I 20, V 42

Outlook Newspaper The American University of Beirut

Vol. XLII, No. 20 | Tuesday, March 31, 2010 | The Independent Student Publication Since 1949

Students’ Horseplay Mistaken for Terrorism Fouad Badaoui Staff Write Joseph Saba Contributing Writer

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n the night of Tuesday, March 23, the AUB Protection Office was contacted by military officers who claimed several sniper spotters surrounding AUB had reported seeing a green laser beam. Four AUB students, all of foreign nationalities, one of them residing in Kerr Hall while the rest in Penrose Hall, were taken and detained by the Lebanese military the following morning at 9:00am.

Two were returned to campus shortly after while the others spent around 9 hours in custody.

At 7:30pm, on Tuesday, March 23, a green laser was being shone from a sixth floor window in Penrose Hall. About an hour later, Chief of Protection Saadallah Shalak, Provost Ahmad Dallal, and Associate Dean of Student Affairs Talal Nizameddine met with a small contingent of senior

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military officers at the Bliss Gate near the male dormitories to let them in. “They did not want to impose anything,” said Nizameddine, in reference to the officers

waiting for permission to enter the campus. The military was able to describe in vivid detail the room in question, making it easier to find.

Nizameddine added that the

main factor that compelled them to appreciate the gravity with which the military was approaching this issue was the extremely detailed description of the room. The

sniper could actually tell that a box of Pringles was on the fridge and that one bed was tidier than the other. According to Shalak, the operative who had a full view into the room was watching from an undisclosed location in Ain El-Mreiseh.

The military intended to investigate and find out exactly who was handling the laser. The sniper gave a more or less general description of the laser handlers and one by one, several suspects fitting the description were placed at the window as an officer behind them asked the sniper looking through the scope if they resembled those he had seen. The students were cooperative in the way that they let the officers enter their rooms and did as they were told, although it did take the culprits three hours Continued on page 4

I gotta a feeling: Students’ account of a fun night and a horrible day Fouad Badaoui Staff Write Joseph Saba Contributing Writer

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INSIDE

n the evening of Tuesday, March 23, two students of foreign Arab nationality were aiming a green laser pen that wasn’t theirs from the sixth floor window of a room in Penrose Hall, in which resided two students, each having

a different Arab nationality. At around 7:30pm, they pointed it at the ground, within campus boundaries, in the direction of the sea. All four were in the 17 to 19 age group and not one amongst them was expecting the military to come looking for them an hour later.

Six military officers and one dressed as a civilianwho seemed to be the leader- went about asking people in the Penrose Hall lounge about the presence of green

Editorial & Opinion 2-3 Entertainment Campus News 4-8 Out of The Box Letter to the Editor 9

www.aub.edu.lb/outlook

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lasers in the building. One of the four students received a frightening text message (“they know what you’re wearing, change clothes”) from one of those who lived in the room, as the officers questioned people in the lounge. They were accompanied by Head of Security Saadallah Shalak, Provost Ahmad Dallal, and Associate Dean of Student Affairs Talal Nezameddine along with a few AUB security guards.

The officers and Shalak were

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in constant communication and searched the sixth floor for people who fit the description given by a sniper spotter.

It was overheard that the laser beam was spotted from at least three different observation positions. In the meantime, the two laser handlers had changed clothes and were not yet identified, but the room tenants were selected in the group.

Shalak then received a surprisingly detailed description of the room. Whoever was

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watching the students knew where the furniture was, pointed out the bottles and Pringles box on the fridge, and noted that one of the beds seemed cleaner than the other. All this and more was told as they were still in the hallway, and, once the door was opened, the description was verified. What followed was a strange scene as the stuContinued on page 4

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Editorial & Opinion Editorial Sincerity Sells

Mohamad Yahia Hamade Editor-in-Chief In all of our little fiascos which happen at every student newspaper across universities every semester - just go to prove how much responsibility goes with typing every story.

I think it’s a little too much, if you ask me. We’re just college kids - not that it’s an excuse. But none of us were actually ready for what we got thrown into this semester.

No one is ready when they first come to college. I’ve met students here by the hundreds since I got to campus.

I’m not saying that everyone at AUB is lost in a whirlpool of darkness. This is just college.

Most of you, me included, don’t even know what their next step is going to be. I even know of some people with an identity crisis, but I digress.

Some of us pretend we know it all. But this newspaper, at least under my control, never would.

We’re students here, just like you, and sometimes we forget that college is really supposed to be about learning. I realize that a professor babbling in front of your morning class can be argued as learning, or whether it’s how to deal with covering more sensitive stories here at the paper.

I believe the key to successor is improvement - just like I already mentioned in my first editorial this semester.

If you got better at civilization studies, or just became a better writer, then you have succeeded. If you are one of the prospective graduates leaving AUB as a better, self-respecting person than you were when you moved in, then kudos to you.

Anyway, the point behind all this is to inform you of a debacle we found ourselves in two weeks ago. Regrettably, there has been a case of carelessness here at Outlook during the exam week. I realize this is no excuse, but as I aforementioned, we are only college kids from different majors.

A staff writer, whose name is not going to be mentioned, knowingly used materials other than his own to write an article. This mistake was not caught before publication due to a break in the fact-checking process during editing. The article was reviewed after publication by one of our editors and it was confirmed that the staff writer did in fact illicit unauthorized sources.

On behalf of the editorial board, I would like to reassure our readership that this incident was dealt with appropriately and Outlook now reinforces the use of more stringent fact-checking methods.

I realize that this newspaper is far from perfect, but, if you’ll allow a moment for my ego to poke out, I think my work along with the rest of the team made it a lot better than I found it. I mean, it takes a lot of guts to admit a mistake. And then publish it so that the entire campus reads it.

Socrates once said that “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” I believe we, at Outlook, have done exactly that. However, there is always room for more improvement, and that’s exactly what we will be doing for the entire semester.

Op-Ed

Elie El Khoury To Whom It May Concern

I find myself again in the position of the defendant as yet another good deed goes by misunderstood.

Between what I think, what I would like to say, what I think I have said, and what I actually say, there is a one fourth of a chance that I get my message through. And since the same applies to you, what you feel like hearing and what you think you’ve heard may very well differ from what you hear in reality. This implies that between what you like to understand, what you think you’ve understood and what you finally understand there are in all ten possibilities for things to go wrong and lead to miscommunication! But should that leave me from trying anyway? I beg to differ!

Ladies and gentlemen, if you happened to catch my last op-ed, you might have realized that I explicitly alluded to that “girl” who spared me the burden of creativity and supplied me with her story to write about.

It started out with me trying to publish an aspiring writer’s work under my name (to avoid the bureaucracy and procedures of publishing a “non staff- member” work under an op-ed). I thought that what mattered was that she recognizes her work and feels motivated enough to produce bigger and better works.

Dear readers, please meet Jana, third year Engineering student, wide hazel eyes, and aspiring writer extraordinaire! She was solely responsible for writing that op-ed and thus reserves all rights to republish it again, under her name someday. If you happen to run into her, please be kind enough to give her the courtesy, and the well deserved credit she should’ve earned. (If you see her, you’ll know her, don’t worry.)

