The rexonian october 2014 by King's Academy

T he R exonian

“A l l t h e n e w s t h e y le t u s p r i nt ”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014

Special Round Square Edition

VOL. VIII . . № 1

ROUND SQUARE COMES TO JORDAN King’s Academy Prepares to Host International Conference By AHMED KHALAYLEH

As King’s Academy students pack their bags for the Eid break, students around the world pack theirs in preparation for the 2014 Round Square International Conference. Starting October 7, two years of preparation will finally pay off as King’s Academy opens its gates to hundreds of students and teachers from over 50 schools all across the globe. In October of 2013, the King’s Academy delegation, alongside The Sanskar Valley School, received the conference banner during the closing ceremony of the International Conference in Florida. This year, a delegation makes its way to the first half of the conference in Bhopal, India, to receive the banner and bring it back SALAMU ALAIKUM Handmade ceramic carafes and mugs will replace plastic water bottles for 600 RSIC participants. to Jordan in time for the opening ceremony of the second half of the conference. For the past two years, students have been stepping up to take on varMr. Moamer, the brothers decided On Sunday, September 1, a warm ious positions in this upcoming conBy HYUN TAEK LIM to contact the owner. The owner and and sunny day, as Messrs. Omer and ference, from leading barazzas and MADABA — Earlier this year, the brothers were happy and satis- Moamer were beginning a new year running activities to welcoming and Mr. Omer was looking for invest- fied with the negotiation, and by the at King’s Academy, their storefront, thanking guest speakers, all while ment opportunities when one day he end of the week a contract had been too, opened its doors to customers: focusing on building the conferfound a listing online, advertising a signed with the lawyer for the Greek the sign said Seven Brothers. ence’s theme of Peace. The barazza food retail space for lease in Mada- Orthodox Church of St. George in Seven Brothers, an ice cream shop discussions, for which students have ba. After a deep conversation with Madaba, the owner of the building. and café founded and managed by the trained and practiced, will revolve Khalaylehs, serves nine flavors of ice around this concept of peace. The cream, which they rotate periodical- guest speakers will come from multily in order to determine demand and ple areas within the region, including answer the question, ‘Which flavor is Afghanistan, Palestine, and Syria, to more popular?’ Milkshakes are also explore this topic. The service projavailable in each ice cream flavor, ects will take the delegates to multo gauge popularity. In order to keep tiple nearby locales, and will range the store open while he works at his from Habitat for Humanity builds to day job in the Admissions Office at helping at orphanages to cleaning up King’s Academy, Mr. Omer employs neighborhoods. Alongside these sera staff of one in the café right now: vice projects, there is, of course, the a local man named Mahdi who was adventure aspect of the conference, recommended to Mr. Omer by an in which delegates will be taken to employee of King’s Academy when Petra, Shobak Castle, and other key a ‘help wanted’ ad did not produce sites in Jordan. With the conference just around Mr. Omer Khalayleh in front of Seven Brothers, the ice cream shop any results. Mr. Omer happily de-

Brothers Khalayleh Open Ice Cream Shop in Madaba

he opened last month in Madaba with his brother Mr. Moamer. FOOD & DINING A8-9

WORLD A3

Daniel Leal on Ahmad Nabhani’s Khaliji Cuisine A9

R ami Rustom on the Scottish Referendum

Tarek Hamzah’s Top Five Restaurants A9

SCIENCE A11 Genotoxins in A Bottle? Cosmetics may contain carcinogenic compounds

Continued on page A8

Continued on page A7

THE REXONIAN OPINION OCTOBER 2, 2014

The Rexonian amelia kenna, Executive Editor

When Universities Fail to Act By AMELIA KENNA

daniel leal, Managing Editor xu zhaoying, Campus Editor seung hee yang, Sports Editor suhail nahhas, Science Editor sophia sarmadi, Arts & Culture Editor imad-aldin fadil, Deputy Managing Editor

In recent months, universities across the United States have come into the spotlight for their collective failure to address rampant cases of on-campus sexual assault. What’s most shocking about these cases is that the institutions with the most prestigious international reputations are also the ones failing to take a strong stance Assistant Managing Editors against sexual assault. When one thinks of the punishments associated sheila baber omar sindi tareg hamzah rand al-harahsheh with rape, 10 or more years in prison is usually at the top of the list. But for students at Brown sophia jaber dima al maaytah University, the story is very different. hyun taek lim Lena Sclove, a student at Brown, claims she was Contributing Writers Publishers strangled and raped by another student in her first semester at the university. After reporting the sunwoo kim mr. james magagna incident the Office of Student Life, Sclove went ahmad freihat ms. diane foster through three months of hearings concerning ahmed khalayleh the incident. Over eight months after Sclove was rami rustom raped, Brown University administrators finally dina kuttab agreed on a punishment for the student Sclove jianing zhao identified as her rapist: a one-year suspension. mohammad abu hawash Yes, my friends. This is currently the punishment that rape merits. You physically and emotionally violate another human being, and what happens? You are asked to leave school for a year. But after the year has passed, you’ll be allowed to The Rex is not extinct return to the life you had. Nothing at all changes. Dearest Rexonian readers, In fact, you might even take classes with the stuFor the majority of students at King’s dent you raped. The incredible bureaucratic red tape and lack of Academy, witnessing the publication of an attention given by the administration to Sclove’s issue of The Rexonian is a semi-mythical affair. attack has resulted an outpour of support for We assure you, however, that this will not be Sclove. Her mishandled case has caught the attenthe case this year. The Rexonian is stepping tion of media outlets outside of the Brown. And

To our readers:

out of its book of imaginary creatures and onto the sidewalks of King’s Academy. This issue is our declaration that The Rexonian does in fact exist, and will continue to do so for the duration of the year (and the foreseeable future). To all our guests and visitors from Round Square: The Rexonian welcomes you to Jordan and to King’s Academy. In this issue, we hope to elucidate the goals of this year’s conference. Hosting the Round Square conference is a massive achievement for King’s Academy, Jordan, and the Middle East as a whole. It is our greatest hope that our Round Square brethren will be able to return to their homes with a new image of the Middle East. The Rexonian formally welcomes you to a new age of the newspaper at King’s Academy. Bringing you all the news they let us print, The Editorial Board Corrections, Op-Ed submissions, and letters to the Editor may be addressed to: rexonian@kingacademy.edu.jo

The Opinion page publishes individual authors and their own views, which do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial policy of The Rexonian.

with it, more individuals are speaking out about their experiences regarding the mishandling of sexual assault cases. Two states over in New York, Columbia University is experiencing a similar situation. When you hear the name Columbia University, you don’t instantly think of an institution that neglects to address the rape of one of its students. But that’s only until you hear the story of Emma Sulkowicz, a Columbia senior who, in her sophomore year, was raped by a fellow student. After suffering in silence, Sulkowicz filed a complaint with her university. In spite of being one of three complaints filed against the same student, Sulkowicz’s case was dropped and her alleged rapist was found “not responsible for his actions.” In response, Sulkowicz has decided to carry a mattress everywhere she goes on campus until her alleged rapist is asked to leave the University. Sulkowicz is currently using this project, which she calls “Carry That Weight,” to raise awareness for her situation. For her project, Sulkowicz does not allow herself to ask for help in carrying the mattress. (She does, however, accept assistance when others offer it.) This mishandling of sexual assault cases in American universities is just a small part of the international problem. But as a greater number of media outlets pick up on these cases, one can only hope that universities will change the ways in which they address sexual violence. To quote Lena Sclove, universities must “realize rape is a crime, not a college prank.”

