Outlook Newspaper The American University of Beirut
Vol. XLII, No. 23 |Tuesday, February 11, 2010 | The Independent Student Publication Since 1949
International Harm Reduction Conference 2010 Lynn Itani Staff Writer
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espite the travel disruptions that were incurred by the volcanic ash, around 1000 people from all around the world gathered in the city that hosted the first international harm reduction conference in 1990 – Liverpool, England. This harm reduction conference was mainly organized by the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) and was supported by several organizations including the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA). The theme of the conference was “Harm Reduction: The Next Generation,” yet so many may be wondering – what is harm reduction, what is the purpose of Youth RISE, and what is the status of harm reduction in the Middle East region? Harm reduction is currently supported by 93 countries
Photo Outlook Staff
and it refers to the “policies, programs, and activities that aim to reduce the harms associated with drugs” on the individual, family and society. Harm reduction initia-
tives vary but include needle-exchange programs that reduce the risky behavior of needle-sharing, moderate drinking, distribution of contraceptives, educa-
tion, peer outreach, methadone maintenance, safer use sites and drug policy reform. It adopts a human rights approach that also intends to eliminate the stigmatiza-
tion of drug users advocating for their social inclusion and removing barriers to health services. Harm reduction is essential since despite the strongest prevention efforts, drug use still exists as a result of vulnerabilities such as poverty, age, war, imprisonment or poor access to treatment, for example. The associated public health risks include transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, and bacterial infection among and from drug users in addition to death from overdose. Thus, it is important to understand that harm reduction does not promote drugs, but aims to complements prevention efforts. It is evidence based, easy to implement and cost-effective – it shows a high benefit on community health for little cost. These benefits include reducing the spread of infections, reducing risky drug use, eduContinued on page 4
OSB beats the odds Timmy Malkoun Staff Writer
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INSIDE
rivia Night, one of AUB’s rising traditions, brought together audience-members and participants alike on the night of Thursday May 6. The Red-Cross and UNESCO Club organized event targeted towards raising awareness about and raising funds for domestic workers in the country attracted AUB students from all faculties and years under one
Editorial & Opinion Trivia & Games Campus News Life & Culture
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banner—fun and general knowledge. Perhaps one of the primary reasons that can explain the large turnout was the celebrity host, Hicham Haddad, who has gained much prominence recently due to his hit TV show, “Lol.” For much of the night he had the audience captivated, though often via inappropriate and verging on offensive jokes. The first round commenced with teams from each of the six faculties going against one other team. The order
2 3 Letter to the Editor 12 4-8 Entertainment 14-15 9-11 Out of The Box 16
and selection of opponents was done randomly, through a live drawing. This initial round begun with FAFS going against FEA, the result being a victory of the former over the latter. Next, OSB won FHS. Finally FAS beat FM (Faculty of Medicine). One problem that persisted throughout this particular round was with the buzzards, as some teams were pressing theirs prematurely. AnContinued on page 4
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Editorial & Opinion Editorial Call me old-fashioned
Mohamad Yahia Hamade Editor-in-Chief We take life for granted today. We talk about killing time while doing unproductive things for fun, while time slowly gains up on us. Years pass and we barely notice anymore. It’s a new decade, and not much has changed, except the rifts between people getting wider. We’ve become so dependent on external means of communication (BlackBerry, anyone?), that we’ve forgotten the value of personal interaction. Nowadays, the only message you’ll get is, “Dude, can you go clubbing with me tonight? Everyone else bailed!” Well, as wonderful as it is to know that you are someone’s last resort for a fun filled evening of doing absolutely nothing in a sleazy, noisy dive, I don’t think it could beat a good old fashioned barbecue with friends. People have abandoned true friendships and real connections in exchange for soulless, mindless jargon. We spend time at home talking to someone through a screen rather than face to face, and instead of being more connected, we drift further apart. The world has been on the fast track to “development” for the past seven thousand years, but neglected to nourish the human bonds that are quintessential to its survival. This bond for the fabric of our existence, and it is the human heart that has propelled us
into the many canals of history. Every invention, every book, every philosophy, and every painting were created in the hopes that they would benefit humankind in some small or large way. What would happen to our world and our “development” if every single person started acting in his own benefit, disregarding his or her influence on the rest of the planet? I’ll tell you what would happen: disaster. The more disconnected and detached individuals become, the bigger the repercussions of our carelessness become. Let’s not even mention the environment here! I mean, how much more filthy oil lucre and endangered wood can we squeeze of out the wheezing earth before it completely dies on us? We’re taking these new world values way too far; and when you really think about them, they’re not all that valuable. Are a few shiny laptops and fast cars really worth defiling everything our ancestors worked so hard for? Why have we suddenly become so ungrateful and selfish? What happened to our integrity? Okay, I think this might be off topic, yet I digress again. My points is, that we, as the new generation of adults and future leaders (maybe not all of you, but I gotta keep the hope alive), have become very misguided. We must needs remember that our goal as a human race is not meaningless advancement, but meaningful evolution. We should strive to be better, and not to look better. What use is a new invention if it doesn’t serve anything besides someone’s vanity? I don’t think the starving children in Africa can benefit much from a twelfth generation iPhone (unless Apple somehow makes it edible). Let’s rewind the DVD, BluRay, or video of our lives and pay a little closer attention next time we press “play.”
