Outlook The American University of Beirut
| Tuesday, Oct 5, 2010 | The Independent Student Publication Since 1949
Monday
Sunday
H:28 L:21
H:28 L:20
www.wunderground.com
Saturday
H:30 L:21
إحياء الدور املسيحي في املشرق العربي
سارة الديراني
كاتبة صحفية
ُعقد نهار السبت 25أيلول 2010 مؤمتر بعنوان “ إحياء الدور املسيحي في املشرق العربي ”.وذلك في قاعة عصام فارس في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت .وفد ّ نظم هذا املؤمتر مركز عصام فارس للشؤون اللبنانية ، برعاية غبطة البطريرك مار نصراهلل بطرس صفير .كما وحضر هذا املؤمتر مم ّثل فخامة رئيس اجلمهورية ودولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء سعد احلريري ،و معالي د .طارق متري، وقد حضر هذا املؤمتر أيضا ً عدد من الشخصيات الدينية والرسمية .وقد تخلل هذا االفتتاح كلمة لدولة الرئيس عصام فارس ،وتبعها كلمة توجيهية للبطريرك صفير والتي ألقاها ممثله املطران سمير شدد املطران مظلوم مظلوم .وقد ّ في كلمته على أهمية املتطلبات إلحياء الدور املسيحي في املشرق العربي .وأهمها :السالم ،االستقرار، الدميقراطية ،إحترام حقوق اإلنسان، إحترام حرية املعتقد ،والتوعية ألهمية التنوع .كما وأكد على أهمية تكريس التعايش املشترك والتآخي ثم افتُتحت لبناء دولة دميقراطيةّ . اجللسة األولى من هذا املؤمتر .والتي حتدث فيها ّ كل من الدكتور كمال ّ صليبي ،معالي د .طارق متري، سماحة السيد هاني فحص ،الدكتور نبيل عبد الفتاح (مصر) ،الدكتور فهمي جدعان (األردن) .وقد ّ أكد صليبي “أنّه لن يبقى عرب في حال زوال النصرانية (املسيحية) العربية باملعنى التاريخي والوجودي ”.فعلى املسيحيني أن يعلموا أنّه لن يصيبهم إلاّ ما يصنعون ألنفسهم ،ولكي
9
Kiss Kiss
readoutlook@gmail.com
Thursday
Tuesday Wednesday
H:30 L:21
H:29 L:21
H:28L:21
Dr. Kisirwani Passes on the Mission to Dr. Nezameddin tionship emphasizing that he felt a deep connection between the staff around himself admitting, ironically enough, that he actually has in fact spent more time with them than he has with his biological family! The meeting included key administrative figures such as Mrs. Maryam Ghandour (Career Counciling and Placement Specialist ), Mr. Ghaleb Halimi (Director of Athletics ), Miss Hiba Hamade (Student
continued on page 4
ty of becoming Dean of Student Affairs was soon after presented to him some nine years back. Concerning his time spent at AUB, Kissriwani openly declares that working in an atmosphere of cooperation and care for the student body was his utmost pleasure over the years adding that his long journey from student to dean at AUB will always amount to his most memorable working years. Kisirwani also made known that the relationship he shared with the crowd around him surpassed that of a typical work rela-
Courtesy of Samer Bu Jawdeh
8
AUB Events دريد ّ حلامفياجلامعةاألميركية في بيروت
H:29 L:21
5
Cedar Award
Interview with Amal El Baba
Samer Bu Jawdeh Contributing Writer
O
n Thursday September 23 starting 4 pm, administrative staff and other personnel flocked to the Common Room to send their warm farewells to retiring Dean of Student Affairs Maroun Kisirwani. Having began his life at AUB as a student only years ago, Kissriwani later joined AUB as an Assistant Professor of Political Studies at the Department of Political Studies and Public Administration (PSPA) in the year of 1973 when the lifetime opportuni-
Kisirwani and Nezameddin cutting the honorary cake.
2, 7 3 Reviews - Weeklies 9 4,6,8 Fun & Trivia 10 5 Out of The Box 11
Bliss Street, West Hall 208 Tel: 01 350 000 Ext.3193
Editorial & Opinion Opinion Campus News Interview One-One
INSIDE
Book Review
يبقوا في املشرق العربي عليهم أن ّ يتذكروا أنهم جز ٌء من الكل .أما د. فسر تراجع الدور املسيحي متري فقد ّ في املشرق العربي باألسباب التالية. أوالً ،إنخفاض معدالت اخلصوبة مما أ ّدى إلى تناقص أعداد املسيحيني. ثانياً ،ميل املسيحيني إلى الفردية بدال ً من التضامن اجلماعي .وأخيراً، تزايد هواجس املسيحيني حول املشاركة املسيحيية في احلياة السياسية .ولقد ّ أكد سماحة السيد هاني فحص أ ّن املسيحية ضرورة إسالمية وعربية ،ألنّها مت ّثل املاضي األصيل للهوية العربية ،فال أما د.عبد الفتاح ميكن استئصالهاّ . فقد شرح الدور الذي لعبه األقباط (املسيحيون) في صنع الثقافة واحلركة الفكرية في مصر ،مستعينا ً ببعض الشواهد التاريخية لتأكيد ذلك .وفي نهاية الندوةّ ، أكد د. جدعان أ ّن”املسيحية ليست دخيلة بل هي األصل في التاريخ واجلغرافية العربية ،فال ينبغي على املسيحيني الرحيل إلى الغرب ”.وأشار في حديثه إلى أ ّن إحدى السبل للتقريب بني املسلمني واملسيحني يكون بتدريس العقائد واملبادئ املسيحية واإلسالمية في املناهج املدرسية. وفي اخلتام ،ال يسعنا سوى التأكيد على أ ّن املسيحيني جز ٌء ال يتجزأ من مشرقنا العربي ،وعلى أنهم قد أعطوا املشرق العربي عبر التاريخ وتقدم ساهمت في جرعات حداثة ّ حتسني واقع املشرق العربي عامليا ً.