To Bomb Is to Right a Wrong By RAMI RUSTOM

It’s the right time for optimism. Why? Because for the first time in three years, something positive has been done in the Middle East. The United States has finally overcome its red line scandal, and made the right decision concerning the spread of ISIS, and the atrocities of the Assad regime. On September 18th, the U.S. Congress agreed to arm and train Syrian rebels, and has since conducted airstrikes in Syria and Iraq in cooperation with numerous countries. Airstrikes are a good start, but they won’t suffice. The Assad regime and ISIS can only be uprooted by a patient, relentless, and organized international effort that builds off the U.S. initiative. The international community has begun to right its wrong of staying on the sidelines and counting death tolls since 2011. Opponents of this idea fear one thing: a power vacuum. The emergence of a power vacuum once military operations are done is reminiscent of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the chaos in Iraq. Can you guarantee that rebels being armed and trained with American weapons and expertise will not radicalize, they ask, and pose a greater threat than ISIS? A valid concern, but too naïve.

We sometimes fail to understand that the Syrian Civil War is as tiring for the rebels fighting as it is for us spectators. The Free Syrian Army deteriorated in 2013 because of meagre support, as opposed to the radicals who, funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, went on fighting. Money lures to the dark side, and thus extremist ranks have grown in number and expertise. Meanwhile, moderate rebels have returned home, waiting for ammunition. Once moderates receive training and arms, their forces will grow in number and strength, and radicalism will be less incentivized. Moderates have also seen so many atrocities that to revert to the very same ISIS brutes and Assad forces they were trying to eradicate seems implausible. In addition, the international community will fill the vacuum with the Syrian government in exile, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, as the political leadership. To support Syrian rebels and bomb ISIS is more than to right a wrong: it’s the only right thing to do. Whatever happens can’t be worse than the Assad regime or ISIS; that’s why we should be optimistic.

THE REXONIAN WORLD OCTOBER 2, 2014

Scottish Independence Referendum Fails: Decisions, Implications, and Chocolate Ice Cream By RAMI RUSTOM

The Scottish referendum is like ice-cream—but I’ll get to that later. For the past year, one of the United Kingdom’s essential organs has been threatening to break off and leave the body disheveled and weak. Such threats were crushed two weeks ago when Scotland voted ‘no’ to independence, but it is instructive to imagine what might have been: the UK’s political strength curtailed, its seat on the United Nations Security Council revoked, its economy shattered—not to mention its citizens’ identities attacked. So how did this start, anyway? After years of campaigning for Scottish independence, Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister and head of the Scottish National Party, called for a referendum in September 2014 deciding the future of Scotland. For the past year, the United Kingdom has been engulfed in heated debate about the issue of independence: unionists advocated a United Kingdom, and nationalists campaigned for an in-

NEWS ANALYSIS dependent Scotland. On September 18th, Scotland voted 55% to 45% to preserve the 307-year-old Act of Union. Why did the Scottish people vote this way, and what does it mean—“so what?” Independence, as the nationalists argued, would have meant several things for Scotland’s economic future. Their argument always began with two words: oil and gas. In 2013, Scotland’s export of these resources was estimated at £30.3 billion. Most of the revenue goes to companies extracting the oil and gas, but the SNP estimated that 91% of appertaining tax revenues could be claimed by Scotland’s government. This, as well as the export of whisky and financial services, could provide an independent Scotland with a sustainable economy. The next phrase that kept cropping up was “EU membership.” Scotland could have solved its currency problem by adopting the euro, and join-

ing the Eurozone would stabilize the economy over the long-run. Finally, the SNP tried to appeal to the Scots’ sense of identity. “Why succumb to the UK with our money and our livelihoods?” they argued. “We will be stronger as a sovereign nation, with our own economy, policies, and identity.” Why did the Scottish people reject this? Apparently, union was more attractive: first, unionists never needed to come up with futuristic revenue calculations; they just asked people to look around. The mention of independence scared many Scottish companies into considering relocation from Edinburgh to London. According to the Scottish Chamber of Commerce, 10% of Scottish firms considered leaving Scotland, and 8% outlined definite plans. Even scotch whisky production, argued the Scottish Whisky Association, would have been disturbed by unstable taxes in the case of independence. As for oil and gas, the unionists argued that it was only a matter of time: oil and gas reserves in the North Sea are expected to last until 2050, and revenue

King’s Students Campaign for Lost Schoolgirls By DINA KUTTAB

Last April, the media was on fire with the news of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls, who were kidnapped by the terrorist organization Boko Haram because of their pursuit of education. The slogan ‘Bring Back our Girls’ lit up social media, with celebrities and politicians showing their support by holding signs with this message. In spite of this trend, it has been five months and the girls have still not returned. While the media storm has died down, King’s Academy students have been hard at work trying to raise awareness for this problem. Last May, several angry and concerned students approached Mr. Daniel Alter with the idea of doing something to show their support. After several meetings, they decided to create a photo campaign, with each student holding a sign portraying a message for the people of Jordan, the West, Nigerian leaders, Boko Haram, and even to the girls themselves. According to Leen Al Zu’bi ’17, “it wasn’t only a way to show our

support and understand the issue. We were also trying to motivate others to do so.” The campaign was a learning experience for everyone involved, as the students worked together to decide on their message, audience, medium and ultimate goal. Almost everyone agreed that they wanted to raise awareness about this issue, not only to help the girls, but to show the world that the actions of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups are not representative of Islam. In the words of Bushra Al So’ub ’17, “Boko Haram claims to be a group of ‘Islamist men.’ The way they claim they are Muslims is ironic because Islam stands for the complete opposite of what they do.” The students published their campaign on the tumblr page letsbringbackourgirls.tumblr.com, but hoped to further expand their reach. Thus far, their hard work has been featured in both The Jordan Times and major Nigerian newspaper The Daily Trust. As their project gains media attention, the students hope to relight the fire of devotion for this cause. In

the words of a Nigerian student at King’s, “it means so much to know that people around the world care.” Dina Kuttab worked on this campaign with classmates Marah Ajeilat, Bushra Al-Sou’b, Katherine Jonsson, Feryal Saddedin, Leen AlZu’bi, Zein Khashman, Tayma Ali, Abdallah Ajeilat, Ruiqi Wen, Sara Awad, and Jack Blacklaw, with help from Mr. Daniel Alter and Ms. Tessa Fairbairn. Readers can find their campaign and more photographs at letsbringbackourgirls.tumblr.com

is already decreasing at staggering rates, from £11.5 billion in 2008-09 to a meagre £5.5 billion in 2012-13. The unionist coup de grâce, however, was currency. The simple thought of instability in the currency post-independence scared off private investors in Scotland, who began pulling their money out of the country. The unionists used this fear to entice support for the financial stability of the Union. In the end, the Scottish chose the Union: what does this say about them? Scottish voters value tangible financial results. They prefer concrete facts and figures, instead of binding their future, as a nation, to abstract hopes and estimations. Independence was blurred—at least in the short term—with fears of fluctuation in investments, trouble with taxes, and economic volatility. Scotland chose financial stability. “No” also reflects Scotland’s undying loyalty to, and appreciation for, unity. United, the UK is a pivotal player in the international community, a permanent influence in the United Nations, and a solid and robust economy. Divided, the Kingdom would suffer economic bedlam, and detrimental fluctuations in the political arena. The final verdict of the ballot box: the identity and individuality of Scotland do not matter as much as the unity and firmness of the United Kingdom. Now for the final question: how does all this relate to chocolate ice cream? The Scottish people were faced with a typical dilemma—choosing between two equally viable, and potentially detrimental options: chocolate or vanilla ice cream. What we should appreciate here, however, is not the savory taste of either option. Instead, it’s having the freedom of choice. The Scottish referendum embodies democracy at its finest. The nation’s future was not decided by armed revolutionaries, tyrannous colonels, or foreign intervention, but by the will of the people. In times characterized by the vicious repression of this essential freedom—don’t search too far—the Scottish referendum reminds us to appreciate the unequivocal justice of democracy, and rule by the people. Regardless of the consequences of September 18th, the Scottish referendum is an achievement in itself. In the end, it’s always either chocolate or vanilla ice cream: what really matters is the freedom to choose.

