Attention all readers: Outlook is now recruiting! For more info, log on to our website (www.aub.edu.lb/outlook) or email us at (readoutlook@gmail.com)
The American University of Beirut
Outlook |
Vol. XLIII, No. 25
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
67
|
The 24th Annual IslamThe Independent Student Publication Since 1949 ic Book Fair
AUB’s branding campaign
Don’t Miss!
New logo: Dynamism and tradition striking a balance Maya Sfeir News Executive Foaud Badaoui Senior Staff Writer
A
UB’s new logo has sparked several discussions among students about the manner in which AUB is preserving its heritage and adapting to fast changing times. While some praise the new design that, according to Biology Senior Amjad Kanj, “suits the dynamic world we live in now,” others, such as Politcal Sci-
Havoc at Penrose Dorms Speaker chucked off fifth floor and tree burning alarm administration Penrose Dorm lounge closed
Joseph Saba Senior Staff Writer Emile Zankoul Staff Writer
M
ore than a year ago, the Penrose dormitory residents experienced one eccentric experience that involved a green laser being pointed at an airplane pilot, causing the Lebanese police and army to enter AUB after informing the AUB Security Office of doing so. The whole incident turned out to be that the residents were randomly pointing the
laser in the air; unaware of that they even had a chance of reaching an airplane, nevertheless getting it in the pilot’s eyes. This year Penrose experienced another weird and eccentric event. This time though, it was anything but random. On Tuesday, April 12, while the International College (IC) students were having their Physical Education (PE) class in the green field that lies behind the Penrose dormitories and in front continued on page 2
Correction for last week’s article titled “AUB holds fair for highschool students”
INSIDE
Page 15
Campus News Arts & Culture Alumni News Entertainment Out Loud
2-6 7 8 9 10
Three events by the Armenian Heritage Club in memory of the Armenian Genocide
ence Graduate student Mario Abou Zeid, condemn it as too minimal:”it’s too simple, too basic; where’s AUB in this?” The new logo is the fruit of two years of work within the Office of Communications to reaffirm AUB’s visual identity. “We kept the historical aspect of the wax seal, which is the origin of the logo […] that didn’t disappear, we just morphed it into an abstraction of a rising sun “ says Graphic Design Man-
Spotlight Sports Viewpoint Out of the Box
www.aub.edu.lb/outlook
LeMSIC SCORE Research Day: Success testament to medical students’ research contributions Wajiha Jurdi Kheir Staff Writer
T
he Research Day (RD) is an annual event organized by the Standing Committee On Research Exchange (SCORE) of the Lebanese Medical Students’ International Committee (LeMSIC), part of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). It was held for the fifth time at Issam Fares Hall on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Research Day is organized in collaboration with the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Medicine at AUB, the Lebanese Association for the Advance-
(Photo by Hasan Nisr - AUB Office of Communications)
ment of Science (LAAS) and Alpha Omega Alpha. SCORE aims at supporting
students’ involvement in recontinued on page 4
The Women’s Auxiliary’s Bargain Box
The Women’s Auxiliary’s Bargain Box targeted at supporting needy children at AUB’s Medical Center (AUBMC) will open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, April19, 20 and 21 respectively from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Anything in saleable condition such as clothes for all ages, shoes and bags, household goods, electrical home appliances, toys, and books are accepted. All items should be in good condition and monetary donations of any amount are also welcome. 11 12 13-14 15
16 وجهة نظر 17 منوعات 19-18 أخبار
Campus News Hostility near MainGate
2
Campus News Academic Computing Center introduces Mahara e-portfolio application
Bliss Street, West Hall 208 Tel: 01 350 000 or 01 374 444 Ext.3193 15
A classical Armenian music night on Tuesday April 19 at 8 p.m., Assembly Hall (free admission, so bring along your friends and family), a moment of silence on Wednesday April 20 at 12:30 p.m., facing West Hall in commemoration of the Armenian genocide’s 96th anniversary and finally a lecture on “Turkey’s foreign policy neglecting the Armenian Genocide” by AUB PSPA Professor, Dr. Farid Al Khazen at 5 p.m., Bathish Auditorium, West Hall.
(Photo from Aub.edu.lb)
continued on page 4
9
Game Review: Tiny Wings
3
Campus News
AUB medical students score in top 10 on International Foundations of Medicine exam
5
readoutlook@gmail.com
2
Campus news
April 19, 2011
Hostility near AUB Main Gate
Emile Zankoul Staff Writer
O
ne thing that can’t be missed while passing by Bliss Street is the fairly high amount and variety of beggars and homeless people. Some of them are mysterious such as the old blond woman always smoking. Rumor has it that she spends her time on Bliss Street waiting for her “prince charming”. We also have the story of the homeless man who was once an AUB professor. The beggar kids can’t be missed either and the list goes on. Most of the time, they can be con-
sidered rather peaceful, but sometimes things can get out of control as was the case on Monday, April 11. That day, everything was calm on the street, until around 9:00 pm when suddenly screams were heard in front of McDonald’s and a crowd of students and people gathered in the area. The crowd was actually looking at a gendarme, two beggar women in their late twenties and a little boy aged around five. What was happening was a confrontation between the gendarme and the two women. Apparently, the beggars were causing problems around
the street annoying the people and the stores. The gendarme, who is responsible for the maintenance of the public order, played his role by asking the women to stop what they were doing. One of them took it wrong and started a sort of a tantrum, screaming and shoving the officer which finally led the man to hit her, only making her tantrum worse. In the end, he called for backup. Few minutes later a car from the gendarme arrived, taking the beggars away. University Crepy is a snack located in front of Main Gate. A worker there who witnessed the whole scene
said, “They were begging insistently in front of the stores very annoyingly. So the gendarme interfered by telling them to move away. One of them started insulting him very arrogantly by disrespecting his mother, his sister and so on. She started pushing him around too. Eventually he hit her. If I was in his place, I would’ve killed her! The least thing she could do is respect his suit and the crowd.” Roy Khalifé, Physics Junior and witness of the scene, explained “I was taking a break from studying to eat a sandwich on Bliss. While walking on the street, I sud-
Outlook
denly heard screams and saw a big crowd gathering around Main Gate. I approached the scene out of curiosity and saw the beggar woman screaming, telling the gendarme that he was a woman for hitting her. What really annoyed me is that she slapped violently her little son because he was crying!” Efficient measures should be taken for such situations because luckily, this time no one got seriously injured; another time, the results might be worse.
Havoc at Penrose Male’s Dorms continued from page 1
of the Kerr dormitories, a speaker was thrown at IC’s green field. According to the Dean of Student Affairs, Talal Nezameddin, the speaker, of size 27x14x11 cm, “was thrown forcefully and intentionally off the fifth floor of Penrose at 2:30 PM while the PE class was in session.” The Dean was informed of the bizarre incident by an e-mail from the IC principal, questioning how can “Penrose students accept such behavior, given that they may have younger brothers/sisters in IC?” The culprit has not been caught yet, although Nezameddin mentioned that “we [Student Affairs Office] already have some suspects that we picked depending on what we’ve heard from the RAs. We also have a lot of students who know who did it, but who wouldn’t tell by respect to a “code of honor” which is upsetting to know.” After a tree was recently burnt down, Nezameddin said that “they will investigate and judge on the basis of solid evidence. We will then have two tracks.” The first track will involve having the guilty person come and admit his wrongdoing, not having a severe punishment that may damage his future life,
while the second track involves finding solid evidence before anyone admitting his acts, which will lead to the involvement of the police “and no mercy will be shown.” Some preliminary measures are being taken at the moment, as security around Penrose Hall is being increased Nezameddin resisted the idea of cameras for so long because he “likes students to feel at home in their residences so they can have some privacy.” Yet with such acts, he might be forced to use it because of “about 5% of the residents.” What surprised many students though were the closing of the Penrose lounge, which caught some students off guard that were completely unaware of what was going on. The Dean however said that this “being a sort of ‘collective responsibility’, more like a message so everyone gets aware of what’s happening, because even if the students who did the acts are few, many are those who encourage them or even back them up, so this way responsibility is felt, and it might remind them that anyone can take action by reporting, or leading their fellow neighbors to stop their acts. “ Penrose resident Hayder ElShakeri agreed with Nezameddin concerning that they are few
(Photo by Nadi Nassar)
students, but believes that “Penrose students are much better than that.” He also mentioned on an unrelated note to Outlook that IC students themselves aren’t angels, given their early morning shouting and between classes breaks and concerts which tend to become really unbearable for an AUB student with midterms.”
The Resident Assistants (RAs) at Penrose reflected their opinion on the issue through a statement by current RA Bahjat Fadi Maryati, which said: An RA (Resident Assistant) is not a Police Officer. We live in this building just like everyone else, and the disturbing incidents are affecting us as much as they are affecting the other
residents. Lately, the investigatory part of the job has been such a burden. We need to plant a sense of belongingness and responsibility in every newcomer. Such incidents did not exist a year ago, if that tells us something.” Nezameddin is hoping for the best and will see what happens regarding the matter at hand.
Outlook
Campus news
April 19, 2011
3
Academic Computing Center introduces Mahara e-portfolio application
Outlook Staff
C
reate, connect, plan, collect, collaborate and share. These amongst others, were some of the prevailing words that seemed to appeal to their audience last Thursday April 14 at West Hall Auditorium A when the Academic Computing Center (ACC) at AUB held an introductory presentation for “Mahara,” a user friendly, open-source online portfolio application targeted at organized resume building and social networking. ACC representative and lecture host, Rana Haddad opened up her presentation with a short video clip chronicling the story of how two individuals were able to incorporate all their vast amounts of info from CVs to letters to transcripts and reflections in one place with the new Mahara application. Haddad clarified that the benefits to using such an application were manifold. For starters, Mahara allows its users to upload and organize course content, sever-
al types of files such as word documents and power point presentations and of course, multimedia such as images, audio and video. Haddad walked the audience through the website and showed them a sample work of students who have built their own profiles, some with added custom animation. The program allows its users to create pages in the form of tabs (similar to Google Chrome’s internet browser design) for ease of access and all pages contain three security features that allow its users to grant either full (via a URL), limited (viewable by the AUB community) or no access to external viewers. Next came AUB Computer Science student Jad Kachmar who presented his Mahara page to the audience. Kachmar expressed his satisfaction towards the opportunity of receiving feedback from his English professor on uploaded course content after submitting an assignment, being able to save his portfolio for future reference and not having to physically
(Photo by Mohammad Azzam)
carry it around, Another great feature is the ability to limit visibility of page content in one’s portfolio. This feature may come in handy when sending a portfolio to recruitment firms or when applying for job offers as the applicant may like to keep certain redundant or unnecessary information out of the picture. Mahara also boasts an added blogging feature to meet the widely embraced demand for social networking that the current student generation
is facing. Creating friends lists and groups is also part of the social networking experience. Features are equivalent amongst staff and students, says Haddad and to top it all off, Mahara is installed on secure servers using the now popular https:// servers, is open-source software and thus free of charge. However, as with several applications and software, Mahara does have its drawbacks. Two of the major setbacks that Mahara users
may fall victim to are the limited saving space of 50 Megabytes per user which Haddad mentioned could be attended to on “a case to case basis,” and the limitation of only being allowed to use the application for a maximum period of one year after graduation. Future development to the program may include closer association between Mahara and the widely used Moodle software wherein which those signed into Moodle are directly signed in to Mahara as well.
Issam Fares Institute lecture discusses role of the army in the Arab region Mohammad Yaghi Staff Writer
O
n April 11, the Issam Fares Institute (IFI) hosted a lecture titled “Exploring the Role of the Army as a Public Institution in the Arab Region: Will the Uprisings Change Anything?” with guest lecturer Yezid Sayigh, professor of Middle East Studies as King’s College London. The discussion focused on the present situation of Arab armies across the Middle East and described how different armies have handled the recent uprisings in their respective nations. There has been a rise of discontent across the Arab region which is being revealed through protests and civil strife. Nations such as Tunisia and Egypt have faced radical changes in their govern-
ments with the fall of their autocratic regimes. The only standing institution to have withstood these uprisings is the army. Sayigh explained the reasons behind the army’s stability: “The secret police or any type of law enforcement
ple of the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s. “In the case of Tunisia and Egypt, the army was not shooting at their people and this enhanced their image. The army also had clear calculations for the future, and it protected itself so it could
to affect the lower ranked soldiers.” He then added: “We know so little because we don’t have documents or proof indicating the extent of the army’s involvement, but it was a very sudden movement. It could be possible that Mubarak’s fate was
s “In the case of Tunisia and Egypt, the army was not shooting at their people and this enhanced their image. The army also had clear calculations for the future, and it protected itself so it could play a vital and active role in the politics after these uprisings” that acts in this manner couldn’t handle the mass mobilization happening.” Sayigh further questioned the way in which the army continued its existence because it was a part of the regimes and linked this to the exam-
play a vital and active role in the politics after these uprisings,” Sayigh said elaborating on the reasons why the armies’ images changed in their own nations. Sayigh also added that the army did so as “It didn’t want
sealed when the army moved into Tahrir Square, but we don’t know how they [the army] rose up to power.” Sayigh continued to add that there has been a change in the mentality throughout different generations wheth-
er through military education to political beliefs going from a liberal to more religious school of thought in the Arab region. There are two distinct variables as to why the army institution has survived, “This has been through the manner the army has been institutionalized by the regime. This comes in different ways, and the social and economic conditions of a certain country has evolved.” Sayigh ended with by revealing two theories as to why the Jasmine Revolution is taking place: “I think this has a lot to do with rapid food prices increase particularly in 2008.” Sayigh also added that the armies want some form of autonomy and took it to themselves to protect their interests throughout this political spring.
4
Campus news
April 19, 2011
Outlook
The Case of the Ada Dodge Theft: $100 stolen in cash
Fouad Badaoui Senior Staff Writer
D
uring the nightly hours between Monday April 11 and Tuesday April 12, one or several individuals had broken into Ada Dodge Hall and had stolen a sum of money amounting to 150,000LL (the equivalent to $100) from a cash register. The incident had been reported and, the following day, investigators and members of AUB’s
Protection Office were seen on the scene of the misdemeanor. The culprit, or culprits, had entered the building by breaking a window pane and had taken the money simply by pressing a button on the register, which wasn’t locked, according to Head of the Protection Office Saadallah Shalak. Nothing else was reported to have been stolen. Ada Dodge Hall is equipped with a security system that includes cameras. It seems, however, that the cam-
eras were turned off that night. The veracity of this claim and the reasons behind it are yet to be published in a follow up article next week. The Protection Office have an agreement with the cafeteria staff: for the sake of security, lights should be turned on at night within the building, so that the inside remains visible to security guards on night rounds. Yet the lights were turned off during the night of the robbery, which points ei-
ther to negligence from cafeteria staff, or to an insider job. The identity of the thief, or thieves, is still unknown and Shalak said more information will be available shortly. Shalak also blamed the cafeteria staff for their poor security measures, pointing out that the forgotten lights and unlocked registers had facilitated the theft. Whether the petty crime was committed by students or cafeteria staff has yet to be determined.
