September 26, 2012Vol. XLV, No. 10November 27, 2012

Admin. sees plagiarism as essay writers turn big profitYara ZeitounStaff Writer

Patrick Lewtas, an

AUB philosophy professor, doesn’t have any personal experience with essay writing companies, but he knows their work when he sees it in his classes.

“You can tell the papers just could not have been written by that student,” he said. “There was one student I had where the paper clearly came from a paper writing service. Even replies to my emails were coming from the writing service because they were not the student’s style or way of thinking.”

With a hint of irony, Lewtas notes that the obviously plagiarized work was for an ethics class.

Online essay writing services have added another fold to the changing landscape of plagiarism on campuses everywhere. While AUB faculty and administrators see the fight in black-and-white terms, essay writers see their services as a moral gray area and a lucrative business.

One AUB graduate interviewed for this story paid $40 for a two-page philosophy

paper that earned her a 91.“It was worth it only

because I didn’t have time to write. I was overloaded that semester, with too many finals,” she said. “But I did feel really guilty because I don’t get anything out of getting someone to write it for me.”

THE STRATEGY“I get £16,000 from a

Saudi girl studying in London for her Ph.D.,” said Michael, the founder of essay writing company My Best Essays; he agreed to be interviewed only if his real name was not printed. “That’s £800 a month, for two years, from one person.”

When asked how this student could live with such a lie, Michael said that “if the Saudi government is paying for her Ph.D., she doesn’t care if she gets it or not.”

Michael, 28, has been the brains behind My Best Essays for eight years. The company provides work for students, promising to be punctual and 100 percent original.

“When I was in a certain university in Lebanon, I thought of [this] because I had a high GPA and many students asked for help, from tutoring

to writing essays,” Michael said. “At that time I used to write essays for others, but currently I only write theses for Saudi students in the U.K.”

Essays usually start at $100, but the can go to $500 or more for undergraduate

papers.“For example, in a certain

period of time, 238 papers brought about roughly $47,000. And that was a dead season.” The price of an essay is based on word count, time due, complexity and the level

of the student.The company has a

presence in Beirut, Dubai, London and Barcelona, with more than 150 full-time writers and requests from around the globe, but these days Michael says he focuses on elite high schools.

“All the students in Brummana High School, ACS, IC—that’s my market: the Virgin Market. I can make $30,000 at least from one school.”

One high school student in Switzerland, he said, is currently paying $500 for a paper.

THE ARGUMENTSDean of Student Affairs

Talal Nizameddin and Lewtas, the philosophy professor, take a strong stance against plagiarism. Both claim that plagiarism occurs too regularly at AUB.

Nizameddin said in University circles the debate revolves around whether the plagiarism is intentional.

“The University feels very strongly about it because it really undermines the essence of what the University is about,” he said.

Continued to page 3

Creating the visual languageMaya AyacheContributing Writer

Last week, filmmaker Dahna Abourahme visited AUB to explain how, through new methods of storytelling, she revisited how the 1983 Israeli occupation of South Lebanon impacted the women in the Ein El Hilweh refugee camp. During the Israeli occupation, the camp was destroyed and the men were taken captive and imprisoned. As a result, women were forced to pool their efforts to maintain a sense of community and to provide for their families. Abourahme documented these events in her film “Kingdom of Women: Ein

El Hilweh,” which focuses on seven women of different backgrounds living in the Palestinian refugee camp. In her lecture, Abourahme, who is Palestinian, explained the process behind creating the visual language in her documentary, which was was initiated by the Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts (Al-Jana). She said her inspiration and motive was to “try to break away from the stereotypical image of Palestinian refugees.” Abourahme used various mediums of storytelling such as animation, film and documentary to tell the women’s stories.

Continued on page 5

PSPA to host lecture on Special Tribunal for LebanonFrederic Abou JaoudeStaff Writer

Lebanon has seen many political murders in recent years, starting with the assassination attempt on Marwan Hamadeh in 2004. The bombings have continued, targeting prominent figures one by one. In 2005, Rafiq Hariri, Gibran Tueni, Samir Kassir and George Hawi were assassinated, in addition to the attempted assassinations of May Chidiac, Ali Ramez Tohme and Elias El-Murr. Throughout the years from 2006 till 2008, Pierre Amine Gemayel, Antoine Ghanem, Walid Eido, Francois Hajj

and Wissam Eid were assassinated. So far, the last of these assassinations killed Wissam Al Hassan in the Ashrafieh bombing a month ago. The severity of the situation led to the creation of the Special Tribunal in the hope that it would reveal the identity of the killers and prevent future attacks. To clarify all the details concerning the STL, the department of Political Studies and Public Administration will organize a lecture titled “International Criminal Adjudication and the Special Trial for Lebanon” on Dec. 10 at West Hall. The lecture, which will

start at 2 p.m., will outline the origins of international criminal justice. Also, the potential legacy of the STL for Lebanon and the Arab world will be addressed. One of the interesting points to be covered during the event is that the UN-backed tribunal, unlike its predecessors in the case of authority, was not merely established in a vacuum. It builds upon nearly 20 years of credible international criminal adjudication.

Outlook Photo Illustration; Mada Subaiti

September 26, 20122 · Campus News November 27, 2012

AUB’s Flag Day ceremonySalim KaddouraContributing Writer

AUB on Wednesday celebrated its annual Flag Day, a ceremony saluting the Lebanese flag the day before Independence Day. Before noon, students began to assemble in front of West Hall to watch the Lebanese Armed Forces military band play various preliminary songs. In the meantime, papers bearing the Lebanese flag and the lyrics to the national anthem were handed out to the crowd. At about 11:50 a.m., the band began to play the national anthem while dozens of students as well as some faculty and staff watched. A few people joined in, singing the lyrics by heart. Dean of Student Affairs Talal Nizameddin thanked the musicians and gave a speech in which he mentioned his

dismay over the turmoil in the region, recognizing that many AUB students might be distressed over recent events in neighboring countries. Nizameddin asserted AUB’s continuing position as a role model “not only in the region, but the world” and expressed his belief that the university “makes the region a better place.” He also called upon the AUB community to “reaffirm [its] commitment to keep this country safe from harm.” Nizameddin went on to raise the Lebanese flag, bringing the ceremony to an end. As the onlookers dispersed, some students welcomed the ensemble and posed with members of the military band for group photos. Not all students were interested in the celebration, however, and many were completely unaware of it or did not know what it was.

Others said they would have liked to attend if not for exams or classes. In any case, AUB students seem to hold a wide variety of views toward their country, ranging from apathy to full-on patriotism

Cooking for a Cause: Learn to cook for the communityYara ZeitounStaff Writer

When it comes to community service and diverse recreation, AUB has plenty. The issue, however, is the lack of awareness of these events hosted by different AUB clubs. Cooking for a Cause provides students, faculty and even alumni, a great opportunity to enrich one’s university years, while simultaneously donating to charity. Provided by the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service, these bi-weekly cooking classes held at the Pilot Plant are taught by Grace

Haddad, a passionate chef. The idea of these classes is to pay $40 to $45, some of which goes to the ingredients and supplies, the rest of which goes to providing cancer

patients required medicine. Although they provide a unique and excellent experience, surprisingly there were barely any students that attended, but mostly staff.

The only advertising that they had was through AUB’s website bulletin and their own personal volunteers, but apart from that, they had no other forms of advertisement to students. According to Olga Majzoub, project coordinator, classes are full at times, but due to a lack of awareness of these classes, were not as full as they easily could have been. Classes can fit up to 25 people, and they have between 15 to 25 people coming to each session. As for dietary restrictions, each menu usually has at least two dishes out of three that cater to vegetarians. Also, they

can arrange extra or private sessions if there are enough participants willing to join. For this semester, they planned five different sessions, two of which are still up for grabs: “Christmas Menu” parts 1 and 2. Part 1 is going to be on Dec. 5, and the final one, Dec. 17. The Christmas menus sound succulent and include dishes like Gingerbread People, My Zesty Turkey, Meli Melo Salad, Truffes au Chocolat and more. Both days include a total of four dishes that participants will be taught to cook, and have the opportunity to eat afterwards.

Behind the scenes of the annual AUB OutdoorsGhida Ismail Staff Writer

On May 19 and 20, AUB traded its usual academic façade for an Arabian Night look. The upper campus offered various games and food services under Arabian tents and magical lamps. It was the time of the year when kids, teenagers and adults gather to enjoy the annual AUB Outdoors festival. “As expected, the [2012] AUB Outdoors was a weekend of pure fun and entertainment. It was magical with all the Arabian Nights decorations,” said electrical engineering student, Nadine Nakad. To make this annual event possible, a group of students’ hard work and commitment is necessary throughout the semester. Preparations for this year’s Outdoors festival, scheduled for May, have already begun and all cabinet positions have been filled. The members were chosen by the Student Affairs Office after interviews were carried out. While nine members formed last year’s Outdoors cabinet, 11 form this year’s cabinet. Chief Executive Officer Ramzi Taybah’s job is to supervise the work of the cabinet, team leaders and members. With the help of Chief Operations Officer Christopher Sassine and Operations Officer Mona

Talih, he will make sure that all the operations are being executed smoothly. Different vice executives are part of the Outdoors cabinet. Nour Jalloul is in charge of food and games, Sarah Awada of marketing and sponsorship, Yazan Halwani of decoration and safety and Natalie Humsi of concerts and entertainment. Their role is to monitor the team leaders’ work and make sure that planned tasks go according to the schedule and meet the required quality standards. This year’s cabinet includes two treasurers, Jad Sabra and Jad Hajj Ahmad, whose role is to manage the budget. In addition, two secretaries, Joy Arab and Dina Masri, have to keep all the cabinet and members updated with all the decisions. “With the changes made to the cabinet, many of the obstacles faced by previous cabinets should be easily overcome,” said Sassine. “There is, however, a lot of work to be done in order to ensure a successful festival this year.” “This event brings the AUB community much closer each year, and this will surely be the case this time around.” he said. “This year’s organizers will strive to bring together a landmark event that will remain fond in the memories of all attendees.”

Photocredit: Salim Kaddoura

Photocredit: Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service

September 26, 2012Campus News · 3 November 27, 2012

Admin. sees plagiarism as essay writers turn big profit

Continued from page 1

“Students are here to create work, and if that work is forgery, fraud, unreal, it doesn’t represent the students, then what is the University

for?”Some students’ academic

backgrounds push them to use essay writers, he said. “There are certain types of schools that rely on approaches to education that are outdated, indirectly teaching students to [plagiarize]. It’s like the overly strict parents, they teach their children to lie to them.”

“I sat on a committee once where a student copied a whole large paragraph word-for-word on an exam,” Nizameddin said. “The professor questioned how he could have done this without cheating, but the student was adamant that he memorized it. The crazy part is that there were two professors on the committee who went to that type of school, and said they believed the student.”

Nizameddin said a university education is about much more than getting a diploma.

“It means you have to be critical, intellectually rebellious, that’s the pleasure of it. And that’s what education means. Some people think that they’re coming here just to be engineers, or math majors, and in a sense, they’ve cheated themselves. They’ve come for the AUB name, but not for the AUB mission.”

Lewtas, on the other hand, said plagiarism is too often considered in the wrong terms.

“They turn it into an issue of theft, has the student stolen

something that isn’t his?” Lewtas said. “And the injury then is done to the person who is robbed, whoever the idea comes from. But the question is far simpler, is the student misrepresenting himself?

Is he holding his work as something other than it is, deliberately trying to fool the professor on that score?”

The professor becomes the victim, and the crime, misrepresentation, Lewtas said.

THE WRITERSMichael said as far as

he’s concerned, students are the only ones to blame when essays his company provides are used dishonestly.

“My company is based on providing students a tutoring service, for a specific paper,” he said. “We do it for them, but it doesn’t mean the student has to submit the paper. It’s like a template. So, when they do provide it, it’s their wrong … [but] most of my writers have excellent English and write way better than the student would.”

When it comes to hiring writers, Michael claims his standards are high.

“They send me their degree, GPA, official transcript, a lot of things. I check their writings with my editors.” He repeats that he cares about quality above all else.

“Usually I don’t trust Lebanese in this business,” he said, adding that the most important traits in a submission are “quality of work, punctuality, and no plagiarism.”

Michael said he hires writers from all over the world. He speaks about one of his Kenyan writers, saying “this

writer makes $500 a week. Do you know how much he does with that? He pays for the tuition of his sister and so many other things. Another writer, from Pakistan, for him this money is crazy. He has a Galaxy 2—in Pakistan! He’s like a king there.”

