I 21, V 43

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The American University of Beirut

Outlook |

Vol. XLIII, No. 21

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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Speakers’ Corner discusses Arab Revolutions’ effect on Lebanon Outlook Staff Hadi Mehio Contributing Writer

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he University Student Faculty Committee (USFC) of the year 2010-11 held its first Speakers’ Corner on Wednesday March 16. Philosophy and CVSP Professor Hani Hassan was the moderator, as more than a dozen students took to the podium and expressed their uncensored opinions on the following topic: “With respect to the recent Arab revolutions and shift

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iming to actively serve their community, members of the AUB Interfaith Dialogue Club hosted more than 45 special needs students at the AUB Green Field and Charles W. Hostler Student Center (CHSC )on March 15.

Titled “Love Beirut: Community Service Project,” the event was the first in a series of community service projects called “Love Beirut” seeking to benefit the capital’s populace.

The joint efforts of the club members, nonmember AU-

Enter a painting competition and win up to $300 in cash!

The Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service is running a competition for students to paint 6 wooden donation boxes to be used for the center to collect donations. The prize per box is $50.

(See Page 12 for more details) (Photo by Ahmad El Itani - AUB Office of Commnications)

continued on page 4

Bites, AUB alumni and nonAUBites brought about the event’s success. “It was really rewarding to see the children so happy to be running around large open spaces,” said Carmen Ibrahim, the Interfaith Club’s secreteray.

She added: “One of the things that reinforced our decision to bring them to AUB was seeing their tiny concrete playground. The school does its absolute best, but Beirut is after all a concrete jungle.”

The children themselves were students at the Benevolent Lebanese Evangelical School for Special Education continued on page 4

AUB students represent their university at anti-sectarianism demonstrations Fouad Badaoui Senior Staff Writer

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small contingent of AUB students participated in the third march against sectarianism in Lebanon Sunday March 20. The demonstrations seem to be aimed in several directions, but all keep to the single theme: “Stop the confessional attitude and bring about a secular mentality.” Some demand nationalization rights for women, while others want the legalization of civil marriages and the abolition of the “wasta” way of life and religious prerequisites for government

Speakers’ Corner:

How do you see Lebanon in 10 years time politically, socially, economically and enviromentally speaking?

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Wednesday March 16 at 1:00 p.m. - West Hall - Ada Dodge Hall Area

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in regimes, will the ‘Domino Effect’ reach the Lebanese political scene?” Resembling the iconic Hyde Park discussions, Speakers’ Corner is an outdoor activity in which any student can participate. USFC Vice President Ali Sheet sat at the table with Hassan facing a few rows of chairs in the area between West Hall and Ada Dodge Hall at 1:00 p.m., as the area filled with spectators and potential speakers.

Interfaith Club draws a smile on special needs children’s faces Maya Sfeir News Executive

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Tasty Food, Good for The Salzburg Academy on media and global change Heath The Independent Student Publication Since 1949

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Campus News Children of Adam Club host field day for the under privileged

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(Photo from Yalibnan.com)

figures. The demonstrations are steadily growing in number on a weekly basis, as more and more Leb-

anese citizens join in on the cause. There was some confucontinued on page 4

Correction: The article covering the Pit Stop game titled “FEA hosts Red Bull Formula 1 car Pitstop Game” published in Outlooks last issue (Issue 20, Vol 43) that took place last Monday March 7 near West Hall was organized in synchrony between the Civil Engineering Society (CES), the Business Students Society (BSS) and the Ski Society, not the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA).

Campus News Haphazard urbanization in Lebanon Seminar

Bliss Street, West Hall 208 Tel: 01 350 000 or 01 374 444 Ext.3193

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Alumni News Alumnist Sarah Baydoun short biography

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Campus news

March 22, 2011

Winning Big: The Big 4 and After Competition

Lara Traboulsi Business Manager and Contributing Writer

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ebruary, March 18 was a spectacular day for OSB students in AUB. On that day 112 OSB students of all track and years—whether sophomore, juniors, or seniors—met at 10:00am sharp to participate in the Big 4 and After competition. The competition was a scavenger hunt made up of riddles, questions, and crossword puzzles based on Accounting knowledge and various other general information. It was organized by the accounting track in OSB with collaboration of the Big Four firms, Ernst and Young (E&Y), Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC), KMPG, and Deloitte, with the support and help of the Business Student Society (BSS). Business students scrambled at the opportunity to participate in this competition where the team of four that would win

would attain the much coveted prize of a job at one of the big firms without the required entrance exam, or any interview. As long as the winners maintain a minimum average of 75 and take two accounting courses, their jobs at the esteemed multinational firms would be secured.

On Friday the excitement and anxiety was palpable in the air as the students registered in the competition began to count down the minutes till they started the competition.

Once it started all bets were off. Students started running around trying to reach all the different riddle locations dispersed across AUB to solve as many questions as possible.

Equipped with a laptop, calculator, internet access, and a backup team ready to help them out at any moment, the 28 teams had to efficiently manage their time, think outside the box, and get results.

The air of adventure, energy and excitement that flowed through the atmosphere was

the exact one that the Big Four firms and the accounting track had hoped for. Frustrated at the wrong image that is often associated with accounting, the accounting track at AUB teamed up the multinational firms to show the students what accounting is really about. Mrs. Rania Uwaydah Mardini, an accounting professor in OSB and one of the people responsible for launching the event, said that unfortunately many business students have the misperception that accounting is “number crunching, and a data entering job” that’s boring; when the truth of the matter is, that accounting can be a very challenging and rewarding jobs that depends on team work and integrates information from various business fields. Instead of lecturing the students on the merits of accounting, OSB decided to just show them the vast extent of accounting.

Nadim Dimashkieh executive manager of E&Y, stated

that the competition is can be life altering to whoever wins and will truly take their career a step further. All the Big Four firm representatives expressed their joy at the outcome of the competition stating unanimously that their competition surprised their expectation by far. The extent of the success propagated talk about making the competition an annual event.

The lucky winners of the first place prize were the team of Wassim Rahbany, Serge Deriane, Elie Moussa, and Sally Sifri. The four seniors were ecstatic at the outcomes as they walked down the stage not believing their ears. They told Outlook that throughout the competition they relied heavily on team work and support to make it through.

Deriane was the pessimistic of the group always worrying about the high competition that they were up against, while Rahbany constantly assured his team that they will win. He was confidant to the

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extent that he told them to sit in the back “so that when we won, everyone will turn to look at us” he chuckled. The strong team faced various obstacles and difficulties; one of which was forgetting the required papers needed to be handed in five minutes before the deadline. The team managed to hand in all the papers with only two minutes to spare before the deadline.

According to results of a draw Wassim Rabhaby will be working at KPMG, Serge Deriane at Deloitte, ElieMoussa at E&Y, and Sally Sifri at PWC. The second place winners were Georgina Farran, Amer Ghader, Yara Kassas, and Remi Hanna who won a two month internship. In third place were Haif Harb, Hoda Tabbar, Lana Abdallah, and Mohammad El Taki. “It was one of the most fun days at AUB” Moussa stated, and “winning was only made better by the fact that we were up against the smartest and brightest of OSB.”

1st Place team: WassimRahbany, Serge Deriane, ElieMoussa, and Sally Sifri

2nd place winners

3rd place winners

OSB’s “B4 and After” treasure hunt contestants huddle for a group meeting

Outlook

Campus news

March 22, 2011

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Children of Adam Club organizes field day for underprivileged youth Khodor Abou Daya Staff Writer

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n Friday March 18th, the Children of Adam club (CoA) at AUB hosted the Children’s Field Day event on the campus Green Field. Orphans and underprivileged kids aged 7 to 12 were invited from various regions across Lebanon to participate in this unique event, in which they had the chance to play around in glee and meet other children of different backgrounds. The organizations that were invited were Bayt al-Yateem alDurzi, al-Mabarrat, Caritas (which sadly could not make it), Dar al-Aytam al-Islamiya and children from Burj alBarajna refugee camp (via al-Islah wal-Irshad organization). The main aim of the event - and the underlying message of the club - is dissolving the country’s existing sectarian barriers and building for a future of unity and

coexistence.

The preparations on the day of the event started at 10 AM, and continued up until noontime, when the first of the busses, loaded with excited children, began to arrive.

The field was divided so that all the children could get an equal chance of participating in each of the events. Vests, caps, and balls were supplied

by Hostler staff, who also helped in keeping the children safe. The kids were shuffled and divided into teams so that they could play soccer and basketball. In addition to these main events, potato-sack races and arts-andcrafts were also organized.

While some of the children eagerly joined in on the preorganized entertainments, others preferred to jump around, do some laps around the field, or simply just admire AUB’s beauty. Soon afterwards all the children were floating like free spirits around the field. One kid

(Photo by Rami Diab)

from the refugee camp, while playing in the sand, said: “I am having a blast there is a lot of space to play here unlike at home. ” By 2:30, after having burned much energy, the kids were ready for some food. Pizza, generously donated by Pizza Della Casa (one of the events’ sponsors) was served, followed by donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts (another of

the event’s sponsors). Fully fed and energized to storm the field again, the children had another long round of games and sports, before heading back to the busses.

Although managing a children’s event is a gruesome task, the organizers showed complete competence thus succeeding in keeping the children happy, safe, and content. As Samer Nuway-

hid, one of the CoA club members put it: “Although our legs are soar from following the kids around we have succeeded in bringing smiles to the faces.” AUB’s own Lebanese Red Cross Club also collaborated with the organizers of the event to make it a total success.

Computer Science Student Society, IEEE, Civil Engineering Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers hold Microsoft Day at AUB Joseph Saba Senior Staff Writer

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uesday March 15 was marked as “Microsoft Day” at AUB, hosted by the Computer Science Student Society (CSSS), IEEE, Civil Engineering Society (CES) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at Auditorium B of West Hall from 12:30 to 2:30. Due to the big number of university societies collaborating at the event, “more than 150 people” filled out the relatively small auditorium, according to co-Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) Lead and CSSS president Rami el Outa.

With all the buzz building around Microsoft showcasing their newly developed products, such as Windows Phone 7, Microsoft Azure, Internet Explorer 9 and the new XBOX 360 Kinect, a lot of

students were excited about the event taking place. “I was very excited about knowing more about Microsoft’s latest technologies concerning laptops and phones, and it was a very informative event,” said Tala Hamdan, Computer Science junior who attended the event.

The event kicked off with a presentation by Amintas Neto, Academic Relation Lead of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), who talked about his experience after holding a similar position and moved to Dubai a while back. Neto talked about Microsoft’s Imagine Cup, the biggest annual event held by the prominent company worldwide for students to compete by designing software and games that focus on a certain theme set at the competition. Neto showed the winners of a previous edi-

tion of Imagine Cup on a video, who happened to be from his home country Brazil and created a game named “City Rain”. The team of three won $25,000 and now has more than a dozen employees at their company.

The event proceeded with one of Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Nidal Araby, who gave a presentation about one of the latest technologies Microsoft developed, called “Microsoft Azure”. According to Araby, Azure is there to make programmers’ lives easier by taking care of all the necessary needs to complete a software other than the code for a simple fee and is a main server that its usage is starting to spread across Lebanon. Due to the longevity of the presentation, slowly students started leaving the room and many attendees described

their discontent with him going overboard in his lecture and getting too technical.

Microsoft Lebanon’s Development and Platform Evangelism (DPE) and AUB graduate Ghassan Chahine continued Microsoft Day with a presentation about Internet Explorer 9 and the advantages it has over its competitors, such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, such as the frames per second (fps) and the browser’s speed. Proceeding Chahine was Akram Karameh, head of HB Pro, a Microsoft company partner, who talked about social media, and focusing on cyberbullying and how it can seriously affect certain people’s lives and is considered bullying itself. The event ended with co-MSP Lead Jonathan Tawk talking about the Students 2 Business (S2B) program, where students upload

their CVs in hopes of working with Microsoft partners, and attempting to perform a demo with the XBOX 360 Kinect in addition to the Microsoft employees distributing free vouchers of free software, each worth $18000 and giving out prizes to those who answered questions correctly about the presentations.

El-Outa considered the event to be a success, with the huge turnout that even included faculty members, and that even though the presentation was more technical, it still caught students’ interest, despite those that left.

Hamdan also wished that the event could’ve been hosted in a larger venue given the turnout and how big Microsoft is, and hoped it would show more usage of applications.

El-Outa also expects the next big thing to be carried out by AUB’s current MSPs.

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Campus news

Speakers’ Corner: Arab Revolutions and Lebanon’s aftermath

continued from page 1

Needless to say, most attendees were standing, as there weren’t enough chairs to accommodate them all.

Civil Engineering student Jad Jari spoke first. He explained that Lebanon differs from its Arab neighbors economically. But, more importantly, it differed politically and Jari stated that these noticeable differences will ensure that Lebanon won’t be having its own revolution.