An odd event, however, is worthy of remark. The day following the theft, several Protection Office members had entered a basement room of Jafet Library known as the “ma2bara,” where several students were studying. According to the students, the guards simply stood in front of a section of wall, whispered to each other for a while, and left. The connection between this mysterious incident and the Ada Dodge theft is still unfounded.
AUB’s new logo: Dynamism and tradition striking a balance continued from page 1
ager Najib Attieh, who had worked on the design. Indeed, the wax seal has been the official university logo for an almost uninterrupted period of time, starting with the founding of the Syrian Protestant College in 1866. As for the modifications on the tree, Attieh explained that “it’s the same tree, but it has been refined to make it look a little more like a cedar and less like a Christmas tree,” with-
out straying too far from the original AUB tree that most AUBites are accustomed to. Attieh explained that now, instead of just one logo, the university has several versions that can be used for a wide range of circumstances. The original seal has been “cleaned up” and will still be used as a stamp, flag or background, while the sunrise versions can be used for official documents and stationary such as books, posters and mugs. “We acknowledge
the wax seal history but we’re moving it up a notch in an abstract stylized step to make it more organic, [...] because the old logo was fragmented,” comment Attieh on the fact that the official logo is void of a seal, and has instead a tree, the sunrise, and the date next to the three initials. According to him, universities these days aspire to more contemporary logos that give testimony to their branding capabilities via their simplicity. Vice President for Market-
ing and Communications Omar Odeh says his department’s job was to find out how they “could modify the logo and make it a bit more modern, more contemporary while retaining a lot of the iconic aspects of the logo because we didn’t want a drastic departure from it.” Odeh explains that the logo embodies AUB’s contemporary look and “reflects the changes that are taking place.” According to Odeh, the logo is expected to show AUB’s leadership
skills in terms of its graduates’ careers and its role as an institution in advancing research and outreach:”There’s this personal transformation that we feel is at the core of AUB and the type of values that it embodies as an institution.” Yet many students, like third year Graphic Design student Chris Moussa, believe the job isn’t done yet:”it’s like an idea for a logo, it’s not even a logo.”
LeMSIC SCORE Research Day continued from page 1
search, which they have undertaken at their own personal initiative and outside the realm of their Medical curriculum. Participating in Research Day are students from AUB, Saint-Joseph University (USJ) and other universities from all over Lebanon. Also in attendance were doctors and researchers who fully encourage their students’ vast endeavors in research and commend Research Day for being a platform to showcase this work. National Officer on Research Exchange (NORE) Achraf Shamseddine, and as the chair of RD 2011, welcomed attendees and announced that everyone was gathered to “support [students’] young inquisitive minds and make of Research Day a stepping stone for them into the realm of science.” He went on to acknowledge all the people who made RD possi-
ble starting from the chairs of previous years, the organizing committee and noted doctors from the Faculty of Medicine who continuously show support for the event. Representing the Dean was Dr. Ali Abu-Alfa, who was happy to be attending his first LeMSIC event since coming back to AUB. He also announced that the Dean’s Office has considered this day a Medical School holiday, during which everyone should come and support the students in their endeavors. Dr. Abu-Alpha, who in addition to being Head of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension is the Director for the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP), also stressed the importance of trustworthiness in research. He made sure to thank Dr. Ghada El Hajj Fuleihan for her role in establishing the HRPP in AUB. What followed were the first set of oral presentations and
the first poster session. After a coffee break, RD resumed for a highly motivating talk given by guest speaker Dr. Mona Nemer, a world authority in Cardiac Physiology. Dr. Nemer has made great discoveries in her field of research and currently holds the position of VicePresident at the University of Ottawa. At the beginning of her speech, she expressed her wish to convey two simple yet very important messages: “Research really matters and does get translated into better patient care,” and “Don’t overplan your life… follow your passion and do what you feel is right.” Then she continued to tell the story of her highly impressive research career. The Oral Presentation Session resumed after Dr. Nemer’s address. In addition to oral presentations given by students active in research were the presentations of FM students who are taking the SCORE Research
Workshops (RW). The workshops are meant to aid interested students in learning the basics of the research experience and writing their own research proposals. This year, Dr. Akl Fahed, a former chair of RD, was the RW coordinator and he presented this initiative to attendees. Following Dr. Fahed’s introduction, students got the opportunity to present their proposals to the scientific community, thereby getting exposure and feedback on their ideas. Before the announcement of the awards was Shamseddine’s presentation of the research work that won him last year’s SCORE Issam Fares Institute (SIFI) Grant ($1000). That led to the announcement of this year’s winner, Medicine 3 student Yasmin Hassoun. Other winners of the Day included Bassel Nazha for Best Oral Presentation, Hassan El Chebib for Best Poster Presen-
tation and Alaa Al-Tahan for the Dean’s Office Travel Award ($3000). In addition, USJ student Rami El Hachem won a ticket to the LeMSIC Gala Dinner, and several pre-medical Biology students were offered LeMSIC Research and Professional Exchange contracts. As has been a tradition at previous RDs, Shamseddine made a surprise announcement of the the inception of a new award which will be jointly presented by the Congenital Heart Disease Genetic Program at AUBMC and the Cardiovascular Program at University of Ottawa. It will cover the travel and research expenses of a 2-3 month project at the University of Ottawa for one student starting next year. Yet another successful Research Day concluded with a catered luncheon.
C
Outlook April 19, 2011 ampus news 5 Five AUB medical students score in top 10 on International Foundations of Medicine exam The students’ perspective on the IFOM
Wajiha Jurdi Kheir Staff Writer This article will hopefully give AUB students insight into the inner workings of Medical School and of Medical students, who may at times seem out of reach wrapped inside their white dwarfed student coats. They are human beings, with the same hope and concern for their future as other AUB students.
L
ast week, AUB revealed the exciting news of our Medical students’ exemplary performance on the International Foundations of Medicine (IFOM) exam. In fact, 5 of the 10 highest scores went to the AUB Faculty of Medicine (FM) students. For the sake of completeness and recognition of these students, Outlook sought to put these students’ names in print and get their perspective on the somewhat elusive (to the rest of the population) IFOM exam. The top 10 score begetters are: Ghady Haidar (who tied for the top score), Ihab Saab, Ralph Bou Chebl, Nemer Muallem and Sahar Semaan. Had you studied for/taken USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) before taking the IFOM? To what extent do you think that helped you attain this high score? (Consensus: Studying for Step-2 helps but is not necessary). Ihab: I did not do my Steps before the exam nor had I started studying for them back then… so I basically had a good night’s sleep and went to the exam. Ghady: I was, in fact, in the process of studying for my Step-2 when the IFOM came along, and I’m pretty sure that gave me enough of a boost to achieve the score I got because the IFOM is basically a much shorter replica of the Step-2 (not the Step-1; it’s got almost no relation to
it in content and format). I say “boost” because I do not think that I would’ve done well AT ALL had I spent my third year of medical school coasting, whining and learning by osmosis. Ralph: I think that studying for the finals helped a lot in the preparation for the IFOM. The exam covers the same material as Med 3, and after a year of clinical work in the hospital, you’re comfortable for a clinical exam such as the IFOM. Do you feel that the education we get at the FM is enough preparation for students to sufficiently do well on this exam? (Consensus: Yes, but studying for Step-2 is a plus). Nemer: I believe the knowledge attained during the first 3 years of Medicine is adequate but studying for Step-1 and Step-2 before doing the IFOM will add a significant advantage. Ghady: [After Med 3,] I found myself to be exceedingly well-prepared for both the IFOM and the Step-2. We have great teachers and great rotations, [which one can] add to our very USMLE-oriented books… I wasn’t that stunned when I found out that 5 of our own ranked highest internationally. What is the value of the clinical experience you gain before taking the exam? (Consensus: It is important but not sufficient). Nemer: There is a large contribution from having clinical experience in all these standardized tests. The clinical approach that you learn is pretty helpful in directing your thinking in terms of work-up for diagnosis and treatment, which is what these exams ask mostly. For example, they love asking: “What is the next step in management?” Ghady: Clinical experience alone will not guarantee
(Photo by AUB Office of Communications)
high scores. It will give you a sort of intangible, indispensible clinical sense that’ll guide you through Step-2type questions, but you still need to know your hardcore science via run-of-the-mill textbook learning. How big a role do you feel competition plays? Or is it simply the motivation to match (get a Residency spot in the US) that drives you to succeed? (Consensus: Competition can be a beast but in moderate amounts can be a healthy push. It is mostly a motivation to succeed that drives students.) Ihab: Competition is the epidemic among medical students: for some it’s the main driving force for others it’s not. I compete with myself and no one else. If I succeed then I am simply fulfilling my dreams and aspirations and that is a discrete en-
tity from the main flow of competitiveness that I see around me. Ralph: A good amount of it is healthy and it pushes you to perform better. What we experience at AUB is too much and it ends up being too stressful. What is your evaluation of the sense of altruism and compassion in our Medical students? (Consensus: It is important, fortunately present but at risk). Ihab: I believe altruism and compassion should be valued virtues in any human being, and especially in a future doctor… I find many of [our students] show these values in their daily work while they deal with patients. Nemer: I think that sense is there in the majority of
my colleagues. However, our system and the nature of medicine itself can push you into ambivalence and blunting of empathy, but it is our duty to always remind ourselves not to drift in that direction. Ghady: I want to mention one last thing. This is something that no one prepares you for, and that’s death. For the first time in my life, I am actually afraid of it, I do not wish it upon myself, nor do I wish it upon those around me. The serial deaths I have encountered on the floor have bred this newfound terror, mostly because of how uniquely permanent it is. There’s nothing like it in the world, and there’s no going back from there – a maudlin, self-evident sentence, sure, but it resonates so differently when people die on your watch.
6
Campus news
April 19, 2011
Outlook
Philosophy Student Society takes on the Explanatory Gap Dalia Hosn Staff Writer
T
he Philosophy Student Society held their monthly discussion night last Friday, April 15, at Café Younes. The discussions, and by extension the society itself, are open to philosophy majors, minors, graduates, and basically anyone and everyone interested in philosophy. Even a few teachers are often present, though they tend to simply observe their students proudly from the outskirts. Younes’s casual atmosphere provided everyone with a relaxed environment, perfect for embarking on philosophi-
cal inquiry and discussion. The topic for this month was The Explanatory Gap, a fairly vexing and popular philosophy of mind problem related closely to the concepts of conciseness, qualia, and scientific inquiry in general. Those attending the discussion were required to read Joseph Levine’s “Materialism and Qualia: The Explanatory Gap” as well as Thomas W. Clark’s “Function and Phenomenology: Closing the Explanatory Gap” which respectively position for and against the Explanatory Gap. The basic outline of the Explanatory Gap argument is in trying to explain the gap
between our subjective feelings of what it is like to experience something, i.e. qualia, and the scientific analysis of what is actually going on. One can either accept or reject the presence of such a gap, and whichever path is chosen must be backed and defended by serious logical arguments. Ultimately, how does one relate a neuron firing in a random corner of the brain to the subjective experience of feelings? If one simply states that the physical occurrences are themselves the subjective, or conscious experience of pain for example, then what is consciousness or qualia in the first place? What functional
role do they play? How does one go about explaining the “what-it-is-likeness” of being human? While the answers to such questions are by no means definitive or even 100% provable, their value lies precisely in their ability to launch such discussions as the one that took place Friday. This process of discussion and philosophical inquiry is one of the Society’s goals. “The society mainly aims at instilling a sense of self-reflexivity into the AUB community,” said Mahmoud Hassanieh, a Society cabinet member. He added: “I strongly feel that this critical attitude can help resolve or loosen-up some of
the impasses and deadlocks found in the debates concerning modern Lebanese politics and our society in general.” The mainstream view of philosophers is that they are on the outskirts of society, and yet, it is historical fact that philosophy is the mother of all modern sciences and mathematics. The word “philosophy” itself means simply “the love of knowledge.” Rather than vaguely contemplating random inconsequential bits of discussion, what real philosophy does is shed light on what is often taken for granted, thus allowing for a far more open-minded view of the world.
