Celebrating the class of 2000
On the occasion of Reunion 2025, the University Libraries Archives & Special Collections Department has prepared this “virtual exhibit.” All of the images (photographs, posters, publications, etc.) in the document below are hyperlinked – either to larger versions of the images or to the original full text of the publication.
From Edward W. Said
…We belong to an old people, whose thousands of years of history, made up of an accumulation of many different civilizations, languages, and traditions, still weighs heavily on us, and which it would be the height of folly and irresponsibility for us to forget or pretend to be able to sweep away and begin again…[1]
From Student speaker George Riashy
We hope that AUB continues to educate students' minds, teaching us, as our president Waterbury once said, not what we should know, but how we should think. The process of learning never ends, and the way to keep up with the ever-growing technological advances is by having critical minds that are able to think well and remain active beyond the walls of this university. Self-criticism from an objective perspective, is an activity we should always practice. We should never hesitate to question our most dearly held beliefs. Progress in thinking and freeing our minds from propaganda are the most important things that we should always carry with us. All this is a process of education, which lifts the human being up to take his or her proper place in society.[2]
From President Waterbury speech
The speech was centered around 'academic freedom', which, he said, "is the hallmark of a great university". He said: "It is a freedom that should be enjoyed by all members of the faculty and students." However, he does go on to say that this freedom has boundaries and that one's views should be freely voiced with a certain amount of respect and should be based on verified evidence.
In Waterbury's words, "The struggle of 1882 is no less important today than it was 117 years ago and the faculty, administration, and students of AUB must continue to honor and defend what we almost lost when Edwin Lewis left the campus."[3]