SpOrTS

Juve To Contend

campuS life
LAU, AUB disagree

peOple
Brian Prescott

Off campuS
Japanese Please

year Xiv, vOl. 3, nO. i

TRIBUNE
page 3 page 4 page 6 page 12 The Official STudenT newSpaper aT The lebaneSe american univerSTy

Monday, oct.31, 2011

TribuneLAU@gmail.com

New Ban With No Plan Disregard for the Disabled

By Ranim Hadid LAU Tribune staff
Trying not to step on the numerous cigarette buds on the floor, Iman Soufan, an LAU journalism student, struggled between the crowds of people as she reached the upper gate. She rushed through the herds to make it on time to her next class. Holding her hair back as if to shield it from the smell of smoke, she pushed her way into the gates single narrow door. I feel like Im fighting to get to class, Soufan said. Ever since the ban on smoking went into effect at the beginning of the semester, students have not stopped complaining about the large huddle of people on the upper gate. As a non-smoker, Soufan couldnt have been happier with the decision to ban smoking on campus. But as the days passed and the crowd got bigger, the young girl began to worry about the outcome of this decision. Im just annoyed that this is what its going to take for me to be on time, she continued. The crowd at the upper gate has created an ongoing battle for students and faculty who step outside between classes. A solution, according to Dean of Students Raed Mohsen, has been the recent opening of the big gates. At the peak of rush hour, the guards open the big gates for those who are leaving campus, Mohsen said. Admitting that this was only a short-term solution, Mohsen revealed he has future plans to reduce traffic at the gates. In the long term, we are planning to build a small gate that is just like the one on the right to be put on the left side of the gate, he said. The traffic on the upper gate has not only created chaos; students are in danger of being overrun by the cars that pass on the road between the gates and Maliks Bookshop.

By Rouba Jaafar LAU Tribune staff

As students rushed into their classes, quickly climbing the stairs of Nicol Hall, Sabah Haidar, a senior social work student at LAU, remained passive. She closed her eyes, sighing in pain, and let the two young men from the Civil Defense carry her wheelchair up the narrow stairway. A 50-year-old grandmother, Haidar fell down in October and broke the neck of her femur a fracture that forced orthopedic surgeons to replace the broken part of the bone with a metal implant. Although Haidar received medical advice to rest for three months, she insisted to attend classes regularly. But the Nicol Hall elevator has been out of service for three months. The old building, which served once as a dormitory for young women, includes no other way to reach the first, second and third floors except the stairways a reality that makes the building inaccessible for students with disabilities. Haidar is taking three classes at Nicol Hall this fall: Human rights and environmental sciences on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and cultural studies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Haidar said she offered to fix the elevator at her own expense but LAU was not cooperative. Haidar discussed the problem with Dean of Student Affairs Raed Mohsen. He helped me get permission to let the Civil Defense members take me up the stairs, she said.
Photo by: Ahmad Yassine

continued on page 10

Save Yana
Yana Harb is a 10-year-old girl in need for liver transplant. Her body cannot digest protein. Her condition has deteriorated acutely and her liver is irreversibly damaged. We are now appealing for basic human instincts of care and compassion. Yanas family and friends are launching an electronic campaign under the name Save Yana www.saveyana.com

Today, Haidar pays 50 dollars per day to be able to circulate around campus and attend classes regularly. Extending over three months, the Civil Defense fee amounts to a staggering 3000 US dollars. But money is not Haidars main concern. What bothers her is the pain and humiliation she faces as she is carried to class. This is torture, Haidar complained. This is inhuman. When I asked Mohsen about the Nicol Hall elevator, he suggested I should visit the operations office for help. The elevator must be changed, it cannot be fixed anymore, he said. I immediately sent an email to the office in question but did not get a reply. I went in person to meet the supervisor but employees at the office refused to tell me his name and asked me to send another email. I did. Ive been checking my inbox since, but have gotten no reply. Nour Zein, a communication arts junior at LAU, was climbing up the Nicol Hall

