Relations with Jamal Basha
Jamal Basha was reputed to have taken the College under his wing, and to have considered himself its "Patron". In fact, Jamal Basha visited the College on numerous occasions, and repeatedly addressed the student and Faculty body, stressing his high regard for the College's academics, civic values, and its talented faculty: during his first inspection visit to SPC on April 3, 1915, Jamal Pasha was accompanied by the General Governor of Beirut, Bekir Sami Bey, as well as a few other Turkish officers, in addition to Ahmad Mukhtar Effendi Bayhum, the Head of the Beirut Municipality. Jamal Basha gave a speech in which he expressed his commitment to the well-being of the College, its Faculty, student and administrative bodies. Following this first visit, and upon direct orders from Jamal Basha, the three SPC British doctors who were deported to Damascus were allowed to return to the College.
Vahid Behmardi, “Djemal Pasha and the Syrian Protestant College”, Al Abhath, 2002-2003, 135-159
Jamal Basha's second visit to SPC on March 23, 1916, was his first official one. Jamal Basha and President Bliss had succeeded at forging a personal relation of trust and respect. A ceremony was held in Assembly Hall in the honor of the Commandant, and a student gave a speech in French; Jamal Pasha responded in Turkish, and gave an address on "Knowledge and Learning", where he again expressed his high regard for SPC.
Vahid Behmardi, “Djemal Basha and the Syrian Protestant College”, Al Abhath, 2002-2003, p. 135-159.
The Ottoman Commander's third visit to SPC took place on January 29, 1917. In this visit, Jamal Pasha declared himself the "Patron" of the College, and praised it in the following terms: "The College represents an honorable Commission sent from America [...], and as the majority of the students of this American University are Ottomans, this institution is an Ottoman University [... ], I am ready to give any help, which is in my power [...]. The Ottoman nation expects a great deal from you..." It is during this visit that Jamal Pasha declared himself the "Patron" of the College. Even after the departure of Jamal Pasha from Syria and the end of the war in 1918, President Howard Bliss stayed in touch, and the two exchanged some correspondence.
Vahid Behmardi, “Djemal Pasha and the Syrian Protestant College”, Al Abhath, 2002-2003, 135-159