I 23, Vol 43

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The American University of Beirut

Outlook |

Vol. XLIII, No. 23

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

|T

he

Independent Student Publication Since 1949

“Why do we write in bathrooms?” A comparison of male and female inscriptions on AUB stalls Maya Sfeir News Executive

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f you are reading this article, chances are you have been to one of the many restrooms available on the AUB campus. Narrowing down your possibilities, you must have been to either one of the male or female restrooms at AUB and consequently laughed at, or were horrified by, the writing on the walls. Have you ever con-

Nour Jane Kachicho Contributing Writer Samia El Osta is a graduate student who has produced a thesis covering graffiti art in the girls’ bathroom stalls and thus was consequently interviewed by Outlook to dig deeper into her interest and opinion on the subject matter. Why did you choose to study the girls’ bathroom walls at AUB? I found the sexual content of the graffiti and fact that students were asking questions or expressing their opinions

Don’t Miss! ‘Know the Truth or Dare to Ask’ interactive discussion

sidered what the other sex writes about in restrooms? Have you wondered whether or not you share the same concerns—but were too shy to ask or discover for yourself? A sociolinguistic study that was conducted last February about the writings on AUB stalls revealed that male and female AUBites express themselves differently on restroom walls. Indeed, the

The AUB Wellness Program invites you to an interactive discussion on the topics of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, birth control, cervical cancer vaccination and much, much more this Thursday April 7 at 5:00 p.m. at West Hall, Auditorium B (Photo by Nour Jane Kachicho)

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Interview with graduate student Samia El Osta on graffiti art in girls’ bathrooms on the bathrooms walls very interesting. I was most intrigued by the give-and-take, or the discussions that would arise when someone would ask a question and others would respond with advice, support, or criticism. I wanted to know more about the students behind the graffiti and about the social circumstances which contributed to them choosing the university bathroom walls as a space to discuss sexuality. What did you find that most surprised/shocked/ continued on page 4

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Solidarity for Japan

Vandalism on AUB campus Nour Jane Kachicho Contributing Writer

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large number of students on the AUB campus mindlessly scratch their names on tables while in class. Others deliberately write their stories and comments on the bathroom walls. Vandalism at the AUB has existed over the years in private forms, such as in bathrooms, and in public forms, such as in classrooms, and does not seem to cease. An informal poll conducted on March 29 and 30 suggested that 50 percent of students have vandalized in the form of writing on chairs and desks, while 43 percent have vandalized in the toilets, 64 percent of whom are girls. In the AUB student code

AUB Volunteering Fair 2011

(Photo by Nour Jane Kachicho)

of conduct, under ‘Destruction of Property/Endangering Public Safety,’ it is stated that “engaging in vandalism or other intentional damage

to property on campus or at university-events off campus,” is, “subject to disciplincontinued on page 4

Free training available with certification! (For more details see page 4)

INSIDE

The Center for Civic Engagement & Community Service (CCECS), in collaboration with Office of Students Affairs (OSA) and the Student Representative Committees (SRC), cordially invites you to participate in the AUB “Volunteering Fair 2011” to be held on Wednesday and Thursday April 27 and 28 respectively between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Campus News CCS organizes mini football tournament

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Campus News McGill Professor lecture on Neonatal pain management

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

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Entertainment Rebecca Black single “Friday” review

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