<p>The head of NYU Abu Dhabi is Al Bloom, who has been President of Swarthmore College for 18 years. He has a strong reputation in many areas, including academic excellent, academic freedom, and civil justice (what he calls “ethical intelligence”).</p>
<p>Oh, and he’s also Jewish.</p>
<p>Al Bloom has a fine reputation, but individuals who have entry to Israel stamped in their passports (whether they are Jewish or not, whether they were on business or pleasure, whether they are citizens of the US, Canada, or other) have great difficulty with immigration officials in Abu Dhabi. Sometimes the other stamps in the passport are ignored, other times they are scrutinized. </p>
<p>It is naive to assume that because Al Bloom is Jewish, the university will be able to overcome some extreme policies on the part of the local government. Res Ipsa Loquitor.</p>
<p>Bloom has a US passport, I assume.</p>
<p>@ottimista: This is a question which has come many, many times. The idea for NYU Abu Dhabi come out of a plan developed by the Abu Dhabi government called “Abu Dhabi 2030” whose purpose is to identify now what Abu Dhabi will need when it runs out of oil in ~100 years. Near the top of this list was a “world-class international university and research center,” which became NYU Abu Dhabi. The international class it is attracted is part of this vision. This isn’t to say the UAE nationals are not invited or excluded - the opposite is the case. There will be both UAE citizens and residents in the first class, and NYU Abu Dhabi is hoping to start enrichment programs to help prepare UAE high school students for college abroad (or NYUAD). I agree completely that the evolution of this arrangement will be interesting.</p>
<p>@expatme: You are absolutely right, and I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression in my earlier post. Abu Dhabi is not NY, there is plenty of behavior (e.g. sunbathing, making out, etc.) which are commonplace in Washington Square Park that you shouldn’t do on the Corniche. At the same time, the last two times I’ve been to Abu Dhabi I’ve definitely seen couples holding hands, etc. without a hassle.</p>
<p>As for Israelis and NYU Abu Dhabi, NYUAD has arranged entry for people with Israeli passports and Israeli stamps in their passports before. Heck, the NYU Hillel Rabbi visited Abu Dhabi during at least two candidate weekends.</p>
<p>New York University - Abu Dhabi?</p>
<p>Kind of wish they picked another name.</p>
<p>Abudhabimama: al jazeera english is a good news source. they tend to be more moderate. Also BBC; star news; CNN international ( which is a whole different experience) also provide more international news.</p>
<p>nyuadprof: yes certainly holding hands is acceptable; and you will see many local couples also holding hands ( although they’re probably already married :)) and you will see people greet each other in a more European/ME style of kissing on the cheek (Emiratis kiss 3 times). and people greet each other at the airport with hugs and kisses of course. But couples just don’t kiss or hang on each other, hug, and they wouldn’t in Dubai either. </p>
<p>I think it all sounds very interesting and will be watching to hear how things go. There are bound to be some kinks to work out. I do hope that all students coming in from outside the region will be given a good orientation to their new environment.</p>
<p>It does seem kind of retro - to think of today’s typical colleges, with co-ed dorm rooms…parties with alcohol…drugs…sex…vs. married couples holding hands!
I would think there could be quite a bit of culture shock. And whether or not they accept Israeli stamped passports, I’d think Jewish kids would find it a tough sell, regardless of someone named Bloom in the administration.
But it may contribute to world understanding. Hope so.</p>
<p>I had one other thought that I hope the administration is addressing: Ramadan begins in mid August this year and Eid will be around the 9th to 11th of September. It may be so much easier for students to start after Eid, arrive after Ramadan, as it is so much more restrictive and may be a seriously intimidating way to arrive in the country.</p>
<p>If not students should be aware of the fact that there is no eating or drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours in Ramadan; although everything is open all night long!</p>
<p>@mamanyu: I have found in the middle east that there is much more distinction placed on being Jewish vs being Israeli. It is the latter that are persona non grata not the former.</p>
<p>@expatme: The administration definitely has been debating whether or not to start after Ramadan. I’m not sure what that final answer is yet (they’ve probably told me, but since I’m moving there during Ramadan anyway I didn’t pay too much attention) but they are aware of this issue. They are planning a rather extensive Orientation program to educate the students on all of the issues you’ve raised before classes start. I don’t know the details since I’m not directly involved in that.</p>
<p>@mamenyu: Jewish student may find it a tough sell, though hopefully the presence of several Jewish faculty might make it less of one… I do feel that NYU Abu Dhabi is one of really very schools which can actually contribute to “world understanding” as you say, which is a significant part of its appeal for me and my wife. It is sort of the college equivalent of a United World’s College high school, which is another wonderful program.</p>