Not all of his writers, however, are foreigners looking for a way to support their families back home. Michael claims he has writers who are Daily Star editors, and others who are full-time professors at universities in the UK and other reputable institutions.

THE CONSEQUENCESLewtas said most Western

universities have a simple policy, which is “get caught, and you’re out. Expelled. In a bunch of years of teaching, I never came across a case of cheating. It’s rare and extraordinary. And universities come down on the perpetrator like a ton of bricks. The system here is, first time, a dean’s warning. Second time, a mark on your transcript. I think AUB should impose the stiffest penalty that faculty would be willing to [enforce].”

A non-AUB student got off easy after being caught using an essay writing service.

“[The TA] asked me stuff from my essay I didn’t know ‘cause I didn’t write it and didn’t even understand half the words,” the student said. “The teacher liked me, so he gave me a chance to do it again, but usually I would’ve gotten a zero or been expelled. But I’ll never do it again.”

The biggest problem with plagiarism, Lewtas said, is how it robs students the chance to grow.

“If people want to stand up on their own two feet, they need to build something with their own hands, not steal it or borrow it,” he said.

His advice would be for AUB to have the same consequences other universities have—one strike and you’re out.

“Frankly, trying to teach them at this age not to plagiarize won’t work. The only way for them to take [plagiarism] seriously is for us to up the consequences.”

Elena GrissomStaff Writer

Every year, over 1,500 students from universities all over Asia flood the Sepang Formula One circuit to race some of the funkiest and strangest racecars ever to loop around its tracks. Some racecars look like wooden boxcars, others resemble submarines, and others still look like flying machines from the future. The goal of the race is to find the vehicle that can travel the farthest while using the least fuel. This competition, called the Eco-marathon Asia, is hosted yearly by Shell and garners international recognition and attention. Last year, the first place winners from Thailand unbelievably got their vehicle to travel 2,903 km using one liter of ethanol fuel. In seventh place came the AUB team of engineering students, headed by Kamal Hamadeh. Many of you might have seen the strange-looking vehicle driving around campus prior the competition. This year, the AUB team will enter the competition once again. The members have already built their car, which Hamadeh describes as a “better-modified vehicle that shall take the spotlight.” However, they are seeking a sleek, unique and professional outer design for the vehicle, which is why they have launched the “AUB

Conceptual Vehicle Design Competition 2013.” Though this competition mainly targets graphic design and architecture students, any AUB student can register to submit his or her sketch of a proposed design for the exterior body of the car. The submission can either be software-designed or a simple hand sketch. The winner of the competition will not only witness his or her design being manufactured and equipped onto the vehicle, but will also get the chance to join the AUB team and win a free trip to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, with the ticket and accommodation fully covered. The winner will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of stepping foot on the Sepang Formula One racetrack and pit area. As registration for the “AUB Conceptual Vehicle Design Competition” ends this Friday, Hamadeh encourages all AUB students with conceptual drawing skills to take a risk and sign up for the competition at the FEA dean’s office. “If someone has the skills and thinks they can sketch a unique exterior design, I’d encourage them to do it,” noted Hamadeh. “They just might get lucky.” After all, it’s not everyday that one gets to travel to a Formula One racetrack in Malaysia and take part of a program that annually breaks new ground in energy efficiency.

Graphic design and architecture students: A chance for an unforgettable Formula One experience in Malaysia

Photocredit: Kamal Hamadeh

Outlook Photo Illustration; Mada Subaiti

September 26, 20124 · Campus News November 27, 2012

Nour TurkmaniStaff Writer

With the growing popularity of rugby in the world, it comes as a surprise that rugby isn’t exactly a renowned sport in Lebanon. However, in AUB particularly, rugby has been steadily budding over the years and

serves as a hub for exciting, interesting games. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the AUB rugby team members huddle up to practice at night, regardless of the weather. Although the game appears to be rough and jagged to any passerby, anyone watching for more than five minutes would notice that there’s more to the game than just the obvious hitting and falling. “This is more than just a game, it isn’t like basketball or football, it’s tough and waits for no one,” said assistant coach, Ghassan Dandach. “This game requires you to become a completely different person, and I doubt any rugby player would say it wasn’t life-changing for him.” Since the start of the year, the rugby team has faced several changes, the most formidable being the recruitment of new players. “Honestly, I’m not going to say it is easy.” said captain of the rugby team, Kamal Ali, when asked about the issue. “Many old players left and many new players arrived.

But we, the new players and the old players, are working very hard on strengthening our team and that is more than enough.” During practises and games, the coach, Faysal Jaber, generates a feeling of unity, dedication and commitment. The game with LAU on Nov. 9 was an easy 12-4 win.

The team played again Friday against University of Balamand. The game ended in a 38-6 loss. Samar Abou Lteif, a freshman, said, “Their games with LAU and Balamand are both really interesting. I’m definitely not a fan of rough sports, but the game had tension and excitement. I’d advise anyone to watch it.” Almost every team member agreed that rugby has changed his life in many ways. Elie Al-Chaer, a new player in the team said, “I didn’t expect this. This team has become more of a brotherhood than anything.” Altogether, AUB has embraced the game of rugby, and enhanced it more than anyone would have ever anticipated.

Rugby in AUB: More than just tackling and falling

Photocredit: Mohammad Azzam

Thurayya ZreikStaff Writer

Under a tree beside West Hall, a green canvas canopy shades a table where several people are milling around, squeezing fragrant juice from fresh oranges. This is the second and final week the orange juice stand has been a fixture on the AUB upper campus. The stand is part of the “3aTari2ak” (on your way) project, which, stemming from the Lebanese NGO Causes, aims to foster a socially conscious and responsible community. The stand is one of many that have been erected this month. The proceeds from the sales of cups of orange

juice will be donated to the Tamanna charity, a nonprofit foundation that grants wishes to children who are critically or terminally ill. “The idea is basically juice for charity,” said Hani al-Hassan, a volunteer with Causes. “We sell juice and donate the proceeds to a different [cause] every month.” “Our plan is to establish 10 permanent stands around Beirut so that we can continue the project all year round,” he said, pouring juice into a cup and handing it to a customer. The impacts of the “3aTari2ak” project extend beyond donations to charity. “The project has many benefits to the community,” said Kinan Salaheddine, a first-year computer science

student who became involved with the project through the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Services. The benefits are multi-faceted. From the recycled cups to supporting local agricultural producers, the project attempts to address as many social issues of the Lebanese community as possible. “‘3aTari2ak’ also helps employ people who are in need of a job,” al-Hassan said. Mohammad Louai, one of those operating the juicing machines, was born with a medical condition which has made it difficult for him to find employment. “This project gives Mohammad a chance to work,” al-Hassan said.

‘3aTari2ak’ O.J. kiosk to help charities

Yara ZeitounStaff Writer

Walking into the office of Neville Assad-Salha, students are transported out of AUB, and into the Australian cavern of an eccentric creative. Assad-Salha teaches 3-D art (ceramics and sculpture). His room features the the work made by his students, and to visitors, he compliments the virtues unique to each one. Coming from Australia, why did you choose AUB?I chose AUB as I had fond memories of AUB from the early 70’s, as I spent a lot of time here hanging out with students at that time. I felt that it would be great to come back and spend some time working with students in the areas that I had been teaching in. How do you further develop yourself, as an artist and professional?I spend every summer back in Australia working in my studio and travelling to other states to see new work that is being developed by other artists. Also travelling to other studio in other countries helps. It is important for me to keep exhibiting my work and researching other approaches to making and creating, art in general. What do you consider to be your greatest achievements?My greatest achievements

have been to continue working and being inspired by my students to keep teaching, along with developing new works by living in other cultures. What is your favourite part of teaching?Teaching gives me fresh ideas and new approaches, by inspiring students and being inspired by them, this keeps me wanting to teach. What hobbies do you enjoy?Planting native trees. I’ve

planted thousands for the last 30 years.One wonderful hobby I have is building buildings. I love purchasing old buildings, and restoring them. I’m restoring an old family home, and building an identity back into the landscape of Lebanon, which I feel strongly about, and I’m revamping it, where I retranslate it from a box into something else. I’ve built my own studio with my own hands in Australia. It’s like living within one of your spaces.

Faculty profile; Neville Assad-Salha

Photocredit: Mada Subaiti

September 26, 2012 November 27, 2012 Editorial · 5

ChairspersonTalal NizameddinEditor-in-Chief Heather JaberAssociate Editor Ali KassemArabic Editor Mada DibsArabic Associate Editor:Alaa KayaliProofreader:Ian LarsonPhotography Editor:Mada SubaitiLayout Editor:Antoine AyoubMember-at-largeSarah KhalilNews Executives Kanzi KamelRayane ZahreddineHrag VosgerichianFerial FakihLayout TeamTania RayesNizar AouadSahar KhraibaniMohammad YaghiSuhail YazajiWebmaster Jad ShamseddineBusiness Manager Luma ItaniBusiness Executive Sarah HarfouchPhotographers Mohammad AzzamHayder Al-ShakeriSalim KaddouraPia Chaib

Karen SertinStaff WritersMohamad SibaiFrederic Abou JaoudeElena GrissomHashem OsserianKaren SertinCarla SertinNerses ArslenianRichard Le VayAl-Zahraa MajedRana HarbiNour ShurbajiGhida IsmailNadeem BilaniNoura HamzehSara SobhDiala AhwashZaynab JaberDeedee JilaniHaya AtassiFarah El BeainaAhmad OsmanCartoonistsGhassan NassarJad JariMaya AyacheThurayya ZreikLujain RabatPoliana GehaTala MukaddamNour Turkmani

S t a f f L i s t

Creating the visual language

Outlook is a weekly publication of the American Uni-versity of Beirut (AUB) and represents the voice of the student body. It is an independent, non-affiliated publica-tion 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 contribu-tions. Authors are asked to please include their full name, major, ranking and contact information for verification. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way, shape or form without the written consent of Outlook and/or higher authorities. Outlook reserves the right to edit all material.

Disclaimer

Continued from page 1

“My main objective was to try to figure out a way to create an image for the past when very little archival footage exists,” said Abourahme while explaining the usage of different elements and mediums to create a visual language. Newspaper clippings, radio reports and rare and treasured pictures borrowed from the women were used, giving their stories historical accuracy. Animation of specific instances of resistance towards the occupation along

with footage of the women in the present day created a new mode of storytelling. With this combination of media, Abourahme developed the language of video. Two layers of the film thus came to light. The first layer was the broad picture of what was taking place in the south, while the second was created by the animation focusing on the women’s stories. Abourahme made an effort to ensure that every aspect of the movie portrayed the feelings the women were experiencing truthfully. She conveyed their spirit in the

animations by choosing a specific drawing style for the animator to follow. In the documentary, the black ink on thin paper was meant to symbolize the rawness and struggle of the women, while the animation is meant to bring dialogue to life, depicting previously untold stories. The film also follows the women into their private homes, where the audience witnesses their daily duties and responsibilities. “A dialogue of the past and present was created,” Abourahme said.

Outlook Editorial Board

In light of the latest political developments, from the tensions in the Middle East on a large scale to stu-dent elections on a smaller one, the Outlook board would like to clarify our stance on such issues. We, as a board, are com-prised of students from dif-ferent countries, religious backgrounds and economic spheres. By this we mean that the process of brainstorming, editing and planning within the newspaper does incite de-bate. And this is healthy. We aim to bring to our read-ers a fair and balanced per-spective on matters that affect the AUB community. We do

not seek to project any politi-cal platform or agenda. Any opinion piece, review, column or editorial showcases the thoughts of some segment of the community. As is the nature of jour-nalism, we cannot please all takers. For this reason, we encourage feedback, we en-courage contribution and we encourage freedom of expres-sion. If you do not find your voice represented in these pages on a weekly basis, we encourage you to make your voice heard by submitting a letter to the editor (email ReadOutlook@gmail.com). While no subject is verbo-ten, Outlook will not pub-lish letters intended solely to

provoke or disparage. Nor is this an opening to flaunt party platforms or political ide-ologies. Letters to the editor should inspire robust public debate on matters of general interest. Of course, space is limited, and we have a duty to make decisions based on newswor-thiness and quality of content. Nonetheless, as we reach out to the community, unwarrant-ed censorship is a thought we cringe at. Freedom of speech and news reporting go hand in hand—without one, the other is useless. It is our hope that publishing more of your letters will allow us to better serve you and will give you a chance to better serve the AUB community.