And now that the public apology part is over, I would like to exploit my remaining two hundred words to talk about that eternal question

of whether it is indeed the thought that counts.

I am a strong believer that no good deed goes unpunished and that if you mean well, the universe would return that positive energy back to you (and I do happen to believe in Santa Claus as well). But what experience has taught me again and again, is that people are not mind readers!

And while you may mean all the goodness in the world, cutting your ear lobe and offering it to a prostitute is never considered a sane thing to do, unless it comes with a note, detailing your motivation and ultimate purpose and even perhaps a poem you got of Google to convey the complex emotions.

In all, the point is; while having the positive thoughts counts, any impulsive rendition of such thoughts without a well defined alibi, will never get you the recognition you deserve or even hope to get.

So the next time you decide to serenade someone naked under the rain, please reconsider your actions, and at least tell a friend, who might convince you that a nasty flu is the very last thing you could use right now.

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Editorial & Opinion Op-Ed

Heather Jaber Where’s the school spirit?

One day, while talking to a friend, I realized that I had no idea what the AUB school colors are. Are they orange and navy, like the sweatshirts in the AUB bookstore?

Are they red, green, and white, like the flag of Lebanon? Are they red and white like the website?

Then I realized something else. There is a reason that

neither of us knew the school colors: there is a major lack of school spirit at AUB. AUB has the most gorgeous campus I’ve ever seen, with a wide open field and bleachers overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean, yet the field itself seems to be limited to joggers running track and rugby practices.

Back in the states, my friends wear their college’s school colors and team shirts proudly, and while I’ve seen some AUB sweatshirts worn around the city, I feel like there could be so much more done around AUB to promote school spirit.

The biggest part of the issue is the sports teams of AUB

and the lack of attendance to the games. Again, there is so much potential for the games, both home and away, and for the crowd to participate in the success of our school.

I remember going to basketball games in high school, and even if I didn’t know the score or I had just arrived in the middle of the game, I immediately felt a rush and a sense of excitement. I think cheering for your own team along with your friends definitely brings people closer together, strengthening some kind of bond.

Honestly, take a second to think about it. Imagine that you’re one of the basketball players dribbling down the

court, trying to make out a clear path to the hoop. Imagine hearing nothing but the ball bouncing and the sounds of feet running to block you.

Now, imagine again that you are running to make your shot, but this time you can hear hundreds of voices chanting your name, or just cheering you on. I’m thinking you might be a little more confident this time around.

A little support can make all the difference.

Just putting out an accessible schedule for everyone to see could make a big difference. Instead of hanging out

by West at game times, why not go down to lower campus and watch practices? Just re-

Op-Ed

locating might spark some interest. I’m not saying that everyone should go purchase a sweatshirt and go to every game, but it could be fun for everyone to get a little more involved.

Until then, I’ll try to figure out what the school colors are.

Rami Diab Brightening Circumstances - PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

Is not life challenging as it is?

Need we truly make it any harder on ourselves? In simplifying matters, why not be concerned with problem-prevention rather than cure?

Such questions peer into the legitimacy of the argument of whether or not prevention

can help us cope with the most common class of stress - psychological stress - and keep it from impeding our progress.

Why not adopt a handy technique for our times of need?

Why not learn to say “No!”?

No to all the downbeat beliefs, negative feelings, and harsh sentiments that tend to cloud our strain of thought and push us off balance.

For one thing, we will not want to try and thoroughly comprehend a situation wherein we may find ourselves locked in self-strife.

Such circumstances are precisely like quick sand, the more we tend to analyze why we are down, the more we probe, discuss, and assess how we have been struck with so gloomy a fate, the deeper we depress ourselves

into the mud. Let us bid these pretense inflictions farewell therefore and of them ask of no account, for primarily as such may we switch gears, change frequencies, and brighten our days.

How to say no? Scrutinizing our patterns of speech and thought will open doors for us to cherry pick any unpleasant phrases (bad apples) from the dialogue tree and chuck them far back behind us into the past where they can no longer touch us. These offsetting terms deliberately trigger the onset of pessimistic circumstances thereby further stressing the brinks in our chains. Once identified and discarded however, they can then be replaced with positive comments and upbeat judgments. Yes, you

guessed it, this exercise is more a less a practice of optimism, so “why bother with a pretentious personality?”

I can almost hear you say.

Well, you tell me, would you rather spend a bulk of the remainder of your days in mental ambush or would you prefer to settle for complacent bliss?

Another question to consider, do we consider ourselves liberated individuals? Hardly!

With negative thoughts constantly bogging us down, how can we feel anything different then enslaved to circumstances?! Ever whacked a flying four-winged pest (your common household mosquito)? Let us make of these thoughts likewise, let us reduce them to nothing but nasty bloodsuckers, dying to

suck the life right out of us; our job therefore, becomes defensive in nature, to make sure we don’t let them, to exterminate them! Therein lies our strength, inner strength, to calm the restless tides of self-defeating thought before they hammer down on us, before they boldly cave in and slowly but surely swallow us whole, and before chances for emotional redemption, for escape, grow progressively bleak. For those are fortunate who can have circumstances fit their liking, but those are marvelous, who can have their liking fit their circumstances.

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Campus News Students playing with lasers Continued from page 1 to finally confess and hand over the devices. The officers wanted to take the suspects that same night and Shalak noted that they were in a conundrum: AUB couldn’t be held responsible for halting an investigation but, at the same time, it had a responsibility toward its students.

Nizameddine stated that the AUB officials “managed to negotiate with the soldiers and with the students” and it was finally agreed that the four considered responsible, two of which actually having nothing to do with the entire incident, would be taken for investigation the next morning. That same night, another person shining a green laser from a hotel at the strip of Bliss Street near the restaurants Socrates and Hardee’s was apprehended. This completely unrelated event had relieved some of the pressure

on the students, said Shalak.

The next morning, Wednesday, March 24, Shalak and Penrose Head Resident Bashar Haidar accompanied the students as they were taken to several police facilities across Beirut, leaving them only when they weren’t permitted to come along.

The actual number of sniper spotters is still unknown, but they are placed on rooftops as close as Bliss and Manara Streets and as far as Ain El-Mreyseh. According to Shalak, AUB was told the snipers do not carry actual rifles, but powerful surveillance devices including high zoom night vision goggles. Earlier in the month, a Jordanian plane descending on Rafic Hariri International Airport had been tagged by a green laser beam that had entered the cockpit. All those on board were serious-

ly concerned about their safety and the captain turned off all lights. Upon landing, he decided to sue the military.

Green lasers, which have high visibility and a long range, are sometimes used to track targets or guide missiles and the Jordanian plane crew had thought they were being targeted. Since then, military spotters had been surveying the entire Ras Beirut area and eleven people with such lasers have so far been apprehended.

