Outlook Newspaper The American University of Beirut
Vol. XLII, No. 18 | Tuesday, march 16, 2010 | The Independent Student Publication Since 1949
BSS Pulls her First Hat Trick Rami Diab Staff Writer
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ast week, the Biology Student Society (BSS) scored its busiest week yet, totaling four events on campus, one of which the basket ball tournament, which will be covered in Outlook’s next issue. As for the other three, they included a Toastmasters’ - BSS special interview featuring, a lecture on an MCAT course offered at Balamand University, and finally, a global warming awareness action. BSS’ first event took place on Monday, March 8, upon BSS Secretary Amro Baassiri’s special request to the Toastmasters’ Team to kindly conduct a special interview session made for premedical applicants about to go for their medical interviews at their universities of choice. The sole purpose behind this interview training was to carry premedical students through a trial mode
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of what was yet to come for them, in hopes of boosting their self-confidence and
preparing them for their scheduled interviews. Toastmaster’s longtime faithful
member and experienced public speaker, Walid El Hajj, stressed the following
“now is the time to make all the mistakes you can think of, even if intentionally, for merely by doing so will you be armed with a thorough understanding of the do’s and don’t’s of a respectable interviewee.” Only after Toastmasters President Karl Yaccoub introduced the members of his team and thanked the audience for coming on their behalf, did the whole Toastmasters squad break the ice in unison with a “hokey pokey” boogie urging the audience to do the same, thereby liberating them from the trepidation that held their tongues plastered to the threshold of their mouths and their lips sealed shut. “Now we know that anything that will happen with any of you here on stage will be no Continued on page 4
Work Study Program: Why Is It So Desirable? Izzat Husrieh Staff Writer
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INSIDE
fter a long day of classes, sophomore student Joel Choufani loves nothing more than to relax in the comfort of her room with a warm cup of tea. But Joel cannot afford such a luxury. She has to report to her part-time job as a resident assistant at Murex Dorm. This didn’t really bother her, though. “Getting to meet all the people in the dorms and socializing with them is very enjoyable to me!” Choufani commented, “I had a lot of free time last semester as a freshman and
Editorial & Opinion Campus News Entertainment Out of The Box
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I knew that [enrolling in the work study program] would help me study in a more efficient manner and organize my time.” Joel is among a growing number of students who juggle classes with work. On the reasons behind this increasing number, Ramza Saad, the coordinator of the work study program at AUB, stated, “Students join the work-study program to earn money while studying, clarify their career goals, gain valuable skills, and gain an advantage over less experienced applicants when competing for graduate jobs.” “When we apply to med
Erratum:
Last week’s Psyched Out was titled “Sex Addiction” and not Sex Education
school, we’re expected to have a minimum of experience and involvement in the social life of our community. This is why I volunteered in so many places,” says Dana Tamer, a resident assistant at New Women’s Dorm. On the other hand, others find working while they study an easy way to provide some pocket money and help their parents. This is what pushed Mohammad Hijazi, a resident assistant at Penrose Dorm, to work. “It isn’t hard to work here in the dorm while I study for my biology degree, and I find it an excellent way to reduce the costs on my parents,” he
Lecture Homosexuality and Religion
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claims. While having an advantage over others in the future is a major motivation that pushes students to work, they don’t all seek the same kind of job. Plenty of work options are available for applicants to the work-study program. These include “‘Basic’ duties such as typing and filing, dormitory reception duties, guide and library work,” along with many others, according to the website of The Office of Student Affairs. Each applicant applies with a certain job in mind. “Getting the job that (an applicant) dreams of depends on its availability. Other stu-
Band Review
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Blend
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dents don’t have anything specific in mind and accept the first reasonable job that we offer,” Saad stated. Diana Hachicho, a monitor at Jewet Dorm who worked previously in the library, says she wished to work in the visitor’s bureau but there weren’t any vacancies for this semester. “Working here is fine. I study here sometimes while I work and get to meet all the people in the dorms, but I think working in the visitor’s bureau would be a better and much more fun experience,” HachContinued on page 4
Restaurant Review Kababji
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