Feb. 4, 2003
GW Lends a Hand to Armenian Universities
By Brian
Krause
Piled in the corner of Edward Cherian’s office is a heap of twisted
cables, keyboards, and monitors; a graveyard of surplus computers that
once served GW faculty and staff but have since been replaced by newer
technologies.
Spared from the scrap heap, these computers are at the first stop on
their journey to a second life on the other side of the world.
Cherian, a professor of business and information technology in the School
of Business and Public Management, has arranged for the donation of
more than 30 of these so-called “old” computers to universities
in the Republic of Armenia. One of the former Soviet republics, Armenia
gained its independence when the Soviet Union broke apart more than
10 years ago and has since struggled with a lack of capital and natural
resources.
“Externally, especially in African and the former Soviet Union
countries, they are in a pretty serious situation and so this type of
philanthropy is probably critical to their survival,” says Executive
Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald R. Lehman.
According to Lehman, under the “Faculty Workstation Initiative,”
one third of the University’s computers are turned over every year,
and at the end of each three-year period faculty members have the option
to buy these machines for a significantly reduced price. Although the
computers are three years old, they are still excellent for word processing
and spreadsheets.
“There is a cycle of renewal here,” says Lehman. “At
some point, however, they really do get to the point where they can
be recycled out of GW, because as far as we’re concerned they have
no monetary value.”
In countries like Armenia, where university educations are rare and
textbooks are a premium, students and schools rely heavily on subsidies
from the government and private donations. The son of two Armenian immigrants,
Cherian knew first hand how valuable these surplus machines would be
to students and started collecting donations, beginning with two of
his own computers, two printers, and a scanner.
“In the beginning I had to go around asking for donations, but
now computers just appear on my doorstep,” says Cherian.
Traveling to Armenia as a Senior Fulbright Scholar to teach a graduate
course at The American University of Armenia, a school that was created
with the help of American professors, Cherian lead Armenian students
in computer lab exercises on the very machines he had helped provide.
“I saw the first batch of computers being used,” Cherian says.
“They were put into computer labs like we have here. I saw the
students using them and it was very rewarding.”
So far 16 computers have been donated to Yerevan State University, the
oldest and largest university in the country, and another set has been
sent to The American University of Armenia. Cherian is currently collecting
computers for a third shipment.
“Students and faculty often ask me what happens to these computers,”
says Cherian. “They have a second life that is put to good use.
What is old to us is new to them and they are so very appreciative of
it. They are not going to waste.”
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