stairway when a student with a broken leg lost his balance in front of him. If I hadnt been there to catch him, he would have fallen down the stairs, Zein said. It is just unacceptable. Fawzi Khoury, an LAU philosophy professor whose office is in Nicol Hall, said that people have the right to use the elevator when their classrooms and offices are three-storey high. Faculty and staff who are old should have an elevator with access to all floors, he said. Why is it taking so long? And why isnt it being fixed? We just dont understand. Laila Ghorayeb, the senior executive assistant of the school of arts and sciences, believes that walking up the stairs can be healthy but an option should be provided for people with disabilities. I avoid leaving the building because of the elevator, Ghorayeb, whose office is on the third floor of Nicol Hall, said. I only use the stairs when I come to work and when I leave. Ghorayeb explained that she

Continued on page 10

CAMPUS NEWS
Journalism Students Go Global
By Lyn Abu-Seraj LAU Tribune staff
UPIU, a social networking and mentoring site for journalism students worldwide, hosted a three-day workshop via Skype at LAUs communication arts department last week. UPIU works on publishing stories through social bookmarking and sharing sites such as Facebook, Google, Yahoo Buzz and more. Every article written and published through UPIU is shared worldwide for others to read. Phil Rees, a veteran English journalist and a UPIU mentor, met with students via Skype and explained how this opportunity will give journalists-to-be wider exposure. Lebanon is so interesting and full of stories and I am sure you will find many things to talk about, he explained. Enthusiastic journalism students pitched story ideas to Rees about local issues they would like to cover. Because articles will be directed to a global audience, Rees explained, the stories must be at a human interest level. I would like to write about refugee camps in Lebanon, Ranim Hadid, a communication arts student, said. During my three years in Lebanon, I have visited many refugee camps and I have always noticed how children do not have specific areas to play in. Hadids major concern is children playing around construction sites and the risks such playgrounds may entail. UPIU expects specific criteria to publish stories. The pieces must be newsworthy, fair, and must meet basic journalistic standards. The best stories students write may get published on UPIs website, which serves over 2.8 million unique visitors every month. Yasmine Dabbous, assistant professor of journalism and media studies, as well as Rees himself, will make sure students meet the criteria. Natalia Elmani, an LAU journalism senior, told Rees she is interested in writing about the immense gap between the rich and the poor in Lebanon. The UPIU program currently exists in English and Spanish, with plans to develop platforms in French, Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. UPIU supports all types of writings and topics. They publish stories on health, environment, business, sports, human rights, science and technology and politics.

tribune

oct. 31, 2011

A Major Step For Arabic

Vahid Behmardi, chair of the humanities department, revealed to the LAU Tribune that the Ministry of Educations approval is the last stumbling block ahead of the announcement of new undergraduate Arabic and translation programs at LAU. The news comes after years of lobbying by Arabic instructors and enthusiasts at the university. Despite the many Arabic courses it boasts, including ancient Arabic literature, Arabic rhetoric and others, LAU only offers a minor in Arabic language and literature. The approval of the Education Ministry will help fill that gap. But LAUs step remains a modest one as other major universities already offer comprehensive curricula in Arabic language and literature ranging from undergraduate studies to a doctoral program. Behmardi, Ph.D. in Arabic language and literature, still believes that the universitys belated-but-bold move is a promising sign for the future. He also hopes that, having developed a progressive program, LAU would be able to compete with its national competitors. This was a challenge for the committee which was in charge of preparing the B.A. program. We dont want a very few students enrolled in the recently-initiated undergraduates in history and philosophy. While the latter currently has two enrolled students, the former did not attract any. But an immediate effect of the comprehensive Arabic curriculum is that it would allow students from different majors to register for elective courses from a widened variety of options. As of next year, when the program becomes active, the old Arabic course offering will be canceled and replaced by the detailed curriculum, Behmardi said. All students will have a greater variety of Arabic courses. He added that the humanities department is set to add graduate programs in five different majors in the near future. We are working on a masters in English literature, a masters in Arabic language and literature as well as masters in the other three new B.A. programs [history, philosophy and translation], Behmardi said. The humanities M.A. programs usually attract more students than in B.A. because we can offer graduate assistantship. Currently, the department is eagerly anticipating the Ministry of Educations approval of B.A. programs in both Arabic and translation.
Photo by: Ahmad Yassine