One of the students who had been in the lounge the night the military officers were looking for the laser complained about the lack of privacy dorm residents are enduring, but Nizameddine did say the military acted “correctly” in response to what they suspected was a threat and he and Shalak both condone the student’s behavior

as childish. Shalak also added that privacy can be obtained by using a curtain and that technically speaking the military did not physically enter the campus to survey and was therefore not breaking any privacy laws. “We have to be very strict about any usage of the devices on campus because I don’t think the military intelligence and their security agencies would be sympathetic at all,” said Nizameddine, urging students once more to be very careful when it came to green beam lasers. Nizameddine had sent an email to the AUB community, notifying them of a new ban on green lasers.

When they finally did return to campus on Thursday evening, the students made a point of thanking Shalak for his role in keeping them safe and expressing how grateful they were for their “AUB im-

munity.” Shalak expressed his surprise at how such a little laser pen could have caused so much commotion but he did express his disapproval of laser pens being used as tools of harassment, even on campus. He, Nizameddine, and AUB President Peter Dorman are certain that the students had no idea of the dangers that accompanied playful activities with green lasers and that no foul play was intended. In an email interview, Dorman also said he “would like to thank Provost Dallal and Captain Shalak for their quick intervention to protect the interests and persons of those students who were taken into custody.”

be part of this review and approval process.

-Outlook: Rumors are running that the source of the delay is purely bureaucratic as a Board of Trustees’ member has some actions in Faqra Catering Club. How factual are these rumors?

President Dorman: The current source of delay is not a bureaucratic one deriving from any of our trustees but purely the issue of the cafeteria layout, as mentioned above.

- Outlook: At the time of the sit-in, Provost Dallal had said Faqra Catering was selected among seven companies.

In a nutshell, what were the criteria used and were Faqra Catering’s alleged financial ties to a Boards of Trustees’ member considered?

President Dorman: The criteria included variety of food, reasonable price, preparation facilities that meet high standards of public health,

a combination of cold and hot foods, reliable delivery, and of course quality of food.

Faqra was the only provider that met all criteria with flying colors, head and shoulders above all the rest. A student was a part of our selection team. Unfortunately, we will not be able to sample the full quality of Faqra services until the cafeteria opens. The mobile kitchen is not a fair demonstration of their talents.

Our Board of Trustees is obliged by its own By-Laws to review, in a meticulous way, any situation in which one of its members has a financial interest in a company that has dealings with the University. As in the past, the Board conducted its review and, after careful deliberation, gave us the green light to sign the Faqra contract.

Interview with Dorman on cafeteria Fouad Badaoui Staff Writer

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ollowing the University Student Faculty Committee (USFC)’s United Students for Cafeteria sitin, Outlook interviewed AUB president Peter Dorman in order to shed some light on several facts surrounding the cafeteria’s current situation and its future.

-Outlook: In January, you sent an email to SRC presidents announcing that the Ada Dodge cafeteria will reopen in four months’ time. Do you still believe it will open on time or will there be delays?

President Dorman: At this point, I do not believe it will open by mid-May, as I mentioned in my message to the SRC presidents. The advice I am getting presently is that the cafeteria will open in June.

- Outlook: In this case, how do you receive the sit-in’s message, knowing that the USFC was aware of the four

month ultimatum?

President Dorman: I can assure the USFC, and all students affected by the extended delay in reopening our central cafeteria, that I share their deep frustration—not just in not having this essential facility to offer food to our community, but in depriving students of a space that was so important for meeting and socializing.

-Outlook: How do you respond to their their ten day ultimatum?

President Dorman: The ten-day ultimatum cannot change or speed up the construction schedule, which is constricted by contractual stipulations. But I have asked the administration to provide public updates every two weeks to the AUB community, so that our progress from here on out can be tracked by anyone who is interested—and I presume that includes about everyone.

- Outlook: What exactly is the delay in starting renovations? Are the building permits really taking that much time or is there some underlying cause? USFC VP Ghanem said, during the sit-in that “there is no link between the lawsuit against the old contractor and the beginning of the renovation here.” Is this really true?

President Dorman: There have been multiple delays, all of which were unexpected for us. The latest issue is final approval for the layout of the new cafeteria, which we hope to conclude with Faqra Catering this week. Since the cost of renovation will be almost $500,000, we must make sure the layout is consistent with Faqra’s proposal, but can also can be carried out in a minimum amount of time—that is without drastic removal of walls, which may require government permits.

I have asked that a student

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Campus News Laser terrorism, from a students’ point of view Continued from page 1 dents were told to pass, one by one, near the window and to raise their hands as a sniper equipped with night vision goggles and a high performance lens told Shalak and the officers whether or not that was one of the young men he had spotted. “I was freaked out,” said one of the two laser users, unsure of what was happening. At first, they denied they were the culprits and were accused by some officers of “planning something in secret.” The officers kept pressuring them with questions about the laser’s whereabouts and confirmations that they had been seen using it. Eventually, they buckled, confessed, and brought the laser pen. One of them did however remark that there is “no policy saying lasers aren’t allowed.” They both felt that the fact that they were all non-Lebanese Arabs was playing in their disadvantage but that the AUB personnel were keeping this aspect of the matter in check. Shalak, Nezameddine, and Dallal also furiously opposed the officers’ decision to take the four into custody and drive off with them on the spot. Instead, they agreed the students would be taken in the morning and that

Shalak and dormitories resident Bashar Haidar would not leave their side. The four students selected were the two laser handlers, one of the room tenants and a Kerr Hall resident, whose involvement seemed to be caused solely by the fact that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and looked like the wrong person. He also happened to own a green laser of his own.

On Thursday, March 25, at 9:00am, the four students, Shalak, Haidar, and some officers left for the temporary police building in Manara that is being used while the Hubaysh station on Bliss is undergoing renovations.

They were treated appropriately, under AUB security supervision, and were even invited to coffee. The tenant and the fourth unlucky student were shortly returned to AUB with the laser handlers’ cell phones. The two remaining laser wielding students, it seems, were of interest to those in charge of the investigation. They were taken to a second building where AUB staff was not allowed to follow them. Shalak had opposed this decision, yet he had no choice but to reassure the two students that noth-

ing bad was going to happen to them. At this point in the interview, Outlook had asked them why they hadn’t called their embassy or parents.

Their answer was the same: they trusted their university. They entered a building that seemed much less welcoming than your average police station. Before walking into a room, they were asked to put their hands and heads up against the wall to let the previous occupant leave without them seeing him. One student remembers seeing a man with a bloody face walk out from the corner of his eye. They were escorted in and sat down at a table.

They immediately felt that there was a strong chance this room was used for violent interrogation purposes.

“You can feel the pain inside this room,” said one as he described the chains and hand prints on the wall. It was clear that they were not going to be physically harmed; but the language used by the interrogators was still intimidating. They told them that the snipers who spotted them had been trained for thirty weeks to spot terrorists using lasers. They also kept being reminded how lucky they were compared to the previ-

ous occupant of the room, a drug merchant who was beaten until he gave up the information they wanted. The officers kept giving examples of old victims of this room and asked more than once, “how do we know you’re not a terrorist cell?”

