WHILE ROME BURNS, UAE CAMPUS FIDDLES, CALMLY

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001724

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/PPD WMOONEY, ACASPER, DMACINNES, JBERRY; NEA/ARP
LMALENAS; NEA/RA; IIP; R; CA/OCS/ACS/NESA PMGILLEN;

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC PREL CASC TC
SUBJECT: WHILE ROME BURNS, UAE CAMPUS FIDDLES, CALMLY


1. SUMMARY: THE ABU DHABI CAMPUS AT THE UAE'S ZAYED UNIVERSITY
(ZU) FOR WOMEN RECENTLY HELD A STUDENT BAZAAR TO EXHIBIT STUDENT
PROJECTS AND ARTWORKS AND TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE UAE RED CRESCENT
SOCIETY'S HUMANITARIAN AID DRIVE FOR IRAQI CHILDREN. DURING THE
BAZAAR, APAO DISCUSSED LOCAL EVENTS AND THE WAR IN IRAQ WITH ZU
STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ADMINISTRATORS. WHILE FRUSTRATION
WITH THE WAR IN IRAQ AND DISMAY AT IMAGES OF IRAQI CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES SIMMER BELOW THE SURFACE, LIFE AT ZU IS BUSINESS AS
USUAL FOR EMIRATI STUDENTS, ARAB EXPATRIATE STAFF, AND WESTERN
FACULTY. END SUMMARY.


2. ZU'S FEMALE STUDENTS, INCLUDING DAUGHTERS OF UAE ELITE,
AVOIDED DISCUSSION OF THE WAR IN IRAQ WITH APAO. INSTEAD,
SEVERAL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO KNEW PAS STAFF PERSONALLY,
TALKED WITH APAO ABOUT THE YOUNG AMBASSADORS AND OTHER
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS EXCHANGE PROGRAMS. ZU STUDENTS SEEMED
MORE CONCERNED WITH INVITING US TO LOOK AT THEIR ARTWORK, TELLING
US ABOUT THEIR POETRY, OR URGING US TO VOTE IN A CONTEST TO
CHOOSE A BEST DRAWING RATHER THAN ENGAGING ON IRAQI CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES, THE WAR IN IRAQ, AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY.


3. NEVERTHELESS, ZU STUDENTS REMAIN VERY CONCERNED WITH THE
PLIGHT OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND, IN PARTICULAR, IRAQI CHILDREN.
ONE OF ZU'S AMERICAN ADMINISTRATORS INFORMED APAO THAT "LOUDER,
MORE RAUCOUS, AND PARTICIPATORY EVENTS" HAD BEEN PLANNED BY THE
ZU STUDENT COUNCIL FOR THE BAZAAR. HOWEVER, THE CAMPUS
ADMINISTRATOR PUT A HALT TO THESE EVENTS AFTER RECEIVING A CALL
FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS. WHILE THE RESULT WAS A STUDENT BAZAAR
ONE WOULD EXPECT AT ANY UNIVERSITY, THE ZU STUDENT COUNCIL VICE
PRESIDENT RESIGNED AS COORDINATOR OF THE EVENT TO PROTEST THE
ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO BAR THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES. THE
OFFICIAL ALSO EXPLAINED THAT STUDENTS HAD PLANNED A PEACE VIGIL
LATER IN THE WEEK, BUT THIS WAS ALSO DENIED PERMISSION.


4. THE ADMINISTRATOR FURTHER NOTED THAT THE AMERICAN FACULTY
WERE NOT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH LOCAL POLITICAL CONDITIONS. WHILE
NOTING TAXI DRIVERS SEEMED "MORE DISTANT" THAN USUAL, THE
OFFICIAL REPORTED THAT NO AMERICAN FACULTY HAD RETURNED TO THE
U.S. AS A RESULT OF THE WAR. ONE CANADIAN FACULTY MEMBER
RECENTLY RESIGNED BUT THIS WAS DUE TO PERSONAL AND FAMILY
REASONS. SEVERAL AMERICAN FACULTY MEMBERS REQUESTED
CLARIFICATION OF THEIR CONTRACT STATUS IF AN EVACUATION OF ABU
DHABI WAS NECESSARY, BUT LOCAL CONDITIONS DID NOT WARRANT A
RESPONSE AT THIS TIME, THE OFFICIAL NOTED. TO HEAD OFF ANY
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS, THE ZU ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY MET WITH ZU'S
DUBAI AND ABU DHABI STAFFS TO PROVIDE REASSURANCE AND TO
ENCOURAGE THE FACULTY TO AVOID ANY CLASSROOM OR INFORMAL
DISCUSSIONS WITH STUDENTS ON REGIONAL EVENTS UNLESS NECESSARY FOR
COURSE PURPOSES. AN INFORMAL CHAT WITH TWO AMERICAN FACULTY
MEMBERS LENT SUPPORT TO THIS VIEW, AS THEY INDICATED THEY HAD NO
INTENTION OR DESIRE TO LEAVE ABU DHABI IN THE NEAR FUTURE.


5. DURING THE BAZAAR, AN IRAQI STAFF MEMBER AND VENDOR EXPRESSED
THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAR WITH THE APAO. BOTH HAVE FAMILY
MEMBERS IN IRAQ WITH WHOM THEY HAVE NOT COMMUNICATED FOR TWO
WEEKS. THE IRAQI STAFF MEMBER RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM HER FAMILY
URGING HER TO GET HER FAMILY OUT OF BAGHDAD. SHE LOST CONTACT
WITH THEM BEFORE THE MESSAGE ARRIVED. SIMILARLY, AN IRAQI VENDOR
SELLING IRAQI ARTWORKS AND HANDICRAFTS CRIED AS SHE EXPLAINED THE
HISTORY OF HER ARTWORKS. SHE ALSO LOST CONTACT WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS STILL IN IRAQ. BOTH WERE FRUSTRATED BUT ONLY EXPRESSED
THEIR CONCERNS FOR THEIR FAMILY'S WELFARE AND DID NOT COMMENT ON
THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THE WAR.

WAHBA