Share your views with Outlook

· In an article titled, “Students at Work take majority of unresolved FEA seats,” in last week’s issue (Volume 45, Issue 8), what was referred to as “freshmen” seats was meant to say E1 seats.· In issue 8, the Arabic section cover story titled “” stated the No Frontiers party “has external ties.” While No Frontiers does receive “advice and support” from alumni members, the group does not have external political affiliations.

Errata

Submit your scholarly works to the Beirut Journal of Policy and SocietyThe Beirut Journal of Policy and Society is now accepting submissions for its third volume to be published in May of 2013. The journal is student-led and published through the Political Studies and Public Administration Department at AUB.Scholarly works concerning politics, policy, and society or with tangential relevance to these topics may be submitted. The papers can be relevant original works or papers written for a class and should be in English.Submissions are open to current AUB students, graduate or undergraduate only, and submitted online via email as an attachment to BeirutJournal@aub.edu.lb no later than January 15, 2013.

Please contact BeirutJournal@aub.edu.lb for submissions or questions.

September 26, 20126 · Viewpoints November 27, 2012

Sarah KhalilMember-at-Large

Nov. 22 was a strange day for me. Blinking away the grainy sleep from my eyes at the crack of 11 a.m. on a day I had off anyway, I confronted a hilariously divided Face-book news feed: a mashup of statuses about Lebanese Inde-pendence Day and American Thanksgiving. I suppose it re-flects the medley of identities my friends seem to possess like one would the plague, but the contrast between such mixed signals was nothing short of delightful. One friend’s status: “Happy Thanksgiving/Lebanese Inde-pendence day! Food and free-dom: things we should all be grateful for.” Too right, I sup-pose, although her sister hit the nail a bit more on the head with “Happy kill the Native Americans day!” Many people probably don’t know that relations between the Native Americans and the pilgrims were nothing short of difficult, considering the whole colonialism thing. It just gets lost in all the tinsel and holly being drawn out of storage in preparation for up-coming Christmas. What, I wonder, does that

say about other countries, like our Lebanon? What is the source of a person’s pride in their nation? Why are they ever proud? On Thursday, I found myself more frustrated by the traffic jams caused by band practice on every road I happened to pass on my way home than I was proud to be Lebanese. Just as it goes for so many other national holidays in the world, I feel as though Leba-nese Independence Day has dissolved into a day celebrat-ed simply for the heck of it. If we as Lebanese citizens gen-uinely felt pride at our own country’s independence from the countless colonial pow-ers to have held us throughout history, would we be mixing as much Arabic and French as we possibly could into our everyday discourse? Would we be stuck in our rut of per-petual division? And as for the all-Ameri-can Thanksgiving, why are we putting an American holiday on par with our national inde-pendence? I find both ironic because both holidays have, despite what most protest, lost their meaning in the midst of all the hullabaloo. Call me a naysayer, if you want. I love holidays

just as much as everyone else does, and I would have glad-ly waved a turkey leg in one hand and a Lebanese flag in the other all day long. But you all know as well as I do that that’s not what it’s about. Who took a moment out of their drizzling November day to sit and really consider what it means to be a part of an independent nation? Are we really independent? Does it really matter, with the cur-rent state of affairs in Leba-non? I say it does, especially when I ponder developments just over the border in the past couple weeks. Why be caught up in other nations’ holidays? What does Thanksgiving even mean to people on the other side of the ocean? There’s a reason we take a day off to commemorate these things, and it’s not just to sleep in on a weekday or employ a trending hashtag. If you’re going to raise a cheer about a holiday, do yourself a favor and have a good, long think. Beyond the marching bands, traffic jams, Facebook status-es and food, beyond the sales running rampant in depart-ment stores as we draw ever-closer to Christmas, there lies a real reason for it all.

Kanzi KamelNews Executive

“Hi! What’s your name? Nice to meet you. What’s your ma-jor?” Cue the internal groan at the inevitable look of sympa-thy. Answering with the ever clichéd “it’s complicated” has never been so defeating. As typical as it is for stu-dents in university to change their major throughout their education, doing so has never been easy. Countless factors influence the decision, and some result in greater conse-quences than others. Family, time, career certainty and sal-ary are just some of the rea-sons some might choose, say, computer science over media and communications. But, hypothetically speak-

ing, let’s suppose someone did take a leap of faith, and majored in what they loved to do—not what they think they should do. How bad could it be? First things first: family. Having Arab parents comes with numerous subclauses, which most of us Arab chil-dren are all too familiar with. Doctor, lawyer or engi-neer—the three golden career paths. The only three accept-able career paths. Stray into something any less respect-able and you’ve bought a one-way ticket to being the child parents like to describe as “exploring her options” at dinner parties. This easily segues into career certainty and salary. “How are you supposed to raise your

family working as a journal-ist?” and “People in that ma-jor don’t get jobs” are just the beginning of daily remarks your parents will undoubtedly try to include in every conver-sation. But hey, let’s not generalize. Many parents out there are ac-cepting of any which major, and we all know our parents just want what’s “best” for us. But, I ask, in the typical teenage-angst fashion, what if what they want for us isn’t what we want for ourselves? Herein lies the greater issue: the personal consequences of being so indecisive, you’ve become “that one chick who keeps changing her major.” Not only do people stop taking you seriously when discuss-ing career options (“You want

to be an optometrist? Tell me that again tomorrow and I’ll believe you.”), but you find yourself suddenly out of time to do, well, anything. If you’re the kind of person who enters university know-ing exactly what you want to do, I envy you. In retrospect, choosing my major by “eeny meeny miny mo” was not the best idea. Now, only a year away from graduation, I find myself at odds. I dislike my major. I don’t know what I want to do. And, somehow, it’s okay. Coming to terms with my uncertainty was perhaps the best thing I’ve done in my time here at AUB. It’s the most natural thing in the world not to know what the future will bring. Upperclassmen will

understand it when I say that their years in AUB have prob-ably changed them. Freshmen and sophomores will come to see that what they once knew for certain might soon become a preposterous notion entirely. In the end, to use the inevi-table cliché, it’s never too late. If life wasn’t about chang-ing, then suicide rates would skyrocket, the Beatles would never have broken up, and I wouldn’t be in this situation at all. So, if you’re ever in need of assurance, remember “that one crazy girl,” chuckle at my expense, and don’t be afraid to embrace whatever might be awaiting you, because, in the words of Nancy Thayer, “it’s never too late—in fiction or in life—to revise.”

Somewhat happy holidays

Never too late

Clean Out Your Closet - Keep the community warmYara ZeitounStaff Writer

As the seasons change amidst the panic of midterms, have you looked at your wardrobe, and noticed that—quite frank-ly—it’s a downright mess? The Lebanese Red Cross has the perfect solution for you and your unhappy closet. They would like to inspire you to be part of their clothes collection campaign, where you can help your communi-ty and your closet. They will take your old, ripped or not-so-great clothes you got from your lovely yet tasteless great aunt. The timing couldn’t be more perfect: the weather is forc-ing you to swap your summer wardrobe for winter, so you have to be cleaning anyways. The rule of thumb is, if you haven’t worn it for three months, you won’t wear it again. And, some needy per-son would be much happier with it than you are now—it just takes up space in your al-ready overflowing closet. Red Cross has made it easy for you by placing boxes

in dorms and at West Hall and Penrose Gate to collect your clothes, shoes and other items. Stands will be open from Tuesday until Dec. 5, so you will have the weekend to clean out your closet. They are attempting to col-lect a large amount of cloth-ing and blankets this year, and drive to the North and South, and give the clothes to Syrian immigrants and other people in need. Also, if you have no clothes to donate, they do take mon-etary donations, (the smallest amount helps) and they plan on buying blankets for those in need to last through the winter. Do your closet—and your-self—a favour, and clean out your closet. Give clothes, Give Warmth!

September 26, 2012Outloud· 7 November 27, 2012

Outloud: If you were president of AUB, what would you do?

Karim Hakawati, Business Administration, Junior:I would get parking for all students. It’s the biggest concern we have.

Ahmad Shanakh, Medical Lab Sciences, Junior:I would definitely improve dorms first. I feel they can be improved by a lot, especially in terms of room sizes and maintenance.

Natalie Humsi, Political Studies and Public Admin-istration, Senior:I would reduce all the bureaucratic red tape we students face.

Manal Kahaly, Landscape Design, Senior:I would increase access to parking for students.

Yara Chdeid, Majorless, Sophomore & Saleh Taha, Business, Sophomore:“I’d ban ketchup from the cafeteria, because I have a fear of ketchup and because it’s wobbly.”I’d allow argileh on campus, in the designated smoking sections around campus.

Hady Kamel, Business, Senior:I’d introduce a local popula-tion of dogs to offset the cats.

Rayan Chehade, Econom-ics, Sophomore:I would cancel Math 201 because it’s a really hard and complicated course.

Sally Ayoub, Business, Sophomore:I would renovate the chairs and tables in the classrooms, especially in the older build-ings around campus.

Karim NasrContributing WriterHayda Al-Shaker Photographer

Christophe Hage, Environmental Health, Sophomore & Christelle Harb, Psychology, Sophomore:I would make the elections more about the students, not about political parties. Secondly, I would increase the time given for students to complete exams.I would put music on campus, because we have a lot of stress, so the music could help AUB students.

September 26, 20128 . Columns November 27, 2012

Nour TurkmaniStaff Writer

Tired of your typi-cal Beirut clubs, and seek-ing something unique and different? Then Überhaus is the place for you. The un-derground dance nightclub in Hamra, finally re-opened Fri-day before last and everyone had something great to say about it. AUB civil engineering stu-dent, Serge Jeghalian, said, “The music was great, the at-mosphere was crazy, and the service was even better. In fact, I got a free drink. I’ve been to many clubs before, but Überhaus is simply be-yond belief.” This is because Überhaus isn’t just any club; it has his-tory, authenticity and wild-ness. As its Facebook page states, “We were the nu-under-ground. Back in the 1900s we ate the bourgeoisie, and smelled good while we pissed pop. We burned red carpets and swung naked from chan-deliers. We had the ace of spades always up our sleeves. We never checked our coats, left the candles burning and always checked out late. And now, we are back from the fu-ture.” Located in Leon Street in Hamra, the club opens every Friday and Saturday, each

time with a different theme or concept. With only 14 tables, the moderately small Überhaus still manages to be equipped with Dynacord speakers and interactive RGB Led lighting, with a modified pixel wall behind the DJ booth that en-sures the sensational music is backed up with an exclusive atmosphere. With its sole purpose being to define itself unlike any other club, Überhaus calls out more specifically to uncompromis-ing electronic music lovers. According to its proprietors, the club is the “all-dancing and all-punching social-faux pas of this city’s nightscape.” “We decided to take on this project to breathe new life into our city,” entertainment manager and resident DJ Ro-max Maurer told Gino’s Blog. “Überhaus is here to establish Beirut as a must-hit destina-tion for electronic music’s most talented artists ... We’re looking more to the future than to the past. This is a club about the now, this is about audio culture.” In an interview with The Daily Star, Maurer further went on to explain how in the past, nightlife in Beirut was always focused on spending the night gathered around tables. He said that this club will focus more on the dance floor, as the Techno-greats l

like Maya Jane Coles and the likes hypnotize dancers all night long. “With all honesty I would tell you that the opening of Überhaus served as a night like no other,” said AUB stu-dent Sara Samad. “The music was great. The lights had me dizzy, but in a good way. And this club had a touch of dark-ness and authenticity I have not experienced anywhere.” Überhaus definitely offers one of those experiences that you can’t miss. It is dedicated to those party people seeking something new, different and bold. So if you’re one of those people, with a thirst for an ex-perience unlike any other and haven’t been able to quench it just yet, you definitely know exactly where to spend your next weekend.

In the beaten path: Überhaus club re-opens

Sany Farajalla Staff Writer Your computer can use the resources from the hamsters in your processor, and its short-term memory (RAM) to show you stuff on the screen, assuming of course that you don’t mind everything being so big you can’t see the content. Graphics cards allow your computer to make that stuff look better.