After a while, their interrogators received a phone call. It is still unclear who was the caller or what was said, but right after that phone call the entire atmosphere in the room had changed: the students were now talked to jokingly rather than menacingly and the interrogators were now “nicer, much nicer.” Next, they were taken to the barracks to socialize with some friendly soldiers as their cell was being prepared. Once behind bars, they slept for a couple of hours on mattresses so dirty they used each other’s clothes as pillows. They were offered cigarettes from the guard who was “joking with us the whole time” amicably. They also saw other prisoners of foreign Arab nationalities who were not given the same four star treatment, and that, they said, made them grateful. It seems that this whole time they were in this facility, AUB security was misinformed of

their whereabouts. But at 6:00pm, they were found and freed from their cell. “That’s why Shalak didn’t let us go at night,” said one of them, explaining how the police had “backed out on their own word.” Finally, they were taken to the leader of the station who gave them a moral lesson, asking them not to play with lasers again and reminded them that, luckily, no harm was done. “Don’t aim it at planes,” he said, and then roared in laughter as the two were now free to go.

But all in all, no physical harm had come to them, although they were handcuffed every time they were being transported. When asked if they were discriminated against because of their nationalities, all agreed that if it wasn’t for the reputation of AUB and its security guards tailing behind each step of the way, their situation could’ve been far worse.

“I trusted my university,” said of them, as he reminded Outlook that the first thing they did after the nine hour adventure was to go thank Shalak and those involved for their interference in this matter.

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Campus News

AUB’s First International Sports Tournament kicks off in style

Joseph Saba Contributing Writer

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nder the motto of “Come Support Your Alma Mater,” AUB’s President’s Club launched its first International Sports Tournament amidst a large, but noisy, gathering of students, faculty members, and officials from all the participating universities on Thursday, March 25.

By 7pm, the Charles Hostler Student Center (CHSC) main gymnasium was packed with people coming to cheer on the following universities: American University of Cairo (AUC), American University of Dubai (AUD), American College of Greece (ACG), American University of Paris (AUP), American University of Sharjah (AUS), Haigazian University (HU), Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Lebanese American University (LAU), University of Balamad (UoB) and, of course, AUB. AUB’s soccer team kicked off a sort of “chanting war” with their slogans, to which AUC, AUS, and AUD replied enthusiastically. AUC’s supporters even sang the Egyptian national anthem but this was reciprocated by both AUB and UoB fans, when they began to sing the Lebanese national anthem.

When this entertaining show of support died down, Director of Athletics Ghaleb Halimi, who was one of the chief organizers, gave a welcoming speech in Arabic, noting the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports Ali Abdallah and the ambassadors of Egypt and the UAE. This was followed by the flag bearing parade, where all the participating universities were represented. The loudest chants went to AUB, while LAU was booed on some occasions.

After the Lebanese nation-

al anthem and AUB’s Alma Mater, which many did not seem to know, were sung, President Peter Dorman gave a speech, warmly welcoming Minister Abdallah, Peter Heath of AUS, and David Horner of ACG-who was not present. He felt gratified that institutions from Lebanon, the Arab world and Europe were participating, distingushing JUST from the others. Dorman noted the presence of more than 500 athletes from 10 universities located in 6 countries and called this tournament the “revival of athletics,” while highlighting the importance of the CHSC and how sports are an important component of extracurricular activities at AUB. He concluded by thanking Leila Baroudi, Ghaleb Halimi and staff, and the SAO. Minister Ali Abdallah gave a long speech about the importance of this “first of a kind event” in Lebanon and the Middle East and the general role of sports in the country.

Abdallah said that “Lebanon was the first for alphabets and the dictionary and as Baalbek and the Cedars, AUB has become a significant and important part of Lebanon’s history.” He also added that “the Lebanese youth is troubled with desperation, fear, drugs, and are experiencing a life in a country where there are a lot of political and religious clashes. Sports are the only solution that will bond everyone together.” Though Lebanon is underdeveloped in sports both Arab-wide and worldwide, the minister called for enough attention and support in order to further the project of developing a sporting complex in every district of Lebanon. “Funding and support are required,” he

Photo by Maya Terro/Outlook

stressed.

After concluding his speech, the minister received a Trophy of Excellence from each of AUB, AUS, JUST, and AUC, amidst the crowd’s chants.

The official ceremony began at approximately 8 pm with a traditional Lebanese “Zaffé” that impressed everyone and pumped up the spirits of all the Arab athletes. This was followed by a four-minute show performed by Lebanese Dance Academy Director Elie Samaha.

New martial arts were performed courtesy of the group Radical who were met with mockery from the AUB athletes. This mockery would continue when the group put on an encore after the very impressive show of the Champville Taekwondo under-18 group, which included a Rocky mimic.

A “zaffé” encore was followed by a salsa dance that marked the end of the show and the

beginning of dinner.

Food, courtesy of the current service Faqra Catering, was in abundance and was strikingly good according to many of the attendees.

Athletes from various universities were impressed with the sequencing and organization as well as the campus, including AUB’ soccer team member Elie Yabroudi.

Flag-bearer and tennis player of JUST, Bashar Adel remarked, “Unbelievable campus and it was a great event.

The minister said a lot and it affected me since I had to carry the flag.” Jwanda Elsaragh, of AUC’s volleyball team, agreed that there was too much talk in the ceremony but the food was good, and the event was the first of its kind. Meriam Sehrewerdi, who plays on AUS’s basketball team said that “It was a great event, yet we were expecting a different variety of foods, more Lebanese.”

Additionally, Provost Ahmad Dallal expressed his delight at AUB collaborating with Arab countries and some European ones and hoped that this tournament will bring success.

One can only hope that the attention given to AUB’s athletics will increase after the very successful launching of this international event which attracted the largest audience of any sporting event this year.

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Campus News Lara Tarakjian, Executive Director of Silkor Speaks at the OSB Entrepreneurship Initiative Sherif Maktabi

Staff Writer’s

O

n Tuesday, March 23, the Olayan School of Business’s Entrepreneurship Initiative welcomed its third AUB alumni entrepreneur, Lara Tarakjian, as part of its series of speakers for the month of March.

Tarakjian is the Executive Director of Silkor, Lebanon’s leading laser treatment center. In a sixty minutes presentation, she explained how her twenty thousand dollar investment turned into a 100-women staffed, 75 million dollar worth company.

Tarakjian launched her company in 1997 alongside her

brother, who is now one of the only two men in Silkor.

Their first clinic was at the Abraj Center in Lebanon. At the time, they provided a few laser treatment services. The company has now expanded to five branches and their services span over four types of treatments: laser treatments, medical services, skin care therapy, and body modeling. During the year 2010, Silkor will grow to 12 branches and will open branches in UAE, Oman, Qatar, Cyprus, Greece, and Jordan.

The success of Silkor is based on many aspects that Lara Tarakjian highlighted.