Friday
Vol. XLIII, No. 2
www.aub.edu.lb/outlook
2
Outlook
Oct 5, 2010
Editorial & Opinion Attitude of Gratitude
Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief
I
magine a life of constant harmony. Imagine all that we could ever ask for at our disposal –the entire world at our finger tips. It almost sounds incorporeal doesn’t it? Simply too good to be true? If only one of us could demonstrate otherwise, from a different light, and elucidate the contrary, now that
would be a real godsend – but how can one when the contrary is already the case? How may one unveil the unveiled and further clarify that which is no less barefaced than the sun at the break of dawn? The truth is there, yet to come to its firm realization is a task only we can undertake. To lead us to life’s pulsating stream others can do, but to drink from life’s vibrant, throbbing waters, now that we must do ourselves. So why not humour ourselves for a minute or two and just imagine? Imagine that you and I – we – can turn this apparent “illusion” of a life of harmony into our rigid reality. It could be a good place to start, wouldn’t you agree? Everyday we arrive at a junction in our lives where we must choose between two or more options, yet un-
less we do so with gratitude, we doom ourselves to choosing between nothing more than the lesser of two evils. Why sculpt our own demise when with gratitude we can turn our murkiest experiences to the brightest and most colourful of sensations? What if I let you in on a little secret? Would you give it the benefit of the doubt? What if I was to tell you that all the aforesaid and more, far more, can be yours for the rest of your years upon the heartfelt utterance of two measly words. Would you believe me? Brothers and sisters, if we seek joy, then let the most prevalent of utterances upon our lips be utterances of gratitude. If we chase after bliss, then let words of thanks break out in sweet melody past the early dawn, all through the midday, and
up until the dead of night. If we desire self-synchrony and peaceful accord, then let the appreciation of life ornament our days as do sparkling stars ornament the moon-lit sky. If we truly desire a buoyancy of the spirit, then let us utter a word of thanks every once in a while and stand in sheer awe and utter amazement of the profits to be gained. Let then our affection and appreciation for our most minor successes be no less than that of our grandest. Maybe we owe it to ourselves to leap out of the microcosm of a distorted conscious and into the macrocosm of untainted thanks. How long before we begin to adopt gratitude as second nature? The consequences? Dire! The benefits? Limitless! Now I ask myself, I ask you, and I ask all of us, will we
not thirst after this virgin power? With this new power harnessed, with its armour fastened about our hearts, we mould our futures in ways never dreamt imaginable and destine ourselves to riches otherwise unattainable. With our newly elated spirits we can now delve into the dream world where the impractical is made practical, the unviable made viable, and the impossible is deemed a nonentity. With this new enchanting supremacy, we can change lives - our lives. Only two words lie between us and our goals, two words that loosen the pull on our lives, two words that lighten the loads on our backs, and two words that unfetter the chains of our self-imposed indignation. It takes but two words to set us free – thank you.
10 Things I wish I Knew as a Freshman
Heather Jaber Staff Writer
I
remember my first week at AUB vividly. I was so excited by the freshness of it all; the campus, the people, even the confusion of starting out. Looking back on that first year as a lowly freshman, there are a few things I would tell myself, knowing what I know now.
- You will not make it to the gym every day. You’ll go maybe twice a week, but you’ll be so wiped out from walking up and down the Chemistry stairs that taking a nap sounds like a better activity than running the track. - Procrastination is a disease and you have it. No matter how much you tell yourself that you are going to better organize yourself every week, you will end up pulling more all-nighters than you ever have before. You will spend the weeks before and during finals staying up all night with your friends, drinking insane amounts of coffee and reading PowerPoint files in your living room until your eyelids droop. You will pass out on your couch with your laptop and wake up at your dining room table with a notebook in front of you, not recalling how you got there. - Figure out what major your
applying for. Then, when the time comes to apply for it, actually apply. This way, you can avoid the blank stares from people when you tell them that you are a ‘majorless’ sophomore. - It’s possible to miss the Dean’s Honor list by 0.4. You will do it. (But don’t worry, you’ll make it next semes-
though not always in a clear manner. One day, you will be unsure of whether or not your teacher is actually kicking you out. Do not ask him to clarify. He will make fun of you in front of the entire class. Just turn around and leave. Or offer him your coffee. - You will get sick of the food
Walking into class 15 minutes late with coffee does not make a good first, second or third impression on your professors ter). - Teachers will kick you out for being late. Walking into class 15 minutes late with coffee does not make a good first, second or third impression on your professors. You will be asked to leave, al-
on Bliss. Soon enough, the sight of a turkey and cheese “saj” will make you feel slightly nauseous. Bring food from home; you will crave your mom’s “mjaddara” and “loubieh” at the strangest times. Do not pay the 10,000 LL ini-
tiation fee to the clubs you are joining. You will never hear from them again. - Register for your courses on time. You don’t want to be the person stuck with classes at 8 every morning and 5 hour gaps for breaks, but you will be. - Invest in a good umbrella. Walking into class dripping on other people will not make you many friends. - The bench next to the Assembly Hall is not your new hangout spot, and neither is the Green Oval. No matter what you’re doing throughout the day, your free time will always bring you back to West. You’ll spend most of your time there, like it or not. You’ll sit lazily with your friends, watching them play cards, naming the cats and pretending you’re about to go home, when really, you will probably still be in AUB for the next five hours.
Oct 5, 2010
Outlook
opinion
3
I’m in love with John Mayer
Lojine Kamel Staff Writer
S
o it’s the first week of AUB and I’m already anticipating stress mode, feeling its anxiety-inducing precursor creep up somewhere between genetics and psychology. So I pop
in my earphones, blast John Mayer on high, and breath. I take a few minutes to chillax, thank God for Ipods, and resume reality, content with the mellow acoustics making their way through my ears and into my bloodsteam. Who needs pills? Now this article is not about my anxiety problems; rather my undying love for John Mayer. Believe me, I’d like to continue with the details of our engagement - but I kind of need to figure out how to meet him first. Why do I love him then? Simply put, John Mayer is the epitome of amazingness. The very pinnacle of awesome guitar playing and lyrical mastery. Yes, he seems to be unable to speak intelligently in public, but his lyrics
are an testament to his profound character. Anyone who can play or write like he does is ridiculously talented. Speaking of which, musical ability and writing skills are often underrated in this society, especially when it comes to popular music today. I dare you to turn on the radio and find one song without lewd or shallow content. Techno? Hip Hop? Rap? Please. John Mayer is that dying breed of musician that actually writes about something significant - without an added dance beat in the background. In fact I find it extremely saddening that most of our generation can’t appreciate the classics. Bob Marley, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, heck even AC(insert lightning bolt)DC are all eons bet-
ter in terms of sound and lyrics. Acoustics are a refreshing change in a time of auto-tune and head-bobbing garbage. As an avid guitar enthusiast I can only appreciate the likes of Andy Mckee, Eric Clapton, and yes, John Mayer, whose skills far surpass that of the average musician. I’ll admit I’m overly fond of a couple Adam Lambert and Bruno Mars songs, but in the end it’s just music. It doesn’t make me think. John Mayer embodies my passion for so many things in life, and likewise my dislike for the dislikable. Be it a good day or a bad day there is always a John Mayer song that pinpoints my mood exactly. With only four albums and, hopefully oh so many more to
come, John Mayer has thus far been my soundtrack to life. My personal favorites are undoubtedly ‘In Your Atmosphere’ and ‘Stop this Train,’ both of which are epically wonderful. Of course crowd favorites like ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ and ‘Daughters’ are amazing in their own right, but not nearly as full of meaning. It’s kind of tough to find a song that really, truly speaks to you. So, I dare you to find that one album, artist, or song that makes you really appreciate life. And for society’s sake as well as yours, I hope to God it’s not ‘Get Low.’
