Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Letter from LAU Prof who witnessed last weeks PSP-Amal fracas

Dear Colleagues:

My office is on the 3rd floor of Nicol Hall, Beirut, overlooking the
area of the Upper Gate.

Yesterday, at about 12:30 p.m., Friday May 26th, I observed the
following from my office window in the context of the student riot.

One LAU student was thrown to the ground in front of the Post Office.
He was stampeded and vigorously beaten upon the head and all body
parts by between 6 and 9 LAU students. He tried to protect his head
with his hands. No LAU security personnel even made the slightest
effort to interfere. Some students were able to rescue him. I hope he
will not suffer lasting consequences from the vicious attack that I
witnessed.

It seemed to me that Dean of Students Dr. T. Na'was was physically
manhandled or at least treated with extreme disrespect by students. No
LAU security personnel were on hand to assist Dr. Na'was.

At the same time, another LAU student was thrown onto the hood of a
car parked in the same area and he, too, was beaten up by a gang of
more than 5 LAU students. He, too, was rescued by a few big students.
No LAU security personnel made any effort to interfere. The hood of
the car was severely damaged.

At the same time in the same area, another LAU student was wielding
what looked like either a baseball bat or a metal pole; he was
obviously extremely excited and he came very, very close to actually
dashing someone's brains out, until he was forcibly led away by some
other big students. No LAU security personnel interfered.

At the same time, another LAU student threw the heavy, sharp-angled
metal lid of a trash can into a group of people, nearly hitting, but
clearly intending to hit, one person in the face as far as I could
see. He was led away by other students. No LAU security personnel
interfered.

And LAU wants accreditation in the civilized world?

Referred to Lebanese Bloggers by: Hussein A.

7 comments:

JoseyWales said...

LAU Security learned their lessons from the army and the lebanese police: stay away from trouble.

LAU Admin. Investigate and kick those students out and for good, or the Lebanese way that does not work: form a committee and discuss for the next 10 years.

JoseyWales said...

And LAU wants accreditation in the civilized world?

Does Lebanon?

Anonymous said...

Josey,

Dr. Jabbara, president of the LAU, has already kicked out several of the students that were involved in this ridiculous fight.

I echo the professor's statement that the LAU needs to fire members of its dysfunctinal security team, next.

-FGA

Anonymous said...

i though nicol's hall professor offices were transfered into the new business school office

Anonymous said...

Kicked out? Are you sure? I heard that they were only suspended for a few days. Anyway Amal, PSP and HA haven't a monopoly on street fighting, even though I hear Amal's name more often than the others. Aounists and LFs are notorious for that kind of behaviour too.

JoseyWales said...

FGA,

I hope you are right. But I'm afraid a phone call by Berri, with a few threats, would get these people back in.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with that. Hey, I went to I.C. througthout the 70's and 80's and I remember well how Berri's thugs used to sabotage the entire educational system...

FGA