Two OSB seniors selected to attend the Dubai Lynx Festival Dalia Halabi Special to Outlook
T
he world-renowned Leo Burnett Group for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region recently selected two students from the Olayan School of Business (OSB) to attend the Dubai Lynx Festival, an event geared to celebrate excellence in advertising in the MENA region. It was through Mrs. Leila Khauli-Hanna, instructor of Marketing at OSB, that students were given the opportunity to attend the Dubai Lynx Festival. Mrs. Khauli-Hanna was approached by the Leo Burnett Group to recommend students to attend the Festival. All six interested students from Mrs. Khauli-Hanna’s Marketing 225 course submitted CVs and portfolios, and from the pool of applicants, the Leo Burnett Group selected two students, OSB seniors Hassan El Rifai and Yara Berjawi. The Dubai Lynx Festival boasts 18 seminars and four workshops that promise to be “fuel for creative minds.” Evening networking events will offer delegates to the Festival significant opportunities to exchange ideas with leading advertising
executives and fellow colleagues in the region and abroad. Hassan El Rifai is looking forward to attending the Festival. Though he had had the opportunity to vie for a spot last year, he did not qualify to attend. He vowed not to miss another opportunity like this. El Rifai interned at local advertising agencies and accumulated as much work experience as he could. When he re-applied this year, it was with an entirely new perspective. Instead of submitting a traditional portfolio, he took a more creative route. El Rifai reflected, “Everything [the advertising group] needs to know about me is in my CV, so I’m going to market myself with a short film.” He created an interface on the Internet from which the Leo Burnett Group could access his film. El Rifai is excited about attending the Dubai Lynx Festival because it could serve as catalyst to materialize his dream career in marketing, “I’ll be graduating by the age of 20, so I just want to make the most of it.” Yara Berjawi, too, is eager to attend the Festival, but for different reasons than her fellow peer. By her junior year at AUB, Berjawi
was at a point in her life when she was uncertain if marketing was what she really wanted to pursue. But, as Berjawi reflected, Mrs. Khuali-Hanna’s course “shaped the marketer in her,” and by the end of the course, she was fully certain of her decision and decided to apply for the Dubai Lynx Festival. Berjawi appealed to emotion and personal testimony in her application letter, sharing a story of how she generated a brilliant idea for a new TV commercial while at the dentist’s office. She explains that she
has never been more certain of what she wants to do. Though Berjawi might have had previous doubts about her future career, her course in marketing reaffirmed her choice. El Rifai and Berjawi anticipated what they will learn by attending the Dubai Lynx Festival. According to Berjawi, what is most important about attending the Festival is, “Exposure, exposure, exposure!” She added, “This experience is going to be a great way to get on the advertising train.” Both students are enthusiastic about representing OSB,
and by extension, AUB, at the Festival. The business world is dynamic, and OSB encourages students to assume more active roles because, as Mrs. Khauli-Hanna remarked, “the industry gets to know you, and you get to know them.” Dalia Halabi is a Staff Writer for Align, the official publication of the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB. The original text for this article has been adopted from Align’s online archive retrievable from alignwithosb.com
Outlook
Arts & Culture
April 19, 2011
7
Boeing-Boeing: Play review Christine Saliba Staff Writer
A
midst these times of political gloom and financial freeze in which cultural events are becoming rarer, Michele Malek, a French teacher, writer and stage director has met the challenge of adapting to the Lebanese scene the most played vaudeville in the world. Boeing-Boeing was written by Marc Camoletti and premiered in Paris on December 10, 1960. It immediately encountered a huge success, being translated in more than 40 languages and being performed 10,000 times in
France alone. The plot revolves around Bernard, a womanizer simultaneously dating three flight attendants: Jacqueline the French, Janet the American and Judith the German. Each woman thinks she’s the only one and dreams of getting married to Bernard. One day, the faster Boeing plane is put in service, changing Bernard’s perfectly organized timetable. The three “fiancées” arrive at their lover’s place at the same time and revelations and door smashing begin. Joseph Keyrouz, Pierre Farah, Laura Homsi, AnaisAmbre Samaha, Muriel Ferneini and Kelly Azar respec-
tively assumed the roles of Bernard, Robert (Bernard’s friend), Judith, Jacqueline, Janet and Bertha, the housekeeper. Despite their young age (all the actors are between 17 and 19), they managed to perfectly embody these iconic characters. “It wasn’t easy trying to juggle between university deadlines, examinations and play rehearsals,” said Laura Homsi, a Business Sophomore at AUB, “but it was really worth it.” The actors are all students of the Très-Tot Theatre workshop, headed by Michele Malek. They have each spent more or less a decade there, participating in improvisa-
tion exercises and sketches on a weekly basis. Ten years ago, young children entered the workshop for the first time, but last night, accomplished actors stepped on stage. The Lebanese public received the vaudeville with great acclaim. Originally only 10 representations were planned, but due to the huge public affluence and immense popularity among the Lebanese audience, two additional dates were added. “The play was extremely entertaining! I really enjoyed it and laughed a lot! I think the actors are very talented and I am sure everybody in the audience had a great time to-
night. The play was most definitely a huge success,” said a member of the audience. According to actress Laura Homsi, “[The play] was really an extraordinary experience. Performing at the Monnot Theater during twelve nights is a dream come true. As a result, I gained . . . maturity and self-confidence. I have no intentions to stop acting. I know it’s very hard to achieve fame in this realm, but I would like acting to always be part of my life.” The success of Boeing-Boeing will hopefully trigger similar cultural manifestations in a country in which endless political bickering usually makes the headlines.
Insight Club hosts ‘The 24th Annual Islamic Book Fair’ and Sheikh Amin Al-Kurdi lecture Ali Kassem Contributing Writer
O
n Tuesday, April 12, 2011, the AUB Insight club opened the ‘The 24th Annual Islamic Book Fair.’ The opening was preceded by a lecture entitled “The beautiful names of Allah” that was given by Sheikh Amin Al-Kurdi at West Hall. Ahmad Sukkar, AUB student and the member of the insight club who was hosting this event, opened the ceremony by greeting the jampacked room with the “greeting of Islam; peace.” Then, Sukkar went on stressing the importance of knowledge and reading in Islam, quoting the first revealed verse of the Holy Qur’an; “Iqra”, or “read.” Subsequently, he introduced the honored lecturer, sheikh Amin al-Kurdi. Sheik Amin Al-Kurdi, during his speech, touched upon many vital points. The sheikh spoke about man and man’s knowledge of God, indicating that it is a “matter of pure thought.” Addressing how the Holy Qur’an requests man to “know” God, the sheikh shed light on Islam’s position and vision of the human intellect. Furthermore, knowing that
in the Islamic conception there are ninety-nine names that “all point to one,” the lecturer addressed the meaning, importance and relevance of the beautiful names of God to every Muslim’s life. From these ninety-nine attributes that reflect many of the Almighty’s qualities, the sheikh chose “Peace” and “The Forgiver,” and attempted to explain their gist as well as their vital role in man’s life. Speaking of how many people spend their whole lives in search of peace and tranquility, and fail to do so, the sheikh spoke of how true “inner peace” can only be achieved through God. According to the sheikh this is when the believer begins to “radiate positive energy.” This was related to Islam’s greeting which is “May peace be upon you and God’s mercy and his blessings,” along with many quotes of the prophet (PBUH), such as “Spread peace.” In regards to “The Forgiver” attribute, the sheikh delineated how God forgives he who repents and does not “let any man down if man was to knock upon his door,” by using many Qur’anic and prophetic quotations to support
(Photo by Mohammad Azzam)
his explanation. Indeed, the sheikh explained how “the devil’s greatest weapon” is luring man into despair. The sheikh said that this can only happen to he who does not know God. It is knowledge of God which implies the awareness that as long as an individual is breathing, God’s mercy is not to be despaired of. Lastly, the sheikh chose to offer the room a collection of Islamic recommendations to better their lifestyles. He spoke of how a Muslim
should not carry resentment towards any other, how he/ she should “learn from God and have the ability to forgive,” and how one ought to see that “the whole world, in its perfection, is but a sign pointing to the one God.” After the lecture the sheikh, along with members from the insight club, opened ‘The 24th Annual Islamic Book Fair’ that goes on until April 21st in AUB’s West Hall. Presenting books, DVDs and CDs about Islamic theology and Muslims, Arabs and
the west, Islamic history, the holy Qur’an along with scientific argumentation in favor of belief; the fair’s diversity is exceptional. Even more, the fair displays books in English, French and Arabic, with authors ranging from notable western scientists to Islamic theologians and historians. In this regard, the fair is a must-go-to for anyone that possesses the faculty of reading. For more pictures, see page 11
8
Alumni news
Hiba Elassaad (BS ’00) completed her graduate studies in France where she is currently an international project manager at a pharmaceutical company. For the past seven years, she has traveled around Europe and North America presenting and managing clinical studies at various international research centers. Elassaad writes, “AUB was a unique and a wonderful experience, a strong foundation for my international professional career.” She married Lieutenant Nicolas Gardez last year and is living in Paris. [hebanese@hotmail.com]
Alumni Classnotes
Philippe Charles Saad (BAR ’00) earned a master’s degree in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005. He lives in Boston and works at DiMella Shaffer as project designer/manager/LEED AP for higher educational clients. Saad is also a freelance photographer and researcher on early colonial influences on the Islamic world. [psaad@alum.mit.edu]
April 19, 2011
Issa Abu-Dayyeh (BS ’02), after finishing his undergraduate work and completing one year of his master’s degree at AUB, enrolled at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he completed his master’s and earned his PhD in microbiology and immunology in 2009. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher in tumor immunology at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University in the UK. [uniqueissa@hotmail.com]
WAAAUB and USFC cordially invite you to the Inaugural AUB Ring Ceremony (Class 2011) on Thursday June 23 from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. at the AUB Green Field. Join in to celebrate the graduation of AUB’s future alumni class of 2011!
Outlook
Sara Ibrahim Khaddaj (BE ’05, ME ’07) is an instructor at AUB’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department where she is also a laboratory engineer. She writes, “Being at AUB is a real pleasure; studying as well as working in this special place makes me feel so attached to this great institution, my second home. I found it very satisfying to serve on the organizing committee for Class Reunion 2010 last summer. It was exciting to meet old friends.” [sarakhaddaj(at)hotmail. com, sk56@aub.edu.lb]
Alumni graduates of the 1960’s Harry G. Harris (BE ’60) and his wife Helen attended his 50th AUB class reunion in July. Harris holds graduate degrees from MIT and a PhD from Cornell University. He worked for Grumman Aerospace Corporation, conducted many funded research projects in structural engineering, and taught at Drexel University for 28 years where he is professor emeritus of civil and architectural engineering. Harris has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications including two textbooks in structural engineering. The history and genealogy of his father’s village in Turkish occupied Cyprus, The Vatili I Knew, was published in 2009 in English and Greek. In addition to five children and
eight grandchildren, Harris also has four stepchildren and eight grandchildren from his second marriage. [harrishg@drexel.edu] John Lubbat (BE ’60) earned his master’s degree at the University of Illinois in 1970. He works for Exelon Corporation and lives in Northbrook, Illinois. Lubbat is married to Maha Tarazi (BA ’68, MA ’72). Their sons, Ramsey who lives in San Francisco, and Mark who lives in Chicago, both got married in summer 2009. [lubbat1@comcast.neet] Cesar Nammour (BBA ’61), art critic and publisher, has been producing books on Lebanese artists ever since he founded
Fine Arts Publishing in 1990. In March 2010, Nammour and Gabriela Schaub inaugurated Recto Verso in Beirut, which is both a library, a bookshop, and an archive for art appreciators, collectors, researchers, and those who are interested in Lebanese painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and graphic design. This unique space is an offshoot of the Beirut World Book Capital Festival of Lebanese Art Books which was held in October 2009 at UNESCO Palace. [aalitatown@yahoo.com] Silva Karayan (BA ’63, MA ’66), professor of education and director of Special Education, has recently become emerita faculty at California Lutheran Univer-
sity (CLU). She was founding director of CLU’s Center for Academic Service-Learning for Research and Development and was the first chair of the Center for Teaching and Learning for Faculty Development. Karayan’s scholarly activities have included frequent presentations at national and international conferences and many publications in peer-reviewed professional journals. She is the author of Faculty Guide to Academic Service-Learning Pedagogy and was a founding member of the California Department of Education’s Service-Learning Advisory Committee. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal for National Association for Alternative Certification. Karayan completed her doc-
torate at University of California, Santa Barbara. Leila Kassantini Bibi (BBA ’69) has lived in London, England with her husband Bassel since 1980. Her two daughters, who work in communications for the music and fashion industry, are graduates of City Business School and the London School of Economics. In addition to being an avid painter and yoga practitioner, Bibi was recently featured as a model in a two-month “Silk Window” campaign for Hermès, the French luxury goods house where she appeared in a series of photographs in the vitrines of the Hermès boutique on Sloane Street in London.
Outlook
April 19, 2011
Game Review With the advancement of technology, more and more people are buying Apple software devices such as iPhone and iPad, which offer the opportunity for the purchase of online game applications through the iTunes store. Tiny Wings, one of the games sold by the Andreas Illiger Company and posted on February 18, 2011, has quickly grown popular among Apple users. Graphically appealing and addictive, Tiny Wings offers a challenge as the player continuously attempts to break a new record. The main objective of the game is for the player to accumulate points through speed and collected coins before the sun sets. The player should guide the small blue bird in the sky over the land, while tapping on the screen for the bird to dive down on the slope of the hills to gain speed, collect coins, and fly back up again. The player should also be able to get the
Tiny Wings
bird from one island to the next before the sun sets down and brings out the stars in the night. Once the bird has reached a new island, the sun will rise up again temporarily, and the race for time will start again. The horizontal waves created by the bird are experienced on colorful islands, which change color and shape for every new game. In other words, every time a player presses on the play button, the islands will differ from those in the previous game. Sometimes they are purple with lighter streaks of lilac, or light orange, or maybe a sea of light green. Either way, they are appealing and encourage the player to stay focused, not knowing what color and island-shape to expect next. Although Tiny Wings has received rapid popularity in a very short time, it does not surpass the popularity of the Angry Birds application that was released on December
Book Review
Entertainment
9
Nour Jane Kachicho
10, 2009. Angry Birds, developed by Rovio Mobile and published by Clickgamer Media Chillingo, involves slingshots, launching the different kinds of birds at pigs protected by fortified castles. According to the BBC radio, in April 2011, Angry Birds won an award at the first Appy Award, in London, for the best game application and the best application of the year. This application remains in the first place for paid applications in the US and UK according to the Rovio Mobile site (www.rovio.com). It also appears that there is a worldwide average of iTunes ratings of 4.88/5 (version 1.3.0) for Angry Birds. Tiny Wings may not be as highly ranked as Angry Birds, yet it has kicked off to a good start with the challenge and addiction it provides.
Maya Sfeir
(Photo from Facebook.com)
Sudoku
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Currently topping the New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction for the sixth consecutive week, Todd Burpo’s Heaven is for Real recounts an amazing journey of what might lie beyond. Narrated by Burpo himself, the book’s events flash back to 2004, a painful year for the author and his wife Sonja during which they almost lost their fouryear-old son Colton. Misdiagnosed with stomach flu, Colton almost died from ruptured appendicitis had he not been miraculously saved by a last-minute operation. Months later, Colton’s description of what he experienced during his operation led Burpo and his wife to realize that, under surgery, their son, according to his claims, had a near-death experience (NDE) during which he left his body and visited heaven. Numerous details in the book attesting to the honesty and credibility of Burpo’s report, the author is definitely not undermining his reader’s intellect or manipulating their sensibilities. However, he still fails to present his audience with the doctor’s interpretation of what
(Photo from Facebook.com)
Colton might have undergone under surgery. Beautifully told, Heaven is for Real remains a heartwarming account of family trials, children’s innocence and the possibility of an afterlife. Nonetheless, the book which has already sold more than a million copies needs be handled with care, rationality and consideration.
Rules of the game: Fill in the empty squares with numbers 1 to 9 such that each number appears exactly once in every row, column and box.