He also addressed the divided nature of Lebanese society on the sectarian scale. “As for the political factor, I don’t see the resemblance between the Lebanese scene and the countries where revolutions took place. Lebanon is a parliamentary republic, not a pure republic. There will be no revolution in Lebanon because there is an absence of a common basket of demands between the different sects.”

Many of the speakers shared

this general idea. Hassan sometimes intervened as moderator and asked the speakers further questions from time to time. He asked Economics student Mohamad Sheet if Lebanon needed a revolution, or an evolution.

“As for the political factor,” said Sheet, “I don’t see the resemblance between the Lebanese scene and the countries where revolutions took place.

Lebanon is a parliamentary republic, not a pure republic.

There will be no revolution in Lebanon because there is an absence of a common basket of demands between the different sects.” Finally, Sheet admitted that reform – or evolution – was the more prudent path.

USFC Treasurer Christel Ghandour also spoke in the same context of disillusionment: “A revolution won’t happen. What to do? Focus. Start from Somewhere.” Ghandour claimed that no one focused on the little things and asked the au-

Outlook Interfaith Club draws a smile on special needs children’s faces

March 22, 2011

continued from page 1

dience when one of them last contemplated cleaning up a beach. Outlook’s own Fouad Badaoui proposed that the best way to a purely secular society was through a change of mentality in the Lebanese people, via civic engagement courses taught early in school. Sally Ballout, a representative of the nation-wide anti-sectarianism marches that take place every Sunday in Beirut, pleaded that her fellow AUBites participate in the cause:” Don’t criticize the movement. Go to the demonstrations against the sectarian regime and let’s form a youth political organization. […] Think out of the

box. Enhance the political culture in the country. Participate in Sunday’s protests.

We aren’t promising changes and saying everything will change in a fortnight, but change starts here.” The following Question and Answer session saw the same intensity in dialogue. Many students also talked about the possible participation of certain political parties in the marches. Most independent students, along with Ballout, dismissed this idea; since they believed those parties were the fuel behind Lebanon’s sectarian society, although political party representatives disagreed.

and Development (Blessed) at Achrafieh. The establishment, like AUB, dates back to the 1860s.

Upon their arrival to AUB, the children were sorted into three different stations: a music and games station, a sports station and a tour station. After partaking in the different activities reserved for them at each station, they were offered mini-pizzas and snack bags prepared by members of the club.

The event proved to be rewarding for both the organizers and the children. Ibrahim stated: “[The children’s happiness] made me think about how I am always dissatisfied with my life, even though I’m blessed with so much. It made me take a second look at myself. . . .”

AUB students represent themselves in anti-sectarian demonstrations continued from page 1

sion as to whether or not the demonstrations were backed by some political party, but those suspicions subsided after the protest leaders vehemently and almost offensively denied the accusations linking them to any sectarian party. This last march is said to have had anywhere between 20000 and 60000 participants. It started at Sessine Square, and ended near the Sanayeh Gardens.

This Sunday, AUB students had represented their university. At 11:00am, a small contingent of about 35 students made their way from Sodeco to Sessine an hour before the march begins. There, they met with the rest of the protesters, and waited for the entire bulk to move. More AUB students joined in throughout the day and many weren’t part of the group. In addition, sever-

al faculty members and employees were spotted in the crowd. This made the total number of AUB participants difficult to estimate. The students held, in turn, a giant banner that said in large, red Arabic “Secularism is the solution,” and, under it, a second set of painted letters gave testimony to AUB’s participation in what some believe are historical events. Most students, however, walked around with their own homemade banners, some of which had already been used in other demonstrations throughout the country and even on campus. Lebanese flags were waived, some brand new, others, battered and carrying the marks of many older demonstrations. Ahead of the AUB group were two Muslim cheicks – religious figures. One was Sunni, the other was Shiite. They walked close together, thus expressing their readiness to live to-

(Photo from Yalibnan.com)

gether in a secular Lebanon.

The giant banner and several AUB students featured on televised and printed news in the following days. Pan-Arab slogans such as “the people want the fall of the existing order” were chanted.

As the protesters passed by balconies with spectators on them, they chanted:”you

there standing on the balcony; come down here and join your people.” AUB student Karim Badra said he believed the “march was a definite success, but not a revolution yet. If people show their support bit by bit, then it will definitely lead to a revolution.” As for the AUB response, Badra said he “could

have hoped for more from AUB students. They’re supposed to represent the epitome of education.” Many of the protesters – including those from AUB – said they were prepared to make the march a weekly tradition, until they start seeing the changes they are asking for.

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Campus news

March 22, 2011

Rayane Zahreddine Staff Writer

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n environmental seminar, entitled “Haphazard Urbanization in Lebanon,” took place on March 17 in the Engineering Lecture Hall (ELH) from 12:30 to 2:00 in the afternoon.

The event was organized by Maria Zgheib, an active Civil Engineering Society (CES) member, and Dr. Manal Moussallem, from the Civil Engineering Department in collaboration with the CES. It featured two speakers, Mr. Karim El Jisr and Mr. Nakhle Hachem, both AUB alumni. The audience mainly included Civil and Environmental Engineering students and faculty. The 80 attendees benefited from two interactive lectures about an important environmental threat to Lebanon: haphazard urbanization.

The first lecture was delivered by Mr. Karim El Jisr, environmental management specialist and director from Ecodit, an environmental consulting company. Mr. El Jisr explained the issue of urbanization and its causes and

Environmental Seminar: Haphazard urbanization in Lebanon effects on the environment.

He introduced the National Land Use Master Plan and offered some facts and figures about Lebanon. He also went over some laws in Lebanon related to this issue, and discussed how they are overlooked or abused.

The second lecture was given

by Mr. Nakhle Hachem from HAS. It was about a direct effect of rampant urbanization: the increase in quarrying. He informed the audience about quarrying in Lebanon, its effects on the environment and the main challenges that result from this activity (for example when quarrying sites are over exploited and the law broken). He ended with recommendations about how to overcome these issues.

After the lectures, Mr. El Jisr and Mr. Nakhle answered questions and comments from the audience, and a motivating discussion took place between students, faculty and lecturers.

The main goal of the discussion was finding solutions to the urbanization threat, given the challenges in Lebanon such as corruption and work ethics. Finally, the seminar

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(Photo from Facebook.com)

was concluded with a buffet and refreshments from Socrate Catering in the Bechtel Engineering building entrance.

The students left the seminar well informed and aware about the impacts of haphazard urbanization in Lebanon.

Noura Sinno, a second year Civil and Environmental Engineering Student said: “The seminar was very interest-

ing since its topic is related to us engineers. Haphazard urbanization is a problem that we should deal with. When I start working I will try my best to respect the environment, but I still feel that the solution is not in my hands.”

Mohammad Yatim, president of the CES commented: “The CES looks for giving its members opportunities to release the tensions of studying

through various entertainment, social and educational events throughout the semester. This event in particular brings the members closer to their major in a stress free environment.”

Tasty food: Good for the health, the key to active living Nour Jane Kachicho Contributing Writer

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tudents are exposed to unhealthy food everyday.

Fast food restaurants are on the rise; McDonalds, Hardees and Burger King, on Bliss Street serve AUB students every day.

Knowing what to eat and the right portion of it, is important for a healthy lifestyle, according to Sawsan Wazzan Jabri, co-owner and general manager of the Nutrition and Diet Center who held a lecture, ‘‘Tasty Food: Good for the health, the key to active living,’’ at AUB on March 10, 2011.

Jabri, a graduate of AUB’s Nutrition Department, is the first to have launched a ca-

tering center (‘Diet Center’) specialized in healthy food, in Lebanon.

Health problems such as cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure have to be controlled.

The ‘Aggressive Cholesterol Treatment’ held by the ‘Diet Center’ showed that the 40 to 50 participants were able to lower their total cholesterol level in one month without the use of medication.

Jabri explained that this is because people do not know how to distinguish between the bad and good cholesterol (LDL and HDL). ‘‘You should be very aware of your blood pressure and never underestimate it,’’ said Jabri regarding problems that may arise unexpectedly.

In order to eat healthily, hygiene is of utter importance

stressed Jabri. She added that it is best to separate food groups on different cutting boards while cooking. This is to say that fish and meat for example should not be cut and cleaned on the same board.

Microwave is a problem today, added Jabri. She explains that food should normally be reheated to 75 degrees Celsius; however, microwave radiation does not reach this temperature as it functions differently than ovens.

People are unaware of the temperatures at which their freezer and fridge should be maintained. The fridge should be at two to three degree Celsius while the freezer at -17 degree Celsius, according to Jabri. ‘‘You can eat a ‘mankouche’

(Photo by Ahmad El Itani - AUB Office of Communications)

for breakfast, but the question is how much can you eat?’’ said Jabri regarding the fact that it is not enough to know what to eat, but to know the right portion of it as well.

The right serving size can be measured in ‘food exchanges’ of which we should intake eight to ten per day.

Jabri held a small cup of rice to the audience to let them know the meaning of a ‘food exchange’. She then poured a tablespoon of oil and said that there is 45 calories in this one ‘food exchange’.

A buffet offered by the ‘Diet Center’ which followed the lecture, displayed the meaning of a healthy appetite.

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Alumni news

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lready set to celebrate her ten year anniversary, savvy Lebanese businesswoman Sarah Beydoun (BA 1994 Sociology and Anthropology), has dedicated her life creating a happy medium of harmony between her social activism beliefs and her love of fashion.

Through her business, “Sarah’s Bags”, she has found a way to use her skills as an artisan to make a difference in the lives of both the rich and the poor, annihilating social stigmas all along the way.

Born and bred in Lebanon, Beydoun’s modus operandi is none other than most women’s most coveted accessory, the handbag. After writing her thesis about the plight of female Lebanese prison-

March 22, 2011

Outlook

Sarah Baydoun: A short Biography ers languishing in prisons for some of the most heinous crimes, Beydoun recognized an opportunity to make an impact in their lives. She spent some time on the ‘inside’ of a rehab center for female convicts and got up close and personal with their daily struggles. It would be that first encounter that would set the future path for Beydoun and what would become her life’s purpose in “Sarah’s Bags”.

Beydoun sought out her own potential seamstresses in some of the toughest prisons and rehab facilities in Lebanon to create the bags, even teaching inmates how to embroider and sew beads herself. She also reached out to the poorest of the poor

in Lebanon’s rural areas to give those women a chance to have a better future. “Sarah’s Bags” currently employs 100 designers who create its entire line of haute couture quality purses.

As Beydoun admits herself, each bag carries with it just a little bit of the impoverished or imprisoned woman who created it. The designs range from glittering spectacles of bling wear to socially aware pieces, like the ones featuring high ranking celebrities like Lebanese singers and even a queen or two. And the results have been outstanding and certainly a surprise to Beydoun. Everyone from top celebrities to the richest elite has clamored to have their own bag.

“Sarah’s Bags” can be found all over the Middle East and in Europe gracing the shelves of the most select boutiques.

The company has also expanded over the years to include everything from shoes to belts to custom-designer jewelry and scarves.

Most recently, Beydoun’s line of socially aware purses were featured in Washington D.C. as part of the Kennedy Center’s International Festival.

The future looks bright for Beydoun as an eager buzz, stretching clean across the globe, surrounds her company. However, the designer remains true to her roots promising to make employing less fortunate women the lifeblood of her company.

Sarah’s Bag participated in several exhibitions around the Arab world including Dubai, Kuwait, Jeddah and Riyadh.

In February 2008, the British Council chose Sarah Beydoun to represent Lebanon in the “International Young Fashion Entrepreneur” competition. In February 2009, under the framework of Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World. Sarah’s Bag exhibited in the “Kennedy Center International Festival” in Washington.

