I 24, V 42

utlook The American University of Beirut

Vol. XLII, No. 24 |

www.aub.edu.lb/outlook

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

| The Independent Student Publication Since 1949

Bliss Street, West Hall 208 tel: 01 350 000 ext.3193

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Editorial & Opinion Editorial Join the Яevolution: United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Mohamad Yahia Hamade Editor-in-Chief

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write in shock and awe of the irrational and almost disrespectful future requirement to make students pay an extra 25% on tuition fees. This business decision is almost a disgrace to how much our university boasts about being “an institution of higher learning founded to provide excellence in education, to participate in the advancement of knowledge through research, and to serve the peoples of the Middle East and beyond.”

How are you better serving the peoples of the Middle East when you are charging an unfathomable price that the majority of people cannot afford? We have to remember that some students are supporting themselves through college, how will this decision affect them?

This increase means we might have to pay up to $3000 extra, which is a lot of hard-earned money for some people. About 8,000 call AUB home. Multiply that by $3000 each and that equals $24,000,000. Now, that’s a heckload of money.

As students of AUB, we realize that the university offers us many unique and generous privileges, but how much must we pay to receive them?

This is almost a sort of blackmail. Everyone has to be paid, but we can’t be expected to pay such an astronomi-

cal amount.

It is not the faculty or the administration that make up the university, it’s the students. When you decide to increase tuition by such a colossal percentage, you are mitigating future students’ chances of continuing their education.

Education isn’t a luxury, it’s a right. There are schools in Africa that cost less than $10 per semester, and they are offering those children an education and the opportunity to succeed in the world. Now, I’m not saying you should decrease the tuition to single digits, but at least, make it a reasonable amount that everyone can pay.

It should also be noted that not everyone who requests financial aid gets it, and sometimes, people who do receive financial support don’t really need it. So, what happens to all those students who are working three jobs and paying through the nose for their education? Are we to cast them out of the university, because they can’t pay up?

Maybe we could just tell everyone who can’t pay to get a loan, because that’s what everyone needs, more debt.

I like to be the devil’s advocate in arguments, so I tried to look at Mr. “I-like-to-makestudents-pay” AUB official’s point of view. Nothing... was what I found; except an eloquent email from the Financial Aid office sent out yesterday morning. The email stated that the increase will “generate additional funds that will be used to strengthen academic programs,” because “students [enrolling] for as many as 18 or 20 credit hours with no additional charge... imposed a considerable burden on faculty instruction time.”

Does that mean students who overload out of necessity are a burden? I find that to be an interesting choice of words to describe an AUB(urden)ite.

Last time I checked “The university believes deeply in and encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue,” ever-so-eloquently read the AUB website. So stand up, united, for your rights on Wednesday, May 19 and dissent - or you’ll be receiving a fat bill on SIS, with an eloquently written email attached to it.

Image source: Yahya Oueini USFC Treasurer

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opinion

Joseph Saba Staff Writer

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his college is for all conditions and classes of men. Know who said that? You probably do now, since numerous students have been sporting this line with the clinched fist as their Facebook profile picture. In case you are one of the few that don’t have Facebook, no other than the founding father of A.U.B, Daniel Bliss, said that, while laying the cornerstone for A.U.B.’s first permanent building. Why did he say that? Simple. It’s a statement of truth. A.U.B. has always been a college for all the conditions of man; whether this student is poor to the extent of literally begging on the streets to pay for his education, if not performing more humiliating acts, or whether this student is filthy rich where he and his great great grandchildren can live off his daddy’s money. It didn’t matter back then to Bliss if you were from the upper class, middle class or lower class people. Everyone deserves an education, it’s as much as a right of human beings as is the right to eat and drink.

But, the Board of Trustees in A.U.B. don’t seem to agree with Bliss anymore. As you also may have heard (or not,

but you are going to hear it now), the Board of Trustees decided on implementing a new payment policy for its students, where students no longer have the virtue of registering for more than twelve credits and paying for just twelve. Instead, the enrolled student must pay for ALL credits registered. In other words, the student registers for an average fifteen credits per semester; hence paying an extra 25% in tuition fees. Now if this is happening in a country with a prosperous economy with higher salaries, one might accept the idea. However, this is Lebanon. This is the country where the greatest minds have to travel outside to get a decent living. This is the country where most of your Average Joes make around $800 a month. This is the country where most families’ incomes come from a family member working overseas to keep the food on the table.