10
Out Loud
1
2
April 19, 2011
3
4
Q: How has AUB’s limited budget for your sports team affect your sports life at the university currently and in the past? 1) Mahmoud Ghouzail (Nursing – Varsity Male Volleyball Team): We were supposed to go to Barcelona for a tournament but are now going to Turkey because it’s cheaper. Also, our uniforms are of low quality. 2) Samer Farroukh (Civil Engineering – Varsity Male Football Team): Athletes deserve more credit and scholarships. 3) Roy Khalifee (Mathematics – Varsity Male Volleyball Team): Our uniforms ‘te3tir’! And also they should have invested in a bigger gym. There are around 8,000 students and the gym is always full! Sometimes people stand outside and wait to get in. 4) (Left) Myriam Najm (Electrical and Computer Engineering – Varsity Female Volleyball Team): Our uniforms are the same for several teams. Each team should have their own, for example in volleyball the uniform must fit tightly but we have the same ones as the football boys. Also our trips should be free or at least cheaper. 4) (Right) Mariam Bashir (Business Administration – Varsity Females Volleyball Team): Our uniforms aren’t professional ones. Also in other universities; athletes get scholarships, why don’t we have that here, our sports department needs more funding! 5) Julien Feghali (Biology – Rugby Team): Several players can’t afford travelling to compete abroad. Considering that we are all equal players on the team, it’s unfair that some of us should be permitted to travel and others not. We are all part of the same team. If there’s one message I’d like to send to those listening, it’s that AUB should give its sports teams more attention as normal American universities abroad do. 6) Ayla Hourani (Architecture – Women’s Futsal Team): Last time I travelled, I had to cover the costs of the plane ticket, visa and health insurance from my own pocket. AUB did cover the costs for hotel accommodation however that only constituted around 20% of all the trip’s expenses. American universities that I know of normally cover about 75% of such trips. Cases in point include the American University of Sharjah (AUS), the American University of Dubai (AUD) and the American University of Paris (AUP) to state a few. For the record though, AUB has provided us with better quality costumes, however, even those aren’t as good as they should be in terms of quality. 7) Nai Chehab (Economics – Track & Field): We received men’s uniforms instead of women’s. Some of these uniforms were also somewhat loose on us and could have been a tighter fit. 8) Rashid Idriss (Public Administration – Track & Field): Our sports department could definitely use more money. Other teams have gotten the chance to travel to France, Spain and Serbia and we haven’t travelled in two years. My understanding is that American institutions normally give a lot of attention to their sports teams; however here at AUB it almost seems like the opposite. On another note, we could sure use better management when it comes to uniform distribution. For one thing, our uniforms are not matching to our sizes, for another, they don’t seem to be of genuine quality. 9) Azikiwe Cooper-White (Political Studies – Rugby Team): We’re stuck in Lebanon. We can’t even go to Syria. For the three years that I’ve been at AUB, the Rugby has yet to travel even once.
5
No pictures present: Jad Najjar (Economics – Varsity Male Tennis Team): The uniforms are bad, we don’t have the proper equipment (balls, nets etc...), and we are paying for the trips. The university should invest more in sports. Pierre Nawfal (Varsity Male Tennis Team): Our equipments are the main issue (i.e. the balls) in addition, we don’t have a coach (recently). Also, trips are not free.
6
(All photos by Mohammad Azzam and Tracy Dariane)
9
8
7
Outlook
Outlook
1
Spotlight
April 19, 2011
2
11
3
1) Koulouna Lil Watan, All for the Nation film screening organized by CAMES Film Society. A documentary on women’s rights to nationality (Photo by Mohammad Azzam). 2) Insight hosts lecture by Sheikh Amin Al-Kurdi on “The Beautiful Names of Allah” (Photo by Mohammad Azzam). 3) The Insight Club hosts a lecture by Husam Al-Ghali entitled Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa in 2011 discussing the latest developments in Palestine specifically in Jerusalem (al-Quds) and al-Aqsa Mosque which tend to be neglected (Photo courtesy of the Insight Club).
4
4&9) Landscape students of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences annual plant sale (Photo by Mohammad Azzam). 5&11) University Sports and United Sports of Lebanon launch the Nike Running Competition last week. Running events included 100m, 400m, 1500 m and 4x100 m relay) (Photo courtesy of Nike). 6-7) Football tournament between AUB and Lebanese University (LU) (Photo by Tracy Dariane).
5
8&12) Concert by Lebanese rising star Abir Nehme with the participation of Elie Nehme and the Lebanese Army Orchestra (Photo by Mohammad Azzam). 10) The Syrian Cultural Club organizes poetry and narrative literary competition to commemorate the works of the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani (Photo by Mohammad Azzam). 13-14) Insight Club hosts The 24th Annual Islamic Book Fair’ and Sheikh Amin Al-Kurdi lecture(Photo by Mohamad Alameh)
6
10 7
8
14
13
9
11
12
12
Sports
Tracy Dariane Staff Writer Following a tough, and intense final of the university championships, the AUB varsity football team are now the second best team among all universities in Lebanon. Team captain and winner of 5 Most Valuable Player Awards (in every game), Ahmad Hammoud, sums up the tournament and says “It was a very good tournament and very well organized. Also, it was the first tournament to include all the universities in Lebanon.” He adds “We all played very well and won all the games except for the last penalty shots of the finals.” Ahmad Hammoud
April 19, 2011
AUB varsity football team also explains how the preliminary rounds were a great success with a score of 7-0 for AUB in one of the games. AUB varsity team member Wael Ayyash explains how the semi-final was the toughest match where the scores were close and the game was difficult; nevertheless, AUB still won 2-1. As for the final, the AUB varsity team was missing some of its primary players. Although it was so, they still played their best, demonstrating what the definition of perfect teamwork is. The final that took place on April 16, at the AUB Green Field was against AUL (Arts, Science and Technology University of Lebanon). The game end-
ed with a tie of 1-1, with a goal scored at the last few minutes of the second half by AUB defense player, Nayef Sindiane. Ahmad Hammoud says “It was a tough game; they dominated the whole first half. In the second half one of their players received a red card which helped us gain control. Then we dominated most of the second half, but unfortunately, we missed out on many chances of scoring.” Due to the tie, the teams had to battle off the championship title with penalty shots. AUL succeeded in scoring in more shots allowing them to be the winners of the championship. However, rumors regarding the AUL team’s legit-
imacy were greatly spoken of. Wael Ayyash explains “Some of the players on the AUL team are professional players who play on the national leagues. They are part of the AUL team simply because they are registered for one course at AUL, which gives them the university ID. It’s a matter of publicity for AUL.” Although AUL was a tough team, the AUB team members played with sportsmanship and perseverance allowing a beautiful end to their journey. Team member Samer Farroukh says “We are the only team in the tournament to have won all games before the final. Even AUL lost a game in the preliminary rounds.” He
Outlook
adds “The whole journey of the tournament was a great success especially if you compare it to the previous years.” Wael Ayyash explains “Although we had many injuries including on the starting players, it was the first time in at least three years that we reached the final, so we can say that we are having a very good year. We also won other tournaments including the first AUB tournament and we are currently at the top of the University League Championship.” With our support for our varsity football team, we wish them the best to end this year tournaments. For pictures, see page 11
FAS Student Representative Council hosts mini-football tournament Nader Al Ahmadieh Staff Writer
F
rom April 12 to 15, the AUB’s Green Field hosted a mini-football tournament organized by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Student Representative Council (SRC). Sixteen teams participated in the event which was refereed by the SRC students. Each team was composed of five players (four and a goalie) and two substitutes, and the teams were divided into
groups. After the first matches, the top teams in each group would advance to the second round after which the tournament would take on a knock-out style. The matches were 20 minutes long divided among two equal halves. The group stage matches were played on both April 12 and the 13, and the quarter and semi finals were played on April the 14th. After three days of intense competition, two teams advanced to the final. The time of the final was a bit longer,
where each half was 20 minutes long, and was attended by around a 100 people. After 40 exciting minutes of play the team composed of Adham Sabeh Ayoun, Ibrahim Deeb, Hussein Omais, Karim Naja, and Fadi Haddad emerged victorious. At the end of the tournament, gold medals were distributed to the 1st place winners, as well as silver medals to the runner ups. Also, each of the 1st place winners was presented with an F-50 football from Mike Sports and
both winners and runnerups received lunch coupons at Tasty’s Hamra. Jad Breiche, SRC member and major organizer and referee of the tournament, saw that organizing such a tournament was “an attempt to engage the students in a fun activity after a couple of weeks of hectic midterms.” Expressing his opinion about the tournament, Breiche commented that although the tournament “had a slow start it eventually got better and ended in a spectacular
way. Honestly, it was a successful event.” It is said that a good university life is a mixture of both working hard and playing hard, and the AUB students seem to be living up to that statement. After a tiring midterm period, these students took advantage of the good weather, and engaged in friendly competition to get a little exercise and to blow off some steam.
Upcoming matches Message to the AUB Community This University Sports department at the American University of Beirut, will be hosting the Arab Marine Academy of Alexandria-Egypt on Thursday April 21wherein which it will hold a series of friendly matches according to the following schedule: Date Time
Place
Sport Discipline
5:00 p.m.
CHSC
Women’s Basketball
6:30 p.m.
CHSC
Men’s Basketball
CHSC
Table Tennis
6:00 p.m.
Aquatic Center
Swimming
6:00 p.m.
Nadim Khalaf Tennis Courts
Tennis
6:00 p.m.
Green Field
Men’s Football
Thursday April 21 5:00 p.m.
Competing Teams
AUB vs. Arab Marine Academy of Alexandria-Egypt
Outlook
Viewpoint
April 19, 2011
Opinion
Editor’s Corner
AUB: New look, same great taste With change comes conciliation
Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief
O
nly recently, quite a few unforeseen events at AUB have seemed to catch the AUB community off guard; fights breaking out at MainGate (page 2), theft at the Ada Doge Cafeteria (page 4) and even a series of frenzied events leading up to the closing of the male’s Penrose dorms lounge (page 1 and 4). But of all the aforementioned events, none were so disquieting it seems as this last rebranding campaign our university has been through. As a hierarchical, bureaucratic institution for higher learning, we are judged by our core legislative bodies and having a sturdy administration, though imperative, is not all it takes to make it big as a university. The way I see it, our university, like any other, should derive its influential power from a certain strategic plan that should be effectively and intricately woven into the better part of our faculties daily doings. Consequently, we as an institution should have a duty to sufficiently justify all changes underway so that they fit this mold (strategic plan) we’ve set for ourselves. Failure to do so may mean severing the ties between us and our most prized resource – our university staff and that, by the Human Capital Theory deeming all employees skills and collective experiences one unified human capital vital for elevating the university by the university, marks a gross loss on our parts. Sure, strategic plans tend to change as global markets for the educational industry are altered and AUB is no excep-
tion to the rule. All the more reason for us therefore to strive and maintain firm connections with our fellow staff employees and thus, jointly make it through big changes that may otherwise threaten our bondage and kink our connective chains. In short, we must make every effort to consult with and inform the public concerned with these changes that are bound to have a dire impact on their lives in so far as their livelihoods are tied in with the advancement of our university. In conclusion, change is an indispensable quality for university advancement and therefore, the solution is not avoiding it, but rather making the smooth transition to it and adapting to it. In doing so, we must endeavour to keep the public informed and involved in major changes that are likely to shape our futures and future livelihoods such that our university will continue to see the light in its quest to expand on its reputation as a regional and international hub for a notable and well-recognized liberal arts education in the MENA region.
13
Lebanon’s National Anthem: The stolen puzzle piece…
Emile Zankoul Staff Writer Lebanon, a beautiful country. Lebanon, the country I like to compare to a puzzle. A puzzle with a huge number of pieces, each very different from the other. So different, yet forming a unique whole. Lebanon, the country I also like to compare to a symphony. Very diverse notes, but together, forming a matchless harmony. Those different puzzle pieces and notes would be the four seasons, the mountains, the sea, a dozen of religions, a dozen of political parties, different civilizations and cultures, interest-
ing traditions, touristic sites and much more. One of those puzzle pieces is our Lebanese National Anthem, composed by Wadih Sabra and written by Rashid Nakhle in 1927, or was it? About one week ago, a friend told me that it appears that our National Anthem was stolen. One of my characteristics is that I don’t believe any rumor unless proven, especially if it concerned my country, being a patriotic person. So I decided to undertake a research concerning the matter. My friend told me that he had heard it on the news, through a report on television. So I searched for that report and found it on the internet. It explained that an old documentary was found containing a hymn with the same music as the Lebanese Anthem and similar to it in words. The documentary and the hymn were entitled respectively “The rebel Mahdy Bin Barka from Maghreb” and “The Rif’s Hero’s Commend.” The hymn contained the following words “Koullouna yaajabou bi fata el Maghreb, // Koullouna yatrabou l’entisar el ‘abi.” The tune heard was actually the Na-
tional Anthem of an old country called “The Rif Republic” which was established in 1921 and which was disestablished in 1926. This country was located in North Africa, where Morocco is located today. The document containing the lyrics of “The Rif’s Hero Commend” was found and it was signed “1924, composed by Mohammad Flayfel,” a composer. His son was contacted and he denied the fact that it was his father who composed the tune. However, whoever composed it, the harmony and the lyrics of our anthem were there before 1927. So until proven wrong, we can say that our National Anthem we are proud of is not truly ours. Unfortunately, the beautiful puzzle I previously talked about has lost an important piece, and the symphony I mentioned earlier is a note short now. I can only hope that what I discovered ends up being wrong, otherwise, that puzzle piece and that note will have to be replaced as soon as possible. I also hope that this would be the last such element in our heritage.
Opinion Insecure Aziza Khalil Staff Writer As children, our character starts forming at home and on the playground. Words said to us, names we are called by other kids, incidents we experience, and things we see, are all factors that contribute to the formation of our personalities and self esteem. We often grow out of minor insecurities, but some are just so intense at the time that they leave a mark on us, hence affecting our lives as teenagers or adults. The first step to feeling good is looking good, or so we believe. Appearance is a main issue for many, whether men or women. Factors like
weight, hair style, and clothing affect how confidently we feel in public. If we are personally pleased with our physical appearance, our confidence is automatically boosted. For instance, on a formal occasion, we try to look our best so we’ll leave a memorable positive impression on strangers we meet, but when a certain clothing doesn’t fit properly, or the wanted hair style isn’t up to the standard we planned, our self esteem is shaken, our insecurity level increases, and our paranoia of being laughed at or looked at negatively begins to tamper with our perspective. We tend to interpret the meaning of how
we’re looked at and start feeling less confident in public as if all our flaws are exposed and we’re being judged and mocked. Thus, we pull back and isolate ourselves till that occasion is over. Although appearance is a main confidence issue that makes most people insecure, it is of less importance in comparison to emotional insecurities that develop a lack of trust which affects relationships with friends, families, and life partners. Being lied to, conned, betrayed, or cheated can leave a person stripped out of trust. It would become hard to that person to reveal his/her emotions. Instead the person would lock in
his feelings, be less sensitive to others, more skeptic about them, and, again,paranoid, pushing away people as a result and ending up alone. We usually have low self esteem because the flaws pointed out to us by others are often some things we see in ourselves as flaws, and which we constantly try to hide or repair, whether they relate to our physical appearances, how we behave, our social status, or success rate. While some let his fear of being judged and criticised to control their lives, causing them to miss out on things, others don’t and are blessed with a peace of mind.