The original text for this article can be found at the following URL: <http://muslimmedianetwork.com/ mmn/?tag=sarah-beydoun>

Alumni profiles: Graduates of the 1990’s Raghda Mogharbil al Zein (BA ’95) earned a master’s in journalism and mass communications from Iowa State University in 1998. She is an instructor at The American University of Science and Technology, Ashrafiyeh, where she teaches journalism and public relations. Al Zein also freelances for magazines and newspapers. The daughter of Usama Mugharbil (BS ’63, MS ’65), Al Zein has two daughters. [rmugharb(at) hotmail.com] Rola Chbaklo (BA ’96, MS ’00) is happy to announce the birth of her first

child, Rhea Zein, born on January 23, 2010. Chbaklo married Rami Zein in 2009 and is currently working at the Social Welfare Institutions as director of the Support and Development Division. Chbaklo completed her university studies at AUB earning a BA in political studies and a master’s in population studies. In 2001, she moved to Abu Dhabi where she worked for three years as a population specialist. In 2006 she received a master’s degree from the University of Turin (Italy) in management of development. She lives in Beirut. [Rolachbaklo(at)gmail.

com] Jasmin Masri (BS ’98, MA ’00) completed a PhD in cultural theory and comparative literature at Cambridge University in 2004. She works in London as a change management consultant, specializing in leadership mobilization and communication of change. [jasmin_masri(at)hotmail. com] Zena el Khalil (BGD ’99) presented her exhibition “Ou Ali Mama3ou Khabar… (And Ali Has No Idea…)” based on the July

2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the present condition of Palestine at Espace Kettaneh Kunigk in Beirut June 30-August 13, and at the Galerie Tanit in Munich, Germany as part of the Open Art Weekend in early September. The work included five large-scale mixed media paintings, a thematic series of smaller handsown fabric collages, and a multi-media rotating sculpture. Khalil uses irony and humor to transform images of propaganda and warfare into cultural insight, healing, and harmony. “In the 2006 war, thousands of pink

flyers [were dropped] all over Beirut…I was fascinated by the caricature drawings on these flyers which I collected even though a friend’s mother tried to convince me that that they might be laced with poison. I often thought about my neighbor across the border who drew this flyer. Reappropriating it has been an essential healing process for me. The characters now find themselves in a new scenario; where love, music, and tranquility replace violence, fear, and despair.”

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Entertainment

March 22, 2011

The Salzburg Academy on media and global change

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A stroll down memory lane

Gheed El Makkaoui I went on this summer program interested, yet not knowing what to expect on both the academic level--being an Economics major--or on the social level—meeting people from so many nationalities. Who would have known that such amazing people could all be grouped in one amazing place? Surrounded by the greenery, lakes, and Alps, this experience has been so enriching. I got to discuss diverse issues such as global conflicts, media stereotypes, and freedom of expression with people from all over the world.

Through the Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change, I learned so much about the media, its effects, and the way it influences our lives and opinions.

The academic work was quite enriching. Throughout the program, I worked with a group on Freedom of the Press. Every weekday, we searched for global news on our topic. Rakan from Jordan and I searched for Arabic stories, Flor from Argentina looked for news in Spanish, Jon from the US focused on English, and Xiao from China did Chinese. Often our analy-

sis found disparate coverage of the same story. Our group also developed a module, our baby! Using many online tools, we built from scratch a complete online module that people from other universities now use. Our group also produced short videos on the topic, posted them on Youtube, and linked them to the main academy website: salzburg.umd.edu.

Living, eating, working, and having fun in this multi-cultural environment was just perfect. We met top international scholars, like South Africa’s Justice Richard Goldstone and Yahoo’s Liz Lufkin. We listened to their lectures, mingled with them at dinner, and played with them Ping-pong and Foosball at the Bierstube—our own private pub!

Our coursework included a Media Spotlight, where students from each region presented about their countries. When our Mideast team presented, we were shocked to see some students tear-up. What they thought they knew about us was just “false, false, and false,” as Noel said. “I thought you guys rode camels and your dads had guns.” I enjoyed the Latin American presentation

The Salzburg Academy

and learned that our regions have so much in common.

These discussions continued beyond the classroom. Rakan and Chris from the US argued about Iraq. Tomas from Chile and I competed over whether Victor Jara or Fayrouz is a better singer, and Fernando from Argentina offered to buy my sister for 200 camels! It was all humorous and fun. I learned about the world in a different way, and both my vision and approach changed, as a result.

During breaks, we toured lovely Salzburg. We hiked up the Alps and almost froze in our places, but the magical scenery was worth it. Daniel from Lebanon and I also got to sky dive over the German Bayern Mountains and land next to the beautiful lakes of Salzburg.

We also traveled around.

We took a train to Vienna

and spent a night there at a central hostel. I also traveled to Prague with the Latinos: Tomas, Pablo, and Carolina from Chile, Melissa from the Dominican Republic, Fernando from Argentina, and Annahi from Cuba.

Let’s just say that one weekend was enough for my Spanish to become “perfecto”— or maybe just my Spanish swear words. Who knows what those guys were teaching me?!

The diversity in this program was the basis of our fruitful ideas, interesting projects, and wonderful friendships. All I can think of are the good times: Daniel Sip’s housekeeping updates; my laughs with Tomas; the million hot chocolates that Pablo and I had at Demel Café; the long nights I spent talking with Nicole—the coolest roommate; the beautiful pia-

no pieces played by Kang Ai and Roman; the Salsa nights out at “The Republik,” where Annahi would teach us some Latino dance moves; and so many more that I will never forget.

Gheed El Makkaoui is an Economics undergraduate student at AUB. The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is a 3-week summer academy based in Austria and founded by the University of Maryland (USA) and the Salzburg Global Seminar.

AUB’s Media Studies Program is one of the founding partners of the academy, and every summer sends five to ten graduate and undergraduate students from various majors who earn six transferable credits from UMD. For more information visit salzburg.umd.edu or email Dr. Jad Melki jm39@aub.edu.lb

Zombie ants manipulated by parasitic fungus Jackie Daoud Staff Writer A recent discovery revolving around the existence of zombie ants has baffled scientists, especially as the concept of zombies arose as a myth and no one ever anticipated it would transform into a reality, particularly not among ants. It seems as though ants enter a zombielike trance after being dominated by parasitic fungi, as they control them for their own benefit. The recent discovery of this fungus near Darmstadt in Germany is the outcome of an evolutionary process that started 48 million years ago. The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis species attach themselves to car-

penter ants while they cross the forest floor before they return back to their nests in the canopy. This fungus grows inside these carpenter ants, releasing chemicals that have the capacity to affect the ants’ behavior through the means of mind-control, however symptoms may take anywhere from days to weeks to manifest.

Changes in behavior entail wandering off and leaving their colonies in search of their own food, while others may fall off their canopies to search for leaves nearer to the ground. These changes in behavior are potential death sentences as they are evolutionarily detrimental and expose the ants to pred-

ators and other life-threatening perils. Finally, the fungus compels the ants to walk towards the underside of the leaf and lock their jaw around the central vein in an immobile fashion. This “death lock” is designed to ensure that the fungus is positioned within the central vein so that it effectively disperses its spores.

This usually takes place midway, on leaves between the canopy and forest floor where the temperature and humidity is optimal to the fungi.

After this gruesome killing, the fungus emerges from the ants head, terminating in a fruiting body through which the spores surface. A characteristic deposition of scar tissue surrounding the bite

mark can be found in these lethal cases, the same mark that was left 48 million years ago.

The question scientists are asking now is, what is it that compels these ants to be behaviorally manipulated? In other words, how is this fungus able to control both their minds and muscles to execute this order? The one thing we do know for sure is that this fungus releases alkaloid chemicals which begin devouring the insect from its insides. Four new species of fungi have surfaced as a result of this discovery, also shedding light on the complex interactions that take place in these endangered forest habitats.

Each of these four fungal spe-

cies are tailored toward infecting an ant species and named according to their taxonomy: Camponotus rufipes, C. balzani, C. melanoticus and C. novogranadensis. One hypothesis that has been advocated is that the ant ecology influences the morphology and functions of the pathogen and that could be why each fungal species is specific to an ant species. These new findings have sparked new research potential in this field of mycology as scientists fumble around for more answers. Who knows, 28 days later may not be fiction after all!

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Out Loud

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March 22, 2011

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(All Photos by Ahmad El Itani - AUB Office of Communications)

1) Samia El Tal (Nursing): Sana questioned the revolutions’ timing and motives believing that the revolution was part of “The Game of Nations.” She replied to Philosophy and CVSP Professor Hassan’s inquiry (“What do you mean it has not originated from here?”) by emphasizing that revolutions need power which is not created out of nothing. Sana encouraged resorting to blank ballots in the next elections.

2) Sali Ballout (Sociology): She stressed on enhancing the political culture in the country and encouraged the audience to participate in Sunday’s protests (Sunday March 20) since change starts there.

3) Mohamad Mazen Assi (Business Administration): The problem is in the Lebanese sectarian system, which Imam Moussa Al Sadr called to abolish since 1968. The call has been revived two years ago by the Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.

4) Mostafa Fadlallah (Computer Science): Lebanon’s political regime is not that different from that of other Arab countries. Simply put, the problem with revolt in Lebanon reflects in its multiplicity of sectarian regimes. Our 18 sects make revolt against the government somewhat difficult considering that our government is already fragmented according to sect. Change starts when the people vote for an electoral plan that puts their interests first before the interests of their respective sects. Finally, what this country lacks is some legal accountably for its political representatives.

5) Mohammad Toufeily (Business Administration): Since we don’t have a substitute to sectarianism, I’m against the anti-sectarian movement. Getting rid of sectarianism could leave an empty in Lebanon political scene. We shouldn’t envy the rest of the Arab nations for their demonstrations. We were pioneers in the revolution in Lebanon many times in the past.

6) Ali Harake (Physics): A line should be drawn between parties and sects. The people behave based on intra-sectarian relationships and are not concerned by people from other sects.

7) Mohammad Omeish (Mechanical Engineering) 8) Christel Ghandour (Political Sciences): A revolution won’t happen untill we stop getting diluted in many different things rather focusing on a master plan.

9) Adnan Sardouk (Economics): So we are not much affected considering that we are not a dictatorship and posts continue change though out the years. He questioned the real motives behind the movements backed by the same political figures that are from the sectarian regime.

10, 11) Ali Sheet (USFC VP) and Hani Hassan (Professor of Philosophy and Civilization Sequence Program – CVSP) 12) Mohamad Sheet (Economics): Lebanon differs in that it is a democratic yet sectarian country. In Lebanon, parties govern the political scene and the people follow willingly. The problem lies in the people themselves, apart from the faulty system.

13) Fouad Badaoui (Biology): A non-sectarian regime starts with civic engagement since the common problems that truly matters are not being addressed (Inflation, Poverty, Sectarianism…). The Lebanese people should create an actual progressive party.

14) Jad Jari (Civil Engineering): Lebanon differs from other Arab countries. Lebanon is better on the economic level. Lebanon is a Parliamentary Republic. But mainly, there will be no revolution in Lebanon because there is an absence of a common basket of demands between the different sects.

15) Mohamad El Ghotme (Civil Engineering): One state, building the one state, providing equality for all people. So pro women’s rights, letting them give the nationality to kids, and to contact women’s rights fovernmental insittions foundations for support.

16) Mario Abou Zeid (Political Studies): The problem is within the people themselves. The revolt on the Lebanese status quo should be under three titles: transparency, transfer of political authority and legal accountability.

Outlook

Outlook

Sports

March 22, 2011

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The University Sports department at the American University of Beirut invites you to: The AUB President’s Club 2nd International Sports Tournament Thursday March 23 – Saturday March 27 at the Charles Hostler Student Center (CHSC)

Schedule of events Thursday March 24, 2011 Tournament Teams Time Location Men's Football

Men's Football

AUS vs. AUD

3:00 p.m.

AUB (V) vs. AUB (JR) 4:30 p.m.

Greenfield

4:00 p.m.

Greenfield

AUB(V) vs. AUD

5:30 p.m.

Greenfield

Men's Basketball

AUB(JR) vs. AUD

5:00 p.m.

Court 1

AUB (JR) vs.AUS

5:00 p.m.

Court 1

AUB vs.AUD

5:00 p.m.

Court 2

Men's Volleyball

AUB vs. AUD

5:00 p.m.

Court 3

Men's Basketball

AUB(V) vs. AUD

6:30 p.m.

Court 1

Women's Basketball

AUB(JR) vs. AUS

6:30 p.m.

Court 2

Women's Volleyball

AUB vs. AUD

6:30

Court 3

p.m.

7:30

AUB (JR) vs. AUS

Men's Football

Men's Basketball

AUB vs. AUD

Men's Football

Location

Greenfield

Women's Basketball

Women's Futsal

Friday March 25, 2011 Tournament Teams Time

Court 2

Women's Basketball

AUB(V) vs. AUS

5:00 p.m.

Court 2

Men's Volleyball

AUS vs. AUD

5:00 p.m.

Court 3

Men's Basketball

AUB(V) vs. AUS

6:30 p.m.

Court 1

Women's Basketball

AUB(JR) vs. AUD

6:30 p.m.

Court 2

Women's Volleyball

AUS vs. AUD

6:30 p.m.

Court 3

Women's Futsal

AUB vs. AUD

7:30 p.m.

Court 2

Saturday March 26, 2011 Tournament

Teams

Men's Football

AUB(JR) vs.AUD

10:00 a.m.

Greenfield

Men's Football

AUB vs.AUS

11:30 a.m.

Greenfield

Men's Basketball

AUS vs. AUD

11:00 a.m.

Court 1

AUB(V) vs. AUB(JR) 11:00 a.m.

Court 2

Women's Basketball

Time Location

Men's Volleyball

AUB vs. AUS

11:00 a.m.

