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Outlook The American University of Beirut

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Vol. XLIII, No. 10 | Thursday, Dec 9, 2010

Meet your new VP Page 2

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‫اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت‬

‫محاضر ًة حول القانون الصارم ملنع التدخني في األماكن العامة‬ ً ‫قطعي لم يلقى حتى الساعة دعما‬ ‫ ولم‬،‫كافيا ً من اجلهات السياسية‬ ‫يصدق بعد من قبل مجلس النواب‬ ّ ‫ من هنا كانت‬.‫ألسباب سياسية‬ ‫احملاضرة مبثابة تعبير وتأكيد على‬ ‫أهمية هذا القانون والدور املهم‬ ‫اللذي تلعبه اجلامعة األميركية حلث‬ ً ‫ إنطالقا‬،‫شبابها على عدم التدخني‬ ‫من احملاضرات واملناشير املشددة‬ ‫ وعن طريق‬،‫على خطر التدخي‬ ‫ بإستثناء‬،‫حظرها التدخني في احلرم‬ ‫بعد احملطات احملدودة واخملصصة‬ ‫ هذا ما عبر عنه رئيس‬.‫للمدخّ نني‬ ‫ في‬،‫اجلامعة الدكتور بيتر دورمان‬ ً ‫افتتاحه هذه احملاضرة مانحا ً دعما‬ ‫معنويا ً وحثا ً على تطبيق هذا‬ ‫ و أال يقتصر‬،‫ في لبنان كله‬،‫القانون‬ . ‫كما اليوم على اجلامعة‬ ‫وهو مسؤول‬، ‫أما الدكتور غازي زعتري‬ (Photo by Ahmad Itani - Office of Communications)

Behind closed doors

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INSIDE

he University Student Faculty Committee (USFC) and Student Representative Committee (SRC) cabinet elections occurred uneventfully in all faculties with the exceptions of FAS and FEA. Some of the involved problems could be traced back to the fragmentation of the We Will campaign into separate factions following the SRC elections.

Nezameddin rescheduled the FEA elections to the following Wednesday because less than half of the SRC had shown up. Free-

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dom Club member and FEA SRC member Richard Aoun announced that “it was too close” when discussing the results obtained on Wednesday December 1.

SRC members and campaign leaders aggregated outside West Hall shortly before the FAS elections took place on Monday November 29. The We Will campaign, comprising mainly of members from the Lebanese Mission Club, the Freedom Club, the Cultural Club of the South and the Communications Club, split into undefined portions and were not unified at the time of these elections. Senior Economics

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Major Ali Sheet of the Lebanese Mission Club described the atmosphere as “really tense” and Senior Biology Major Luna Geagea of the Freedom Club stated that “there are backstabbers.”

On the other hand, Sophomore PSPA student Tara Bizri said she thought it was a “lovely day” and Junior SRC member Christel Ghandour said the elections “look fair” and “not that concocted.” Both belong to the Communications Club. To Alternative Front FAS Graduate student Mario Abou Zeid, things seemed “democratcontinued on page 5

16-18 Campus News 19 AUBOC hosts Leba20 non’s first ever Blog21-22 ging Convention 23

،‫الدكتور محمد جواد خليفة‬ ّ ‫أقام‬ ‫ بالتّعاون مع جلنة‬،‫وزير والصحة‬ ‫الصحة العامة والعمل والشؤون‬ ّ ‫والبرنامج‬، ‫اإلجتماعية النيابية‬ ‫ محاضرة‬،‫الوطني ملكافحة التدخني‬ ،‫في اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت‬ ٣٠ ‫وذلك نهار الثالثاء الواقع في‬ ‫ في متام الساعة‬٢٠١٠ ‫نوفمبر‬ ‫السابعة مسا ًء في قاعة الوست‬ ‫ وقد شارك في هذه احملاضرة‬.‫هول‬ ‫نواب يدعمون إقرار مشروع قانون‬ ٌ .‫للحد من التدخني في لبنان‬ ‫صارم‬ ّ ‫ عد ٌد من‬،‫فاجتمع في حرم اجلامعة‬ ‫الشخصيات السياسية ورجال‬ ‫األعمال وحضور أراد التعبير عن‬ ‫ واجلدير بالذكر‬.‫دعمه لهذا القانون‬ ‫أن القانون اجلديد الذي صدر حلظر‬ ‫التدخني في األماكن العامة بشكل‬

UN Michael Williams on AUB Founder’s Day

Politics and grudges riddle SRC cabinet and USFC elections Fouad Badaoui Senior Staff Writer

18 ‫تتم على ص‬

‫ماري نخول‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

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Amir Bitar Staff Writer

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n commemoration of its birth in 1866, AUB celebrated its annual Founders Day on Monday, December 6 in Assembly Hall with the presence of distinguished guests and ambassadors, faculty and staff members, as well as students. Current United Nations’ Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Mr. Michael Williams, was the keynote speaker.

The ceremony started with a formal procession of faculty members and senior administrators followed by the Lebanese National Anthem

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performed by the AUB Choir.

AUB President Peter Dorman made an introductory address highlighting the intimate bond AUB has developed over the years with its neighborhood. “Beirut embraced the university,” said President Dorman while emphasizing that “no great institution can exist separately from the civilization that gave it birth, and no university can exist independently of the neighborhood and the city that together help to mold its inimitable character.”

President Dorman then continued on page 6

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‫أربع نوادٍ حتتفل‬ ‫باألضحى هذا‬ ‫العام‬

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Dec 9, 2010

Meet your new VP

Fouad Badaoui Senior Staff Writer

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conomics Senior Ali Sheet was elected as AUB’s new Vice President (VP) of the University Student Faculty Committee (USFC) on Friday, December 3. He enjoys chess, basketball, and intends to enforce the USFC’s “role […] to represent students” by continuing successful policies and implementing new ones. Sheet’s platform focuses on drug and environmental awareness campaigns and direct action in changing campus life.

A three time member of the Economics Student Society, Sheet plans on representing the student body through what he describes in his platform as “three pillar phases: planning, implementing and evaluating.” He hopes to include the administration in the decision making process as much as possible to ensure complete collaboration in the university’s interest. Sheet also intends to show students that his work will be marked by “perseverance and transparency.” He emphasized

the need for collaboration between the USFC and students: “students have to help us; I represent the students.”

As a member of the Lebanese Mission Club, Sheet said that some might consider his victory a political one, but he replied, “I, as the VP, represent 9000 students. I’m not talking about a certain group or a certain political party.” He further explained that he was unaffected by the schism in the We Will campaign and that his USFC will show complete political impartiality.

The VP said he plans on continuing a few of his predecessor’s policies like the Ring Ceremony, the Speakers’ Corner, and the Outlook publications of USFC reports. He expects the USFC will meet on a weekly basis and send a copy of its decisions and/or minutes to Outlook for publication. Sheet praised the Speakers’ Corner as the only true place where students can get together and discuss issues, free of any political or

administrative pressure. According to him, the Speakers’ Corner will also get a chance to take place every week.

Yet Sheet’s opinion of the 15 credit policy varies drastically from Elias Ghanem’s (the previous VP). Sheet believes last year’s student demonstrations and class boycott are still controversial and he actually supports the implementation of the new tuition policy. According to Sheet, the shift to 15-Credits is inevitable and makes financial sense in today’s economy. As a beneficiary of Financial Aid himself, he welcomes the extra funds that will bring an underrepresented portion of the Lebanese demography to AUB. Although he does not oppose student loans, Sheet does not find the idea of graduating with a debt to pay very appealing, especially if the student concerned needed the loan in the first place.

He admitted that the Financial Aid system may not be perfect and expects to investigate if necessary. He also

conducted a survey on student satisfaction right after the SRC elections (filled by 150 students).

On the topic of community service, Sheet believes that “we have to implement it in AUB.” His opinion is to replace the Dean’s Warning with mandatory Community Service hours when it comes to small infringements (like smoking in the wrong area).

This way, students will gain experience and make a difference; “if a student works for 30 hours, he can be forgiven.” On the Smoking Policy, Sheet, a smoker, respects the rights of non-smokers. However, he still wants to have a few designated Smoking Areas around campus, as they are needed by many students.

As a solution to the parking menace, Sheet proposes outsourcing as a viable solution: AUB could rent or buy a parking area in the neighbourhood. Sheet one day hopes to realize one Engineering student’s Final Year Project: to replace AUB’s lamps with so-

VP Ali Sheet

lar power ones.

By the end of the year, a committee should be ready to evaluate the USFC’s efforts and hold them accountable for their actions. Sheet hopes to integrate this committee in the USFC bylaws. On a final note, Sheet noted that “we’re going to work for the whole university” and that he is motivated enough to be “persistent and stubborn at some points.”

SRC Survey Results Fouad Badaoui Students’ Rights Club President The Students’ Rights Club (SRC) and OIRA have conducted a survey filled by 698 students. The goal was to measure the student body’s knowledge and expectations of the SRC. Here are a few interesting results: - 71% of students answered “no” to the question: “Can any student attend SRC meetings?” The right answer is “yes.”

- “Which of the following is within the capacity of the SRC (check all that apply)?” The only right answer (out of the 6 options) is: “Submitting proposals.”

- Only 16% of the students think that the USFC have achieved their objectives in the past year.

- A quarter of the students think that the USFC is behind the implementation of the 15 credit policy. It wasn’t.

- A fifth of the student body is convinced that last year’s SRC and USFC have selected the Faqra Catering Company to run the cafeteria.

- 70% of students believe the SRC can send campus wide surveys. It needs permission, just like any student.

- 42% of the student body expects that it is within the SRC or USFC’s capacity to provide more parking spaces to students.

59% of students weren’t aware that last year’s USFC was lobbying to bring the network printers we are currently using on campus.

696 students (128 graduates, 560 undergraduates and 8 special students participated in this comprehensive survey)

Dec 9, 2010

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Lebbos and Abdennour win reelections in FAS and FM Joseph Saba Samer Bu Jawdeh Staff Writers

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RC reelections took place on Friday, November 26 for both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and the Faculty of Medicine (FM), where there were draws on the Sophomore seat and the Med IV seat respectively.

The tiebreaker between Moustapha Ajalyakin and Amanda Lebbos proceeded in the West Hall Common Room from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm.

At the end, Lebbos was able to claim the last seat for FAS Sophomore with 189 votes compared to the 131 votes for Ajalyakin.

When asked why both candidates refused to forfeit the seat for the other, both responded by stating that each of them deserved to win because they had both worked hard for the seat, adding

that the “best solution was through this reelection.”

On his view of the student elections, Ajalyakin stated that “the election process is very important and it represents the social and political culture within society.

The sad part about it is that a lot of people are voting blindly,” while Lebbos responded by explaining that “the elections always start political, but after elections we all put our political affiliations aside and work for the student body under one united agenda for the interest of the students.”

Dr. Samih Isber, Physics Department Chairman and Professor, monitored the FAS voting process. The elections at AUB were “very democratic, void of tension, proceeded smoothly, and were not as pushy,” said Isber. “I had a feeling that the current students’ election campaigns were not as vibrant as

(Photo by Samer Bu Jawdeh)

they were in the previous few years,” he continued. In fact this year’s overall percentage of voters has decreased from previous years. This experience, important for all students, allows them to practice and learn democracy at an early age, a chance not granted by the parliament.”

AUB staff L.S. also commented on the AUB elections based on her experience as a student, which is clearly dif-

ferent from nowadays. “We were never afraid of who we were and what we believed in and represented; at present, you don’t know with who each group is. We were much more transparent nominating ourselves directly under our political flags, yet we were the ones who made all the decisions and most of our support was from AUB and not from the outside, unlike today, where the students are

not working, mostly money is. All in all, I didn’t like what I saw this year.”

Similarly was the case for the Med IV candidates, where the reelections took place at Room 300 in the Saab Medical Library (SML). Amidst a very slow voting process where voters would show up in spurts, Ihab Saab’s 18 votes were not enough for him to win, as Roba Abdennour prevailed with 32 votes.

Red Cross Club spreads love not AIDS Aziza Khalil Staff Writer

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ecember 1, 1988 marked the first World AIDS Day. It was all about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The theme for the World AIDS Day for 2010 is “Universal Access and Human Rights.” World AIDS Day reminds people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2009 some 2.6 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 1.8 million people died from AIDS. William Hazlitt said “Prejudice is the child of ignorance.” AUB Red Cross Club wanted the AUB

students to understand that so they decided to create an AIDS awareness day event.

The event was about teaching the AUB students not to discriminate against the people who had AIDS but to help them, and that giving hugs is not contagious.

They had stands all over West Hall and people going around giving free hugs.

One of the stands was for giving donations. They wanted to help the people who already had AIDS. The biggest event of the day was the human red ribbon. AUB students stood side by side in the shape of the red ribbon with each student holding two balloons. The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and

(Photo by Khodor Abou Daya)

commitment. On the count of ten they launched the balloons into the sky. It was a great scene to watch and it brought smiles to everyone’s face. The event brought the students together. Everyone helped out to make this day

a success. The event was a great success and a lot of people enjoyed it. Dima Hajj, an AUB Red Cross member said, “Awesome event!

It was very successful. We did a great job spreading awareness all around cam-

pus. Spread Love, not AIDS!” Riha Badaoui an AUB student said “It was really nice, seeing all the people dressed in red around campus! Free Hugs and Love is a nice idea; hopefully awareness efforts will be propagated beyond this one single day.”

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Dec 9, 2010

From Korea to Lebanon, a message of friendship and peace Amir Bitar Staff Writer

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or the third consecutive year in the Arab world and the second in Lebanon and AUB, the Korean-Arab Friendship Caravan took place, featuring a Korean film festival in Tyre, Tripoli, and Beirut. A taekwondo performance was scheduled in Michel el Murr Stadium, while a traditional Korean music concert was held in UNESCO Palace. Hosted by the Korean-Arab Society and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the event was launched on Sunday, October 31 in Tyre and was concluded in AUB on Tuesday, November 2 in West Hall.