Op-Ed كانت الرغبة خلدمة املواطنني بقدر الرغبة ، لكنا اآلن بأفضل حال،لتسلم الكرسي لذلك.ولغدونا خير أم ٍة أُخرجت للناس بحق دعونا نطرح اإلحتمال الثاني الذي ليس فالزعماء الذين ال يكون،إال عكس األول شعبهم من أولوياتهم هم ليسوا إال نقم ًة على شعوبهم وبحجة الدميوقراطية يكون طريق تسلم رقاب الرعية طريقا ً شبه مع ّبد .لهكذا أشخاص ً لكن لو كان نظام احلكم ديكتاتوريا الستقامت األمور ونحن العرب بأمس احلاجة ولكن أعود إلى النقطة،إلى هكذا أنظمة فأنا ال أعني تعيني أيا ً كان ملسك،األولى وبالتالي التحول إلى حكم،زمام األمور ما يتوجب فعله هو انتخاب.استبدادي ممنعرف بخيره و صالحه ُ ً الزعيم دميوقراطيا إن أعظم دول العالم.ً للحكم ديكتتاتوريا على اإلطالق لم تنشأ وتزدهر إال حتت رعاية أملانيا على سبيل املثال.ديكتاتور عظيم عال من الدين ٍ خرجت من احلرب مبعدل لكن في غضون أقل من،والتضخم والفساد عقدين حتولت بفضل هتلر من دولة ضعيفة وصغيرة إلى امبراطورية اكتدت من أواسط روسيا وحتى فرنسا ونعنم الشعب األملاني بتقدم ورفاهي ٍة لم ولن يعهدها في زمان ٍ .الدميوقراطية
ٌ ... ولكن،دميوقراطية فغدت،.تكرميي ٌة أو تشريفي ٌة أو حتى جتارية العباد تتالهف و تتحارب و تتصارع ألجل فأصبحت،إلقاء املسؤولية على أعتاقهم الدولة كلها حكام ولم يبقى في الشعب إال قل ٌة غلب عليها الذل والفقر والقهر ً واجلوع عليها فأمست تدفع ثمنا ً باهظا .للدميوقراطية التي نشدت لوال الدميوقراطية املفرطة عند بعض ملا اندلعت فيها احلروب وزاد التخلف،العرب وحتولت من رواد صناع احلضارات إلى أغبى زمان ينادي ٍ لقد شهدنا على.مستهلكيها ،به كل من هب ودب ليتسلم زمام األمور ً ففي قدمي املان كان تسلم املناصب حصرا ، وكانت تعتبر هما ً ومسؤولية،على األكفاء لكن اليوم فالزعماء ال يعرفون من املسؤولية .إال سياراتها و امتيازاتها وتدابيرها األمنية لقد أُدرجت مفاهيم وعبارات جديدة ال جتلب فأصبحت احلمالت،لنا إال العار والهوان قبل..اإلنتخابية تدعى املعارك اإلنتخابية كل معركة يتجهز “الفرسان” للمبارزة الكالمية التي تنتهي في معظم األحيان مبفهومنا للدميوقراطية أال وهو “انتخب لكن..اللي بتريدو بس بالصرماية” لألسف ملاذا؟ ملاذا كل،السؤال الذي يطرح نفسه هو هذا التنافس البغيض؟ أنحن إلى هذا احلد بأناس يذهبون إلى احملال محظوظني لنحظى ٍ خلدمة املواطنني؟ فلو،من األفضل استبعاد الفرضيات هذه
عامر الص ّريع حينما كنت أشاهد فيلم،منذ عدة أيام . راودتني عدة أسئلةThe Lion King ملاذا ال حُتكم الغابة إال باألسود؟ فالصراع على العرش ال يحصل عادة إال بني األسود فلما ال نرى حمارا ً أو فيالً أو حتى منرا ً يحاول ملا؟ أليست هذه،أخذ العرش لنفسه ديكتاتورية؟ أليس من املفترض أن يقوم كل حيوان بترشيح نفسه ليتم انتخابه من قبل البقية دميوقراطياً؟ أليس ذلك ظلماً؟ فلو كان هنالك دميوقراطية،ال أظن ذلك فتخيل،ًمطلقة في الغابة لغدت جحيما مالذي سيحصل؟،لو حكم الدجاج الغابة حتى اللبوة التي هي أقرب ما يكن لألسد وكذلك,ال تستطيع التفرد باحلكم لذاتها .احلال في مملكة اإلنسان الدميوقراطية أمر هام لكرامة وحرية فهي ال، لكن عندما تكون مطلقة،اإلنسان ..جتلب إال الذل والشقاء للبشرية جمعاء هي احلرية،فالدميوقراطية طبقا ً لتعريفها ، في الوقت الذي يشاء،للفرد بفعل ما يشاء ، نظريا ً هي أم ٌر رائ ٌع.في املكان الذي يشاء لكن عند التطبيق هي أدا ٌة أناني ٌة تأخذنا إلى ...عصور لم نعشها قط بل ضد التعصب،أنا لست ضد الدميوقراطية لها والظن بأنه احلل الوحيد ملشاكل الدنيا الدميوقراطية في احلكم على سبيل.شتى في.املثال لون من ألوان املفاهيم املعكوسة مناصب أيامنا هذه أصبحت مناصب احلكم ٌ
TRivia & Games EVIL SUDOKU
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Campus News IHRC 2010 Continued from page 1 cation on sexual health, prevention of deaths from overdose, and increasing contact with services and treatment. Youth RISE is an international youth-led network committed to the fact that in many areas, drugs are more available on the street for youth than the actual education and the resources needed to reduce their harm. RISE stands for the resources, information, support and education needed for the youth who are most affected by drug policies and most vulnerable at the same time. This is because young people are developing - if they don’t
have comprehensive information then the uninformed decisions they make will have a great effect on their long-term health and wellbeing in addition to criminalization. It advocates that young people should participate in such decisions and policies. The Youth RISE partner is Release (UK) and funders include the Open Society Institute, the United Kingdom Development Fund on International Development, IHRA, MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, and UNICEF. In the conference, presentations about the youth harm
reduction projects were conducted by international working group members. In her presentation, Chantale Kallas, the Youth RISE Regional Coordinator, noted that “it is important for outreach teams to go to places where young people hang out” and that talking to youth confidentially increases the likelihood that they will participate in voluntary counseling and testing for HIV and hepatitis. She also stressed on the importance of information tailored towards the youth audience. There was also an opportunity to meet a fascinating group of young
people from different regions with the energy to make a positive change in their community. Last but not least, several interesting sessions and opportunities to network with NGOs working on harm reduction in the region were given. With respect to the situation in the MENA region, a resolution from the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in October 2009 called for the rapid increase of harm reduction services to prevent the Hepatitis B and C epidemics among people who inject drugs. Yet, governmental action is slow,
ulation thought about certain issues. During the general knowledge round, the element of bidding was introduced, where each team would bid anything between 10 and 50 points. If they answered correctly they would gain those points. If not they would lose them. As for the issues pertaining to the AUB population, they ranged from preferred coffee vendor to most embarrassing things to do on a first date. The night ended with OSB coming in first with 400 points. Next was FAFS, and finally FAS. First place won $1000, second place won $300 and third place won $200. The winning team consisted of three juniors, Nour Safa, Samer Makarem and Catherina Ballout. The FAFS team consisted of Zeina Jamaleddine, Ramadan Ghlayini and Diana Darwiche and the FAS team consisted of Areeb Yassine, Tarek Kheireddine and Katherine Maalouf. According to Nour Safa,
“We’re happy we won. We definitely wanted to win but did not really expect it.” She
continues to add, “[people]… have misconceptions about business students and their
sometimes reticent or even resistant to NGO efforts. Moreover, the first Regional Conference on Harm Reduction occurred in Lebanon (where both needle exchange programs and OST are implemented – but not in prisons) in November 2009 to raise awareness among media and policy makers mainly as a result the efforts of MENAHRA. In the closing session of the conference, MENAHRA welcomed the audience with a beautiful video about Lebanon, announcing that the international conference will take place here next year!
Trivia Night Continued from page 1 other problem that was present throughout the whole of the night was the uncalled for participation of audience members. Be it through holding up their fingers to convey a certain number, flapping their arms to show that the answer was “bird” or even blatantly screaming out the answer, many audience members were over-excited, and this could be argued to have skewed some preliminary results, albeit in a minor manner. One question was even canceled due to audience interference. What followed after this round was a jeopardy round for the three teams that qualified. This round ended with all teams having a similar score. OSB came in first with 130 points, FAS came in second with 120 and FAFS came in third with 110. Next were two final rounds, one involving general questions and the other involving questions that involved knowing what the AUB pop-
Photo by Salim Batlouni/Outlook Staff
general knowledge. I think now they know that they are just misconceptions.”