Court 3

Men's Basketball

AUB(V) vs. AUB(JR)

1:00 p.m.

Court 1

Women's Basketball

AUS vs. AUD

1:00 p.m.

Court 2

Women's Volleyball

AUB vs. AUS

1:00 p.m.

Court 3

p.m.

Men's Handball

AUB vs. JUST

8:30

Court 1,2,3

p.m.

Men's and Women's Swimming

Men's and Women's Tennis

AUB-AUS-AUD-

6:00

Aquatic

JUST

p.m.

Center

5:00

Tennis

AUB-AUS-JUST

Men's and Women's Track and Field

AUB-JUST

Men's Handball

AUB vs. JUST

8:30 p.m.

Court 1, 2 & 3

Men's and Women's Swimming

AUB-AUS-AUD-

6:00 p.m.

Aquatic Cent-

Men's and Women's Tennis

AUB-AUS-JUST

5:00 p.m.

Tennis Courts

JUST

p.m.

Courts

6:30 p.m.

Track Field

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Scoreboard for this week Date

Sport Discipline

Competing Teams

Result

Saturday, March 12

Women’s Futsal (Lebanese Universities Championship)

AUB vs. LAU (Jbeil)

2-1 for AUB

Thursday, March 17

Women’s Futsal (Lebanese Universities Championship)

AUB vs. UPA

6-4 for AUB

Tuesday, March 08

Men’s Football (Lebanese Universities Championship)

AUB vs.MUT

4-2 for AUB

Saturday, March 12

Men’s Football (Lebanese Universities Championship)

AUB vs. UPA

7-0 for AUB

Tuesday, March 15

Men’s Football (Lebanese Universities Championship)

AUB vs. LAU (Jbeil)

3-0 for AUB

Thursday, March 17

Women’s Volleyball(Lebanese Universities Championship)

AUB vs. USJ

2-0 for AUB

Saturday, March 19

Women’s Basketball (League Match)

AUB vs. LAU (Jbeil)

89-29 for AUB

Thursday, March 17

Men’s Futsal (League Match)

AUB vs. Haigazian

6-4 for AUB

Friday, March 18

Men’s Rugby (League Match)

AUB vs. AUST

34-16 for AUB

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Viewpoint

March 22, 2011

Opinion

Editor’s Corner

Sectarianism: Unfettering our chains

Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief

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ast Sunday, March 20, an anti-sectarian demonstration swept Sassine Square, Archrafieh and stretched all the way up until the Ministry of Interior headquarters (‫مبنى وزارة‬ ‫)الداخلية‬. As many of us may or may not know, this protest seemed to harness a good batch of AUB students, a matter that got me reflecting over what this demonstration was up against.

Doubtless, one can find reason to revolt against the various religious affiliations of political parties steering Lebanon and the fact that some of the most critical employment positions, mostly government-based, are inevitably tied up with one religious criterion or another.

Such trends, unfortunately, have become a lamentable part of our history and culture.

Some of us may agree that the cornerstone of any republic is the republic itself, as represented by its people; and so, how can we expect any more from a governmental system than to be a reflection of the governed?

How can we expect more of the Lebanese government when the very nation it endeavours to lead is led astray by blows of demonizing sectarian demolition?

On the upside though, and apart from involving ourselves in peaceful demonstrations, we, the Lebanese people, can do far more to help strip Lebanon of its sectarian regimes than take to the streets.

I’ll go ahead and state the

“I am neither Christian, Jew, Parsi, nor Muslim. I am neither of the East, nor of the West, nor of the land, nor of the sea…. I have put aside duality, I have seen that the two worlds are one; I seek the One, I know the One, I see the One, I invoke the One. He is the First, He is the Last, He is the Outward, He is the Inward” (Rumi). obvious, yet seemingly not so apparent. All the sects driving this country fall under the category of Ibrahamic faith. In short, they are monotheistic in nature and thus, even with their separate disciples embrace the totality and omniscience of one almighty God. If we, the Lebanese people are to become role models for our government to follow, then let us speak no utterances sectarian in nature but rather seek to meet and include friends of all sects in our outings and events. Let us include them in marriage as we do in friendships. Let us get to know one another well enough to see this shroud of illusion separating us for what it is, a peace-sucking parasite, born of ignorance and religious intolerance that has, become the basis for a merciless and rapidly spreading plague throughout our land.

Anis Kadado Staff Writer

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creaming and yelling at a laptop - sound familiar? Or shouting across the room asking whether or not the Internet plug is in the wall, since the Internet is so slow, making it seem as though the connection is lost - is this also familiar? Well, to a foreigner from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, or anywhere else, this may seem weird. For those of

Outlook

On disastrous change

Maya Sfeir News Executive Regimes are tumbling, overt and covert wars are taking place, tsunamis and earthquakes are sweeping towns, and the beat of the world does not seem to be slowing down.

Amidst change, amidst di-

sastrous change, I cannot but wonder about the ways in which the human spirit deals with the fear, or perhaps reality, of losing everything.

Both leaders and citizens are belittled by change, whether it is colossal or trivial. The loss of one’s family, home or belongings is indeed immeasurable, as is the loss of one’s throne and popular support, though to a much lesser degree. Blind disaster sporadically strikes all and spares none.

The end of the 2006 Lebanese-Israeli war has left me with the certitude that at any given moment, a person might lose anything, anyone and everything. As families lamented the loss of their homes and loved ones to bombs, I came to realize that there are two things in life that nobody and no disas-

ter can deprive a person of: knowledge and affections.

Identity cards, degrees, laptops, letters, and so on can be flooded, burned or stolen.

Nonetheless, their disappearance does not make their owner a lesser man or woman, a lesser human being.

The education one has, the intelligence, memories and aspirations are not lost to disasters, but rather to the despair that results from them.

Yet despair can be conquered by courage. By having the courage to look forward to a changing future and the courage to embrace the traditions and memories of the past, men and women can overcome loss, fear and despair. They can learn to appreciate what they have, and most importantly, what they do not have.

Opinion The internet you who haven’t really understood what I’m talking about yet, it’s Lebanon’s Internet.

This topic can really make a great guessing game, which asks “does anyone know what country in the world has faster Internet speed than Lebanon?” The answer is simple: every country in the world (other than Burkina Faso which is still on dial-up connection for those very few lucky people) has faster Internet speed than our country, Lebanon.

The other day I over-heard a conversation at AUB by a few people complaining about the Internet, and I just sat there thinking what naggers they are and how everyone always exaggerates any small problem just to make Lebanon seem like a “bad” place to live in. So, out of curiosity I thought to check out that “list” everyone always speaks of, and it really hit me; Lebanon’s on the bottom of that list. With South Korea on the top, followed by Sweden and

then Lithuania, with speeds of 35.35, 27.10, and 26.79 Mbps, respectively, Lebanon is at the 169th spot with a speed of 0.47 Mbps, just before Burkina Faso. Is this really acceptable? With all the progress and advancements Lebanon has witnessed, including the top medical and educational systems in the region, is this acceptable? Is there nothing officials can do?

It really has become stressful and rather aggravating to use the Internet for research, for contacting others, or even watching videos on YouTube.

Rarely do sites open directly, and there is always a problem with the connection. Not only is the download speed the slowest, but the prices are the highest. Paying an average of $40 per month for the average Internet download speed users experience (of course with a limited download space) is crazy to hear, seeing that South Koreans pay an average of $28

per month for the fastest Internet speed in the world.

Talk is just talk, and we can sit here and nag all day and night over our slow Internet, but what can we Lebanese people do? Well, unfortunately there’s not much to be done, but there currently is a petition being signed entitled “Fast Internet a Human Right to every Lebanese Citizen” (the petition can be found on facebook or on www. thepetitionsite.com/1/fastlebanon) which is hoping to get 5,000 signatures. After getting the appropriate number of signatures, it is going to be sent to parliament with the hope of seeing real change.

Yes, it is surprising to see Lebanon on the bottom of that list and it is upsetting that Lebanese have to suffer, even with the Internet. Hopefully the day will come where we don’t have to wait for minutes as our Internet pages open and for hours as our videos on YouTube buffer.

Outlook

March 22, 2011

Opinion

Viewpoint

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Girls Only: A depiction of our everyday struggle Lama Zakharia Staff Writer The infamous inclination connecting the lower to the upper campus, women’s residence to the library, the lower dorm gate to the upper medical gate, or whichever way you might want to look at it, is a site in the AUB campus worth mentioning.

I am referring to that mountain-like road we have to climb every single day to get to class (except if you’re lucky enough to have all your classes in the lower campus). I’m sure that I am among many others who anxiously anticipate that hard journey each morning but hesitate to ad-

mit it out loud.

Don’t get me wrong. It has some advantages. You start feeling you’ve lost weight by the time you reach that happy peak, muscles you never knew you had start growing on the back of your leg, and finally, your overall stamina will drastically improve.

In all seriousness, my incessant nagging regarding this matter cannot be classified as being a real problem just yet.

What genuinely causes me distress every time I climb that beautiful pathway each morning is something that annoys everyone but none dare talk about it. Why? Well, simply because it’s so absurd to mention in public.

Here’s an illustrative narrative: A gorgeous female AUB student leaves her dorm on a bright sunny day and heads for her early morning class.

With her carefully picked out sexy outfit (a dark brown classy dress), her perfectly straightened hair, and, not to mention, a face layered with morning make-up. She graciously walks Lebanesestyle with her Gucci bag handle hanging loosely onto her skinny right elbow.

Suddenly, that entire marvel disappears in a split second as a cloud of small insects or “Hiss Hiss,” as I like to call them, mount her like a beast as she struggles to find

her way out. What I’m talking about here, ladies and gentlemen, are the muchhated fly-like creatures that stand midair waiting to annoyingly stick to your nose, mouth, and even hair for all they care.

The ultimate result here is that this poor girl starts waving her hands like a madman (or madwoman) trying to shoo them off while at the same time trying to preserve an ounce of self- dignity. Finally, she safely walks off but realizes after a while that one determined insect had hung on to her recently applied lip gloss. This is when a high pitched “eww” is heard echoing all around campus.

As funny as this narrative is, it is something that I’ve come to notice (and experience) on several occasions whenever I take that road. I even noticed that 5-6 pm is their optimum timing of the day. Also, they do tend to be present in tightly-knit clusters and not as separate units; once you escape a cluster then you’re safe.

All in all, keep that narrative in mind whenever you’re walking down or up that road. It might happen to you or you might even see it happen to others. If it does happen to others, take extra care not to burst out laughing because the ‘Hiss Hiss’ favorite target lies in … your mouth.

Opinion Freeing the people of Libya?

The Salim El-Hoss Bioethics & Professionalism Program at AUB-Faculty of Medicine invites you to attend a lecture, as part of its “Ethics Matters” initiative entitled:

“When the hand that heals, kills. What is the remedy?”

by Afif Mufarrij, MD Instructor of Clinical Emergency Medicine Thursday April 7, 2011 5:00 pm at SB 101 INTERNAL CME POINTS CREDITED

Mohamad Al Medawar Webmaster & Contributing writer

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s Gadhafi warns a “long-drawn war”, as CNN termed it, the people of Libya are being hammered by both pro-Gadhafi forces and coalition forces coming to ‘free’ the Libyan’s from the New “Saddam”!

News sources say that Us and coalition forces fired over

110 tomahawk missiles Sunday morning, 20 of which hit Gadhafi defense bases, where did the rest go? How many civilians did they kill?

It’s well known and documented that France, Italy, and UK are the major buyers of Libyan oil, but when they started running low on funds after the economic crisis, what might be a better solution then to stir a rebellion against a 40 year old dictatorship, and then invading the country in a so-called humanitarian mission?

So many dictators thrive in the world right now but obviously not in oil rich countries, so they had to go after Gaddafi! Moreover, Sarkozy stated that “the future of Libya belongs to the people” most probably, of France! What’s also funny is that France condemned America for invading Iraq back in 2003, now it has taken on the same role with Libya because it’s inter-

ests lay there!

So military intervention is the best solution? Let’s not be ingenious please! If the Americans and Europeans are in favor of democracy, then why not put it to use?

Why not try to solve this diplomatically? This is not about Gaddafi, nor protecting innocent civilians! Moreover, if we look at Iraq today, they’re still living the aftermath of the American invasion and probably will not recover until they run out of oil and America has no more interests there. It’s a new bloody oil war all over again.

As oil rich Arab countries fall one after the other in the hands of power hungry US and Europe, we fail again as Arabs to take a stand and protect our own, while only china and Russia had the nerve to stand against the biased UN resolution as they always have.

