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May 24, 2010  Robert Barker/University Photography Senior profile: Maurice Chammah
Major: Near Eastern studies and the College Scholar Program (focused in anthropology and government), minor in music Main Cornell extracurricular activity -- why is it important to you?
I had several, most of which tied together my musical and academic interests. I wrote for The Cornell Daily Sun about music, on international affairs for the Cornell International Affairs Review, as well as music composition. Being heavily involved with Israeli-Palestinian peace groups on campus, and speaking publicly and privately about Middle Eastern politics served me when it came to performing on violin and 'oud (Arabic lute) with the music ensembles I play in - the Cornell Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, Oikos - a band of my own compositions, a Motown cover band and the Cornell Chamber Orchestra. Public speaking and playing music share certain characteristics, as do writing about politics and music. These interrelationships were reflected in the interdisciplinary dimensions of my self-styled curriculum. While at Cornell, what other accomplishments/activities are you most proud of?
The first was writing a thesis, where I synthesized my experiences in Cairo with Cornell coursework, putting anthropological and political theories into harmony with life experiences. The second was performing several of my music compositions with the Cornell Chamber Orchestra in March. This involved many hours spent arranging and thinking about music between "pop" and "classical" for a large group of musicians, dealing with the nerves and excitement of performing for a large audience and taking my understanding of music to its limit in terms of my abilities. Your most profound turning point while at Cornell?
Studying abroad in Cairo my junior year and working for a human rights NGO one summer in Jerusalem. These experiences made me realize just how powerfully my university education helps me to think through issues related to the Arab world and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Who or what at Cornell influenced your education the most?
Close interactions with several professors - including Ross Brann, my college scholar adviser; Susan Buck-Morss, my thesis adviser; Ruth Mas, Ziad Fahmy and Martin Hatch - who would criticize and interrogate me in a way that was never intimidating, and each in a way set up a free space for me to try out new ideas and ways of thinking without the pressure of having to conform to disciplinary and institutional expectations. Did any of your beliefs or interests change during your time at Cornell?
Within the College Scholar Program, I learned the value of interdisciplinary scholarship, where the findings of one discipline can always be rethought and critiqued from another discipline, such that neither is incapable of telling us something important about the world, but neither should any of them get the final word. What Cornell-related scholarships/special financial benefits did you receive?
The Ellen Gussman Adelson Music Scholarship and the John F. Nixon Scholarship, both of which were critical in allowing me to come to Cornell. I also received the Harrop and Ruth Freeman Fellowship from the Cornell Peace Studies Program, which made it possible for me to work with Rabbis for Human Rights and the Faculty for Israeli-Palestinian Peace in Jerusalem in summer 2008. What are your plans for next year; where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Find a job in Austin that would help me to hone my abilities with research, Arabic language and writing, and eventually pursue a Ph.D. in the social sciences. I also am holding out for the possibility that my music endeavors might bring new opportunities, but I don't like to set clear goals with that area of my life. |