In AUB, His Excellency Mr. Young Ha Lee, the Korean Ambassador to Lebanon, and his wife welcomed their guests to a reception with snacks and refreshments in the lobby next to Bathish Auditorium in West Hall. They then invited everyone in to start the screening of the last movie of the film festival for this year, entitled “Joint Security Area” (JSA). Distin-

guished guests included Her Excellency Ms. Rida Mariette Aljure Salame, the Colombian Ambassador to Lebanon, and Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim, representing H.E. Mr. Tarek Mitri, Minister of Information.

In his brief introductory address, H.E. Mr. Lee emphasized the Korean government’s intention to do “its best to enhance mutual understanding between the Lebanese and Korean peoples in the fields of arts, culture, and sports.” The Korean-Arab Friendship Caravan itself, concluded His Excellency, was designed “to promote cultural relations between Korea and Arab countries.”

JSA is a Korean blockbuster released in the fall of 2000.

It is a fictional story portraying the development of an unlikely friendship between two army officers, one from the Communist North, the other from the Republican South, ultimately doomed by the tensions along the NorthernSouthern divide of the Korean peninsula. Directed with gorgeous cinematography, it emphasizes the fact that despite conflicting geographi-

cal positioning and ideological ideals, there is not much difference between Koreans on either sides of the Demilitarized Zone.

Speaking to Outlook after the movie, Ms. Bassima Yahia, Research Assistant at the Korean Embassy and responsible for the event’s management, noted that “despite the geographical distance separating Lebanon and Korea, the problems faced in both countries remain, to a large extent, similar,” while emphasizing that South Koreans are “an example to follow, where they were able, in quite a short period of time, to rise again after a devastating civil war and transform their country into a leading worldwide economy.”

Technical problems with the DVDs provided by the embassy prevented the movie from reaching its end, but did not prevent its message from reaching the audience.

The movie, maintained Ms. Yahia, “portrays how close JSA’s South- and NorthKorean army officers really are. It is that which is beyond their individuality that separates them despite their honest attempts to overcome

Amélie

it.” In a sense, she continued, this very movie was “chosen to be especially screened in Lebanon because it could resonate with our own problems as Lebanese.”

The Caravan continued its cultural activities in Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and was concluded in Algeria on Sunday, November 7.

Cine Club inspires Dalia Hosn Staff Writers

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UB’s Cine Club screened the French modern-classic Amélie last Monday, November 8.

The event was held in West Hall’s Auditorium B, and was open to both club members and guests for a small price that paid for a wide assortment of French snacks.

This all-round French experience is part of Cine Club’s efforts to screen masterpieces in film from around the Globe.

Cine Club aims “to screen movies that are not like the mainstream movies, like Hollywood movies that everyone can see. We are try-

ing to screen movies that are very good that people don’t usually hear about,” said a long-standing member, Leila Younes. Also, it must be noted that Amélie is one of the less obscure titles that the club has screened in the past.

Younes explained that the movie was “a good start for our club because it’s fun and well known and it’s a masterpiece.” Seeing the positive reactions of those attending the screening, starting off with a more entertaining film seems to have paid off. Of course it must be clarified that Amélie is not only entertainment for entertainment’s sake as with most mainstream movies. Rather it is a masterpiece of narrative and cin-

ematic techniques and was nominated for five Oscars including, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, as well as Best Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film.

Amélie, directed by JeanPiere Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou is also known by its longer French title, Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain. It is the story of a young woman who manages to brighten the lives of those around her in imaginative and almost absurd ways, while always managing to keep herself out of the spotlight. Amélie, having lived a lonely childhood, grows up having strange conceptions of the world around her. From

spending her time gazing at people in theaters, to dressing up in a Zorro costume, to pulling pranks on the meanspirited grocery-shop owner, Amélie is definitely not what one would expect. In the end, Amélie finds and pursues a like-minded character that spends his free time collecting and piecing together scrap photos from under automatic photo booths. This is not a simple story about love and comedy, though both of these elements are present, rather it is a tale of finding oneself and helping those around you along the way.

One of the viewers, Bechara Samneh said, “I think that Amélie Poulain is a really good movie; it teaches you

how to cope when life is dull around you, and turn it into a magical experience…. And now as AUB students, we really need that, especially with the midterms coming up.” This was, in the end, a stress-reliever and an inspiring movie. The Cine Club is planning various other screenings and discussions that will aim towards broadening and deepening the cinematic experience. Lastly, to everyone stuck in midterms, think of the following line from the movie: “Failure teaches us that life is but a draft, an endless rehearsal of a show that will never play.”

Dec 9, 2010

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SRC Cabinet and USFC Elections continued from page 1

ic” and most members just wanted it to end. Senior Biology student Anis Kadado from Students at Work said he saw the atmosphere as “fine, a little tense.”

Outlook staff was allowed to attend the FAS elections in Bathish at 6:00pm. Biology Junior Mohammad Rammal commented on the importance of Outlook in introducing candidates to students and facilitating dialogue. Leila Knio, of the Student Services Office, walked students through the process. The first step of the vote was the nomination of candidates. The remarkable fact was that there were exactly 2 candidates for every cabinet seat: President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer. And, out of the 33 SRC members, 10 were nominated for the 5 USFC seats. The

second step was the actual voting process. But in these elections, a third step was included: a debate concerning the legitimacy of the vote. 3 students had attended the meeting and voted without their AUB IDs. Shortly before the end of the vote, other members (most noticeably Vasken Sarkis and Sandra Atweh) had opposed to their votes being counted. “This is against the law” said Sarkis.

An argument erupted that lagged on for several minutes before Nezameddin entered the auditorium. By this time, Kadado had changed his comment on the vote from “fine, a little tense” to “very fawda.” Knio argued that the IDs weren’t necessary since the 3 students were identified by others.

The situation further deteriorated as Sarkis accused the committee of violating

the law while Ghandour accused him of violating her time. Shortly after, a professor vociferously accused a student of lying (“you’re a liar”) 3 consecutive times.

Nezameddin then addressed the students:”I’m surprised; have respect for each other.”

By 7:00pm, Kadado opened a notebook and seemed to be studying. It was finally decided that the vote would hold and that the missing IDs would be presented to the Dean’s Office in the morning.

Nezameddin was then tailed into his office by campaign leaders as they further considered the legitimacy of the vote. When asked how they dealt with the stress and long hours of elections season, a West Hall employee merely smiled and shrugged.

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Insight Club hosts trivia night

Aziza Khalil Staff Writer

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hink you know everything? Well, the Insight Club decided it was time to find out on Thursday, November 11 when it hosted Trivia Night. With a hundred trivia questions ready and the hall packed with spectators and teams of three it was time to begin.

First up was movies. One of the questions asked was who acted in the movie “Man of the Year?” The teams

thought it was easy as everyone immediately wrote their answer down. Second up was religion. Now this was where it started to get tough. Questions like “how many people went to Hajj last season?” started bringing up murmurs from the crowd as everyone wanted to find the right answer.

With six more categories to go, people were already starting to feel the heat. The crowd became excited, and the questions started pouring in. When did Pavarotti

die? Which organ destroys old red blood cells? Niamey is the capital of what African Country? Who was the winner of the NBA 2010 slam dunk contest? The difficulty of the questions only led to more excitement and murmurs from the crowd. Everyone wanted to win.

Once the questions were done and the answers were collected, the crowd was treated to a short video about Eid AlAdha and a video about what being a Muslim is all about.

Once that was over the crowd

started getting agitated. The contestants couldn’t wait to find out if they had won the 200,000 L.L prize. It seemed like ages before the winners were finally announced from fourth place up until first place only adding to the suspense of the already rowdy crowd; mostly everyone was on their feet. In first place came in Izzat El-Hajj (Insight Club President), Richard Backhazit and Hassan Hamdan.

Even with the event done, people were still buzzing

about it. Tasneem Akra said “the event was amazing because several clubs united and contributed together.”

While, Mohammed Nazar a contestant said, “It was very enjoyable; even though I didn’t win it was fun.” Nour Ghazal, who was just there to watch and wasn’t competing, said, “It was very exciting, and the host was funny and smart.”

Founder’s Day essay contest continued from page 1

announced the winners of 2010’s Founders Day Student Essay Contest with the topic question being: “In 2010, what is AUB’s relationship to its place, its Ras Beirut neighborhood, and what should it be?” May Chaker, a Junior at the OSB, and Tala Mukaddam , a Sophomore in the PSPA department, came in third and second places respectively. The winner of the contest was Daria El Samad, a senior majoring in Economics. The winners will be awarded $250, $500, and $750 prizes respectively.

Moreover, El Samad’s name will be immortalized on a plaque that will be placed outside Assembly Hall.

In her winning essay, El Samad noted, while reiterating the impossibility of thinking of the university as a separate entity from its surrounding, that AUB “doesn’t fully accommodate for the needs of its surroundings and vice versa.” El Samad highlighted the growing discrepancy between the prosperous AUB community and the “not as settled” neighborhood “where real estate prices have skyrocketed over the past few years.” This sharp rise in prices “ha[s] generated limited economic activity and restricted the economic opportunities that could have

solved students’ demands.”

El Samad highlighted that while AUB took various measures in response to emerging problems, such as the “Neighborhood Initiative” and the “Greening the Environment” project, student involvement in these initiatives “remains minimal.” She stressed that invoking a “sense of responsibility” in students “is essential for development.”

She finally concluded by urging students to “widen their scope and target the neighborhood through academic outreach, field research, cultural involvement and social awareness projects.”

After a recital of a piece by Tomás Luis de Victoria by the AUB Choir, President Dorman introduced keynote speaker Michael Williams, a former diplomat, senior adviser, writer and researcher. Williams praised AUB as a center of dialogue and coexistence, “an almost sacred space within Lebanon for interaction and engagement between students of different backgrounds and origins, of different confessions and nationalities.” In this sense, Williams believes, “AUB captures and embodies the very spirit of the United Nations.”

He then lauded the invaluable input AUB alumni had on the UN; Charles Malek drafted in considerable part the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, at least 19

(Photo courtesy of Ahmad Itani - Office of Communications)

AUB alumni were delegates at the founding conference of the UN in 1945, and three former students were among the first signatories to the UN Charter on behalf of their respective governments.

“Perhaps no other leading academic institution,” contended Williams, “could claim to have played such a central role in the creation of the United Nations.”

By emphasizing the “remarkable career” of late alumnus and former professor Charles Malek, Williams gave an overview of the re-

lationship between Lebanon and the UN including the nation’s current two-year term on the UN Security Council, UN agencies’ developmental and humanitarian work in the country, and progress made on the implementation of Lebanon-related UN resolutions.

Bearing in mind the various difficulties Lebanon is currently facing such as nationbuilding, inequality, poverty rates, and regional instability, Williams affirmed that “it is young men and women who are the human capi-

tal of Lebanon.” He described the AUB community as “the building blocks for the Lebanon of tomorrow,” and concluded by contending that “AUB represents the spirit of diversity, co-existence and tolerance that are fundamental for Lebanon to succeed.”

The ceremony was then concluded by AUB’s Alma Mater and an official recessional.

Refreshments were offered in front of College Hall alongside a small book sale stand featuring some AUB publications about the institution’s history.

Dec 9, 2010

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German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) representative visits AUB

Rosie Nasser Associate Director, Office of Grants and Contracts at AUB This article has been printed upon request and with permission from the Office of Communications at AUB

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he Office of Grants and Contracts in coordination with the Office of International Programs at AUB hosted Andreas Wutz, the Representative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) on November 2, 2010. Wutz talked to more than 80 students about the German University system, the benefits of studying in Germany and the acceptance requirements as well as the available scholarship programs that Lebanese students and scholars can benefit from.

With headquarters in Bonn, DAAD has 63 branches and information centers around the world, including Leba-

non, and provides more than 57,000 scholarships annually. In 2009, DAAD expenditures encompassed 83 million Euros on scholarships for foreigners, and 51 million Euros on educational cooperation with developing countries.

During the presentation, Wutz highlighted DAAD’s research scholarships for applicants from Lebanon which focus on grant programs for PhD-candidates and academic staff. He stated that PhDcandidates can apply for full grants, covering the full period of their PhD studies (up to 3.5 years) and research in Germany. Another DAAD program targets young professionals who have a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of professional experi-

ence in a field related to civil engineering, regional planning, public health and other disciplines.

The one hour presentation also featured information and facts about Germany’s population and geography, its inventions, discoveries and noble prize winners and its cultural and religious diversity. Pointing out that Germany has the third highest number of foreign students in the world, Wutz went on to talk about the country’s various higher education systems and universities which range from technical universities, to universities of applied sciences, to colleges of music, art and film. He explained that there are 900 international degree programs

(Photo byHasan Nisr - Office of Communications)

throughout Germany which provide Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programs and provided details on the living and tuition expenses of students as well as the benefits of studying in Germany.

Wutz said that DAAD’s role in Lebanon is not only to provide students with assis-

tance on getting scholarship support but also to give guidance on the various programs and fields of study. He invited students to contact him to explore the available international programs and funding sources from DAAD and a vast variety of other foundations.

Oil & Politics in MENA Mark Francis Staff Writer

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rofessor of Middle Eastern Studies, Timothy Mitchell came to AUB on November 8 to present on the role of oil in Middle Eastern and North African politics. Professor Mitchell currently teaches in the department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University in New York. He previously taught at New York University where he, amongst other faculty members from various universities and professionals from around the world, signed a letter in support of an academic boycott against Israel. AUB’s Center for Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies organized the event and held it in Auditorium B1 of College Hall.

