at the expense of targeting any group, including but not limited to: gender, color, religious belief, or sexual orientation. This freedom should not inflict nor incite harm; and it should maintain the respect for and the rights of others.
We are AUB faculty and staff who want to express our rejection of any intolerant and hateful speech while maintaining our commitment to the right of everyone to freedom of expression, and underscoring the important responsibility that comes along with this freedom.
Sincerely,
1. Haitham Khoury, Assistant Professor, OSB
- Lina Daouk-Oyry, Assistant Professor, OSB
- Ramzi Mabsout, Assistant Professor, Economics/FAS
- Rola Yasmine, Research Assistant, FHS
- Charlotte Karam, Assistant Professor, OSB
- Nidal Najjar, Assistant Professor, Psychology/FAS
- Carole Levesque, Assistant Professor, Architecture/FEA
- Bana Bashour, Assistant Professor, Philosophy/FAS
- Victor Araman, Assistant Professor, OSB
10. Hala Ghattas, Assistant Professor, Community Nutrition/FAFS
- Pia Zaynoun, Psychometrician, AUBMC
- Talal Nezameddin, Dean of Student Affairs
- Raymond Brassier, Chair, Philosophy/FAS
- Hans Muller, Associate Professor, Philosophy/FAS
- Nadiya Slobodenyuk, Assistant Professor, Psychology/FAS
- Lina Choueiri, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Thomas Kim, Chair, Fine Arts and Art History/FAS
- Syrine Hout, Associate Professor, English/FAS
- Johnpedro Schwartz, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
20. Michael James Dennison, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Kasper Kovitz, Assistant Professor, Fine Arts and Art History/FAS
- Robert Myers, Professor, English/FAS
- Alexander Hartwiger, Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Karim Barakat, Instructor, Philosophy/FAS
- Rima Akkary Karami, Assistant Professor, Education/FAS
- Kristen Scheid, Assistant Professor, Anthropology/FAS
- Sawsan Abdulrahim, Assistant Professor, FHS
- Bashshar Haydar, Professor, Philosophy/FAS
- Christopher Johns, Assistant Professor, Philosophy/FAS
30. Mayssun Succarie, Visiting Assistant Professor, CAMES/FAS
- Tariq Mehmood Ali, Visiting Assistant Professor, English/FAS
- Sari Hanafi, Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Mass Communications/FAS
- Rima Afifi, Professor, Health Promotion and Community Health/FHS
- Faysal El Kak, Senior Lecturer, FHS
- Suzann Kassem, Program Coordinator, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs
- Nate George, Instructor, English/FAS
- Livia Wick, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies/FAS
- Samer Jabbour, Senior Lecturer, Public Health/FHS
- Ruba Ismail-Hamadeh, Instructor & Program Administrator, Center for Research on Population and Health, FHS
40. Nisreen Salti, Assistant Professor, Economics/FHS
- Rima Nakkash, Assistant Professor, Health Promotion and Community Health/FHS
- Omar Dewachi, Assistant Professor, Public Health/FHS
- Mayada Kanj, Coordinator, Health Promotion and Community Health/FHS
- Nasser Yassin, Assistant Professor, FHS
- Ghalya Saadawi, Instructor, Psychology/FAS
- Amy A. Zenger, Associate Professor, English/FAS
- Jasmina Najjar, Instructor, English/FAS
- Leila Khauli-Hanna, Instructor/OSB
- Mona Fawaz, Associate Professor, Architecture and Design/FEA
50. Mariana Yazbek, Instructor/FAFS
- Alain Shihadeh, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering/FEA
- George Arbid, Associate Professor, Architecture/FEA
- Sirene Harb, Associate Professor, English/FAS
- Margherita Abi-Hanna, Instructor, Architecture and Design/FEA
- Bilal Orfali, Assistant Professor, Arabic and NEL/FAS
- Ahmad Gharbieh, Instructor, Architecture and Design/FEA
- Maya Saikali, Instructor, Architecture and Design/FEA
- Rima Rantisi, Instructor, English/FAS
- Mihran Gurunian, Lecturer and Lab Engineer/FEA/ECE