14
Viewpoint
April 19, 2011
Opinion
Outlook
Cervical cancer: A silent disease empowered by a silent society
Jackie Daoud Staff Writer Posing as one of the leading types of cancer among women, cervical cancer is a silent disease that can only be brought on by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a virus that is perpetuated by genital skin-to-skin contact during intercourse.
Hence, contrary to popular belief, it is not brought on by a genetic predisposition. The problem faced today is that at least 15 of the HPV strains out of the 100 HPV subtypes lead to the onset of cervical cancer in women. For those who are sexually active there is no escape, especially given that the illusion of the condom cannot prevent the contractions of the virus. Recently, however, there has been a significant decline in cervical cancer worldwide, due to the introduction of the HPV vaccine. Today, all women ideally between the ages of 11 and 26 are urged to take this preventative vaccine in order to escape the asymptomatic progression of such an invasive illness with an optimal
antibody response at younger ages. In fact, the HPV vaccine has the potential to reduce cervical cancer-associated deaths around the world by as much as two third, given that all women take the vaccine and that the protection elicited is long term. Currently there are two HPV vaccines available in Lebanon and on the worldwide market; Gardasil and Cervarix. With a varying incidence of cervical cancer of between 6 and 14 cases per 100,000 in Lebanon, and given the cancer’s significant contribution to the female death rate in the country, it is quite imperative that young girls take it sooner rather than later. In developing countries, where pap smear screening is un-
available, the incidence is as high as 30 per 100,000. Even in developed countries, it was shown that 85% of women who develop cervical cancer, have not had adequate screening which ideally should take place at 6 month intervals. Up to 70% of sexually active women and 80% of both sexually active men and women will be infected with at least one HPV subtype during their lifetime. However the good news is that only 15% of these strains will be cancerous, and these cancerous strains are found in different proportions throughout the world. Statistics dictate that HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of all cervical cancers and 50% of cervical abnormalities, whereas HPV 6 and 11 cause more
than 90% of genital warts. The vaccine Gardasil is more effective in that it protects women against all 4 strains of HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18, whereas Cervarix only protects them against the cancerous HPV 16 and 18. Gardasil should also be taken by men aged 9 to 15 given that it also protects against genital wart strains and by doing so, may indirectly benefit women. Ideally the three-dose HPV vaccine should be administered before the onset of sexual activity but in many cases it can still be effective in sexually active individuals. The motto here is that prophylactic protection may save a life whether male or female. Nobody is an exception to this rule.
Opinion
Pedestrian bridges
Anis Kadado Staff Writer Pedestrian crossing, as defined by the Princeton’s WordNet, is “a street crossing where pedestrians have right of way.” So, from this simple definition, it is clear
that the means by which pedestrians make their way is a safe, secure one that is obvious to all. Signs, lights, and pedestrian bridges are used in the best way possible to prevent people from crossing a vehicle roadway and hence aim at avoiding the interaction of people and cars. Why is it that we still hear of deaths caused by accidents where a car hits a passerby? Why is it that every now and then we hear of families mourning the loss of a loved one over such a pathetic reason? Who is to blame? The driver in the car? The passerby? The government for lack of infrastructure that facilitates people’s movements? Asking 10 different people
of their nearest incidents of such a disaster, 8 out of the 10 had stories that really shocked me. A friend told me of how he was once waiting at a red light and as soon as it turned green, a man with a kid on his back jumped out in front of the car which almost killed them both. Another friend told me of a similar experience where his mother actually hit a lady that crossed her way (as the stop light turned green) but only caused the passerby minor injuries. So from these two examples, it is clear that the pedestrian stop lights are basically useless. What about the pedestrian cross bridges? Out of my personal experience, every
morning as I make my way towards AUB, I see a number of people running across the highway and in many cases there would be a pedestrian bridge directly above their heads. In other cases it would be a few meters away, so clearly in these cases the government has done a pretty good job in providing proper infrastructure. Maybe laziness answers the question? Is it that people really don’t feel like walking up a few steps or a few meters to reach the bridge? More importantly and affecting our lives as AUBites is the issue with crossing the seaside road directly outside lower campus. The seaside road has already witnessed
a number of tragic happenings. It is a fact that many students at AUB park their cars on the seaside road and have to cross that very dangerous two-way road. In addition to this, many points along this road cannot be seen when standing on the side of the road. While crossing this road and others, it is important that everybody takes extreme caution; hopefully action will be taken by the Beirut municipality or by AUB itself to provide its students with absolute safety while crossing this seaside death road.
Outlook
Out of the Box
April 19, 2011
Career and Placement Services Guidance Preparing for the May Job Fair
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
Copy Editor
Joseph Saba
Layout Director
John Hajjar
Members at Large
Samer Bu Jawdeh
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 Mona Ayoub Fouad Badaoui Caterina Belardi Amir Bitar Jackie Daoud Tracy Dariane Sarah Al Dirani Edrees Elrachidi Dalia Hosn Elie El Khoury Aziza Khalil Yasmin Fansa Yumna Ghandour Maryam Hoballah
Lynn Itani Nour Jane Kachico Anis Kadado Tala Kardas Wajiha Jurdhi Kheir Marie Nakhoul Rita Obeid Rami Panayoti Yasmine Saab Joseph Saba Christine Saliba 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
Cartoonists
What to do before the Career Day –
Prepare and polish your resume/CV as well as a cover letter including your education, skills and experience with a professional. – Visit the Career and Placement Services (CPS) website on the below hyperlink where you may find a sample resume and cover letter to guide you in the preparation process: http://www.aub.edu.lb/sao/cps/skill/Pages/resume.aspx – Bring multiple copies of your resume/CV, laser printed on conqueror/galgo paper each en closed in a Nylon folder, if you wish to apply to several organizations. – Visit the CPS website on the below hyperlinks where you can find job vacancies catego rized according to faculty, major/emphasis, years of experience and location: Regular vacancies: http://www.aub.edu.lb/sao/cps/vacancies/Pages/divisions.aspx Job Fair vacancies: http://www.aub.edu.lb/SAO/CPS/JF2011/Pages/default.aspx – Send your resume to the CPS office specifying the job vacancy reference number of the se lected positions in the subject line. – Visit the Career and Placement Services (CPS) site where you can find all recruitment presentation schedules and job listings. (http://www.aub.edu.lb/sao/cps/Pages/index.aspx)
Select the companies of your interest – – – –
Review the list of the participating companies’ profiles which is distributed both electroni cally and as hard copy by the CPS. Find all Career Day related information advertized on the CPS website. Identify companies you are most interested in from the list Research on your selected companies and learn more about them.
Develop your introduction
– Introduce yourself formally – Give a brief summary of your education and experience – Inform the employer about your objectives and type of employment you are seeking – Practice introducing yourself to company representatives that you will meet on the Career Day. For example: “Hello! How are you? My name is John Smith. I’ll be graduating in June with a degree in Business Marketing and am looking for a full-time position. Could you tell me if people with this major work in your company and, if they do, what type of work they generally perform?” For more info contact Career and Placement Services Director Dr. Maryam Ghandour at mg03@ aub.edu.lb (West Hall Rm 112E Ext. 3172). Anything discussed with the counsellor is based on mutual trust, is kept confidential and will not be released to anyone without the student’s writ ten consent.
Campus spotlight
Deedee El Jilani Jamila Mehio
Outlook is a weekly publication of the American University of Beirut (AUB) and represents the voice of the student body. It is an independent, non-affiliated publication that favors no ethnic, religious, or political group. All columns, articles, and reports are the property of Outlook and do not necessarily represent the views of Outlook or the AUB community. Outlook welcomes all contributions. Authors please include full name, major, ranking, and contact information for verification. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way, shape or form without the written consent of Outlook and/or higher authorities. Outlook reserves the right to edit all material. © Outlook 1949
15
USFC’s Speaker’s Corner commemorates 36th anniversary of the Lebanese Civil War (Photo by Mohammad Azzam)
Correction: With reference to last week’s article “AUB holds fair for highschool students,” the AUB Fair for Junior High School Students was organized by AUB’s Office of Admissions in cooperation with the AUB High School Fair Committee and implemented by AUB’s Office of Communications. The number of participating high school students totalled about 4,600 and the video broadcasted during the fair provided students with information on AUB’s history, admission requirements, financial aid packages, academic programs and job opportunities. Faculties held booths for display purposes and brochure distribution.
اوتلوك
وجهة نظر
نيسان 2011 ,19
16
١٣نيسان :١٩٧٥كي ال في أجواء إسقاط النظام الطائفي يتكرر ما حصل! رامي العوطة
ماري نخول كاتبة صحفية من منّا ال يذكر الثالث عشر من نيسان شاب لم يعش كجيل عام ١٩٧٥؟ رمبا ٍ ٍ احلرب بحذافيرها ،ال ميكن أن تتّضح لنا صورة احلرب بقسوتها بطبيعة احلال ،لكن من منّا لم يسمع من أهله أو أقربائه عن هذا النهار املشؤوم. يوم اندالع احلرب األهلية اللبنانية. دمرت حرب دامت خمسة عشر عا ًماّ ، فانقض األخ املدن والقرى اللبنانية، ّ على أخيه ،وغرقت بيروت في بحر من الدماء ،دماء شهداء سقطوا ضحية أمهات بكني خط التّماس ،ودموع ٍ على أوالد قضوا بأنياب حرب اشتعلت ولم تعرف طريق السالم بسهولة. ها هي ذكرى احلرب تعود من جديد لترسم لنا صورة بيروت املنقسمة إلى منطقة شرقية وأخرى غربية، وكأ ّن الوطن أضحى مجموعة من األوطان املتعادية .فالصورة عينها مشهد شنيع مليليشيات مس ّلحة جتول في الشوارع والطرقات باحث ًة عن ضحايا ذنبهم األوحد انتماؤهم لطائفة أخرى «معادية»! نعم ،أكثر من مئتي ألف مواطن لبناني قضى في هذه احلرب ،عدى عن مئات اآلالف من العائالت التي لم جتد غير السفر السبيل األوحد للهروب ،ولكنها ،مع األسف ،لم تعرف طريق العودة. انفجرت احلرب األهلية اللبنانية بعد فترات طويلة من التشنّجات الطائفية والصراعات السياسية ما
بني الفرقاء السياسيني .وانتشرت املتاريس واملدافع وأسلحة القنص في ّ كل مكان .وسيطر شبح املوت على الطرقات التي اكتظت باألوالد ترملن وأطفال املتشردين ،ونساء ّ تيتموا .وقد دام صراع احلرب األهلية الدموية ستة عشر عا ًما ،ذاق فيه اللبنانيون م ّر العلقم .ولكن ،اليوم، وبعد ستة وثالثني عا ًما ،هل بإمكاننا احلديث عن انتهاء احلرب اللبنانية بشكل كامل واختفاء رموزها؟ وما ٍ اجلواب إال حسرة نابعة من القلب! بالطبع لم تنت ِه ،مع األسف ،حربنا ،وإن أُخمدت نيرانها على الطرقات ،إال أنّها ما زالت مشتعلة في قلوب «بعض» اللبنانيني الذين لم يشبعوا بعد من ويالت تلك احلرب الطاحنة .وكيف لها أن تنتهي ومازلت التقسيمات الطائفية واملذهبية التعصبية راسخ ًة في عقول اللبنانيني؟ وكيف نتقدم ورؤوس احلرب ما زالت في لنا أن ّ سدة القيادة؟ وكيف لنا أن نتطلع ّ لغ ٍد أفضل وما زالت أحداث املاضي راسخ ًة في عقولنا ،تلك العقول التي ال تقبل التسامح والنسيان! وكيف وطن ال يعرف طعم نتوحد في لنا أن ّ ٍ الوحدة؟ غصة في قلبي وقلب ّ كل في اخلتامّ ، مواطن صالح ،ونظرة لوطن يستحقّ النهوض والقيام من مقبرة النزاعات. تبقى جروح احلرب األهلية تؤملنا في ّ كل حنيّ ، مباض أليم ،فلنتذكر، تذكرنا ٍ كي ال يتك ّرر ما حصل...
!Dear AUBites Come and take you Personal Yearbook Cap and Gown Photograph this week in West Hall !Common Room Bring Your friends Along for an Optional Group Pictures as ! well
بعد النظر مل ًيا ودراسة وضع بلدنا الراهن يجذب نظرنا حت ّرك الشباب احلالي حملاولة إسقاط نظام الطائفية والفساد .محاولة أقدم عليها شباب الشباب الطامح للتغيير، ٌ ّ يزخ بعطائه وبروحه ونضاله املفعم باألمل سع ًيا وراء قلب هذا النظام شباب قرون. الراسخ في أرضنا منذ ٌ ٍ يطمح إللغاء هذا النظام الذي يرافقنا منذ عهد املتصرف ّية و إلى يومنا هذا.