By Zahi Sahli LAU Tribune staff

duplicate for the B.A. programs, Behmardi said. We have many courses offered in our program which doesnt exist in the B.A. of Arabic at AUB, for example. The proposed curriculum includes four courses that Behmardi believes are exclusive to LAU; Arabic philology and lexicography, creative writing, technical Arabic and travel literature. And in hope to enhance LAUs chances of catching up with competitors, at least in terms of popularity, the university may offer scholarships to outstanding students. This program requires promotion and finding some funding to offer scholarships to outstanding students who might be interested in studying Arabic literature, Behmardi said, while admitting the department does not expect instant success. The chairs low expectations emanates from the fact that

The New Deans of LAU

By Natalia Elmani LAU Tribune staff
The Lebanese American University appointed Philippe M. Frossard as dean of the school of arts and sciences and Said Elfakhani as dean of the business school, for both the Beirut and Byblos campuses. Frossard has 29 years of experience in education and research across numerous countries ranging from the USA to Japan, as well as expertise in bio-medical studies and higher education. He received his B.S., M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry and molecular biology, all with honors, from the University of Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. He has written seven books and 200 publications, and holds four US and world patents. The opportunity for the job was introduced to Frossard by colleagues outside of LAU. Apart from LAUs reputation and outstanding vision, its really the people I met, Frossard said. I met motivated and dedicated professionals in all fields and beyond. I really enjoyed my interaction with them. Elfakhani carries 27 years of full-time teaching experience from various countries ranging from Canada to Saudi Arabia and has presented 23 workshops for managers and executives across the Middle East. He received his B.A. in business administration from the Lebanese University, M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and M.S. and Ph.D. in finance from the University of Texas, Dallas. Prior to his appointment at LAU, Elfakhani was the associate dean of the Suliman S. Olayan school of business at the American University of Beirut, and is currently a member in the Saskatoon

continued on page 10

SPORTS
By Maria Fellas LAU Tribune staff
His legs shivered as he walked down the stairs leading to the court. It was time for him to kick that ball and win himself the tickets. Spectators at the Tripoli stadium were given the chance to win two free tickets to their chosen destinations as they watched the game that brought Lebanons Cedars one step closer to the Rugby 2013 World Cup. The free tickets, offered by the federation with the sponsorship of Etihad Airways, certainly encouraged Lebanese rugby fans to go and watch the game. But so did the prospects of seeing Lebanon qualify to the upcoming World Cup. A goal is to football what a try and conversion are to rugby. And Lebanons Cedars team scored 96 of those as opposed to 4 for the Serbs. As I watched those buffedup men running around the field, I couldnt stop myself from wondering about where the Lebanese national team got its name. Apparently, it goes back to the fact that the cedar is the symbol of Lebanon, as is clearly reflected on the flag. But whats funny about it is that the team in question is mostly composed of players of Australian origins. The presence of those Australians as well as the halfbreeds was nothing if not an advantage for the Lebanese team. Our Australians have had a huge influence on our national team, Raymond Safi, Cedars manager and

oct.31, 2011

tribune

Cedars Play the Field

co-coach, said. Having them play for us has helped the sport develop, with the training our players get along with the elites from Sydney. This Australian contribution does not in any way take the credit away from the Lebanese players, who, through intensive training, have acquired impressive skills. As proof, this is not the first time Lebanon competes in the qualifications. The team even made it to the World Cup back in 2000. If the team does make it to the World Cup, this means benefit not only to the players or the federation, but also to the sport in general and to Lebanon as a country. Rugby wasnt always famous in the region. What we have now is somewhat of a new trend. Today, Lebanons Cedars are ranked number one in the MENA region and number five in the European Rugby League Federation. After their triumph over Serbia, the Cedars faced Russia with the same valiance, scoring 32 to 0. Sami Garabedian, Secretary General of the Lebanese Rugby League Federation, had expected it would be a piece of cake. One game to go before the teams fate is decided. The last crucial match, which can mean a make or break for the Lebanese national team, will be held on the October 29, after this paper goes to publication. Did the team win and make it to the 2013 World Cup? You must have the answer by now.

