Outlook
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Yusuf Estes at AUB: “Do you believe in what you believe?” Loulwa Kalache & Karim Zahed Staff Writers / Mohammad B. Azzam Photographer “Have you thought about what you believe in? Have you ever felt that you need someone to point out where you’re going wrong?” Yusuf Estes, a prominent figure in global Islamic movements, gave a speech entitled “My Journey to Islam,” on Monday, January 9. The AUB Insight Club hosted the event in the Issam Fares Hall, with over 500 people that attended to hear Estes’ story. An American from Texas, and an activist in Islamic missionary work in the United States, Estes was born in a religious Protestant family, and worked in the music industry for 20 years. He was also a firm believer in “Born Again” Christianity, preaching its values to the public. What attracted Yusuf Estes to Islam? “Nothing, absolutely nothing” he said. Estes attested that he wasn’t looking for a new religion, had full faith in God, and had great relations with the church. “All religions have their cliques; they fight over these traditions,” said Estes. Whether they are Jews, Muslims, Christians or Buddhists, people are always fighting about whose right and who’s wrong, explained Estes. He expressed that he had huge misconceptions about Islam, and did not want to meet Muslims, talk with Muslims, or
اوﺗﻠﻮك even read about them. Fate had it that he had to covers his head, with a long beard and a sword. land a deal with an Egyptian business man. But Estes believed that the only way to help the man, as stereotypes so often prevail, Estes had an im- was to bring him to Christianity. age about Mohammad, the Egyptian, would defiContinued on Page 3 nitely be wearing a white gown, a big cloth that
Parental pressure increases depression among students May Jabado Special-to-Outlook Lama knew when she was going to kill herself. “Everyday was better because I knew it was going to end soon,” she said with a sigh. “I figured that at least this way I would get to choose when it ends. It made me feel in control.” Lama, 19, junior, is one of many students at the American University of Beirut (AUB), who suffers from depression. According to Antoine Khabbaz, director of the university’s counseling center, there has been a significant increase in the number of students visiting him for depression. “The simple fact of accessing adulthood can be depressive, especially in an environment like ours,” said Khabbaz. He explained that in highcontext societies, all could be lost from one minute to another. Khabbaz believes this usually causes young adults to develop apprehension and a strong fear of loss. www.aub.edu.lb/outlook
An informal online survey was conducted during the week of Nov. 21, 2011, to which 70 AUB students responded. The questions were based on the main psychological symptoms of depression cited by the British National Health System’s official website. More than half reported to regularly experience feelings of low self-esteem, and one third reported to regularly experience anxiety. Furthermore, more than three quarters reported feelings of guilt, and two thirds reported to often feel helpless and/or hopeless. Khaled Nasser, a lecturer in interpersonal communication, explained that a student’s selfconcept is highly influenced by his parents. Nasser’s argument was supported by an online survey, which found that 89 percent of students care about their parents’ opinions when making personal decisions. The survey also showed that
parental pressure contributed to 13.2 percent of depression symptoms’ variations among the student sample. Lama felt like an outsider to her family because her strong views opposed that of her parents. “Now that I am living abroad (her parents are in the Gulf), I feel a bit better,” she added. Khabbaz said that it is usually students who come from conservative backgrounds and are suddenly faced with AUB’s liberal ways that seem to experience the most dissonance. “Girls are particularly vulnerable to this, as the repertoire of acceptance and room for error is usually way narrower for them than it is for boys,” mentioned Khabbaz. Continued on Page 3
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