An impressive list of speakers and experts have come to campus this semester, most of them addressing topics of war and terrorism. But a conspicuous gap remains in the lineup: the annual Issam M. Fares lecture, generally held during the fall, did not take place. The Fares lecture usually brings high-profile speakers to campus to discuss issues relating to the Middle East.
The Issam M. Fares Lecture Committee, chaired by history professor Leila Fawaz, usually names the speaker and sets the date for the visit early in the fall semester, but no announcement has been made about this year's guest.
Fawaz directed enquiries about the lecture to the University's public relations office.
"This year, we've had to be particularly flexible because of people's schedules, especially in light of dynamic world circumstances that quite naturally affect the availability of the global leaders we seek to bring to campus," said Siobhan Houton, an assistant director of public relations.
Provost Sol Gittleman said that many of the events scheduled for this semester were postponed or cancelled because of the terrorist attacks.
"I would imagine that the events of Sept. 11 turned everyone's schedule upside-down," he said. The provost added that he was invited to about 20 conferences and meetings that were postponed or cancelled.
Former US Vice President Al Gore, who was scheduled to address a Tufts audience about family-centered community building on Sept. 14, postponed his visit until later this year.
The Fares lecture series, created by former trustee Fares, whose son is a '92 graduate, has sponsored some of the most prominent speakers to visit Tufts. Last year, the series brought now-Secretary of State Colin Powell to speak in the Gantcher Center. Other speakers have included former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former US President George Bush, and his Secretary of State James Baker.
Houton said that since this year is the University's 150th anniversary and the first year under the leadership of President Larry Bacow, the Fares lecture would be on a "special date" within that context.
