Forging global citizens is electrifying, says head of NYU Abu Dhabi

I regret the barring of Andrew Ross from the UAE. But to put matters into perspective, Israel also has a problematic record --foreign visitors who are suspected of being critical of the Israeli government have been subjected to lengthy and degrading (strip) searches, deportations and invasion of privacy, such as being compelled to log on to their email or Facebook accounts in front of airport security (who then scan for keywords such as "Arab" or "Palestinian") or being required to leave their laptops behind while they board their flights (giving airport security access to all files). Yet, to my knowledge, the establishment of a branch campus in Israel by the University of Indianapolis has never been questioned. Why? Because we cleave to preconceptions about what self-styled "Western" countries are like and how they can be distinguished from illiberal regimes. In reality, the lines are not so clearly drawn.