Welcome, New Students!
Lynn Itani Staff Writer
H
aving spent four years on AUB campus, I would like to dedicate this article to all the newbies, whether freshman or sophomore students. As exciting as this transition phase is, I often see young and confused faces around this time. Yes, starting AUB can be stressful, and this is why I thought some words of wisdom from an older AUBite could help. First of all, I would like to reassure you, new students, that it will all
get easier soon. Fixing the best schedule, identifying the best courses, and choosing the best professors will become “basic knowledge” and a matter of routine. Also, this is a time to learn - which always comes at an expense perfectly normal. I recall taking longer routes to class and friends laughing about that, drinking bad coffee before identifying my favorite, making friends with people I realized that I could not get along with, and messing up with the misleading TR schedule. Yet, one of the most important lessons AUB has taught me is that in a world ruled by the survival of the fittest theory, success is about always being one step ahead. The approach of being proactive, you will realize, is more important than what any Biology book will teach you. As such, go over readings BEFORE courses or labs. Study on daily basis, and NOT right before exams. This might have worked for you in high school but does not work here. Constantly search around for
previous exams. Approach people like they are already your friends. Don’t forget to work on your resume in line with your academic responsibilities. Knock on professors doors and ask them about research opportunities. A great tip, along the similar line of being proactive, is to always ask questions. There is NO spoon-feeding around here. Ask or no one will tell you. This means talking to older AUB students, learning from others’ experiences and sending lots of interrogative emails. With respect to my academic experience as both an undergraduate and graduate student, AUB exams are detail-oriented. Therefore, paying attention to some information provided during lectures or in slides and books that you may currently take for granted is a requirement and, more importantly, a competitive advantage. It is also enjoyable to not only study but contribute to our beautiful university by being active through clubs (and by that I mean the student clubs,
AUB Main Gate not the night clubs!). You will find yourself a more grateful student. Cheers to a beautiful challenge, and I wish you the very best of luck on your
Photo: Salim Batlouni new endeavor. Enjoy every second of it, because the common perspective that ‘university years are from the best of your life’ is not a myth.
4
Outlook
campus news
Oct 5 , 2010
Nezameddin for Acting Dean of Student Affairs continued from page 1 Activities Coordinator), and other Administrative Staff such as Mis Therese T. Mer’ib (Administrative Officer) who all received their humble thanks from Kissirwani during the farewell party. Kissirwani apologized for those whose hopes for the university have remained unfulfilled despite all his tremendous efforts, but feels self-assured that the office of Student Affairs will continue to prosper now that Associate Dean Dr. Talal Nezameddin is to supersede him as Acting Dean of Student Affairs. In fact, Kissirwani is more than confident that the student body and their ambitions are in safe hands asking of all new and returning students to cooperate with the Nezameddin as they had previously with him. As for Dr. Nezameddin, working alongside Dean Kisirwani was admittedly a real honour as well. Looking back at his admin-
istrative years, Kissirwani reveals that he not only acquired countless life-lessons from his job experiences but that he also took office with the inherent expertise which allowed him to overcome the numerous difficulties that burdened AUB. He recalled the year 2005, clarifying that the years directly before and after 2005 were no walk in the park having a dire impact on AUB’s campus. In spite of all the threats met in previous years, Acting Dean Dr. Nezameddin mentioned that Kisirwani had long since made it a matter of habit to encourage all students to take offer their solutions to the problems on campus, allowing good relationships to form between the student body and administration that have in the past shown to boost AUB’s student-based development. During his nine years as Dean of Student Affairs, Kissirwani made it point to in-
Administrators gather around for a group photo in honor of retiring Kisirwani. Courtesy of Samer Bu Jawdeh struct all those around him to love the university and “blend” their love into both their academic and social endeavours in furthering its cause, especially when it comes to the sensitive matter of politics. “This issue has long burdened our university,” explains Kisirwani, yet throughout his nine years as Dean, Kissirwani also feels
that - in contrast to other local universities - the administration, in collaboration with the student body where very much able to prevent the country’s sectarian and political conflicts from infiltrating AUB’s campus walls. Understanding that political involvement in our country is near unavoidable, Kissirwani urges tomorrow’s
student body to hold their political ideologies at a comfortable level and balance with respect to the ideologies of their respective peers on campus in sincere hopes of maintaining AUB’s reputation as a “citadel of excellence, education, and freedom of speech.”