Professor Mitchell began his lecture by stating, “We

are in the declining decades of the fossil fuel era. There are two crises at hand: we are using conventional sources

ing the role the Gulf has in oil production. According to Professor Mitchell, “Twentieth century politics is structured

itics of the Arab world and its effects are nothing new to people who pay even a minuscule amount of attention

of petroleum faster than we are finding them, and burning supplies of oil releases carbon into the atmosphere causing global warming and uncertainty in the Earth’s climate.” Oil and the environment are two very central issues to governments around the world, more so to governments in the Gulf region of the Arab world consider-

around the economy.” Since oil is paramount to the economy as well as maintenance of developed/industrialized nations, the Arab world is the focus of those nations’ foreign policies, thus subjecting the Arab world to constant foreign intervention since after the First World War. The reasons for consistent foreign intrusion into the pol-

to international relations.

What made Professor Mitchell’s lecture interesting, was the way he suggested we counter this problem. He suggested we look at it from an economic perspective. Since politics is structured around economy, we need to analyze the actions of economic experts and, “…look very carefully at how these systems

“They will not give up power and influence willingly solely for the sake of justice. Change must be forced upon them. Use the economy as an agent of change... If we want them to change their policies, we need to hit them where it hurts, their pockets.”

of expert knowledge work.”

The problem is most people have begun to feel apathetic towards international affairs mainly due to the sentiment that most governments act without our consent and nothing we say will matter. The global elites have a stake in the status quo so using political means to bring about change can be discouraging. They will not give up power and influence willingly solely for the sake of justice. Change must be forced upon them. Use the economy as an agent of change. When we buy things from companies that politically support the global elites, we are also supporting the global elites.

If we want them to change their policies, we need to hit them where it hurts, their pockets. Elections do not only come once every two to four years. We vote every single day with our wallets.

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campus news

Dec 9, 2010

Palestinian Cultural Club on the right to a comprehensive education Samer Bu Jawdeh Staff Writer

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veryday, as regular students around the globe make their way to school, they may deal with the pains of traffic jams, early classes and occupied parking lots. Students in Palestine, on the other hand, must deal with far more disheartening matters like that of being thoroughly searched at the borders (the “‫قدس‬-‫”ضفة‬ border set by the declaration in 1967 is an example). The wait could be so lengthy that a five minute walk to school could at times end up a several hour stall at the border.

Not only that, but there are occasions when students finally make their way into class only to find that their instructors were not allowed entry into the boarder. “We used to disguise our teacher as a student so she could pass the borders and teach us,” recalled Dina Dajani. Such are the lives of the Palestinians who hope to “shed light on what a Palestinian student suffers to obtain their basic right – education,” stated Palestinian Cultural Club (PCC) President Tarek Abdul Rahman. In achieving this end, two lectures took place in West Hall Auditorium A and Bathish on Wednesday, November 10 and 11 respectively.

Education goes beyond universities and schools to touch and affect the heart of any nation; it is the decisive factor between a nation’s survival on one hand and its extinction on the other, elaborated social activist and educator Kawash saying, “education is destiny.” Kawash defined education as “the realization of one’s own potential which is to be used for the greater good.” Simply put, no nation is complete without its education and civilization. Kawash illustrated this by providing the Sputnic Crisis as an example. Sputnic is a Soviet satellite that was first to invade space during the Cold

War, a matter that terrified America and led it to initiate the National Defense Education Act to empower itself in the Space Race.

Later on, students attending the lecture expressed that not any particular education suffices for the Palestinians; the Zionist enemy has always tried to eradicate their memory and so any education should include the Palestinian history with all its struggles in order to preserve the national identity, the right of return and the truth behind the injustice. This issue is completely neglected. For instance, in Lebanon and particularly in Palestinian camps, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), funded by the United States of America (USA), sets the educational curriculum without these considerations. Milad Salami, Palestinian from Naher-El-Bared, comments, “things here are not that different from Palestine.” Palestinians have actually lost the desire to learn not because the Palestinian family does not value education, but because they are scarcely presented with the chances of either attending school or acquiring a job. Who can afford the pursuit of an education if basic conditions for life cannot be attained? Some 60 percent of Palestinian families are below the poverty line; a fact which forces many students to leave school in order to help their parents earn their living. Furthermore, even after graduating from colleges, it is very difficult for Palestinians to find a job due to unjust laws and discrimination. This makes Milad wonder about the purpose behind “getting a degree and hanging it on the wall.”

As for schools, they have no counselling, no programs for children with learning difficulties and no school-parent relationship. Kawash reveals that failure rates are around 40 percent for students aged 17! He also adds

(Photo by Samer Bu Jawdeh)

(Photo by Samer Bu Jawdeh)

that from 2005-2010 the population increase was not accompanied by an increase in the number of students. This does not mean that classes are empty; on the contrary many classes have more than 40 students. Faced with all these problems, Kawash strongly believes that the “…the civic society is unprepared” and that therefore, “we need to improve the quality of education...” He stresses the importance of civic rules and volunteers, “there

should be an initiative, program, training, and plan… we need something humanitarian far from politics and religion.”

Sadeel Moustapha, AUB student and freshman recounted the extra care given for copybooks so that notes are passed down and used from generation to generation. “[Here,] we take education for granted...” she explained, adding, “…when the United Nations sends us pencils and copybooks, we feel we

are being offered a treasure.”

Until the civic community decides to increase its aid and until the law is amended towards respecting the rights of Palestinians, the Palestinians will not only have to struggle to get a proper education, but will also have to suffer discrimination and alienation so that their stories, cause and ultimately, their identity should endure the test of time.

Outlook

Dec 9, 2010

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Art & Culture

What if a permanent drought comes about?

Samer Bu Jawdeh Staff Writer

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globalization conference took place on Wednesday, November 24th at the Crowne Plaza hotel, specifically regarding the issue of global climate change and the potential agreements that will be taking place as an attempt to rectify the emerging crisis.

The conference, which was sponsored by Indy Act (The League of Independent Activists) in collaboration with the British Embassy and Environment Ministry, lasted for just over two hours and outlined the main policies pertaining to the issue.

Over the last 13 years, the UNFCCC (The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) has made several attempts to reach an international climate agree-

ment regime, including the Kyoto protocol, Copenhagen and now Cancun agreement; however every attempt so far has been a futile one. Much opposition was met as developing countries continuously resisted the pressure of developed countries that wished to spark an international contribution to reductions of their greenhouse gas emissions. Their resistance was centered on the belief that they should not be compelled to make such strong commitments when developed countries could not fulfill their own end.

The failure to reach a comprehensive agreement in Copenhagen may have come as a disappointment to all the countries that were involved.

The biggest obstacle in the

Copenhagen agreement was that it revolved around negotiations solely taking place between developed countries.

This effectively disregarded any commitment from developing countries in the socalled international regime, despite the fact that the main hindrance stems from developing countries contributing to the bulk of global emissions growth. Developed countries have been stressing that we have little time to act, and if we do not cap emissions in the next decade there will be permanent, catastrophic climate changes worldwide.

The complexity of these climate talks may partly be due to the interplay between economical, as well as climatic, factors. Many countries rely intensely on methods

involving bulky greenhouse gas emissions to enrich their economy and are therefore reluctant to make any substantial reductions. The root of the US resistance of the Kyoto protocol stems from the difficulty in implementing any agreements because of the climate skeptics, leading to legislative bodies rejecting climate bills. This may be the reason why the US gets left out of future agreements, despite Obama’s recent efforts to thwart that.

Hope lies within the Cancun agreement, as any failure may threaten the whole UNFCCC process. The outcome in Cancun relies greatly on the COP president, which, in this case, is Mexico. The Mexicans are determined to achieve results in

Cancun, and have even appointed their minister of foreign affairs as the COP president, understanding that the climate change negotiations is related to politics more so than the environment. Having said this, Cancun will only be one stop, as the negotiation process is expected to continue to South Africa, however nothing is for sure. Therefore, we must carefully consider the roadmap after Cancun in the long term. Arab countries, including Lebanon, have a big role to play in the Cancun agreement and, above all, should not resort to the concept that ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,’ because that will only serve to hold us back more.

AUB Online Collaborative’s “Blogging Lebanon” debuts successfully Joseph Saba Staff Writer

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riday December 3 marked the first “Blogging Lebanon” convention, hosted by AUB’s Online Collaborative (AUBOC), which took place at Bathish and Auditorium B in West Hall from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM. There were around 150 people at the event, including guest speakers, Lebanese and Arab bloggers, students, professors, journalists and people who are interested in social media and blogging in general.

The even kicked off with AUBOC president Mohammad Hijazi’s welcoming speech in Bathish, introducing the guest speakers and AUBOC’s mission, and extending a thank you to the audience present, including a special one to British Ambassador of Lebanon, Frances Guy, a blogger herself, and the other bloggers, journalists, and media.

Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Talal Nizameddine proceeded Hijazi’s speech with a welcoming note of his own, describing his lack of enthusiasm to enter the technology age due to the negative aspects that are found on the internet, such as child pornography and gambling, and how he mistakenly used to call a Blackberry ‘Blueberry’.

Guy was the first guest speaker of the convention, as she has started a blog and been consistently writing it for years. Being one of the few diplomats to do so, Guy described the challenges that came with that, and also talked about how politicians influence the media. During the Q&A session, the British Ambassador pitied Octavia Nasr after her controversial firing from CNN, due to her tweet on the Grand Ayatollah Fadlallah, describing her own experience as the British media claimed that she might be fired as well due to a blogpost of hers. Final-

ly, Guy was asked about the recent Wikileaks, where she refused to comment as “they were illegally leaked.”

“Blogging Lebanon” continued with 14 other presentations, including well known people amongst AUB and the Arab blogging world, such as AUB’s Event Planner Johnny El Hage, who described his experience about blogging in native Lebanese. Mohammad Shawash, a designer who came from Amman to participate in the event, had a presentation that dealt with all the numbers and statistics related to social media and its effect on us. Art Director Naeema Zarif of Creative Commons (CC) talked about having an elastic copyright system in Lebanon and what CC has to offer. The convention had a 30 minute intermission at 5:30 PM that was a snack break, moving the convention to Auditorium B. Blogger Darine Sabbagh and Hijazi, who presented a video related to Shawash’s pre-

(Photo by Dima Hajj)

sentation, talked about the Arab Social Media Forum (ASMF), as both are ambassadors of the event, which is taking place in Jordan on December 11. AUBOC’s member at large Sherif Maktabi introduced HelpLeb, a new project he is working on that allows users to share issues they are facing and work on them via the web. The ASMF was not the only conference being brought up, as the 9th Fikr conference, taking place on December 8 and 9, was introduced by Abdelkareem Niazi of the Arab Thought

Foundation.

Shankaboot, the first Arab webisode series, was presented by its project manager Tony Oyry and Online Content manager Arek Dakessian. The convention ended with Ayman Itani, a digital media strategist, who had a very interesting presentation about the Arab pop culture and the Internet, which included a few video sketches and stats on the MENA (Middle East & North Africa).

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Art & Culture

Dec 9, 2010

Scouts enlist talents of pianist & composer Waleed Howrani Dalia Hosn Staff Writer

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usic rung throughout Assembly Hall, Monday, November 2, as the talented Waleed Howrani graced the audience with classics from Haydn, Beethoven, Ravel, Chopin, Isaac Albeniz, as well as his own composition “To Bach & Beyond.” The event was hosted by the Lebanese Scout Association as part of their 75th anniversary celebrations, which included many other cultural and social events.

However, this performance was the finale, and bore historic significance since the Scouts first started out in AUB and Howrani himself was a scout when he grew up in Lebanon.

Waleed Howrani, who is originally Lebanese, now resides in the United States and is considered an international success. After graduating from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, 1973, he went on to study under the

well renowned composer William Albright. His playing style, while being highly accomplished and professional, still manages to pull off an air of casual playfulness. Howrani’s demeanor itself is very unlike the stiff-backed highbrow attitude stereotypically associated with classical musicians, as he had no qualms about directly addressing the audience, joking around, and simply having fun while he enjoyed doing what he loves best: music.

Also, Howrani’s music itself is very much a reflection of his character as he moves away from the traditional classical style, choosing to incorporate Jazz, Ethnic, and Popular music into his compositions. The original composition that was featured in this concert, in its Lebanese premier, was his “To Bach & Beyond” that tells the story of music through time and history, as he intended to “take the listener on a journey from Bach’s times to the 20th Century Boogie-Woogie.” The

(Photo by Lotfi Al Salah)

piece, originally inspired by a theme by Ziad Rahbani, plays on various cultural and ethnic tones as well. Howrani says, “I like to write in a Polystylistic way, drawing from various genres, while at the same time making it original and novel.”

Considering that Howrani himself was a scout as a child, he felt like paying them back for everything he learned from them. Recounting his first camping trip, Howrani expressed how a fellow scout

selflessly went out and made him potatoes when he was sick. “It teaches you everything useful, and for many it’s their first exposure to real responsibility,” he said. Interestingly enough, Howrani linked his scout experience with music, as “they have the same principles; you learn things in chunks and by repetition.”

Celebrated on the same day as the Lebanese Independence, the event commenced with the words of Lebanese

Scout Association President Doha El-Zein Halawi, who wished for a night “far away from politics and sectarianism.” Secretary of the Association, Joseph El-Gharib, explained that they wanted to end the anniversary celebrations with something “refined, cultural, and exceptional. It’s good for everyone to know about Howrani and get used to such music in this region.”

Markus Karas marks a unique night Khodor Abou Daya Staff Writer

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n Friday, November 19 at 8:00 pm in Assembly Hall, the beast was awoken from his nocturnal slumber. AUB’s monstrous organ sounded with fierce roars as the 2008 prestigious Sudeten German Cultural Prize recipient Mr. Markus Karas struck the keys with his hands and legs. Yes legs! The organ is played using all the body. Julia Samoty, an amateur pianist, explains “playing the organ needs the utilization of the five senses and the body.

It is a strenuous effort, yet he [Markus Karas] makes it look easy.” Ahmad Nourredine, Architecture Student, notes that “maybe the amount of effort needed to play the organ has made organ playing

really rare.” Mr. Karas did not confirm this but he finds that organ playing in Germany is very common and well accepted.