The first aspect was the leadership of the company. “A

man and a woman run the business,” explained Tarakjian. “It is the vision of a man and a woman.” Furthermore, all Silkor branches are managed by independent Lebanese managers and staff who are all women. This allows the branches to work as a family and to innovate in their services. The second aspect is the quality of customer service that is provided at Silkor. Tarakjian emphasized that “60% of our business is due to word of mouth.”

This is the case because of the relationship the branch managers keep with their clients. “Branch managers call our clients on their birthdays.” The last aspect of suc-

cess is passion. If you have attended the previous lectures by Christine Assouad Sfeir, CEO of Dunkin Donuts and Semsom, and Anthony Maalouf from Casper and Gambini, you can clearly understand the passion that Tarakjian underlined several times in her lecture.

It is passion that led her and her brother to open Silkor and to work hard for it to succeed. “When we started we had nothing but our passion,” she affirmed. It is the same passion that pushes her team to excellence, as apparent through her co-worker Christel, who was present at the lecture. Although it is clear that the laser treat-

ment market is very profitable, Tarakjian identified the milestones she has to achieve to stay in business. Regardless, she has faith in her business and in the Lebanese innate talent to adapt. “You should always be proud of being Lebanese because you can do miracles,” says Tarakjian.

It is the ability to adapt that has allowed her business to survive during the times of instability in Lebanon. This is why she chose to end her presentation with a famous quote from Darwin that describes exactly why Lebanese people can do miracles, “It is not the strongest species that survives but the species that is most adaptable to change.”

Bliss Gate should always be open: To be or not to be?

Emile Zankoul Staff Writer Joseph Saba Contributing Writer The Medical Gate is the only AUB gate on upper campus that is open for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, making it always accessible by dorm residents of both genders. It also happens to be the farthest from the men’s dorms, Penrose and Kerr Halls, taking around 8 minutes to walk from the gate to these halls, based on several residents’ experience. On the other hand, one of the gates that is not always open is Bliss Gate, better known as the Dorms’ Gate. It opens at 7:00 AM and closes at 12:30 AM on weeknights and 2:00 AM on weekends. These actions would be acceptable if this is some boarding middle school gate. Yet it isn’t; this is an American university dorms’ gate.

Freshman Zaher Al-Halabi is one of many who believe that this particular gate should be open at all times and had some words of choice, “One, we, dorms residents, stay up late most of the times and many restaurants are open

24/7 so a nearby open gate is essential. Once, I had to beg for water from my neighbors because the Dorms’ Gate was closed. Two, Muslim residents cannot go to the mosque at sunrise to pray Al Fajer prayer for that same reason.That is highly unfair because they are only trying to observe their religious duties. Three, I feel imprisoned!

We pay money to live in these dorms; they are supposed to be our home, why should I feel locked up?”

Business Sophomore Ali Agha, had something similar to say, “At night, sometimes we get hungry, thirsty, or simply in need of anything. Also sometimes, serious emergencies occur. In these cases, our only way out is to walk to the Medical Gate. For those who have a curfew waiver like me, we have to walk all the way from that gate to our room, when all we need to do is sign our name on a piece of paper, something that can be done through any gate.”

His roommate Hassan Issa of the same year and major added that it is “simply illogical to have a gate that opens 24/7 if it isn’t the Dorms’ Gate, because if there’s any-

body that needs an open gate, that would be the campus residents! There are always security guards around our residence. They could be guarding the gate, as well, so the number of staff or increase in expenses is not an issue here.”

First year Mechanical Engineering student Zafer Victor Rustom says that a “walk to Bliss Market and back usually takes four minutes through the Dorms’ Gate, which means not much time is wasted. When that gate is closed, however, I need 32 minutes (8 minutes x walking Bliss Street 4 times) to go to Bliss Market and come back.”

Dorm residents are not the only students complaining about the early closure of Bliss Gate. Non-residents that tend to overnight at Nicely Hall in group studies or in the dorms’ lounges also have their fair share of complaints. “During the final exam period, I usually tend to stay after 12:30 AM, studying with my friends in one of the lounges. I basically park my car across Subway to avoid the long walk. But with Bliss Gate being closed at 2:00 AM

or 3:00 AM, and after hours of studying, I also have to make the long walk to Medical Gate and back to Subway [across the dorms] to get my car,” says Computer Science senior Muhib Kfoury.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of Housing Services Nawal Semaan takes this issue from a different point of view. “We understand the students’ demands of having the Dorms’ Gate open. The security issue is being overlooked here, however. Our priority here is the security of the residents rather than their comfort.

Also, if Bliss Gate is open, this will mean that we would have to open the Women’s Gate as well, which would be additional unnecessary expenses. Yet I am not against having Bliss Gate open all the time if it’s possible.”

Chief of Protection Captain Saadallah Shalak offered his perspective on the story. “In the past, we kept Bliss Gate open at all times and found out that between 12:30 AM and 7:00 AM, not a lot of people tend to pass by, which makes it not worthy of opening. If students want to order food from outside, the delivery man will be able to pass

the order under the gate easily. Therefore, deliveries aren’t much of an issue here.

We cannot close the Medical Gate and open Bliss Gate instead because that would be too far from the girls’ dorms and after all, the Medical Gate should be open always since it is the number one gate for all medical emergencies.If the Dean [of Student Affairs] wants us to keep Bliss Gate always open, however, we do not mind putting more staff there and keeping it open as long as it is okay with the Dean.”

At the present time, there seems to be no solution for these dorm residents and students that tend to overnight at AUB. They must continue to walk across campus in almost pitch-darkness to get simple amenities that they could obtain in a matter of minutes if Bliss Gate is opened on a regular basis.

The closure or the accessibility of the gate is entirely dependent of the decision of the Dean, but for now, nothing seems in to be in sight.

8

Campus News Alumni authors provide valuable insight on the writing process Tala Kardas News Executive

A

s part of the AUB Alumni Literary Festival, a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Rosanne Khalaf of the English Department, was held on Friday, March 26 featuring Zena El Khalil, author of “Beirut, I Love You, A Memoir,” and George Melhem, author of “Brotherland.”

Khalaf began by introducing both authors and how they came about to publishing their books. El Khalil, who graduated in 1999 with a degree in Graphic Design, began writing when she blogged during the ’06 Lebanese/Israeli conflict, where no one was saying anything. The blog was first picked up by The Guardian and reprinted worldwide. At that time, she was blogging about her best friend Maya- to whom the book is dedicated- who was diagnosed with cancer. Two

months after the war ended, Maya passed away, plummeting El Khalil into darkness and pain. One night, she wrote about 30 pages, which are now somewhere in her book. Upon the encouragement and persistence of one of the blog’s readers, El Khalil began to write over a period of two years that culminated by the launching of the book at the Beirut Book Fair.

Melhem’s inspirational process was different. An engineer by practice, he taught himself how to write a novel through how-to books, the internet, and reading. His final product “Brotherland” is a story of two twins separated at birth during the Arab/Israeli conflict of 1948.

The book required pre-planning, envisioning the situation properly, exhaustive research, and extensive editing.