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions ” --Albert Einstein Theoretical Physicist (1879-1955)
Oct 5, 2010
Outlook
one on one
5
Interview with Amal El Baba Winner of the Literary Cedar Tree Award 2009-10 Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief
A
couple months back, Beirut’s Unesco Palace celebrated the emergence of several young and rising Lebanese authors from several diverse areas across Lebanon by inaugurating the winners of the Cedar Tree Award writing contest with official certificates for their writing virtues. The inauguration ended with the winning authors signing off copies of their books to their fans on television at the Palace. In expanding their exposure, the winners of the Cedar Tree Award were additionally privileged with the rare opportunity of publishing their books internationally as well as locally, allowing their books to reach publicity in the far off boarders of France (Paris), London, and the United States of America (New York). It just so happens that three of the female winners (ages 15 to 17) are the younger sisters of three of our very own AUB students,
one of whom –Amal El Baba, author of “”مذاكرة جننيor Diary of a Fetus – Outlook had the grand opportunity of meeting with. Rami: So Amal, tell us a little about yourself, your educational background, passions, and dreams. Amal: I finished my secondary education at Rafic Hariri High School at Saida, Lebanon, and am currently pursuing a communication arts degree with a journalism emphasis at the Lebanese American University (LAU) under a merit scholarship. I have a restless passion for writing and music, aspire to become a well known journalist, and hope to direct a movie of my own script sometime in the near future. R: Where did you find your inspiration for writing your book and how does it feel to have published your first book at the adolescent age of 17? A: I have a long history of
Other Winners of the Literary Cedar Tree Award
winning all too many national writing contests organized for students. When I first read the poster hung at the school bulletin, I simply ignored it seeing as the contest`s conditions were to write a minimum of 40 pages in any language and I didn’t have much time for that. As I arrived home however, I kept pondering the matter until I had finally resolved to give it a try before retiring to bed. I was interested in seeing my honest ranking amongst amateur Lebanese writers and looked forward to the motivation I could experience as a result of possibly publishing my first book at the young age of 17. R: What would you confess has been most challenging along the journey of your composition? A: In his novel, “The Zahir”, Paulo Coelho reveals that a writer can only finish a story provided he/she has the courage to start. In other words, it may seem easy to sit down and write, but in truth, it`s quite hard to get started. All I needed was some persistence and patience for I had everything in my head: the idea, character profiles, and even the ending, but just didn’t know where to begin. I started with a few lines, then scratched them, tore many papers, went to hang out with a few friends, promising myself to resume writing once I got back home, but went directly to bed instead. That was my situation in the first week until I realized just how little time I had left. After completing my first two pages (the introduction), I went on to write the full book and felt as if the book had actuall written itself by itself just as Coelho predicted. Yet another difficulty was my slow typing speed in Arabic.
Fortunately, I had a network cafe type up every chapter I wrote out by hand. R: The theme you have set for your book in which you cunningly manipulate the growth stages of a fetus into an extended metaphor that traces the development of your female protagonist throughout the novel is tantalizingly original, how on earth did you come up with it? A: I always thought of writing a story wherein which a father had no other choice but to kill his child. I started writing stories using this theme long ago but completed none, so I decided once again to resume with this theme. I also had this weird wonder: why can’t I remember anything from my embryonic life? As I reached grade twelve, I faced some difficulty with my parents concerning the section I was to be enrolled at. I wanted the humanities section while my parents registered me in the life sciences section, hoping to see me as a future doctor or a pharmacist. I didn’t argue much, but I’m not the type who gives up all too easily and so I resolved to avenge myself my own way and prove to them my inherent talent. From here sprouted the idea of illustrating biological facts in a metaphorical fashion. Simply put, I used what I learned in biology class, coupled with some research to further my theme and ended up with this original mix that I titled “Diary of a Fetus”. R: Do you see yourself releasing more books in the near future? A: The literary Cedar Tree Award has been my motivation for producing more and more writing. Right now, I have ideas for three books, and am currently working on
one of them, possibly to surpass 300 pages. R: If you had one final message you would like to share with our AUB students and the world what would that one message be? A: This experience really taught me the importance of not postponing today` s work for tomorrow and to complete every work I start - not necessary literary - to the very end. Therefore, I urge AUB students and everyone to believe in their own talents and follow their own dreams even if it conflicts with the dreams of others. It’s your life, not theirs. Do what you think is right, and sure enough, you`ll find yourself on the right track. R: Amal, on behalf of Outlook, we thank you for sharing with us your inspiring success and are indebted to you, Grace Abou Abdallah, Tatiana Hajjar, and several other young scholars who like yourself contributed to sparking the fire of inspiration in the hearts of several of our university virtuosos. We are much appreciated. A: You`re most welcome and I thank you for your interest in my talent.
6
Outlook
campus news
BSS hosts dinner party, play
Source: Facebook.com Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief
L
ast April, the Biology Student Society (BSS) at AUB decided to go for an original event, reserving a fixed number of seats for its BSS members to attend a popular comedy play titled “Le Professeur.” The play took place on Saturday May 8 at the Chateau Triano, Jal el Dib and was directed by the famous Lebanese actor and renowned comedic genius, George Khabbaz. For those unfamiliar with Khabazz’s work, he is widely celebrated for his rich reputation in the acting business from television series, to plays, to comedy shows. One of the latest TV series he stars in is “Abdo wou Abdo.” Alongside Khabbaz in this successful production were other renowned Lebanese actors, namely Viviane Antonios and Carlos Azar. The play brought together storms of university friends and
family, who collectively experienced a night of humorous ecstasy, amused by the impressive cast and vibrant show of drama which unfolded. Prior to the show, however, the BSS hosted an early dinner party, largely due to the meticulous and determined efforts of Maan Al Halabi, who, amongst other BSS volunteers, made it possible to launch Saturday night off on the right foot. Having eaten to their hearts’ content, the BSS members took their seats, ready to embark on a most stimulating comedic adventure. Director and current protagonist, George Khabbaz, plays the role of a reckless figure, tossed and turned by life’s turbulent currents who only recently unlocks the key to a future of health, wealth, and abundance - or has he? After considerable thought, Khabbaz launches his new found career as a psychic which he eagerly puts to hot pursuit
right away, slowly but surely gaining recognition by several customers and interested clients. As Khabbaz accumulates a truckload of material wealth, he suddenly finds himself lost and detached from a world he once cherished. As his familial and social life take an unexpected turn, a chain of events follow wherein he finds himself ashamed of his latest undertakings and regrettable of his current life of forgery. Khabbaz thus awakens to the realization that all the essential elements of his life, all the aspects that had truly mattered to him, he had possessed all along until he carelessly laid them to ash in his current state of affairs. “I was glad to see that everyone, parents and students alike, enjoyed the show and am wholeheartedly grateful for the efforts of the BSS members in organizing this event - Maan in particular. There you have it, yet another spectacular event to add to what has already been a largely prolific year,” declared BSS President Paul Ramia, who warmly reassured us that this event was by no means a BSS conclusive for the 2009-2010 AUB academic year. “I was glad to see that everyone, parents and students alike, enjoyed the show and am wholeheartedly grateful for the efforts of the BSS members in organizing this event - Maan in particular,” stated BSS President Paul Ramia. “There you have it, yet another spectacular event to add to what has already been a largely prolific year.”
