Opinion
Say yes to Ariel University
Hagai Segal
Published: 19.07.12, 18:03
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27 Talkbacks for this article
1. Question is, why can't West Bank Arabs study at AU?
COLBERT ,   Treadmill, ISS   (07.19.12)
And why do West Bank "settlements" exclude West Bank Arabs from living in their communities?
2. Well said
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (07.19.12)
Very appropriate and timely.
3. apples and oranges
avramele   (07.19.12)
Ariel College is to Hebrew University as Bob Jones University is to Harvard
4. Amen!
tom ,   tel aviv   (07.19.12)
5. The problem, Hagai
A Professor ,   Haifa, Israel   (07.19.12)
Is that the title of university is an educational title, not a political one, that should be awarded based on educational merit alone, and not political value. Shomron college is simply not up to the educational standards expected of a University, and the decision to award it the title anyways purely out for political reasons at best significantly lowers the prestige of the title of University in Israel, and at worst completely voids it of any meaning. Certain ministers on the right like to think of this as a political issue but for actual educators it's an educational issue, with no relations to politics. Your treatment of this issue as a political one is the exact reason why it's a problem.
6. 13.000 can't be wrong
accountant ,   World   (07.19.12)
And millions of people against occupied territories can be wrong. Hagai Segal, your arguments are funny indeed..
7. The Ariel Community College
Michael ,   Haifa   (07.19.12)
It will be interesting to note whether any self-respecting universities in the world will recognize the degrees of this "academy", having been established by an army officer without having undergone proper peer review by the Council for Higher Education in ISRAEL. It's academic credentials were examined by a self-interested Council for Higher Education in the Occupied West Bank.
8. @5.Selfish, arrogant professor accuses "right" Ministers
Abraham ben Jacob ,   Canada   (07.19.12)
The professor accuses the "right" of being political with Ariel University. This professor is a "left" leaning person and thousands of students and Israeli citizens dis-agree with him. (her)
9. To No 5
Jim   (07.19.12)
Can you please elucidate the points that you've made - how many professors teach at AU and is research done there? Can you please us provide figures to corroborate your point?
10. israel has to many leftist universities
ben ,   toronto   (07.19.12)
Israel is unfortunately full of leftist universities, they are creating an unequal education and a right wing university is required to balance out the left, the solution should be more donors and funding, not just to not open it bc its not up to par, as a student at BGU i can tell u we NEED a right wing University it isnt an option
11. Wait ... what? I thought "yes" was already said?
Orly ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (07.19.12)
Whose approval is still lacking? Is this not yet a done deal?
12. Nothing Relevant in This Article
Baruch ,   Israel/Houston   (07.19.12)
Accreditation has nothing to do with our democratic appeal, national vaiews, terrain, nor political context. Accreditation has everyhting to do with the ability of an institution to provide a quality education. There are no metrics in this rather complex process for 13,000 student liking the place. If that were the case we could easily get bars accredited. I tringly suggest that Segal at least become minimally familiar with the accreditation process and purpose before suggesting that this is a matter of public referendum. If in fact the accreditation is due it will be delivered. If, as some suspect, it is not due and accreditation would be granted most likely to be suspended or reviked, 13,000 students would be only the beginning of the problem. Employers and that little thing about global recognition is at stake. Is there a reason why we can not take some time and just do this right the first time?
13. Shut down Ben Gurion University and give its budget to Ariel
Irene ,   Haifa   (07.19.12)
Now!
14. I agree to teach at Ariel
Yossef   (07.19.12)
Differential geometry, my speciality.
15. You got to love #5
(07.20.12)
Someone from Haifa University talking about academic standards? Haifa University is a well-known joke. If academic standards were what determines if you are a university, Haifa U would become a poorly-regarded high school.
16. Loud, proud, resounding "YES" to all Judea and Samaria.
Chaim ,   Israel   (07.20.12)
The author is right on target. It's way past time to stop playing games. Judea and Samaria are ours in every legal, historic sense. Say a loud, proud resounding "YES" to Ariel University and all of Judea and Samaria.
17. @ # 13
James Dean ,   Hollywood , USA   (07.20.12)
At the same time shut down the kiddies college in Haifa. This would make the whole exercise far more cost attractive.
18. Colbert #1: The question is, really, your
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Gush Etzion   (07.20.12)
ignorance in spite of your high faluting "title" and "position". Just to clarify, Ariel University is attended by several thousands of Arab students who reside in the Westbank. As far as our Yishuveem (settlements), Arabs do not live in our villages and may enter only to work and then under guard. The obvious reason is to do with terror attacks, so many of which have been perpetrated by Arabs east of the Green Line. By the same token, we do not enter Arab villages and neither are we welcome. Arabs in their respective villages and Jews in theirs. I shouldn't have to have written this but your ignorance is so rampant that I felt forced to.
19. "Yes!" :-)
RT   (07.20.12)
20. The Answer is Simple
A Jew ,   Jerusalem   (07.21.12)
Because the West Bank Arabs are at war with the Jews. Over the years they have stabbed, shot, and otherwise murdered thousands of Jews. Sorry, if we Jews decline to make it easy to kill more of us
21. Foolish & malicious people call Judea/Samaria "occupied".
Chaim ,   Israel   (07.21.12)
#6. Israel's legal ownership of Judea and Samaria is beyond legal dispute. Countless international scholars have proven it belongs to Israel. Even the multi billion dollar funded P.A. won't publicly dispute this. MK Danny Ayalon has challenged to a public debate. Those who call Judea and Samaria "occupied" are either fools, malicious or both.
22. Ariel College
J   (07.21.12)
It's known for its low admissions standards. a large portions of the students that end up there didn't have sufficient bagrot/iq grades which is why they ended up there. so the bulk of the students there isn't the best that it could be which means Ariel would make a low-standard university.
23. #1 because they sneak in and murder families
jack bauer   (07.21.12)
because they stone them, steal their cars, try to kidnap and murder thhem? could these be good enough reasons for you?
24. #21 Chaim
Michael ,   Haifa   (07.21.12)
If, what you say is true, then why is it necessary for a Special West Bank Council for Higher Education (established by an army officer) to upgrade the Ariel Community College to University status. There is a perfectly good Council for Higher Education in Israel that apparently considers the Ariel Community College having sub-academic standards
25. To #21
Bertram ,   London,UK   (07.21.12)
Chaim, you are to be admired for continuing to live among the malicious and the foolish. My guess is that even if there were not 'countless international scholars' who have 'proven' that 'Judea and Samaria' belong to Israel your mind would not change one iota. This is evidenced by your saying Israel's ownesrhip of the land is 'beyond legal dispute'. This, of course, is untrue. There is a legal dispute - between Israel and practically every other country and the UN. You may think the rest of the world is malicious/foolish (and let's add antisemitic for good measure) but that is hardly the point. The legal dispute is there for all to see.
26. #22
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (07.22.12)
Large portions of the students in Ariel are Arabs as well as Jews of Russian and Ethiopian origin. Your allegations that these people have a low IQ is the worst kind of racism. Now reality: the CHE gave Ariel a list of requirements to meet within 5 years while being funded as a college. Ariel surpassed all the requirements, yet the Leftists still aren't satisfied. How about a challenge? For the next five years give Ariel the same funding as the other Universities. At the end of the five years, we close down the two universities that come lowest in objective ranking and the professors who work there lose their undeserved tenure. I'd be happy to see Beer Sheva and Haifa shut down, wouldn't you?
27. Students "all have blue Israeli ID cards" no West Bank Arabs
COLBERT ,   Treadmill, ISS   (07.22.12)
...are allowed to attend Ariel University.
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