The Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Project

Sort Interviews by Affiliation or Theme

Theme: Student Government

George Abed Oral History Interview - December 16, 2014

George Abed Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 16, 2014
George Abed (b. 1938), a native of Jordan, attended Oregon State from 1958-1962, graduating with a degree in General Social Science. During his undergraduate years, Abed was heavily involved with campus life and especially with student government, ultimately serving as the school's first foreign-born student body president. After completing a Ph.D. in Economics, Abed went on to a lengthy and multifaceted career in international development and public policy, including more than two decades spent working for the International Monetary Fund. The founder and former director of the Palestine Welfare Association, Abed is also a former head of the Palestine Monetary Authority, which he oversaw for two years at the invitation of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine. Abed's interview focuses on his Oregon State years, his career in public policy, and his association with development efforts all across the Middle East.

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Sami Al-AbdRabbuh Oral History Interview - September 13, 2016

Sami Al-AbdRabbuh Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
September 13, 2016
Sami Al-AbdRabbuh (b. 1987) is a Ph.D. student in OSU's Industrial Engineering program who completed his master's degree within the program in 2015. The CEO of a small start-up company, Al-AbdRabbuh has also been active in both student government and state politics, running as the Progressive Party candidate for state representative during the 2016 election cycle. Al-AbdRabbuh was born in the United States and raised in Saudi Arabia, and in his interview he provides perspective on the Muslim and Muslim American experience in both the U.S. and the Middle East. His academic and entrepreneurial pursuits as well as his community service projects are likewise included as secondary topics.

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Karim Hamdy Oral History Interview - October 10, 2014

Karim Hamdy Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
October 10, 2014
Karim Hamdy (b. 1952), a native of Tunisia, has been associated with OSU since 1981, first as a doctoral candidate in Civil Engineering, and later as an instructor of both French and Arabic. A student activist who helped to form multiple groups representing and supporting North African students at OSU, Hamdy later co-founded the university's Tunisia Study Abroad program. He has also taught Arabic classes at Oregon State since their first formation in 2002. His interview focuses on his upbringing in Tunisia, his experiences studying and working at OSU, and the evolution of the university's Arabic language courses and the Tunisia Study Abroad program.

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Erin Haynes Oral History Interview - July 25, 2014

Erin Haynes Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
July 25, 2014
Erin Haynes (b. 1950) attended OSU from 1968-1972, during which time he both played on and helped to coach the school's freshman football team, and also served as Senior Class President. Following graduation, Haynes built a long career at Oregon State, working in the Department of Admissions for eight years, the OSU Foundation for twenty-two years, and the Alumni Association for two more. Haynes has also served as an advisor to the OSU chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity for more than four decades. His interview focuses on fraternity culture at Oregon State, campus life in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Beaver lore throughout its history, including several stories of notable Oregon Staters from the past.

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Tom House Oral History Interview - June 7, 2014

Tom House Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
June 7, 2014
Tom House, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, graduated from Oregon State College in 1949, serving as student body president his senior year. In a short interview, House reflects on his student years in the late 1940s and shares his memories of the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980.

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Andy Landforce Oral History Interviews - May 2013 - October 2015

Andy Landforce Oral History Interviews

Six life history interviews conducted by Mike Dicianna and Debora Landforce.
May 2013 - October 2015
Andy Landforce (b. 1917) graduated from Oregon State College in 1942, serving as student body president his senior year. A World War II veteran, Landforce enjoyed a long career at Oregon State University, first as a County Extension Agent and later as a Wildlife Management Specialist. He also worked for an additional fifteen years in retirement as a professional fishing guide. Among many other topics, the Landforce oral history interviews focus on campus life at Oregon State College during the 1930s, the 1942 Rose Bowl game, his military service during World War II, and his post-war career at OSU.

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An Oral History of the OSC Class of 1959 - February 14, 2014

An Oral History of the OSC Class of 1959

An interview with Jim and Jane Schaeffer, Harley Smith and Dave Socolofsky, conducted by Mike Dicianna.
February 14, 2014
The Class of 1959 alumni interviewed here relate their experiences in student government, running on the "Shamrock Party" ticket. The participants likewise relay their memories of campus life in the late 1950s, with special focus upon athletics, military training and, of course, student politics. Three of the interviewees held student offices in 1958 and 1959, and all four participated in ROTC. Jane Saling was the first female to take military training classes at Oregon State College and Harley Smith drafted the Student Senate petition to rename Oregon State College as Oregon State University. The participants are also responsible for donating and installing the Trysting Tree sculpture in the Memorial Union lounge that bears its name.

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Taylor Sarman Oral History Interview - November 16, 2015

Taylor Sarman Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
November 16, 2015
Taylor Sarman (class of 2016) is a native of Union, Oregon, a small, rural community located in the northeastern corner of the state. Interested in politics from an early age, Sarman became active in student government as soon as he began high school, while also engaging with the Oregon chapter of Future Business Leaders of America as a state officer. In 2011, his senior year of high school, Sarman was elected as national president of FBLA. After enrolling at OSU in 2012, Sarman held a number of positions within the Associated Students of Oregon State University, culminating with his election as student body president at the end of his sophomore year. Sarman was also the first student to serve on OSU's newly created Board of Trustees. His interview traces his life-long involvement in politics and public service, with particular attention paid to his work with FBLA, his year as ASOSU President, and his experiences as a member of the Board of Trustees.

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