Sharing is Caring
Oct 5 , 2010
Book Loaning Campaign a Success
Samer Bu Jawdeh Contributing Writer
E
mpty boxes filled up as AUBites donated their university books for their colleagues to borrow. This was part of the Book Loaning Campaign managed by the Civic Welfare League in collaboration with the Center of Civic Engagement and Community Service. This year the book donation took place from Thursday to Monday from 11:00 to 1:00 in front of West Hall. The initiative started last spring, and takes place every fall and spring semester within the first two weeks of college. It was a shock for many AUBites who are used to buying and selling books to actually know that borrowing books is for free. All that is required is to take care of the book because it will continue to cycle around from student to student. Probably, the surprise comes because the event can be considered relatively new to campus. As Business Major Marwa Bohsali commented, “People do not know much about it… though it is a great idea.” The aim of this project is to have students help each other through sharing books. Instead of throwing books in the garbage, leaving them in the libraries, storing them in a place to be forgotten for
good, or simply tossing them on the ground, students can put their books into good use through donation. Jawad Rizkallah, CWL Vice President, mentioned that the idea started with the question, “Why do we have to pay for books which we will be using for only one semester?” He adds that this question lies in every student’s mind. This small idea soon developed into a larger action which addressed more issues like students assisting each other by easing the financial costs on themselves and playing an active role in the student body. Jawad adds, “Besides helping the AUB population, we will be able to protect the environment.” Olga Safa, CCECS project coordinator, is grateful for the initiative and encouragea all students to think about others, stating “community service is not only needed outside campus but also within AUB.” She also hopes that students come up with more and new ideas to help each other especially since students need to lend a hand in many areas of AUB life.
7
Oct 5 , 2010
Outlook
editorial & Opinion ملا
مرمي العلي مح ّررة
تصطدم العني في غرفة الـ()GA في الدائرة العرب ّية بجدران أربعة ليس فيها نافذة .يحتويك املكان، وليس لعينك داخله أن تتح ّرى عن خارجه .فيه ال ينفتح لك املدى ال باجتاه أزرق السماء الفاحت والعالي ،وال أزرق البحر املواجه للكولدج هول في اجلانب اآلخر من املم ّر ،وال باجتاه أخضر األرض ،الكثيف الذي يعبث به هواء احلياة .كانت “ملا”-رفيقة الدراسة وما هو أبعد بكثير -الثابت الوحيد، ّ لعيني الظل فيه، احلي ،املتح ّرك ّ ّ أنا .تشاطرنا ،حلني ،أشياء الغرفة وجدرانها وهواءها الثقيل الذي لم يكن يأتينا إلاّ من ثقب املك ّيف املغب ّر، “يعن” في األسماع بنبرة عالية. الذي ّ بدلتنا تلك الغرفة ،فيها لكنّا ،ملا وأناّ ، تع ّلمنا أن نسكت ،وأن نحكي كثيراً، أن نقرأ عن سيبويه واألصمعي وابن األنباري وعن ّ كل األسماء “الكبيرة”. كنّا نراكم الكتب ،ننزل إلى الـ( ،)stacksكنت أمشي وراءها نشم رائحة في كثير امل ّرات ،حيث كنّا ّ األوراق القدمية الصفراء الهرِمة، والتي كانت جتعلنا نشعر أنّنا أكبر س ّنا ً ممّا ينبغي ،ونفرح .مّربا ألنّها كانت
أصل مجلسنا املتقارب ،واليومي .كنّا نضع الكتب بني مكتبينا املتالصقني. ومنضي كثيرا ً من الوقت ،أكثر مما نتأملها ،وقد نلقي نظرة ينبغي أيضاًّ ، على عدد صفحاتها قبل أن نكتب عنها مقطعا ً في نصف صفحة ،ألنّنا ّ “الشطار” بدوام كامل، لسنا من فئة التأمل واللهو تطغى .وما فساعات ّ بني كتاب وكتاب ،كنّا نتبادل نظرات صامتة ،بدون أو مع ابتسامة ،من رف الكتب املتعالي حينا ً خلف ّ املتنازل حينا ً آخر .وكنا نقرأ بصوت عال ما يُضحك (ورمبا ما يُبكي) ،عن ٍ األسماء “الزمخشرية” وعن أخبار احلب واجملالس وأشياء أخرى .وكنّا ّ أي كتاب، نحكي :نقرأ ال أذكر في ّ عربي ،مّربا يوحي يستوقف ملا اسم ّ بالصحراء والشمس والتغ ّرب الكامل لفظا ً ومعنى ،فتعلن بالعالي أنّها ستسمي ابنها البكر كذا (االسم ّ الذي لن يجده أحد إلاّ في الكتب التي تندرا ً على اللغة التي كنّا نقرؤها) ّ أح ّبتها .أُنصفها وأقول أنّها كانت تسألني رأيي ،وتواسيني بنفسها أحيانا ً أخرى“ :ما تزعلي ميمو ،رح ط ّلعلك واحد إلبنك” .وغير األسماء، كنّا نشرد بأبيات شعر ،وتهتف ملا: هذا جميل ،سنكتبه لنع ّلقه هنا، وهي تشير إلى زاوية ما في اللوحة فوق رأسينا ،وكثرت األبيات ،وصغرت اللوحة علينا ،وهكذا خرج بيت عنترة “وَلَقَد ذ ََكرت ُِك ”...عن املألوف، كخروجه عن الزمن والتاريخ ،واستق ّر على احلائط وحيدا ً...هكذا كانت األيام تروح ،قرأت معها بيت عنترة م ّرات ال أحصيها .معها نفدت ُعدها معا ً. النسكافيه التي كنّا ن ّ األكواب البالستيكية وأعواد التحريك اخلشبية في دُرجي أنا“ .الكوفيه ميت” األبيض في كيس مخصوص في دُرج ملا ،وحبوب النسكافيه في
وحدةعلىالتف ّرق
علبة أخرى لم يالحظها أحد من ز ّوار الغرفة .اسألوني ملاذا .كنّا نضعها في كيس على ّ رف من رفوف خزانة األملنيوم املنصوبة مبحاذاة الباب ،واملليئة بكتب وأشياء تصرخ لصاحبها اجملهول الذي ال يأتي، لم يكن أحد ليتو ّقع وجود علبة نسكافيه ثمينة بينها .ولم تكن هذه طبعا ً خدعة فتاتني بخيلتني تكرهان الضيوف .ال تُسئ الظن. ّ مّربا كانت حركة أردنا منها شعور السيطرة على املكان .على الغرفة، ففيها أشياء مخف ّية ال يعرف أحد مكانها ما عدانا ،وفيها أيضا ً نحن نختار لألشياء الظاهرة مكانها، فتغدو ّ تخصنا بطريقة كل األشياء ّ ما ،في الغرفة التي كنّا منضي فيها ساعات عمر جميل .إلى أن انقضى ذلك احلني الذي جمعنا فيها .فلما عروس .وعريس الغفلة لم يُطل احتفلت الغياب ،بعد خطبة قصيرة ُ لها بها على نفس هذه الصفحات قبل عام .اليوم ال أحتفل برحيلها. ألنّي وهي ،لم نولد لنبقى متالصقتني في تلك الغرفة .طبعا ً قد تبدو اجلملة بال معنى ،فهذا بديهي ،لكنّك عندما تعتاد مكاناً ،وإن كان عادياً ،ويطالعك حتب املكان والوجه فيه وجه تألفهّ ، معاً ،أل ّن املكان فيه الوجه ،وأل ّن الوجه بدل املكان .كذا وجه ملا وآخر غرفة في ّ مم ّر الدائرة العربية بالنسبة لي .غاب لت ّ كل بد ُ وجهها وبقيت أنا واملكانّ . شيء أمكنني تبديله في الغرفة. حتى علبة النسكافيه...وفي األثناء أتت وجوه جديدة .ووجه ملا في البعيد باحلب واألمل يبدل وحدة رجل وحيد ّ . ّ كنت .خَ لَ ِت ّ فيك أينما ِ اجلديد”.فاحلب ِ وجهك في بالي. لكن الغرفة منكّ ، ِ ِ وسيبقى”. وداعا ً يا عروس.