However, organ playing is rare in the Arab world. One member of the audience states that “a wide piece of our society does not tolerate this type of cultural music, although like any unique art it should spread.” Despite the fact that most of our society would not listen to organ playing, the concert had quite a turn out. In fact, Mr. Markus was amazed that many people showed up because he believes that “the independent Lebanese man is always busy... trying to support his family and himself.” Even with all burdens, the Lebanese man came to appreciate Mr. Karas’s work and effort.

(Photo by Salim Batlouni)

At first, there was a bit of confusion. After the first piece “Prélude en sol mineur”

by Dietrich Buxtehude ended, the audience did not clap.

This is evidence to the distant nature of organ playing from the audience’s general taste. However, afterwards, the audience delved more and more in the enchanting compositions and applauded Mr. Karas’s effort. Although he played musical pieces of

great and famous conductors such as Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, Mr. Karas’s own dynamic compositions and improvisation were the most appreciated and applauded.

At the end of the recital, the talented organist incorporated our national anthem to his improvisation as homage to the Lebanese Flag Day. Other than the Lebanese national anthem, Mr. Karas expressed his love for the

classic Arab folklore music especially oud and nai. He actually studied this type of oriental music and finds it fascinating. When asked why he chose the organ, Mr. Karas replied that he once heard a lady playing the organ and was immediately enthused to learn it. He requested that she teach him and so she did.

Later, he found out that she was a really famous musician.

Dec 9, 2010

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Outlook

Art & Culture “Ta3a Ne7ke” with Ibsar

Western or alternative medicine?

Mohamad Medawar Webmaster

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n Monday, November 29, the second debate in the “Ta3a Ne7ke” series, entitled, “The Art of Healing; Western or Alternative Medicine?” was held in West Hall, Auditorium B for about two hours of nonstop debating. As the title suggests, it tackled the differences between Western traditional Medicine as well as Complementary Alternative Medicine(CAM), and clearly set forward the efforts to create a hybrid mixture of both; integrated Medicine.

The Moderator, Dr. Hala Mohtaseb started the event by welcoming the audience and introducing the panelists which were Mrs. Farida Khizam, an advocate of integrated medicine, and a “Reiki Master”—a form of CAM— and a licensed pharmacist.

Second, Dr. Fuad N. Ziyadeh,

Chairman and Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, was introduced as an advocate of traditional Medicine.

Similarly, Dr. Jamal Hoballah, Chairman and Professor in the Department of Surgery, an AUB Graduate, and a book author in the field of Vascular Surgery was also added to the team of Traditional Medicine supporters.

Last but not least, Dr. Edmond Ibrahim, a specialist in Chinese Herbal Medicine, joined sides with Mrs. Khizam to defend CAM. Before the actual debating started, a ‘show of hands’ voting, requested by the moderator, showed that at least 50% of the audience agree that Integrated Medicine is the best medicine to practice. The moderator also explained that the challenge of the debate was to decide when one form of medicine should be used and when to use the other.

As the panelists pushed back

and forth on the validity and efficacy of both types of practices, it became clear that traditional medicine’s potency lies in the fact that it is based on research, evidence, and clinical trials, which gives it validity and efficacy.

However, its principal failure was expressed by many of the spectators as that it doesn’t address the patient as a human being, but as yet another case to solve; i.e they are curing the organs and not the human as a whole, which seems to be the stronghold of CAM, basing their entire argument on and which they termed, the “holistic treatment.”

The audience, on the other hand, raised questions of great value such as “to what extent can CAM be standardized?” which Dr. Hoballah responded to as “hard” and that we are “far from achieving that” whereas Mrs. Khizam claimed that “before regulation and standardization,

we need acknowledgment” from the medical society.

Moreover, many listeners expressed their disappointment and awful experiences with western, scientific medicine due to many failures either from harmful medications or wasteful medical practices.

Mrs. Khizam’s conclusion urged doctors to treat the whole person emotionally, physically, and mentally. Whereas, Dr. Ziyadeh claimed that “there’s no such thing as CAM, there’s only medicine that works, and medicine that doesn’t work.”

Efficacy of CAM has not been proven, yet, it has even been disproven in certain cases.

He also added that we need to protect the vulnerable population that is unaware of the dangers of receiving CAM, and force media regulation on such products. He concluded by congratulating Ibsar on their efforts to apply scientific methods in bo-

tanical studies to provide evidence for efficacy of herbal medicine.

Dr. Ibrahim concluded his argument by urging the audience to find real doctors, not a fraud pretending to be one. Moreover, there’s a lot of evidence and proof for the efficacy of alternative Chinese medicine in particular, one just has to look for it, and it doesn’t have to be FDA approved. “FDA is not the ultimate source for medicine” as Dr. Ibrahim claimed.

Dr. Hoballah commented on the safety and effectiveness of CAM by quoting the NCCAM website.” Rigorous, well-designed clinical trials for many CAM therapies are often lacking; therefore, the safety and effectiveness of many CAM therapies are uncertain.” He concluded, “I am not against the concept of CAM, but against fraud.”

Jorge Guillermo sings with Argentinean orchestra Yumna Ghandour Staff Writer

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little bit of Argentina was expressed at Assembly Hall on Thursday, December 2, 2010. An Argentinean Orchestra composed of bandoneon, piano, and guitar players as well as two tango dancers, performed with the well-known singer, Jorge Guillermo. The event was named “La nuit de Buenos Aires de Gardel a Piazzolla, et apres…”

The performance commenced with a speech by the Argentinean ambassador in Lebanon. He seemed very proud to have the tango orchestra here in Beirut.

“For us the tango is one of the best expressions of our country,” he stated. The orchestra was then introduced and the show begun.

A bandoneon player, Hebert

Orlando Trujillo, appeared first on stage and seated himself in the center of the stage.

The show started with an exuberant bandoneon solo, an instrument similar to the accordion but very particular to Argentinean tango. It definitely set the mood for a certain sort of music not common in Lebanon. The piano player, Pablo Emiliano Bacchi, joined the bandoneon with the second song.

By then, a young man had grabbed a woman from the audience and walked her up to the stage.

They danced the tango for the third song, moving ever so swiftly around the stage as they followed the rhythm of the music. Their legs tangled with crucial precision.

When it was over, the crowd applauded as finally, Jorge Guillermo walked onto the stage.

(Photo by Samer Abou Jaoudeh)

“Marhaba….3a rasi!” is all that he said as he made his appearance.

It quickly became apparent that Jorge Guillermo is a man with wondrous vocal chords. As he started to sing, his voice resonated so powerfully and encompassed the entire hall with its range. He used his singing in a very dynamic manner, moving from low, high, soft , strong tones to humorous expressions and melancholy whispers.

The orchestra continued to

play as the tango dancers came out again. Guillermo grabbed his guitar and joined the music with utmost enthusiasm. Eleven songs were played in all and some were performed in honor of mainly three artists, those artists being Carlos Gardel, an Argentinean tango singer/ actor, Homero Manzi, a tango lyricist and Astor Piazolla. Astor Piazolla, a deceased Argentinean composer and musician, is a crucial figure for composing music for Ar-

gentinean tango and mastering the bandoneon. Hence, the name of the event was in dedication to both Piazolla and Gardel.

Jorge Guillermo has had a long career in music since he started performing in 1975.

He is a founding member of the “Fondation Culturelle Carlos Gardel.” He has toured with the Argentinean Orchestra in many countries around the world expressing the soul of Argentinean tango.

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Art & Culture

Dec 9, 2010

Caribou Coffee opening

Mohammad Yaghi Staff Writer

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fter warding off hefty challenges from other competitors, Caribou Coffee, an American Coffee establishment, opened its doors on Tuesday, November 9, to all AUB students and staff. Caribou Coffee in AUB is located on the left wing of the cafeteria and has a sizable lounge where students can study, mingle, drink and eat.

Manager Nabil Hajj hopes to, “[do] everything for the students with high quality, while being healthy. At the same time, [he hopes to] provide a great studying environment.” Caribou Coffee offers a great variety of blends, originating from Kenya and Guatemala, but most of its blends come directly from the United States. Hajj also added that Caribou Coffee is a part of the organization Rainforest Alliance that assists, and equitably pays, coffee farmers. The Rainforest Alliance also helps many farmers give their children an education through spon-

soring students and paying their tuitions.

The general reception of the new coffee shop has been positive, with Mario Yachoub saying, “It’s good and it’s pretty creative with the design of the drinks served. For instance, I had a sneaker design at the top of my drink.”

Also, many students have made the coffee shop their new hangout spot. Tania Rayes states, “I love the colors of the place; it makes it really cozy. It’s also so much fun just to hang out here and the staff here is really friendly.”

Although many students and staff members have welcomed Caribou Coffee, there have also been many complaints from the student body. Such complaints revolve around the physical aspect of the place. “It looks disgusting,” says Ghanem Rafeh, who found Caribou Coffee below par in comparison to other coffee shops in Beirut, while Dana Dabbous found that the best cof-

fee in the AUB vicinity is at the small shop next to the Medical Gate, “It’s cheaper, has history, and it’s yummy.

Carribou Coffee is just another coffee shop that has no connection to the community and I could never see myself hanging there.” Some other students feel that Caribou Coffee does not fairly

pay its employees and farmers. Lama Nassif says, “I’m against coffee distributors that underpay their staff and farmers.” In addition, there is also a number of students who simply “don’t like coffee,” as stated by Alex Ghali. The biggest objection, though, has been that most beverages and other items served

are too expensive, with many students feel that the supposedly lower rent should be translated into cheaper coffee for students.

In a poll conducted of fifty AUB students, students were asked if the prices at Caribou Coffee were extremely generous, agreeable or overly priced for students.

AUB grabs first and second place photography awards Anis Kadado Staff Writer

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n Tuesday, November 16, AUB students once again proved to excel and boast their talents, not in science, sports, or academics, but in photography. The first day of the Adha vacation was the date for UNESCO’s art exhibition, hosting Lebanese artists from all over the country. Culture minister Tarek Mitri was among the notable attendees.

Rectroverso library hosted the event, including books published by the artists portraying their beautiful paintings for spectators to take pleasure in. Among this art

exhibition, photographers from all over Lebanon were invited to put their photography skills to the test, with a winning prize to the best three pictures taken. Among the three winning photographers were Mohamad Al Medawar, Outlook’s very own webmaster, and AUB’s photography club president, Sahar El Choufi. Mohamad won a prize of two-hundred dollars, coming in at second place, and Sahar came in at third. Second for Mohamad and third for Sahar are great not only in the ranks, but also by the state and condition they were in during the competition. When asked about his satisfaction with the result turn-outs, Moham-

ad claimed, “My camera is a semi-professional one. Hundreds of other ‘super-cool’, high-tech ones were in use, giving the others a great advantage over me; that’s why I’m very happy with what I won.” The picture that made him a winner was a unique one that no other person had taken; one where Minister Tarek Mitri was signing the guestbook with the organizers of the event standing behind him in the background, with smiles all over their faces. Sahar, for her part, had a more shocking story to tell.

“I went unprepared with a camera low on battery, that’s what happens when you share your camera,” she stated. The photograph that gave

(Photo by Rami Diab)

her a place in the top three was a picture taken as a painter was signing his own book that displays his art work. The best three pictures taken are to be published in a book that is to be released

by the library that hosted the competition. Eventually, the photographers went home with interesting stories in mind, great paintings seen, and a definitely unforgettable picture to keep for life.

Dec 9, 2010

Outlook

out loud

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This week’s “Out Loud” is brought to you by Outlook Staff Writers Edrees El Rashidi, Samer Bu Jawdeh, Emile Zankoul, and Wael Salem, giving you the opportunity to convey your opinions on AUB-related issues. Want to be heard? Find the Outlook team on campus, give them your thoughts and your picture and feedback just might be incorporated into Outlook’s next issue.

What do you ask of the USFC this year?

“Improve and renovate buildings, ban smoking all over campus, prevent littering …and spread love not AIDS” (Team Red Cross).

“No exams at 7 pm, apply insecticides, provide more lockers and fire most of the cats”(Nour Al Ajouz and Sara Atieh).

“We want a parking, lower tuition and lounges that can be accessed 24/7.

Also, USFC and SRC should not be politicized” (Ibrahim Daghman-3rd year CCE , Mahmoud Elsoukie-3rd year ECE, Olfat khaled-2nd year Business, and Rawan Ghazawi-3rd year Business).

“Continue what the USFC and SRC started last year in addition to new things” (Jade Dimien, Civil Engineer 2nd year).

“Provide a new parking, and if it is far away then transport should be provided” Camille Salem, Civil Engineer 2nd year).

“Provide better life conditions because we spend more time at AUB then our homes. For instance, improve the lounges, have more printing quota and ACs, and less construction noise” (Omar Al Barmakie, 3rd year Civil).

“We need a larger parking lot that accomodates us, a legitimate place to pray in, more readily-available printers, and finally enabling iPhone applications to have proper access to AUBnet”(Ayman El Ghalayini, Computer Science Junior).

(All pictures by Edrees El Rashidi, Samer Bu Jawdeh, Emile Zankoul and Wael Salem)

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Spotlight

Red Cross and Ayadina sell waffles on campus for a good cause (Photo by Nadi Nassar)

President Dorman confronts students on AUB’s Founders Day 2010-11 (Photo by Nadi Nassar)

Nominees and professors counting the SRC ballots (Photo by Salim Batlouni)

Dec 9, 2010

President Dorman speaks on tobacco control (Photo by Ahmad Itani - Office of Commnications)

AUB Red Cross spread free hugs not AIDS (Photo by Dima Hajj)

Lebanon’s first blogging convention (Photo by Dima Hajj)

Dec 9, 2010

Outlook

15

sports

AUB’s smashing soccer victory against LAU-Beirut Anis Kadado Staff Writer

I

n the game of soccer, there are teams that expect to win, and there are teams that expect to lose; but losing by a difference of five goals having scored none, is something no team ever wants to experience. On Saturday, November 27, in a soccer game held at Charles Hostler Students Center’s Green Field, the Lebanese American University-Beirut (LAU) lost against the American University of Beirut (AUB) with a score of five goals to nothing. Part of a soccer league consisting of a number of different Lebanese universities, including AUB, LAU-Beirut, LAU-Jbeil, the University of

Balamand (UOB), Universite Saint Joseph (USJ), the American University of Science and Technology (AUST) and the Beirut Arab University (BAU), this game proved that AUB is definitely a formidable opponent, sending a clear message to all the teams taking part.

