AUB's Liberal Arts education: An education to make the world a better place
AUB Graduates Cast in key National and International Roles
Slowly but surely the Syrian and Lebanese officials took over the various departments of their governments. As foreign legations and consulates were formed, a number of the members of the Faculty were called upon to help. Professor Charles Malik was appointed Lebanese Minister at Washington and Professor George Hakim later became his Counsellor, with Miss Angela Jurdak as Secretary, Dr. Malik also served as Chairman of the Social and Economic Council of the U.N. Professor Costi Zurayk became first Counsellor and then Minister of the Syrian Legation at Washington, with Professor Husni Sawwaf as his Commercial Attache. Joseph Haddad became Syrian Consul General at Paris, Charge d'Affaires at Cairo and later Director of Consular Affairs at Damascus, Subhi Bey Mahmassani was sent with the Lebanese delegation to the meeting of the UN at San Francisco, where there were thirty graduates and former students of the University in official positions. Michel Ayash became Lebanese Counsellor at Paris and then returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Beirut. Edward Ghorra became Lebanese Consul in New York. Many of the Alumni were also appointed to serve in government and diplomatic posts. Faris Bey el-Khouri rendered a service of special importance as the Syrian member on the Security Council of the United Nations, a statesman, minister, Prime Minister, and speaker of Parliament.
“The Army Y.M.C.A had a hostel for 50 officers & 100 men using Dodge, West, Jesup, Fisk & Bliss Halls…The Army Education Corps had three institutes of three weeks each, to discuss post war England. About 50 officers and over 15 teachers, secretaries, etc. were in Bliss Hall and 120 men in tents by the Corniche. They had classes in College, Post & Dodge Halls.”
Bayard Dodge Diaries. Found in box AA.2.3.4.1.1 in AA:2.3.4.1.5: p 86
“The Summer School is still going on. We also have a course for teachers…Then there is an institute for government elementary school teachers at the Village Welfare Camp, to train the teachers to take charge of village schools.”
Bayard Dodge Personal Letters. Found in Box 8 AA:2.3.4 in AA:2.3.4.8.7: September 13, 1944
A Liberal Arts Education for the region, from the Region: a Unique College Experience for the Arab Youth
"The American University of Beirut is the only residential institution in the region, where large groups of young men and women come together in an intimate way, sharing their sports and studies and social problems. "
Report of the President of the American University of Beirut for the Seventy-Eighth year, 1943-1944, p. 11
A Regional University: AUB Alumni in Great Demand
"On the other hand, there is an equally great need for doctors, pharmacists, nurses, sanitation agents, engineers, teachers, business experts, industrial chemists, laboratory technicians, journalists and musicians. The University is able to train men and women for work of this kind which depends upon higher education in order to be successful."
Report of the President of the American University of Beirut for the Seventy-Eighth year, 1943-1944, p. 6
AUB as an Incubator of Ideas for the Region: Arab Nationalism
The Arab Cultural Club was established in Ras-Beirut in 1944 by Arab Nationalists who were formerly ‘Urwa members. This club had since served as surrogate of al-‘Urwa where AUB alumni and students could politically interact. Al Urwa was established in 1918 at AUB first secretly, then went public around 1923.