2008 Woodie Awards
Arab group starts up
Jennifer Delgado - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Members of the UI Arab Students Association, a new student organization on campus, know that combating Americans' stereotype of them won't be easy.
"A lot of Americans have an image of Arabs and violence, especially after 9/11," UI senior Maroun Tarsha said. "We want to positively change people's images and perspectives."
One of the group's main goals is to promote Arab culture and educate others about their misrepresentation in the media and in Hollywood.
Tarsha, the group's president, founded the organization with other UI students earlier this semester. While he noticed other international student groups existed, he did not see one specifically for the Arab population.
Majd Haddad, a UI dentistry student and group member, noted that an Arab student organization did not exist when he was an undergraduate at the UI.
"I think there were just not enough students or motivation to create the group," he said. "But now we have the resources and students who want to be involved and committed."
A 2006 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau reported 1,466,874 Arabs live in the United States; in the 2000 census, 1.2 million reported living in the country.
The UI Registrar's Office recorded 84 students enrolled for fall 2007 from different Arab countries. Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan have the most students on campus.
However, the Arabic population at the UI have been decreasing in the past few years.
In fall 2006, the university had 99 Arab students enrolled; the year before there were 90.
"A group like this creates another connection for students from the other side of the world, especially in terms of cultural values and language," said Scott King, the director of the Office of International Students and Scholars.
King traveled to the Middle East last month to recruit Arab students.
With their executive board intact, the association is planning events for next semester. Screening documentaries, hosting speakers, having social events as well as discussions about politics in different regions are all on the agenda.
The group also hopes to work with Arabic instructors to teach the language to UI students and the community.
"Many cultures originate from the Middle East," Haddad said. "We've gotten a good response and start. People are very interested in learning."
E-mail DI reporter Jennifer Delgado at:
jennifer-delgado@uiowa.edu
"A lot of Americans have an image of Arabs and violence, especially after 9/11," UI senior Maroun Tarsha said. "We want to positively change people's images and perspectives."
One of the group's main goals is to promote Arab culture and educate others about their misrepresentation in the media and in Hollywood.
Tarsha, the group's president, founded the organization with other UI students earlier this semester. While he noticed other international student groups existed, he did not see one specifically for the Arab population.
Majd Haddad, a UI dentistry student and group member, noted that an Arab student organization did not exist when he was an undergraduate at the UI.
"I think there were just not enough students or motivation to create the group," he said. "But now we have the resources and students who want to be involved and committed."
A 2006 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau reported 1,466,874 Arabs live in the United States; in the 2000 census, 1.2 million reported living in the country.
The UI Registrar's Office recorded 84 students enrolled for fall 2007 from different Arab countries. Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan have the most students on campus.
However, the Arabic population at the UI have been decreasing in the past few years.
In fall 2006, the university had 99 Arab students enrolled; the year before there were 90.
"A group like this creates another connection for students from the other side of the world, especially in terms of cultural values and language," said Scott King, the director of the Office of International Students and Scholars.
King traveled to the Middle East last month to recruit Arab students.
With their executive board intact, the association is planning events for next semester. Screening documentaries, hosting speakers, having social events as well as discussions about politics in different regions are all on the agenda.
The group also hopes to work with Arabic instructors to teach the language to UI students and the community.
"Many cultures originate from the Middle East," Haddad said. "We've gotten a good response and start. People are very interested in learning."
E-mail DI reporter Jennifer Delgado at:
jennifer-delgado@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Oh Tham Eng
posted 12/05/07 @ 11:11 PM CST
Please go to the following websiste to cast your vote on: "Which Rennaissance Would You Prefer?" A Sexual one or an Arab one? Or What?
http://www.topix. (Continued…)
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