“ماذا ينفع االنسان لو ربح العالم كله وخسر نفسه”...
مصطفى فضالهلل كاتب صحفي
طبيعة هذا البلد أنه متنوع مختلف. ُّ ودين ومنطقٌ وتوجه كل له ذو ٌق وطب ٌع ٌ ُّ فكري ومنهج عرقي وانتماء سياسي ٌ ٌ ٌ ٌّ وطبيع ٌة عاطف ّي ٌة وتاريخ وما إلى ذلك من إختالف تصنعه احلياة بني البشر. أي مجتمع فذلك التن ّوع سيصنع في ّ ّ تنحل وال تتغ ّير صدامات عديدة ال وال تلني أطرافها إال بالبحث الواقعي الصريح في مجال الوحدة مبنطق احلوار املرتكز على فهم مصلحة البلد والبحث عن الطريق ا ّلتي ترسي سفينتنا برا ً أمانا ً. فالـ “وحدة” هي لرمبا من أكثر الكلمات ا ّلتي قد يسمعها اإلنسان على شاشات التلفزة في احلوارات السياسية واإلجتماعية والدينية وفي خطابات القيادات على أنواعها ومبختلف ألوانها وفي اجلرائد واجمللاّ ت والكتب واخلطب .لكن ال يوجد لهذه فعلي في آذان العامة الكلمة أي وقع ّ إال تعليقات مثل “عم يحكو حكي! “ ...إلاّ اللهم بعض اجلزئيات الفردية العشوائية. مع ّ كل أسف – فالوحدة في لبنان وحتّى املنطقة العربية هي شعار مثالي رنّان ،لطيف على فلسفي ّ ّ السمع ثقيل على القلب ،ينطلق من خالل التسميات الطائفية في الشكل اخلارجي وينطوي على أهداف ومصالح إقتصادية أو سياس ّية أو حتّى عشائر ّية .أو أن شعار الوحدة قد ينطلق من أشخاص يؤمنون بهذا الشعار ولكن بالطريقة احلاملة املثالية ا ّلتي تعتمد على حماس ذاك اخلطيب وبالغة اآلخر لتحريك القض ّية وتعمد بسذاجة إلى تبسيط األمور حتت شعارات األخوة واإلنسانية في جتاهل لواقع األمور وتشنجات الشارع ّ متمسكني بالـ “وحدة الفاضلة” إذا أردنا تسميتها .وهذه احلركات ال تستطيع أن تنجز شيئا ً مستمراً ،إال بعض النجاحات املرحل ّية التي متوت وتذوي أوراقها أمام عواصف ضغوط الواقع في مستقبل املراحل. نتحدث عن الوحدة علينا إننا عندما ّ ً املضي قدما ً في هذه ن أ ا د ي أن ندرك ج ّ ّ ّ
املسألة يحتمل وجهني نقيضني. فحني تكون الوحدة قشورا ً لفاكهة فيها شفاء فلن يفيد هذا في دفع احلمى عن جسد سقط أمام العنصر املادي للمرض وتهاويله النفسية. ولكن إذا كانت الوحدة بعمق وجودها ذات قيمة حقيقية بحيث تستطيع أن تتف ّوق على عوارض املرض معنويا ً قبل أن نقول جسديا ً وبحيث يكون ل ّبها شافياً ،ويكون حامالً لبذور البناء للمستقبل .فالشعارات ال تستطيع أن حت ّلق في أي سماء بغير مح ّرك ،كما أنه ال معنى لرحلة طائر ٍة بال ركاب. ّ فاحلل ينطلق ببناء الوحدة من خالل رسم خطوط أولية للنقاش بحيث يجمع ما تتفق عليه األطراف اخملتلفة لتكون البداية من خطوط اللقاء قبل خطوط التف ّرق .فأن تبدأ بالبناء خير من أن تبدأ بالهدم. فمثالً ،معظم األحاديث التي تدور العامة ما في احملافل العلمية أو بني ّ بني املسلمني واملسيحيني ترتكز على البحث في الفروقات اإلجتماعية هنا وهناك مثل قضية حقوق املرأة أو في تفاصيل الصالة هنا وهناك ،فيكون البحث عشوائيا ً ال ميلك أي قاعدة سليمة للهبوط وال ميلك سقفا ً حده ،فيبتعد احلديث عن ليتوقف عند ّ اللاّ هوت مثال ا ّلذي هو نقطة اإلنطالق األولى بعد اإلتفاق على وحدانية اخلالق ويغرق في تفاصيل بال مرتكزات .هذه النقطة األولى .أما النقطة الثانية فهي تكمن في إستجماع اجلرأة ّ ولبث والتحرك لزرع هذه األفكار نقاط احلوار بني العامة بأن ال يكون طرحها إال طرحا ً واقعيا ً مستمدا ً من احلركات في اجملتمع املدني ليكون البناء الوحدوي قائما ً على أسس وتقدم ّية ثقافية وإجتماعية وفكر ّية ّ تعطي للوحدة حقيقتها بني القلوب صماء مقابل قبل العقول وتدير أذنا ً ّ صرخات وتهاويل التفرقة احلاقدة. احلب فهناك الكثيرون ممن ال يعيشون ّ للناس وينتظرون الفرصة ليزرعوا الفتنة وليقهقهوا على تفاهة ما زرعوه من خالفاتنا وعمق ما حصدوه منها. املسألة مسألة انفتاح وحوار .هي تق ّب ٌل لل ّرأي اآلخر وقبول لإلختالف و بنا ٌء من أجل املستقبل من خالل خطوط اللقاء .هي إنفتاح بني القلوب يفتح الطريق إلى العقول .ويبقى التحدي أمام الطالب والشباب يهمه األمر ،أن تكون واملثقفني ومن ّ أعمالهم في تعبيد طريق الوحدة قبل كلماتهم لكي ال تتفتت الوحدة السياس ّية أمام اجلرائم الفكرية ّ بحقّ اإلختالف والتن ّوع .علينا أن نفتح عقولنا وقلوبنا أمام الواقع وأن نؤمن بأن التغيير يتطلب تضحية وإمياناُ لكي ترقّ القلوب وتتفتّح زهرات العقول .واهلل أعلم.
