Watch John-Clark Levin CMC '12 Break The Gusiness Book of World Records

For the coming few days, I'm going to be letting you see John-Clark Levin CMC '12 compete for the world record in handshaking. Go John-Clark! Go! Don't freeze in Time Square, NYC!

Watch live streaming video from wlh2011 at livestream.com

CMC's Relationship With Kuwait University: The Apartheid School?

On Friday, Dean Hess announced the formation of a partnership with the University of Kuwait. (There's no such school, so let's assume he was talking about Kuwait University, the government-run college of Kuwait. I guess we can't really expect the college to get this elemental detail right, as they got it wrong on Frangieh's support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and Saddam Hussein even though they allegedly vetted him.)

Kuwait University is free for all Kuwaiti nationals. In Kuwait, that's roughly one-third of the population. The other two-thirds -- Indians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Egyptians mostly -- can't attend, even if they offer to pay full tuition. It is for Kuwaitis only. Others need not apply. So, in effect, Claremont McKenna students will be going to a segregated school and Claremont McKenna will be awarding academic credit from a segregated school. Claremont McKenna announces this just three days before Martin Luther King Jr. day.

The other two-thirds of the Kuwaiti population have to attend "for profit" schools as Kuwait doesn't recognize a non-profit sector. (No nonprofit work for you!) In the past, those students couldn't even go to school and had to begin work immediately as this Kuwait Times article makes clear. But fortunately, the "for profit" schools are starting to meet that demand. Among those schools is the American University of Kuwait, which unlike Kuwait University, is a liberal arts college. Its chairman of the board is Shaikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah, another member of the al-Sabah family. Would it be too much to ask that Claremont McKenna, a liberal arts college, has a relationship with another liberal arts college? What would CMCers -- whose college president "celebrates diversity" -- learn from dealing solely with Kuwaitis?

Some of the trolls from on campus claim Israel is an "apartheid state". Israel isn't -- as this XtraNormal humorously video makes clear. But Kuwait University is an apartheid college. We might still want to have a relationship with it, but we need to remember it all the while. 

Bassam Frangieh Leads Trips To Mid East, With Update

Correction: It is not as Dean Hess claims. It is not the University of Kuwait, but Kuwait University. 

If I were the Kuwait government -- which funds the University of Kuwait Kuwait University -- something tells me I'd be less inclined to fund the pro-Saddam Hussein, Bassam Frangieh. I wonder if Dean Hess considered the wisdom of releasing that information -- on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Gulf War -- where Saddam Hussein tried to overthrow the royal family and had executed one member. 

Just a thought or two. Anyways, here's the press release, with relevant sections.

The University of Kuwait Kuwait University has invited Professors Bassam Frangieh (Modern Languages: Arabic) and Lisa Cody (History) to lead a group of CMC students to Kuwait during spring break (March 10-19, 2011) as the first half of an international, educational exchange. All expenses in Kuwait, including lodging, meals, domestic travel, and activities will be covered by the University of Kuwait Kuwait University; CMC students will be responsible for paying their airfare to and from Kuwait and incidental personal expenses.  In return, President Pamela Gann has invited a group of students and faculty from the University of Kuwait Kuwait University to visit CMC in late January 2012.

http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/offcampus/center

JORDAN     

Professor Bassam Frangieh (Modern Languages: Arabic) and Aleta Wenger (Center for Global Education) will lead a group of CMC and Claremont College students to Amman, Jordan for an intensive eight-week travel, education, and practicum experience. Students will receive two full course credits, one for an Arabic language course, to be taught by a University of Jordan faculty member, and the other for Arabic/Middle Eastern Studies course, to be taught by Professor Frangieh. As part of Arabic/MES course, Ms. Wenger will arrange an individualized practicum in Amman for each student in a workplace relevant to her or his interests, major, and Arabic language abilities. The eight-week program will include visits to historical sites, cultural venues, and weekend travel to significant Jordanian sites, such as Petra, which will be sponsored by CMC alumnus.   Financial aid will be available to CMC students.

http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/offcampus/center/

The Silicon Valley Semester Program?

John McDowell CMC '79 informs the Facebook community that on January 12, 2011, 

Last night at the ITAB reception in Palo Alto CMC announced a new Silicon Valley semester modeled on the Washington DC semester. Some issues to be worked through (transportation, housing, location of internships and classroom) but the commitment is there!