The more powerful the graphics card the better looking the stuff. It’s like controllable gears in an automatic car: yes your car can do without them, but it makes going uphill very difficult. The more control you have on the gears, the easier driving becomes. Graphics cards have two major parts the average consumer should look out for: the number of cores and the amount of dedicated VRAM. Just like in a processor, imagine there are hamsters in a graphics card, except instead of four different hamsters going a colossal speeds, you have a colossal number of hamsters going at middling to fast speeds. These hamsters are the cores. Generally, graphics cards with a few hundred cores (600-750) are good, but buy one with more only if you want to play very high-end games. VRAM should be pretty self-explanatory. The “v” stands for video and we’ve already established that RAM is the computer’s short-term memory. VRAM is a section of this short term memory

dedicated to nothing but providing you with better eye candy. If you have a laptop, the universal rule does not apply here: 1 GB is good, 2GB is optimal, and anything more means you don’t need this article to begin with. The graphics card is the only part that requires personal maintenance. It has a special kind of software that tells it to do its job, called a driver,

which needs to be updated every so often so that the card can work better. Every computer has a pre-installed driver, and you can check if it needs updating with only a few clicks. The only difficult part is being aware of what kind of graphics card you are dealing with. If you can’t find it anywhere on your machine, you can generally find out by looking your computer up on the internet. But even this comes down to nothing more than writing down and remembering a name. That just about wraps it up for the most basic explanation of computer jargon. Here’s a final recap of the parts in order of importance:RAM > Storage > Processor > Graphics card. Here’s to a future free of mud huts.

Graphics cards: computervisualization mechinary

Source: http://maximumpc.com/

Source: http://facebook.com/uberhausclub

September 26, 2012Columns · 9 November 27, 2012

Joy Ismail Special to Outlook

Cholesterol is some-thing we have all heard about, mostly from our parents, uncles or grandparents. We watch the older people in our families eat in moderation and eliminate fats from their diets because high cholesterol lev-els can lead to cardiovascular diseases or a stroke. However, what most people do not know is that cholesterol is no longer an issue for older individuals only. Nowadays, young adults are dealing with high cholesterol levels even at the age of 20.

Cholesterol is a molecule in our body that, if present in high amounts in the blood, could lead to the blockage of arteries by forming plaque. High-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein are two different molecules that affect levels of cholesterol in the body. HDL is good for the body because it collects the ex-cess cholesterol in the tis-sues and blood. On the other hand, LDL contains a lot of cholesterol and circulates in the blood, contributing to the building of plaque in arteries. A diet high in saturated fat can increase the levels of LDL in

the blood. With the advance in new scientific research, it is be-coming increasingly obvious that young individuals are not at all safe from having high cholesterol levels and health complications. To avoid being at risk of heart disease, blood choles-terol levels should not exceed 200 milligrams per deciliter. However, for one-third of young adults, this is not the case. Genetics, a poor diet, an excessively sedentary life-style and obesity are all risk factors. As a result of these findings, health institutions are paying

more attention to the young when it comes to cholesterol. It is now recommended that younger people be tested for cholesterol at least every five years. In families with a medical history of high blood cholesterol and heart disease, even children are being tested. To prevent the development of such diseases, young adults should first be aware that they are not safe from having health issues related to cho-lesterol. You are what you eat, and if you eat fast-food meals every day then cholesterol is bound to catch up with you sometime. It is much easier for young

people to work around cho-lesterol, because their bodies tolerate new habits more than older adults’ bodies. Noth-ing should be forbidden from their diet, but foods that are very heavy in saturated fats should be consumed in mod-eration. These include fried foods, lard and butter. Whole grains and other fiber-containing foods such as fruits and oats should replace these fatty meals whenever possible. Exercise and a normal body weight are also recommend-ed.

Nour TurkmaniStaff writer

If you’re one of the many people who are looking to go organic in Beirut, you’re in luck. When raiding your grandparent’s orchards for fresh organic fruit isn’t an op-tion, try visiting one of Bei-rut’s organic food stores. If you live in the Hamra area and are looking for a place to buy organic produce, be sure to check out Souk el Ard ev-ery Tuesday, right outside Bread Republic. This market will give you a chance to buy the freshest lo-cal produce in an urban envi-ronment. Many organic foods

are sold there, although not all of them have been certified yet. Beirut Health Store is an-other must-see store for the organic food lover. Located on Makdessi Street, it offers a wide range of organic prod-ucts, beyond produce. If you live farther away or just want to pick up some or-ganic products at your regu-lar grocery store, be on the lookout for Biomass products, which are local, organic, certi-fied and carried by most major grocery stores in Lebanon. You can also visit A New Earth Organic Store in Zahrat El Ihsan Street in Ashrafieh for a cozy marketplace, Al

Marej Organic Food Store, also in Ashrafieh, on Abdel Wahab El Inglizi Street or Souk el Tayeb every Saturday at Saifi Village. AUB has also been active-ly encouraging organic food farming in Lebanon. Healthy Basket, a certified organic food project started in 2001 by AUB has gained quite the following. The project works with a network of local organic farmers and distributes the in-season products weekly to customers’ doorsteps in bas-kets. Healthy Basket also has a store on Adonis Street in Hamra and participates in the Tuesday Earth Market.

You can sign up online to have your fruits and veggies delivered weekly or drop by the store in person to pick some up. For the online shopping lovers, bioboxlb.com will also deliver to you the fresh-est Lebanese organic produce with just a few clicks. Finally, if you’re interest in organic restaurants in the area, check out Brisk on Ham-ra Street for the classic Euro-pean “self-serve” concept and tasty organic food, or Tawlet in Mar Mikhael Street for some organic Lebanese food. Although organic certifica-tion is still a growing industry in Lebanon, there is willing-

ness from both farmers and consumers to get into the or-ganic food craze. We can control what we put into our bodies, and shell-ing out a few extra dollars for pesticide-free, nutritious products seems well worth it. It seems that the only sector of Lebanese organic products that is still lagging behind is meat. Try opting for your lo-cal butcher rather than the meat section of a larger gro-cery store. For the time being, that’s the best you can hope for.

Even you are not immune: Cholesterol in young adults

Food column: Lebanese organic food directory

Yara ZeitounStaff Writer

After last week’s in-troduction to the problems Lebanon faces regarding wa-ter, it should be clear that the country, relatively speaking, has a good amount of water, but that the problem is mis-management. But how much water does Lebanon really get? Although Mediterranean in climate, Lebanon is known to have one of the greatest amounts of rainfall in the Middle East, along with Tur-key and Iran. It is estimated that the coun-try has an average yearly flow

of 8,600 million cubic meters, and an average coastal rainfall of approximately 893 milli-meters per year, all of which give rise to 40 major streams and rivers, and more than 2000 springs. This is why Lebanon is known as the “the envy of more arid regional countries” like neighboring country Jor-dan. To get an idea of just how much rainfall this country re-ceives, Deir Alla, Jordan, does not get more than 70 millime-ters of rain per month. Leba-non is geographically blessed. The World Bank stated that Lebanon has water resources “equivalent to 1,100 cubic meters per capita, one of the

highest levels in the Middle East and North Africa region,” yet problems still exist, due to government carelessness. Lebanon’s water is decreas-ing in quality and quantity, and “is poised to experience a water deficit within 10 to 15 years.” The solutions are obvious, yet nothing has been done yet: governmental bodies must increase investments for sew-age and groundwater infra-structure, as well as attempt to catch rain, rather than let it flow on asphalt directly to the sea. On a social level, the gov-ernment must enforce water saving awareness throughout

all of Lebanon’s education systems. The Lebanese popu-lation is not taught to preserve water, but rather wastes it by leaving nearly full water bot-tles behind or letting tap water run. Externally, global warming is also affecting Lebanon’s water resources. As a coastal country, Lebanon faces issues with rising sea levels. Seawa-ter intrudes into pure aquifers (reserves of water), leaving them unusable. Yet another external issue is Lebanon’s aggressively warm summer season, which does not give its groundwater a chance to replenish itself. “The recklessness with

which Lebanon’s water is wasted is nothing short of criminal,” said reporter from NOW, Hanin Ghaddar. “Be-fore it is too late, the Lebanese policymakers and public alike must recognize the need for proper water management.” It is a sad day when Leba-non’s government is careless enough to beat global warm-ing in the destruction of the only and most important natu-ral resource, water.

Environmental Column: Internal factors drain Lebanon’s water

September 26, 201210 . Arts and Culture November 27, 2012

Album Review: Every Kingdom – Ben Howard

Movie Review: Breaking Dawn - Part 2

Yara Zeitoun Staff Writer

If you haven’t heard of Ben Howard, you need to YouTube his music immediately. That is, immediately after reading this article. First, an introduction is nec-essary. A British musician and hardcore surfer, Ben Howard is 25 years old, but has the ex-perience and talent of some-one in his 40s. Surfing is an important part of his life. It is

his muse, and you can almost taste the saline water when listening to his albums. Many of his interviews, re-veal that he became famous because of playing for surf-ing communities all over the world. My ears wilt and drool at the very first strum of his newest album, “Every Kingdom.” He sings with spirited pas-sion, and yet he is real and my, what a rarity to find such emotion in today’s plethora

of cheap music. His music and lyrics are authentic, and genuine to him and his life. The album was produced by a simple three-person band comprised of him, a female cellist/singer/guitarist and a drummer. Most songs begin with rhythmic finger plucking for the first few measures, fol-lowed by a soft undertone of steady, but not overwhelming drumming. Then, occasion-ally, you’ll find a crescendo of

cello crawling up and out that blends in the loveliest of ways with the music. But, my favourite part of the album is Howard’s sing-ing. His voice is soothing and chocolatey, like a cup of hot cocoa. It’s comforting and makes you warm from the in-side out, like sitting next to a crackling fire on a cold day. My advice? Buy the album now, and set “The Wolves” as your morning alarm. Trust me, it will give you a rea-

son for waking up from your dreams and getting ready for reality.

Kanzi KamelNews Executive

First things first, let us all raise our hands in a cel-ebratory cheer for the end of the dreadful series that has plagued our lives for the past seven years. “Twilight” is no more.

Despite both the books and the films being consistently horrid, I’ve somehow man-aged to read and see them all. Admittedly, I did go through an initial vamp phase. After all, what pre-teen girl could resist the charm of Edward Cullen? Thankfully, the first of the four films put a stop to all that nonsense. Kristen Stewart’s emotionless gaping at the al-most painfully stiff acting of Robert Pattinson knocked any lingering emotions I might have had for Stephenie Mey-er’s best sellers right out of me. Now, that’s not to say I don’t respect K-Patz in reality.

Both have other decent films on their resumes, but I don’t think even Sean Connery’s fi-nesse could have saved such a horrid script. “Breaking Dawn Part 2,” unfortunately, was no dif-ferent. True to the nature of the other three films, the

last in the famous saga was marked with half-hearted act-ing and laugh-worthy dramat-ics, and was an all-around dis-appointment. Needless to say, if you’re thinking about pay-ing to see it, don’t. The only possible excuse for going to see this would be mine: the nostalgia value, and nothing more. That being said, this film did happen to be the best of the four. Though the recur-ring actors didn’t exactly give much to the screenplay, judg-ing by the sighs I heard, I can safely assume the entirety of the female audience was con-tent. Jacob Black, played by

the impressively ripped Tay-lor Lautner, went shirtless (as usual) for about 90 percent of the film. Thankfully, this detracted from his less-than Hollywood-worthy acting. Surprisingly enough, “Breaking Dawn Part 2,” also had an extremely well-staged fight sequence in which more than one of the most irritat-ing vampires had their heads ripped off and burned. To my immense disappoint-ment (those avoiding spoilers would do well to skip the rest of this story) the scene ended, only to have never happened. That’s right folks, the high-light of the entire four movies was just a vision. One of Al-ice’s visions of the future, to be precise, and one that was avoided in the end. The film ended as typically

as ever: Bella and Edward holding hands, skipping off in the sunset, and wiping the fresh blood of their most re-cent kill off their chins. Thank God that’s over.