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Viewpoint

Letter to the Editor

March 22, 2011

Outlook

Critique of the SRC and proposed solutions Faculty of Health Sciences Students Representative Committee (FHS SRC)

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tudent representation at AUB has many flaws that have rendered it an unreliable and ineffective medium for student action. Foremost is the implantation of the sectarian system on student representation. The sectarian nature of student elections, in particular, has two main negative effects on the quality of representation: (1) it has turned elections into a front for sectarian politics, moving discourse away from substantive student issues; and (2) it discourages non-sectarian, issue-oriented students from participating in elections, because of a rational perception that the SRC is co-opted. Another byproduct of this unfortunate marriage: many students elected to the SRC are not committed to serving their post and fulfilling their responsibility to students.

In our opinion, there is an immediate need for changes to the way that student representation happens at AUB. There is a great potential to implement structural/institutional changes to the election process and other aspects of student representation, which may improve the quality of representation at the SRC and USFC levels. We have developed several proposed policy changes that may negate the problems plaguing representation at AUB. Elections: 1) Require student candidates to submit a faculty-specific platform prior to registration. This platform will be distributed to the students of each faculty prior to the elections.

2) Require student candidates to enter into an election forum hosted by each faculty prior to the elections so that student voters can know their candidates and their merits beyond sect/party representation/popularity.

General: 1) Hold elections earlier in the academic year (third week of October) so that elected representatives have more time to work.

2) Require elected representatives to enter a yearlong elective course supervised by a faculty adviser to the SRC. This course would have several requirements (these are suggestions): regular attendance to SRC meetings, student-lead town hall meetings (once per semester), Faculty-SRC newsletters with student contributions (once per semester, at least), etc.

To incentivize SRC involvement, the course will have the academic weight of 2 credits (although it will be free and take 0 credits). Assessment of student representatives could come from a variety of sources: the faculty advisor, students, and other SRC members. These forms of evaluation would be combined and then reflect on the student’s overall GPA. This document has been forwarded to Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Talal Nezameddin for further actions. We plan to hold a student forum on this issue in the coming month, which will be announced via email. If you are interested in participating or helping to organize the forum or if you have any comments or suggestions, please contact Kareem Elzein (kae14@aub.edu.lb).

Opinion Is it any coincidence?

Wissam Nuwayhid

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ood, like candies and fast food, taste good on the spot yet they harm the body on the long run.

Food, like fruits and beans, don’t taste as good as hamburgers and french fries on the spot yet they greatly benefit the body on the long run.

Is this a coincidence?

Watching TV relaxes the body on the spot, yet on the

long run it creates a slouching bodily posture and a weak structure. Sports, on the other hand, are painful on the spot yet their effect in the long run is a strong and healthy body. Is this a coincidence?

Drugs at first taste good and make the person feel happy yet on the long run they ruin a person’s life. Medicine on the other hand, tastes bitter in the beginning yet it heals

the person on the long run. Is this a coincidence?

Acting angrily might momentarily relax a person yet it attaches vice to his name during life and after his death. Patience or the other hand is hard to hold on to, however it attaches virtue to a person’s name in life and after death. Is this a coincidence?

Babbling with friends is more fun than studying yet

babbling begets nothing while studying reaps fruit. Is this a coincidence?

Dancing crazily is much more fun than worship which is hard and painful yet dancing only creates momentarily pleasure while worship creates eternal pleasure. Is this a coincidence?

Things which are at first like poison and in the end like nectar, are pure. While things which are at first like

nectar and at the end like poison, are impure. We should not be lured in by honeyed words or sugar coated fallacies; for “True words are often not kind and kind words are often not true”(Lao Tzu).

Wissam Nuwayhid is a History undergraduate student at AUB.

Don’t Miss!

(continued from front page)

The wooden boxes (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm) will be used as follows:

2 boxes will be used to collect electronic waste 1 box will be used to collect books 1 box will be used to collect toys 1 box will be used to collect clothes 1 box will be used to collect tapes and CDs Submit a separate design for each box. You can submit more than one design. The six winning designs will be executed (painted) live during a special public painting event that will take place on April 27, 2011 during the AUB Volunteering Fair 2011.

To participate, please send your designs to ccecs@aub.edu.lb before Tuesday April 12th, 2011. Winners will be announced on Tuesday April 19, 2011. For more info you can call ext. 4430, or visit CCECS in West Hall, Basement B03. You are also welcome to visit the center to view the boxes.

Good luck!

Outlook

March 22, 2011

The Outlook team Chairperson

Talal Nizameddin

Faculty Advisor

Cleo Cacoulidis

Responsible Director

Antonios Francis

Editor-in-Chief

Rami Diab

Associate Editor

Timmy Malkoun

Editor at Large

Yahia Hamade

Arabic Editor

Mariam El Ali

Photography Editor

Salim Batlouni

Layout Director

John Hajjar

Members at Large

Samer Bu Jawdeh Giovanny Reaidi

News Executives

Heather Jaber Maya Sfeir Mostafa Fadlallah

Webmaster

Mohamad Al Medawar

Business Managers

Sally Khalifeh Lara Traboulsi

Staff Writers Khodor Abu Daya Nader Al Ahmadieh Fouad Badaoui Caterina Belardi Amir Bitar Jackie Daoud Sarah Al Dirani Edrees Elrachidi Mark Francis Dalia Hosn Elie El Khoury Aziza Khalil Yasmin Fansa Yumna Ghandour Maryam Hoballah

Lynn Itani Anis Kadado Tala Kardas Wajiha Jurdhi Kheir Sherif Maktabi Marie Nakhoul Rita Obeid Rami Panayoti Yasmine Saab Joseph Saba Amer Sare Mohammad Yaghi Emile Fares Zankoul Rayane Zahreddine Lama Zakharia

Photographers Mohamad Alameh Tariq Buhilaigah Dima Hajj Nadi Nassar

Lotfi Al Salah Wael Salem Antoine Salloum Mohammad Azzam

Cartoonist

O

Deedee El Jilani Jamila Mehio

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Out of the Box

Psyched Out

13

Rita Obeid

Autism For those of you who do not know me, I am very interested in childhood disorders in general and in children with autism in specific. For this reason, and due to the dramatic increase in autism in the world, I have decided to introduce autism into this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Outlook issue.

Autism is a form of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), which means that it is a category of many disorders that are characterized by severe impairments in social interactions and communication skills, in addition to repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior and activities. Some symptoms of children with autism include, but are not restricted to: social and language deficits and repetitive behaviors. Thus, it is very important that autism be diagnosed prior to age three.

Autism is a one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This fact signifies that children with autism are on the spectrum and hence, not similar in terms of symptoms, interests, and behaviors. Their behaviors are very different and so are their interests. Some children may be very calm while others may be very hyperactive.

The disorder is prevalent in all countries, races, religions, and cultures. There is extensive research on the causes of autism; however, its causes still remain unclear. There is a wide variety of interventions for children diagnosed with autism; nonetheless, the only treatment that has received empirical support is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) which has been proved to be significantly more effective than any other intervention. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a science which is based on behavioral principles. ABA consists of identifying behaviors that are to be changed (maladaptive behaviors), or desirable behaviors that are to be maintained, increased, or acquired. ABA techniques involve extinction (of undesirable behavior), shaping, reinforcement, prompts, modeling, among others. Also, and as already mentioned, early intervention for autism is critical for increased effectiveness.

Psychology Today(2007). Autism. Retreieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/autism. Mash, E.J, & Wolfe, D.A. (2008). Abnormal child psychology. Canada: Wadsworth

‫اوتلوك‬

‫وجهة نظر‬

‫اذار ‪2011 ,22‬‬

‫ازدواجية املعايير ‪..‬‬ ‫الشعب هو ّ‬ ‫الشعب‬

‫مصطفى فضل اهلل‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫عندما تطلق التّسميات‬ ‫السياس ّية الفضفاضة مثل‬ ‫مفردات اإلرهاب‪ ،‬العدالة‪ ،‬احلر ّية‪،‬‬ ‫الدميقرط ّية‪ ،‬الشعوب‪،‬وغيرها‪،‬‬ ‫علينا أن نضع تلك املسميات‬ ‫واملفردات على ميزان احلقيقة‬ ‫والوعي‪ ،‬لكون مطلقها واحد‪،‬‬ ‫ولسنا نحن هو‪ ،‬وليس هو‬ ‫نحن‪ ،‬ولكننا نكاد أن نعطيه‬ ‫من ح ّريتنا ما يجعلنا نحاكيه‬ ‫انعكاسا لصورة‪ ،‬أو‬ ‫لنكون‬ ‫ً‬ ‫نسخً ا ببغائ ّي ًة مق ّلدة‪ ،‬لواقع‬ ‫يكاد يستعبدنا‪.‬‬ ‫فالشعب هو الشعب‪ ،‬حني‬ ‫يقبل األخرون بثورته‪ ،‬أو حتى‬ ‫حني يخضعون لتلك الثورة‪.‬‬ ‫والشهب هو الشعب حني‬ ‫يكون القبول العربي بتلك‬ ‫الثورة‪ ،‬ملح ًقا لذلك القبول‬ ‫األجنبي‪ ،‬فقط حينها تتج ّلى‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫التّغطية اإلعالم ّية ويتج ّلى‬ ‫الفساد في قلب الدولة التّي‬ ‫يثور فيها «الشعب»‪ ،‬ويصبح‬ ‫اإلستماع ملطالب الشعب‬ ‫جوهرًا دميقراط ًيا وحتم ّية‬ ‫للحر ّية‪ ،‬وتتك ّثف التصاريح‬ ‫وتتج ّبر اللضغوط وتتدخل‬ ‫اجملالس الدول ّية حلقوق اإلنسان‪.‬‬ ‫ولكن الشعب ال يكون شع ًبا‪،‬‬ ‫حني ال تفرض التظاهرة نفسها‬ ‫بأنها مم ّثلة ألكثرية الشعب‪ ،‬وال‬