Juventus Can Contend

By Zahi Sahli LAU Tribune staff
Juventus president Andrea Agnellis announcement that club legend Alessandro Del Piero will not be offered a new contract at the end of the season was shocking. The timing of the announcement, just when the team spirit is thought to be high, is catastrophic. Regardless if Del Piero had plans to retire or not, the Juventus board must learn to treat their players fairly if they are to be considered among the European elite once again. An ideal example of a club that knows how to treat their legends is Manchester United. Although Paul Scholes had been relegated to the bench for most parts of last season, no United board member suggested that the player will be released. Scholes left on a high note, having won the Premier League title and contributing a respectable part in his teams journey to the Champions League final. Most importantly, Scholes was given the role of deciding his future at least in the media. That said, Juventus should have allowed Del Piero to decide his own future in a special press conference. Even if Del Piero was unwanted, his 18-year-long service at the club still merits a bow. On a more positive note, Juventus current crop has started to show promise. And while club manager Antonio Conte has dismissed speculation that his team is ready to mount a serious challenge for the Serie A title, there is no hiding from the fact that fans expect a title bid. Having moved into their new stadium the first ever clubowned stadium in Italy Juventus can now enjoy the backing of up to 41,000 seated fans. The stadiums construction had imposed a cloud over the clubs finances. This summer, however, the financial constraint was cleared, a fact that paved the way for heavy spending in the transfer market. Juve s signing of Stephan Lichsteiner will help put an end to their leaky defensive performances after Marco Motta and Zdenek Grygera endured woeful spells last season as rotating rightbacks. However, Andrea Pirlo arguably stands out as the clubs best summer signing. His passing abilities and eagle vision have given Juve the boost of quality they require to improve their game. Since he joined the Old Lady for free, I may be writing about the bargain buy of the decade. Pirlos signing has also given Juventus a tactical flexibility which manager Antonio Conte has used on numerous occasions to shuffle his pack. The Italian World Cup winners ability to play at both center midfield and defensive midfield means that Juventus can easily shift from 4-4-2 to 4-33. Available at Contes disposal are skillful wingers
who thrive in 4-3-3 and other hardworking wingers who can shine in 4-4-2. The main reason that Juventus may have a refreshing campaign, though, is the vulnerability of their title rivals. The champions, Milan, have missed Pirlo this campaign, starting their season with a below-par run of form, despite that their form has been a blessing in comparison with their neighboring rivals, Inter Milan, who have already sacked a manager and continue to look vulnerable. With both Milan clubs struggling, this is a chance for Juventus to bounce back after seeing their rivals conquer the league in the previous seasons. Considering that Roma is in a transitional phase and their managers long-term ideas are yet to blossom while Napoli is busy playing fatiguing Champions League fixtures, Juventus needs to seize their opportunity. Although the Juventus hierarchy is yet to build the world-class team which they once had, they will undoubtedly improve having injected fresh blood into their roster. If Juventus can stay away from dropping points against weaker sides in Serie A, maybe add a decent center-back to pair him with the consistent Giorgio Chiellini, and if Agnellis imprudent announcement was not the opening of other disruptive episodes, then this season might finally bring the Old Ladys smile back.

Quote of the Issue

It was our worst ever day. Its the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I dont think Ive ever lost 6-1. Thats a challenge for me too, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said about his sides 6-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City.

Football scores
AC Milan 4 - 1 Atalanta 1-1 Napoli 2 -0 R.Madrid 3 - 0 Granada 0-1 Man. Utd 1-6 Queens P.R. 1 - 0 Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal 3-1 Parma Inter Udinese Villareal Barcelona Man City Chelsea Norwich Stoke City

Upcoming games
05-11-2011 Premier League Man.Utd V Queens P.R V Blackburn V Liverpool V Arsenal V 06-11-2011 Serie A AC.Milan Napoli Genoac FC Sunderland Man.City Chelsea Swansea West Brom.