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Campus News USFC Speakers’ Corner #4 Edrees Elrachidi Contributing Writer
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ast Wednesday at noon, the University Student Faculty Committee (USFC) hosted its fourth Speakers’ Corner in the “corner” between West Hall and Ada Dodge Hall. The topic under discussion was “Gender Equality in the Arab World”, and the moderator for this even was Dima Jamali, an associate professor of Management from the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business. Mostly presented in Arabic, the dialogue initially seemed monotonous, the speakers weren’t taking solid stands, and there wasn’t much of an audience, but after about 10 minutes, a few female speak-
ers advocating radical feminism drew a hefty audience, and the dialogue evolved into what became a battle of the sexes. One feminist speaker suggested that Lebanon should “set some sort of quota for female politicians just as Angola has done”, while another suggested that “women are simply treated unfairly and should be granted their rights”. The audience roared with cheers and claps. Jamali asked the audience if anyone had anything to say to this. A male speaker retaliated by enthusiastically saying that “[women] should act to gain [their] rights instead of just complaining about the inequality of society, and
ought to do what [they] want to do.” This comment only escalated the situation further. However, some speakers tried to calm things down by equating the two sexes. “The two sexes complete each other; masculinity completes feminism and feminism completes masculinity. There’s no need to decide on which sex is better,” said one speaker acting as a middleman. Even after this reconciling statement, the speakers continued to bombard the opposite sex, and cheers from the crowd followed. Eventually it reached the point where the arguments made were somewhat redundant and some more neutral speak-
ers came up to the podium to have their say. In the end, there was some kind of consensus that men and women each have their roles in society, and some roles can’t be swapped, however our society could be more tolerant of certain cultural aspects. In general the event was a success, despite the fact that it was more of a show than a proper rational discussion. The dialogue did seem a bit biased however; as one male attendee pointed out, many male audience members noted that the moderator had a somewhat biased attitude “because she gave remarks that directed the dialogue in such a way as to favor fe-
males”. The public opinion on the event was generally positive, though “the topic as a whole [wasn’t] a very fruitful one”, noted Biology major Ramy Fakih. Economics major Maria El Helou thought “it was very good, despite the fact that not all arguments were valid, but at least it was a nice way to interact.” When asked about his opinion on the event, Political Science major Khalil Issa remarked that it was “[bogus] and a decadence to intellectual dialogue”. Agribusiness student Bilal Hariri found it “entertaining, but in the end each gender has his/her own specialty”.
Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS) Launches AUB Volunteering Fair Rami Diab Staff Writer The Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service hosted the eye-opening 2010 AUB Volunteering Fair at AUB in front of West Hall on Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5 where some two dozen NGOs, AUB clubs, and other nonsectarian organizations were given the opportunity of presenting their mission statement, strategic plan, and some examples of previous work and accomplishments. The aim behind this volunteering fair was to raise awareness of several captivating projects either currently underway by famed NGOs or community campaigns and social outreach projects to be put into operation in the near future. This role of social awareness and encouragement of student activism was divided between the two days respectively considering the large amount of presenting institutions available,
and took place on two levels, the first being in the form of stands and booths distributed across the West Hall AUB campus and second being via formal lecture presentations also held at West Hall, Auditorium B. In conjugation with this volunteering fair were joined two additions to the event, the first being a cash contribution whose funds went to help eradicate malaria from Africa and improve the lives of Roumieh prisoner, held on the same dates as the volunteering fair, and the second addition being a donation drive stretching over five days commencing Monday May 3 up until Friday May 7 and awaited belongings open for donation ranging from books, toys, clothes, and kitchenware. Some of the organizations that participated in the event were as follows: Ju-
nior Chamber International (JCI), Nasma Learning and Research Center, Aie Serve, SCORP, Animal Encounter, Special Olympics College, Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures (IBSAR), AUB Lebanese Red Cross, Neighborhood Initiative, Teach for Lebanon, AMEL Association, Assabil (Public library initiative), Home of Hope, and Bicharaf. Of the aforementioned institutions, a few exceptional ones are worth mentioning such as JCI, a nonprofit, nongovernmental, nonreligious, and international institution, home to two hundred thousand active volunteers and tons of alumni spread over a hundred countries and five hundred local communities whose prime enterprise is that of providing the practical know-how and necessary training for turning ordinary citizens into extraordinary
apt activists fond of business, community, and individual development. Aie Serve is yet another recently launched NGO being in its third year of growth in the environmental and social outreach sectors, which well-brings us to IBSAR, a well known, AUBderived institution targeted primarily at reforestation, community sustainability, and environmental booming and preservation. Last but not least, the Amel Association which originated in 1979 boasts some twenty three centers across Lebanon all targeted at social health, rural development and last but most certainly not least, human rights. Once could positively claim therefore that the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS), in organizing AUB’s 2010 Volunteering fair, sought after promoting civic commitment, activism,
and widespread community engagement by opening up the visions of multitudes of proactive students to a widened variety of volunteering options from which they were bound to make a choice or two. In a sense one could dub CCECS as AUB’s right arm, working to ensure that AUB students do not under any circumstances miss out on opportunities for live activism, a variable, representing an absolutely vital part of the formula defining a grand, wholesome, and complete college experience.
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Campus News
(Do Not) Sign Your Work Contract
Moneer Moukaddem Contributing Writer
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n commemoration of Labor Day, the Human Rights and Peace Club exhibited their unwavering spirit towards the value of human dignity through their organized event titled “Workers’ Rights and Entitlements”. On Tuesday, May 4, a discussion panel consisting of Adib Abou Habib (previous head of General Labor Union Council), Hanna Gharib (High School Teachers’ Syndicate), and Dr. Jad Chaaban (professor of economics at the AUB) discussed the significance of Labor Day in relation to the bleak reality of workers in Lebanon. It turns out the values behind Labor Day are important for people aspiring to enter the labor market – that entails any of us who make it out of
here alive and well. Indeed it is a “waste” when Labor Day comes on a Saturday or Sunday, but Habib, aware of this prevailing attitude, acknowledges, “This generation enters the work force thinking May 1 is just a day-off.” In fact, Labor Day is the beginning of the year for workers. Work unions bolster their commitments, renew, and present proposed plans for the coming year. May 1, 1889 was the first year union demands were recognized in the name of workers all around the globe. Union demands are a result of the need to organize, represent, protect, and ensure indispensable requirements and rights of all people in the labor market. These in-
clude wage rates, working hours, working conditions, level and quality of social benefits (ex: insurance), and the opportunity for upwards mobility. Particular to Lebanon, Chaaban mentioned laws that stipulate a 50% wage for working overtime, 15 paid vacation days a year (if duration of work under an employer has exceeded one year), and a day off on Labor Day. According to him, these are rarely applied, and places proudly advertising their being open on Labor Day are in clear violation of the law. While worker laws in France exceed 500 pages in depth and detail, Lebanese law reaches 10. To think union demands have no significance for our lives offshoots the reality de-
picted by the panel. According to Hanna, many fresh graduates sign work contracts which blatantly eradicate their rights. “The problem is you are not aware of your rights.” Chaaban utilized staggering statistics to demonstrate conditions affecting the working class. For example: 44% of workers below 30 years of age receive less than the required minimum wage; 30% of gas money goes to the government, as well as $13 of every 20$ spent on charging your cell phone. Consequentially, the panel suggested a novel idea of introducing workers’ rights as a subject worth integrating into school curriculums. No strategic plan was presented. Sentiments echoed resent-
ment and culpability towards those in positions of power as well as the “monstrous” neo-liberalist system under which the country operates. Although it was not hinted that voting citizens bear share of responsibility, a positive panel encouraged the pursuit of rights and painfully smiled at the acknowledgment of change being a slow process. Having the electricity go out during the event, and the discourse frenzied towards a climate of change, one was left to wonder what role the upcoming municipal elections could play with respect to workers’ rights.