THE REXONIAN CAMPUS OCTOBER 2, 2014

Breaking Down Stereotypes By XU ZHAOYING

How ironic was it that, as I sat down to write this article, the second I typed the words Arab Culture the time in the right-hand corner of my computer screen jumped to 9:11pm? It is as if this date, September 11th, is intertwined with the word Arab and with this region so deeply that it is even deliberately programmed into my laptop. While I personally have no intention of looking at the Arab region through biased eyes, my laptop seemed to have turned itself into a racist figure. The next second I realized that it hasn’t “turned” itself into a racist. No one intentionally becomes a racist— after all, who doesn’t want to understand others and be understood at the same time? It is freedom of speech that makes stereotypes—opinions expressed with no malicious intent. Knowing that King’s Academy will soon be flooded with outside opinions and preconceived ideas of the Arab world during the Round Square conference, I present here a list of five stereotypes of the Arab world and possible responses to each: All Arab Women Wear The Hijab Personally, this is the comment that I received most from my non-Middle Eastern friends, many of whom even suspected that I had been forced to wear “that thing.” A selfie easily cleared the suspicion, but the stereotype itself wasn’t broken. The negative connotation of this stereotype, as I sensed, is not centered around the generalization but rather on the word Hijab. The word here seems to be understood as a symbol of oppression. Instead of trying to prove that not all Arab girls wear the Hijab, it’s more effective to first eliminate such a distorted interpretation of Muslim culture—that the Hijab is a chain to woman’s mind, rather than form of female empowerment. An explanation of the Hijab can be an interesting icebreaker in explaining Islam to visitors who know little about the religion. All Arabs are rich. Oil deposits cover the land of the Middle East and make everyone millionaires. One friend from China never bothered to learn anything more about Jordan as soon as she heard the word ‘Arab.’ Every morning I wake up and receive a message from her saying, “How’s Dubai going? See you around selling oil!” Or from another friend who asks, “When are

you buying me diamonds?” as I try to explain that there’s barely any oil in Jordan. One response that stopped these mindless gabbles was, “How can you assume that every Arab drives a Mercedes–Benz yet also rides a camel and carries bombs?” The portrayals of all Arabs being either oil sheikhs or street bombers contradict each other, which is an irony within the stereotyping itself that is worth noting. “All Arabs Are Terrorists”— thus said King’s Academy students in the last Florida Round Square conference, to the shock of the other participants. In this upcoming conference, it should be the goal of all participants to further dispel this stereotype. We must teach the world that the mother tongue of the Middle East pronounces the word salaam far more often than it does the word bomb. All Muslims Are Arabs One straightforward fact that breaks this stereotype: the country with the largest Muslim population is—not Saudi Arabia, not Syria, not Iraq—but Indonesia, which, believe it or not, is not an Arab nation. The Middle East = The Arab Wo r l d This is the most common because many people can’t tell the difference. A friend of mine once sent me a critical reading passage on Arab culture, in which the first question asked the reader summarize its content. One of the possible answers was: “A) The passage discusses the general development of Middle Eastern culture.” And my friend said, “Everyone who reads this question instantaneously chooses A to be the correct answer. Everyone.” But it’s wrong. The separation between a geographic concept (the Middle East) and an ethnic concept (Arab identity) is so blurred that, when hearing the phrase “Middle Eastern conflict,” people’s minds automatically think of “Arab conflict,” disregarding ethnic groups besides Arab living on the same land. Jews live in this region, but they’re not Arab? The more disconcerting part is that this stereotype has become so subconscious that it is rooted inside people’s state of mind as a fact more than an opinion. To eradicate it, one must make the effort to actually sit down and look at the entire structure and history of the region.

Student Clubs Spotlight

King’s Academy Key Club Are you interested in any kind of community service? If so, you might be interested in Key Club, since it does just that. This club aims to do community service of every kind, with students planning every part of the project in any way they wish. If you have a great idea, all the resources and the 50 members of the club are there to help make it work! Internationally, Key Club is part of the world’s largest student-led community service initiative, with more than 5000 clubs and 300,000 students involved; KA Key Club became the first one in the Middle East region when it was initiated last year. The club is currently doing monthly projects with the local Al Aqsa Orphanage, and the Maliki-SCM Children’s Center for Syrian children. On September 27th, forty kids from orphanage and the children’s center were brought to campus for the fifth time for a session of soccer, music, arts, and water rockets. The Palestinian refugee camp in Ruwwad is the next destination for Key Club, but many other projects are also being planned, including a charity fashion show and food festivals! If you are interested in completely student-led community service, join them by emailing keyclub@kingsacademy.edu.jo. Model United Nations The Model United Nations Club is one of the largest and longest-lasting clubs in King’s Academy. MUN strives to replicate the discussion and debate in the forums of the United Nations and allow students to discuss global issues in a formal setting. Having been initiated in 2009, the King’s Academy MUN Club, which meets every major co-curricu-

lar period, engages in mock debates, research, and delegate training to prepare for major MUN conferences happening in around the region. On the weekend of the 25th of September, twenty students from King’s represented the school as delegates in the local New English School MUN (NESMUN), with several delegates receiving awards during the conference. King’s will be participating in various international and local conferences in the region this year, in addition to holding KAMUN, one of the largest conferences in Jordan. Another integral part of the MUN program is the Jordanian Model Parliament, which takes part in debate in Arabic on topics relevant to Jordan and the Middle Eastern region. This initiative aims to bring formal Arabic debate to all students around Jordan from both private and public schools. If you are interested in world issues or just debating in general, join the MUN co-curricular program! Evening Debate Debate is intellectual combat. It’s organized arguing. A formalized form of discussion, debate is one of the most intense and exciting activities offered at King’s. Having begun last year, Evening Debate Club is for people who simply enjoy debating and public speaking. The club meets every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30, and hosts debates in various formats, with a faculty member deliberating. We discuss topics ranging from school policies to current events, from religion to drones. There’s no lectures about debate tactics or rules, you just arrive and begin debating! If you enjoy debating but can’t find time during the day, be on the lookout for one of our announcements during school meeting.

Members of the newly-founded King’s Academy Key Club with local children.

THE REXONIAN CAMPUS OCTOBER 2, 2014 Campus Voices

Equal Rights for All

Girls’ Soccer Rebounds vs. ABS Brotherhood of

The Travelling Cactus

By SOPHIE JABER

Feminism, contrary to popular belief, is actually just a movement trying to bring about equality between women and men. It’s that simple. To answer your questions: no, you do not have to be a lesbian or hippie to be a feminist. You just have to believe in the fundamental value of equality. You don’t have to go around attacking men for being men. You just have to believe in basic human rights—in things like education, suffrage, and equal pay. Feminism is about having equality between women and men. It’s about ending blame against victims of rape and sexual assault. Its main goals are to end sexism and misogyny in the world. Women shouldn’t have to endure harassment because “boys will be boys.” Stop using this phrase! One’s gender is not an excuse for sexual assault and misogyny. The use of the phrase ‘boys will be boys’ is a blatant excuse for sexism—nothing less. It’s the equivalent of using the phrase “terrorists will be terrorists” in response to the mass destruction of human life.

You don’t have to go around attacking men for being men. You just have to believe in basic human rights— in things like education, suffrage, and equal pay. While one typically associates the antifeminist movement with men, there is actually a large group of women who don’t believe in feminism. Such women claim that “they don’t need feminism” because they have never experienced oppression, been sexually assaulted, or been subject to any form of gender inequality. To these women, I can only say the following: just because you’ve led a life of privilege and equal treatment does not mean that every woman on the planet has. Just because you’ve never been sexually assaulted doesn’t mean that no woman has been sexually assaulted. Consider that beyond your world exist millions of women very unlike yourself, who haven’t been subject to the same world of freedom as you. The next time you think the world doesn’t need feminism, take a moment to reconsider your thoughts. Remove the privilege helmet from your head and remember that women’s rights are still global issues that need to be addressed.

