Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour was the keynote speaker at the 19th Annual American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) Build Economic Bridges Banquet held Friday at The Henry Hotel. AACC Executive Director Fay Beydoun said in The Arab American News story, that the organization chose to invite President Gilmour based on his status within Michigan's economy. "Mr. Gilmour is a major player in Michigan's economy, specifically southeast Michigan," she said. "His accomplishments regionally as a top executive with Ford Motor Company as the Chairman of the Community Foundation and an effective board member of the new economic initiative (are noteworthy), and his experience and role complement the mission of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce." In response to his scheduled appearance, some members of the Arab Student Union demonstrated outside the chamber\'s banquet to protest because of Wayne State's decision last year to pull the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Award. According to Matt Lockwood, WSU's director of communications, a task force has been formed and will begin meeting early next month. It will be comprised of people from WSU and the surrounding community and focus on how the university can expand and build upon its lineages with the Arab American community.

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=4847
http://detnews.com/article/20111022/SCHOOLS/110220338/Wayne-State's-Gilmour-draws-Arab-student-protest#ixzz1bhVswrFO