Wellness Program explores what it takes to “Make A Killing” Tala Kardas News Executive
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hough many events have been held over the course of this year dealing with the adverse effects of smoking and secondhand smoking, AUB’s Wellness Program took a complete spin on the topic, opting to screen a documentary entitled “Making of a Killing” on Wednesday, May 5 in West Hall Auditorium B, as part of the “How Tobacco Companies Get You to Smoke” lecture The screening was preceded by a word from Dina Mahmassani of the Wellness Program and Family Medicine who introduced the two guest speakers: Rania Baroud, a journalist and current Vice President of Tobacco Free Initiative and Dr. Norbert Hirschhorn, a physician who works closely with the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). Baroud quickly listed the
statistics concerning Lebanon and smoking that have become all too well known by now. Almost 3500 people in this country die from smoking, which is the fourth highest rate worldwide and the second in the Middle East region. 60% of 13 to 15 year olds smoke unaware that they are forming a “sick population.” She also discussed the hazardous impact of the very popular “nargileh” and how it dates back to the Othman Empire. She then went on to state the importance of banning smoking in public areas as over 80% of children are exposed to second-hand smoke. The second reason, according to Baroud, is because “70% of youth have seen a direct advertisement for a tobacco company through billboards and ads, while 20% have been exposed indirectly through sponsorship and merchandising.” She then proceeded to discuss the techniques that the ad-
vertising and tobacco agencies employ to promote their product, often using themes such as living in luxury, power and courage, trendiness, and freedom to attract potential customers. Their main emphasis is the youthful population so that they would “get addicted quickly and lifelong.” The documentary “Making a Killing” emphasized many of the points the Baroud had previously listed, choosing to focus on the impact of Phillip Morris Co and its subsidiaries on the worldwide tobacco company. For those that do not know, Phillip Morris is the largest of these companies, thanks to its infamous product Marlboro, but also because it owns Kraft Foods. Audience members were captivated by the information being presented, especially when the documentary focused on the extents that they have went to get people to smoke. This included trans-
Photo by Outlook Staff
forming salespeople to walking billboards in Vietnam, as advertising is prohibited and using money and influence to blackmail any legislation or anti-movements in the United States and Europe. After the movie ended, Hirschhorn took to the floor, giving those in attendance a five-point list on smoking and its effects, while also focusing on the “nargileh” be-
ing worse than the regular cigarettes. This event was met by much success and the attendees were satisfied with the information and presentation, finding the Wellness Program’s gesture of serving popcorn and token items to be a great addition to an already attractive presentation.
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Campus news Audience “Thunderstruck” by Iron Man 2 Premiere Sherif Maktabi and Joseph Saba Staff Writer’s
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ho would have thought that the Iron Man 2’s world premiere would be held in Lebanon? Not only did that happen but also AUB’s Lebanese RedCross Youth Department (better known as the Lebanese Red Cross Youth Club or LRCC) got the chance to organize it! For around three weeks, LRCC members set up booths, Facebook events, statuses, and posters advertising the Avant Premiere Fundraiser that would help fund their club’s Breast Cancer Awareness event. Volunteers were set out to sell tickets for LL 20,000 each in order to create the largest turn out by using as many marketing techniques as possible. In fact, these techniques are an example of how many events are usually advertised in the community. The main basis for advertising such an event is the use of social platforms, in this case Facebook, to cre-
ate an event page that would serve as a large scale invitation. Also, placing posters and a booth atWest Hall are of extreme importance to create a buzz amongst the AUB community since that area is the most frequented by students that are going from one class to the other. This allowed a viral spread of the event through word of mouth. The innovation in LRCC’s event is the use of Blackberry Broadcasting Messages, an emerging service in Lebanon, to communicate that people can buy tickets for the show from person X and they can contact them on this XXXXXXXX phone number. A comic was even drawn and published on Facebook showing that to be a cool person, one must watch the Avant Premier of Iron Man 2. In addition, LRCC members published posts saying “If you want to be the first person to watch Iron Man 2 in the world then like this post!”
Even a high-resolution image of the ticket was published on the Facebook event page, and although the ticket looks professional, that image would have allowed forgery to take place. Regardless, the most effective marketing technique was the full-page color advertisement in Outlook, AUB’s official student mewspaper which was one of the sponsors of the event. The LRCC are one of the very few clubs that have advertised in Outlook. The LRCC Iron Man 2 marketing was very successful. It was most apparent in the size of the turnout at the event: there were barely any seats left in Grand Cinemas Concorde’s biggest theatre that was reserved for the event. People were very excited to watch one of the world’s most anticipated movies. Sabine Simonian, a Freshman was one of many who were waiting to enter the theater room stating that “I’ve been wait-
ing to watch Iron Man 2 for so long! I think it’s really good that the Red Cross Club are presenting the Avant Premier.” The movie did not fall short from blowing everyone away with its trend-setting graphics, actors, and hightech devices. After the movie finished, laughter could be heard and smiles could be seen on people’s faces as they walked out. Most of the audience was impressed with the movie’s action scenes, visual effects, and even AC/DC’s “awesome” soundtrack throughout the movie. Freshman Dina Azar liked the movie and said that “although the storyline was weak, the action scenes and effects totally made up for it. Robert Downey Jr.‘s acting was amazing as usual.” Business senior Aram Ter Ghevondian, had a similar opinion about the movie and also added that “the soundtrack was perfect for the movie. AC/DC just rocked that
movie with their music.” Red Cross members and Project Responsible Innas Soufan and Treasurer Michel Saab both stated the turnout was great and exceeded expectations, noting that enough money was made to achieve the purpose behind the event, and that all of these donations would be going to breast cancer support. They thanked the main sponsor was Grand Cinemas who provided the movie and the theater in exchange of a certain percentage of the revenue. They also thanked Nanogen, a hair treatment company which gave out flyers at the entrance, “they were contacted to be sponsors through a friend” explained Saab. Finally, they also thank Outlook, for their sponsorship and support, as it was a challenge for them.
CSSS highlight “The Power of Students” through first event Tala Kardas News Executive
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n their first event of the academic year, the Computer Science Student Society (CSSS) held a lecture on Thursday, May 6 that dealt with Microsoft, its latest advancements, and its direct relation with students in Bliss 203. The presentation was given by Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) Lead and Assistant Capitan of Software Design Roudi Hamzeh. Though not heavily advertised, the turnout was impressive, with around 40 people including undergraduates, graduates, and faculty attending. Even more impressive was that these attendees were not restricted to just the Computer Science department or males, proving that technology has be-
come a global interest. Hamzeh’s presentation was divided into three parts: Project Natal, Power of Students, and Windows 7. In the first, he discussed the “Microsoft that you don’t know,” bringing into light several of Microsoft’s projects in the gaming world. The most striking aspect came in the form of Project Natal, to be launched onto the markets around Christmastime 2010, which is the latest addition to the Xbox and allows the gamer to play the game without any form of control whatsoever. Thanks to several demonstration videos included in the presentation, the audience was in awe, including a faculty member. Hamzeh promised that this
innovation would not only be groundbreaking in terms of technology but would serve as a way to bring together all family members for some quality time. The second part, entitled “Power of Students” dealt with Microsoft’s direct relationship with students studying or interested in technology. It is not very well known that the corporation offers free and unlimited editions of its popular software through its website to students who register using their university emails. Microsoft has also set up a website on which students can search for jobs within the corporation and be employed there or at one of its affiliated companies. There is also an opportunity
for these very students to become MSPs, joining the ranks of many of the “best of the best” in the field worldwide. He proceeded to name CSSS President Rami El Outa and Treasurer Joseph Saba as an example at AUB. The Windows 7 segment was perhaps the most technical, causing some to lose interest. However, Hamzeh did clarify what had changed between Widows 7 and its predecessor, the much detested Windows Vista. These changes include needing” 25 seconds to boot and [fixing] nearly everything that wasn’t so good with Vista.” He said that what Windows Vista did was focus on the security part that was wrong with XP and that Windows 7 fixed nearly
all errors found in Vista. Commenting on the event, Computer Science Junior and one of the organizers Joseph Saba said that “The event was a success and the turnout was pretty good. Everyone enjoyed the presentation, especially [the part about] Project Natal. As a society, we look forward to doing more events and our next big thing will be Outdoors, so expect the CSSS to make more noise than ever.” Though the semester is on the verge of ending, the CSSS are not planning on just adhering to one event and will only go forward with what they have in store for Outdoors, making their presence felt on campus.