Both authors read excerpts, instilling a sense of anticipation in those who had not

read the books. In the spirit of her return to AUB, El Khalil read an excerpt involving her first day at AUB, back in 1994, and how she met Maya. Melhem read two short segments, describing the separation of his two protagonists.

They then proceeded to discuss all the fundamental elements that go into writing a book, such as editing. “Beirut, I Love You: A Memoir” had no editing, apart from spelling and grammar, because El-Khalil considers her book as art and she “does not self-censor [her] art.” On the other hand, “Brotherland” was edited over a dozen times and as the author said, “it is a never ending process that has to be stopped.”

He also commented on the difficulty he found while researching because the problem in this age is “the excess of available information and trying to weed the relevant from the irrelevant.”

Khalaf then commented that the two books are similar in a way that they both begin with pain. While “Brotherland” is a tale of war horror, told through two perspectives, “Beirut, I Love You” personifies the city, making it a temptress that gets hold of the prey and is a much stronger force than the author’s physical presence. She continued to discuss the idea of Beirut as a harlot saying that this notion is deeply rooted in the culture, through conversations. El Khalil began to feel this when she moved to Beirut from Africa and was abused for the first time.

She noted that “the thing between Beirut and sex is unresolved.”

When asked how they discipline themselves and deal with writer’s block, El Khalil jokingly said, “Vodka sometimes helps” but then added seriously that “you need time between yourself, your thoughts, and the writing

tool. Sometimes one word can trigger off a whole chapter.”

On that same matter, Melhem stated that he may write something, only to scrape it two hours later but what is important is to get the character development and other basics right, because the reader can sense it.

The discussion was concluded by a question relating to forgetting and memoir-writing, to which El Khalil replied, “[you] must always be honest to yourself and express it. Everyone in Lebanon remembers things differently but there is so much is stake because who knows what could happen in 10 to 20 years?” She continued to say that her book is exactly the story she wants to leave behind when she dies, and urging everyone to write things down because “it’s okay to take a leap of faith.”

road trying to achieve respectable registration-oriented student satisfaction.

Naturally, along with the surplus of enrolled students comes a surplus of student registration complaints.

The Biology department can be compared with a super-saturated (student) solution bound to continually crystallize problems with every increase in student enrollment. Some of the most common complaints include students not finding courses given at favorable times of day and course restrictions due to capacity limitations. Problems like these have become very common.

Why? Why have complaints been on the rise despite the department’s time and effort channeled into “smooth sailing” the registration process, such as rounding up student numbers, estimating biannu-

al total Biology credit hours demanded from the department and configuring early advisory sessions for clever course planning?

There have been many claims deeming governmental Bacc II programs too different from college Freshman years, thereby forcing new university sophomores to bind a four year course program in a measly three years. Other charges allege that faculty regulations restrict class sizes to numbers significantly less than the numbers of seats allotted to the class and indictments from other students attest to a shortage of part-timers, or overtime teaching professors (as if that was part of the employment contract). Although these testimonials may be true in the eyes of many (and although they could play a role in developing unfavor-

able registration busts) they cannot constitute the root of the problem, can they?

A thorough inspection of the above proposed causes would reveal that class enrollment limitations have been stretched on several occasions to accommodate students’ needs and that fulltime professors, who must attend to research and familial responsibilities alike are indeed teaching overtime (with little time to spare).

Still, our problem is not solved.

Since it is every university’s aim to increase the number of its enrolled students, decreasing the number of yearly admissions is ruled out of the possible solutions. The Biology department has already taken up extra safety measures in preparation for the coming registration periods. It is heading a survey,

which is currently underway to draw an estimate of the amount of students hoping to enroll in certain major and minor biology courses. This is perhaps only a temporary solution, though. Increased room availability seems to be the best formula for overcoming obstacles of late-hour classes, overworked students and professors, as well as general course availability. No doubt, the department will continue to bolster up its best efforts to deflate any collective swollen student frustration; however, only so much can be done before real measures must be taken to opt for an expansion of class availability.

AUB Registration: Needn’t We A Resourceful Solution?

Rami Diab Staff Writer

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emester after semester and year after year, the number of enrolled students has been sky rocketing at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at AUB. Well, what else could be expect from the university’s largest faculty, home to some fifteen departments? Yes, student numbers have been escalating drastically and of the various science majors available at FAS, and the pool of Biology majors is no exception to the trend. With a record number of 180 senior Biology students soon to graduate come the end of this Spring semester and along with the generally increased number of premedical students from other foreign majors, also obliged to enroll in mandatory Biology courses, the department finds itself at a busy cross-

Letter to the editor

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Congratulations! Now, you’re on your own, good luck in finding a job Hicham Kharroub Wouldn’t it be great, if the Dean hands you a contract or a job offer along with your degree? Wouldn’t it spare you the look in your parents’ eyes,when you have been unemployed for a year, considering the amount of money they invested in your education? Better yet, wouldn’t it be great if getting a job depended on your qualifications and personality, rather than who your father or mother is,or if you know somebody who knows somebody who can get you a good deal somewhere where you don’t belong, or don’t fit? Sure, that would be great, but guess what? It will not happen because the decision makers in this country are on a vitamin diet, consisting mainly of what I like to call, vitamin W (W=wasta).

Sadly enough, most of us are finding it hard to overcome the “W barrier.”

At least one guy said it to me plainly, while I was still catching my breath, and just after telling him my name, “So who recommended you?” It was my first job interview,and it was not what I had in mind, because I had this image, that with my AUB degree I can get any job I want to within my qualifications, of course. It was a big disappointment, which was followed by couple abruptly finished interviews.

Not all the country is flooded with vitamin W; some employers hire not based on who you know, rather, on their need for someone to do their laundry. The paycheck

is barely enough to cover the rent, but you take the job because you have been unemployed for some time and it is starting to be an embarrassment. Well, let me tell you what is embarrassing.

With all due respect to other universities and students, it is embarrassing when your account summary at AUB, the most highly recognized and prestigious university in the region ,which you feel proud of and consider as your best achievement, reads $30,000, and you settle for a job that pays $600 a month and still can call yourself an AUB alumnus. If you do a simple calculation, you’ll have to work four years and two months without saving a cent, to bring together what

you paid at AUB. Ironically, your degree took less than that; you paid that amount of money in a shorter time.

It is embarrassing, and again with no offense to students at other universities, when you feel overwhelmed and satisfied just because you are sitting at Main Gate, and when the very fact of you being at AUB gives you the feeling that you are home, and you are a very important person, and the minute you step out AUB, the feeling fades and you feel abandoned.

That is the truth is, folks, that the minute you graduate is the minute where AUB lets go of you. Sure they keep sending you emails about job offers, but thanks to the career center, most offers are

outdated and already taken, but are sent for the sake of your feeling of belonging to AUB. I am sure there are people who disagree, people who got good jobs and living the dream, probably those were within the top 25% of their class or are on good grounds with the Dean of their faculty or his secretary, and that is what vitamin “W” tastes like. Well, not everybody is a genius, and not everybody is on good grounds with somebody, so wouldn’t it be great if your alumni life started with something like, “Congratulations, here is your contract, make sure you’re ready by Friday?”