Oct 5 , 2010
Outlook
campus news
دريد ّ حلام في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت عامر الصريع كاتب صحفي
برعاية رئيس مجلس الوزراء سعد الدين احلريري ،أقامت جلنة تكرمي رواد الشرق حفالً لتكرمي الفنان املبدع دريد ّ حلام مساء اخلميس /13أيلول2010/ في األسمبلي هول في اجلامعة في بيروت.شارك في ذلك احلفل العديد من الفعاليات الثقافية واإلجتماعية واإلعالمية والسياسية والعسكرية. كما آلقى عدد من الشخصيات الالمعة الكلمات التي ازدانت بتقدمي الشكر والعرفان عربون محبة وتقدير ملن قام بخدمة الشعب العربي على كافة مستوياته ألكثر من أربعني عاما ً .كان دريد ّ حلام مناضالً منذ الصغر ،فقد سعى جاهدا ً ملساعدة كحداد، أهله بالعمل باكراً ،فعمل ّ وبائع جوال ...الخ. وخ ّياط ،ومكوجي، ٍ وبعد أن استقر وضعه واشتد عوده ثم التمثيل دخل مهنة التدريس ومن ّ الذي كان في تلك األيام مبثابة مغامرة حقيقية ،فلم تكن مهنة التمثيل دخل جيد كما مهنة مستقرة ذات ٍ هي احلال اآلن .ومع ذلك كان قراره ثابتا ً وأبدع من خالله .رصيده حتى اآلن تسعة مسلسالت تلفزيونية، وثمانية مسرحيات ،وخمس وعشرين فيلماً ،ومحبة جماهيرية واسعة. من أشهر أعماله كان صح النوم، ومقالب غوار ،وحمام الهنا ،وغربة، وضيعة تشرين ،وكاسك يا وطن، واحلدود ،وعائلتي وأنا .لقاءأ ً ألعماله الهادفة والناجحة نال العديد من األوسمة وشهادات التقدير ،ومنها وسام الكوكب األردني ،ووسامي االستحقاق السوري ،ووسام الوشاح
األخضر الليبي ،ودكتوراه فخرية من اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت، وسبعني شهادة تقدير من مؤسسات رسمية وأهلية في أنحاء العالم. كما ُمنح لقب سفير النوايا احلسنة ملنظمة اليونيسيف مرتني .تخ ّلل احلفل إلقاء العديد من الكلمات ومنها كلمة الدكتور ربيع الدبس عضو احتاد الكتاب اللبنانني الذي ّ ركز على أهمية القضية التي يجب أن ينطلق الفنان منها وإلاّ حت ّول فنّه إلى تفاهة ،أما الفنان دريد حلام فكانت قضيته املمزوجة بروح ماغوطية ونفس قلعي رمزا ً األرض والوطن ممزوج ًة بالكوميديا السوداء. وتاله سعادة سفير اجلمهورية العربية السورية في لبنان األستاذ علي عبد الكرمي علي الذي بدأ بالترحيب واملديح مبديا ً إعجابه الشخصي به وبـ”دراماه” النافذة .أما رئيسة نقابة احملترفني في لبنان سميرة بارودي فكانت كلمتها منسقة منمقة ثم تبعها النقيب جان جزلة .ومن ّ قسيس الذي ألقى كلمته بالفصحى و قصيدته بالعامية. وباخلتام أطربت آذان احلضور الفنانة بأغان من التراث ترافقها عبير نعمة ٍ الفرقة املوسيقية للجيش اللبناني، وآخر أغنية كانت “فطوم فطوم فطومة” الذي شارك بغنائها الفنان دريد حلام. وأخيراً ،قام رئيس اللجنة أنطوان عطوي يتقليده درع التكرمي. لكن التكرمي لم يكن له بل نحن من كنا نتكرم به.
دريد حلام يتسلم درع التكرمي
8
Oct 5 , 2010
Outlook
reviews - weeklies
9
“Kiss Kiss”: The Forgotten Dahl Classic Play Maya Sfeir Contributing Writer
F
irst published more than half a century ago, in 1959, “Kiss Kiss” remains one of Roald Dahl’s ageless and most commendable works of fiction. Nonetheless, like many of Dahl’s other works, “Kiss Kiss”’s worthiness and cleverness have been overshadowed by the popularity of his chil-
ety of characters that are at once peculiar and pathetic. In “Parson’s Pleasure,” one of the most hilarious stories of the collection, a greedy antiquary disguised as a priest cheats people into selling him their vintage furniture for the lowest prices possible. Another equally entertaining narrative, “Mrs. Bigsby
“Original, exacting, tough-minded and
amusing, Dahl convincingly blends the horrible and humorous, the credible and incredible, to deftly blur the margin between reality and fiction” and the Colonel’s Coat,” relates a wife’s scheme to bring back home - right under her husband’s nose - the mink coat her lover has offered her. Sharp and sinister, the majority of Dahl’s stories end with a bizarre yet delightful twist that sometimes seems commonplace.
Question of the week
What is the closest star to the Earth (second to the Sun)?