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Campus News
MP Sami Gemayel speaks about the history of the Lebanese political situation
Mohammad Hijazi Staff Writer’s
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n Wednesday, April 28, the Discovery club at AUB hosted Member of Parliament Sami Gemayel to give an overview and an analysis of the history of the Lebanese political situation. The event started at noon in the Issam Fares Auditorium and lasted about two hours. Gemayel, born in 1980, is a senior member of the Phalange party who ran for the Lebanese parliament elections last June representing the Matn District and emerged as a winner. Gemayel is the grandson of Pierre Gemayel, founder of the Phalange party, and the son of Amine Gemayel, former Lebanese President, current Phalange leader, younger brother of Pierre Gemayel, a former member of parliament and government who was assassinated, and nephew of former Lebanese President Bachir Gemayel who was also assassinated. Gemayel holds a BA in Law (2003) and an MA in Public Law (2005) from Saint Joseph University in Beirut. The lecture began with the Lebanese national anthem, and a short introduction welcoming the Dean of Student Affairs Maroun Kisirwani and giving a short biography about Gemayel. Gemayel began by thanking the audience for being present, especially those who belong to opposing political parties. “I am here to talk with young people because I believe that we still have hope in Lebanon,” Gemayel said. “That is why we should improve and build our Lebanon so that we do not repeat the crisis that occurred in the past.” Gemayel blamed most of the problems of the Lebanese situation on the structure of the constitution and the compromising political system which divides the political seats based on religion and sects.
“This system of religious quota is rarely found anywhere else in the world. Yet this might have been necessary in the past because of the presence of the 18 different sects, but it might not be valid nowadays,” Gemayel explained. “Equally distributing the seats between Muslims and Christians may not apply now,” he added. “Some sects might have gotten bigger and others smaller either demographically or politically, and this is what’s causing some objections from some parties.” According to Gemayel, the first bad experience for the Lebanese political system is the 1958 revolution, when Egypt was trying to get Syria to convince Lebanon to join the united Arab state under the pretext of the Arab Identity and the Israeli-Arab conflict. “The objection of part of the Lebanese population led to this revolution, yet it ended with ‘turning the page’ on the issue without solving the actual problem,” Gemayel said. “The accumulated tension led to the explosion of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. The Lebanese people were divided: some supporting the Palestinians while the others opposing them. The moral that we should learn from this is that if, in 1975, the relationship between different sects was healthy, and the different sects trusted each other, the civil war wouldn’t have occurred. The huge problem is that there is never any actual reconciliation between different political parties; there is only distribution or consolation prizes to the different sects to calm them down for a while. There is always someone on the inside who is allying with an outside source against another inside party, because no one has the courage to sit on a
round table and declare that there is a trust issue.” “The key to our problems is a frank reconciliation,” Gemayel declared. Moreover, he believes that the only constants are maintaining the entity of the Lebanese grounds and the freedom of the Lebanese people; everything else should be on the discussion table. “Another dilemma is when weapons are used to solve conflicts; this violates the freedom principle. Using weapons internally is forbidden,” he asserted. Gemayel then proceeded to provide some solutions to the Lebanese situation. “Most importantly is the recognition of the pluralism of Lebanon: no one should consider that he owns the upper hand of the truth. Truth is not absolute; no one owns the complete truth,” he said. “Second, the political system should be reconsidered and reassessed. Having a national unity government is not
always a good thing. This violates the concept of democracy, because in democracy, there should be a ruling parting, and an opposing party who should monitor the government’s performance and hold the ruling party accountable for mistakes in its decisions. If all the political parties are represented in a national unity government, who will monitor and oppose it?,” he asked. “I am not saying that we should remove the religious quota without giving other guarantees to the different sects. We should convert this quota from a religious division to a political division,” Gemayel continued. “Expanded decentralizations is the perfect replacement for the religious quota. It is the only hope for the Lebanese people to surpass the untrustworthiness between them. We should replace the sectarianism in politics with creating actual political parties that are differentiated
Photo Courtesy of Rami Saad
according to their political programs and nothing else.” Before ending his lecture to answer questions from the audience, Gemayel gave an advice to the audience. “You, the Lebanese youth, are the ones who are going to build Lebanon and its future,” he said. “You should not rely on anyone to express your own opinions. You should voice your opinions loudly by joining political parties. If you don’t like any of the political parties that are currently present, you should create new ones to reflect your beliefs. You should posses the revolution to change, because the fate of this country lies in your hands.”
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Life & Culture ‘Movie under the stars’ cancer fund Lojine Kamel Staff Writer
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n Thursday, April 29, AUB International Student Club hosted a ‘Movie under the Stars’ night, dedicated to the funding and support of cancer patients at St. Jude’s Cancer Center. Tickets for the event were sold out in a matter of hours, perhaps because of students’ support of cancer fundraising, the comfortable location atop the AUB Charles Hostler roof, or maybe just the promise of popcorn. Students of every major gathered to watch My Sister’s Keeper, a movie about a teenage girl dying of leukemia. The movie revolved around the plight of family
struggling to deal with cancer. One of the main characters, Kate, was diagnosed with leukemia at a very early age, and so her parents decided to have a ‘donor child,’ in order to save Kate’s life. Filled with drama, sentimentality, love, and possibly every other emotion you could think of, My Sister’s Keeper very aptly portrays the life of a cancer patient, in the most thought-provoking of ways. A suitable movie for so noble a cause, My Sister’s Keeper exemplified the very essence of St. Jude’s. The night began at a comfortable pace with students arriving a quarter past 8,
amidst high expectations. With popcorn and juice in hand, the audience members found comfortable seats on the cool grass of the CHSC rooftop garden, awaiting the start of the movie. Ten minutes after it started, the sensitive ones in the audience were already misty eyed, and by twenty minutes, completely sobbing. “Where were the tissues?” we found ourselves asking, grateful to be under the dark canopy of night. Indeed, by the end of the evening there was not a single dry eye in the audience. Prizes were later given out to lucky few, cheering up those AUB students who were still
down. In the end the night achieved its purpose, spreading awareness and compassion for cancer patients, as well as generating funds. The audience left with a sense of catharsis and a strong desire to help those in need. The AUB International Student Club spoke of its plans to host more events like this in the future, among them, freshman Hanan Keskes, who expressed her surprise that the event had sold out so quickly “We never thought it would be this popular,” she stated. There was nothing but positive remarks about the event afterwards, as Political Science senior Isabelle Nagel
so perfectly stated, “It was just a great night for a good cause.” One only hopes that future events will be able to meet the high standards of last Thursday. Well planned, well placed, and well delivered, ‘Movie under the Stars’ was almost too good to be student run. The only thing missing was more popcorn and a plethora of tissues. All in all, it was a night well spent, and as so accurately described by freshman Hanan Keskes: “It was awesome.”