By AHMAD FREIHAT

Jeeda Naber ’17 prepares to take a free kick for the Lions’ girls varsity soccer team against Amman Baccalaureate School in a 1-0 loss. By SEUNG HEE YANG and AMELIA KENNA

The King’s Academy girls’ varsity soccer team had a rough start to their season on September 17th in their game against ABS. The final score was 0:1, resulting from a loose defensive line in the final 10 minutes. But in spite of this loss, there were some close calls in the game. Jeeda Naber ’17, fired two free kicks, one sailing narrowly over the bar, and one being saved by the ABS goalkeeper. After ABS scored, the Lions increased their shots on goal. During the final few minutes, Aziza Hamidi ’16 dribbled through three players, but was tripped by the last standing defender. Hamidi, who has been playing soccer with King’s since her freshman year, is expected to play a pivotal role in the success of the team this year. Considering the massive player turnover, the King’s team performed rather well. The team tried new combinational plays with both new and old players. Through experimental plays, the team was able to discover new talent. The team’s spirits remained high in spite of the loss.

Less than a week later, the King’s girls played ABS again, defeating them 4:1. Senior Seung Hee Yang ’15, scored a goal five minutes after the game began. King’s maintained strong offensive plays for the remainder of the game: Naber and Hamidi added to Yang’s goal, scoring twice and once, respectively. This incredible turnaround in score reflects just how well the 2014-2015 Varsity Girls team is playing. Coach Julianne commented that “there will be no drama with this team.” While the players of this year’s team haven’t played together as long as other teams, each practice and game is proving to be a learning experience. With small but advancing steps, the team will gear up for big tournaments at the end of the year. The King’s girls’ varsity soccer team is known for its success throughout the region. Last year, the team defended its Middle East Triangle Sports (METS) championship title, and won all their games except for a match against the Jordanian National Team. In spite of its impressive track record, the team is most known for its high spirits. And with its unique resilience, the King’s girls’ varsity soccer team hopes to continue its streak of successes on the field.

In video games you are given rewards for your successes. While these rewards don’t mean much, they are a source of pride. In Nihal, a similar concept exists: the Nihal Cactus. This is a simple cactus that has absolutely no value. But it is a reward. And over time, it has become a tradition in Nihal. During dorm meeting each week, the wielder of the Nihal Cactus presents the now-dead plant to a different student as a reward for his good conduct within the dorm. For one week, everyone who comes into the honoree’s room immediately recognizes the privilege of caring for the cactus. In spite of

illustration by pengfei hu

the jokes, everyone understands the significance of the cactus. The Nihal cactus represents not only rebels who can stick it to the man, but also respectable residents of the dorm. The tradition of the Nihal Cactus continues because it embodies the spirits within Nihal. This cactus survives, not with water, for it gets none, but with friendship and with acts of kindness. It survives because of people’s need for recognition of their actions. It survives because it honors the Nihal ideal of brotherhood.

THE REXONIAN ROUND SQUARE OCTOBER 2, 2014

Bearers of Peace

The Fruits of Our Labor

By JIANING ZHAO

By MOHAMMAD ABU HAWASH

Olive trees are cherished; deeply rooted as they are in Arab land where conflicts persist alongside the arid climate, their nature of kindness and fortitude refuses to submit to the desert of stereotypes. As the future leaders of this region, we seek to disseminate the greenness of peace. With an olive tree logo, the upcoming Round Square International Conference strives to spread its theme “Al Salamu Alaikum” (Peace Be With You). Round Square is a world-wide association that aims to cultivate students’ social responsibility and virtues beyond academics through programs of community service, leadership, exchange and adventure. As the first Arab school to become a member of the Round Square organization and the first school in this region to hold an international conference, King’s Academy is extremely privileged to represent its unique identity of both internationalism and the Arab world. When I interviewed the Round Square office about what it feels like to organize this huge conference, Ms. Gertrude answered with great insight: “I feel a sense of oneness. Each individual in the school is handling one piece of this huge puzzle with an understanding of the whole picture. The Round Square Office is only one of the many pieces of the mother puzzle built by the school.” The puzzle metaphor is brilliant not only for the local tradition of mosaics (a sort of urform of the puzzle), but also because the abstract and mysterious idea of Round Square becomes clear when we see it as an identity of our school, its missions as our own responsibilities, and ourselves as little pieces of the puzzle that can make magnificent images when we work together to present ourselves, the school and the region with responsibility and hospitability. “Everyone has his or her own roles in the Conference.” Ms. Tessa, the head of our Round

Square office concluded. The Conference certainly serves as a peace-maker to bring together people of different beliefs and backgrounds. And—to be honest—even if internationalism or democracy discussions don’t appeal to you as much as they should, you will definitely enjoy the performances, interactions, and excursions to Petra, Shobak Castle, Dead Sea, Wadi Rum. Prepare to be awestruck by the extraordinary natural beauty of Jordan, even if you have been to these places many times. Along the whole journey, our goal is to build connections: we connect with each other by making new friends; we connect with the community by

illustration by jianing zhao

giving back our service; we connect with the region by deepening our understanding of the Arab world and of the theme “Peace” through the various interpretations of our twenty-six guest speakers who will come share their experiences and insights, which we will discuss in Barazza groups. We also connect with the world by broadening our knowledge about various cultures and learning to celebrate our differences. Last but not least, as we may confront issues that are problematic, not only in this conference but also in our lives regarding our identities, it is necessary to always remember and cherish olive trees, the symbol of peace, strength, and understanding. We are puzzle pieces to make a beautiful mosaic. We are bearers of olive branches that reach out and grow stronger individually and collectively with the spirit of the school.

The Round Square International Conference has finally come to Jordan, and it is King’s Academy’s turn to shine. Next week, our school will host the largest conference in its history. With 490 participating students and another 100 adults, this conference will also be the biggest event that a Jordanian school has hosted on its own. Three years ago, in the spirit of Jordanian hospitality, King’s Academy stepped up to the challenge. Ever since, students have been hard at work to turn this event into a reality. Round Square is a student-led organization founded by Kurt Hahn, a German educator The organization encourages students to grow outside of the classroom environment. This is why it sponsors dozens of international and domestic community service projects annually. We continuously hear of the great things that this organization has made possible, such as the building of homes, water tanks, community centers, schools and other essential facilities for less fortunate communities around the world. But what is truly impressive about these achievements is that they embody the wills of high school students just like us. Such students’ energy and commitment are what make this possible. Every day, Round Square proves to the world that young people have the power to make changes, and can take the responsibility to lead the world. The annual Round Square International Conference brings together pioneering students from all over the world to engage in many activities, perhaps the most important of which are the Barraza group discussions. The discussion groups cover a wide range of topics, including the environment, war, poverty, and other major issues facing the world. The participants also get the opportunity to learn more about the culture and heritage of the host country by visiting its historic, cultural, and urban centers, thus forming a better understanding of the world around them and getting the chance to build bridges with other students around the world. Once every 50 years, a Round Square member school will get the chance to host such a conference. This year, it is our turn. King’s Academy earned the right to host the 2014 Round Square Interna-

tional conference in 2012. Since then, the conference has become enormously important to our students. In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, regions all around Jordan have plunged into chaos. At the current moment, it doesn’t appear that things are going to improve. Unfortunately, these circumstances have overshadowed the other trend that exists in the Middle East—the trend of acceptance and peace in which we all believe. As students at King’s, we see Round Square 2014 as our golden chance to showcase what the Middle East could— and should—be like. In planning the conference, we’ve faced numerous challenges, the first of which was convincing other schools that Jordan was an appropriate host country for the conference. It was shocking to see how many people believed the stereotypes surrounding our region. But when 150 students visited Jordan for the 2012 regional conference, our hopes were raised and the misconceptions surrounding the region were swiftly erased. Following the conference, our friends returned to their home countries, looking forward to tell their friends and families the truth about Jordan. At the same time, the difficulty of making 150 students feel comfortable was a wakeup call for us to increase our efforts. With more than double the number of students attending the conference in 2014, we faced double the challenges. The second challenge was accommodation. At the conference, King’s Academy aims to showcase Jordan’s exceptional hospitality. It was finally decided that the every single conference participant would be housed in a dorm room. With that, King’s Academy’s students were given yet another responsibility. Mrs. Tessa commented on this, saying that “placing those young men and women in one campus will bring them closer to each other. It will lead to memorable conversations and help in creating bonds.” But there were many other issues that had to be addressed. The students took part in organizing transport and entertainment, inviting guest speakers, creating a schedule, deciding trips, and choosing service projects. After three years of planning, the start of our preparations feels like it was just a week ago. And two weeks from now, everyone will leave the conference with new friends, great memories, and a better understanding of the Arab world.