The game started off with an exciting vibe, seeing the first half mostly in LAU’s half of the field, giving AUB a good possession of the ball and many chances at the goal.

Both coaches at the sidelines showed interest in winning the game, shouting out orders every now and then, screaming at players from time to

time, and giving motivation and enthusiasm at other times. The benches were filled with family and friends, and the sun shone high in the sky giving the game a perfect setting for a perfect competition. The opening goal was with Ibrahim Muslimani’s penalty kick, given after an LAU defender blocked the ball with his hand throwing him off the pitch with a red card. Red-hot AUB players played with style and skill, giving them the lead at the end of the first half with a leading score of two goals to nothing, both scored by Muslimani. The LAU players entered the second half with

the hope of a great comeback and a possible victory, till that hope was shattered

by Farouk Al Khatib’s goal, increasing the gap to three goals to nothing for AUB. Great team-work was seen by the AUB players, as was witnessed with Angelo Khalaf’s fast sprint only to intercept a great pass from the sideline by Rida Jammal, giving the AUB team its fourth goal.

Ahmad Hammoud’s powerful shot shook the net with a beautiful goal from outside the penalty box to eliminate any hope that was left for the LAU team.

The game ended with a smile on the AUB players’

faces, some having expected a win, but not with such a great goal difference. Angelo Khalaf at the end of the game stated, “It’s great having scored in this game, and it wasn’t a game where we showed our individual skills only, we played as a team and it paid off at the end.”

Eventually, the game ended with a smashing victory for AUB, sending the LAU team back home to receive a definitely harsh speech by their coach, and many more hours of hard-core practice.

AUB rugby team successful yet again Rami Panayoti Staff Writer

T

he AUB and USJ Rugby teams faced each other on Friday, December 4, 2010 at AUB’s Green Field creating an extreme and powerful aura throughout the game, which ended with AUB beating USJ with a final score of 10-8.

Every Friday night the Rugby teams dominate the Green Field with games, and this Friday was no better. It all started with a massive chant being heard throughout the Charles Hostler Student Center (CHSC) as the AUB players headed towards the field. Each rugby team consists of 13 players, with a play-time of 80 minutes and a 15-minute break.

It was obvious from the start that the game was highly enthusiastic, whether from the rather huge number of audience present, or from the way each player was training. After a bit of lag time with both teams fiercely attacking each other back and forth, AUB scored the first 4 point by

Player Hussein Omais, giving them a 4-0 lead. Within only a short span of time, the AUB team scored again with a kick gaining them yet another 2 points. The tide of the game quickly turned as the “Saints” of USJ scored two tries, each try giving them 4 points. The game was concluded, however, when Player Tawil of the AUB Rugby Team scored a final try making the final score 10 points to AUB and 8 points to USJ. The team was able to hold on to that score until the end of the game, when the final whistle was blown.

The sportsmanship present, even with all the attacks each member was facing during the game, was highly palpable when both teams shook each other’s hands at the end of the game. Though opponents during the game, both team-members showed a mutual respect, with only 1 idea in mind; Let the games roll!

(Photo by Ahmad Itani - office of Communication)

‫‪Outlook‬‬

‫‪Dec 9, 2010‬‬

‫‪16‬‬

‫‪arabic entertainment‬‬ ‫كاتب من هذا الزمان ‪ :‬واسني األعرج‬

‫نهاد غازي عواد‬ ‫مساهمة صحفية‬

‫منفلت صاد ٌم‬ ‫حالم‬ ‫رومانسي‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫ٌّ‬ ‫وروائي ميزج واقعه باألبطال‬ ‫ٌّ‬ ‫وجدية لينال إعجاب‬ ‫بسخر ّية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الكثير من الق ّراء والن ّ​ّقاد‪“ .‬مرمي”‬ ‫تظهر في اغلب مؤلفاته‪ .‬م ّر ًة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فتتنقل بني‬ ‫متوت وأخرى حتيا‪،‬‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫“جسد احلرائق”‏‏‪ ،1978‬و”طوق‬ ‫الياسمني” ‪ ،1982‬و”نوار اللوز”‬ ‫‪ ،1983‬و”الليلة السابعة‬ ‫بعد األلف” ‪ ،1993‬‏و”سيدة‬ ‫و”حارسة‬ ‫املقام”‪1995،‬‬ ‫الظالل” ‪ ،1996‬و”شرفات‬ ‫بحر الشمال” ‪،2001‬وغيرها‬ ‫من املؤلفات باللغة العرب ّية‬ ‫والفرنس ّية‪ .‬حصل واسني‬ ‫األعرج على عدة جوائز أدبية‬ ‫منها‪ :‬جائزة الشيخ زايد لألداب‬ ‫عن‏روايته “األمير” سنة ‪،2007‬‬

‫وجائزة قطر العاملية للرواية‬ ‫‪ ، 2005‬و اجلائزة التقديرية من‬ ‫رئيس‏اجلمهورية اجلزائرية سنة‬ ‫‪ .1989‬رواياته ترتكز على ‪3‬‬ ‫أبعاد‪ :‬البعد اإلنساني والزخم‬ ‫السرد‪.‬‬ ‫التاريخي وحميم ّية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫احلب والكتابة‬ ‫فهو يربط بني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حي‬ ‫رافد‬ ‫منهما‬ ‫ويعتبر ان كل‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لآلخر قيكتب بلغة تختزل‬ ‫معاني الصوف ّية والقدس ّية‬ ‫والد ّقة وال ّر ّقة والبراءة‬ ‫واألناقة ّ‬ ‫واجلمال والعذوبة املوسيق ّية‪.‬‬ ‫استسقى كلماته من رحلته‬ ‫الطويلة من اجلزائر الى ّ‬ ‫الشام‬ ‫ثم اجلزائر وفرنسا‪ .‬رحلة البحث‬ ‫عن احلقيقة و الوقوف عند‬ ‫حدود القضايا الشائكة الكبرى‬ ‫كفلسطني” احملرقة الصامتة‬ ‫على حد تعبيره” التي ظهرت‬ ‫في رواية “سوناتا ألشباح‬ ‫القدس” وطرحها عامليا من‬

‫وجهة نظر فلسفية تعتبر بناء‬ ‫اإلنسان يجب ان يكون بع ًيداعن‬ ‫اإلدعاءات والنّرجسية الذاتية‪،‬‬ ‫السببان الرئيسيان اللذان س ّببا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فشل كثير من األفراد واجملتمعات‬ ‫فالعرب بحاجة الى استخالص‬ ‫العبر وتخطي هواجسهم‬ ‫ومللمة ّ‬ ‫الشمل‪ .‬يستند األعرج‬ ‫الى التاريخ في فكره وثقافته‬ ‫وكتاباته فيأخذه كمسار في‬ ‫روايته التي تكشف النقاب عن‬ ‫انسان عاشق للمرأة وللوطن‬ ‫وللعروبة وأيضا لكرة القدم‪،‬‬ ‫حيث جتاهل نصائح اطبائه‬ ‫بالراحة بعد نكسته الصحية‪،‬‬ ‫وقام بحضور املباراة األخيرة‬ ‫ملنتخب بالده ضد انكلترا قائال‬ ‫“ يلعن أبو األطباء”‪ .‬أسأل اهلل‬ ‫ان تبقى نبضات قلب واسني‬ ‫منتظمة حتى ال يقع حتت رحمة‬ ‫األطباء وأباءهم‪.‬‬ ‫واسني األعرج (‪)Djazairess.com‬‬

‫ملاذا سمي لبنان بهذا اإلسم؟‬ ‫سارة الديراني‬ ‫كاتبة صحفية‬

‫لبنان ٌ‬ ‫لفظ مستم ٌد من اللغات‬ ‫السامية القدمية ‪ ،‬وجذر هذه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الكلمة هو “ل ب ن”‪ .‬اختلف‬ ‫املؤ ّرخون في أصل ومعنى هذه‬ ‫التّسمية‪ .‬فالبعض منهم‬ ‫ع ّلل تسميته على هذا النحو‪:‬‬ ‫السامي للكلمة هو “ل‬ ‫اجلذر ّ‬ ‫ب ن” والذي يعني “األبيض”‬ ‫وهذا عائد إلى بياض ثلوجه‬ ‫التي تكسو قممه في أكثر‬ ‫الصخور‬ ‫السنة ولتو ُّفر ّ‬ ‫فصول ّ‬ ‫الكلس ّية البيضاء فيه بكثرة‪.‬‬ ‫ومنذ العصور القدمية كان‬ ‫اإلسم “لبنان” يستعمل‬ ‫للداللة على الكتلة اجلبلية‬ ‫املمتدة من النهر الكبير في‬ ‫شمال جبال لبنان‪ ،‬حتى تخوم‬ ‫أرض فلسطني في اجلنوب‪.‬‬ ‫هذه الكتلة اجلبلية تتألف‬ ‫من سلسلتني‪ :‬السلسلة‬ ‫الشرقية والسلسلة الغربية‬

‫‪ .‬أما التعليل اآلخر فهو وجود‬ ‫البخور في لبنان ‪ :‬فاللبان‬ ‫شجر ّ‬ ‫يعني “البخور” بالعربية وهي‬ ‫مادة لزجة تستخرج من شجر‬ ‫“اللبنى” ‪.‬وبحسب أقوال‬ ‫املؤ ّرخني فان هذه ّ‬ ‫الشجرة كانت‬ ‫موجودة بكثرة في لبنان وكان‬ ‫االغريق يستوردونها للتبخير‬ ‫ولإلستفادة من منافعها‬ ‫الطبية‪.‬أما التعليل األخير لهذه‬ ‫التّسمية فهو أن السريانيون قد‬ ‫أطلقوا اإلسم على هذه البالد ‪،‬‬ ‫وهذا اإلسم ناجت عن مصطلح‬ ‫سرياني أال وهو “لب أنان” يعني‬ ‫قلب اهلل وقد أطلقوا هذه‬ ‫التّسمية على البالد ألنهم‬ ‫كانوا يعتقدون أنها األرض‬ ‫احملببة إلله احلياة ‪ ،‬ولتمتعه‬ ‫أي‬ ‫مبزايا‬ ‫خاصة غير متو ّفرة في ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫مناطقة من مناطق العالم ‪.‬‬ ‫(سارة الديراني)‬

‫“عند احلب حياة يهون من أجلها املوت‪ ،‬وموت تباع من أجله‬ ‫احلياة”‬ ‫‪--‬عباس محمود العقاد‬

‫‪17‬‬

‫‪Outlook‬‬

‫‪arabic opinion‬‬

‫‪Dec 9, 2010‬‬

‫أن تكون حرا ً ‪ ..‬وحني تنتخب‬

‫مصطفى فضل اهلل‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫ح ٌر‬ ‫حرًا‪،‬‬

‫أنا‪ .‬فقد خلقني اهلل‬ ‫وتلك حر ّية ال تُسلَب‬

‫عامر الص ّريع‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫الهزَبر األسدي‬ ‫حدثنا ليث بن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫قال‪ :‬وأفقت من ُحلُ ِمي‪ ..‬رفعت‬

‫من إنسان ّيتنا ولو ُوضعنا في‬ ‫سابع ظلمة من سابع أرض في‬ ‫ألف قي ٍد محتكم‪ .‬ولكن‪ ،‬هي‬ ‫حر ّية نحن منلكها‪ ،‬وبهذا‪ ،‬نحن‬ ‫نحفظها فهي بيدنا‪ ،‬وبيدنا‬ ‫نسكبها! احلر ّية تعني أن متلك‬ ‫فكرًا جريئًا في مناقشة ما‬ ‫ُع ّلمت وحكي ًما لتنقد نفسك‪،‬‬ ‫جريئًا في أن حت ّرك فكرك في‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كل مجال تكون فيه‪ ،‬أن ت َسأل‬ ‫عن معاني األشياء وتعاريفها‪.‬‬ ‫أن تفكر أنت‪ ،‬ويكون لك فكرك‪،‬‬ ‫ال متض مع الناس ألنهم كذلك‬ ‫مضوا‪ ،‬إمض إن كنت تريد هذا‪.‬‬ ‫أن تكون حرا ً هي إرادة تشرق‬ ‫كما الشمس على اجلميع‪ ،‬فهي‬ ‫تعطي وال تقبل إعتراضات أهل‬ ‫الظالم عليها‪.‬‬ ‫وتأتي إنتخابات جامعتنا‪ ،‬هي‬

‫كما نحاول أن نكون‪ ،‬إنعكاس‬ ‫سياسي‬ ‫أبله ساذج لواقع‬ ‫ٍّ‬ ‫لبناني مريض‪ .‬يتتابع إستعبادنا‬ ‫ٍّ‬ ‫ُرسم أفكارنا بغير‬ ‫ونرضى أن ت َ‬ ‫هي”‪،‬‬ ‫أيدينا‪ .‬الـ “ليستا ّ‬ ‫زي ما ِّ‬ ‫القصة هي ذاتها‪ ،‬وسؤالك عن‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫السبب يستوجب وضعك في‬ ‫دائرة اخليانة وحتميلك مظالم‬ ‫املاضي واحلاضر! وسؤالك‬ ‫يستوجب ر ّد ّ‬ ‫بأحرق ما‬ ‫الطائِفة‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫متلك من كلمات‪ ،‬ور ّد ِحزبِك أو‬ ‫جماعتك بألذع ما يكون ال ّرد‪،‬‬ ‫ومن خلفهما تلك العصب ّية‬ ‫الصدق بني النفوس‬ ‫ا ّلتي تقتل ّ‬ ‫لتنتج مجلسا ً طلاّ بيًّا مفتّتاً‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لكل شيئ إال لطلاّ به‪.‬‬ ‫يعمل‬ ‫قتال وصراع على مجلس أقصى‬ ‫صالحياته أن يوصل “متنّيات‬ ‫الطالب” إلى مجلس إدارة‬

