NSU Horizons Fall 2006

horizons 35 khawla abu-baker Continued from page 32 the national struggle.” Although she does not get involved in politics, Abu- Baker briefly joined the group Mental Health Workers for Peace. “As a therapist working with Jewish and Arab groups for 20 years, I tried to be involved. I worked as an education counselor for 13 years, and I went into family therapy to solve problems with individuals and families.” Abu-Baker arrived at NSU in 1994 under the auspices of the Israeli-Arab Scholarship Program. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1991 to provide educational opportunities in the United States for Israeli Arabs. It is administered by the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and America- Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc., a private, nonprofit organization. She enrolled at NSU because it offered one of a handful of doctoral programs in family therapy that focused on cultural sensitivity. “For me, it’s very important for a therapist to understand other cultures, especially since Israel is a country of about 90 cultures,” said Abu-Baker, who completed her doctoral studies and dissertation in three years. “My experience at Nova Southeastern University allowed me to extend my academic, clinical, and research abilities,” she added. “I was exposed to systemic thinking and research, which I embrace as basic tools in my work. I treasure both the academic and the human experiences I was honored to have at the school. It was a great experience, and the faculty was very supportive.” n Dad served as superintendent of the Henry County School System from January 1969 until his retire- ment on December 31, 1980. He was appointed headmaster of Meadow Creek Academy in 1981 and served until 1984. Growing up, I was always called either “Mr. Baker’s son” or “Dr. Baker’s son.” When I began my career in education in Henry County in 1989, I thought I would be known as simply “Gordon Baker.” But as fate would have it, the first month or so, I was introduced as “Dr. Baker’s son.” My dad always got a kick out of this, but said one day that would change. Prior to my retirement from Henry County in 2004, my parents attended a state- wide event of which I was chairman. During the course of the event, several people approached my dad, asking him, “Are you Dr. Baker’s father?” He really got a kick out of that! n howard f. baker Continued from page 33 Mara L. Kiffin is the Assistant Director of Public Affairs. of his widow and children, along with the couple’s property, to his brother or closest male relative. “There are all sorts of customary traditions, including genital mutilation and polygamy, that make it difficult for women to have quality lives,” Shu-Acquaye said. “As a result, the whole issue of HIV/AIDS becomes a major concern. In the African tradition, the man is head of the household, and the more wives and children he has, the more successful he is viewed. So if he ‘inherits’ his brother’s wife who is infected, this marriage will likely result in the transmission of the AIDS virus to the brother, and possibly more people, given that the brother may have other wives.” This effect, she explained, is multiplied if either party has an extramarital relationship. “There has to be a change in mindset. However, we have to understand the culture and educate people in light of that understanding,” she added. She has written articles about the crisis, and is currently finishing a book, Women, the Law and HIV/AIDS: A Conundrum for the Legislature in Africa? She realizes she is tremendously blessed, having grown up with parents who were both in the teaching profession and who taught the family the value of education and its role in escaping poverty and despair. Shu-Acquaye sums up her involvement as a call to arms: “I feel a tremendous obligation to positively affect the lives of women and their families, and help in some little way to ease the burden of those living with this deadly disease.” n Florence Bih Shu-Acquaye Continued from page 11 “Personally, I think he has the guts to do the correct thing,” he said. “He can call balls and strikes right down the line, which is what we’d want any judge to do, to closely follow the law. Diaz,” he said, “does not submit to peer pressure.” At times, those tough pressures may involve a death sentence. Diaz, a conservative republican, said he would impose the ultimate penalty if need be. “I am not afraid of it,” he said. “I guess I am saying there are circumstances when a human being should forfeit his right to life; however, it’s a very serious punishment and one that you should seriously consider before ever impos- ing it.” “Something like that would weigh heavily on my mind, and you don’t want judges who say ‘oh, I have no problem sentencing someone to death’ because the penalty involved is final.” n Reemberto Diaz Continued from page 31 Lisa Bolivar is a writer in Tamarac, Florida.