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Entertainment

Book Review There is a major difference between living in a city and living in Beirut. Although one is a specific example of the other, the uniqueness of Beirut is infinite in contrast to any other metropolis.

With the hysteria comes extreme feelings regarding the city. Hate and love are normal nouns (or verbs) used to describe people’s emotions towards this city; they are never in-between or rational. In “Beirut, I Love You,” a memoir by Zena El-Khalil, an AUB graduate, El-Khalil combines her undying and passionate love for Lebanon, with an interpretation of the Lebanese society after years of war and volatility.

The book opens with an explanation to El-Khalil’s sensitivity and phobias. She justifies that they are a result of the two previous lives she believes she has lived. One as a boy named Hussein, and the other as Asmahan, who both died young, and tragically.

The book continues with her “current” life and it is set in New York during September 11, 2001. Her background as a Lebanese woman living in

“Beirut, I Love You” by Zena El-Khalil

“Amreeka” during such a tumultuous time for Arabs is sad and moving. Nonetheless, she continuously chooses to love the people who ostracize her for being Arab, or the way she truly is as a person, and this is a steadfast theme throughout the novel. She never gives up in her battle for love against “Amreeka”, Beirut, and most importantly, people.

After her brief encounter with “Amreeka,” she returns to Beirut. It is easy to not be able to keep up with her moving, but she confesses that she needed a four-year break from Lebanon after going to the American University of Beirut and graduating in Fine Arts. It is understandable to assume that El-Khalil has lived her entire life in Beirut, but it is quite the contrary. Her decision to attend AUB was random, and because of her spontaneous choice, it gave her room to paint a portrait of Beirut as it truly is: beautiful but heart-breaking, overtly sexual but entirely religious. The contradictions found in the way she

writes are not on accident, they very subtly highlight a Lebanese trait: the need for paradoxical conditions. For example, a very deep analysis of the Lebanese need to “live in the moment,” immediately followed by a description of something materialistic, like a box of pens. Also, throughout the book she has an incredibly sexual aesthetic to her writing. She likes to break social norms and show society that although she is a woman, she can still talk about sex openly. It is interesting to see that it is not the events that primarily carry the book, it is her style of writing that does.

El-Khalil captures the reader quite like Beirut does, she has a seductive way of drawing you in, only to break your heart and mend it again. She celebrates all that is wrong and right with Beirut: the hospitality, the impulsiveness, the beauty, the mess, and most importantly: the instability - the astounding way Beirut takes on the form of a jealous lover whose mood swings you can never predict.

Band Review

Mike Posner

If you are sick of the runof-the-mill R&B or hip-hop artists on the radio, then the fresh, smooth vocals of Mike Posner are the answer. Posner, however, does not lead the life of the average R&B singer. He balances his time as a student at Duke University, attending classes and writing songs in his dorm room, while meeting with big-shots like Jay-Z in his free time and touring across the country on the weekends.

It’s perhaps this part-famous, part-average-joe lifestyle that contributes to Posner’s originality. With songs about drugs and his lovelife, the listener might forget

“Drug Dealer Girl” is one of Posner’s most memorable songs, the love interest being someone most Hollywood movies don’t target: a female drug dealer.

The song is a tribute to all those girls who make a living selling drugs and the singer’s appreciation, even attraction, towards them.

It is this kind of quirkiness that makes Posner a unique find.

The song “I Don’t Trust Myself” is different than the previous tunes, revealing something deeper about the artist, yet still leaving the listener wanting to know more. With lyrics like “If my past is any sign of her

that he is a student working towards a major in Sociology and Business, rather than a famous, smooth-talking ladies’ man.

One such song, “Smoke and Drive,” by Big Sean featuring Mike Posner, has the listener totally immersed in the lyrics whether they smoke or not; it is the perfect song to listen to while cruising in the car with friends. The song starts off with simple piano keys and Posner’s voice, and then the beat kicks in, introducing Big Sean’s verse, though Posner’s chorus is generally what the listener waits for throughout the song.

Dina Azar

Photo from Facebook.com

Heather Jaber future/I should warn you before I let you inside,” and “I’m not the man I used to be lately” the audience sees a softer side of Posner. Live performances of these songs also reveal Posner’s passion for his music - his performance of this song at the University of Pennsylvania is a prime example, featuring Posner collapsing on the floor after the most climactic point of the song, singing his heart out.

Despite all of Posner’s obvious talent, these songs have the listener waiting for something more, perhaps a deeper song to balance the lightness of some of his previous works. It would be in-

teresting to hear Posner come out with a song perhaps about hardships in his life or something evoking a darker emotion. Even still, Posner is great at what he does; his words and the style in which he writes them show that he knows his target audience well and what they want to hear. There are a few songs in which his liquid voice does not leave the listener wanting more.

Entertainment Album Review In an industry where success is a fleeting notion, a career spanning over forty years is a marvelous and incredulous feat, something that Germany’s own hardrock band Scorpions can show off with much pride.

Through the highs, lows, and changing times, the band has always managed to produce wisely crafted songs that are instantly classified as theme songs for generations. The group, who are best known for anthems such as “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Wind of Change,” and “Still Loving You,” return to the scene after a three year absence to deliver their final effort before retirement. Entitled “Sting in the Tail,” the 17th studio album is an obvious return to what the band has come to be known for over the span of their careers and clearly honors the legacy and fan-base that Scorpions have established.

The album begins with the reflective and appropriately titled “Raised on Rock.”

From the opening note, the lead guitarist hits every rock note known in history, to give off the 80s feel that fans of the genre are all too familiar with. The opening lyric “I was born in a hurricane” seemingly alludes to the band’s signature song “Rock You like a Hurricane.” With the addition of the talk-box and consecutive drum beats, the song becomes instantly catchy and starts off the farewell party with a bang.

Sting in the Tail- Scorpions

The title track, though not as attractive as its predecessor, is given credit for the hard-rock musical arrangement that almost all rock bands of today seem to lack. The guitar solo is the best of the whole album.

Thematically, the song is about a budding rock star on the road, chasing after his dream.

“Slave Me,” yet another rock song, deals with lust and the overall effect is established due to lead singer Klaus Meine’s distinct vocal and heavy accent. “Let’s Rock,” follows a similar effect.

The first power ballad is track number four, “The Good Die Young,” featuring Finnish singer Tarja Turunen on background vocals. Beginning as a slow ballad, the music slowly ascends to become a powerful rock melody that catches on immediately. The lyrics are reminiscent of Aerosmith’s “Dream On” as they deal with making the most out of life.

“No Limit” is perhaps the best hard-hitting song, musically, lyrically, and vocally. On this track, listeners are given the sense of accomplishing anything while the music is bound to make anyone get up and play airguitar.

Purely a love song and dealing with heartbreak, “Lorelei” is a power ballad that is bound to become an instant favorite. Since it has the exact right mix of music and lyrics, it could become the next “Still Loving You” and

have a cult following. Speaking of which, another power ballad “SLY” is named after the acronym of the abovementioned song and instrumentally is an updated version of the 25-year old tune.

