Response to Youssef Ibrahim - Reader comments at The New York Sun

Submitted by James Reardon-Anderson, Feb 6, 2007 02:57

Readers of Mr. Ibrahim's essay, "Can Culture Be Bought in the Gulf?" will undoubtedly want to know whether he has his facts right. Commenting on the five American universities in Qatar's Education City, Mr. Ibrahim says: "Nowhere near enough qualified Qatari or Gulf Arab students have been found, nor have foreigners, even when offered full scholarships, joined what in effect are gated communities in a society living in the 18th century." Actually, the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar has many well qualified Qatari and non-Qatari students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program that meets all of the same standards as those that prevail on Georgetown's Main Campus in Washington, DC. In fact, none of the Georgetown students Mr. Ibrahim calls "foreigners" has been offered a full scholarship, but if he or others would like to provide scholarship support, I'm sure it would help attract even more well qualified students in the future. The same is true of the other universities and students in Education City. We would all welcome a visit by Mr. Ibrahim, who should be pleased to discover what is actually happening here.

James Reardon-Anderson, Dean, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I am a citizen of one of the most ancient countries in the world (mentioned in your article), I live... [MORE]	Zein	Apr 9, 2007 11:32
The design is that of the Centre for Performing Arts by Zaha Hadid and not that of the Gugenheim as... [MORE]	gisele qayaleh	Apr 5, 2007 18:11
Progress should come inside out, the Arab world is going about it the other way. They should, I feel, first... [MORE]	Munira I. Maladwala	Apr 4, 2007 10:48
... like the old saying goes "with friends like these [Youssef Ibrahim], who needs enemies." [MORE]	Marwan	Mar 21, 2007 16:59
Well I am 22 years old UAE national with a bachelor's degree in the E-business management. Am not here to defend... [MORE]	Sara	Mar 1, 2007 04:05
The editorial is flawed. It omits facts. There are a number of serious educational endeavors in the region -for instance,... [MORE]	Jeremy Bendik-Keymer	Feb 7, 2007 07:51
Mr. Ibrahim, so right is the Arab proverb you quote in your article and my advice to you is to... [MORE]	Mohamed Dobashi - Carnegie Mellon University	Feb 7, 2007 01:19
As an American living in the UAE, I have been perplexed at the billions spent on throwing up skyscrapers. They... [MORE]	Thomas	Feb 6, 2007 05:30
Readers of Mr. Ibrahim's essay, "Can Culture Be Bought in the Gulf?" will undoubtedly want to know whether he has...	James Reardon-Anderson	Feb 6, 2007 02:57
Where are more writers like YOUSSEF IBRAHIM? A very brave and insightful writer. [MORE]	Oren Ritterband	Feb 5, 2007 11:22
Unfortunately (I cannot call it the best of times) after speing more than 15 years in Qatar I have to... [MORE]	Scott Mcivor	Jul 24, 2007 13:36