‫مسيرة ُ كفاح‬ ‫عامر الص ّريع‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫يكون الشعب عربيا إذا تكاتفت‬ ‫اجلهود العربية على نحر احلر ّية‬ ‫العربية‪ .‬املذبحة هنا قد تكون‬ ‫عرب ّي ًة خالصة‪ .‬فما املشكلة‪،‬‬ ‫الشعب هنا ليس شع ًبا‪ ،‬هكذا‬ ‫أق ّرت الـ»آلهة»‪ ،‬هي آلة دخيلة‪،‬‬ ‫هي دمية مس ّيرة‪ .‬أما املطالب‬ ‫فواحدة‪ ،‬أما اجلوهر فواحد‪ ،‬أما‬ ‫طرق التعبير فواحدة‪ ،‬لكن‬ ‫ازدواج املعايير حسب املصالح‪،‬‬ ‫أيضا واحد‪ .‬فهنا ٌ‬ ‫فل وأزهار‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫وهناك حكم باحلديد والنار‪.‬‬ ‫وفن أقوى‬ ‫للسياسية طعم آخر‪ٌ ،‬‬ ‫على صعيد النّفاق اإلعالمي‪،‬‬ ‫تستطيع من خالل بضع كلمات‬ ‫أن جتعل من الضح ّية جلاّ دًا‪،‬‬ ‫ومن اجللاّ د ضح ّي ًة منتفضة‪.‬‬ ‫هو تسيير للمشاعر وتوجيه‬ ‫لآلراء والعقول‪ .‬ليست املسألة‬ ‫محدوجا بأطر‬ ‫أن يكون فكرك‬ ‫ً‬ ‫التشكيك ّ‬ ‫بكل شيء‪ ،‬حيث ال‬ ‫أساس لإلنطالق‪ .‬لكن املسألة‬ ‫أن ننطلق من معتقداتنا‬ ‫على أساس احلقّ والبحث الزهراء ماجد‬ ‫عن احلقيقة‪ .‬علينا أن نخرج مساهمة صحفية‬ ‫من عقل ّية القرون الوسطى‬ ‫والعشائر ّيات والعوائل احلاكمة‪ ،‬أسمع أقوالهم‪ ،‬في شرقنا‬ ‫لكي ال يكون اعالمنا مبنيًّا على‬ ‫املتحضر‪ ،‬أنّه في بداية ال ّربيع‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أسس ما يلقيه اإلعالم إلينا‪ ،‬يو ٌم لألم‪ ..‬أعني‪« ،‬كتّر خيرو ي ّلي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فهو اعالم مس ّيس محكوم‪،‬‬ ‫تذكر»‪ ،‬وغيرهم يقول‪ ،‬اجلنّة‬ ‫األمهات‪ ،‬فقط في‬ ‫وهو مريض‪ ،‬مثلنا متا ًما‪ .‬نحن حتت أقدام ّ‬ ‫مرضى للعبود ّية ونخشى يوم عيد األم‪ ..‬سبحان اهلل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الطبيب ونخشى‬ ‫يتذكر‬ ‫الدواء‪ .‬كيف أن أغلب ّية الشعب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أمه في هذا اليوم‪ ،‬كأنّها هذه‬ ‫فالتوجيه اإلعالمي إذا كان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يهاجمني ويهاجم «جماعتي» الد ّرة اخملف ّية قد أغلقت على‬ ‫علي أن أب ّرد مشاعر العصب ّية نفسها ودفنت جوهرها في‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للجماعة‪ ،‬وأن أدرس ما يقال‪ ،‬فال أعماق البحار‪ ،‬ولم تكشف‬ ‫أحد منا معصوم عن اخلطأ‪ ،‬وال عن نفسها إال في هذا اليوم‪.‬‬ ‫يدعي النب ّوة‪ .‬والعكس وغيرهم كثيرون من كتب‬ ‫أحد منا ّ‬ ‫بأمه‪ ،‬وهو‪ ،‬أو هي‪،‬‬ ‫صحيح حني نرى إعال ًما يحاكينا األشعار ومدح ّ‬ ‫خالف دائم مع‬ ‫بكالم به من العسل الكثير واهلل األعلم‪ ،‬على‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫أمه‪ ،‬ولكن من الواجب ّ‬ ‫حقا ً أن مت ّر‬ ‫ومن السكر األكثر‪ .‬املسأألة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بسيطة ج ًدا‪ ،‬بساطة السماء هذه املناسبة على خير وبركة‪.‬‬ ‫في عظمتها‪ ،‬علينا أن نكون أعني أنني أمسكت بورقتي‬ ‫ثم م ّزقت‬ ‫اإلنسانيني في حركتنا في احلياة وأردت الكتابة إليها‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫واجملتمع‪ .‬فاإلنسانية واحدة ورقتي‪ٌ .‬‬ ‫فعل‬ ‫بديهي‪ .‬لم أجد ما‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أيضا‪ ،‬وإن تعددت أصفه أو أقوله لها‪ .‬يكفيني أنّها‬ ‫وآالمها واحدة ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مصغ ٌر‬ ‫أمي‪ ،‬وأنا قطع ٌة منها‪،‬‬ ‫األشكال‪ .‬مالحظة‪:‬ألمي في‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫عنها‪ ،‬على قول الكثيرون‪« ،‬طبق‬ ‫عيدها زهرة أخرى ودعاء آخر‪.‬‬ ‫األصل»‪ ،‬جوهر ومضمون‪..‬‬ ‫هي من ق ّبلني حني لم أملك‬ ‫للحقّ ذريعة‪ .‬هي من أنسني‬ ‫حني وجدني اخللق مري ًعا‪ .‬هي‬ ‫من أح ّبني حني رفضني النّاس‬ ‫جميعا‪ .‬سقتني ضعيفا ً دمع‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫املقل‪ ،‬وألبستني قويا ً‬ ‫ثوب‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫القبل‪ ،‬وظلت بقربي رشيد ًة وقد‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫احليل‪ .‬فيا طو َل‬ ‫ضاقت بحالي‬ ‫رب هاتيك‬ ‫هاتيك الليالي‪ ،‬ويا ُك َ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫العلل‪ .‬صغيرا ً حتى املمات تراني‪،‬‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫األجل‪.‬‬ ‫وصغيرا ً سأبقى لذاك‬ ‫في هذا العيد اعذريني‪ ،‬فال‬ ‫لدي لتسمعيني‪ .‬فقبالت‬ ‫جديد ّ‬ ‫الكون جمعتها‪ ،‬ألسكبها فوق‬ ‫نب من حب‬ ‫ذاك‬ ‫اجلبني‪ .‬ال تعج ّ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫امرء ألمه‪ ،‬حتى تدرك حبها‬ ‫ٍ‬

‫اجلنني‪ .‬وال يغ ّرنك‬ ‫الحتضان ذاك‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ضعف قلبها‪ ،‬ففي جوفه س ّر‬ ‫التكوين‪ .‬هي امرأة لو ُمألت‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫الدنيا لها ذهباً‪ ،‬لكانت إهان ًة‬ ‫أمني‪ .‬فكم من‬ ‫صادق‬ ‫لفضل‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ليالي سع ٍد حييتُها‪ ،‬على‬ ‫األنني‪.‬‬ ‫حسابها وحساب كتمها‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫فرح شاركتَها‪،‬‬ ‫وكم من‬ ‫أسبابالفؤا ٍ‬ ‫احلزين‪.‬‬ ‫د‬ ‫كبت‬ ‫آئرت‬ ‫وقد ْ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫أخيي من كان عونك‬ ‫فاذكر‬ ‫أال‬ ‫َ‬ ‫على أذيته حتى ترضى‪ .‬اذكر‬ ‫من حني ظلمته‪ ،‬آئرت عينه‬ ‫الغضض‪ .‬اذكر من سقاك احللو‬ ‫َ‬ ‫املضض‪.‬‬ ‫وقد‪ ..‬شرب لهنائك‬ ‫َ‬ ‫بعضها‬ ‫عبرات األم كيف تراها‪،‬‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫يست َِحثُ في اخل ِد بعضا‪ ،‬على‬ ‫ول ٍد يتخبط في مشيه‪ ،‬يهيم‬ ‫الغمض‪.‬‬ ‫طعم‬ ‫مع‬ ‫َ‬ ‫الهالك ال ي ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫مقدس‪ ،‬وكان‬ ‫فكان حب األم‬ ‫ٌ‬

‫‪14‬‬

‫فلدرب احملبة‬ ‫فرض‪.‬‬ ‫في الدين‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫الذل من الرحم ِة‬ ‫وجلناح‬ ‫مسلك‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫اخلفض‪.‬‬ ‫َ‬ ‫إن األمومة ال تكتمل باإلجناب‬ ‫فقط‪ .‬فاألم هي من تك ّبر‬ ‫وتربي‪ ،‬هي من توصل األبناء إلى‬ ‫الدرب‪ .‬هي من تعطي احلياة‬ ‫ِّ‬ ‫وجل عطائها‬ ‫احلب‪ .‬هي الربيع‬ ‫ِّ‬ ‫الرب‪.‬‬ ‫بزهو ِه‪ ،‬هي الرحم ُة من‬ ‫ِّ‬ ‫في صدرها األوطا ُن كامن ٌة‪ ،‬تزه ُر‬ ‫والوصب‪ .‬أيا امرأ ًة ما‬ ‫اآلالم‬ ‫على‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫وثقت ِ‬ ‫لغيرها‪ ،‬ووحني وث ِ ْق ِتني‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫سلبت‬ ‫بالسلب‪.‬‬ ‫أفجعتك‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫وأشبعت‬ ‫قلتيك‪،‬‬ ‫م‬ ‫من‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫العمرَ‬ ‫بالكذب‪ .‬واعتدت‬ ‫الكالم‬ ‫صدق‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫املواراة مصارح ًة‪ ،‬وأخفيت ما‬ ‫كان في قلبي‪ .‬لك من اهلل سال ٌم‪،‬‬ ‫فليس اليوم عيدك بل كل الزمان‬ ‫إلي حسبي‪.‬‬ ‫عي ٌد‪ ،‬وساعة َّ‬

‫شر ٌق عقيم‪ ...‬وعي ٌد لألم‬ ‫ثم ّ‬ ‫فكرت‬ ‫احلمد هلل‪ ،‬نعمة كرمي! ّ‬ ‫بهدية تناسبها‪ ،‬ككل سنة‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ولكن جوابها كان‪ ،‬ككل سنة‬ ‫بدي ياكن تكونوا مرتاحني»‪.‬‬ ‫‪ّ »:‬‬ ‫أقصد‪ ،‬كيف ميكننا حصر ذكرها‬ ‫بيوم واحد وسهرة عائل ّية واحدة‬ ‫؟‬ ‫إ ّن أكثر ما لفتني في هذه‬ ‫األجواء األموم ّية هو تخصيص‬ ‫يوم للمرأة‪ ،‬وتكرميها‪ .‬كأنّها‬ ‫قد ٍ أحصرت ّ‬ ‫ضحت من‬ ‫كل ما ّ‬ ‫بيوم واح ٍد‬ ‫أجله في حياتها‬ ‫السنة‪« .‬يعني كت ٍّر خيرن‬ ‫في ّ‬ ‫الشرق ّيني ّ‬ ‫تذكروا املرأة بشي»‪.‬‬ ‫لم أجد يوما ً رمزا ً للتضحية بعد‬ ‫الشهيد سوى األم‪ .‬فاأل ّول يبذل‬ ‫روحه من أجل الوطن‪ ،‬أصله‪ .‬واألم‬ ‫تبذل عمرها وروحها وراحتها من‬ ‫أجل ركائز احلياة واستمرار ّيتها‪.‬‬ ‫املضحني‪،‬‬ ‫بل إنني أجدها أكبر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مؤسسة كل ثوابت‬ ‫ألنّها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ولعل الشيء‬ ‫الدعم في احلياة‪.‬‬ ‫اإليجابي الوحيد هو تواجد هذه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املناسبة مع بداية فصل الربيع‪،‬‬ ‫أي أنّها إن لم تكن مصادفة‪ ،‬وإن‬ ‫كانت‪ ،‬تعني الكثير‪ .‬فالذكرى‬ ‫مفعم‬ ‫حدين‪ :‬األ ّول أ ّن اليوم ّ‬ ‫ذات ّ‬

‫«عشرون عاما و إمرأة واحدة لم‬ ‫أندم على حبي لها أمي»‬

‫(علي بدران ‪ -‬طالب الهندسة املدنية في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت)‬

‫الربيعي إضافة‬ ‫باحمل ّبة والصفاء‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫إلى كونه مش ّب ًعا بقدس ّية‬ ‫أمهاتنا واحمل ّبة املتبادلة‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لتذكر األم‬ ‫والثاني‪ ،‬هو احلاجة‬ ‫وحصر ذكراها السنو ّية في هذا‬ ‫متجدد‬ ‫اليوم فقط‪ .‬فاألم منب ٌع‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في احلياة‪ ،‬ك ّلما شربت منه‪،‬‬ ‫ازدادت حاجتك للتبادل الروحي‬ ‫منها‪ .‬بنظري‪ ،‬وبكل تواضع‪ ،‬كل‬ ‫يوم هو عيد لألم‪ .‬كل يوم هو‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫يوم للمرأة‪ّ .‬‬ ‫كل يوم هو تذكير‬ ‫بأن العالم ال يقوم إال على‬ ‫ركائز ثمينة جوهرها العطاء‬ ‫والتضحية‪ .‬كل يوم هو عيد‪،‬‬ ‫فكل عيد هو لألم‪.‬‬ ‫لذلك أ ّيها الشرقيون‪ ,‬ح ّبذا‬ ‫أمهاتكم ّ‬ ‫كل يوم‪،‬‬ ‫لو تذكروا ّ‬ ‫وتكافؤوها بابتسامة شكر أو‬ ‫بقبلة مح ّبة‪.‬‬ ‫األمهات‪ّ ,‬‬ ‫كل عيد‬ ‫إليكم أ ّيها ّ‬ ‫وأن ّ‬ ‫نت رم ٌز للمرأة املضح ّية‬ ‫احلنون‪..‬‬ ‫إليك أ ّيتها الغالية‪ّ ,‬‬ ‫يوم‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫توفيق كل ٍ‬ ‫وأنت أ ّم لي‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫وسعادة‬ ‫وكل‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫أمي‪...‬‬ ‫ألنّك ّ‬ ‫ينعاد على اجلميع‪.‬‬

‫‪15‬‬

‫منوعات‬

‫وسائل اإلعالم في لبنان‪ :‬صدق أو ال تصدق‬

‫ماري نخول‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

‫كثيرًا ما يقال أ ّن وسائل اإلعالم‬ ‫األساسي ما بني‬ ‫هي ال ّرابط‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املواطن والعالم‪ ،‬وهي املرآة‬ ‫التي تعكس احلقيقة كما هي‬ ‫ليراها املواطن بصورة واضحة‬ ‫دون حتريف أو تشويه‪ .‬ولكن‬ ‫في لبنان‪ ،‬يختلف التعريف‪...‬‬ ‫فبانقسامنا إلى لونني وفئتني‪،‬‬ ‫انقسمت وسائل اإلعالم بدورها!‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ولكل‬ ‫فلكل فئة «حقيقتها»‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫محطة إعالم ّية مشاهديها!‬ ‫فبالنسبة لهم ما احلقيقة إال‬ ‫اخلبر الذي ّ‬ ‫يبث من القناة التابعة‬ ‫لتوجهاتهم ‪ ،‬وما األخبار األخرى‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫على الرغم من د ّقتها ووضوحها‪،‬‬ ‫وكذب‬ ‫إال معلومات مغلوطة‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫وإحتيا ٌل وإفتراء! هذا هو لبنان‪،‬‬ ‫وهذه تركيبته الدميوغرافية!‬