THE REXONIAN ROUND SQUARE OCTOBER 2, 2014

Cairns

Round Square International Conference Approaches the corner, students have been busy during the major and minor co-curriculars, ensuring that every aspect of the conference has been prepared. From organizing service projects and entertainment to preparing speeches and announcements, the students have shown nothing but hard work and dedication, and rightfully so. King’s Academy’s Director of the Round Square Program, Tessa Fairbairn, stressed the importance of this

conference multiple times during steering committee meetings, reminding them that such an event may not occur in this region for another 50 years. Holding the Round Square International Conference here in Jordan is indeed a crucial event in the peace process. The aim of this rare event is to reshape the misperceptions of the region created by today’s mainstream media. With the conference only a week away, the students must now make that goal a reality.

schools’ programmes. Up to 1991 membership in RS was at a personal level but things changed at the Doon School RS conference and membership became school based and, from this point on, the organisation flourished. Today RS has 143 schools in the organisation, which stretches the length and breadth of the world. Given the nature of its educational philosophy, most of the schools are from the private sector and RS has often been criticised as being elitist. However, the philosophy is for all levels of the social strata and RS is actively looking to both attract and accept schools from the national state sector. To get back to the international RS conference: it is hosted every year by one or two schools from one of the five regions on a rotating basis and, as already illustrated, world events can have a major impact on such a gathering. The five regions, at present, are Europe, Africa, the Americas, Australasia, and the Gulf and South Asia. There is, both throughout the regions and the year, a great deal of activity organised by member schools but the one focal event which all strive to attend is the Round Square International Conference. The fact that the school, hosting the conference on behalf of RS itself, is often in a most interesting part of the world provides only the icing on the cake as far as the attraction of the conference itself for the members. The cake relates to the gathering of family, when staff reps can actually meet up and network on a whole spectrum of things that enhance the educational programmes and experiences schools offer both students and staff. However, more importantly, it gives students from widely differing cultures, nations, societies, social backgrounds and languages a chance to meet, interact and learn about—and from—each other. As such, the IRSC is a treasured moment in schools’ calendars and those schools who are unable to attend for valid reasons feel there is a

void, which simply cannot be filled. Some do feel that split conferences, while better than none, do not provide the same experience, especially at the adult level, but for the students it does work, so perhaps one should not worry too much. For outsiders and those attending for the first time, there is a definite air of expectation and unfettered joy to be felt as they witness, in many cases, longstanding colleagues, from schools across the world, welcoming each other and catching up after varying amounts of time not seeing each other. Students are initially a bit coy but such barriers soon break down and, at the closing of the conference, they could have been friends since time immemorial, if the so-called pains and tears of impending departure and separation are anything to go by. Cairns? Some will by now have worked out that this is an anagram for an IRSC: an International Round Square Conference—and I hope one now has a better idea how much of a way guide, like a cairn on the hill, it is for the organisation and its philosophy. In just the same way that a cairn keeps indicating that one is still on course so also does the international conference. Attending one and seeing its effect on all who attend—and this applies equally for staff as for students—one realises that we are still on track regarding education and it can also provide an indicator for the minor tweaks and course corrections that are constantly required. Looking ahead cairns show the path in front over a varying amount of ground, depending on the terrain profile. Lose the cairns and one loses the overall direction and its sense. This could, perhaps, be said of RS for if it were to lose its own Cairns, it could possibly lose the way as well. One of the obligations of membership is attendance at the global conference and, in just the same way that family members need to gather from time to time, so does the RS family.

From Front Page

By MR. TONY HYDE

ith a bit of lateral thinking the title can be interpreted in a number of ways regarding the experience that King’s has been going through. Not only has it been a journey for all at King’s, regarding the conference preparation and organisation, but it has also been one for those are travelling from all parts on this third rock from the sun to be here for the event. In some ways it mirrors what delegations went through, way back in 2001, just after the events of 9/11, when the conference was held at St. Phillips College in Alice Springs, Australia. I distinctly remember, as I entered one of the boarding houses of Aiglon College in Switzerland, one of my delegation rushing out of the house, shouting at me: “I am not getting on another plane in my whole life!” I had no idea what had spooked him to make such a proclamation and he realised that I had no idea at all what had happened. He told me that a plane had just flown into one of the Twin Towers in downtown New York and that the building was on fire. “It’s on the tele.” So I duly found a TV and watched with horror and incredulity, along with ever growing numbers as the news spread, and witnessed the live event of the second plane crashing into the second tower. Parallel to this, in Australia, the carrier Ansett was fast disappearing down financial tubes and with absolutely no possibility of a phoenix–like resurrection from its financial problems. This latter event had nothing to do with what had happened in New York but was to have a major impact on travel in OZ for delegations going to the conference. What can be said, however, was that neither event deterred in any way, whatsoever, the resolve of the RS world to get to its annual conference. Present world events have not made the preparations and attendance at the conference, hosted by King’s Academy, straightforward to manage either by either the hosts or incoming delegations. We were lucky, since all the Aiglon flights were with Qantas, so we arrived in Centralia on schedule along with a handful of other fortunate schools. As after 9/11 airline security had never been so good, all schools arrived safely at some point on the periphery of the country, while those that had booked on Ansett were stranded there, but not for long. The antipodean members of the RS family rolled into action. Skinny Dogs were ordered and, for some, the 48 hour journey, from places like Mel-

bourne, started—destination: Alice in Centralia. The buses stopped for food, fuel, comfort stops and driver changes but ploughed on, hour after hour, further and further into the outPERSONAL HISTORY

back beyond the black stump. Within two days of the official start, the RS family had gathered and, in so doing, proved yet again its capacity to take on Adventure and win through. This episode reflects the place that the annual gathering of RS members has in the life of the school year. In just the same way that family members endeavour to meet up with each

“It is the sin of the soul to force young people into opinions —indoctrination is of the devil— but it is culpable neglect not to impel young people into experiences” kurt hahn

other so does RS and its member schools. When the first conference took place in 1967 at Gordonstoun and the oxymoronic name of one of the school’s buildings was adopted as the name of this headmaster’s club, few could have envisaged its future development. Jocelin Winthrop Young is a central figure in this respect. He was one of Kurt Hahn’s first students at Gordonstoun. He was head master at Anavrita in Athens, where the present Round Square President, hm King Constantine of the Hellenes, was a pupil, and in 1954 he was instrumental in organising a major service project to the island of Cephalonia to help after a major earthquake had devastated the region. He was head master of Salem and proposed in 1966, along with six other like-minded head teachers, to form an association of schools, which had Kurt Hahn’s educational ideas as the basis of their