This is the country where a lot of its residents depend on tourism during the summer to pay for their children’s educations. A.U.B. was distinguished as the only prestigious university in Lebanon where the cost and quality of education was a perfect ratio. As of Fall 2010/2011, that won’t be true anymore. What could the Board of Trustees

be thinking? Don’t they know that with this system, A.U.B. students can barely afford to get an education here. For one, I get financial aid from A.U.B., FAFSA, have a job in the Work/Study program, yet still I have to apply for Deferred Payment in order to stay in this university. With such a move, what are they expecting the students to do? Pay for more than twelve credits? What if they can’t afford it? What do they do, go to some other university? Why would the Board of Trustees want to do such a thing?

I want an answer , and so do thousands of students. Also, isn’t it a coincidence that the Board takes such a controversial decision one week before registration of courses for the upcoming Fall semester, and two weeks before semester finals? They know that students would be more reluctant to act, knowing that there is much at stake.

News Flash: Finals or not, registration or not, we will not let this pass. We will not hold our peace forever about this. This is not some decision that will affect some students and some not. This decision affects EVERYONE, directly or indirectly. Graduating students are probably relieved that this decision won’t affect them personally. Well to them I say: Aren’t

your younger brothers or sisters coming here eventually?

How about your cousins or friends? Wouldn’t you want to do something about this if you were still working on your Bachelor’s? Wednesday, May 19 is the day to make our voices heard. There will be a sit-in at Main Gate starting at 12:00 PM to protest this abysmal decision and question the administration’s true incentive and whether they actually care about us.

This is an obligation ALL students must fulfill if they have any respect to their standing as an A.U.B. student, where freedom of speech and democracy is all what this university is about. Going to classes during the protest would be accepting the Board’s decision and encouraging them on making more irrational decisions. This isn’t some protest that will last ten minutes and then everyone goes to class. This is an issue that cannot be taken lightly.

Oh, and this is how Daniel Bliss’s statement finishes off: But it will be impossible for anyone to continue with us long without knowing what we believe to be the truth and our reason for that belief. A.U.B. believes that this decision is in favor of the student. Well, we can’t see any reason or truth behind that.

JOIN THE REVOLUTION

Why?

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opinion It Takes 25% to Make a Revolution

Tuition Increase: special edition To all AUB students, alumni, and graduates:

Sherif Maktabi Staff Writer When was the last time AUB students did a protest? I am not talking about a few masked people opening a banner in a lecture by a billionaire and an Arab politician (both happened this year). And I am not talking about a sit-in by around a hundred-something student.

I am talking about this:= Thousands of students, from all majors, ages and backgrounds getting out of their way to really show what AUB students are made of.

To show that the AUB Spirit is really not lost. To show that even if some stand up for communism or their political figure or even their favorite football team, here at AUB we all stand for the right to learn. Although some of us won’t be affected by the 25% increase in tuition, many others are. This is why increasing tuition by a colossal 25% takes out the chance of many Lebanese students that are smart, ambitious and outstanding to get a really good education in Lebanon. This fact coupled with the slow but steady change in AUB’s policy in giving Financial Aid in the form of LOANS really kills it for us students.

OK, AUB is Lebanon’s best university. AUB is the Middle East’s leading universi-

ty. However, AUB is short for the American University of Beirut. Last time I checked, Beirut was the capital of Lebanon where students from all over the country apply to.

AUB has a quota of Lebanese students which is the majority. This is why AUB’s application form does not require interviews, personal essays and portfolios. I personally spoke to an AUB representative who told me that this is the case because if otherwise, students from public schools in Lebanon won’t be able to apply. Hence I can say that AUB seems not to be interested in increasing the quality of students but the “quality ;)” of students.

I would like to quote here the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 23, clause 1. “[…] higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.”

Also, to make my argument clearer, I want to give you this number from a study by the International Poverty Center and supported by the UNDP in January of 2008: “Nearly 28% of the Lebanese population is considered poor and 8 percent can be considered extremely poor”.

This is why I feel free to say that AUB, as Lebanon’s

prize-jewel and beacon-ofknowledge is not fair in its decision to increase tuition by 25%. Although AUB is a ‘private and independent’ university, being Lebanon’s symbol of academic importance, hope and pride does not allow it to take decisions for private reasons and independent of its surrounding environment. If AUB is in need of funds, I am sure it can find funding elsewhere than the pockets of Lebanese parents; the generation that survived the war, some that even found refuge in this university during those days that seem to be forgotten now have to survive an attack by their Alma Matter. Regardless, I am proud to be a part of AUB and constantly looking to find the AUB spirit that is making me stay here.

I came here to find “life and have it more abundantly” and I want others to be able to do the same. This is why, next Wednesday, I will skip my Chemistry 202 class and stand at Main Gate as my AUB ancestors did, expecting 25% of AUB to show up.

If you feel the same urge to do so please join me.

You might have heard of the 25% increase in tuition fees, and if not, well, I really don’t know where you’ve been.

Now it’s time to act fervently, and as soon as possible.