Hamra personality of the week: Ahmad DakoubNerces ArslanianStaff Writer

Anyone walking past the cafeteria might chance to no-tice a thin, rugged man with graying hair. He can be found in his usual spot near the en-trance to the Post Office, with a stack of newspapers and a newsstand full of magazines propped by his side. His name is Ahmad Dakoub and he has been working as AUB’s newspaper vendor for over 10 years. When he’s not observing the crowd of people pass-ing by in the AUB morning “rush hour,” he sits in his corner, flipping through his own newspapers, browsing through headlines and read-ing articles. Dakoub is happy to be part of the AUB community. He works on weekdays and Sat-urdays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and considers AUB to be his second home. “I’ve been here for a long time,” he said. “I’ve come to know a lot of people over the years working here, and meet-ing all these people makes me feel right at home.” Dakoub is known for keep-ing track of what his clients read. “There was this one cus-tomer who travelled a lot,” he recalled. “One day, he came back from a flight and was surprised to see me handing him his usual magazine.” Dakoub himself is an avid reader of newspapers and cit-

ed Al-Safir, a daily Lebanese publication, as his favorite among most newspapers. “I like their style of writ-ing,” he said. Newspapers and magazines play an integral part of our lives by keeping us up to date with what’s going on in the world. It’s by reaching out to the community at large that newspapers do their job. While most people in our generation feel comfortable accessing the news through the convenience of the Inter-net, most thoroughly well-reported and well-written ar-ticles tend to be published in print, as more thought is put into them than online articles. -- This is not to say that on-line blogs or writings are an inferior form of journalism or self-expression. The presence of Dakoub, the newspaper vendor, adds a certain cultural touch that is quickly disintegrating in our fast paced computerized world.

Source: highlighthollywood.com

Source: p.playserver1.com

Photocredit: Mohammad Azzam

September 26, 2012Entertainment . 11 November 27, 2012

Source: trickyriddles.com

I end the race. I am the beginning of the end. The start of eternity and the end of space. There are two of me in Heaven and one in hell. I am in water, fire, sunshine and darkness. I am the beginning of earth and the end of life. What am I?

Riddle

Answer: The letter E.

SudokuSource: websudoku.com

SidonNour ShurbajiContributing Writer

Have you ever heard about

The place that welcomes you

With gardens of lemons and bananas?

The crusaders' sea castle that has stood

For a thousand years in the harbor

Has taught them dignity

Has been the shelter, has been the shield.

Have you ever been that patient

To watch patience, to learn patience?

The fisherman there, after a long day

Brings his wife a fully tanned face,

A half naked body, a sea-sick mind

Yet little money can he find

Every street there, every square,

Has the name of a martyr.

Every child in Sidon

Will always give an innocent smile

But will never reveal the secret

About the bond between victory

And the gardens of lemons and bananas.

I rhyme with fight and bright and light.

When in plural form, I keep girls warm.

My situation allows for little motion.

I’m never loose and that’s the truth.

What am I?

Answer: Tight

September 26, 2012

الزهراء ماجد

على طاولتكأسترد روحي

أصور لقطات من الفرحأغار منها:

قنينة مائك،محط ثغرك..

أوراقك املبعثرة،محط عقلك..

طعامك،فرحة قلبك.

أغار من الطرقاتوجهاز حاسوبك

حيث متشي ويحط رحالكوأفكارك

بآلة صغيرةوقلبي آلتي

مهمش بذبذبات ألكترونيةموقعها أنتحديثها أنت

خريطة م�شاعري

و�شاع اجلرحهادي مراد من “وضاع اجلرح”

خذوا اإلستقالل يا دعاة الوطن...وانصرفوا... كفانا نحلم...

وكفاكم تهبوننا الوسائد...كي ننام...

نحن شعب...نحب الكلماتونحب أن نسمع “األخبار” بعدة

لغاتنتراصف على موسيقاها...

ويقبل بعضنا املذيعات...وتصبح كل “قناة” وطن...

وتصبح الشاشة رأس العلم...وتقول لي عيدي استقالل؟

خذوا اإلستقالل يا دعاة الوطن...خذوا األرز...وهل بقي من األرز

شيء لتأخذوه؟خذوا الفينيق... وعلموه كيف

ميوت...جاب التاريخ...

فقامت من وسط البحرعشتروت...

ثم رحل...إن في الطير جراحا، يا دعاة

السالم...ولكم اخلزي، في كل باب

27 تشرين الثاني، 2012

حين يغني الياسمين . 12

تفتحونه....وكل معاهدة مع الظالم...

أفأين الضوء مات أو قتل... كنتم الرعاة...

تعظمون احلق... وتنتحلون الصفات....

تسمون الشوارع بأسمائكم... واحلارات...

ويصبح الرصيف....وطن...وجل الشعب مشاة...

وهذا الزمور نشيد...وقلب الشعب حديد...

ونحن السبايا على الطريق...وتقول لي عيدي استقالل؟

وطني، وضاع اجلرح في النسيان...فال أنا أذكر... وال السماء تنسى...

وكالنا في احلالتني حروف علة...نحذف من “آخر” األوطان...

إني أراني والبالد حزينة...فلما تترددون يا دعاة الوطن؟

خذوا كل شيء...إن في األفق البيعد كواكبا درية...

وأرزة صوفية...وبنانا تشير إلى حيث أنتم...

فهال أخذمت تيك األيادي... ورحلتم...

خذوها وانصرفوا...خذوا اإلستقالل معكم...

إن كان وجودكم يعني اإلستقالل...

ودعونا ننام على وسائد من حرير...

ودعوا النهر...كي يعود اخلرير...حتى احملبة في وطنكم،

تبيعونها...يا أسياد...هل بقي شيء في

العملة لم تشترونه...؟إني أخاف أن أباع...

وإني أراني ال أقاوم...خذوا اإلسم... ودعوا لي األرض...

حتى الهوية...ال أريدها...إذ وجدت في جيوبكم مثلها...

فبيني وبينكم فرق كبير...

وطني إمياني...وأنتم ال تعرفون في احلياة “اهلل”...

وتقولون لي عيدي استقالل؟

حمى اهلل اجليش...البقية الوحيدة ملساحة اسمها الوطن.

ملك حلبيكاتبة متطوعة

يجلس في مقهى مزدحم بفناجني القهوة السوداء.

مقهى كانا يرتادانه سويا، مزدحم بفناجني الذاكرة احلمراء.

كانت دائما تتعمد أن تضرب له موعدا هناك عندما يكون الطقس ثائرا و عندما يكونان بركانني في عز االندالع. كانت

تلقي على هذا املقهى لقب “مقهى أبراكدابرا”.

فمهما توترت و تشنجت و اظطربت عالقتهما كان يكفي أن جتتاز أقدامهما عتبة هذا املقهى

حتى يهدأ الطقس!

و لكن مفعوله بطل..فاجتازاه السنة على عدد أوراق اللعب و ما هدأ بوسيدون و ال

زيوس و نوح كان يفشل في بناء السفينة..

يشرب شايا ساخنا كي يلغي مفعول الصقيع الذي أحدثه

رحيلها..قالت له أخر مرة بعد أن رسما

اخلطوط النهائية: قبل أن تصعد السيارة

مقعدك سيبقى شاغرا.. لن أستبدل القبطان. و لكن حان الوقت كي أفلت يدك و تفلت يدي. من العبث.. من العبث..

أن نتمسكقرب املنفضة.. كتلة جرائد.. أقدم

واحدة، تاريخها يعود إلى ثالث سنوات للوراء.

كان ينوي أن يبحث عن تاريخ اليوم الذي وضع قصتهما في

صفحة “حوادث القضاء و القدر”

الذاكرة احلمراء

حقوق نشرها، أنت.

تفاصيلك الصغيرة.بيتك، دفئي

هويتي.خريطة مشاعري

سهرك، تعبكحياتك..

أرسم منها حياتي.

فريال فقيه

خططنا تستهلك عقولنافيأتي قلبنا ليخرق تنظيمنا

يا لهذا الثائر اجلبار..ما هدفه؟ سوى إشعال النار!

جتاهلنا يستنفذ كبرياءنافتأتي معرفتنا لتوقظ صدمتنا

يا لهذه املعرفة الكاشفة لألسرار..

ما هدفها؟ سوى ردم الدمار!

أملنا يسجد أمام خجلنافتأتي نظراتنا لتركع لصمتنا

يا لهذا احملرك لإلصرار..ما الهدف؟ سوى قيامة اإلنهيار!

لذلك قل لي...ملاذا نعتاد الهروب والواقع

يالحقنا؟ملاذا نعتاد النكران واحلقيقة

تفضحنا؟ونظن أنفسنا أذكياء...يا للغباء

يا عاقد القلبنيفريال فقيه

كيف أكون عربية؟ كيف انتمي لهذه الهوية؟

اللغة؟ ننطقها دون أن نفهمهااألرض؟ ندوسها لننجسها

الوالدة؟ لم نعرفها يوما...فهل من مولود ال يصرخ؟

هل من رضيع ال يشعر بحضن من اعطاه احلياة؟

لقد ولدنا أمواتا، رافضني احلضن الذي كان ينتظرنا حياة.

رافضني الوطن الذي وجد ليكون احلضن.

لكننا خلقنا لنحزن بالدنافالسعادة ارعبتنا،

ألنها تأتي مع الوالدة. فالوالدة مشقة

أما املوت فمذلة.العروبة ليست مذلة

العروبة لم تعرف الوالدة ..بعد.والوطن لم يشعر باألمومة..بعد.

الوالدة

September 26, 2012

13 . مقابالت وتحقيقات27 تشرين الثاني، 2012

محمد ناصر الدينحاوره عالء كيالي:

يدور بعض الكتاب العرب في فلك املكتبات و البعض اآلخر اسة يختار طاولة مبقهى ككر

إلبداعه.شعر املقاهي هو شعر كسول. اء، ألن عراء هم القر فأفضل الشاملقهى ال يعطي أدبا و إن أعطى فيكون ضعيفا و ال يرقى السم

األدب.* الكاتب العربي غالبا ما ينقسم

ن له رمق بني مهنته التي تؤماحلياة و كتابته التي تؤمن له رمق

اخليال. فأين الكاتب العربي بني املهنة و األدب؟

الكاتب يحتاج ألن يعطي الوقت الكافي ألدبه و ذلك يجبره على التفرغ لكي يخرج للعالم بأدب جديد و مبدع. فنزار ترك مهنته الدبلماسية و تفرغ لألدب فكان

جديرا بذلك.

*ما هي األسس التي تؤخذ بعني االعتبار في تقييم األديب و الفنان

عموما؟“األديب احلقيقي هو الذي يصنع اخلطوط جملتمع جديد” فأدونيس

اقترب من منطقة محرمة في التعبير ليكون رائد النثر. باحلقيقة يبدأ الشعر حينما ينتهي التاريخ و الفلسفة، و

لكن أدونيس استطاع أن يكتب التاريخ و الفلسفة بالشعر مع

العلم أن مزج التاريخ بالشعر هو أمر صعب و لكنه جنح في

ذلك. و كما أن املاغوط جدد في الشعر كقصيدته الشهيرة “حزن

في ضوء القمر” فكانا أدونيس و املاغوط رائدا الشعر احلديث و

هما يرتقيان عن نزار و درويش.أما نزار فكان آخر شاعر تفعيلي.

تناول مواضيع محرمة باجملتمع كاملرأة و قارب املنطقة احلمراء

كاجملتمع و نظرته لنفسه و التناقضات في اجلتمعات

الشرقية.و الكبير مظفر النواب عالمة

فارقة بالشعر العربي. هو جريء و سليط اللسان. و صف احلكام

العرب مبا فيهم كقصائده “تل الزعتر، و تريات ليلية” و إن

مجتمعاتنا ال تتقبل شعره ألنها متارس الفحشاء باخلفاء.

و باملرور على الطرب و الغناء فهما يعطيان فكرة عن اجملتمع

و درجة رقيه.فأم كلثوم مثال بدأت مطربة

نخبة كامللك فاروق و ساعدها الصوت اجلميل و الكلمات

الراقية. املواضيع التي طرحتها أم كلثوم هي مواضيع عادية كاحلب و الغرام و العشق و بعض األغاني

الثورية. أم كلثوم كانت هرما من أهرامات

مصر كما كانت فيروز األرزة اللبنانية بل اجتازت لبنان ليصل صداها إلى البلدان العربية كافة

فال يكتمل صباح عربي بدون شذاها. و سبب ابتعادها عن

اإلعالم قد يكون خجلها فهي خجولة جدا لكنها واضحة مبواقفها و ذلك يكون جليا

مبعظم أغانيها كأغنية “ألجلك يا مدينة الصالة و قصائدها لدمشق” و تبنت حنجرتها

القضايا الكبرى كفلسطني. كان لزياد الرحباني تأثيرا بشهرتها ألنه أنزلها من برجها العاجي

أي من مغنية نخبة إلى مغنية شعب.

أما عن طرب هذه األيام و ما يدور بفلكه كهيفا مثال فهي ترى و

ال تسمع من قبل هذا اجليل ألنه ميلك مشكلة مع لغته التي باتت تقتصر على الفيس بوك و بعض

الوسائل األخرى.إن اجليل اجلديد هو من يحدد

طبيعة الطرب و الغناء التي يريد، فهو جيل عملي و ال يريد أن

يذهب خلف الكالم باحثا عن الفكرة.

