History of IC - Episode 4: 1971 - 1988 ( IC's Darkest Hour )

The International College is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Lebanan and the Middle East and has shaped the history nd the lives of many of the peoples and communities of the region in profound and lasting ways. In this series we will expose the detailed history of IC from its earliest beginnings in 1872. We Hope you will enjoy reading it as we did.

This particular episode highlights IC's most ambitious projects, the Mechref and the Bchamoun Campus that were hacked down in ther prime as a result of ensuing brutality of the Lebanese war. Let this post stand as a testament to the brutality of war and the price that education and civility pays for the deccisions of the misguided and malicious. We only wish that these times do not happen again and that IC remains committed to being a lonely lamppost in the creeping darkness. In memory of those times we have decided to include a large collection of photos, some good and some others very sad. It truly broke our hearts to compile them. Let this post stand as a testament to the brutality of war

Episode 4: 1971 - 1983 - The  Mechref Camous, The Bchamoun Project , and Dark Times

Beirut '1971: IC Opens Mechref Campus. During the inauguration of the campus. IC president Tom Schuller walked around the $6 million dollar, 690,000 sqm complex of arched and arcaded buildings, hailed as the largest and most modern high school in the region. He was in awe. The new campus boasted six classroom buildings, a student center building and one dormitory building for both boys and girls. In addition, there were three green football fields, three asphalted volleyball courts, three basketball courts. “And this is just the beginning,” he thought, “Only phase I.

The campus had to close down in 1975 after it was invavded by militant forces 

Beirut '1982: IC Moves to the Bchamoun Campus: IC president Alton Reynolds after the "invasion" of the Mechref campus set his eyes on another campus: the British Community School in the hills of Bshamoun between 40 and 580 meters above sea level and only 8 kilometers from the city center. The school was already custom designed for elementary school students and easily accessible from Beirut. 

The Bshamoun campus had to close down in 1983 after being bombarded by the Israeli Forces.

Stay Tuned for the next Article in this series 

I Am IC 

This article appears in the Book "I Am IC" authored by Reem Haddad and published in 2019 by Librairie Antoine. This book tells the story of IC from its humble beginnngs in 1872 up to recent times. If you wish to obtain a copy of this book please contact the development office or through Antoine Online