THE REXONIAN FOOD & DINING OCTOBER 2, 2014

Seven Cones for Seven Brothers From Front Page cided to hire Mahdi: “I want to help the local people. A lot of people are hiring Syrian people because their labor costs are cheaper than the locals. I wish I could help them,” said the proprietor. The café hopes to support more local workers and artisans in the near future, such as a baker and a barista, as they expand their offerings to include coffee, tea, and desserts: Mr. Omer has already made arrangements with a local woman who will supply the café with homemade pastries. Also, King’s Academy students are welcome to be an employee during the vacations. Mr. Omer is eager to hire the students and give them a great experience of working. AY students are encouraged to visit the café in their excursions to Madaba, and student artists who aspire to display their artwork are also wanted. With Mr. Omer as our guide, The Rexonian was given a tour of Seven Brothers. We walked around the corner from Darna onto a quiet street, and found that the café already had a customer: King’s Academy student Juliana Kaldany, a Madaba native. (In fact, she lives in the very neighborhood where Seven Brothers is located.) She was ordering an

day present. It can be a turning point in his life!” As we climbed a steep flight of stairs, Mr. Omer started talking about the decor of Seven Brothers. The interior is clean and unadorned, as the renovations haven’t yet been completed, especially the upstairs. The unique exception and highlight

ice-cream with her father, and we surprised her with our presence and subsequent request for an interview. “Hilarious situation,” she said. She congratulated Mr. Omer for opening the shop, and added ‘funny’, for her personal opinion to the café. After ordering a cup of oreo ice cream, she evaluated the taste. “This oreo ice cream is different…it’s cool. It enlightens me!” said Juliana. “Today is my father’s birthday (Happy Birthday). He doesn’t like ice cream, but I think this ice cream can be his birth-

of the interior is the use of Mason jars as light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. This inspired detail was designed by Ms. Joanna, of the arts faculty at King’s Academy, and imported from the U.S. The jars were awesome in their creative and unexpected location, with a sophisticated design that contrasted well with the natural wood counter and the freshly-painted walls. Mr. Omer was very appreciative of Ms. Joanna’s work in designing the aesthetic of the café. The staircase

will be decorated with childhood photos of the seven Khalayleh brothers, like in a stereotypical American house. The second floor has some tables and one long bar where people can sit and enjoy their ice cream, desserts, coffee, or other beverages if the tables outside on the patio are taken, or when the weather cools down. Both a refrigerator and espresso machine have just been installed, and Mr. Omer is also working on installing a WiFi connection for the customers. The café will look even better once the interior design is completely finished, and everyone is eagerly anticipating that day. Unfortunately, King’s students can’t yet order any desserts with their student ID Card, as there is no system ready for that. However, loyalty cards are going to be made: buy seven ice cream cones, get one for free. The café does offer delivery to campus, and three lucky houses have already had an ice cream feed from Seven Brothers: just connect to KAnet, access the Madaba directory, and find Seven Brothers. The list also links to their Facebook homepage. As of now, only one size of ice cream cup is served: one and a half scoops. Cones are also available. The ice cream is produced by the company Najmeh, a well-known supplier in Amman. Mr. Omer tried all the ice cream companies’ products before contracting with Najmeh. According to him, Najmeh has best combination

of quality, flavor, and cost in their ice creams. Rexonian Campus Editor Xu Zhaoying, enjoying a strawberry ice cream, repeated the phrase omg several times, and then said, “This is the best strawberry [ice cream] I’ve ever had! This place is going to be famous...I don’t need to go to Pinkberry now.” After trying an oreo milkshake, she added, “It’s not too sweet either!” Indeed, Seven Brothers does not add sugar to their milkshakes, letting the pure flavor of the ice cream speak for itself. The Khalaylehs are always welcoming people and ready to serve the best desserts. Can Seven Brothers be the Starbucks or Pinkberry of Madaba, as Juliana and Xu suggested? The answer lies at the bottom of a cone of strawberry ice cream.

THE REXONIAN FOOD & DINING OCTOBER 2, 2014

Ahmad Nabhani brings a taste of home cooking from the Gulf to Meissa West, and his kabsa brings all the Khaliji to the kitchen By DANIEL LEAL

MEISSA WEST — With the fragrance of onions and the all too familiar sound of bursting bubbles, one knows that on any given weekend in Meissa West, Ahmad Nabhani ’15, can be found making Kabsa. He is never alone in his endeavors as a group of his friends and fellow “Khalijis,” as they call themselves, always provide entertainment as they await the feast. Every weekend the crowd seems to grow larger. From the scene in the common room following the massive repast, there is no doubt that Nabhani’s ritual has turned into a celebration of cultural identity. I took the opportunity to interview Nabhani himself and find the true story behind the legend.

The R exonian: Why do you cook Kabsa every weekend? A hmad Nabhani: What we are trying to do is cook Kabsa so it can make us feel like we’re at home. It is like the normal food we normally eat there. That is the main reason why we actually cook it. It makes us feel…well, we are hungry… TR: Isn’t Kabsa a Saudi dish? AN: It is Saudi but…I don’t know if you have been in other countries in the Gulf. The GCC Countries have really similar food, so it does not really make a difference whether you are from this part or that part of the region. It is all the same food. TR: Why do you listen to music while you cook? What music do you listen to while you cook? AN: Normally we listen to Arabic music, Khaliji music. Music just makes you feel at home… it makes you feel active. It just lets us have fun while we are cooking, dancing, and making fun of each other.

TR: Can you define the word Khaliji in your own words? AN: A person who is from the GCC [Gulf Corporation Council]. TR: What have you learned from ON THE TOWN making kabsa? Have you made any By TAREK HAMZAH mistakes? Learned any secrets while Top Five Restaurants making it? AN: I learn new things every For those visiting Amman for the hours. This is the type of restaurant time. I think we have only made it first time, finding the perfect places where you would want to make once without making any mistakes. to eat out can be a bit tiresome. reservations. Chances are there will That was the best time we ever made While the city is packed with be a long queue at the door. Lastly, hitting a bit closer to home, it. Every time we do something real- fabulous eateries, it takes a bit of ly stupid like we forget to put in the ‘trial-and-error’ for a person to learn Sufra is a typical Jordanian restaurant. tomatoes, which are one of the main where to go. To make life easier, The According to many students, its ingredients. Every time we make a Rexonian presents to you the top five food rivals that of traditional homemistake, we realize it right after we restaurants in Amman, according to cooked meals, and faculty are quite are finished cooking. Like, when we a student survey conducted this year. fond of it too—Ms. Monica Matouk Not surprisingly, the restaurant counts Sufra among her favorite put the food on the plates, we think, “Oh, we forgot this or that.” But it’s with the highest number votes is restaurants in Amman, so it’ll be sure always okay. It’s not bad when you Yoshi, Amman’s little haven of to please parents and friends alike. Japanese cuisine. Best known for its This restaurant is very casual and extraordinary food and service, Yoshi has low prices. All Jordanian dishes is also well known for its incredible are served including fatta, saj, kofta, atmosphere. This is a great restaurant and mansaf. Service is fast and the for families and small groups of waiters are always at your service. friends. Though some label it as “a The cuisine is a Mediterranean-Arab tad overpriced,” the food is worth fusion and it is a must try for all every penny. visitors to Amman. Students also selected Vinaigrette as one of Amman’s top restaurants. Y oshi 06 464 0903 Located at the top of the Al Qasr Jabal Amman Metropole Hotel, its marvelous view V inaigrette 06 562 0528 and casual atmosphere make it a Shmeisani family friendly restaurant. Outdoor seating and the astonishing view Centro Brasserie 06 464 1020 of Amman give the restaurant a Jabal Amman romantic atmosphere. The cuisine is a Japanese–international fusion, but H ouston ’ s 07 7554 4000 forget the ingredients, but it is not as serves all types of pastas, meats, and Shemisani/Abdoun sushi. good as we want it to be. Centro Brasserie is an TR: Are you guys thinking of doS ufra 06 461 1469 ing anything else? Or are you stick- astonishingly good restaurant for Rainbow Street small groups of friends. Under the ing with the traditional? AN: I normally keep telling my guidance of its chef, the restaurant friends that we should do something has become known throughout the else but every time I think of some- city for its marvelous Italian cuisine. gourmet q&a: thing else, they say, “Oh no, I don’t The restaurant has a smart-casual the seven bros. khalayleh like that, don’t make that.” This is type of atmosphere and is usually not what they mostly like so that is why too loud. The restaurant has average pricing and is mostly known for its we do it. ♦ great service and welcoming waitstaff. Houston’s Restaurant is a wellknown restaurant for families with ABDULLAH mint chocolate chip children. It has a variety of American AHMED rose and Mexican dishes such as burgers, ALI arabic pistachio buffalo wings, and fajitas. This restaurant also has a convenient HASHIM chocolate delivery service around Amman. It is MOAMER vanilla w/ maple syrup not too expensive and delivery does not cost too much. The atmosphere OMER cookie dough is loud and extremely casual. Service SA’AD caramel is as good as it gets, although it might be a little slow during peak