كيف يكون االتباع الصحيح لشاعر أو أديب:*

عندما تقف أمام فكرة قف كالطفل الصغير الذي ال يعلم

عنها شيئا لتكتب ما تريد و بطريقتك.

العوامل التي تؤثر بالشاعر هي التي تصنعه كالعوامل النفسية. و غيرها فأدونيس

انتمى للحزب القومي و انفصل عنه ألن سعاده كان يعطي

األولولية للمجتمع “العقل هو األساس” و أدونيس شاعر صوفي و الصوفييون ميجدون الشخص.في بدايتي تأثرت بشعراء كبار

كنزار و املاغوط و مزقت كتاباتي األولى ألنني رأيت فيها تأثرا

واضحا بهما.*تأثير القرآن الكرمي بالشعر

العربي:القرآن الكرمي حتدى العرب و

لغتهم. “آلم” و كأن اهلل يقول هذه حروفكم أيها العرب و هذه

احلروف هي التي تعلمتم بها الشعر و املعلقات فاصنعوا لي

ا �شالة تطيل اللوز �شبرشيئا مثل هذا القرآن.

كما أنه ختم مرحلة و جاء مبرحلة جديدة. املرحلة القدمية كان فيها الشعر بوقا للقبائل

كالترحال و الهجرة. و بعد القرآن أصبح الشعر شعر معرفة ألن

بعض الشعراء حملوا قيم القرآن ه. و ألسبوا قصائدهم زي

الفرح ليس منا، هل احلزن و الكآبة هي قوت الشاعر و الكاتب

العربي؟:*الفرح ليس منا لظروفنا

التاريخية فإن ثقافتنا هي ثقافة سوداء و حربية. و غالبا ما ينتج

األلم شعرا رائعا.

*الشعر الشعبي و الشعر العاجي:

الشعر الشعبي هو أهم ألنه يواكب مجتمعاتنا كما واكب

الربيع العربي. أما الشعر العاجي فهو شعر النخب. “ الشعر هو ما ينقلنا إلى هناك” أي أنه ما

يأخذنا إلى املكان الذي يريده عر كاتبه. مع العلم أن الشالشعبي هو شعر مرحلي.

كالدلعونا هي من أغاني اجلنوب و لكن ليس لها ذات االهمية كما

كانت قبل سنني.

*إذا أتينا للبحث عن األحداث التاريخية، فمعظمها كتبت و دونت بالشعر و لواله ملا علمنا

بها:اإلغريق كانوا يعتبرون الفلسفة

هي الكيان األعلى. ألن الشعر يدخل بنطاق احلواس فاعتبروه

كائنا أدنى. و لكن العرب فهموا ارتباط الشعر باحلياة املتغيرة عر احلديث ألن و خصوصا الش

ثقافة العرب ثقافة شفهية و تعتمد على الثقافة و البالغة

فقدسوا الشعر.

*الشعر الثوري و املقاوم:

على املستوى الرسمي العربي ال يوجد إجماع على القضية

الفلسطينية.كما أنه مت تقزمي القضايا العربية و هذا الضخ

اإلعالمي أشغل العرب عن القضايا الكبرى.

لم يكتب شاعر مشهور باستثناء “محمد علي شمس

الدين و حلمي سالم” عن املقاومات العربية. بعضهم كتب بعنوان لبنان. و السؤال “ألم يعد للحالة املقاومة شاعر ميجدها؟”

كما أن املقاومة اإلسالمية لم يعد لها شاعر يكتب عنها.

يجب أن نعلم أن الشعر الثوري هو شعر مرحلي و الشاعر هو

البوق اإلعالمي ملرحلته.هل يجب أن يحمل الشعر الثوري

راية الشعر العامي ليضمن وصوله لفئته؟

سجل أنا عربي هي قصيدة فصيحة و موزونة و أعلنت

وصولها لكافة فئات اجملتمع. و أهازيج الثورة اجلزائرية و التي

كتبت باللهجة العامية اجلزائرية ليست مفهومة لنصف العالم

العربي “املشرق” و لذلك باعتقادي الشعر الفصحى يفي بالغرض.

و إذا أتينا لنعرج على قضية من أهم القضيايا العربية و هي

فلسطني فقبل أوسلو 1993 كان ميكن القول أن فلسطني كانت

محور الشعر الثوري. و لكن االن ال يوجد شعر مركزي، فحماس

لها شعرها و أدبياتها و حزب اهلل له شعره. فال يوجد قصيدة

يجتمع حولها العرب قاطبة.

*هل ميكن تعلم الشعر أم هو موهبة و ال تعلم:

الشعر املوزون من املمكن تعلمه و لكن ال ميكن للتفعيله أن

تعطي شعرا بحد ذاتها. فإذا أتينا إلنسان آلي قد يبرمج على البحور و يركب كلمات و يصنع

قصائد موزونة و لكن هل لها معنى كامل و فكرة جديدة.

أما عن الشعر املتحرر من الوزن فال ميكن اعتبار أي شخص رتب

الكلمات بدون طريقة متماسكة بشاعر.

على الشعر أن يحمل قيمة و ليس بالضرورة رسالة فقد تكون

القيمة فلسفية أو معرفية.فإذا ألغيت القصيدة التقليدية

فعليك أن حتملها شيئا يعوضها عن غياب بنيتها.

*الشعر بني املنطق و الالمنطق:أدونيس “ليس من الضروري أن يخضع الشعر لقوانني العقل”

حامد الغزالي: “أنا إذا نظرت باحلواس للنجوم أعتبر النجوم نقطة صغيرة بالسماء و يأتي

العقل ليقول أن ضوءها الطفيف ال يدعي صغرها و إمنا هي كوكب

كبير”.فكما العقل يصلح للحواس، ميكن أن تأتي احلواس لتصلح

للعقل.أحيانا الالمنطق ميكن أن يكون

نوعا من أنواع املعرفة و لكننا لم نعرف ماهيته بعد.

*الكتاب بعنوان “صالة تطيل اللوز شبرا” :

سيصدر كتابي األول بعنوان “ صالة تطيل اللوز شبرا” عن دار

النهضة العربية في معرض الكتاب “البييل”. و يتضمن 60 قصيدة من الشعر النثري. هو

عبارة عن تأمالت، أفكار فلسفية مغطاة و فيه نوع من الثورة و

التمرد على القوالب.هو ليس بشعر مباشر بل هو

شعر متعب يحتاج للبحث عن الفكرة بني الكلمات.

ترى فيه قلق اإلنسان في كل زمان. و أكون كالطفل أحيانا

أنظر إلى األشياء بدون أحكام مسبقة و أنظر لنفسي من

الداخل و للعالم خارجيا. الكتاب جريء و يواجه املسلمات و

يضربها ألننا غارقون بها.إهداء الكتاب هو إلى والدي الذي

مات قبل أن أعرفه و للوزة التي زرعها.

والدي زرع اللوزة و أمي صلت لها و أنا كتبت لألرض و لهما و

للسماء.و ضعت قصيدتني بالشعر املوزون

ألدلي بالفكرة أن الشاعر الذي يكتب موزونا قادر على كتابة غير

ذلك.

الثلجيأكل الطريقورق السنديان

سجادة الدرج القدمياحلائط

تزوج الظل والقذيفةصالة امك

تطيل اللوزة شبراااليدي القصيرةال تصل الى اهلل

ذاب الثلجكنسوا الدرج

قصوا اللوزةهدموا احلائط

سهت امك في الصالةغاب اهلل خيف الغيم

قطعت رأسكوبكيت

September 26, 2012 27 تشرين الثاني 2012

نور الشربجيكاتبة صحافية

“ هنا جذوري هنا قلبي هنا لغتي فكيف أوضح؟ هل في العشق

إيضاح؟” أتت اللغة العربية ثالث املعايير التي أوقعت نزار قباني بحب دمشق ، أما درويش فقد سواها بجذوره حني قال “من

لغتي ولدت على طريق الهند بني قبيلتني صغيرتني عليهما

قمر الديانات القدمية”. و قد عبر أنطون سعادة عن تعلقه بلغته

فقال “نحن حماة الضاد”. حقا ، نحن اليوم بحاجة ماسة

إلى من يحمي” الضاد”. فأذكر عندما بدأت أنا و أصدقائي

في املدرسة عملية التحضير للتدابير و األوراق الالزمة

للتسجيل في اجلامعة األمريكية في بيروت أخبرنا أحدهم أنه

ميكننا أن نخضع المتحان يقيم مستوى لغتنا العربية و أنه من

املعروف في اجلامعة أن عددا كبيرا من الطالب يتعمدون

اد! التاء مربوطة بالعني نادت:تعالوا نحمي ال�شالرسوب في هذا االمتحان

التقييمي ليستطيعوا تسجيل عربي 201أ و هي املادة األضعف، فتحمس أغلبهم و اعتبروه أمرا

بديهيا. لم يكذب من نور صديقي بهذه

النصيحة الذهبية التي يبدو أنها أصبحت من اإلرشادات األولية

التي تعطى للطالب اجلدد. فقد دخلت إلى اجلامعة و ها أنا أعيش

سنتي الثالثة و ما زال الطالب يتباهون بنجاحهم الباهر في

الرسوب في هذا االمتحان الذي يخولهم دخول طبقة 201 امللكية. مع العلم أن قانون

اجلامعة ال يفرض علينا إال مادة عربية واحدة وحيدة في بلد أردته

عربيا أم كيانا سوريا أم وهما فينيقيا لكن لغته األم تبقى

عربية. هذا بعيدا عن اللبناني الذي يحمل جنسية أو شهادة

مدرسية أجنبية فهو األوفر حظا إذ يعفا متاما من مرارة “الضاد”.

أما طالب اجلامعة األجانب كأولئك من الواليات املتحدة

بني غزة واأخواتها : احلرية للق�شية الفل�شطينيةياسر الزيات

كاتب متطوع

نظم طالب في اجلامعة اعتصاما أكدوا فيه تضامنهم مع غزة، وقد حدثت إشكاالت وخالفات

تطرقت للشأن السوري وتطورت إلى اعتداءات لفظية ومادية

بررها البعض بأن املعتدي على فكرة االعتصام وغايته هو البادئ

األظلم.

هذا املقال سيناقش »االعتداء« الذي حصل، ثم يعرض رأيي

الشخصي في االعتصام وغايته.ال شك أن الفتات من أجل سوريا

مرفوعة في اعتصام من أجل غزة خطأ قانوني. ليس خطيئة أخالقية يساء الظن بفاعلها أو

يخون، ولكن فيه »خبص« لألمور.لكن هل هناك اعتصام

منسجم؟ أو ضرورة لتوحيد الشعارات؟ نحن هتفنا أصال

في االعتصام هتافات مسيسة

)»فتح وحماس وشعبية«، »يا عباس انزال انزال«( ومرت بسالم.

بل، واسمحوا لي بهذه الـ بل: ليست قضية االعتصام املقاومة، وال حتى فلسطني! على األقل لم

يشر منظموه إليهما.

ثمة من يرى غزة ضحية للعدوان وللمقاومة معا، ويتعاطف مع املأساة ويرفض »العنف«،فهل

يحق له االعتراض على تأييد املقاومة، وفق منطق »ال

الستغالل االعتصام«؟ برأيي، نعم. مهما اختلفت معه، إلم يقمع ولم يسب ويتوعد ويوزع

االتهامات فحقه وتضامنه مشروع، فإن اعترض فهو ال

»يخون« وال »يندس« بل ببساطة يعبر عن رأيه، وميكن االحتجاج

على رأيه اخلاطئ دون اعتداء.كالمي أعاله موقف أخالقي، أما

كالمي أدناه فرأي.يبدو أن التطرق للشأن السوري احلساس هو ما »نرفز« البعض

وجعله يتعامل بأبوية غريبة، ثم ميدحها في »تقرير«دعائي في

جريدة اجلامعة!كثيرون ال يعرفون شيئا عن

اجملتمع واحلياة اليومية في غزة أو الضفة أو أراضي 48، وال يهتمون

بالداخل الفلسطيني بل بقضايا إستراتيجية ال تعني معظم الفلسطينيني، وال يحفظون

أسماء الشهداء بل يعدونهم، وال يحبون احلرية بل يكرهون اليهود، وال يهمهم فهم الصراع بني غزة

وغزاتها، وال يريدون من املأساة سوى تأكيد صوابهم واستعراض

وطنياتهم املتهرئة، فتراهم ال يقبلون النقد وال التعلم، وال

احلرية!