American Community School Choir: Young Toddlers Voice their Musical Talents Rami Diab Staff Writer
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ast Friday, April 30, the American Community School (ACS), located just across from the lower AUB campus gate, held its first of two musical demonstrations performed by its advanced and elementary school choir concert at the ACS lower school auditorium, the second of which was performed the day after at AUB Assembly Hall. This wondrous event was organized, conducted, and orchestrated by director Yara Rubb in conjunction with Pianist Vartan Agopian who both coerced diligently with students in helping them find their voice and proper position in the spotlight. The concert comprised a lovely array of young toddlers crowding the front stage singing in blissful unison. A few steps to the front of this warm vocal display lay nearby student musicians who contributed to the cheerful melodies in a vibrant show of musical dexterity. Of these skilled young instrumentalists were Ce-
line Smith, Sofai Brown, and Suh.H Park on violin, Adrianna Smith on clarinet, Layla Tabbal on piano, Khaled Mohamad on flute, and finally Yassmina Tabbal on alto sax. The audience, constituting parents and close family for the most part, seemed positively flabbergasted at the site of these fine ACS kids performing such touching, stirring songs as they sat their gawking in awe, possessed with rapture, and almost unyielding to the fact that these gifted boys and girls who stood before them only to shower them with their songs of love, festivity, and inspiration where in fact their very own children! The genre of music was largely attributed to a classical influence (Bach, Webber, and others) and boasted four languages from English (such as April Rain Song by Julie Bray and Our Festival of Music by Greg Gilpin) to French (such as Je Ne Fus Jamais Si Aise by Pierre Certon and Caresse Sur L’Ocean) to Spanish (such
as Soli Deo Glori) and Finally Arabic (Milli Ya Jannat Bladi by Zaki Nassif), and if all that does not attest to a convincing display of multicultural sing-along, then let it be known that they also managed to toss in an Irish folk song titled Toss the Feathers. Several of the parents attending lauded director Rubb on her splendid preparation and ingenious work with the kids, and other comments stressed the importance of artistic implementation for the youth which would help
rear them up in a rich ethnic background and stock their inquisitive young minds with the grandest works classical music has to offer. The American Community School at Beirut devotes a great deal of its program in developing the artistic abilities of its pupils as it considers the arts from music, to painting, to crafts, a vital part of culture and serves as means of stressing the significance of breadth of educational background alongside depth of study. These fine kids repre-
Photo by Rami DiabOutlook Staff
senting the spark of civilization and illustrating the face of tomorrow’s bright generation of scholars, scientists and artisans have through their singing, poise, and echoing call for musical tranquility served to remind the adult population that a voice can only stretch so far single handedly and yet when reinforced by a thousand other voices can stretch out “ad infinitum”, indefinitely radiating into time and space.
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life & culture Will you take a chance and marry me Tarek Tutunji Staff Writer
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truggling to arrange rose petals into an unwieldy P.O. box, PSPA Graduate student Jeffrey Karam was carefully watched by several curious onlookers. Unfazed by the bystanders, Jeffrey finished setting up the rose petals and moved on to another location. Some of you may have caught a glimpse of him last week going around campus with a video cam, envelopes, bouquets, rose petals and a number of other items. Those who saw him may have also noticed a sense of purposeful determination in his strides; Jeffery was arranging the perfect engagement proposal. In a tale heart-warming Hol-
lywood romance movies are made of, this AUBite chose the university campus for his engagement proposal to fellow AUB PSPA Graduate student Sana Tannoury. The elaborate scavenger hunt symbolized the culmination of a five year love and like that story it took place in the places that were most special to them. “I did some research online and I saw that most girls were disappointed in the way their fiancées proposed to them” Jeffrey said “I wanted to do something special, something that we would always remember.” Sana arrived at the PSPA department last Tuesday morning and got a message
from Jeff telling her to look in her GA box. Enclosed she found an envelope containing a riddle, a key, a bottle of water (for the journey) and, of course, chocolate. Sana immediately figured out the riddled clue and headed to the library. “I was so excited, I ran all the way to the carrel…I opened the drawer with the key and inside there was another clue with petals and more chocolate.” She said “I expected to find him there, when I didn’t I called him and told him ‘Where are you! I want to see you!’ He just said ‘follow the clues’ and closed the line.” From the library to Abu Ali at Bliss house, back to the PSPA department, to the
lockers in West Hall, at every stop another intimate memory, another riddle and another piece of chocolate. At the final riddle, Jeff included a bouquet of flowers and next to the flowers there was some chewing gum with a note that said, ‘Eat me because there will be a kiss later’. Her final destination was behind the observatory. There, bouquet in hand, Sana found Jeffery kneeling down on one knee and holding a ring in front of a recording camcorder. Sana still breathless from her sprint across campus broke out in tears and laughter. I have known Jeff and Sana for more than three years
now and I can honestly say that they are one of the nicest couples I have had the privilege of knowing. They are kind, insightful, bold, motivated, and principled. I remember reading once that love is like two half-winged butterflies, they can only fly together. Sana and Jeff’s love I feel is stronger than that sentiment. Their love reflects choice, individuality and independence. The greatest love is that borne out of free will. She said yes. From all of us in the PSPA department and from the AUB community we wish you a life of happiness and success. Congratulations.
Sadhguru Vasudev: A Mystic in the Eye of the Beholder Rami Diab Staff Writer
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ast weekend, Lebanon braced itself for the coming of a great humanitarian and renowned mystic and yogi, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who has traveled miles and traversed the Indian Ocean by plane in making Lebanon his next destination for pursuit mental and spiritual enlightenment. He was to host a two-day program scheduled at the Regency Palace Hotel in Adma for Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2 that mingled long hours of guided, open-ended discussion with brief sessions of tranquil meditation. Sadhguru broke the ice on the first day by sharing his story of how he came to earn the title of a humble and benevolent mystic. It all started long ago, back when he was only a young boy (as was the norm for several bright and famed historical figures). Sahdguru would more often than not find himself taken by the simplest phenomena in which he would squander away hours of his
day held in deep skepticism relative to the phenomenon in question. When he would attend classes at school, he confessed to rarely listening, but rather only hearing the words of his teachers without attaching much meaning to them. Does this unusual story ring a bell? Einstein before him was yet another below par student himself, who switched to several schools before finally dissociating from the whole schooling regime and just look at how far science has progressed today by his merit, (he was a skeptic himself, one must admit). These two figures are historical testimonies to the fact that one need not be academically distinguished to one’s place in the pyramid of success. In fact Einstein values his imagination above everything and has been believed to say, “I did not arrive at my understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe through my rational mind.” Going back to Sadhguru, he stressed a great deal on at-
tention and focus, crowning them as master means keen development, without which life becomes “accidental.” Furthermore, Sadhguru reveals other hidden truths such as the de-identification with thought and thus the de-identification with self which he believes is necessary for being “in yoga,” otherwise defined as, “in union.” Here, Sahdguru mentions his grandmother who died at age one hundred and thirteen. As the story goes, she we would go outside and feed any wildlife
outside (or inside) her home before attending to her own hunger, thereby filling herself up with a feeling that according to Sadhguru seemed to quench her hunger all the same and prolong her years of life. On another note, in the year of 1992, Sadhguru founded of the international, nonreligious, nonprofit and nongovernmental Isha Foundation devoted to humanitarian service and community development, that has, for instance, entered the 2006 Guinness World Records for having planted a
staggering 856,000 trees in a mere day by the collaborated efforts of some 250,000 volunteers (www.ishafoundation.org) Thus, we are able to collectively see Sadhguru’s revelation of altruism and self-sacrifice in motion and are thereby reminded, that we are like vital drops in the sea of life, wholly capable of possessing the entire cosmos, if only we are to tread deeply into the sands of self where mines of boundless riches lay hushed and coveted from our egos, unyielding to self-consciousness.
