Focus group gears up for trip to Saudi Arabia
By: Zak Kazzaz
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: News
Last update: 2/12/08 at 6:50 AM EST
Last update: 2/12/08 at 6:50 AM EST
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In the first exchange program of its kind, nine Focus students-six freshmen and three sophomores-plan to depart for Saudi Arabia Thursday. The students will travel around the country for a week prior to attending the Jeddah Economic Forum for an additional week as part of their Focus learning experience. The trip will be paid for by corporate sponsors and previous fundraising.
The conference, created in 1999, serves as a think tank for economic policy in the Middle East. Its featured speakers will include Prince Charles of Great Britain, former chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Eleven students from several Saudi Arabian colleges arrived on Duke's campus Thursday as part of the exchange program. The students have spent the last week visiting local businesses and research institutions and enjoying elements of Duke's culture. The Saudi students will then return to their country with the Duke students after traveling to Washington, D.C.
"It's the first time that there has been this kind of student exchange program between a U.S. university and Saudi Arabian colleges," said Kelly Jarrett, program director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center.
She added that students will only visit cities on a list preapproved by the University and will partake in activities planned by Effat College, a Saudi women's college. The Focus students will be accompanied by a senior, two students from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Bruce Lawrence, professor of religion and director of the DISC, and a member of the DISC board throughout the trip.
Students said they were anxious and excited about the experience.
"I'm not sure what to expect about what the culture is going to be like and how they're going to respond to us as foreigners," freshman Yasmina Chergui said.
She added that she is aware of the strict discrimination by gender and will plan accordingly.
"In certain cities, we should have the veil around our neck or just have it handy," Chergui said.
Female students must wear an abaya, a loose dark-colored robe, while in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with the laws, Chergui added.
Freshman Catherine Meyer said the Saudi Arabian students who are currently here are not veiled, and she is looking forward to seeing them when they are in their own country.
"The students from Saudi Arabia who are here now and who are going to be with us over there-we're going to be able to talk to them and share experiences," she said. "It'll be interesting to see how they are in their natural environment and how people change."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
anon
posted 2/12/08 @ 10:27 AM EST
It spunds like Brodhead has his eyes on that Saudi oil money! At all cost...
duke grad
posted 2/12/08 @ 11:31 AM EST
Ahhh, the sweet smell of oil money from Saudi Arabia! Who cares if they hijack our planes, kill thousands of our people and blow up our buildings every now and then? Brodhead's genious at work. (Continued…)
mike anthony
posted 2/12/08 @ 3:22 PM EST
you have got to be kidding me i wouldn't allow my daughter to participate in something like this i think these young girls are being put into danger for no good reason, i am sure that the man that is going along is so that there is a male who will have guardianship of these girls, as saudi laws state that woman are no better than a 2 year old and require a male guardian, and what if one of these girls makes what would be an innocent statement in our country, or what if they talk to a young arab man, again they are in a world of hurt because of saudi arabias backwards ways, sorry too much could happen to these young women that could offend these backwards people, i wouldn't let my daughter go, and they have to have a male guardian, what does that do to their self esteem while they are there, what crazyness
saudi bound
posted 2/14/08 @ 1:07 AM EST
I don't think you know enough about this trip to blame Broadhead or oil money, and I certainly don't think you understand enough about the culture to suggest its "backwards"ness. (Continued…)
Cultivating Knowledge
posted 2/14/08 @ 12:20 PM EST
I applaude you saudi bound. What a wonderful experience this will be for our students, who are builders of the future. They can see what really is going on in that country, and judge for themselves what backwardness is, and what it is not. (Continued…)
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