املعتصمون ليسوا حزبا بل طالبا متنوعني جلامعة ثرية

جدا. للمعتصمني رؤى عديدة عن غزة: ثمة من يراها حربا بني املسلمني واليهود، أو بني العرب

والغرب، أو بني ميني إسرائيلي

وميني فلسطيني وبينهما شعب مغلوب على أمره، وثمة من فقط

يحزن على اجلرح الذي ال يكف عن النزيف...وثمة، أخيرا، من يرى غزة أختا ملدن سورية أو مخيمات

فلسطينية تتعرض لعدوان ال يقل فاشية وال عدد ضحايا عن العدوان الصهيوني...هنا

القضية! املشكلة التي حدثت باختصار أن أصحاب الرؤيا األخيرة

عبروا عنها، عن ضمائرهم التي لم يشاؤوا كبتها، فقمعوا.

ال أطلب من الناس أن يعيشوا الوجع السوري، لكن أقلها أن يفهموه، وأن يفهموا أن املئات

في سوريا سقطوا بالتزامن مع شهداء غزة، وباسم غزة! وأن من

املؤلم التعاطف مع شهيد ثم جهل أو جتاهل )أو التشفي بـ(

شهيد آخر. التعاطف اإلنساني مع القتلى ليس أبدا موقفا

سياسيا!

لست مع التضامن اخلطابي

التقليدي، وال مع أدجلة التعاطف، وال مع التحية العمياء ألحزاب

املقاومة، وال مع سرقة القضية من الناس وتعليمهم كيف

يخدمونها. مع فلسطني ألني مع فلسطني، للحرية ال للممانعة،

وهذه األخيرة مسؤولة عن مآسي شعبي، ومن حقي محاسبتها

ومطاردتها والتنغيص على غرورها السياسي حيثما أرى

وجهها. لقد حاول عبد الناصر حترير فلسطني فاحتل اليمن،

وحاول حافظ األسد حترير فلسطني فاحتل لبنان، وحاول

صدام حترير فلسطني فاحتل الكويت..ليست هذه فلسطيني

التي أحبها وأفديها وأعيش جملدها وانتصارها، فلسطيني هي تلك

التي هتفت حتت القصف لبالدي وهتفت بالدي حتت القصف لها.

اجملد للشعوب!

األمريكية أو فرنسا الذين يأتون عبر برنامج تبادل الطالب فكنت

أراقب بعضهم من الفتيات اللواتي كن يعشن معي في

السكن اجلامعي نفسه و هن ميضني معظم وقتهن في تعلم اللغة العربية من خالل القراءة و الكتابة و االستماع لنشرات

األخبار على احملطات العربية ، و لن أنسى ما قالته لي إحداهن مرة حني سألتها عن رأيها في لغتنا فقالت أنها بذلت جهدا

كبيرا لتتعلم كيف تلفظ حرف القاف و قد انصدمت حني

الحظت أن اللبناني ال مييز بينه و بني األلف.

هذا هو حال طالب اجلامعة األمريكية في بيروت الذي يعكس

حال اجملتمع اللبناني الذي على وشك أن يدفن بعض أحرفه في األرض التي قدموسها أجنب أول

احلروف و صدرها للعالم.

جاد دميانطالب هندسة مدنية، سنة رابعة

اجلامعة األميركية في بيروت، هي أحرف جتتمع معا لتلتقي من خاللها األصالة والتاريخ. هذه األصالة وهذا التاريخ اللذان تعمدتا تارة باألعراس والزغاريد من خالل النجاحات التي بنيت على اكتشافات مذهلة أقدم

عليها أساتذتها وطالبها، وتارة أخرى بالدم من خالل بعد األحداث

التي مرت بتاريخ لبنان وكان لطالب و أساتذة اجلامعة األمركية في

بيروت دورا، إما في التصعيد أو في التهدئة.

لذلك وببساطة إن هذه اجلامعة هي مجتمع بحد ذاته، جتمع داخل

أسوارها مجموعة مثقفني تهيئهم على مقاعدها الدراسية لتخرجهم كوادر فاعلة في كل اجملاالت وامليادين.

لقد سنحت لي الفرصة أن أكون عضوا في هذا اجملتمع، ال بل بهذه

العائلة التي احتضنتني من أول حلظة وطأت قدماي أرض “املاين

غيت” وبفخر، أعترف بأنها قد عجنتني لتصنع مني إنسانا أفضل.

إن هذا االعتراف ليس عبثيا بل هو

نتيجة “مشوار” استمر ألربع سنوات وسينتهي هذه السنة حينما

أتخرج. لذلك لم أشأ أن أترك هذه املباني التي تدب بها احلياة، ناكرا

للجميل. لقد متكنت في هذه الفترة الزمنية

من اكتساب قيمة العمل النضالي. من األمثلة التي سأعطيها

مسؤوليتي كأحد الوزراء ال-17 في احلكومة الطالبية سنة 2010-200٩ حني قررنا التكاتف مع كافة األندية

الطالبية في اجلامعة من أجل التصدي لغالء األقساط اجلامعية.

بالرغم من بعض احلسابات الضيقة متكنا من تأجيل هذا القرار سنة

كاملة. متكنت أيضا من املشاركة باعتصام منعا لغالء أسعار

الكافتريا، وهنا أيضا وبالرغم من بعض األخطاء هنا وهناك متكنا

من إرغام الكافتريا على تخفيض األسعار. إنني ال أذكر هاتني احلادثتني من باب الدعاية، لكن هدفي هو أن أبرهن على املساحة التي تفسحها

هذه اجلامعة أمام تالميذها كي يعملون جاهدين للتغيير.

من هنا أعتقد بأنه قد سنح لي بأن تكون لي حياة .. حياة أفضل

ا�شتثمار ال�شباب يف جتربة اجلامعة

رورة عن راأي جريدة االأوتلوك فحة ال تعب بال�ش االآراء الواردة يف هذه ال�ش

آراء حرة . 14

September 26, 20122012 ،27 تشرين الثاني

الطبيب... و�شرف االإن�شانية

منطق مقلوب ! )الرد على الون�ش و الدمية(

رامي حسان ديابطالب طب في اجلامعة

األميركية، سنة ثانية

استهوتني مهنة الطب ودراسة العلوم الطبية منذ مطلع عهدي بالدراسة اجلامعية، ولعل أكثر ما

شدني إلى التعلق بهذه املهنة هي الناحية اإلنسانية التي

متيزها عن غيرها من العلوم. وها أنا اليوم ورغم أنني ما أزال تلميذا يحبو في دراسة الطب، فقد بدأت أشعر بأن أهم ما مييز هذه املهنة

هو كونها ترتكز على قواعد أخالقية وسلوكية تنبثق من

اإلميان بإنسانية اإلنسان، ورمبا كان ذلك انطالقا من اعتبار أن اإلنسان

هو املقياس األساس لألشياء وجميعها كما يقول أبو الطب

الفيلسوف اليوناني أبوقراط.من هنا بات الواجب اإلنساني يفرض على كل من يرغب في دراسة علوم الطب، أن يتحلى

بأكبر قدر من الشعور والتقدير

نحو أخيه اإلنسان، فكيف إذا كان هذا اإلنسان مريضا يحتاج

إلى من يتكفل مبعاجلته والعناية به ودرء خطر املرض عنه. وتبدو

أهمية ذلك حينما نرى أن اهتمام اإلنسان في عاملنا اليوم، هذا

العالم التي تسيطر عليه املادة، بات يقتصر على املظاهر املادية لإلنسان. األمر الذي بات يفرض على الطبيب التحلي بالنزعة األخالقية وإعادة الكرامة إلى

القيمة اإلنسانية لتكون مرادفا الهتمامه بالنزعة العلمية.

ويبدو أن هذا اجلانب اإلنساني في مزاولة مهنة الطب هو ما متيز

به األطباء العرب بحيث أطلقوا على الطبيب اسم “احلكيم” ذلك

أن احلكمة هي اكتشاف العلم بالتعلم والتجارب ألن احلقيقة في الطب غاية ال تدرك، كما

يتبني لنا في كتاب “القانون في الطب” الذي صنفه ابن سينا والذي اعتبر املرجع األساسي لتدريس الطب في اجلامعات

هزار كنجكاتبة متطوعة

“الونش و الدمية”...قد يكون في هذه العبارة صورة بيانية

مبتكرة و تصوير للواقع بخفة و ذكاء. إال أن ما ال شك فيه هو أن

فيها أيضا تشويه مفجع ألصول التهذيب و اللياقة...إن ما أحتدث عنه هو مقال بعنوان “الونش و الدمية” نشر في األوتلوك )عدد

17 تشرين األول(. مقال شحنني را أسفا على شباب اليوم و حتس

على منطق قلب الشواذ قاعدة و القاعدة شواذ.

في املقال استهزاء لشاب فيه من اللباقة و االحترام لذاته و

لصديقته ما دفعه حلمل ست كتب دون أن يطلب مساعدتها.

ولكن يبدو أن لطافة الشاب ت كاتبنا العزيز، فاستهزأ استفز

بالفكرة منتقدا ما أسماه محاولة الشبان إغراء الشابات

من الناحية اجلسدية غافلني نواحي أخرى، مناديا باملساواة،

را اجملتمعات الشرقية و محقعاداتها البالية ،متسائال كيف

ميكن المرأة ال حتمل كومة كتب أن حتمل مسؤولية وطن؟؟

و كأن مجتمعاتنا العربية قد خلت من التصرفات السلبية حتى أصبحنا نتربص بأطالل

املالئح نريد تغييرها!! )يا عيب الشوم(. إن األمور السلبية في

وطننا، لألسف الشديد، ال تعد و ال حتصى: من الطائفية املتجذرة

في العقول، إلى التسرب املدرسي و عمالة األطفال، إلى رمي

النفايات على الطرقات و ما بني هذه و تلك من مظاهر التخلف

احلقيقية. أما األتيكات- التي اعتبرها زميلنا عادات “عربية”

“متخلفة”- فلطاملا كانت من أبرز مظاهر احلضارة و الرقي و لطاملا

تباهت بها اجملتمعات الغربية. فكما على الصغير إجالل الكبير

و مساعدته احتراما لعمره و تقديرا لضعفه، كذلك على

الشاب احترام الفتاة و معاملتها بلطف و شهامة. وذلك ال يعني أن يكون هو الونش و هي الدمية

بل ببساطة أن يكون الرجل رجل و املرأة إمرأة.

صحيح أن الرجل و املرأة هما نصفا اجملتمع إال أن املناداة

باملساواة الكاملة بينهما جرمية بحق العدالة. فكما أن املساواة

بني الضريبة التي يدفعها الفقير و تلك التي يدفعها الغني أمر مناف للعدالة كذلك املساواة

بني الرجل و املرأة...إن الرجل الذي يتذمر من حمل كومة كتب

لتسع دقائق، غافال-أو متناسيا رمبا- أن أمه “األضعف جسديا”

حملته في رحمها تسعة أشهر، هو غير مؤهل حلمل مسؤولية

أسرة صغيرة، فكيف مبسؤولية وطن؟! فاملرأة لم تطلب يوما من

الرجل أن يحمل عنها جنينها أربعة أشهر مثال، أو أن يتناوبا

فتحمل هي األول وهو الثاني! بل هي حتمل و تنجب و ترضع و تربي

و تسهر الليالي، تعبة و لكن فرحة ألنها تعطي من نفسها

ملن حتب. وقد يسخر من يقرأ هذه

آنذاك. و كما جتدر اإلشارة في هذا اجملال أيضا إلى ما جاء على

لسان الطبيب الرازي املعروف بجالينوس العرب قبل أكثر من

ألف عام وهو الذي ظل حجة الطب بال منازع على مدى عصور طويلة حتى أن جامعة برنستون في الواليات املتحدة توجت إحدى

مبانيها بصورة له. قال الرازي الذي اشتهر بحبه على املرضى

والرأفة بهم “ينبغي للطبيب أن يوهم املريض أبدا بالصحة

ويرجيه بها وإن كان غير واثق متاما بذلك. فمزاج اجلسم تابع ألخالق

النفس” وهذا ثابت من وجهة الصحة النفسية كونه يرفع

الروح املعنوية للمريض.أود اإلشارة في اخلتام إلى أن

ما حذا بي إلى التطرق ألهمية اجلانب اإلنساني في مزاولة

الطب هو ما تردد أمامي وتناهى إلى سمعي عن عدم اكتراث الكثير من األطباء في لبنان

والدول العربية باالستماع

إلى شكاوى املرضى والتبصر مبعاناتهم، بل تراهم يسارعون

إلى إعطاء الوصفة الطبية دون شرح أو حتليل أو نصح أو إرشاد

كاف للمريض، بل و رمبا عدم االلتفات إلى املعاناة النفسية

للمريض وبخاصة من يشكو من مرض عضال. لذلك ال بد لنا من

التذكير مبا جاء في قسم أبقراط: “إذا أنا وفيت بهذا القسم يحق لي أن أهنأ باحلياة وبالفن الذي

شرفت باالشتهار به بني الناس، وأن أعطي نصيبا من التعاليم

األخالقية ألبنائي وتالميذي الذين قبلوا بهذا العهد، وأن أحافظ عل

حياتي بطهارتي وتقواي”.حقا أيها الطبيب، إنك إذا ما

تشرفت مبزاولة مهنة الطب. فإن هذا الشرف إمنا يعود أساسا إلى

وجوب إميانك بإنسانية أخيك اإلنسان.