Student Favorites of Amman’s Dining Scene

favorite ice cream flavor

THE REXONIAN ARTS & CULTURE OCTOBER 2, 2014

A10

Fall TV Preview The Jordan Museum and The Arts in Arabia By SOPHIA SARMADI

By MOHAMMAD ABU HAWASH

Do you watch anime? If you do, we should be besties by now, and if you don’t, then what, may I ask, are you doing with your life? Even if you don’t watch anime, there is some great sci-fi anime this season that you should consider giving a try. For starters, Tokyo Ghoul is a thrilling anime centered around a world that is inhabited by both humans and ghouls—human like creatures that hunt and devour human flesh, with additional supernatural abilities. The story follows the protagonist Ken Kaneki, a college freshman who—under life and death conditions—now has no choice but to live life as a half-human/half-ghoul, interacting with ghoul society and its conflicting factions while striving to keep his identity hidden from other humans and ghouls alike. Aldnoah.Zero is another anime that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its unique storyline that is fast paced and full of surprises. In 1972, the Apollo 17 mission discovered a hyper gate to Mars on the surface of the moon. Following this discovery, many humans soon relocate to Mars creating new societies and cultures separate from their fellow humans on earth. However, this separation between societies on Mars and those on Earth leads to growing tensions between the two and soon the humans on Mars adapt to the name “martians.” Princess Asseylum of Mars desires peace between the two planets and so she comes to earth on a peace-making mission. However, higher-ups within the Mars government wish to make use of the princess’ earnest goodwill as a chance to conquer Earth, and hire spies to assassinate the princess upon her arrival on Earth, so that then they have the justification to start a war. If I have piqued your interest in any of these anime, you should consider these other great sci-fi anime: Steins Gate, Shinsekai Yori, Fate/ Zero (I would highly recommend watching the second season before the first one), Death Note, Darker than Black (I also would recommend starting with the second season), FMA/FMA:Brotherhood, and Shingeki no Kyojin. If you have any questions about any of these anime, where to watch them, or want recommendations for other genres then feel free to contact me via email or real life.

Last August, the Jordan Museum pan-Arab art gallery in the world of art and underwriting artists’ exopened its doors to the public, with (the first being in Paris), and the hibitions (such as the first major the majority of its 10 square kilo- first in the Arab world. The gallery retrospective of the aforementioned meters featuring a permanent exhi- presented artworks from artists all Damien Hirst at the Tate Modern in bition presenting visitors with the over the region, acting as the hub London). They also commissioned a astounding 1.5 million years of Jor- of the restoration movement. What state-of the art Islamic museum and dan’s history. This groundbreaking was also surprising about it is the research center. These projects were exhibition is divided into five histor- overwhelmingly positive response the result of Gulf countries realizical time periods: Pre-history, His- from the public. University students ing the soft power they could gain torical, Islamic, Classical, and Mod- flocked to Weibdeh every time they by bringing art back to the region. ern. The 17th museum in Amman will heard of a new exhibition. The suc- Wherever there is art, there is flouralso designate considerable gallery cess of the gallery prompted others ishing culture, and culture brings space for temporary exhibitions of to open showrooms and galleries with it influence. With the UAE beall types. However, the Jordan Mu- around the city, although none were ing the seat of the largest Guggenseum in itself is not a groundbreak- as influential as Darat Al Funoon. heim museum in the world comes its ing change; front-row seat it is part of a at the major trend that has global cultural been observed organizations around the in the world, Arab world such as unesco. for the past The Arabian two decades Gulf needs soft in which both power. It is congovernments scious of the and private infact that most of dividuals have its Oil reserves been spending will be depleted increasingly within the next lavish sums on three decades. art. This trend, So where in my view, does Jordan’s embodies the national musegreatest potenum fit into this tial for change picture of royin the region, alty spending photo by freedom’s falcon, available under by-sa/graphic by sarah magagna for the rexonian much more effectheir oil wealth tively than revolution—and certain- On the other hand, any other signs on Cezannes and Rothkos and Euly less violently. of improvement in the region were ropean museums of both the ancien Arab art has been suppressed in not visible until the late 90s, when regime and the avant-garde matethe region for the last 45 years. Ever the United Arab Emirates celebrat- rializing in the Gulf, where Saudi since fundamentalist movements ed its silver Jubilee, and the house of Arabia has now overtaken Qatar as have gained momentum, artists Thani put Qatar’s development plans the largest buyer (in combined pubhave faced immense scrutiny on into action. lic and private expenditures) of art in their work from the general public. The UAE celebrated their silver the world? To begin with, it was deThis has resulted in a decline in Jubilee in 1996. As part of that cele- signed by renowned architect Ja’afar patronage of art, as the collecting bration, the state’s short history was Touqan, one of the most prominent or promotion of artworks no longer exhibited in galleries all around the architects in the region and the rebrought good reputation to the art country, particularly in the emirate cipient of the Aga Khan Award for patron—and sometimes even made of Sharjah (which is currently the Architecture. Mr. Touqan’s firm is people suspicious of them. In a span Islamic culture capital of the world, also known for its work on the Royal of 10 years, an Arab art world that and was previously the Arabic cul- Automobile Museum in King Husflourished with patronage from the ture capital of the world). After- sein Park, as well as Amman City rich of Kuwait and Lebanon, as well wards, Dubai and Abu Dhabi began Hall. Despite the Museum’s influas the freedom to create art on even to spend on art. 10 years ago, Dubai ential designer, one could argue that the most sensitive issues, was now hosted a major Damien Hirst show, the Jordan Museum lacks the flashy forced underground. In the thir- and Abu Dhabi commissioned three name-recognition of a Guggenheim ty years from the mid-1960s to the monumental museums as part of the or Damien Hirst; it makes up for it, mid-1990s, there were forces trying Saadiyat Culture district—the Gug- however, in its ambition to present to undo all the great achievements of genheim Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu the scope of Jordan’s rich historical Arab art. Dhabi, and, more importantly, The tradition and celebrate the cultural Signs of recovery were visible in Zayed National Musuem. Qatar, on heritige of its people. As a hub and the 1980s, with the establishment the other hand, has provided around launching point for the exploration of Darat Al Funoon (The House $1 billion to Sheikha Mayassa Al- of culture in Amman, the museum of Arts) in Amman, the second Thani to spend on purchasing works points to even better things to come.

THE REXONIAN ‘SCIENCE’ OCTOBER 2, 2014

When Cosmetic Products Can Harm Your Skin By SHEILA BABER

The connotation of cosmetics being a tool only for feminine vanity is a modern invention. Using substances to change our appearance traces back beyond the Ancient Egyptians. Research into evolutionary psychology has shown that back in our primal days, physical “beauty” was an important factor in determining whether or not an individual was a good candidate for mating. Yes. Mating. Smooth skin, red lips, pleasant body odor, etc. were indicators of health, genetic advantages, and fertility. Think of it this way: “Hello! I am a healthy, young, attractive specimen from your species. If we have children together, they will be more likely to pass on our genes to the next generation! Yay!” Thanks to medical innovations, today’s youth are guaranteed a greater chance of survival of birth defects. Physical beauty is no longer an evolutionary advantage. Yet we continue to apply that lipstick, spray the perfume, and slather on that cover-up to hide our imperfections. But this article is not about why people use makeup. This article is about the dangers that lurk within the bottles, tubes and various canisters that line our dressers and bathrooms. In the United States, thanks to lobbying from cosmetics companies, the Food and Drug Administration has little jurisdiction over cosmetics. Unlike their counterparts in the pharmaceutical and food business, cosmetics companies follow an “innocent until proven guilty” approach to selling potentially harmful products to their customers. As long as they are not caught, they can sell whatever they want. Yes, to you. You the customer might be applying carcinogens to your skin everyday. Only you can protect yourself from the things you buy. Beware of these ingredients: 1. BHA A preservative found in cosmetics, there is good evidence to support its status as a carcinogen. The EU considers it as an unsafe ingredient. In the US, however, it is found in food, packaging, and cosmetics.