‫ومع األسف‪ ،‬اجنرفت وسائل‬ ‫اإلعالم هذه في تيارات النزاعات‬ ‫من‬ ‫وجت ّردت‬ ‫السياسية‬ ‫مصداقيتها!‬ ‫وبنا ًء على ذلك‪ ،‬يأتي موضوع‬ ‫حي في ذهنا ‪ ،‬وعلى سبيل املثال‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ال احلصر‪ ،‬تأتي مظاهرة ‪ ١٣‬اذار‬ ‫‪ ٢٠١١‬لتعكس هذا اإلنشطار‬ ‫اإلعالمي ما بني الطرفني ‪:‬‬ ‫فص ّرحت وسيلة إعالمية «‬ ‫بشري اجتاح اليوم‬ ‫«تسونامي»‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫«ساحة احلر ّية»‪ ،‬فاحلشد بلغ‬ ‫‪ ٨٠٠‬ألف لبناني وفق إحصاءات‬ ‫رسم ّية‪ ،‬وأكثر من مليون وفق‬ ‫وكالة «رويترز» التي اعتبرته‬ ‫شعبي حصل في‬ ‫أكبر جتمع‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لبنان»‪ ....‬أما وسيلة إعالمية‬ ‫من الفئة األخرى فص ّرحت‬ ‫أن افرقائها «فوجئوا بحشود‬ ‫قدرتها وكاالت األنباء‬ ‫متواضعة ّ‬ ‫األجنب ّية ببضع عشرات االالف»‪.‬‬

‫ّ‬ ‫محطة إعالم ّية‬ ‫و أيضاً‪ ،‬إعتبرت‬ ‫أن « م ّرة جديدة تتفوق هذه‬ ‫اجلماهير على توقعات قيادييها‬ ‫(‪ )...‬و تثبت اميانها بثوابتها‬ ‫وبشعاراتها» ‪،‬في حني تضاربت‬ ‫أخبار محطة أخرى من الفئة‬ ‫الثانية قائل ًة « إنتهى مشهد‬ ‫ال‪ ١٣-‬من اذار على خشبة‬ ‫املسرح بجمهور خيب توقعات‬ ‫املواطنني وبدد آمال املشرفني‬ ‫«!‬ ‫و يعكس هذا السيناريو‬ ‫حقيقة وسائل اإلعالم في‬ ‫لبنان! حيث اختفت احلقيقة‬ ‫وطمست في ّ‬ ‫ظل هذه املفارقات‬ ‫اإلعالمية التي وضعت املواطن‬ ‫في حيرة ال تنتهي!‬ ‫هذا هو لبنان! وهذا ما فعلته‬ ‫اإلنقسامات السياس ّية التي‬ ‫حولت وسائل اإلعالم املرئية‬ ‫منها واملسموعة إلى أليات‬

‫سياس ّية مشحونة ال تنقل‬ ‫اخلبر كما هو‪ ،‬بل حت ّرفه فيما‬ ‫توجهاتها‪ ،‬لينعكس‬ ‫يناسب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املوضوع سلبا ً على املواطن‬ ‫الذي يأخذ املعلومة كما هي‬ ‫ويصدقها! ففي طبيعة احلال‪،‬‬ ‫وبكون وسائل اإلعالم صلة‬ ‫الوصل بني األحدث واملواطن‪،‬‬ ‫تعتبر هذه األخيرة مصدر ثقة‬ ‫! ومبا أن الوضع الراهن مقسوم‬ ‫ما بني طرفني‪ ،‬انقسمت األخبار‬ ‫بدورها! فع ّوض عن نشرة‬ ‫إخبارية يومية‪ ،‬أضحى هناك‬ ‫نشرتني عاجلتا املوضوع نفسه‪،‬‬ ‫وامنا مع األسف بشكل مضاد!‬ ‫كما أن لكل طرف « حقيقته»‬ ‫واحداثه التي يصدقها و يكذب‬ ‫غيرها وإن كانت دقيقة!‬ ‫صحيح أن لبنان يتميز‬ ‫بحرية التعبير الدميقراطية!‬ ‫ولكن‪« ،‬تنتهي حريتي عندما‬

‫اذار ‪2011 ,22‬‬

‫اوتلوك‬

‫تبدأ حرية غيري»‪ ...‬وعليه‬ ‫يجب على وسائل اإلعالم‬ ‫اإللتزام بحد أدنى من احلقيقة‬ ‫وإال فقدت مصداقيتها وبطل‬ ‫عملها‪ .‬وهذا ما حدث في‬ ‫لبنان فصار ّ‬ ‫سياسي‬ ‫لكل حزب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وسائله اإلعالم ّية التي تشيد‬ ‫بأعماله ومتارس القدح والذ ّم‬ ‫على اخصامه!‬ ‫وإذا كان املرء حيادياً‪ ،‬تقع‬ ‫املشكلة! فعند مشاهدته‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫احملطات‬ ‫نشرات األخبار على‬ ‫املعاكسة‪ ،‬يشعر بإنفصام‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الشخصية‪ .‬أين! نعم‪ ،‬هذا هو‬ ‫الكوميدي احلزين مع‬ ‫املشهد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫األسف‪ ،‬الذي يعكس حقيقة‬ ‫اعالمنا اللبناني‪...‬‬

‫كاتب من هذا الزمان‬ ‫سحر خليفة‬ ‫نهاد غازي عواد‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

‫سيمون دبوفوار هي جائزة‬ ‫فرنسية منحت للروائية سحر‬ ‫خليفة مناصفة مع الكاتبة‬ ‫اليهودية تسفيا جرين فيلد‬ ‫لكن خليفة رفضتها قائلة ‪« :‬إن‬ ‫القبول بنصف اجلائزة‪ ،‬هو نصف‬ ‫اعتراف»‪...‬وتتابع «إ ّن اجلوائز ال‬ ‫تهيء له‪ ،‬ولو‬ ‫تصنع سال ًما‪ ،‬وال ّ‬ ‫كان األمر كذلك‪ ..‬لكنا حصلنا‬ ‫على السالم مع ياسر عرفات‬ ‫ورابني وبيريز في نيلهم جلائزة‬ ‫نوبل للسالم»‪ .‬ا ّن موقف خليفة‬ ‫وسام شرف على صدر السوريني‬ ‫الفلسطنيني‪ .‬وخليفة حصلت‬ ‫عدة جوائز أخرى منها‪:‬‬ ‫على ّ‬ ‫جائزة مورافيا اإليطالية‪ ،‬جائزة‬ ‫سرفانتس األسبان ّية‪ ،‬جائزة‬ ‫جنيب محفوظ من اجلامعة‬ ‫األمريك ّية في القاهرة عن رواية‬ ‫‪“،‬صورة و أيقونة و عهد قدمي”‬ ‫نص انساني‬ ‫(‪ )2002‬وهي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فلسطيني‪ ..‬ترجمت رواياتها‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الى أكثر من ‪ 17‬لغة عاملية‬ ‫وهي روايات عاجلت القضية‬ ‫الفلسطينية من قبل ال ‪48‬‬ ‫حتى القرن العشرين‪ .‬وأبرز‬ ‫هذه الروايات‪:‬رواية «الصبار»‬ ‫(‪1976‬م) وتتحدث عن وضع‬ ‫السكان بعد حرب ‪،1967‬‬ ‫وتابعت املوضوع في رواية‬ ‫«عباد الشمس» (‪،)1980‬بينما‬ ‫رصدت رواية «باب الساحة»‬ ‫(‪ )1990‬فترة االنتفاضة األولى ‪،‬‬ ‫في حني تناولت رواية «امليراث»‬ ‫‪ 1997‬مرحلة ما بعد (أوسلو)‪،‬‬

‫وعاجلت «ربيع حار» ‪2004‬‬ ‫الواقع الفلسطيني في زمن‬ ‫االنتفاضة األخيرة‪.‬هي اآلن‬ ‫حتضر لكتابة رواية عن ال ّزعيم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املناضل انطون سعادة الذي كان‬ ‫من أهم أهداف حزبه التخلص‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الصف في‬ ‫من االحتالل وتوحيد‬ ‫بالد الشام‪ .‬وصفت فلسطني‬ ‫بشكل واقعي‪ ،‬ناضج‪ ،‬ومسؤول‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫وابتعدت عن األحالم لتعيش قي‬ ‫مرآة الواقع فمعاجلة املرض ال‬ ‫يكون اال بتوصيفه وتشخيصه‬ ‫ِّ‬ ‫األمة‬ ‫متفش في‬ ‫وهو مرض‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫العرب ّية وليس فقط في‬ ‫فلسطني التي يعاني شعبها‬ ‫التشرذم والتفرقة واحلرمان‬ ‫والظلم واالحتالل واجلوع‬ ‫واملرض‪.‬‬ ‫إضافة الى فلسطني القضية‬ ‫منحا نسويًا‬ ‫اخذت الروايات‬ ‫ً‬ ‫حيث هناك معاجلة لقضايا‬ ‫املرأة بكل تشعباتها‪ .‬فبطالت‬ ‫ال ّروايات مشغوالت باحلر ّية‬ ‫الفرد ّية والعالقة بني اجلنسني‬ ‫وكيفية بناء وطن على اسس‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تركز دعائم املساواة‬ ‫صح ّية‬ ‫بني نصفي اجملتمع‪ .‬فتح ّرر املرأة‬ ‫يتساوى مع حت ّرر فلسطني وكأن‬ ‫التس ّلط الذكوري وجه آخر‬ ‫لالحتالل اإلسرائيلي‪ .‬وقد ع ّبرت‬ ‫عن هذه الفكرة املغالية في‬ ‫روايتها املميزة ‪« :‬مذكرات امرأة‬ ‫غير واقعية»‪ ،‬فنظرة سحر‬ ‫للمرأة قريبة الى النظرة القبانية‬ ‫ولست‬ ‫لست األم‬ ‫حيث تقول‪ :‬أنا‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ولست الرمز‪ ،‬أنا إنسانة‪.‬‬ ‫األرض‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫آكل أشرب أحلم أخطئ أضيع‬ ‫أموج وأتعذب وأناجي الريح‪.‬‬

‫الكاتبة سحر خليفة‬

‫لست الرمز‪ .‬أنا املرأة‪».‬‬ ‫أنا‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫املرأة في رواياتها شخص ّية‬ ‫تقدم صورًا مشرقة‬ ‫أساس ّية ّ‬ ‫من النضال والكفاح وحتى‬ ‫التم ّرد‪ .‬وقد اعتمدت سحر على‬ ‫الشهادات احلية من اجلنسني‬ ‫وعلى الشخصيات احلقيقية‬ ‫املعروفة لتوثيق رواياتها فمن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املثقف‬ ‫‪ :‬عبدالقادر احلسيني‬ ‫والكيميائي الالمع و‬ ‫املتم ّرد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫عبدالرحيم احلاج (أبو كمال)‬ ‫وعيسى وسعاد الى نساء‬ ‫حوش العطعوط‪ .‬وأغلب هذه‬

‫الشخصيات بنائية اي تتمتع‬ ‫بدينامية عالية وتتميز باحلراك‬ ‫املستمر وهي شخصيات من‬ ‫مختلف الطبقات االجتماعية‬ ‫والثقافية‪.‬‬ ‫والعقائدية‬ ‫ونصوصها ليست مستهلكة‬ ‫فهي على خالف كثر تؤسس‬ ‫ملفهوم الفرد الفسطيني‬ ‫ككائن حي ولم تنشغل‬ ‫بالقضية على حساب األفراد‬ ‫كما هو سائد في النتاج‬ ‫األدبي النضالي بل حررت الفرد‬ ‫لفلسطيني من سطوة اجلماعة‬

‫وكسرت ما يعتبره آخرون‬ ‫مقدس‪ .‬هذا الهم اإلبداعي الذي‬ ‫التزمته لم يغرقها في التنظير‬ ‫اخلطابي بل جعل رواياتها نص‬ ‫مفتوح متعدد املستويات يروى‬ ‫الواقع واملعاناة الفلسطينية‪.‬‬ ‫فلسطني الزيتون التي أصبح‬ ‫يرمز لها باحلجارة‪ .‬حجارة‬ ‫يبيعونها اصحاب األرواح امليتة‬ ‫وحجارة يصنع منها األبطال‬ ‫سالحا فريدا سيسقط الطغاة‬ ‫باذن اهلل‪.‬‬

‫أ وتلو ك‬

‫مظهر جديد يأتيكم قريبا ً‪...‬‬

‫اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت‬

‫املنشورة الطالبية املستقلة منذ عام ‪|١٩٤٩‬‬

‫الثالثاء ‪ 22‬اذار ‪2011‬‬

‫|‬

‫‪15‬‬

‫جزء ‪ ٬٤٣‬عدد ‪21‬‬

‫‪14‬‬

‫سحر خليفة‬

‫عيد األم‬

‫بني شهادة اللؤلؤ ونيران ليبيا اجلديدة‬

‫مصطفى فضل اهلل‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫لؤلؤ‬ ‫البحرين‬