It is not the strongest one on the album, however, as it is almost weeping and verging on desperate but it is fitting on an album which serves to honor a legacy, like “Sting in the Tail.”

Hard rock continues in the form of the drum-driven “Turn You On” and the almost forgettable and ego-

pleasing “Spirit of Rock.”

The highlight of the disc, however, is its closing track “The Best Is Yet to Come.”

The song not only marks the end of the album but the end of the band in general.

The same effects employed on “Lorelei” are used here, in addition to an easily repeated chorus. Also distinct is the mid-section with the dramatic build-up of the guitar. The message is very simple and is culminated by the following verse “How can we grow old, when our soundtrack is rock and roll?” And

11

Tala Kardas

Photo from Facebook.com

just like the album started off with a bang, it ends similarly, leaving behind a sense of wanting more.

To those who have been avid fans of Scorpions, the album should not be missed and certainly does not disappoint. To those who are not familiar with their extensive body of work, “Sting in the Tail” is a great opportunity to learn more about what they have done best in their long-standing career.

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out of the box The Outlook team Chairperson

Maroun Kisrwani

Faculty Advisor

Cleo Cacoulidis

Responsible Director

Antonios Francis

Editor-in-Chief

Mohamad Yahia Hamade

Associate Editor

Marwan Jaafar

Arabic Editor

Mariam El Ali

News Executives

Tala Kardas Rasha Salem

Layout Director

John Hajjar

Member at Large

Simon Barakat

Business Manager

Rachid Akiki

Photography Editor

Salim Batlouni

Staff Writers

Rawan Abu Salman Mohamad Al Medwar Fouad Badaoui Fatima Buhilaigah Moussa Chalah Abraham Daniel Hajjar Rami Diab Yasmine Fansa Nadine Ghaith Maryam Hoballah Mhd Izzat Husrieh Heather Jaber Wajiha Jurdi Kheir Lojine Kamel Elie El Khoury Timmy Malkoun Rita Obeid Roupen Ohannessian Yasmine Saab Wally Saad Sandra Sawaya Maya Terro Ilija Trojanovic Tarek Tutunji Mohammad El-Jabi Emile Zankoul

Photographers

Cartoonist

Qater Al Nada Mohsen Dima Barbir Tariq Buhilaigah Deedee Jilani

Psyched Out

Rita Obeid

Insomnia

We have heard the term “insomnia” in so many various situations, but what does insomnia really mean? Insomnia is the feeling that one has inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to one or more of these reasons: trouble falling asleep and/or trouble remaining asleep, waking up too early, or having suffered from unrefreshing sleep for at least one month. All these can lead to many factors such as day time drowsiness, irritability, and poor concentration.

Insomnia is most commonly diagnosed in women and people with a history of depression.

Now what causes insomnia? There are so many factors that seem to contribute to insomnia which include: Jet lag, Work shifts (Late/early), Disturbances in the sleep and wake pattern, Grief/Depression, Stress/Anxiety, Some medical conditions/use of certain drugs Some behaviors might reinforce the existing insomnia, if not already serve as the original trigger for this disorder. By stopping these behaviors, insomnia may be eliminated. These behaviors include: Worrying about the upcoming difficulty sleeping, Consuming excessive amounts of caffein, Drinking alcohol and/or smoking cigarettes before bed time, Excessive napping in the afternoon or evening, Irregular or continually disrupted sleep/wake schedules Treatments for a diagnosed chronic insomnia usually takes place in a psychotherapeutic environment and includes: relaxation therapy, sleep restriction, cognitive behavioral therapy, and practicing good sleep hygiene. Sometimes sleeping pills are also consumed.

However, for those people who experience insomnia that is not so chronic as to require therapy or wish to try some tips before therapy, we suggest: · Setting a strict schedule for sleeping at waking up each day, Daily exercise, Avoiding the consumption of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, Establishing a routine for relaxing before bed, such as reading a book or taking a nice warm bath, Sleep until sunlight, Avoid lying in bed awake; if you can’t sleep, do something else until you feel tired.Control you bedroom environment for instance: use comfortable bedding, decrease noise and control the room temperature.Insomnia is for the most part treatable. If you are experiencing it persistently and these suggestions don’t help, seek a doctor’s advice.

Heads Up on Health

Maya Terro

Natural milk versus Soya milk—what exactly differs?

Natural milk is amongst the most concentrated sources of Calcium. A glass of milk contains around 300mg of calcium. Drinking a few glasses of milk on a daily basis (either in beverages, or with oatmeal, or in cereal and the likes) can go a long way. But if it happens that you are not a big fan of milk, there are plenty of ways by which you can still attain your recommended calcium intake. There are a large number delicious, calcium-fortified “milk alternatives” to choose from (including soy, almond, and rice milks). And beyond beverages, you can get ample calcium from lowfat/non-fat yogurt, reduced-fat cheese, broccoli, kale, almonds, starchy beans, low-fat ice cream, pudding or frozen yogurt, and calcium-fortified foods (orange juice, waffles, et cetra).

You certainly don’t need milk but you do need calcium. Because milk is such a rich source, nutritionists often talk about calcium requirements in terms of “milk equivalents.” Children 4-8 years old need 800 mg calcium/day (the equivalent of about three glasses of milk). Children 9-18 years old need 1,300 mg calcium/day (the equivalent of about four glasses of milk). Adults 18-50 years old need 1,000 mg calcium/day (the equivalent of about three glasses of milk). Adults over the age of 50 need 1,200 mg calcium/day (the equivalent of about four glasses of milk). However, for adults and all children ages 2 and up, it is recommended to drink skimmed (non fat) milk, or 1 % milk for extra creaminess. Compared to whole and 2% milk, skim and 1%milk have less of the bad stuff — this being artery-clogging fat — but the same amount of the good stuff — calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium and other vitamins and minerals. Then there is enhanced skimmed milk which basically has extra non fat milk solids and so is richer in protein and calcium than regular skimmed milk. Enhanced skim milk is creamier and richer than regular skim milk, since it is more concentrated and sometimes has added thickeners. Many people dislike the watery taste and texture of skim milk and as such resort to thicker, enhanced skim milk.

Another alternative to natural mils is the traditional/flavoured soy milk. Traditional soy milk is made from pressed, mature soy beans mixed with water and some sugar/sweetener to mask the slightly bitter taste of the unsweetened soy milk. Soy is the most popular “milk” choice for individuals who are lactose-intolerant, follow a vegan or vegetarian diet that doesn’t include dairy, or have an allergy to cow’s and other mammalian milks. Soy milk is naturally low in saturated fat, and because of its plant-based nature is cholesterol free. It also offers up some nutrients that cow’s milk does not, including heart-healthy omega-3 fats. However, soy milk usually contains a lower level of protein (with flavoured soy milk more so than traditional soy milk) and only some natural calcium. For this reason, soy milk products are usually fortified with calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients found in cow’s milk so they end up having a very similar nutritional profile.