<p>no man, YOU have columbia as a real option, most gays don’t think the way you do, otherwise you wouldn’t see many of them on college campuses (yes, because many top schools could be criticized for the same reason you’re criticizing NYU, many have campuses and study sites in the middle east). Dude I’m surprised you that you think NYU (a school some girls avoid because of the lack of straight guys lol) is not a real option for gays.
And that Columbia you’re talking about has a study abroad site in Jordan, which is a good deal less liberal than the UAE. Cornell, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M, Rochester, Michigan State, Hult, Georgetown … all have degree granting campuses in the middle east. Why don’t you criticize them as well? If your reasons are purely ideological, you shouldn’t be so NYU-focused. Hmm, They are purely ideological right?</p>
<p>study abroad sites are not the same thing as a full-out, self-standing campus - and homosexuality is not illegal in Jordan - I think that you are wrong about the other campuses - but I never really looked into those - this NYU Abu Dhabi is the only venture of its kind - thats what all of the publicity for the program brags about -</p>
<p>I’m not wrong, NYU AD is the only venture of its kind because it’s so competitive, top-notch, diverse, and comprehensive, it’s the first american liberal arts college in the middle east. The schools I mentionned are indeed self-standing, degree-granting campuses, offering the exact same degrees people who attend US campuses get, u go to Cornell’s medical college in Qatar, u get a Cornell U degree. They’re just not as comprehensive and ambitious as NYU AD. Now that you know about these campuses, I hope you won’t just ignore them and focus on NYU. They’re all in the same boat buddy.
Oh and homosexuality IS illegal in Jordan, it is illegal in every single muslim country. And trust me, I know what I’m talking about.</p>
<p>some of you have so much hostility - I guess that is a good indication of the person who would champion an “American” institution in a country that denies rights to all - NYU and all campuses should be ashamed - and the exact quality of education or student remains to be proven -
I am glad to live in the US were at least I am better protected from the hostility that you are leashing against a member of the LGBT community than if I were in another place.
I continue to ask- what provisions are the people at NYU ABU Dhabi making to assure the safety and access to all people in the program - and aren’t people participating in the program worried about how they will be judged by others - should they return to the US for jobs in the future- when asked, “how did you reconcile pursuing an education in a country that denies rights to all and does not allow for free expression of ideas?” NYU has a particular place - geographically and ideologically- that should make it one of the last to wholesale give up on the LGBT community</p>
<p>Hostility? What r u talking about dude?</p>
<p>When people don’t share your point of view, they’re not automatically hostile, they just DISAGREE.</p>
<p>I hate to change the subject so suddenly and it might sound ignorant, but how safe is Abu Dhabi for Jewish students?</p>
<p>NYU AD’s president is Jewish (and some other faculty members and staff too from what I heard), the UAE doesn’t have any policy against Jewish people.</p>
<p>1: using caps - is equal to yelling
2: speaking directly to me calling me “Buddy” - we are not buddies - and it has an edge to it - so, one who used the word “Buddy” while also shouting - might be seen as hostile to somebody educated in a diverse world
3: questioning my motives - and other snide comments -</p>
<p>my questions are directed to the general population not to any one person in particular</p>
<p>thank you johnkalabiss</p>
<p>@Ebtrvl: u’re welcome.</p>
<p>wow Skype is illegal in the UAE. Only North Koreak, Oman, and Kuwait share in making Skype illegal. - [Thousands</a> break law with Skype on mobile - The National Newspaper](<a href=“The National - Latest US news, sport & opinion”>The National - Latest US news, sport & opinion)</p>
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<p>What a ridiculous claim. I’d venture to say that NYU has the highest concentration of LGBT students in the world. It has done more to help the gay community than the vast majority of other universities, and yet you’re boycotting the school - the one physically in Washington Square - because you think it’s wholesale given up on the LGBT community? Good luck getting into Columbia if that’s the sort of logic you prop your words and actions on.</p>
<p>The attitude of the UAE towards homosexuality is deplorable, to be sure. But you don’t change minds by refusing to take steps toward understanding and acceptance in other cultures. I met a kid at my NYUAD candidate weekend (born and raised in a Muslim country) who insisted that “homosexuality is not a problem in the Middle East because it doesn’t exist” — yeah, I was horrified, but do you think that if he’d spent four years amongst differently-minded students who challenged his beliefs, that he wouldn’t at least begin to be a little more tolerant? If you (and others on this board as well) took a moment to open your eyes beyond the amount of money involved, you’d see that NYU Abu Dhabi is a wonderful opportunity to begin intercultural dialogues, to help people who are very different understandeach other.</p>