Upcoming games
06-11-2011 La Liga Real Madrid Ath. Bilbao V V Osasuna Barcelona

Champions League
02-11-2011 Bayern Villarreal Inter Man.Untd Lyon V V V V V Napoli Man City Lille Otelul R.Madrid

V V V

Catania Juventus Inter

Champions League 01-11 2011 Racing Genk V Chelsea Arsenal V Marseille BATE V AC Milan Viktoria V Barcelona

CAMPUS LIFE
By Farah Al Saati LAU Tribune staff
Running under the rain with a plastic bag full of books, Amal Houri stepped into the Orme-Gray Hall lobby to take shelter. As she sat there to relax, she noticed big white display cabinets. Houri approached one showcase, which contained necklaces with carved LAU logos and Phoenician letters. Houri was ecstatic. She is not an LAU student but always wanted to have an item that is LAU branded, as she is fond of the university. The necklaces were 12,000 Lebanese pounds each so she bought two, one for herself and one for her younger sister who dreams of joining LAU one day. LAUs Memorabilia Gallery is the place for students, faculty, alumni, staff and fond guests to purchase objects that will showcase their LAU pride. The shop was inaugurated on April 28, 2011.

tribune

oct. 31, 2011

Memorabilia Branded Memories

ry services, the business office, campus operations, the graphic design department, hospitality services, IT, the marketing and communications office, planning and renovations and the purchasing office worked together to complete this project. Joumana Sakka manages the LAU Memorabilia Gallery. Sakka admits that many students do not know about the gallery yet. She pointed out that LAU alumni shop for souvenirs from the gallery more than currently enrolled students do. Sakka also explained that Lebanese undergraduates may not be aware that such shops are an essential part of universities in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Although the gallery presents many items that can be used on a daily basis by scholars like ball pens, USBs and mouse pads, most students are still oblivious of the memorabilias existence. LAU has a memorabilia shop? Cecilia Sanchez Malebran, an LAU student from Chile, said, surprised. She confessed that she never paid much attention and admitted she never considered getting an LAU-branded item. I suppose some people get items to remember their days at their university, Melebran said. After all, we spend the better part of four years on campus. According to Farah, MBA student at LAU, people may know about the LAU Memorabilia Gallery but consider the items on sale a bit expensive. Abdallah Iskandarani, LAU business graduate , has never heard of the LAU Memorabilia Gallery. But I would love to get LAU brands because it makes me proud, he said. Photo by: Ahmad Yassine

The gallery offers a variety of souvenirs. It has paper cutters, adaptors, umbrellas, mugs, t-shirts, hats, portfolios, USBs, leather card holders, under cups and waist bags, among other objects of different types and colors, all bearing the LAU logo. The unique memorabilia logo was designed by Maria Bahous, a visiting lecturer at the school of architecture and design.

The gallery also includes artistic creations focusing on Lebanese culture, such as a wooden engraved backgammon decorated with Phoenician drawings and boatshaped pen holders with Phoenician statues. Prices vary by item. A ball pen is for mere 1,500 Lebanese pounds while a small backgammon board costs 150,000 pounds. Alumni relations, auxilia-

Disagreement about the LAU/AUB Agreement

By Zeina Shehayeb LAU Tribune staff
Photo by: Yasmine Dabbous A change of environment is always healthy and beneficial and the second chance to do things better is an open highway, a student at the American University of Beirut wrote. His comment came in response to an email AUB sent, asking students about their reaction to the LAUAUB agreement. The agreement is a mutual contract allowing suspended undergraduate students who fair poorly in their alma matter to transfer and be accepted at a sister institution on trial basis. First put into action in February 2007, the agreement provided a framework for AUB and LAU students with more than one probation to apply as special students not working for a degree for two semesters, after which they can reapply to their original school if they improve their GPA. In summer 2011, LAU revoked the agreement. It was no longer to LAUs advantage to remain in such an agreement, Elise Salem, vice president for student development and enrollment management at LAU said. It was a one way street and it wasnt for our benefit. According to the data provided by Malek Tabbal, associate dean of arts and sciences at AUB, about 200 students from the school in question joined LAU during the last four years, whereas a much smaller number migrated to AUB based on the agreement. It was this unequal flow of students that understandably worried LAU. We were perceived as a dumping institution and we are fighting this image, Salem explained. AUB administrators saw it otherwise. For them, the agreement gave failing students a chance to recuperate at a respectable university such as LAU, instead of having to apply to unaccredited universities. The advantage of sending students to LAU is that we are giving them the chance to go to a sister university, Tabbal said. This agreement was beneficial to students and we had many success stories. The associate dean read me an email a student sent about the time he or she spent at LAU. I found a lot of benefit and direct application from the courses I took at LAU to apply for my new job, the student wrote. A source at AUB who refused to be identified explained that the unequal flow of students was not intended. It was rather related to the fact that the average upon which

