a student newspaper of the university of tulsa
february 4, 2013 issue 15 ~ volume 98
Study abroad, revolution at home March 15, 2011: Syrian civil war begins
SYRIA LEBANON
IRAQ
ISRAEL & PAL. TERRITORIES
IRAN February 14, 2011: “The Day of Rage,” protests continue
JORDAN KUWAIT EGYPT
QATAR
SAUDI ARABIA
UAE
January 2011: Hosni Mubarak ousted, sentenced to life in prison for ordering killing of protesters
OMAN Civil War Revolution/Government Overthrown
YEMEN
Major Protests Minor Protests
January 2011: Ali Abdullah Saleh overthrown, granted immunity from prosecution
In the wake of the ‘Arab Spring’ revolutions, TU students from the Middle East express hope, concern, solidarity. Zhenya Yevtushenko Staff Writer
January 2011: Zine El Abidine Ben Ali overthrown
TUNISIA
MOROCCO
February 2011: Moammar Gadhafi killed by rebels
Walker Womack Student Writer
T
he University of Tulsa attracts students and professors from different corners of the country, as well as many regions of the globe. In fact, at the small private school nearly 1000 students are citizens of other countries, and almost a quarter of those are from the Middle East. Along with their ideas, abilities and potential these students also carry with them their culture, and a piece of their home country. Over the past two years, North Africa and the Middle East have undergone tectonic political changes. The most violent conflict of the so-called Arab Spring has been the war in Syria. At least 60,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, and some 500,000 are displaced and are battling winter in refugee camps. Israel recently conducted a bombing mission in Syria, leading the regime of President Bashar alAssad to vow a counterstrike.
ALGERIA EGYPT
LIBYA
Other countries of the Arab Spring are transitioning uneasily following either revolution or widespread upheaval, especially Egypt, where longtime leader Hosni Mubarak was ousted in last year’s revolution. TU students from the Middle East and North Africa have been personally affected to varying degrees. A substantial number of international students from such a diverse array of countries as Angola and India said they thought it was strange that the conflict in Syria is still ongoing, especially considering the rapid international response in Libya and recently in Mali. Of course not everyone follows politics—many said they found it
depressing. Jawaca, a student from Oman studying petroleum engineering, echoed the sentiment of many concerning Syria. “I don’t really know what would need to happen to stop the fighting,” Jawaca said. “I hope it will stop soon, and not be like the fighting in Palestine.” Afla, also a first-year engineering student from Oman, noted that even in his country “the older generation is afraid of change (in the Middle East and North Africa), my father and his peers fear that Syria, Egypt and maybe Libya, will be like France after its big revolution. My father believes that the old, proven way is best. I disagree with him.” “We are all very different, but
we are also the same,” an Omani engineering student said. “Oman, and most of its gulf neighbors are more progressive (and) Western.” “We have a Sultan,” explained the student, “they (Egypt and Syria) have presidents. But we (are) largely Muslim, and hold many ideas in common. (Al-Assad) is not a true Muslim. He gives the region and all the people a bad name—almost like Bin Laden.” This sentiment of religious solidarity binds not only Muslims from across the region, but American practitioners of Islam as well. Of course, this includes the Muslim community at TU’s Muslim Student Association. “As a Muslim, this has a great impact on the community,” wrote
Jill Graves / Collegian
graduate student Omer Kazmi. “We feel for our brothers and sisters suffering everywhere, and there are many campaigns to try to bring relief and end the conflict in Syria and other areas of the world. It transcends nationalism.” Because Islam is so ingrained in the cultures of the various Middle Eastern countries, Muslims in the U.S. are wary that the violence there, brought about by the ambitions of autocrats known for using religious doctrine for political purposes, is often misconstrued by international spectators as a reflection of Islam itself. “Islam is a religion of peace. It’s in the very name itself. in Arabic, “Islam” derives from the
See Spring page 4
Kendall Whittier Rolls Out the Red Carpet This is a fundraising event to benefit the Kendall-Whittier Community. It will be at Circle Cinema on February 21st and volunteers are needed from 5pm to 9pm. Junior Achievement Junior Achievement is a non-profit organization partnering with volunteers from the community to teach elementary students about their roles as individuals, workers and consumers, and to prepare middle/high school students for key economic and workforce issues. Street School Tutors Street School is currently needing volunteers to tutor students high school level Algebra 1 on Fridays from 9am-11am. For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Kathy Shelton in the True Blue Neighbor Volunteer Center at kathy-shelton@utulsa.edu, call 918-631-3535 or come by Holmes Student Center room 25.