سوق العمل أو نبتعد عن الوطن من األساس .ناهيك عن الهدر احلاصل في مؤسسات الدولة جمعاء من مشاريع وقوانني انتهت صالحيتها ونام على ثم إلى قطاعات أثقالها التاريخ .ومن ّ الطاقة والكهرباء وهدر املال العام وسياسة تفقير الناس وجتويعهم تعج بالفساد الذي رحلة طويل ٌة ّ أضنى ّ الشعب .سرقات ومحسوبيات وإضعاف لقطاعات الدولة من زراعة وصناعة ...إلى متى سنبقى راضخني لهذا الواقع املرير؟ إلى متى
الذي يحاصر هذا البلد .إنه لواجب وطني على ّ كل مواطن يحمل هو ّية لبنانية أن يسعى وراء التغيير وأن يعمل على حتقيق اإلصالح الفعلي في هذا البلد والدفاع عن ّ حقه باحلياة العادلة الكرمية .يجب علينا التح ّرك مبني على لتحصيل قانون انتخابي ّ مدني قانون أساس النسب ّية وإلقرار ّ عادل لألحوال الشخصية .نحن ّ املثقف لهذا البلد كطالب والوجه نسعى وراء الرغيف واحلرف يتوجب علينا أن ننهض من هذا اخلمول
نحن والوجه ّ املثقف لهذا البلد كطالب نسعى وراء الرغيف واحلرف يتوجب علينا أن ننهض من هذا اخلمول ونحمل بيارق التغيير نظا ٌم يتش ّبث بأعناق ّ كل لبناني، يعمر على أجسادنا ،يشرب من ينمو و ّ دمنا ويكمل .فنحن من يدفع فاتورة حروبه وصفقاته ومناقصاته الكاذبة نحن عرضة للنصب واإلقطاع واإلجتار بأرواحنا وآمالنا .نحن من ميوت أطفالنا وكهولنا عند أبواب املستشفيات وذلك أل ّن وزاراتهم الفاضلة تفتقر ألدنى معايير السالمة ،تبخل عليهم ببطاق ٍة ٍ اجتماعي عادل. ضمان صحي ٍة أو ٍ نحن حصيلة هذا الفساد الراكد في أرضنا نحن حصيلة معامله وطائفيته نحن من يُفتك بأحالمهم إذا لم نق ّبل أيادي املسؤولني ولم ننم عند أعتاب بيوتهمُ .كتب علينا أن نبتعد عن
قرارات خارجية سيبقى شعبنا رهن ٍ ووعود تزورنا في مواسم االنتخابات مسمى؟ أجل غير ّ ومن ثم ترحل إلى ٍ لواجب على ّ ينضم كل مواطن أن إنّه ٌ ّ إلى طالئع مسيرة الثورة التي أعلنت انطالقتها في السابع والعشرين من شباط املاضي .هذه الثورة السلمية التي حملت شعار إسقاط النظام الطائفي وكا ّفة رموزه .ثور ٌة يواصل حراك آلخر فمن عدادها الصعود من ّ ٍ خمسة آالف إلى عشر ٍة ومن ثم إلى عشرين ألف متظاهر ،ثائر ومناضل يسعون جمي ًعا إلى نبذ الطائفية ونبذ الفتنة ،وإلى حتصيل حقوقهم والسعي وراء أحالمهم املسلوبة ،إلى خبز صادره اللوبي السعي وراء رغيف ٍ
ونحمل بيارق التغيير .فعسى لهذا الوطن أن يحظى ببعض األمل ،أن يرى يكسر الوعد واحلكمة بشبابه وهو ّ القيود وميضي قد ًما نحو حتقيق وطن يجمع كافة املواطنة وبناء ٍ أطيافه حتت مظ ّلة العدل واملساواة بني أبنائه فلرمبا نحن الغد الواعد لهذه البالد. *رامي العوطة هو طالب هندسة املساحة في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت
17
منوعات
نيسان 2011 ,19
االقتصاد العاملي... أنظمة الربح الوهمي
مصطفى فضل اهلل كاتب صحفي األزمة االقتصادية العاملية األخيرة التي ضربت الواقع االقتصادي تركت تأثيرها على مختلف الشرائح االجتماعية وبخاصة أغناها ،أي شريحة أصحاب رؤوس األموال .فالنظام االقتصادي في هذا العصر قائم على مبدأ الربح السريع الوهمي الذي تس ّوق له وتقوده منتجاللمال البنوك،بحيثيصبحاملال ً من دون إنتاج حقيقي على أرض الواقع. وبالرغم من أ ّن العديد من الناس بنت مج ّراتها االقتصادية على هذا األساس، إال أ ّن هذا البناء ،بحسب رأي شخصي مبني على حتليل لظاهر األمور ،ال يقوم على أساس العدالة االجتماعية ،لكن على أساس قانون الغاب االقتصادي فاحلكم لألقوى ،وهو طب ًعا صاحب رأس املال ،وك ّلما كبر رأس مالك ،كبر حجمك وقوتك ،وهذا الربح لتلك مبني على أنقاض البعض اآلخر اجمل ّرات ّ من الفقراء والطبقات الكادحة ،وذلك من خالل مراكمة الديون على تلك الطبقات أل ّن القروض تُعطى على أساس الفوائد التي تطفح فوق القيمة األصلية للقرض ،وتطفح بالتالي على رؤوس الطبقات الوسطى حتى تسقط فخ الفقر والدين .وفي ّ في ّ ظل هذه الفوضى االقتصادية والظلم في حركة الشراءوالبيع،يسقطاإلنتاجوالتصنيع في نفس ّ الفخ ،فكثير من األموال التي مجمدة في ميلكها عديد من املتم ّولني ّ
البنوك تصنع ربحها من أفواه الفقراء ومن أنفاس الطبقات احملتاجة ،بدل أن تكون متح ّركة في مجاالت اإلنتاج خللق فرص عمل للناس ولتحريك العجلة االقتصادية في البلد .لتصبح وجوه مجمدة اجملمدة، ّ أصحاب رؤوس املال ّ كتلك األرقام وخالية من نبض دم أحمر. علينا أن نكون أكثر وع ًيا حلركة أموالنا في البنوك فمن منكم رأى رأس مال وقدر أن يح ّركه فليس َع لذلك ،علينا أن نكون ر ّوادًا نعيش احليوية في حياتنا، لنُدخل اآلخرين في بوابات إنتاجنا، نرفض أن نكون ممّن جمع املال وخزّنه. شح أو حرام» قالها «ما ُجمع مال إال من ٍ علي بن أبي طالب يو ًما ،وال بزال صداها يخفق بني أوتار قلوبنا املرتعشة. تخ ّيل معي ،من يستطيع أن يشتري ّ شقة اليوم في بيروت ،بل في ضواحيها، فالشقق أسعارها تغلي بني أيادي الناس ،فهي ال ّ تقل عن $100000في احلد األدنى من البنى مناطق ليس فيها ّ التحتية ،فكيف يستطيع أحد بغير محترم ج ًدا أالّ يستدين من رأس مال ٍ البنوك لكي يتز ّوج أو يسكن .وسأطلق العنان خليالكم في كم ّية الفوائد، املهم أن التقسيط لن ّ يقل عن 400إلى ( $500بغض النظر عن الدفعة األولى) ولنطرق الطرف ملن ال ميلك قوت يومه، يقسط وراتبه ال يتجاوز الـ $ 300لكي ّ ّ وتعن على شقة بـ $ 400شهريًّا. ّ بالي هنا أغنية غوار الطوشي «دراويش دراويش يا خيي دراويش»!
في الذكرى اخلامسة عشرة على مجزرة قانا األولى ()1996-05-18
مدى دبس بعد مداخلة ٍ لي في صف حقوق االنسان عن انتهاكات» اسرائيل « لشرعة حقوق االنسان وعدم ادانتها من قبل األمم املتحدة في العديد من اجملازر معطي ًة قانا األولى والثانية مثاال ً, تطالعني احدى الزميالت اللبنانيات, وهي ولدت وترعرعت في بيروت تسأل: ما قانا؟ ....ال يفارق بالي سؤالها حتى اللحظة .ولن يفارقه! اجبتها ببراءة و لكن بالم « :ا ّن مجزرة قانا األولى 1996 ارتكبها العدو الصهيوني والتي ذهب
(صورة)Blogspot.com:
ضحيتها 106شهداء من األطفال والنساء ومجزرة قانا الثانية على أرض اجلنوب اللبناني عام 2006وسقط جراءها 55شهيدا ً ( 27طفالً)»,اال انه أنت؟ كان االحرى بي الرد بسؤالها :من ِ واهتمامات وبأي مبادئ تاريخ تنتمني ّ ّ ٍ ألي ٍ تعيشني؟ في الذكرى اخلامسة عشرة على مجزرة قانا األولى (.)1996-05-18 مدى دبس طالبة اإلدارة العامة في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت
كاتب من هذا الزمان ردينة الفياللي :ق ّبانية الهوى نهاد غازي عواد كاتبة صحفية في زمن يُ ّ كفر فيه الناس بعضهم احلب من احمل ّرمات. بعضا ،ويصبح ً ّ في زمن سفك الدم باسم الدين، أعلنت ردينة الفياللي أنّها «ق ّبانية وحدثت بجميل ما ّ خطت الهوى» ّ أناملها من شعر عذب يعزف أنغامه احلب .هي حتمل إجازة في على قيثارة ّ األدب اإلنكليزي والعلوم السياسية وبكالوريوس من مدرسة الق ّباني. مدرسة ّ حتث على التح ّرر من القيد بدرجاته مبعنى أنّها ربمّ ا تنحصر فى أبيات بعض الشعراء ولكنّها سبب
موجودًا بالكتب. ردينة الثائرة املتم ّردة ،احمل ّبة العاشقة ،الشاعرة اجلميلة .هي اإلضافة الرقيقة للشعر العربي. تتحدث دون خوف عن جمال مشاعر ّ املرأة الشرقية الدفينة في داخلها. كنوز يعتليها التراب .وتخصص للتشرذم في الوطن العربي قصيدة رائعة نحتاجها كثيرًا في عصر الثورات واالنقسام على انفسنا. ّ ّ وكل حزب لديه مقسم فكل بلد ّ منشقّ عن منشقّ عن منشقّ .وردينة تقول لصنّاع احلدود العربية املوهومة الزائلة قري ًبا« :انتزع مني بطاقتي الشخصية .ليتأكد أنّي عربية ...وبدأ
اوتلوك
جنسيتي....وس ّر زيارتي الفجائية... فأجبته أ ّن اسمي وحد ُه … جنسيتي عربية ...س ّر زيارتي تاريخية... سألني عن مهنتي وإن كان لي سوابق جنائية...فأجبته أني إنسان ٌة عادية... لكني كنت شاه ًدا على اغتيال القومية ...سأل عن يوم ميالدي وفي أي سنة هجرية ...فأجبته أني ولدت يوم ولدت البشرية ...سألني إن كنت أحمل أي أمراض وبائية... فأجبته أني أصبت بذبحة صدرية... عندما سألني ابني عن معنى الوحدة العربية ...فسألني أي ديانة أتبع اإلسالم أم املسيحية ...فأجبته بأني ّ بكل األديان السماوية... أعبد ربي
ردينة الثائرة املتم ّردة ،احمل ّبة العاشقة ،الشاعرة اجلميلة .هي اإلضافة الرقيقة للشعر العربي.
لتقوم املرأة الشرقية بتحرير نفسها من قيد احلروف واالختالط وكبت مشاعرها وتلفظ أمنياتها وبوحها رمبا بعقل أو بجنون أو ببعض اإلباحية. أظن أ ّن شاعرة عربية متلك جرأة وال ّ نزار ولكن هي تنحو فى أحد مناحيه ّ بتحفظ الشرق ّيات املعتاد. األدب ّية هي الليبية التي ينعتها البعض بالوقحة والسارقة ألشعار امللك نزار ويعتبرها البعض اآلخر كمتأثرة ولكن لها نكهتها اخلاصة من مشاعر وأحاسيس وكلمات ،فالفكرة عادة ّ ولكل ما تكون مشتركة بني البشر أسلوبه اخلاص .وهي كنزار تندرج قصائدها ضمن مدرسة احلداثة التي ال تلتزم بالوزن املعروف قدميًا والقوافي العمودية أو الكالسيكية أو حتى توافق قوافي األشطر بشكل منفصل ولكن موسيقى الكلمات هي أصل الضبط وتناغمها هو ما مي ّيزها عما سواها. ديوانها األ ّول بعنوان «خطوات يتضمن 15قصيدة مختلفة. أنثى» ّ انتشر صداه في كامل أرجاء الوطن العربي .أُعيد طبعه خمس م ّرات في سنة واحدة وذلك بسبب نفاذ الكمية .وكان تأشيرتها للمشاركة في العديد من املهرجانات العربية والعاملية في باريس ولندن وبيروت وعمان .هي شاعرة والقاهرة ودبي ّ أخذ عليها جورج قرداحي بعض األخطاء اإلمالئية .وهاجمها كثير من اإلعالميني ونالت الكثير من التجريح. ملاذا ما إن ي ُ ّ طل الشاعر في عاملنا حتى تنهال عليه السهام؟ وملاذا ال نعطيه ليتقدم؟ كلنا نخطئ ولكن فرصة ّ خطأ مقابل ماليني البشر حسابه أكبر ولكن هل يلغي اإلبداع وصدق اإلحساس .تشجيع هو ما يحتاجه شعراؤنا وكتّابنا من اجليل الصاعد فردينة مواليد 1981ولديها ثقافة وخبرة واسعة بسبب ّ تنقلها في عدة مع والدها الدبلوماسي. بلدان ّ وما تع ّلمه األسفار نادرًا ما يكون
يفتّش حقيبتي وكأنّي أحمل قنبلة يتأملني بصمت! سمراء ذرية .وقف ّ فتعجبت ملطلبه ومالمحي ثورية. ّ وسؤاله عن الهوية .كيف لم يعرف فضل أن من عيوني أنّي عربية .أم أنّه ّ أكون أعجمية .أدخل بالده دون إبراز الهوية .وطال انتظاري وكأني لست في بالد عربية .أخبرته أ ّن عروبتي فلم ال حتتاج لبطاقة شخصية... َ انتظر على هذه احلدود الوهمية؟... ّ وتذكرت مديح جدي أليام اجلاهلية... عندما كان العربي يجوب املدن العربية.....ال يحمل معه سوى زاده ولغته العربية وبدأ يسألني عن اسمي ...
(صورة)Alapn.com:
فأعاد لي أوراقي وحقيبتي وبطاقتي الشخصية ...وقال عودي من حيث أتيت ...فبالدي ال تستقبل احلرية». ِ هي حرية اشتاق لها العالم العربي وها هم أبطالها ينتزعوها بالقوة. ومن قصيدة (تراتيل املساء)...« : اقتربي ..اقتربي ..اقتربي أكثر... اليوم من شفتيك سأثأر ...أعلنت احلرب موالتي ،وأقسم لن أخسر». وهذا مقتطف من إحدى قصائدها املتم ّيزة التي يظهر على طابعها اجلرأة في التعبير والقوة في الكلمات احلب احلب .فهي تهوى ّ خاصة أمام ّ وتكره اخليانة كثيرًا .كما متقت التقسيم وتعشق األوطان.