LAU fails its students is lower than AUBs. Students at AUB may be dropped if they get an average grade below 70, the source said. This means that we have a larger number of people suspended than LAU does. But the misunderstanding does not seem to be irreversible. Salem explained that LAU officials were not against drafting anoth-

er agreement, provided it helps their students. The way they left it was that they would love to do a different agreement that makes more sense and is helpful for students, she explained. R. A., a student who switched universities based on the agreement, approved of the idea. Its a good opportunity for students and its good to have it, he said.

Lebanese American University?

By Iman Soufan LAU Tribune staff
Refraining herself from interrupting class discussion, Lea Assiri gazed down at the ground while folding her arms across the front, not understanding whats being said. Fidgeting with her pen, she made the decision not to speak up and ask her classmates to voice their opinion in English. Instead, she got friends to translate what she missed after class. Foreign students make up around a quarter of the student body. Out of the 2551 students accepted at LAU last fall, 441 came from regional and international schools. And yet, some of them found themselves struggling in some courses because professors, students or both use Arabic to express themselves in class. Assiri, who grew up in Switzerland, speaks French and Spanish fluently. English is her third language. I am at LAU to improve my English, Assiri said. But since her first year at the university, the young girl has been in several classes where she has been put at a disadvantage due to language barriers. In one of the humanities courses, Assiri reminded her professor on several occasions that she did not speak Arabic but her reminders were disregarded. I felt like I lost a lot of the course because of this, Assiri explained. I couldnt understand the debates or take part in them even if I wanted to. According to the LAU academic affairs policy, approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2003, the official language of instruction [at LAU] is English. It still shocks me that were now a pretty well known university with culturally diverse professors and still, we have this issue, Natalia Elmani, a journalism senior at LAU, said. At the end of every semester, students are asked to evaluate their professors online. Among the items in question is one about the instructors English skills. Department chairs, deans and eventually the provost use these evaluations to assess the teaching-learning process. If a specific weakness, including the use of Arabic in class, is found repetitively throughout a facultys evaluation, the chair brings the issue to the instructors attention. Faculty whose evaluations are consistently below standards will not remain in the institution for long, LAU Provost Abdullah Sfeir said. Not using English is considered to be a major weakness, and may lead to his/her immediate replacement should the concerned faculty fail to address it. Some professors do not take the issue lightly and constantly urge students to speak in English in class. Last week, my communication arts professor kept telling students to speak in English, Assiri said. Although some of them ignored the request, I still appreciate it. I understand the fact that students need to speak in Arabic sometimes, Assiri continued. For me, its easier to speak in French. But, at the same time, I think they should make an effort like I do. Out of the 8067 students enrolled at the university last fall, 80 percent were Lebanese. Around 6.5 percent came from North America, 3.2 from Europe and Caucusus, 1.2 from Central and South America and 1 percent from Africa. Although a minority, foreign students still amounted to 1578 members. Ameera Al Felaij, a Bahraini senior at LAU, agreed. The presence of a foreign student shouldnt be the reason professors and students speak in English in class! Were in an American university after all, she said. In all my design courses, everyone speaks in Lebanese and its quite difficult to understand since its very different from Bahraini. Even some jury members who criticize Al Felaijs projects do it in Lebanese.I struggle to completely understand what they say, she said. I speak Arabic fluently, its not that I dont, I just want to improve my English skills, Al Felaij added. I dont resort to speaking Arabic in class, so I dont see why other students do so.