<p>I noticed that Ebtrvl was asking about NYU Abu Dhabi allowing Jewish students - this brings up an interesting parallel with the “gay issue”, which is that NYU Abu Dhabi does not discriminate against applicants with Israeli passports, but the UAE government will not allow such individuals into the country. It’s very easy to presume that the attitude of NYU Abu Dhabi is automatically one and the same as that of the UAE, but it isn’t. NYU Abu Dhabi, I’m sure, is just as tolerant (supportive, even!) of homosexuality as NYU in Washington Square is. They are not betraying the gay community by opening a campus in the Middle East, but some sacrifices must be made if two cultures want to slowly begin to understand one another. Who knows? Maybe the UAE will make steps toward protecting gay rights in the future, with NYU Abu Dhabi playing an integral role in helping to foster understanding.</p>
<p>As for the gay student who’s attending NYUAD next year, well, I applaud him for his courage. It should be noted, though, that it’s highly unlikely that he’d be deported or sent away from the school just for being attracted to other men; if, say, he wants to remain celibate for four years (maybe just two and a half, since students at NYUAD are allowed to study abroad for two or three semesters), he won’t be committing any crime. Honestly, if I were gay, I’m not entirely sure I would want to study in a predominantly Muslim country - in fact, I definitely wouldn’t choose NYU Abu Dhabi - but to each his own. Again, his sheer bravery is admirable.</p>
<p>Finally, Skype is only illegal because the UAE doesn’t want to drain revenue from its own telecommunications company. They’re not doing it to “take away rights” or “silence people”, they’re just trying to make more money. Which, I mean, whatever. Everyone still uses Skype anyway.</p>
<p>NYU has so far refused to state how they will support LGBT students in Abu Dhabi - what they have suggested though - is if LGBT students insist on being open - they will be sent home - </p>
<p>it seems NYU is supportive of the LGBT community - only if it doesn’t have to take a stand - which is no support at all - </p>
<p>and suggesting that a queer student can attend abu dhabi as long as he closets himself - is an affront - </p>
<p>people who participate in the program can try to exercise semantics all they want - but they are participating in a country that restricts human rights - and by participating in such a program - you condone those acts - plain and simple -
nobody went to run the camps at Auschwitz claiming to be there to help diversity</p>
<p>[N.Y.U</a>. Abu Dhabi Scours Globe for Top Students - Readers’ Comments - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/education/21nyu.html?sort=oldest&offset=1]N.Y.U”>http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/education/21nyu.html?sort=oldest&offset=1)</p>
<p>well, the article is the same recycled propaganda - but the moderated discussion board heavily tilts towards people capable of reason -</p>
<p>^ this guy’s the most professional ■■■■■ on this forum!</p>
<p>So according to you, the NYTimes, The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Inside Higher Education, The National … all these papers are NYU’s tools of propaganda? Just admit it, NYUAD’s making the news and this is just the beginning! And among those people “capable of reason” you mentionned are some capable of disapointing ignorance and rudeness. But some definitely make some good points.</p>
<p>These are very informative articles for those interested:</p>
<p>[News:</a> ‘The World?s Honors College?’ - Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/06/21/nyu]News:”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/06/21/nyu)
[NYU</a> Abu Dhabi Announces Inaugural Class](<a href=“http://nyuad.nyu.edu/news.events/press.release.inaugural.class.html]NYU”>http://nyuad.nyu.edu/news.events/press.release.inaugural.class.html)
[NYUAD</a> set to join the Ivy League - The National Newspaper](<a href=“The National - Latest US news, sport & opinion”>The National - Latest US news, sport & opinion)
[UAE</a> Today - NYU Abu Dhabi Announces Inaugural Class](<a href=“http://www.uaetoday.com/news_dtls_ad.asp?newsid=5036]UAE”>http://www.uaetoday.com/news_dtls_ad.asp?newsid=5036)</p>
<p>I have no doubt that NYU Abu Dhabi will make news - now that it seems the directors of the program are less effective at squelching opposition - I think the news will just be starting - much less the news that’s apt to happen once the program gets started and individuals without much experience in the middle east leading the program get in over their heads - from the way that they refuse to answer questions now - it’s clear that they are not really in control of the situation - and if the people posting here are a sign of the supporters - the only plan is to make personal attacks on people who raise questions about the program.</p>
<p>I think I’ll be the first one to point out that, in written English, the ratio of periods to dashes in a paragraph is generally greater than one.</p>