American University of Beirut 'attacks students' after revoking scholarships

Student activists in Lebanon’s American University of Beirut (AUB) were met with violence after protesting against the university’s revoking of postgraduate scholarships.

According to Boldly G-AUB, a group of postgraduate university students campaigning on the issue, the university’s Provost and Board of Deans revoked scholarships for a group of postgraduate students in May, leaving them unable to finish their studies as they could no longer afford their tuition fees.

“The administration’s decision has made us more susceptible to financial stress. The stipend elimination represents the administration’s devaluing of graduate students’ academic and professional work, financial needs, and contribution to the university,” Boldly G-AUB said in a statement.

In September, protests were held in response to the termination of monthly GA and GRA stipends without them being given permission to work to compensate their financial losses. 

After months of campaigning, the activists had decided to set up a tent outside the university’s College Hall last week and staged what they claimed to be a peaceful protest on Tuesday.

The demonstration was met with violence by security guards. A video of the guards forcibly dragging the tent with students inside and rough-handling protesters went viral on local social media.

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Despite the "alarming" actions of AUB's security, many were unsurprised that the university had taken such measures.

"AUB corporate logic: oh you want minimum funding for your basic needs as a human and a student? How about none of that, and we nearly expel you instead?" one person commented.

"The administration’s alarming decision to punish students for peacefully expressing their demands sets a dangerous precedent for all members of the AUB community. Freedom of speech and assembly are basic pillars of any democratic institution, and they have been violated," Boldly G-AUB said.