اوتلوك
نيسان 2011 ,19
عامر الص ّريع كاتب صحفي
أقام الـ»»Insight Club في اجلامعة األميركية مساء الثالثاء في اخلامس من نيسان/ أبريل ،محاضرة بعنوان «القدس واألقصى في العام »2011 ألقاها األستاذ حسام الغالي، املدير التنفيذي للشبكة العاملية للمؤسسات العاملة للقدس. بتعجبه بدأ األستاذ الغالي ّ من طريقة عمل معظم برامج األخبار ،فاليابان وسوريا واملظاهرات العربية قد أخذت ح ّيزًا كبيرًا من التغطية اإلعالمية ،في حني ال نرى شيئًا عن القدس احملت ّلة .فاملراقب يظن للوهلة األولى لألحداث ّ عما بأ ّن القض ّية قد غابت ّ حولنا .لكن القض ّية ال تغيب. واملسجد األقصى ّ بكل مرافقه هو رمز القضية وعنوانها ،وهو املُستهدف. متعج ًبا «باألمس» قال الغالي ّ من هذه الصدفة« ،أقام الكيان
القدس واألقصى في العام 2011 الصهيوني 946وحدة استطانية جديدة جنوب مدينة القدس في يسميه اليهود». حي جيلو كما ّ ّ منطقة غرب القدس يهودية أما في الشمال بالكاملّ . فاملنطقة العربية الوحيدة وحي الشيخ تتم ّثل بوادي اجلوز ّ ج ّراح .والشرق منطقة مقفلة، فيها جبل الزيتون ،ووادي جهنم، وأوقاف مسيحية ،وثكنات عسكرية .أما اجلنوب فال يوجد فيه إال سلوان. إذا ربطنا الصور ببعضها نرى أ ّن سلوان اجلنوبية والشيخ ج ّراح الشمالية هما املدخالن العربيان الوحيدان للقدس ،فإن سقط أحداهما ،سقطت القدس بيد االستيطان اليهودي. إ ّن املشروع اإلسرائيلي يقضي بتحويل املدينة إلى مدينة يهودية ،ولكن ومع مرور أكثر من ستني سنة على االستيطان، معدل النمو السكاني وصل ّ للعرب إلى 3.1%مع سياسات التهجير والطرد واإلبعاد واألسر يتعدى وتزوير الوثائق ،في حني ال ّ معدل النمو السكاني لليهود ّ
الـ 1.1%مع الناس الذين يأتون من اخلارج والهجرات املتتالية واجلسور اجلوية .فبهذه األرقام سيصل عدد السكان العرب بعد تسع سنوات إلى %50من العدد اإلجمالي للسكان ،وهذا يعني بأ ّن الغلبة ستصبح للعرب عندما تصبح عاصمة اليهود ليست بيهودية. يريد الصهاينة بحسب ما قال الغالي ،تغيير خارطة القدس .فعليه بنوا جدارًا عازال ً سمى بجدار األصابع اخلمسة يُ ّ بعلو 8أمتار وعمق أكثر من 8 مبجسات حتت األرض أمتار ،مزودًا ّ وفوقها ليفصل العرب عن القدس .وببناء ذاك اجلدار الذي يتطاول كاألفعى بني األحياء والبيوت ،أُخرج 160ألف مقدسي من أصل 260ألف. وحي سلوان حي ّ بإسقاط ّ الشيخ ج ّراح ،تسقط البلدة القدمية ،لذلك فإ ّن الصهاينة يحاولون إسقاط هذين احل ّيني بشتّى الوسائل املمكنة .واليوم هناك 60بؤرة استيطانية تبدأ ّ للتتوسع بشقة أو بغرفة أحيان ًا ّ
عندما يُفسح اجملال .فاملطلوب يلخصه قول نتنياهو: من اليهود ّ «معكم يا بني إسرائيل 10 أشهر من اآلن بشكل نهائي ،وإال ستتّجه الثورات العربية إلينا». لكن اهلل ال يصلح املفسدين، فأل ّول مرة وزير خارجية مصر يص ّرح حرف ًياّ : نحذر إسرائيل من عدوان جديد على غزة .فأتاهم اهلل من حيث لم يحتسبوا. وأصبح اجلدار طو ًقا على اليهود لتعيش إسرائيل في عزل ٍة ما بعدها عزلة ،عزل ٍة قاتل ٍة جعلت بعض اإلسرائيليني يعزمون على الهجرة وترك فلسطني.فقد كان اإلسرائيليون إ ّبان الثورة املصرية متمسمرين على قناة اجلزيرة، لتس ّود الدنيا في وجوههم بعد سقوط العرش املصري. لم يكن في القدس أي مشهد يهودي حتى اليوم ،حيث يٌ ّ خطط ّ لبناء كنس بطريقة قدمية ج ًدا لِ ُيظن بأنها تاريخية ،فهم ال يريدون هدم األقصى ،بل االقتطاع منه ،أو تطويقه وإخفاء معامله الظاهرة التي ُعرفت مبشروع زاموس .ومشروع زاموس
أخبار
18
هو خطة لتهويد القدس التي حافظت على عروبتها ألكثر من ستّني سنة ،عن طريق جعل األقصى ّ مكة اليهود ،عن طريق حج لليهود ملا يسمى إقامة احلوض ٍ املقدس .فالهدف من حج يهودي هذا املشروح إقامة املرء ٍ ويخرج دون مسيحي ليدخل أن يرى من معالم اإلسالم شيئًا. وطريق احلج هذا مي ّر حتت املسجد األقصى وينتهي عند طريق اآلالم املسيحي. وإلجناح ّ اخملطط عمد الصهاينة إلى: بناء 61كنيس في أرجاءالقدس. بناء كنس وغرف أثرية مز ّورةحتت املسجد األقصى. شطب لقبور الصحابة وبناءمواقف سيارات فوق مقبرة الرحمة. تعزيز «ثقافة البكاء والعويلوحشو رؤوس األوالد». تقدمي الهيكل على أنّه مكانللرب وليس مكان ًا للعبادة. ّ
أ ّول سيارة لبنانية رياضية سريعة
جاد شمس الدين مساهم صحفي
الهواية تبدأ من مرحلة الطفولة حيث يتع ّلق الطفل باألشياء التي جتذبه كلعبة ما أو حركة ما أو ...وك ّلما كبر، كبر معه ،وتتح ّول الهواية إلى شغف ،إلى جزء منه ،ال يستطيع التخ ّلي عنه .وهذا ما حدث مع الشاب اللبناني دايفد فرام الذي كان يهوى منذ صغره ألعاب السيارات ،التي كانت تسليته الوحيدة ،حيث كان يقضي معظم وقته ّ بفك أسرار صناعتها وتركيبة األجزاء املك ّونة منها. كبر دايفيد وكبرت أحالمه معه ،فكان من أوائل املتابعني آلخر االختراعات واالكتشافات خصوصا لـ»موضة» السيارات، ً وأن هذه الصناعة في تط ّور دائم، من ناحية النوع ّية واملواصفات والتقنيات. بعد جهد وصبر وعمل دؤوب وق ّوة إرادة وسهر استغرق سنوات عدة ت ّوج فرام هوايته وإدمانه وشغفه بتوصله إلى بعالم السيارات ّ صنع أ ّول س ّيارة لبنانية رياضية سريعة ومريحة ،متتاز بتقن ّيات فنّية وتكنولوجية تستطيع منافسة أكثر السيارات شهرة وأكبر الشركات العاملية التي حتتكر هذا القطاع الصناعي واختصاصا خبرة وأبحاثًا ً وس ّرية. شاب لبناني ميلك وإفرام ّ
الطموح ،ق ّرر أن يشقّ طريقه ومستقبله مبفرده ،وضمن اإلمكانات املتاحة واملتواضعة، فاجته إلى تصميم السيارات، ومن ثم إلى مجال صناعتها. عن هذه الهواية قال إنها متلكته منذ صغره ،إلى جانب حب الرسم وتصميم األشياء ّ املتع ّلقة باإللكترونيات. أما عن كيف ّية حتويل الهواية إلى مهنة وعمل ،فتعود إلى متابعته البرامج التلفزيونية املتع ّلقة بالسيارات واحمل ّركات واآللية املعتمدة لتعديل هيكل ّية ّ كل ما يدور في فلكها .إلى ذلك وفي مقابلة له مع إحدى وسائل اإلعالم ،قال« :تراودني أسئلة عديدة تتع ّلق باملوانع التي حتول دون البدء باختراع السيارات بيد لبنانية .وبعد تخ ّرجي من اجلامعة انصرفت إلى العمل من أجل إنتاج أ ّول سيارة من صنع لبناني ،وكان ذلك سنة امتد العمل ،2005حيث ّ حتى ،2008وولدت مبواصفات السيارة الرياضية البسيطة واألنيقة ،وكانت املدماك لتصميم سيارات أخرى ،نتالفى فيها بعض الثغرات الطفيفة والنواقص التي واجهتنا في التصميم األ ّول». حول الدعم واملساندة إلجناز هذا العمل الذي يتطلب إمكانات ماد ّية ضخمة ومتطلبات فن ّية وتقنية عالية ،قال إفرام «ال أنسى وقفة احد السياسيني الذي هو من الشباب معي
(صورة)Mohammad Azzam :
ودعمه مشروعي املتعلق بصناعة سيارة لبنانية .وعند شجعني كثيرا ً لقائي معه ّ على هذا العمل وباركه ووقف إلى جانبي بكل ما أريد من دعم مادي وغيره ،بل أكثر من ذلك ّ سهل سفري إلى أميركا فقد ّ بعد تخرجي من اجلامعة ألجل االطالع على آخر االكتشافات واالختراعات في عالم صناعة السيارات ،خصوصا ً الرياضية والسريعة» .وأضاف «كتبت وسائل اإلعالم األجنبية عنّي هناك ،وروت قصة طموح شاب لبناني وبراعته في تصميم السيارات اخلاصة ،وخصصت «النيويورك تاميز» مقاال ً حول لبنان ومشاركتي في مسابقات السيارات ،حيث نال تصميم
السيارة الذي قدمته، اإلعجاب والتقدير من كبار الفنيني واخلبراء ،وحللت ضمن الـ 16األوائل في العالم ،وحازت اخلاصة بي إعجاب الس ّيارة ّ جميع املصممني». وعن مشروعه احلالي ،قال إنه يحمل مشروع «بيروت اديشن ،»FREMوأطلقت عليها اسم «بيروت» ،هذه املدينة كرمت ثقافيا ً واقتصاديا ً وسياحيا ً وعلمياً ،واآلن حان الوقت لتكرميها صناعيا ً». أفصح إفرام عن أن موقع املصنع اجلديد إلنتاج السيارات اللبنانية بأنه سيكون في حاالت قضاء كسروان ،وأوضح «حول مشروعي املستقبلي
الذي أسعى إلى حتقيقه بعد إنشاء املصنع ،فهو إقامة معهد لصناعة السيارات، يضم خيرة األدمغة اللبنانية املتف ّوقة في اجلامعات ،وسأضع كل إمكاناتي وخبراتي في خدمتهم ،من أجل احلفاظ على هذه القدرات من اجليل الواعد. كما أنني بصدد إقامة معرض للسيارات الكالسيكية القدمية التي صنعت في سنة 1965 وما فوق ،واملعرض سيقام في منطقة برج حمود ()FREM ». نتمن لديفد كل النجاح والتوفيق مبشاريعه املستقبلية ونحن بانتظار الطراز اجلديد ل(FREM(.
19
أخبار
فاتورة النظام الطائفي اللبناني التتمة من ص20
اإلنسان. ثم عرض شعبان للتكاليف الطائفية التي يفرضها هذا النظام من الوالدة حتى الشيخوخة .التكاليف الطائفية للوالدة وتسجيل القيد الطائفي وغيرها من التعقيدات تك ّلف اللبنانيني سنويًا .$460000 أما الطائفية في املدارس فتك ّلف 240 مليون دوالر سنويًا (وهذا أعلى بنسبة %50من ميزانية اجلامعة اللبنانية). أما الزواج ففي صلب األثر االقتصادي الطائفي فيك ّلف اللبنانيني 5.6
وسنورد التفاصيل في ختام املقال). وختم الدكتور شعبان بتوصيات عامة ،وهي باختصار السعي إلى دولة علمانية ّ حتل مشكلة الوجود املؤسسي للطوائف ،وصياغة قانون مدني إجباري لألحوال الشخص ّية، تطبيق العلمانية في التعليم العام ،حتسني شبكات النقل ،إصالح أسس التوظيف والرواتب ،نشر أسماء من ال يدفع الفواتير من ماء وكهرباء ،إقرار قانون يلغي الوكاالت احلصر ّية ،إقرار وتنفيذ قانون بشأن املمارسات اإلحتكارية ،تطبيق خطة تأمني شامل للمسنّني ،ونظام
«وبالنسبة للخدمات العامة فاخلسارة السنوية ج ّراء احملسوبيات الطائفية تساوي 67.5مليون دوالر سنويًا» مليون دوالر سنويًا .وميتد تأثير احلركة الطائفية إلى السكن فيزيد بنسبة 800مليون دوالر سنويًا .وبالنسبة للخدمات العامة فاخلسارة السنوية ج ّراء احملسوبيات الطائفية تساوي 67.5مليون دوالر سنويًا .أما تكاليف الشيخوخة الطائفية ،فتصل إلى 420مليون دوالر سنويًا بسبب تشتت هذه اخلدمة وتركها للمؤسسات الطائفية( .مالحظة :متّ عرض هذه األرقام بطريقة سريعة بسبب ضيق املساحة ،وللراغبني باإلطالع أكثر طلب املقالة كامل ًة وهي باللغة اإلنكليزية من الدكتور شعبان
قانون انتخابي ال يعتمد على أسس التوظيف الطائفي. للراغبني باحلصول على املقال كامالً التواصل مع الدكتور جاد شعبان على البريد اإللكتروني التالي jad. shaaban@aub.edu.lb واملقالة بعنوان: “the Costs of the Lebanese Sectarian System”, mimeo. American University of 2011 ,Beirut
حب لم نزار ،قصيدة ّ تنتهي بعد
نيسان 2011 ,19
معرض الكتاب اإلسالمي الرابع تنتهآخر والعشرين ،قصيدة ّ حب لم ِ التتمة من ص20
القرآن الكرمي. لقد ع ّرفنا تعالى على نفسه، وجعل الكون داال ً عليه ،وبعث لنا األنبياء .فاملعرفة في اللغة :هي احلكم الذهني اجلازم اليقيني املطابق للواقع عن دليل .وهذا ٌ مكلف مبعرفة يعني بأن اإلنسان اهلل عن طريق ما تركه لنّا من حجج ودالئل ،ولهذا فقد رد البعض كاإلمام السنوسي إميان عاص إذا املقلد ،والبعض قال بأنه ٍ كان له أهلية التفكر ،أما إن كان بسيطا ً ف ُيتسامح معه. نحن مطالبون بالتعرف على اهلل ،لنتيقن بأن ال إله إلاّ اهلل شيء خلقه» «الذي أحسن كل ٍ المرء عذرٌ بأن ال حتى ال يبقى ٍ يجد دليالً ملعرفة اهلل. اهلل قادر ،ومعظم صفاته عقلية ،ومعظم أسماءه نقلية عن حديث رسوله ص ّلى اهلل عليه وآله وسلم .لهذه األسماء دالالت عظيمة ألنها تخاطب في اإلنسان كل حال يكون فيه. فإذا كان املر ُء مقهورا ً أو مظلوماً، يرى اسم احلَ َك ِم وال َع ْد ِل .وإن اضطراب كان قلقا ً أو يعاني من ٍ نفسي ،يرى اسم الودود .وإن رأى ظاملا ً يبطش بالناس ،يرى اسم املنتقم ،فإذا ناديت يهذا االسم فحسبك وحسبي اهلل .وقال رسول اهلل :هلل عز وجل تسعة وتسعون اسماً ،من دعا اهلل بها ُجيب له. است َ
تتمة من ص20
أجمل تذكار. وقبل أن نعود إلى نزار كي يغنينا بنظرته حول الشعر والدبلوماسية يصعد الدكتور سامي مب َّيض كي يلقي خطابه ومن بعده يعود السحر وتعود ّ ويحتل نزار املنبر وكأ ّن الدهشة احلفل أمسية شعرية يحييها وكأ ّن كلماته تُلقى بتاريخ اليوم وليست على إسطوانة محفوظة. بعد أن خفت ضوء القمر ،حان وقت إعالن نتائج املسابقة الشعرية .فاعتلى الدكتور أسعد خير اهلل ،وهو ع ّراب املسابقة ،املنبر كي يشرح لنا عن قدمه نزار للشعر املعاصر و الذي ّ يعلن الرابحني .وقبل أن يعلن عن أحب أصحاب القصائد الرابحة ّ أن يشارك معنا مالحظة لفتت نظره ونظر الدكتور جورج جحا و
هما في طور عملية االختيار و هي متدن وأ ّن ذلك أ ّن مستوى الشعر ٍ سببه األساسي بعدنا اليومي عن اللغة الشعرية ولكنهما يأمالن نتائج أفضل امل ّرة املقبلة فإن تلك احملاوالت األولى حسب قوله تستحق التشجيع .ومن بعدها أُعلن الفائزون :ربحت الطالبة سامية التل املرتبة الثالثة ،والطالب أحمد عثمان املرتبة الثانية أما املرتبة األولى فربحها الطالب علي بدران. صعد ٌ كل من الفائزين وألقى قصيدته بعد أن استلم جائزته، شهادة وصورة مع السفير. وقبل أن ينتهي احلفل بلوحة فنية من تقدمة فرقة جلنار شاهدنا مقاطع من مسلسل «نزار قباني» واستمعنا إلى كلمات مخرج العمل باسل اخلطيب.