Proxima Centauri
Courtesy of Maya Sfeir
dren’s books. Consisting of 11 perversely amusing tales, the collection reflects Dahl’s sardonic wit and his sarcastic view of the human condition. The tightly-plotted tales juxtapose the conventional with the absurd, presenting the readers with a vari-
The 11 tales in the collection reflect Dahl’s masterfulness of the art of story-telling and his ability to create and manipulate a vast range of colorful characters. Original, exacting, tough-minded and amusing, Dahl convincingly blends the horrible and humorous, the credible and incredible, to deftly blur the margin between reality and fiction. With its humor and wittiness, “Kiss Kiss” would surely be appreciated by the multitudes who grew up reading “Matilda,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and Dahl’s other children classics. The book would also be enjoyed by readers who are unfamiliar with Roald Dahl’s style but tired by today’s countless flaccid and mawkish novels. More than fifty years after its release, and exactly two decades after Dahl’s decease, “Kiss Kiss” remains an attestation that great literature seldom ages.
10
Outlook
fun & trivia SUDOKU
Oct 5 , 2010
Oct 5 , 2010
Outlook
out of the box
The Outlook team Chairperson
Maroun Kisrwani
Faculty Advisor
Cleo Cacoulidis
Responsible Director
Antonios Francis
Editor-in-Chief
Rami Diab
Associate Editor
Timmy Malkoun
Editor at Large
Mohamad Yahia Hamade
Arabic Editor
Mariam El Ali
Photography Editor
Salim Batlouni
Layout Director
John Hajjar
Layout Editor
Joelle Haddad
Member at Large
Giovanny Reaidi
News Executives
Heather Jaber Lojine Kamel Mostafa Fadlallah
Web Master
Mohamad Al Medawar
Business Managers
Sally Khalifeh Lara Traboulsi
Staff Writers
Fouad Badaoui Edrees Elrachidi Yasmin Fansa Maryam Hoballah Lynn Itani Tala Kardas Sherif Maktabi Rita Obeid Yasmine Saab Joseph Saba Amer Sare Ilijia Trojanovic’ Emile Fares Zankoul
Photographers
Mohamad Alameh Tariq Buhilaigah Dima Hajj
Cartoonist
Badria El Jilani
Psyched Out Child Neglect
11
Rita Obeid
I chose to start this new academic year with a very important topic, child neglect. An issue that is very common but many people simply overlook it. Let me provide you this very common scenario that we see almost every day: imagine you are driving around in the car and see a parent with his/ her young infant sitting on their lap in the front seat of their car instead of the child being in the car seat in the back, is that considered neglect? Child neglect is a form of maltreatment related to the failure to provide much needed care from people who are in close contact to the child. Four types of neglect have been identified: physical, emotional, educational, and medical. It is important to note that neglect is very hard to identify, because it is an act of omitting something that is essential and should be there. Physical neglect is basically leaving the child alone without proper care or supervision, not providing the child’s safely.Other forms of physical neglect include inadequate nutrition, clothing, or hygiene among other forms of reckless parenting and discarding the child’s safety and welfare such as leaving a child alone in the car. Educational neglect is when the child is at the age of mandatory schooling but is not receiving any education or by neglecting to follow through with a child’s learning disability or other special educational needs. Emotional neglect includes inadequate affection and nurturing and abuse between the spouses in front of the child, allowing the child to take drugs and alcohol in addition to permitting other maladaptive behaviors. Moreover, medical neglect includes not providing the child with proper health care. There is a possibility for neglect when a child: Is either repeatedly absent from school, steals or begs for food or money, requires needed medical or dental care, requires immunizations or glasses, is constantly dirty and has severe body odor, lacks adequate clothing for the weather, abuses alcohol or other drugs, and states that there is no one at home to provide care. Possibility of child neglect is also evident when the parent or other adult caregiver seems to be apathetic to the child , or seems indifferent or depressed, acts irrationally or in a bizarre way, or is abusing alcohol or other drugs (Psychology Today, 2008). It is important to note that parents do not mean to hurt or neglect their children, many were themselves abused or neglected. Moreover, very young and inexperienced parents are more likely to neglect their children mainly because they are unaware of the needs of children and the stages of development. Also families with high levels of stress such as poverty, sickness and divorce are more likely to maltreat the children. Let us not forget parents who use and abuse drugs and alcohol are highly likely to neglect and abuse their children. However, when it comes to interventions thorough assessment and customized treatments for each case are used. Reference: http://www.psychologytoday.com
Food for Thought- Organic? Rami Diab With our populations on the rise, the world is now, more so than ever inclined towards foraging for novel and more developed means of industrial agriculture. In compliance with the general relationship readily seen between opposite variables – that a gain in one respect cannot be recognized without a corresponding loss in its respective significant other – we might as well expect an inverse relationship between food quantity and food quality. Apart from the fact that research has proven that some organically cultured crops are no more nutritious than are their inorganic counterparts (with some organic produce, at times, somewhat nutrient-lacking in comparison to inorganic crops), many of us still, when offered the opportunity to go organic will think twice before turning the offer down – and for good reason. For the sake of keeping succinct, let us limit our discussion to the produce of chicken, beef, milk, and crops. A side by side comparison of these food groups emerging from both organic and inorganic origins will help pave the way for our proper food choices. Generally speaking, the animal produce is directly related to the fashion by which animals are reared. For organic farming, this means that chickens and cows are reared apart from one another and in spacious, roomy environments, thereby dwindling the chances of infection and consequently potential human epidemics. Inorganic animal culture on the other hand entails bogging down cattle with antibiotics that will ultimately have their end in virulent antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria destined to take harbour in our intestinal lumens as parasitic hosts. Further more, although inorganic , hormone-based supplements result in a greater net gain of produce, heavy animal-based hormone ingestion by us humans arising from these animal-fed supplements may adversely affect us consumers in the long run. In fact, Times magazine only recently published an issue highlighting recent research demonstrating (possibly due to animal-based hormone ingestion) that American girls as young as 7 are currently entering puberty at twice the rate they were during the late 1990s! Organic supplements on the other hand boost the nutritious value of food without the use of hormones. As for fruits and vegetables going organic generally means dodging excessively hazardous pesticide-flooded crop ingestion and thus, naturally, going for a fresh and more salivating taste! As a final verdict, provided that costs of organic produce are duly affordable by your household, when merited with the opportunity, don’t think twice, support our low-earning farmers and go organic!