‫اجلامعة كأقصى ما ميكنه أن‬ ‫يفعل‪.‬‬ ‫بعنوان‬ ‫إنتخاب‬ ‫!‬ ‫حس ٌن‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫سياسي‬ ‫جامعي وباطن‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫متعصب‪ ،‬يحاولون أن‬ ‫طائفي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يفرضوه واقعا ً دميوقراطيا ً‪ .‬إذا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تخطينا هذا النقاش‪ ،‬ونظرنا‬ ‫إلى صالح ّيات هذا اجمللس ا ّلذي‬ ‫نتقاتل لكسب املقاعد فيه‪،‬‬ ‫يقدم‬ ‫ماذا ميكنه أن يفعل أو أن ّ‬ ‫األهم أن تناقش‬ ‫لطالبه ؟ أليس‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫صالح ّيات هذا اجمللس ّ‬ ‫الشكلي‬ ‫قبل أن ينتخب؟ صالحيات‬ ‫مفككة ومجلس ولد بجس ٍد‬ ‫مخ ّلع‪ ،‬واجلاني هو ذاك التخ ّلف‬ ‫السياس ّية‬ ‫في تطبيق العقل ّية ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫فلنفكر‪ ،‬ولو حلظ ًيا!‬ ‫العمياء‪.‬‬ ‫إكسبوا إنسان ّيتكم حني‬ ‫تنتخبون‪ ،‬وتلك ال تكسب إال‬

‫رأسي‪ ،‬وشربت كأسي‪ ،‬وأنا‬ ‫اتعوذ مما جال في نفسي‪ ،‬فلقد‬ ‫شهدت البالدَ البارحة‪ ،‬وفي‬ ‫حلقي غص ٌة جارحة‪ .‬حلمت‬ ‫بوطن جميل‪ ،‬خيره ليس بقليل‪،‬‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫عربي‬ ‫والناس فيه كالعليل‪،‬‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫مواطنه أصيل‪.‬‬ ‫وحلمت‪ ..‬وحلمت‪ ..‬حتى‬ ‫ضعت في ُحلُمي‪ ،‬حتى صارت‬ ‫القمم‪ ،‬وأمتنا‬ ‫بالدنا أعلى من‬ ‫خير من عصبة األمم ِ‪ِ .‬لكن أين‬ ‫املفر وأمتي الغج ُر‪ ،‬أين املفر‬ ‫زمن‬ ‫وقبيلتي النَّورُ‪ .‬احتفلنا منذ ٍ‬ ‫بارتقائنا من اجلاهلية‪ ،‬فارتقينا‬ ‫بعد ذلك إلى البربر ّية‪ ،‬فادعينا‬ ‫احلضارة بكل عنجه ّية‪ .‬ووسائل‬ ‫قدح وذ ٌم في‬ ‫اإلعالم خير شاه ٍد‪ٌ ،‬‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫وملوك وأئم ٌة‪،‬‬ ‫العالن ّية‪ .‬ساس ٌة‬ ‫احلمى‪،‬‬ ‫نشروا الفساد كما‬ ‫ّ‬

‫خي‬ ‫يقولون كنّا وكنّا‪ ،‬فانظر أ ُ َّ‬ ‫إالما وصلنا‪.‬‬ ‫احتفلنا منذ زمن بتطبيق‬ ‫الدميوقراط ّية‪ ،‬فيا عجبا ً أهذه‬ ‫احلر ّية؟ طبقنا حريتنا ووحدتنا‬ ‫الوطنية‪ ،‬فماذا كسبنا؟ أيأكل‬ ‫أطفالنا احملاكم الدولية؟ أم‬ ‫يتغدون بشهود ال ّزور وصحن‬ ‫امللوخ ّية؟ قل لي كيف ساندنا‬ ‫وجدران‬ ‫غ ّزة؟ مبزيد من اإلستنكار‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫عنصر ّية؟ نّ‬ ‫تفن ال ّزعماء بعزف‬ ‫الكالم‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫وزف التعازي ور ّد املالم‪،‬‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫هزيل سئم الكالم‪،‬‬ ‫وقومي‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫أصيل يأبى احلرام‪.‬‬ ‫وربعي‬ ‫نسينا شرف احلرب وشرف‬ ‫سقاية حياضنا بدمائنا‬ ‫الزك ّية‪ ،‬فصاحلنا العدى بكل‬ ‫أريح ّية‪ ،‬واكتفينا بتنديد أمريكا‬ ‫وشجبها من جامعتنا العرب ّية‪،‬‬

‫لنظهر أنّا بذلك قد دعمنا‬ ‫القضية‪ .‬هنيئًا لكم بنو وطني‪،‬‬ ‫هنيئًا لكم سادة زمني‪ ،‬فها‬ ‫امتدت‬ ‫قد وصلت دولتنا التي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يوما ً من الهند إلى األندلس إلى‬ ‫قعر الهاوية‪ .‬تكاثرت احلدود‪،‬‬ ‫و َع ُظ َم اجلمود‪ ،‬وإلنا إلى الركود‪،‬‬ ‫العرب‪ .‬بالد العرب‬ ‫في بلدة‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫وعربي الهوى‬ ‫أوطاني‪،‬‬ ‫لم تعد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ليس عنواني‪ .‬صار الرحيل لبالد‬ ‫الفرجنة‪ ،‬أسهل من زيارة أرض‬ ‫جيراني‪.‬‬ ‫تائها مشردًا‬ ‫العربي‬ ‫صار‬ ‫ً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫غري ًبا في أوطانه‪ ،‬ولم يعد‬ ‫يدري ما يصنع مباله‪ ،‬أخبزًا‬ ‫ليأكل؟ أم س ًما ليموت وينتحر‪.‬‬ ‫وحكامنا يحتفلون بتطبيق‬ ‫الدميوقراطية‪ .‬دُ ّمر العراق‪ ،‬ودُ ّمر‬ ‫اليمن‪ُ ،‬م ّزق السودان‪ ،‬و ُم ّزق‬

‫بالعقل‪ ،‬أعطه حر ّيته وهو‬ ‫سيغ ّير الواقع برغم اليأس‬ ‫املستشري‪ ،‬وهو فقط سيفرِق‬ ‫بني احلقّ و الباطل‪.‬هي الظروف‬ ‫اإلقتصادية املرهقة والواقع‬ ‫السياسي املزعج بعد اجلامعة‪،‬‬ ‫ستسألكم يوما ً ملا انتخبتم؟‬ ‫فاسألوا هذا السؤال ألنفسكم‬ ‫قبل أن يُسقطكم إمتحان لم‬ ‫جتهزوا له العدة‪ .‬أيها الطالب‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ك ّلنا متعبون من جنون واقعنا‪،‬‬ ‫فهل من عاقل ؟ نداء من طالب‬ ‫أبى أن يكون عبدا ً لسياسة‬ ‫حمقاء‪ ،‬فكيف أكون عبدا ً وقد‬ ‫خلقني اهلل حراً؟‬

‫املقامة العربية – اجلزء الثاني‬

‫لبنان‪ ،‬وفلسطني ذهبت من غير‬ ‫رجعة‪.‬‬ ‫عم اجلهل في وطني‪ ،‬وعم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الفقر في وطني‪ .‬وكاألنعام‬ ‫يساق البشر‪ ،‬كمثل البعير‬ ‫ومثل البقر‪ ،‬وشعبي حرا ٌم عليه‬ ‫رجال تروم البطر‪،‬‬ ‫النّظر‪ ،‬ألنصاف‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫السياط وقذف احلجر‪،‬‬ ‫بضرب ّ‬ ‫تصير أميرًا وفوق القدر‪ ،‬فكم‬ ‫من أمير متنى القمر‪ ،‬فينسى‬ ‫دِما ُه دِما ُء الغجر‪ ،‬فيعلوا ويغلوا‬ ‫الصور‪ ،‬وشعبه يقب ُع حتت‬ ‫بكل ّ‬ ‫اخلطر‪ ،‬آمله الفقر ودمع الكدر‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫جف وانحصر‪،‬‬ ‫ودمع العيون‬ ‫س وانتظر‪ ،‬فال‬ ‫بأمل‬ ‫ضئيل خَ رِّ َ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫من شفيع إذا ما انقهر‪ ،‬فإن طار‬ ‫ملك جاء األ َمر‪ ،‬وباض الدجاج‬ ‫بأعلى الشجر‪ ،‬فهذا زمان ال‬ ‫حيا َء به‪ ،‬وهذا زمان جنون البقر‪.‬‬

‫“لنحذر أن يكون شعورنا جتاه الناس شعور صاحب القلب‬ ‫الغليظ أو القلب القاسي‪ ،‬بل ليكن شعور القلب احلنون‪،‬‬ ‫الذي يقدر ظروفهم‪ ،‬ويقدر ظروف الضالل التي عاشوها‪،‬‬ ‫حتى نستطيع أن نقوم مبهمتنا‪”.‬‬

‫‪--‬السيد محمد حسني فضل اهلل‬

‫‪Dec 9, 2010‬‬

‫‪Outlook‬‬

‫‪arabic news‬‬

‫منع التدخني في‬ ‫األماكن العامة‬ ‫تتمة من ص‪1‬‬

‫قسم الباثولوجية في اجلامعة‪ ،‬فص ّرح‬ ‫قائالً‪ ،‬وبألم‪ ،‬أنه من احملزن واملؤسف أن‬ ‫يجد خالل متثيله لبنان في اجتماعات‬ ‫دولية‪ ،‬أ ّن لبنان‪ ،‬هو من البالد القليلة‬ ‫التي ال تتخذ إجراءت حلظر التدخني‬ ‫والتشديد على مضاره في االماكن‬ ‫العامة‪ .‬ومن املؤسف أيضاً‪ ،‬أن جند‬ ‫أكثر من ‪ ٣٥٠٠٠٠‬مواطنا ً لبنانيًّا‬ ‫ينتمي لفئة املدخنني‪ ،‬ونظرًا لعدد‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫سكانه‪ ،‬يشكل هذا العدد نسب ًة‬ ‫كبيرة وظاهر ًة خطيرة في حال عدم‬ ‫إتخاذ اجراءت مناسبة‪ .‬وما يزيد األمر‬ ‫سو ًءا هو إحتالل اإلعالنات املروجة‬ ‫للتدخني جميع الوسائل ‪ ،‬مرئية‬ ‫كانت أم مسموعة‪،‬وغياب العبارات‬ ‫التحذيرية عن هذه املنتجات‪.‬‬ ‫أما النائب عاطف مجدالني‪ ،‬فأكد أن‬ ‫الظروف التي أخرت هذا القانون هي‬ ‫وشدد على‬ ‫ظروف سياسية بحتة‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الدور الذي سيلعبه النواب لتحقيق‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫هذا القانون الذي يشكل حلما ً لكل‬ ‫مواطن حلم بوطن نظيف وصحة‬ ‫سليمة‪ .‬كما أكد على دور النائب‬ ‫سمير اجلسر في تشكيل جلنة فرعية‬ ‫ووضع الصياغة األساسية لهذا‬ ‫القانون مع مراجعة الثغرات‪ .‬أما‬ ‫القانون ‪ ،‬فسيكون صارماً‪ ،‬يشمل‬ ‫أماكن العمل و وسائل النقل العامة‬ ‫على انواعها‪ .‬وسيطبق القانون فورا‬ ‫تصديقه‪ ،‬مع إعطاء مهلة ‪ ٣‬إلى‬ ‫‪ ٦‬أشهر ملنع اإلعالنات الترويجية‪،‬‬ ‫وحظر بيع الدخان‪ ،‬في جميع األماكن‬ ‫ملن هم دون ال‪ ١٨-‬من العمر‪.‬وصرح‬ ‫النائب مجدالني قائالً ‪ “ :‬هذا القانون‬ ‫سينقل اجملتمع اللبناني من فوضى‬ ‫التدخني إلى اإللتزام بالقانون كباقي‬ ‫الدول املتقدمة‪ ،‬حفاظا ً على صحة‬

‫مواطنه”‪ .‬كما شكر اجلامعة‬ ‫األميركية على دعمها لهذا املوضوع‬ ‫مشددا ً على أهمية حتذير‬ ‫األساسي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الشباب عن مخاطر التدخني‪.‬‬ ‫وفي حديث للوزير خليفة‪ ،‬فقد ع ّبر‬ ‫عن شعوره باإلحراج عند متثيله لبنان‬ ‫دولياً‪ ،‬وإعترف بوجود تقصير‪ .‬لكنه‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أكد أن وزارة الصحة تقوم باإللتزامات‬ ‫الدولية‪ .‬وفي حال اعتبار البعض‬ ‫أن هذا القانون سينعكس سلبا ً‬ ‫على أصحاب املطاعم واملؤسسات‬ ‫السياحية‪ ،‬فإن جميع االحصاءات‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫شدد على‬ ‫أكدت عكس ذلك‪ .‬كما أنه ّ‬ ‫مضار التدخني وارتباطها املباشر‬ ‫بسرطان املبولة والرئة وهما بشكل‬ ‫أساسي األكثر إنتشارا ً في لبنان‪ ،‬من‬ ‫هنا تكمن أهمية هذا القانون للحد‬ ‫من األمراض السرطان ّية والقلب ّية‪.‬‬ ‫واختتمت السيدة رانيا بارود ممثل ًة‬ ‫جمعية “حياة حرة بال تدخني”‪،‬‬ ‫وقالت‪ “ :‬هيدا القانون عندو‬ ‫شعبية!” مقترح ًة عدة شروط منها‬ ‫حد التدخني بتاتا ً ومنع اإلعالنات‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫الترويجية والرعاية اإلعالنية وجعل‬ ‫‪ ٪ ٤٠‬من مساحة علبة التدخني‬ ‫صورة حية للمواطن تعبر عن حالة‬ ‫مرضية تعود اسبابها للتدخني‪،‬‬ ‫فيكون املواطن اللبناني على علم مبا‬ ‫يدخل أحشاءه‪.‬‬ ‫في اخلتام‪ ،‬أقام النواب بتوقيع العريضة‬ ‫التي تدعم هذا القانون ليؤكد على‬ ‫أهمية تطبيقه‪ ،‬ليبقى السؤال‪...‬‬ ‫متى سيصبح هذا القانون حقيقة‬ ‫لينعم املواطن اللبناني بصحة‬ ‫جيدة ‪ ،‬قبل أن تلتهم شبابه نيران‬ ‫السجائر؟ وإلى متى سيظل املواطن‬ ‫ضحية التقلبات السياسية في هذا‬ ‫البلد؟ عسى أن تكون هذه احملاضرة‪،‬‬ ‫إنطالقا ً من عتبة اجلامعة األميركية‬ ‫مفتاح حل لهذه املشكلة‪.‬‬

