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Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

Criticisms of colleges starting campuses or programs in the Middle East often include issues of academic freedom, human rights (in particular in the Emirates, concerns about migrant workers� rights), and equal access and opportunities for women and Jews.

On the latter issue, �I am Jewish, as it is well-known,� Bloom said Monday. �I see the institution as committed to diversity, and that my appointment is emblematic of the diversity to which it is committed.�

�I know that the Abu Dhabi government will make it possible ... for us to include faculty and students from wherever they come.�

Read the entire article at:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/09/30/abudhabi

And God bless him.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Everyone loves a "token." It reminds me of the time when every big law firm was hiring their one woman or one black... they were over the moon if they could find a black woman lawyer. (add a Hispanic name and they were set forever)

VS

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Ha ha! Well said. As for Yale, they decided, after a brief investigation, that a Yale branch campus would be unsuitable there. They said a Yale experience could not be had in Abu Dhabi. I concur, professor.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject:

Still, it has to start somewhere. Token women, as well as blacks, and other minorities, used to be common in the workplace in the States.
These days, tokenism isn't so prevalent. It's often necessary first to get your foot in the door.
Regards,
John

Truth Hurts · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 115 Location: Truthville

Let's get something straight here: It's frankly foolish to make such comparisons between the US and UAE. This has nothing to do with tokenism. We're not talking about affirmative action here. Let's please note that 20% of the population of AD is not Jewish. Resident Jews are not being forced into ghettos, claiming welfare, being lynched, locked up, or abandoned after a natural disaster etc etc. Why? Because they simply don't exist.

Now, more to the point, when we witness the day that Palestinian teachers (whose families were expelled in 1948 and 1967) can bag a job in Israel, then I'm certain the Arab world will open its arms to Jews as it has done for centuries. What we're seeing here with NYU is purely about geopolitics. Put simply, Uncle Sam gets what he wants.

TH

007 · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Truth hurts? What are you smoking? How about muddled propaganda stupefies. Aside from all the rest of the nonsense, Uncle Sam does not determine academic priorities or campus venues for any college or university other than the service academies such as West Point.

Truth Hurts · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 115 Location: Truthville

Perhaps you'd care to tell us what you're smoking and at what dosage. Coz it sounds pretty strong.

So we're supposed to believe that Uncle Sam wouldn't mind a rat's ass if Ahmedinejad fancied joining NYU at the AD campus for a semester as visiting professor for international politics. Get a grip!

The point is you already kinda know what Uncle Sam wants. So you pick someone "safe" . And when you really wanna please Sam, you select someone like Bloom. It's how things work. And who knows one day we might even get Tony Blair as vice chancellor. Open your eyes!

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

ah... in my crystal ball I see this thread getting locked rather quickly if it descends further....

I would say the college made the choice for political reasons, but not because of the US government... but that is my humble opinion.