CONSUMER WATCH Investigative Report 2. Coal tar dye (CI–five digit number) A recognized human carcinogen found in hair dyes, and nail polish. It is banned in the EU but allowed in the US. 3. Parfum (or fragrance or Perfume) This mystery ingredient can be literally any of the hundreds of ingredients cosmetics companies use to make scents. The reason for keeping the ingredients secret: smell has become company property—companies are not forced to release their trade secrets. 4. Phthalates Sometimes used as “fragrance” (it won’t be listed), also used as plasticizers in nail polish (sometimes listed as “DBP”). They may cause reproductive defects and are harmful to the environment. Materials made of PVC also contain phthalates in them!

A11

From Yeti to Yogi By SUHAIL NAHHAS

Some of us may have heard about a cryptic primate stalking the Himalayan mountain ranges of Tibet. Traditionally, this primate is called the Yeti, but most of us know it as the ‘abominable snowman.’ This beast is usually described as being 8 feet tall, weighing 600 pounds, walking on two legs, and giving off blood curdling vocalizations. To add to its reputation, it is notorious for being aggressive, as documentation from native Tibetans indicates that it attacks livestock, yak, and even people. Footprints of this beast are

believes that the bear is a hybrid of a brown and polar bear: “I think this bear, which nobody has seen alive, may still be there and may have quite a lot of polar bear in it. SIDE–LENS Exploring the Paranormal It may be some sort of hybrid and if its behavior is different from normal

5. Mercury (or thimerosal or calomel) Mercury is extremely toxic. Period. This metal can be found in eyeliners, mascara, eyedrops, and deodorants. As if having to worry about mercury in seafood wasn’t enough. 6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate Commonly found in shampoos, toothpaste, and soap, SLS is used as a foaming agent. While not a carcinogen by itself, SLS can be contaminated by 1,4-Dioxane, which may be a carcinogen—so beware! 7. Parabens This chemical is in virtually all Americans. It is also found in 70-90% of all cosmetics, according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Parabens are endocrine disruptors and can easily be absorbed through the skin— they may even play a role in interfering with male reproduction. Yikes. Of course, the list above is but a scant fraction of the thousands of nefarious ingredients in cosmetics. Be on the lookout for harmful things that you put on your body. Try using less synthetic cosmetics and use alternative, organic ones instead. Your body is precious! Please be safe!

Do you have a topic or product you’d like us to explore? Just drop us a line at rexonian@kingsacademy.edu.jo Next issue: What is Monsanto doing on Airport Road?

illustration by suhail nahhas

said to be 6 inches, as depicted in photographs. As with most cryptozoological creatures, many dismiss this beast as a legend since no one has ever found it. However, in 2013, this changed. Scientists in Oxford and Lausanne were called to test 26 offered hair samples of an alleged yeti. Most that were tested matched known animals like horses and raccoons, but two hairs didn’t fit. One hair came from Ladakh of northern India, while the other came from Bhutan. Compared with samples from GenBank, an international storage of gene sequences, the hairs matched some of the same genetic code as that found in a jawbone of an extinct Pleistocene polar bear. Some scholars and scientists doubt the possibility that the hair comes from an animal as old as the Himalayan polar bear and say that these commonalities are just the misidentification with normal bears. However, Oxford professor Bryan Sykes has his own theory. He

bears, which is what eyewitnesses report, then I think that may well be the source of the mystery and the source of the legend.” Some label this theory as ludicrous at best: isn’t it impossible for a hybrid bear to exist? Or is it? Hybrids are rare in nature, but they do occur. And bears are no exception. Sykes’ theory can appeal to the Himalayan polar bear DNA found, as this animal did live at a time when brown bears and polar bears began to diverge from each other as different species. And while most of us believe this creature to be a hominid animal, 300-year-old manuscripts from Tibet say that the yeti was a variety of bear. An analysis of the famous 6-inch footprint has found that the footprint is not one, but two prints stepped into each other. While we may be close to solving this mystery, there is still a long way to go. In the end, we will need bones to truly determine this beast’s identity.

& C. One of many good attributes King’s Academy has is its diversity amongst students and faculty. Over the course of the past two weeks I have conducted mini-interviews of King’s Academy students asking them one question: “What is your guilty pleasure?” It could mean many things, depending on what type of personality a person has; here are some responses from our fellow students. interview conducted by imad-aldin fadil

Eun Sol Jun ’15

Aqeel Al Lami ’15

Kareem Al-Wazir ’17

“ manaeesh ”

“ eating junk food ”

“ pranking ”

Blessing Okwa ’15

Saria Jamjoom ’15

“ pizza ”

“ [also] pranking ”

Shaher Abdulhak ’16

“ picking chocolate crumbs off brownies ”

last word By RAND AL-HARAHSHEH

We live in a world full of strange things, but have you ever heard or read of something that changed your perspective of the world? Every day, the Holy Quran proves its greatness and scientific accuracy, which has existed for fourteen centuries. You may be asking yourself what I’m talking about—so let me tell you! There is a miracle in the Holy Quran, in which the word “sea” is mentioned in this book thirty-two times, representing the water on earth. And the word “land” which represents the land on Earth is mentioned thirteen times—so here is where it gets interesting! If we take the sum of the words, we will get 45, and by doing a simple equation to show

the percentage of water and land on Earth in comparison with the words in the Holy Quran and their sum, we will need to take the sum, divide it by number of each word and multiply that by 100: (45÷32)×100 = 71.1̅% (45÷13)×100 = 28.8̅% So now I want you to get the sum of these results after rounding. Indeed, not only will you get 100%, but those results equal the proportion of water to land covering the Earth’s surface: 71:29! That’s what scholars have discovered during their adventures of exploring the marvels in the Holy Quran. What is your opinion? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

THE PLAYLIST By THE EDITORS

My Favorite Things John Coltrane My Favorite Things If you liked Julie Andrews’ version in The Sound of Music, John Coltrane’s take on the Rogers & Hammerstein classic will blow your mind. Clocking in at nearly 15 minutes long, this recording is an example of Trane’s genius and marks the beginning of the soprano saxophone’s use in jazz. With his usual sidemen McCoy Tyner (piano) and Elvin Jones (bass) holding down the E modal chords, Coltrane comes in around the halfway-mark and lets loose with his ‘sheets of sound.’ Take It As It Comes J. Roddy Walston & The Business Essential Tremors This Southern rock number has honky-tonk piano, background vocal harmonies, and a deeply satisfying groove. Perfect song for a long trip in the car when the open road starts to sap some of your energy. I Put A Spell On You Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Fans of Jim Jarmusch’s 1984 film Stranger Than Paradise will remember this spooky take on a blues ballad in which the singer best known for emerging from a coffin onstage at performances howls, grunts, and screams (naturally) to a waltz-like rhythm with operatic flair. The saxophone solo give the song its brief melodic respite before it descends into madness. Keep this one handy for Halloween…

Is There A Ghost Band of Horses Cease to Begin This group of bearded hipsters can actually rock. A simple guitar intro turns into a crashing groove with the addition of bass and drums that doesn’t let up until the end of the song.. The surreal music video is visually interesting (don’t get any ideas, though), but their performance on Letterman should make one of that host’s top ten lists. Eye Know De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising With samples from Steely Dan’s “Peg” and Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and production by Prince Paul (with whom they would later collaborate for Handsome Boy Modeling School), this record needs no further explanation. They Want My Soul Spoon They Want My Soul The elder statesmen of indie-rock from Austin, Texas are back at it again, with their first new album in four years. Frontman Britt Daniel’s signature vocals haven’t lost their charm, and while the rest of the album is hit-or miss, the title track is classic Spoon in the vein of 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Readers can submit playlist suggestions to rexonian@kingsacademy. edu.jo