‫كأس العالم ‪ 2022‬في قطر‬ ‫و‪ 2018‬في روسيا‬

‫مصطفى فضل اهلل‬ ‫كاتب صحفي‬

‫منح االتحّ اد الدولي لكرة القدم‬ ‫(فيفا) يوم اخلميس املاضي‬ ‫حقّ استضافة نهائيات بطولة‬ ‫كأس العالم املقررة عام ‪2022‬‬ ‫إلى قطر بعد فوز ملفها بأعلى‬ ‫عدد من األصوات خالل عملية‬ ‫التصويت التي جرت يومها‬ ‫بني أعضاء اللجنة التنفيذية‬ ‫للفيفا‪.‬‬ ‫وتنافس امللف القطري على‬ ‫حق استضافة البطولة مع‬ ‫مقدمة‬ ‫أربعة ملفات أخرى‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫من الواليات املتحدة وأستراليا‬ ‫وكوريا اجلنوبية واليابان‪.‬‬ ‫وجرى التصويت بني ‪ 22‬عضوا‬ ‫باللجنة التنفيذية للفيفا‬ ‫بعد قرار جلنة القيم في الفيفا‬ ‫بإيقاف النيجيري آموس آدامو‬ ‫والتاهيتي عضوي اللجنة‬ ‫وتغرميهما وحرمانهما من‬ ‫املشاركة في عملية التصويت‬

‫بعد ما كشفته صحيفة‬ ‫“صنداي تاميز” البريطانية‬ ‫في تشرين أول‪/‬أكتوبر املاضي‬ ‫عن عرضهما صوتيهما للبيع‬ ‫لصالح ملف بعينه مقابل‬ ‫احلصول على مبالغ مالية‬ ‫بدعوى استغاللها في إقامة‬ ‫منشآت ومرافق رياضية في‬ ‫بلديهما‪ .‬وشهد اجتماع‬ ‫اللجنة التّنفيذية التصويت‬ ‫على حق استضافة كل من‬ ‫بطولتي كأس العالم ‪2018‬‬ ‫و‪. 2022‬وأسفرت اجلولة األولى‬ ‫من التصويت عن خروج امللف‬ ‫األسترالي الذي كان أحد أبرز‬ ‫املرشحني الستضافة البطولة‪.‬‬ ‫وتبعه امللف الكوري اجلنوبي في‬ ‫اجلولة الثانية من التصويت ثم‬ ‫امللف الياباني من اجلولة الثالثة‬ ‫للتصويت ليشتعل الصراع بني‬ ‫قطر والواليات املتحدة على حق‬

‫أربع نوادٍ حتتفل باألضحى هذا العام‬

‫منى أيوب‬ ‫مساهمة صحفية‬

‫عيد األضحى أم عيد‬ ‫التضحية؟ أهو عيد اخلروف‬ ‫أم عيد املعمول؟ إنّه ّ‬ ‫كل هذا‬ ‫وأكثر‪...‬‬ ‫إحتفاال بهذا العيد ‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫نظم‬ ‫“‪ ”Insight Club‬بالتعاون‬ ‫مع “النادي الثقافي اجلنوبي” و‬ ‫“النادي الثقافي السعودي”‬ ‫و “نادي الشباب” مجموعة‬ ‫نشاطات متنوعة ‪ .‬أ ّول هذه‬ ‫األنشطة كان توزيع معمول‬

‫‪18‬‬

‫العيد والهدايا التذكار ّية على‬ ‫طالب و أساتذة اجلامعة نهار‬ ‫اخلميس ‪2010 /11/11‬‬ ‫أمام مبنى الوست هول‪ .‬ميرنا‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املنظمات‪ ،‬ع ّلقت‬ ‫بدر‪ ،‬إحدى‬ ‫على النشاط فقالت‪ “ :‬كان‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بأقل من‬ ‫التجاوب رائ ًعا‪...‬‬ ‫ساعة‪ ،‬كانت جميع الهدايا قد‬ ‫ُو ّزعت ‪ ....‬أردنا أن نشارك جميع‬ ‫الطالب فرحتنا بهذا العيد”‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫كل سنة‪ ،‬و في العاشر من‬ ‫شهر ذي احلجة القمري‪،‬‬ ‫يحتفل املسلمون حول العالم‬ ‫بعيد األضحى املبارك ‪ .‬هذا‬ ‫لقصة النبي‬ ‫العيد هو إحياء‬ ‫ّ‬

‫إبراهيم الذي ذهب لذبح ابنه‬ ‫تنفي ًذا ألمر اهلل له‪ ،‬ففداه‬ ‫عوضا‬ ‫اهلل بكبش (خروف)‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عن ذبحه ولده هدية لقبوله‬ ‫هذه التضحية الصعبة‪.‬‬ ‫القصة‪ ،‬يستحضر‬ ‫ومن هذه‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املسلمون معاني التضحية‬ ‫والتعاون والتسامح واخلير و‬ ‫غيرها ‪ ...‬فيذبح العديد منهم‬ ‫اخلراف و يو ّزعون حلومها على‬ ‫الفقراء واحملتاجني‪ .‬كما أنّهم‬ ‫يشاركون في هذا اليوم فرحة‬ ‫احلج‬ ‫احلجاج بإمتامهم مراسم ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في ّ‬ ‫مكة املك ّرمة ‪.‬‬ ‫و بالتزامن مع النشاط األ ّول‪،‬‬

‫ّ‬ ‫أيضا ببيع‬ ‫املنظمون‬ ‫قام‬ ‫ً‬ ‫“الكنافة” جلمع التب ّرعات‬ ‫لصالح النشاطات اخليرية‪.‬‬ ‫“‪ ”Insight Club‬مثلاً‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫نظم مشروع “ كسوة اليتيم”‬ ‫حيث قام الطلاّ ب نهار اجلمعة‬ ‫بشراء “ ثياب العيد” من األموال‬ ‫اجملموعة‪ .‬عن هذا املشروع‪ ،‬قال‬ ‫أحد املشاركني ‪“ :‬إنه لشيء‬ ‫جميل أن ترسم البسمة على‬ ‫وجه طفل يتيم‪ ...‬هذه هي‬ ‫روح العيد احلقيقية”‪.‬‬ ‫و ختام النشاطات كان للمرح‪،‬‬ ‫للتسلية واملعلومات ‪ ،‬بحيث‬ ‫أُقيمت “ليلة تسالي” مميزة‬

‫االستضافة بوصولهما للجولة‬ ‫الرابعة األخيرة‬ ‫كما منح االحتاد الدولي لكرة‬ ‫القدم (فيفا) حقّ استضافة‬ ‫نهائيات بطولة كأس العالم‬ ‫املقررة عام ‪ 2018‬إلى روسيا‬ ‫بعد فوز امللف الروسي ‪.‬‬ ‫وامتد التصويت على استضافة‬ ‫البطولة لثالث جوالت بعدما‬ ‫فشل أي من امللفات املتنافسة‬ ‫في احلصول على أكثر من نصف‬ ‫عدد أصوات اللجنة التنفيذية‬ ‫عبر اجلولتني األولى والثانية‪.‬‬ ‫وتنافس امللف الروسي على حق‬ ‫استضافة البطولة مع ثالثة‬ ‫ملفات أخرى مقدمة من إجنلترا‬ ‫و(أسبانيا‪/‬البرتغال) و(هولندا‪/‬‬ ‫بلجيكا)‪.‬‬

‫نهار اخلميس الساعة اخلامسة‬ ‫مساء في الوست الهول‪.‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املنظمون تسليط الضوء‬ ‫أراد‬ ‫هذه السنة على أربع من قيم‬ ‫العيد ‪ :‬التضحية والعفو‬ ‫والعائلة واإلنفاق‪ .‬وهذا ما ع ّبرت‬ ‫عنه الرسومات على ملصقات‬ ‫العيد والشعارات املرافقة لها‪:‬‬ ‫أعط الفقراء‪ ...‬يوم العيد‬ ‫“‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وكل يوم” و “سامح ‪ ..‬يوم‬ ‫العيد و ّ‬ ‫كل يوم”وغيرها‪ ....‬‬ ‫“‪ ”Insight Club‬يتمنى‬ ‫مباركا‪ .‬و ُّ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫كل‬ ‫للجميع عي ًدا‬ ‫عام وأنتم بخير‪.‬‬ ‫ٍ‬

Dec 9, 2010

Outlook

entertainment

Movie Review “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” was released worldwide on Friday, November 19, but in Lebanon it was released one day earlier, to the delight of Lebanese Harry Potter fans.

It is the seventh of the eight movies of the Harry Potter series, based on the bestselling novels by J. K. Rowling. Originally, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was meant to be only one film, but due to the size of the book, it was split in two parts. The movie is directed by David Yates, who also directed two other Harry Potter movies: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” in 2007, and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” in 2009.

The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley, three 17 year old wizards who go on a journey to destroy the dark Lord Voldemort, who has split his soul in seven pieces called Horcruxes. On this journey, they discover three powerful tools: the Deathly Hallows.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The task the trio undertakes is a difficult one, mainly because they do not have a specific plan, and cannot receive any help since they are alone.

Soon tensions start building up between the three friends, and hope starts wearing off.

When writing a screenplay based on a novel, the issue of faithfulness to the book rises. Although Steve Kloves managed to respect and conserve the plot and the general atmosphere of J. K. Rowling’s novel, he also managed to alter, add and omit many details. The subtle romance in the book was transformed into cheesy and awkward scenes in the movie, like a dance scene between Harry and Hermione, and a romantic speech Ron makes to Hermione. In addition to that, there were a few funny jokes in the film that lifted the spirits of both characters and audience. There were also many scary scenes and action violence sequences that made the movie darker and more thrilling than the previous ones. The special effects and the image were excellent, es-

pecially during the duels and the shots of beautiful scenery. The music, composed by Alexandre Desplat, was not as epic as expected, the traditional Harry Potter theme music being completely absent. The acting of the trio improved over the years, but it still did not perfectly carry the emotions of the characters from the books. As for the older cast members (Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton), they were brilliant as usual.

Making 61 million dollars on its first day, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” had the fifth largest box office entrance ever.

With the seven books completed and the movies almost finished (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is expected to be released in July of 2011,) this movie marks the penultimate chapter of a long journey, which is sad for the generation who grew up with Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Sudoku

19

Rayane Zahreddine

20

Outlook

Dec 9, 2010

letter to the editor

International Volunteer Day

Patricia Nabti

This article was first published in Hibr issue of December 2010 (www.hibr.me) . Patricia Nabti is the Director of the Association for Volunteer Services (www.avs.org.lb) and the Coordinator of The Arab Initiative to Foster a Culture of Volunteering (www.arabvolunteer.org).

T

he fact is, no-one ever does anything for nothing. But the answer to “Why volunteer?” is very different for different people, in different stages of their lives, and in different personal circumstances – and in most cases they volunteer for multiple reasons, not just one. So let us focus on youth, the age group that Outlook targets.”

Are you studying to pass a test or get a degree? Volunteering to teach others is the best way to retain what you have learned. Are you more broadly interested in “learning” – which goes far beyond passing a test or getting a degree?

Volunteering provides endless opportunities to learn about people outside your own social circle (the elderly, the disabled, refugees, orphans, etc.) and different problems in your society (poverty, illiteracy, corruption, environmental degradation, etc.). In addition, getting out of your comfort zone lets you learn more about yourself (what you believe, what you like, and what really matters to you).

Are you confused about what you want to major in or what kind of job you want after you graduate? Volunteering is a great way to test out different possibilities. Find out what it is really like to work in the medical field by volunteering at a hospital; what it is like to teach, by tutoring someone or assisting a teacher. You will not only gain insights about the work, but you will also interact directly with people in your chosen profession who can answer your questions and give you advice.

Are you looking for work? Take a break from job hunting one or two days a week to volunteer in a related field.

Through volunteering you can develop new skills, get valuable experience, gain self-confidence, and have something worth talking about in future job interviews. And, if you are feeling that no-one gets a job without “wasta” then you should know that there are two types of wasta – unearned and earned. earned wasta is what you get by being the son or daughter of someone important. The earned wasta is what you get by impressing others with your ability, commitment, and work ethic.

Do you want to make new friends? What better way to find quality friends who are caring, interesting, and worth spending time with than through volunteering?

And volunteering can be a lot of fun.

More than all that… while you are gaining all those benefits, there is no feeling better than the joy of giving and the empowerment and satisfaction that come from knowing that something you have done, no matter how small, has made a positive impact on others, on your community, and on society as a whole.

Are you convinced to try? Here are some tips for choosing the right volunteer opportunity for you: 1) Do a personal assessment of your interests, your abilities, your personal objectives in volunteering, when you are available, and how far you can travel to volunteer.

2) Check out the opportunities available. A good source in Lebanon is www.lebanon-support.org, which has a great list of civil society organizations to check out. And in Jordan, see www.nakhweh.com.