‫يستشهد‬

‫في‬

‫شهدت األيام السابقة في‬ ‫البحرين تط ّورات خطيرة على‬ ‫حتدى‬ ‫الصعيد‬ ‫امليداني‪ ،‬فقد ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املعارضون حظر التج ّول املفروض‬ ‫من قبل السلطات وقاموا‬ ‫بتشييع الشهيد أحمد فرحان‬ ‫الذي استشهد برصاصة في‬ ‫ال ّرأس الثالثاء املاضي بعد إعالن‬ ‫حالة الطوارئ بوقت قصير‪ .‬كما‬ ‫وقال الشيخ عيسى قاسم‪،‬‬ ‫احد ابرز العلماء ّ‬ ‫الشيعة في‬ ‫البحرين‪ ،‬في خطبة اجلمعة‪ ،‬ا ّن‬ ‫املطالبني باإلصالح «ال يؤمنون‬ ‫السلطات‬ ‫بالعنف الذي حتاول ّ‬ ‫دفعهم نحوه»‪ .‬وأضاف إن‬ ‫السلم ّية كانت خيارنا‬ ‫«املقاربة ّ‬ ‫منذ اليوم األول»‪.‬‬ ‫وأزالت السلطات البحرينية دوار‬ ‫اللؤلؤة وسط املنامة‪ ،‬ودمرت‬ ‫يتوسطه‪ ،‬والذي‬ ‫النّصب الذي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شكل رمزًا للحركة االحتجاج ّية‬

‫املطالبة بالتّغيير في اململكة‪.‬‬ ‫وقالت وكالة أنباء البحرين «في‬ ‫إطار حرص احلكومة على حتسني‬ ‫اخلدمات وتطوير البنية التحتية‬ ‫بدأت أعمال تطوير تقاطع دوار‬ ‫مجلس التعاون وذلك لزيادة‬ ‫االنسيابية في هذه املنطقة‬ ‫احليوية من العاصمة»‪.‬‬ ‫وتعليقا على ذلك‪ ،‬قال وزير‬ ‫اخلارجية الشيخ خالد‪ ،‬في مؤمتر‬ ‫صحافي‪ ،‬إن تدمير الدوار سببه‬ ‫«أننا ال نريد أن نحتفظ بذكرى‬ ‫سيئة»‪ ،‬مشيرا إلى أن ما حصل‬ ‫على هذا الدوار «عمق االنقسام‬ ‫في اجملتمع»‪.‬‬

‫ليبيا ‪ ..‬ونيران جديدة‬

‫دخلت ال ّثورة الليب ّية في‬ ‫منعطف خطير‪ ،‬بعدما شرعت‬ ‫الدول الغرب ّية‪ ،‬التي حتظى بدعم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شن هجمات‬ ‫رمزي‪ ،‬في‬ ‫عربي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫جتاوزت هدف إقامة منطقة‬ ‫حظر للطيران فوق األجواء‬ ‫الليبية‪ ،‬لتصل إلى فرض‬ ‫وقائع ميدانية جديدة لصالح‬ ‫الثوار‪ ،‬بعدما ّ‬ ‫دكت طائراتها‬ ‫وصواريخها‬ ‫العسكر ّية‬

‫اسة تابعة‬ ‫حس ّ‬ ‫املوجهة مراكز ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫معمر القذافي‪،‬‬ ‫لق ّوات ال ّرئيس‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫موقف ًة هجوما ً كاسحا ً بدأته‬ ‫الكتائب األمن ّية التّابعة‬ ‫لنظامه على معقل الث ّوار‬ ‫في مدينة بنغازي‪ ،‬ومفسحة‬ ‫الطريق أمامهم للتقدم مجددا ً‬ ‫نحو الغرب‪ ،‬من دون أن يعني‬ ‫ذلك ان نهاية القذافي قد باتت‬ ‫وشيكة‪ ،‬بعدما أق ّرت واشنطن‬ ‫الغربي قد يصل إلى‬ ‫بأن التدخّ ل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫طريق مسدود‪ .‬ومساء أمس‪،‬‬ ‫ه ّزت انفجارات قو ّية العاصمة‬ ‫الليب ّية احدها في منطقة باب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫القذافي‪.‬‬ ‫العزيز ّية حيث يقيم‬ ‫الدخان من‬ ‫وتصاعدت سحب ّ‬ ‫هذه املنطقة التي تقع في جنوب‬ ‫العاصمة ال ّليب ّية‪ .‬وأصيب مبنى‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫القذافي بصاروخ‬ ‫اداري في مق ّر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الصاروخ املبنى‬ ‫دمره كل ًيا‪ّ .‬‬ ‫ودمر ّ‬ ‫الواقع على مسافة خمسني‬ ‫مترا من اخليمة التي كان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫القذافي يستقبل فيها عاد ًة‬ ‫كبار ز ّواره‪ .‬وقال املتحدث باسم‬ ‫الليبي موسى ابراهيم‬ ‫النّظام‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للصحافيني االجانب الذين‬

‫(صورة‪)Al-akhbar.com :‬‬

‫اق ّلوا الى املوقع في حافلة‬ ‫انه مبنى اداري وقد استهدف‬ ‫بصاروخ‪ ،‬مشيرا ً إلى انه «قصف‬ ‫وحشي كان ميكن ان يصيب‬ ‫ّ‬

‫املتجمعني في‬ ‫مئات املدنيني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫معمر القذافي على بعد‬ ‫مق ّر‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حوالى ‪ 400‬متر من املبنى الذي‬ ‫اصيب»‪.‬‬

‫مبادرة طالب اجلامعة االميركية للمخيمات‬ ‫بيروت – جيهان القيسي – إنسان‬ ‫أون الين ‪15-03-2011 -‬‬

‫اعتقدت أن ال أحد يستمع‬ ‫لطاملا‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫إلى أنني أهالي مخيمات لبنان‪،‬‬ ‫وذلك بعد أكثر من ‪ 62‬عاما ً من‬ ‫غياب جماعي للضمير االنساني‬ ‫جتاه فئة من البشر اضطهدت‬ ‫وظلمت وصودر حقها في‬ ‫احلياة الكرمية بنصوص قانونية‬ ‫وتشريعية‪ .‬إلى أن أتت املبادرة‬ ‫من مجموعة من طالب اجلامعة‬ ‫األميركية في بيروت‪ ،‬من عدة‬ ‫جنسيات وطوائف‪ ،‬ليطلبوا‬ ‫زيارة خمليم فلسطيني في لبنان‪.‬‬ ‫جالوا في أزقة مخيم برج‬ ‫البراجنة‪ ،‬مخيم يسكنه أكثر‬ ‫من ‪ 35‬ألف نسمة مبساحة اقل‬ ‫من كيلو متر مربع! بأيادٍ مرجتفة‬ ‫وتعابير مؤملة‪ ،‬نسوا الكاميرات‬ ‫التي يحملونها‪ ،‬وكانت‬ ‫عيونهم مذهولة مبا يرونه من‬ ‫صور واقعية لم يصدقوا يوما ً‬ ‫وجودها! ردود الفعل اختلفت‬ ‫بني طالب وآخر‪..‬‬ ‫إذ بينما انهارت طالب ًة بكا ًء‬

‫ّ‬ ‫وغطت وجهها لكي ال ترى املزيد‬ ‫من معاناة أسرة «عاطف»‪..‬‬ ‫جلس زميلها بابتسامة حزينة‬ ‫على األرض بني األطفال األربعة‬ ‫محاوال ً أن يعلمهم القراءة‬ ‫والكتابة خالل ساعة من الزمن‪..‬‬ ‫تفاعل األطفال معه‪ ..‬ابتسموا‬ ‫ورسموا شمسا ً وبيتا ً ولعب ًة‪..‬‬ ‫رسموا أشياء لم يعرفوها من‬ ‫قبل‪ ،‬لكنهم سمعوا أ ّن هناك‬ ‫بيوتا ً مخصصة للبشر‪ ،‬لكنهم‬ ‫يعرفون بالفطرة أ ّن اخلرابة التي‬ ‫يسكنونها غير مؤهلة ليعيش‬ ‫فيها أسرة مؤلفة من ‪ 6‬أفراد‪،‬‬ ‫بل هي مخصصة للفئران‬ ‫والصراصير التي تشاركهم‬ ‫وفرشاتهم‪..‬‬ ‫طعامهم‬ ‫يعيشون على الهامش‪ ،‬بال ادنى‬ ‫مق ّومات احلياة‪ ..‬ال يعرفون البراد‬ ‫أو الغسالة او فرن الغاز‪ ..‬واحلمام‬ ‫عبارة عن حفرة صغيرة في غرفة‬ ‫جتتاحها الرطوبة والعفونة‪.‬‬ ‫وفي زوبعة االنفعاالت التي‬ ‫أحدثتها الزيارة امليدانية‬ ‫للمخيم‪ ،‬خرجت منهم‬ ‫تعليقات غاضبة‪« :‬عندما‬

‫سمع أصدقائي أنني ذاهبة‬ ‫لزيارة مخيم فلسطيني‪ ،‬حاولوا‬ ‫زرع الرعب في قلبي قائلني إنني‬ ‫قد أتعرض للخطف أو القتل!!‬ ‫ملاذا ال نسمع عن اخمليمات‬ ‫الفلسطينية إال اآلن؟ أشعر‬ ‫بالصدمة ملا نراه من قصص‬ ‫آالم ومآسي يعيشها أبرياء على‬ ‫أرض لبنان‪ ..‬أين هو اإلعالم؟»‬ ‫باسم نصف مليون فلسطيني‬ ‫في لبنان‪ ،‬شكرا ً لكم أيها‬ ‫الطالب على بادرتكم ّ‬ ‫الطيبة‬ ‫جتاه اخمليمات الفلسطينية‪..‬‬ ‫شكرا ً ألنكم تعملون جاهدين‬ ‫من أجل اإلنسانية وإسعاد‬ ‫أطفال لم تعرف االبتسامة‬ ‫طريقا ً إلى وجوههم البائسة‬ ‫منذ زمن طويل‪ .‬وما حققتموه‬ ‫هو اجناز مش ّرف‪ .‬واقول لكم‬ ‫أ ّن تلك التجربة ليست األولى‬ ‫فقط بالنسبة لكم‪ ،‬بل هي‬ ‫أيضا ً جتربتي األولى مع أمثالكم‪،‬‬ ‫إذ بعد ‪ 10‬سنوات من العمل‬ ‫في اخمليمات الفلسطينية‬ ‫شعرت بشيء من‬ ‫في لبنان‪،‬‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫التفاؤل أ ّن هناك طالبا ً يريدون أن‬

‫(صورة‪)Insanonline.net :‬‬

‫يغ ّيروا واقعا ً مريرا ً لم يستطع‬ ‫تغييره الكبار‪.‬‬ ‫انتهت اجلولة ومعها بدأت رحلة‬ ‫الطالب اإلنسان ّية جتاه اخمليمات‬ ‫الفلسطينية عبر الفايسبوك‪،‬‬ ‫تـنتسى‪،‬‬ ‫موثقني حلظات ال ُ‬ ‫متحدثني عن انطباعاتهم‬ ‫وجتربتهم الفريدة‪ ،‬طالبني من‬ ‫رفقائهم االنضمام إلى جوالت‬ ‫ميدانية أخرى في اخمليمات‬ ‫الفلسطينية في لبنان‪ .‬لم‬ ‫يكتف الطالب بالبكاء على‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫حال الالجئني الفلسطينيني‬ ‫أي‬ ‫في لبنان‪ ،‬أل ّن الدموع لن حتقق ّ‬ ‫نتيجة‪ ،‬بل يفكرون بوقفة جا ّدة‬

‫وينقبون عن حلول قد حتقق‬ ‫لشعب عانى‬ ‫شيئا ً من الكرامة‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫الكثير ولسنوات طويلة‪.‬‬ ‫هل يكون طالب اجلامعة‬ ‫األميركية بداية النهوض‬ ‫بعالم اخمليمات؟ وهل يبادر طالب‬ ‫اجلامعات األخرى إلى عمل‬ ‫شبيه مببادرة هؤالء الطالب؟‬ ‫وهل تشرق شمس احلق خالل‬ ‫هذا العام الهالينا احملرومني في‬ ‫مخيمات لبنان‪ ،‬فيحصلون‬ ‫على بعض حقوقهم اإلنسانية‬ ‫املهدورة؟ وهل ينتصر الطالب‬ ‫للفقراء‪ ،‬واملعذبني واملسحوقني‬ ‫في مخيمات لبنان‪.‬‬