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NEWS RELEASE

12-19-02

Contacts:
Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986

MEDIA ADVISORY: FORMER MIDDLE EAST HOSTAGE THOMAS SUTHERLAND TO TOUR ISU CAMPANILE, MAKE BRIEF COMMENTS ON DECEMBER 21

AMES, IOWA -- Former Middle East hostage and Iowa State University alumnus Thomas Sutherland will tour the Iowa State University Campanile at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, on central campus. He will be available for very brief comments following the tour, which ends at 11:15 a.m.

The campanile's bells hold special meaning to Sutherland. Sutherland heard the bells on "Voice of America" and he mentioned them during his first press conference following his release. During his captivity, the campanile bells tolled on nearly every anniversary of his kidnapping.

Sutherland received his M.S. degree in animal science from Iowa State in 1956 and his Ph.D. in 1958. In 1983, he became dean of agricultural and food sciences at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. He was taken hostage by the Islamic Jihad on June 9, 1985. His captivity lasted 6 1/2 years. He was released on Nov. 18, 1991.

Sutherland is the commencement speaker for undergraduate ceremonies on Dec. 21. A graduate excellence award in animal science is named for Sutherland at Iowa State.

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Editors:
If you are planning to attend this event, please let Kevin Brown, (515) 294-8986 or klbrown@iastate.edu, know as soon as possible.