life & culture Star Struck Dance Show, By Elena Andriotis Elena Andriotis Contributing Writer
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heir story began a couple of months ago: the team of performers gathered for numerous brainstorming sessions. The blend of these get-togethers led to the making of the Star Struck project. Rehearsals were scheduled on the long run leading to long nights and very early wake-ups where everyone worked tirelessly. Word on campus started to spread, tickets were sold out and everyone waited anticipating the day of the show. It was on Monday, May 3 at AUB’s West Bathsih auditorium where the Performing Arts Club blew us all away with their outstanding performance. The auditorium was full within a few minutes and the audience’s whispers filled the room anxiously waiting for the event to kick off. Within a few minutes those whispers came to an immediate stop. Right from the beginning of the show till the very last minute, they were left speechless. The costumes, the lights, the music, the enthusiasm of AUB’s very own dancers drowned them into a great ambiance. A mixture of all sorts of talents from Latin dances to classical moves, as well as a hip-hop groove and even a soft rock song altogether led to the crowd’s applause and admiration. Some people were even dancing in their own seats! All of the proceeds from this sold out dance show were given to the non-government organization Al-Toufoula, whose aim is to fill the lives of children diagnosed with cancer with colors, hope, and optimism. These girls invested their time and effort to perform something great and for a good cause. Both AUB students and faculty should be proud of the enthusiasm and devotion of this club, while of course awaiting their next performance in fall. There was so much hype surrounding the event, with people expecting something different, something that would indeed leave us amazed, and they were delivered. Walking out of the auditorium, it could easily be felt that the audience wanted more… Congratulations to all the students involved, it was a great show!
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Letter to the editor The Olayan School of Business MENA Case Competition Yahya Oueini OSB SRC
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he Olayan School of Business SRC members held the Inaugural of the “OSB MENA Case Competition” in partnership with Bank Med between Saturday, May 1 and Monday, May 3 2010. The participants were the top students of the American University of Cairo, University of Jordan, Arab International University-Syria and AUB. Teams
were divided into groups of six (three from AUB and three from abroad). The case was written by Dr Riyad Dimashkiyeh and Dr Carla Sayegh with Stanford University while the questions were written by the two outstanding MBA SRC representatives Yusra Adra and Nadia Haddad. The questions dealt with strategic planning, marketing, fi-
nance, and entrepreneurship. After a Sunday full of strenuous preparation at the school’s breakout rooms, the groups submitted their report before going out to a touristic evening in Jbeil. Monday morning, they had to prepare for the oral presentations given at the Olayan School of Business. The jury was formed of Dr
Philipp Zgheib, Dr Imad Zbib, Dr Hanin Abdallah, and Dr Nelson King. Finally, having met the grading criteria and presented in an exceptional way in front of the jury, Team A (Aya Omran, Maria El Mayan, Rosette Wahba, Talal Husseini, Mira Berjawi) was the winner of the competition. After the closing ceremony, the SRC along with the par-
ticipants and teachers planted an olive tree (between the OSB building and the Green field). This first of its kind business competition in the MENA region was a huge success and this year’s SRCs expressed their willingness that OSB students will keep this as a yearly tradition in their schools later on.
Dear Students, Since my last update there have been important and positive developments on several fronts that I would like to share with you concerning the Ada Dodge Cafeteria and AUB food services in general. To begin with, in terms of on-site operations all demolition and concrete reinforcement works have been completed in Ada Dodge meaning that the project has moved to a developed phase of implementing the design plans. With the arrival of electro-mechanical drawings work will begin in mid-May, following bids from contractors, on the installation of electrical conduits, cables, outlets and plumbing equipments. The deadline for bids to provide kitchen and food counter equipment for the Ada Dodge cafeteria is tomorrow after which offers will be evaluated before offers are accepted for the delivery of goods and services. As of last week Faqra Catering opened to students in the FEA Khatib and Alami Cafeteria in the Bechtel Building to offer food and refreshments for students as well as others in the vicinity. The CHSC and OSB cafeterias will begin installing their equipments in two weeks time, when my next update is due and while there may be some disruption to services during the days equipments are being installed the outcome will mean that this month we will be taking a major step towards providing students on lower campus with three major centers for quality food and refreshments in a pleasant seated setting. Best Regards, Talal Nizameddin Associate Dean of Student Affairs
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Entertainment Album Review January 26 2010 was a great day for AC/DC fans, as it was announced that the band would be putting out a compilation album as a soundtrack for Iron Man 2. With no sign of a “greatest hits” album in the near future, this compilation album may just be the next best thing out there. Many were so happy when they saw the trailer for Iron Man 2, with “Shoot to Thrill” playing in the background, knowing that this movie would be great, with the soundtrack being a major player in taking this action-filled movie to another level. Released on April 19, the album was a big hit for AC/ DC worldwide, as it was AC/ DC’s third #1 album in the U.K. and started at fourth position in the Billboard 200. The compilation was a mix of both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson’s eras, both being the lead singers of the band, which ranges all the way back from 1975, T.N.T. to their newest album Black Ice released two years ago. The compilation included some of the Australian hard rock band’s greatest music, such as “Back in
AC/DC: Iron Man 2
Black” and “Thunderstruck,” while it also managed to give a chance to not-so-popular AC/DC songs to shine such as “War Machine” and “Cold Hearted Man.” Happening to be a compilation album, this means that it normally would have the best tracks or the most suitable tracks. In this case, AC/DC chooses fifteen great tracks that fit perfectly with Iron Man 2, although they could have chosen other great songs, such as “It’s a Long Way (to the Top)” to fit with the movie. Yet these fifteen tracks flow smoothly with the movie, as they always bring the tempo up when necessary. For instance, “Shoot to Thrill” gives the movie a great boost at the beginning where the audience can be seen in synchronization with the movie from that moment on. With the amazing visual effects and excellent action scenes in the movie, the perfect soundtrack was there to elevate the movie to another level. It has been noted by a lot of critics that such a movie would be a great chance to promote a newly formed
Restaurant Review Amidst the sea of seafood restaurants in Jbeil is El Mollino, a Mexican restaurant. One enters El Mollino only to find it quaintly decorated with inexpensive Mexican knickknacks that add up to create an air of ”homeyness” and authenticity. One is greeted with generous helpings of Nacho chips and fresh home-made salsa. Though the presentation is a tad sloppy, the instant appetizer is surprisingly good.
However, it is, sadly, in no ways a harbinger of the quality to come. The thing about the food at El Mollino is that it is afflicted with some sort of psychological disorder- multiple personality disorder to be exact. Every dish is an entity of its own, and might as well have been served at a different restaurant. In short, there is no cohesiveness to the quality on the menu. For instance, the quesadillas
Joseph Saba
band for its soundtrack. However, this album sends a message to the teenage audience that they should “salute” rock’s great forefathers and to never forget them, for they have a major impact on the new generations of hard rock and rock ‘n’ roll music today and their music will live on forever. For those who haven’t listened to AC/DC before, this is a great chance to get to know their music, especially since they can now associate it with one of the year’s biggest blockbusters and for the fans, this is the closest they’ll get to a Greatest Hits album. With a great movie, comes a great soundtrack.
