LEBANON: POLITICAL ELITE ATTEND AUB PRESIDENT'S

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000498

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD
DEPT FOR IO ACTING A/S WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL
OVP FOR MUSTAFA
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
STATE PASS USAID FOR LAUDATO/NANDY/SCOTT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASCH EAID OEXC OPRC PGOV SCUL KMPI LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: POLITICAL ELITE ATTEND AUB PRESIDENT'S
INAUGURATION

SUMMARY
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1. (U) Leading figures from Lebanon's political and business
communities turned out for the formal inauguration of the new
president of the American University of Beirut (AUB),Peter

F. Dorman, on May 4. Ambassador and Poloff attended, with
ACS Chief in cap and gown representing Columbia University.
MP Saad Hariri and former-PM Najib Mikati, both AUB Trustees,
were part of the official AUB procession. This was the first
swearing-in ceremony to take place in AUB's West Hall since
the 1982 event for Malcolm Kerr, who was assassinated in

1984. In his speech, Dorman spoke of AUB's need to attract
more foreign students and increase financial aid for needy
students. The USG has provided $50 million in assistance to
AUB since 1997, through PD, USAID, the Fulbright program, and
the Middle East Partnership Initiative. End Summary.

POLITICAL ELITE AT AUB
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2. (U) AUB celebrated the inauguration of its new president,
Peter F. Dorman, who was born in Beirut and boasts fifth
generation ties to AUB. Many senior Lebanese political
figures attended, including PM Fouad Siniora, an alumnus;
Majority Leader MP Saad Hariri and former-PM Najib Mikati,
both AUB Trustees; Shia MP Yassin Jaber, Telecommunications
Minister Gebran Bassil, Information Minister Tarek Mitri,
Minister for the Displaced Raymond Audi, and MP Ghassan Tueni.

LANDMARK SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
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3. (U) Dorman, who had taken up his duties at AUB in July
2008, received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in

1985. He is a Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
scholar and the great-great-grandson of AUB's founder, the
Reverend Daniel Bliss. Dorman was born at the American
University Hospital and grew up in Beirut, where his father
served as a Presbyterian missionary. In his inauguration
speech, Dorman stressed the need for AUB to continue to
attract high caliber students, not just from Lebanon, but
also from other countries throughout the region and globally.
In the wake of the global economic crisis, Dorman also
talked about the need for AUB to increase its financial aid
program to help struggling students pay the cost of an AUB
education.

USG SUPPORT TO AUB
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4. (U) USG assistance to AUB has been extensive and
long-standing. AUB has received $50 million in USG
assistance since 1997 as follows: $20 million in USAID
Economic Support Funding (ESF); $22 million in funding from
the American Schools and Hospitals Association; and $8
million through various subcontracts by various partners
working on projects funded by USAID such as Mercy Corps.


5. (U) The Middle East Partnership Initiative's (MEPI)
Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship Program also provides
scholarship assistance AUB students. The Tomorrow's Leaders
Scholarship Program will provide approximately 17
scholarships, worth approximately $3.7 million, each year to
underserved high school students from the Middle East/North
Africa region to attend AUB and other American universities
in the region. Scholarship recipients will receive a four
year academic and specialized civic-based training program to
include a semester abroad in the U.S. as well as internship
opportunities with local public, civil society, or private
sector organizations. AUB accepted six students for the
2008/2009 academic year under this program.

SISON