الكلمات قائال “لو علمت املرأة أن باستطاعة الرجل احلمل و

اإلرضاع ملا تطوعت لفعل ذلك مبفردها، و لو استطاع الرجل

ا ملا تأخر عن فعل ذلك حقمساعدتها!” قد يكون ذلك

صحيحا و قد ال يكون، و لكن في كلتي احلالتني فهو إقرار صريح بوجود اختالف بيولوجي ال مفر

منه بني اجلنسني. و هذا االختالف لم يوجد فقط للتكاثر و إمنا وجد

ل أحدهما لتوزيع األدوار و ليكماآلخر.

وإذا كانت نسبة النساء من اليد العاملة ال تتخطى الربع، فهذا ال

ميكن أن يكون نتيجة ما أسماه زميلنا “ممارسات تافهة”، إمنا هو

نتيجة حقيقة يرفض كثيرون اإلقرار بها و هي أن للنساء دور

أسما و أعظم بألف مرة من حكم الدول و هو التربية. إن

التربية الصاحلة و الشاملة من شأنها أن تضمن لنا جيال من الشباب الواعي و النزيه و هي

بالتالي ضمانة ملؤسسات خالية

من الفساد و وطن قوي و موحد. إن بناء األوطان يبدأ بتربية صاحلة

ألبناء اليوم الذين سيصبحون قادة الغد، و التربية الصاحلة تبدأ من األم. و ذلك ال يعني أن دور األب و املدرسة و حتى اجملتمع ال أهمية لهم في هذه التربية و لكن يبقى الدور األساسي الذي ال غنى عنه

ه، وترعى، لألم. فهي التي توجوتهتم، وتتابع دون انقطاع، و دون

ملل أو كلل.

ختاما، إن تضحيات النساء في مختلف اجملتمعات هي تضحيات عظمى، وال يزال البعض يستكثر

عليهن القليل من االحترام و التقدير!!! شكرا أمي و شكرا

لكل إمرأة تربي أوالدها على األخالق و القيم.

انت�شار كلية الهند�شة : بنكهة ع�شري الليمون

فارس طرادكاتب متطوع

بطريقة طريفة ومميزة قررت اجملموعة التي فازت بأغلبية املقاعد النيابية

وكافة املقاعد الوزارية التابعة لكلية الهندسة والعمارة من االحتفال

بانتصارها عبر توزيع منشورات تدعو من خاللها كافة الطالب إلى االجتماع أمام مبنى Bechtel واالستمتاع بكوب من عصير الليمون الطازج مع الفائزين.

لذلك وبعد املشاركة في احتفال رفع العلم اللبناني توجه نهار األربعاء 2012/11/21، عدد من الطالب إلى

مبنى Bechtel حيث ألقى جاد دميان خطابا سريعا شدد من خالله على أهمية الفوز هذه السنة و ألول مرة

بعد أكثر من 1٥ سنة، مؤكدا بأن هذا االنتصار سيعزز من خالل املشاريع التي

سيسعى الفائزون إلى حتقيقها. بعد ذلك عمد الطالب إلى توزيع العصير

على املشاركني وساد االحتفال جو من املرح والضحك. عسى أن يكون

هذا االنتصار بنكهة عصير الليمون في مكانه، أي أنه يحمل مسؤولية

كبيرة للمحتفلني في امتحان اإلجناز أو الفشل في السنة القادمة.

1٥ . اجتماعيات

September 26, 2012إصدار 4٥، عدد 10

27 تشرين الثاني، 2012

ما فرقته االنتخابات جمعته مأثرة االستقالل: نظام الدين: “دعونا ال ننسى أن ما يجمعنا هو أقوى من ما يفرقنا”

نورة حمزة كاتبة صحافية

بالرغم من التوتر السياسي املهيمن على لبنان و املصاعب احمللية والدولية التي يواجهها

املسؤولون و التي تؤثر على حياة اللبنانيني ، ال يغفل املواطنون عن

التوحد يوما واحدا في السنة، باسم “لبنان” فقط . في 22 تشرين الثاني ؛ عيد استقالل

لبنان عن األجنبي.بعد أن فرقتهم االنتخابات

الطالبية ولو مؤقتا ، عاد الطالب جميعا بكل أطيافهم

السياسية والتقوا في االحتفال التقليدي لالستقالل ال 69.

اجتمع طالب األميركية باإلضافة إلى أعضاء من الهيئة التعليمية

و عميد شؤون الطلبة د. طالل نظام الدين، األربعاء املاضي أمام

ساحة “وست هال”، حاملني علم لبنان ، جنبا إلى جنب، منشدين

بأعلى صوت “كلنا للوطن”.إفتتحت املناسبة بعزف من

قبل فرقة عسكرية تابعة للجيش اللبناني ، حني بدأ

ألقى عميد الطلبة د. طالل نظام الدين كلمته ، مرحبا

بالطالب، قائال أن مناسبة وطنية كهذه تقربنا من بعضنا البعض.

مضيفا بأن اجلامعة األمريكية برهنت في فترة االنتخابات -

اجلمعة املاضية- على قدرتها في مواجهة كل الصعوبات املوجودة

حولها؛ “دعونا ال ننسى أن ما يجمعنا هو أقوى مما يفرقنا ، نحن

موحدون بحبنا لهذه اجلامعة،

املصدر: نورة حمزة

الطالب يتوافدون ، ساهم البعض منهم بتوزيع األعالم

واألناشيد مشجعا املارين على املشاركة ،فيما اكتفى البعض اآلخر باجللوس على أدراج “وست

هل” و االستمتاع بالفرقة ، أما آخرون فمروا مرور الكرام، غير مدركني ما يحصل، غير

مهتمني، مستنجدين بصفوفهم وأشغالهم .

قبل تالوة النشيد الوطني،

برغبتنا في حتقيق النجاح، احلفاظ على الصداقة، و احملبة

فيما بيننا”. أعرب نظام الدين عن حزنه العميق ملا يتعرض له أخوانا

و أخواتنا في البالد اجملاورة من عذاب وألم ، تفكك عائالت

وهدم للمنازل مؤكدا أن “قلوبنا معهم” . و تابع، “ دعونا نؤكد

التزاماتنا حتت أرزة الوطن ، إلبقاء األمان فيه و للحفاظ

على مستوى التعليم العالي للجامعة في الشرق الألوسط و العالم. و ختم قائال أن للشباب

“القدرة على حتسني وضع املنطقة للمستقبل ، إن بقينا

جميعنا موحدين سنحقق أمورا رائعة. عشتم وعاش لبنان.”

تال ذلك عزف النشيد الوطني ، فتفاوت أداء الطالب بني من يحفظه عن ظهر قلب و من

يتبعه بصعوبة و يحتاج لقراءته مكتوبا مع تفاوت كبير باللحن و

“اإلحساس”.

وقد اختتم االحتفال برفع علم لبنان عاليا مع التصفيق وتسارع

الطالب الستعمال أجهزتهم اخللوية الذكية واتخاذ صور تذكارية مع أعضاء الفرقة

املوسيقية .

وأدام اهلل علينا نعمة االستقالل والسالم !

أوتــــــــــــلوك املنشــــــــــورة الطالبيــــــــة

املســـــــتقلة منذ عام 1949

مدى الدبس

جريدة )األوتلوك( هي املنبر االعالمي الطالبي الوحيد للجامعة األميركية

في بيروت منذ عام 1949. جريدة حسبها أنها من الطالب والى

الطالب. يقتصر العمل االختصاصي فيها على بضعة ورشات عمل يقوم

بها اعالميون خالل العام الدراسي. العمل فيها تطوعي بحت، ال يرتبط بأي مردود مادي. حوافز فريق عملها ملهمة من حب العطاء للمجتمع

األصغر – اجلامعة ، وبالرغبة في تكريس مهارات صحافية اكتسبت

في اجلامعة، تتوج بإنتاج عملي يساهم فيه املراسلون بشكل مباشر

وفعال.

افتتاحية العدد العا�شر : احلرية وامل�شوؤولية تعمل أسرة اجلريدة على مدار

األسبوع الصدار العدد املوعود من )األوتلوك( ، خصوصا في الساعات

األخيرة التي تسبق صدور العدد. يجتمع املراسلون في مكتبنا في

الوست هال بداية األسبوع ، ثم جتتمع الهيئة االدارية في منتصف األسبوع

والهيئة التحريرية آخر األسبوع. يرافق تلك االجتماعات عمل املراسلني

واملصورين ورسامي الكاريكاتور على مقاالت تغطي أخبار احلرم اجلامعي،

وزاوية آراء حرة، اضافة الى اجراء مقابالت وحتقيقات تهم الطالب.

وبطبيعة شعورنا باملسؤولية عادة ما نرهق معنا مكتب شؤون الطالب

وعمدته بأسئلتنا واستشاراتنا واإلشكاليات املصاحبة.

يقول الشاعر ابن الوردي “ ليس يخلو املرء من ضد ولو حاول العزلة في رأس

اجلبل”. هذا يعني أننا ال نستطيع أن نرضي اجلميع، فما استطاع ذلك

املعصومون أنفسهم، فكيف جملموعة طالب تنتج نشرة جامعية، في بلد

كلبنان، أن حتظى بالرضى وباالجماع؟ انتقدنا البعض في العدد املاضي ألن كتابنا صرخوا مع غزة فلم يسمعوا

صوتا آخر اال خجوال. وانتقدنا البعض اآلخر بحجة أن كتابنا مسيسون، والتقييم هنا خطأ، فالقانون مينع

اجلريدة بان تكون أداة ترويجية أليديولوجيا سياسية أو معتقد

طائفي معني، أو حتى ألحقاد فئوية دفينة تتسنح اللحظة املناسبة

للبوح بها.صحيح ان األوتلوك مساحة للحرية، لكن للحرية

املسؤولة. ألن الكلمة مسؤولية وكذلك احلرية. وال ميكن النظر الى

احداهن دون األخرى.فالعالقة بينهما عضوية وما يصح على الواحدة يصح

على األخرى. لكن ال عالقة للجريدة باحلياة الشخصية للعاملني فيها،

وال حتى مبيولهم وانتماءاتهم طاملا انهم ال يسقطونها على اجلريدة وال

يتعارضون مع نظامها الداخلي. كما جلأ البعض اآلخر ملهاجمتنا علنا على الصفحات االلكترونية. لكن القيمة

األهم لفريق عمل جريدة )األوتلوك( هذا العام هي قدرته على حتقيق األثر في النفوس، كما استعداده املستمر

للتقدم والتعامل بايجابية مع اجلميع. لذلك نترك لكم بريدنا االلكتروني

املباشر في آخر املقال. تواصلوا معنا ألي نقد بناء ، ثناء موضوعي أو

مساهمة صحافية. ان قسم اللغة العربية في جريدة

اجلامعة، والذي يفخر مبشاركة 42 طالبا وطالبة مقاالتهم معنا قبل صدور العدد العاشر من هذا

الفصل، يشكر عمدة شؤون الطالب على رحابة صدرها وعلى متابعتها

الدقيقة، كما يشكر ملراسليه التزامهم بالعطاء، ولقرائه األوفياء

تواصلهم الباعث على مزيد من جتويد األداء.

البريد االلكتروني : readoutlook@gmail.com