OK, so it is true that not all people will be affected by this. Only those with siblings who won’t be absolutely covered by financial aid will have to suffer an additional $2000 per semester for their tuition, but that’s no problem because $4000 a year is nothing for AUB students.

We have all seen AUB students with their “toys”: a car worth over $30,000 (that’s over 2 years worth of tuition), a $500 phone, and that oh-soimportant BlackBerry service at $40 a month (not that there’s anything wrong with these). I don’t envy people with such valuables. However, this doesn’t mean we should take AUB’s tuition for granted.

This is my third year living outside the United States.

Having lived there doesn’t necessarily true that that person is wealthy. My financial situation is, in fact, a tough one. My dad has been unemployed for about nine months now and we don’t

have enough capital to invest in real estate as prices have shot up incredibly. I can almost guarantee that in my college years, I won’t ever be able to own a car or even a moped. I had to get got a job at AUB’s student-work program to cover personal expenses. I have two siblings who are younger than me by only a few years, so in a few years, they’ll be applying to AUB (they can’t attend a non-American university because they’ve studied in American-system schools their whole life), and that’ll be an extra $8000 a year, a cost that is impossible for us to pay. We’re currently in a deadlocked situation.

We could always return to the United States, but that’s another story.

I didn’t write this op-ed so you’d sympathize with me, nor do I want you to shed any tears for me; I’ve had my fair share of that. I just want you to realize that there are AUB students who suffer to get their degree and that as an AUB student you should carry out your duty by coming to the protest on Wednesday.

It’s a legacy that you’re protecting.

Edrees Rashidi Staff Writer

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opinion Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

Ali Saleh

Mostafa Shaaban

I received this E-mail about a protest being organized by the USFC concerning tuition increase and I got really excited hoping that this elected student organization is ready to initiate a historical student action equal in vitality of that action by AUB. I opened that E-mail with great expectation, alas I was surprised to see that it was merely a student gathering at West Hall, just like any other done targeting every other university problem! A gathering that only attracts students who merely wish to skip class and have a couple of laughs and finishing their 1 hour sit by saying “Oh well we tried, what can we do?!”

It is an actual shame to see the future of this country, students of AUB, so careless, so hopeless and I can even dare to say spoiled! This is my 5th year in AUB and I’ve seen so many elections with hundreds of people fighting over representative seats in USFC promising change and support for their fellow students. I am ashamed to say I was once one of those students fighting and cheering at the same time, I am also ashamed to say that I also was one of those students who did not believe in their individual influence over a decision such as the one took

by AUB now.

I look back at the days when the student body of AUB actually had an influence over such decisions. I look back at the days where a protest was not merely a 1 hour sit in but weeks of student activities and confrontation! I also look back at the days when 7arakit sha3eb would ask the student body to protest and their movement used to paralyze AUB completely! (I would just like to clarify that I was never and am not a supporter of 7arakit sha3eb) “This is my last semester in AUB I don’t care about the tuition increase” sadly this is a statement I’ve been hearing a lot by many of my friends on campus... This is also MY last semester as well, I have a younger sister AND brother in AUB who still have years ahead of them in this institute of knowledge.

We are blessed to have parents who are able to pay such high tuitions though we rarely appreciate their effort to give us the life we have now. BUT what would less fortunate people do?

I am simply ashamed to call myself an AUB student... I hope that the USFC are ashamed to call what they believe to be a stand against what is going on currently in AUB... And finally I just hope that my E-mail does not fall on deaf ears...

Dear American University of Beirut Leaders, Decision Makers, Community, AUB students have long stood silent as the tuition increase took its toll on them. It is true that AUB is one of the most renowned and well-established universities in the region; however, it is going down a path most scholars cannot follow. AUB, as an educational institution, must have education as its primary goal, the students’ well being as its primary goal; a goal that has seemingly been long forgotten. Sadly, as if giving very low financial aid to students in dire need wasn’t a bad enough blow, things aggravate to an immense unjustified tuition increase with the new 15credit pay policy. Despite all the aforementioned points, students did not revolt and they engaged in various work/study programs in an attempt to uphold their status in this institution. However, for those unaware, AUB gives one of the lowest pay rates for work/study students in the region. The latter renders not only education a seemingly impossible task, but even the faith in education itself.

A.U.B. takes pride in presuming its war against discrimination, a rather hypocritical presumption in false pride, when it is moving towards becoming an institution where only those from privileged backgrounds can pursue knowledge. A.U.B was and should always remain an institution for those who are competent, hardworking and worthy of this education.

One often forgets what he sees every day, the words engraved on the very entrance of its Main Gate. Today, I remind those who hold the power to make decisions that A.U.B. students may have life and have it more abundantly- if they can afford it, that is.

Resist the EVIL Sudoku

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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