اوتلوك
(صورة)Mohammad Azzam :
السالم: لقد ع ّلم الشيخ حسني عسيري الشيخ الكردي وِردا ً عشرين مرة بعد كل صالة يقول فيه :يا سالم ،يا هادي .وهذا الورد يبعثُ على سالمة القلب ِ وطمأنينته .فالسالم في اللغة: إما من السالمة ،أو ذو السالمة وهو الذي يُنزِّه خلقه من كل سوء. كيف يشعر املرء بهذي السكينة والصفاء القلبي . والسعادة الذي يبحث عنها هي في األشياء الدنيوية ،في املال وحب الظهور التي ال جتلب السالم الداخلي .بل إن املرء ال يشعر بالطمانينة إال حني يفتح قلبه للسالم .فرسول اهلل يقول :افشوا السالم بينكم. املسلم بالسالم، حني ي ُ َحيي ُ فمعناه أنه لن يحتقر من حوله، أو يؤذه ،أو يستغيبه ،أو يفشي سره .ولكن ولألسف فالعديد من املسلمني لم يعد يستلزمها، حتى أصبح الصديق يخاف من صديقه الذي غدت صداقتهم مجرد عالقة إجتماعية بحتة. ّ الغفار: الصراع بني اخلير والشر قدمي ،وأشد سالح يستخدمه الشيطان هو أن ييأس اإلنسان من رحمة اهلل ومغفرته .تبدا املسألة من النقيض ،اجلهل. ٌ كان هنالك ٌ جاهل باهلل ع ّز رجل ّ وجل ،ميشي وقد أثقلته الذنوب قائالً :اللهم إني أبطأت ،اللهم
عالم إني أبطأت .حتى م ّر به ٌ باهلل سبحانه ليبشره قائالً: أبطأ من مات ولم يتب. إن اهلل يغفر الذنوب جميعاً، إلاّ الشرك .فقد قال تعالى في احلديث القدسي :يا ابن آدم لو أتيتني ب ُقراب األرض خطايا ثم جئتني ال ت ْ ُشرك بي شيئا ً ألتيتك ب ُقرابها مغفرة. لكن هنالك شبه ٌة ،تقتضي بأن اإلنسان يفعل ما يريد ،وبآخر عمره يتوب .والرد عليه يأتي بان املسألة مرتبطة باملوت ،وليس ألحد ان يقول أنه في أول عمره أو في وسطه أو آخره ،فعلم اإلحتماالت ال ينطبق على هذه األمور اخلطيرة .أما الرد الثاني هو أن كثرة املعاصي مع اإلصرار عليها والتحدي هلل ،حترم اإلنسان من ساعة التوفيق التي يرفع فيه اإلنسان يديه تائبا ً هلل ع ّز ّ وجل. ثم نصح الشيخ الكردي بثالثة ُكتب ألسماء اهلل احلسنى هي :املقصد األسنى في شرح أسماء اهلل احلسنى للغزالي، وشرح أسماء اهلل احلسنى للقشيري ،وكتاب الزمخشري. وختمها شاب من احلضور ببيتي من الشعر لإلمام عبداهلل بن املبارك: رأيت الذنوب متيت القلوب ويتبعهـا الـذل إدمانـهـا وترك الذنوب حياة القلوب وخيـ ٌر لنفسـك عصيانـا
للمزيد من الصور صفحة 11
أ وتلو ك
اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت
االوتلوك ترحب بالراغبني لإلنتساب ،ملزيد من املعلومات:
املنشورة الطالبية املستقلة منذ عام | ١٩٤٩الثالثاء 19نيسان | 2011
جزء ٬٤٣عدد 25
www.aub.edu.lb/outlook
17 كاتب من هذا الزمان ردينة الفياللي :ق ّبانية الهوى
18
أ ّول سيارة لبنانية رياضية سريعة!
فاتورة النظام الطائفي اللبناني
مصطفى فضل اهلل كاتب صحفي ّ نظم النادي العلماني ونادي السالم وحقوق اإلنسان في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت ندو ًة بعنوان “فاتورة النظام الطائفي اللبناني” ألقاها الدكتور جاد شعبان يوم الثالثاء 12نيسان عند الساعة السادسة مسا ًء في قاعة عصام فارس .متّ اختيار التاريخ بحسب اإلعالن املوزّع عن النشاط عش ّية ذكرى احلرب األهل ّية اللبنانية لرمز ّية احلرب بالنسبة للمشاكل الطائفية في لبنان .وبحسب ّ املنظمني ،فالنشاط يستهدف مقاربة علمية حقيقية عن تأثير هذا النظام علينا كأفراد في ّ كل ليتم تقدمي نواحي احلياة االجتماعية ّ احلقيقة إلى الناس للمناداة بالدولة العلمانية املدنية اإلنسانية. بدأ النشاط بكلمة لرئيس النادي مقد ًما العلماني “ماريو أبو زيد” ّ وحتدث تاريخ هذا النادي في اجلامعة ّ عن فاعل ّيته على أرض الواقع“ .وطن يتده ّور بلغة الطائفية ونظامها” قال أبو زيد ،مشددًا على “أننا” نريد دولة متنع اإلساءة إلى الدين ،ووطنًا ّ حتقق الدولة فيه مصلحة مواطنيها ال مصلحة زعمائهاّ ، وأكد على مفهوم احملاسبة الذي نحتاجه لنفرض على
ن ّوابنا أن يلتزموا ببرامجهم .وأنهى باحلديث عن احلاجة إلى طرح حلول علم ّية ّ نحققها بالطرق السلمية. ثم كانت الكالم للدكتور جاد شعبان، ّ ومن البداية عرض مسار احلديث العام وعرض العناوين .ملاذا نحن هنا اليوم ،قال شعبان ،نحن هنا لنؤكد أ ّن الطائفية ليست وه ًما وأ ّن عدم وجود نظام حضاري علماني هو أمر مكلف ،ولنثبت هذا الواقع سنطرح بعض األرقام العلمية والتقديرات تشخص لهذه “الفاتورة” .املشكلة ّ أوال ً برأس الهرم وهي الطائفية السياسية ،أي التساوي بني املسلمني واملسيحيني نسب ًيا بني طوائف ّ كل من الفئتني إلى أن نصل إلى التقسيم في املناطق .ثم نصل إلى قاعدة الهرم: وهي األسس الطائفية لألحوال الشخصية على أساس وضع عوائق أمام تغيير القيد للمحافظة على التوازن الطائفي ،وذلك ك ّله من خالل 18طائفة يحكمها 15قضاء شرعي ّ ويتحقق األمان لهذا النظام روحي. السياسي الطائفي من خالل احلفاظ على أحجام الطوائف ،ومنع املرأة من إعطاء اجلنسية،و عرقلة الزواج املدني ،والتجنيس اإلستنسابي .أما جسم الهرم فهو قائم على ترسيخ اإلنتماء الطائفي من خالل تعليم ديني يركز على االختالف ،والتخويف
(صورة)Secular Club :
من اآلخر وإفالت يد الشعائر الدينية ،ومن دون نسيان احملاصصة واحملسوبية في اخلدمات العامة على األساس الطائفي بشكل أساسي. ونزيد على ذلك التقاسم املذهبي ملفاصل اإلقتصاد وسيطرة جمعيات مع ّينة على نواحي اقتصادية عامة وتوزيع اخلدمات الطائفية دو ًما.
حب لم تنتهي بعد نزار ،قصيدة ّ
ملك احللبي مساهمة صحفية
«أ ّيها احلفل الكرمي ،مساؤكم حب مط ّرز ٍة على طول قصيد ُة ّ الطريق بني دمشقَ وبيروت. َ ِ الضوء الذي مساؤكم شاع ُر ِ أحر َق وساد َة ِّ كل فتا ٍة عربي ٍة فنامت في بحرِ كلماته على أجمل قصيدة .مساؤكم نزار» .هكذا تبدأ الطالبة نادين حيدر التي تت ّرأس النادي الثقافي السوري حفل احياء كلمات»عاشق الكلمات». ال تلبث أن تستق ّر في مقعدك في قاعة «بطحيش» حتى تنهض على وقع النشيد الوطني اللبناني يليه النشيد الوطني ّ يتفشى في ثم السوري .ومن ّ أذنيك صوت الـ»قانون» خالل أداء الطالب جهاد أسعد وتراقص روحك كلمات أغنية «سألوني» للفنانة فيروز عند سماعك صوت زميلته رمز ساحوري. بعد أن تسكرنا املوسيقى،
وتبقى اإلشكالية األكبر في اإلعالم والنشاط الثقافي والرياضي الذي ير ّوج لزعماء الطوائف. وتط ّرق الدكتور شعبان لـ”إجنازات” وعددها عبر هذه النظام املوجود، ّ األرقام 170000 :ضحية 30 ،مليار دوالر كدين عام ،و %25من البطالة جتتاح فئات الشباب ،ثلث الشعب
يصعد سعادة سفير اجلمهورية العربية السورية لدى اجلمهورية اللبنانية علي عبد الكرمي علي ويُلقي خطابه وبعد أن ينهيه يأتي طيف نزار ،يأسرنا من أنفسنا إلى د ّوامة الشعر وينتشلنا من كراسينا .كان أثر املقطع الذي عرضه النادي
الثقافي السوري بعنوان «نزار الطفل واملرأة» لوحة فنية ق ّربتنا من س ّيد الكلمات فاستشعرنا وجوده ونسينا رحيله .لوحة كانت تفوح بعطر نزار .باق ٌة من ّ وشكلت القصائد ز ّينت داخلنا تتمة ص 19
تتمة ص 19
معرض الكتاب اإلسالمي الرابع والعشرين ،قصيدة تنتهآخر ّ حب لم ِ عامر الص ّريع كاتب صحفي
(صورة)Mohammad Azzam :
اللبناني دون خط الفقر ،هجرة حتصد نصف خريجي اجلامعات ،وطب ًعا حمص” .وأشاد شعبان “أكبر صحن ّ بصمود اللبنانيني أمام هذا الواقع املرعب وبقاء حبهم للحياة ومتاسك عالقاتهم االجتماعية إلى جانب بروز حتركات قو ّية للدفاع عن حقوق
أقام الـ» »Insight Clubفي اجلامعة األمريكية مساء الثالثاء في الثاني عشر من نيسان أبريل، محاضرة بعنوان «أسماء اهلل احلسنى» الفتتاح معرض الكتاب اإلسالمي الرابع والعشرين ،كان قد ألقاها الشيخ امني الكردي، أمني دار الفتوى في اجلمهورية اللبنانية وإمام مسجد محمد األمني ص ّلى اهلل عليه وآله وسلم. افتتح احملاضرة الطالب أحمد سكر بكلمة «إقرأ» .إقرأ باسم ربك الذي خلق ،هكذا
أمر إلهي كان بدأ اإلسالم .فأول ٍ أمي هو «إقرا». قد ُوجه لنبي ّ فكيف نحن اللذين نعرف القراءة والكتابة .فمن يعتقد بان اإلسالم هو سبب التأخر في هذه األمة ،فليتمعن في هذه اآلية. وتاله الشيخ الكردي مفسرا ً أسمني من أسماء اهلل احلسنى ومعانيها الكرمية .لكن قبل التمعن في تلك األسماء ،علينا ان نتمعن في استخدام العقل. فالعقل مناط التكليف ،وقد جعله اهلل سبحانه محورا ً اساسيا ً للتكرمي واستقبال تتمة ص 19