Hariri more than trustee

I was shocked when I found out about the death of former Lebonese Prime Minister Rafik B. Hariri, may God bless his soul. I first learned about it while I was getting ready for my morning classes at Boston University when I noticed a friend's away message on my computer screen and it said "May God Bless Your Soul Rafik B. Hariri." It took me a couple of minutes to let the bad news wash over me. I immediately started browsing all the Arabic and English news websites I knew. I couldn't hold the tears back as read the story. Hariri was like a father-figure to me, this wasn't just because I graduated from his school in Riyadh - Najd National Schools - and received the Hariri Award in my senior year, but this was also because the land that my current college is built on was a grant from Hariri (because two of his sons attended BU). He was also a major contributor to my college and a member of the Board of Trustees at BU. The college I attend is the School of Management at Boston University, and the building is called the "Rafik B. Hariri" building!

My eyes got used to reading that name every time I entered or left the building, and I never got the slightest idea that the next time I would look at the name of the building that I use in just about every single day of my four years at college, it would serve as a reminder for the death of a loved one.

During my high school years, my school took us on a trip to Beirut to visit potential universities we may attend, and we were invited to the Hariri Canadian Academy which is a distinguished specialized higher education institution that has had hundreds of graduates join the elite working class of Lebanon. Hariri sent many students on full scholarships to BU. This man (after God) was the main reason for my education since 3rd grade until I graduated from my high school. Now even during my college years. I truly owe that man my education.

Rafik Hariri, May God Bless Your Soul and Forgive all your past sins.

Yamen S. Al-Hajjar

SMG '07