Dartblog

I attended a very timely lecture yesterday afternoon on the Western Sahara Conflict that still remains unresolved after 30 plus years. I was given the opportunity to attend this lecture through the AMES (Asian and Middle Eastern Studies) Department as a major in the department. Professor Mostafa Oujjani, one of the recent additions to the Arabic Department, and a native of Morocco presented on the subject, which many Moroccans care deeply about. For a brief history, reference this site.

All in all, the talk was very informative presented by a professor close to the situation on a topic that one does not hear about often. The setting was the 1930’s room in the Rockefeller Center which offered a more intimate setting that benefitted both the students and faculty in attendance. It was also nice to see fellow AMES professors support Oujjani for his presentation. I enjoyed the hour-long program immensely despite the general pessimism that a solution to the conflict will be found anytime soon. But who knows, HRC may work her magic yet.

The luncheon talk was billed as being the first in what will become a term-long series of lectures by AMES professors. I certainly hope the department follows through as the small group setting and active interest in the room made for a fine academic experience outside of class.