The first Arabic Culture Roundtable event featured notable guests from Middle East nations on Thursday night, offering ACU students the opportunity to learn about, discuss and question the current political and social climate of Arabic nations.

The session, entitled “Understanding Modern Arabic Culture: Stabilization in Egypt,” took place from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Living Room.

Dr. Shaima Hussein, former financial manager of the United Nations and former citizen of Iraq, was among the featured panelists. She spoke on the growing relationship between Americans and Iraqis.

“We need people to understand and accept each other,” Hussein said. “To see how people live, eat, look and how they live their life will make a big impact and a very big difference.”

Pressing conflicts in Iraq caused Hussein to move to Abilene.

“I am really thankful and really blessed to be here,” Hussein said. “I now have better ideas about the American people.”

She encouraged students to stay updated on the events unfolding in nations such as Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Iraq.

The other panelists were former Iraqi citizens Mahmood Mohammed Fadhil, former head physicist with the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Kareem Muthanna Alsarag, former teacher of English as a foreign language. Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the Department of Political Science and Dr. Harland Rall, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, co-hosted the event.

Roundtable discussion also placed a specific interest on the nation of Egypt.

“What happens in Egypt reflects all of the Arab countries,” Alsarag said, explaining the recent attention Egypt has received from the media.

Dylan Brugman, freshman political science major from Denver, Colo., said he has always been particularly interested in a popular uprising within a foreign country.

“To hear the opinions of someone who’s lived there is better than hearing it from news channels,” Brugman said.

Jessica Epps, freshman political science and animal science major from Georgetown, said she has always been interested in international relations and that she would enjoy attending the next Arabic Roundtable event.

“I believe it’s good to be aware of how other cultures around us think and work in today’s modern world,” Epps said. “You’re bound to meet more and more different people, so events like this are beneficial to help people understand the lifestyle of different cultures.”

Sponsors of the event plan to host more Arabic Culture Roundtable sessions in the future.