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El Mollino are dry and almost tasteless, whereas the fajitas are succulent and cooked to perfection. This goes on for almost all other items of the menu. The “supreme nachos” have a minuscule portion size, and are overwhelmed by the taste of burnt cheese, whereas the wings are the perfect blend of moist and crispy. What does set El Mollino apart from other Mexican restaurants in Beirut is its location, overlooking the pic-
Timmy Malkoun turesque Jbeil Port. Sitting in the restaurant, one can clearly see the waves, the boats, etc. Nonetheless, one quickly forgets about this “pro” when faced with the horrendously abysmal service. You see, the waiters seem to have formed this sort of camaraderie that comes at the expense of them actually doing their job and serving you. Though the venue is rarely bustling with diners, it is often a struggle
to catch the waiters’ attention. However, it would be unfair to state that this is the case for all the waiters, as some are attentive and helpful. Thus, in conclusion, El Mollino can be a great restaurant with great food and great service. This, however, all depends on how lucky you are.
Entertainment Movie Review From the man who brought us classics like “Dogma,” and “Jay and Silent Bob” comes a new comedy, “Cop Out,” starring Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan. Though this film may not be up to the same standards as Kevin Smith’s previous works, it delivers laugh-out-loud comedy from the hilarious duo of Willis and Morgan. In the movie, Willis and Morgan play two cops, though one has to wonder how either became certified considering their wacky ways, on the hunt for a valuable baseball card stolen by the leader of a drug ring. Some side stories include Morgan’s marriage troubles and Willis’s struggle to make ends meet for his daughter’s impending wedding, which he must obtain and sell the card to pay for. The opening scene itself sets the tone for the movie and the roles the characters portray, which Morgan scream-
Cop Out
ing random movie lines at a suspect in an attempt to obtain information from him with Willis watching sadly, yet amused, from the other side of the glass. It is this chemistry - the balance between a straight arrow and such a curved one - that really makes this film work Willis’ straight arrow ways paired with Morgan’s goofiness create the perfect mix of dry and wacky humor. It is Morgan especially who brings the laughs in “Cop Out.” Sure, it’s far-fetched to believe that he could become an under-cover cop with his loudness and general clumsiness, but his oblivious looks and ridiculousness more than make up for that aspect. Willis maintains a harder demeanor, while Morgan remains the softy, making mistake after mistake with the best intentions at heart. Much like his character in “30 Rock,” (much
like his personality in real life, for that matter), Morgan stay’s true to what he does best, which is play the ignorant but lovable fool. Sean William Scott is another gem in the movie; his trademark smirk and mischievous ways provide for a bit more fun with the pair. He steals the scenes he is in; the attention is on what he will do or say next. His character practices parkour, the practice of freestyle running and jumping on various surfaces to reach one’s destination, providing even more laughs for the audience through physical humor. All in all, this movie is worth watching. Fans of Morgan and Willis will not be disappointed, though it is Morgan who steals the show, with his bemused and ignorant actions. His antics, along with Willis’s contrasting personality make for a very entertaining movie experience.
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Heather Jaber
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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 Lynn Itani Heather Jaber Wajiha Jurdi Kheir Lojine Kamel Elie El Khoury Sherif Maktabi Timmy Malkoun Rita Obeid Roupen Ohannessian Yasmine Saab Wally Saad Joseph Saba Sandra Sawaya Maya Terro Ilija Trojanovic Tarek Tutunji Mohammad El-Jabi Emile Zankoul
Photographers
Qater Al Nada Mohsen Dima Barbir Tariq Buhilaigah
Cartoonist
Deedee Jilani
Psyched Out
Rita Obeid DID
Since in the previous issue of Outlook I introduced Schizophrenia, I chose to speak of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a disorder formerly and more commonly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). This disorder is very often confused with schizophrenia in terms of symptoms; people tend to think that schizophrenia is actually characterized by symptoms that in reality belong to DID. In a nutshell, DID is a severe disorder in which two or more distinct personalities are present in an individual. A person diagnosed with DID also experiences memory lapses too extensive to be explained by normal forgetfulness. Some symptoms of DID include experiencing two or more distinct identities, at least two of which usually take control of the person’s behavior. It is also common for each personality to have a different self-image, behavior and/or characteristics, and additional particular identities may emerge in certain specific situations and circumstances. What are the causes of DID? This remains a confusing question with no clear set answers. However, it is reported that many people who suffer from DID have been previously subjected to severe physical and sexual abuse, typically during childhood. Individuals with DID may also have post-traumatic symptoms and even Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which include nightmares and flashbacks related to a certain traumatic experience. Other studies report that DID is more common among close relatives of people who have this disorder if compared to the general population, suggesting a genetic or heritability cause as well. The precise causes of this disorder remain unclear. As for the treatment plans for DID patients, the primary intervention for DID is long-term psychotherapy with the goal of breaking down the different personalities and combining them into one. Other forms of treatments might include cognitive and creative therapies. There are no medications that treat this disorder, however, anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants or tranquilizers may be given to help keep the symptoms in control. Reference: Psychology Today (2010). Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder), Psychology Today: Diagnosis Dictionary.
Heads Up on Health
Maya Terro
Healthy Habits you’ll want to follow if you’re aiming for ‘triple’ digits In former issues of Head’s-up on health, I shared with you a number of healthy habits that you will want to follow if you want to live to see your 100th birthday. To wrap things up, studies have shown that flossing, exercising, consuming whole-grain servings, getting proper sleep, and being less neurotic have all been associated with longevity. In addition to this list, strong evidence suggests that consuming whole foods, not supplements, is a great way for extending your age. People who have high blood levels of certain nutrient such as selenium, beta carotene and Vitamins C and E, were proven to age better and have a slower rate of cognitive degeneration. However, no association has been found between taking pills with the aforementioned nutrients and anti-aging effects. According to Ferruci et al., there are about 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato, both of which act as antioxidants. These chemicals have been shown to have complex interactions that foster health beyond the simple nutrients we know of, namely Lycopene and Vitamin C. Nutrient-lacking white foods like bread, flour, and sugar should be replaced with strongly colourful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cereals rich with their hidden nutrients. Surprisingly, another study found Americans following the ‘seventh-day-Adventist’ lifestyle have an average life expectancy of 89 years, which is about a good 10 years more than the average American. This type of lifestyle is based on staying away from bad habits like smoking, consuming alcohol, and overindulging in sweets. Instead, people who adopt this lifestyle follow a vegetarian diet based on fruits, beans ,and nuts, with lots of exercising on the side. According to a study by Olshanky et al., centenarians tend to be ‘creatures of habit’. Apparently, people with double-digit ages follow the same kinds of diet and activities their whole lives—like going to bed and waking up every day at the same time. As people get older, their physiology becomes frailer and their immunity defences weakens, leaving them more susceptible to circulating flu and bacterial infections. Accordingly, as you grow older, your body will need more time to rebound after missing a few hours of sleep or drinking too much alcohol. One final advice for living longer is one that has to do with socializing. Indeed, according to Perls et al., having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is pivotal for avoiding depression which might lead to premature death, which is not an uncommon case and particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Having a daily connection with a friend or a relative gives older folks the added benefit of having someone to watch their back and encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles, such as going to gym or simply taking a friendly walk together.