3) Make the contact, express your interest in volunteering, send them your CV, and explore with them what opportunities they have that fit your personal assessment.

4) And when you do finally volunteer, show them that you are Capable, Available, Reliable, and Engaged – that you really care !

Cats at AUB

A

Kathryn Lincoln

s anyone who walks around AUB’s campus can attest, cats are a regular feature of AUB’s outdoor environment. While many find the array of cats a welcome sight at AUB, adding as it were a certain warm ambiance to campus life, others are wary of the creatures, some even considering them a menace. To accommodate both views concerning AUB’s cat population, and to honor AUB’s commitment toward the humane and ethical treatment of animals, the administration has been working diligently to establish sound cat management practices. First, the cat feeding stations have been relocated from the periphery of AUB’s campus to remote areas toward the interior of the campus to minimize contact between humans and cats, to stop the recruitment of non-AUB cats, and to eliminate the unpleasant sight of cat food in human traffic areas. Second, the administration is having covered “cat cafés” constructed and placed at the feeding stations to consolidate cats at feeding time and to reduce loss of cat food due to inclement weather. Finally, in collaboration with AUB’s Animal Welfare Club (AWC), the university has established a spaying and neutering practice in order to prevent an increase in the cat population on campus.

While AUB remains committed toward caring for AUB’s cats as a matter of principle and tradition, the university also recognizes that some cats might carry health risks for humans and can have a negative environmental impact. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that AUB’s cats are feral (that is, semi-wild) and are not pets.

Therefore, to further minimize human-cat contact on campus, administration is implementing a strict policy against the feeding of feral cats by anyone other than the authorized AUB cat feeders. In addition, the depositing of raw meats on campus for the purpose of feeding feral cats is prohibited. Signs will be posted throughout the campus as a reminder of this policy.

Cats are a part of AUB – a welcome sight for some, an unsettling prospect for others. However you feel about cats, if you are interested in learning how and why we should care about animals and animal welfare, please consider joining the Animal Welfare Club (AWC), founded in 2001 as a student club. The main goals of the club are to care for cats on campus (feeding, monitoring, treating sick animals, fostering motherless kittens), to control the cat population of AUB through humane methods such as spaying and neutering, and to educate people about how to care for cats. A website for the club will soon be underway. In the meantime, if you care to join the AWC, please contact Dr. Rosemarie Jaouhari at rr15@aub.edu.lb, and you will receive more information about the club and how you can get involved.

Dec 9, 2010

21

Outlook

opinion Be blackberry or be banished

Lama T. Zakharia Staff Writer

N

owadays, Blackberry users are starting to develop special physical powers like no

other. Thumb muscles and joints are growing increasingly tough as fingers stab sharply, as well as precisely, onto minute keyboards. This activity ultimately leads to the enhancement of fine motor skills and coordination.

Additionally, it seems that expert users can walk for miles at length without feeling the need to look up and yet still manage not to bump into anyone or get hit by a car (God forbid). Let us not forget the much sought-after talent of typing in class as you pretend to pay attention but, in reality, you have your hands under the table sending sweet messages to your lover. We’ve all been there,

including me.

I will be exhibiting pure hypocrisy if I tell you that I’m not one of those addicted users. I wouldn’t know so much of the cons if I wasn’t part of this fiasco. In fact, I am one of those people who (sometimes) finds it hard to engage in the minimal amount of eye contact required to carry out a decent conversation with a friend. At times, no matter what the person in front of me says or does, I cannot help but remain mesmerized (with my eyes glued to the screen) by this special alluring machine nicknamed as Blackberry. What is so special about it, after all?

Up until now, I have had

discussions with dozens of non-Blackberry users (most of whom were iPhone users) trying to defensively explain the secret to why I worship this machine. Tirelessly, I have tried to convince them that the Lebanese telephone and communication services make it relatively financially impossible to communicate freely with those around you without getting a heart attack as soon as you see your bill come out. It is either that someone finds a solution to this mobile business madness or we will remain machine zombies with our necks bent down for as long as we live.

To all of you Blackberry us-

ers, addicts, and soon-to-be addicts out there, hear me out. It is true that this wonderful piece of technology allows you to send funny, dirty, and reminiscent pictures to one another all the time, but it will limit you socially in many ways. You will miss out on real life events if you replace them with a few meaningless conversations and chit chats. In other words, this tool can be a wonderful communication-facilitating instrument, or it can transform into a mobile-shaped devil waiting to distract you from what really matters in life. It’s all in your hands.

Surviving dreaded interview processes

Lara Traboulsi Staff Writer

I

n a previous article I quoted my strategic management professor Dr. Philippe Zougheib saying

“we are being packaged for export.” As more and more of my friends are taking up jobs abroad, I can’t help but stand behind these words. Graduating from university has been somewhat of a dreaded ordeal as fresh graduates suffer through interviews and hiring processes that last months and don’t end up paying. Friends that have graduated last year are still in the market looking for jobs.

Frustrated from the lack of available jobs in Lebanon, they have turned to the foreign market to find jobs that pay better and offer more security. I am writing this now, since now is about the time seniors like me start apply-

ing for jobs. After you polish off your CV, write up your cover letter, cross your fingers and send it out, you are faced with months of waiting.

One thing that many of my friends and veterans of a myriad of interview processes have realized is that grades are not a primary concern for many companies. Of course there are some companies that only hire the cream of the crop and have an eye set on how high your GPA is.

However, what seems to matter more to some international as well as local companies is how involved you were during the past few years. They realize that as graduates we

might not have enough work experience to brag about. But what they do expect of potential hires is an involvement in campus life. Whether you were part of the Red Cross or a member in the basketball team is something that companies value. Being part of a team, however big or small, shows them that you are able and willing to work in teams and deliver a product that you can be proud of. They are always impressed when you take the initiative to be a part of something bigger.

How you decide to achieve that is up to you. So I urge you to start from now. Find something that you are passionate about, immerse your-

self and become a part of it.

It doesn’t matter what it is, and it doesn’t matter how relevant it is to your field. Anything that you give your time to will prove beneficial to you in the long run.

A final note that I would like to share came from a Mckinsey consultant, Rachid Maalouli, who was coaching me through an interview process. He told me don’t ever think that the interviewer is better than you. He or she might be more experienced than you but somewhere along the line they started out in your place. Be confidant in your potential, believe in your capabilities, and you will get the job you want.

“Life is an adventure, and if you are not prepared to take risks you ought to get into your grave as quick as you can” --St. John Irvine

22

Outlook

editorial & opinion Reading

Give and let give

Rami Diab Editor-in-Chief

A

Dec 9, 2010

word on our elections period, both the SRC and USFC elections that is; all is well that ends well but this is just the beginning. With well over a semester’s grace period, we have all the time we need to shuttle our university to unexplored heights. To give, grant and provide for AUB and its community as it has done for us.

And in giving, let us remember that to give of ourselves is joy greater than molting off our possessions. True, being at the heart of a blood drive is no nobler than organizing a donation campaign for the needy, but who can argue that giving blood doesn’t provide a more powerful realization of our self-worth than donating a stuffed animal? And what are our possessions anyhow but items swaying to and fro from generation to generation long after their possessors have reached their deathly abode?

What we claim as ours may be ours for now, but not for long, surely not for long. When our possessions fail to resurrect our names from the past, the times we spent selflessly immersed in giving surely will not. What is to be remembered? The speeches we give during Speaker’s Corner or the worn out English books we disown at a CCECS book drive? The warm Christmas carol we sing to a bunch of cancer-stricken kids at St. Jude’s Hospital or the one too many candy canes we decided we could get rid of by

giving it to our neighbour(s)?

And remember the best gift is the one that goes unknown by its recipient. If we are reduced to a society that serves to give only so long as it receives, then we rob ourselves of the joy of giving and a society that knows not the joy of giving is at a loss of knowing the joy of receipt.

I look forward to a day when we students begin arguing over what we will give rather than what we shall receive. As true comrades of this university we are to be givers first and to be givers last. We are expected never to cease giving of our charisma and energy to this great institution for as long as we remain a part of it and long after. Let us set our eyes on the path of giving to find ourselves effortlessly receiving every fresh breath of life. Soon enough, we will have to live to see the fruits of our labours. Fruits that grew from the once tiny seedlings of hope we first planted in the soils of this beloved university.

not just for Lit Majors

Heather Jaber News Eexecutive

I

t’s always the same reaction. A friend walks into my house for the first time, glances around with a surprised look on his/her face, and asks, “Why do you have so many books?” I never thought twice about the hundreds of books my family and I have on the shelves at home; I grew up on books.

My mother can read a book a day, a book of any genre or length. Coming to Lebanon, though, I soon realized reading for pleasure was some-

thing of an oddity. Why read if it’s not assigned work?

My mom, for example, was sitting in a waiting room one day, reading a book, when a man seated across from her said, “Well, you’re obviously not Lebanese.” My mom expected a remark about her looks, possibly something about her red hair, but the man went on to say, “It’s because you’re reading a book!”

I don’t want to sound like every other teacher I’ve had, preaching about the importance of reading, but honestly, the benefits stretch further than the obvious academic and intellectual gains.

There are so many different kinds of stories in the world, books that can make you have a completely different perspective and change your life.

Every book has its place, from the light beach-read, to the adrenaline-inducing action genre that keeps you turning the pages. Then there

is the book that can draw you into its world and make you forget about reality for those 300 or so pages, the book that changes your life and becomes a recurring visitor, the one you return to every now and then to feel what you felt the first time you read it.

It’s hard to imagine never having met Holden Caulfield, wandered through Wonderland, or enjoyed the wit of Elizabeth Bennett.

Once a character or place comes to life so vividly, it’d be hard to forget the feeling you had upon first read.

You can tell a lot about a person by their list of favorite books. There’s also that list you have that you don’t really broadcast, the list of guilty pleasures you can’t help but love. I’m not saying Harry Potter is on the top of my secret list...I’m not saying that at all..

Who are you?!

Lana El Sahely Staff Writer

W

ho are we? What defines our personalities, our reactions to things, our general behavior, our Identity?

Defining identity is a very vast subject in philosophy and it has been handled so differently through history.

Roughly speaking, identity is this collective aspect of all

the set of characteristics that makes us recognizable and unique. It makes each one of us looking as a persisting entity under all various conditions of life.

But what I’ve been asking myself is to what extent is that identity fixed and unchangeable?

For example, all Lebanese praise their national identity but I think we must be aware that we were not really born as such. It is more about these sets of traditions, habits and beliefs that we witness in our daily lives. These Sunday lunches in family, these never-ending nights in Gemmayzeh and Monot, this craving for life every time the political situation hurts us, this mastering of many languages, this short distance between the sea and the mountains that we worship, the dozens of people that stop to help you every time your

car shuts down in the middle of the road and many other experiences that make us feel that we belong to a specific identity.

I think that we don’t have a coherent identity but that we’re always identifying ourselves through experiences to which we attach meanings.

Every time we witness, experience, live something new or radical or different, there is a certain meaning that we give to it and it will then go through an identification process. To be more tangible, take this example: when you start explaining to your baby girl that what’s under her skirt shouldn’t be seen you are here helping her to identity herself to her female attributes. When we see cases of identity crisis, it can be explained with the fact that these persons weren’t able to identify correctly what constitute them.

But who creates these meanings for us? What are the attributes that help us through this identification process?

Schools, universities, our families, governments, religion, medias and many other social institutions help us build our identities through time.

When your parents have attended AUB for their studies, there’s automatically something that they will build in you since your childhood for you to follow a certain path.

During my interview to get in Outlook, I was asked to define myself. I was surprised that I couldn’t stop talking and this made me realize how many small experiences constructed the person that I am now. I wasn’t able to summarize myself in a unique and simple identity.

I came to believe that identity seeking ends up with our death and what an endless

Dec 9, 2010

Outlook

out of the box

The Outlook team Chairperson

Talal Nizameddin

Faculty Advisor

Cleo Cacoulidis

Responsible Director

Antonios Francis

Editor-in-Chief

Rami Diab

Associate Editor

Timmy Malkoun

Editor at Large

Yahia Hamade

Arabic Editor

Mariam El Ali

Photography Editor

Salim Batlouni

Layout Director

John Hajjar

Members at Large

Samer Bu Jawdeh Giovanny Reaidi

News Executives

Heather Jaber Maya Sfeir Mostafa Fadlallah

Web Master

Mohamad Al Medawar

Business Managers

Sally Khalifeh Lara Traboulsi

Staff Writers Khodor Abu Daya Fouad Badaoui Caterina Belardi Jackie Daoud Sarah Al Dirani Edrees Elrachidi Mark Francis Dalia Hosn Elie El Khoury Aziza Khalil Yasmin Fansa Yumna Ghandour Maryam Hoballah Lynn Itani

Anis Kadado Tala Kardas Wajiha Jurdhi Kheir Sherif Maktabi Marie Nakhoul Rita Obeid Rami Panayoti Yasmine Saab Joseph Saba Amer Sare Mohammad Yaghi Emile Fares Zankoul Rayane Zahreddine Lsma Zakharia

Photographers Mohamad Alameh Tariq Buhilaigah Dima Hajj Nadi Nassar

Lotfi Al Salah Wael Salem Antoine Salloum

Cartoonist

Deedee El Jilani

Outlook is a weekly publication of the American University of Beirut (AUB) and represents the voice of the student body. It is an independent, non-affiliated publication that favors no ethnic, religious, or political group. All columns, articles, and reports are the property of Outlook and do not necessarily represent the views of Outlook or the AUB community. Outlook welcomes all contributions. Authors please include full name, major, ranking, and contact information for verification. Outlook reserves the right to edit all material. Š Outlook 1949

Cross Word Puzzle

23

AUB’s Campus Yearbook 2009-10 is out just a few months after the end of the academic year 2009-10!

Come on down to West Hall and secure your copy while it lasts!

Oh and don’t forget to sign your friends’ dedication pages at the back of the book!