CAMPUS LIFE

oct. 31, 2011

tribune

Blindly in Love
By Layan Doueik LAU Tribune staff
She entered the caf discreetly as she excused her cologne to pass before her. She took a glimpse around the place, seeking a table with a sole man pondering. He is not there yet. She sat at the farthest table near the wall, waiting patiently to uncover her target. Unconsciously, she pulled a small mirror out of her purse to fix her makeup. Soon, a young man confidently entered the main door, hoping to spot the lady in red. Although it may sound like a scene from an American movie, the story took place in Beirut. The two people know nothing about each other and have never met before. The only connection between them are the founders of the Blind Date venture at LAU. Marketing students Karim Ibrahim and Ahmad Harisi promoted their new business this fall under the slogan; questionnaire. He handed me a long list. Applicants who try the new business are asked 70 questions, probing them about psychological and physiological characteristics. People who take the questionnaire pay a 20-dollar fee. We analyze every answer critically and give great importance to the body language, Ibrahim said. According to the service founders, many people were at first reluctant about the idea. But attitudes changed when commitment to the service became optional and confidentiality was ensured, Ibrahim said. X .X., an LAU business student who refused to reveal her name, tried the service and showed great interest in the young man she met. Some mistakes happened but, overall, I liked his sense of humor and knowledge, she said with a smile. We are still talking. Contrary to the service founders expectations, only 30 percent of the applicants were males. We had some difficulty in finding compatible couples due to the shortage of males applying, Harisi said. Khaled Nasser, an LAU lecturer in interpersonal communication, pointed out that cultural norms may have restricted male participation in the project. Applying for a blind date may be interpreted as the contenders failure to find women without the service, he explained. Males may also find that a blind date implies commitment so they get scared, Nasser continued. Girls in nature like to experiment Photo by: Iman Soufan

you never know if you never go. They publicized the service on and off campus. The dating system in America is much easier than here, Ibrahim said. People meet at a pub or randomly. In Lebanon, people are somehow stuck up. Initially, the idea was not about profit. The two young students wanted no less than positive social change. The first few dates we arranged were for free to see the feedback, Harisi pointed out.

We care a lot about it. According to research by online dating experts, many refuse a blind date because they fear something will go horribly wrong, they will be made fun of or they will spend all night under the mercy of a psychotic stranger. We have this prestige in Lebanese society, whereby searching for a partner personally is considered a disgrace, Harisi said. So we thought why not make peoples life easier through this

Continued on page 10

PEOPLE
By Caroline Feghaly LAU Tribune staff
He opened the door of his office and let me in with a wide smile. On his desk were piles of folders, occupying every inch of the table. From afar, he seems like a strict instructor, with a steady walk and penetrating blue eyes. But when you sit in his classroom or have a talk with him, his friendly and cheerful attitude breaks the ice. Behind the academic, you also discover an activist whos passionate about righting the wrongs that the Lebanese system has imposed on him and his family. Brian Prescott-Decie has been teaching English, cultural studies and history at LAU for the past nine years. He graduated from Oxford University with a thesis on St Augustine then went to Greece where he studied linguistics at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. It was in Greece that he discovered his passion for teach-

tribune

oct 31, 2011

Brian Prescott-Decie: The Right of Nationality

ing. Although he got a job in publishing, where he became the sales and marketing manager for the McGraw-Hill school division for the MENA region, he left his important position to teach English and live close to his family. Being rich was never a priority for me, Prescott-Decie said. I had children whom I wanted to stay with, so business was not the way to go anymore. If I stayed in publishing I wouldve lived out of my suitcase and in hotels. It is this same care for his loved ones that has transformed Prescott-Decie into an activist, engaged in the national campaign calling on the Lebanese government to give female citizens the right to pass on their nationality to their children. According to the law of the land, children born in a family where the wife is Lebanese but the husband is not whether they are Lebanese or British. When they turn 18, they cannot get a work permit unless their employers request one for them a possibility that is not necessarily guaranteed. Prescott-Decie is a member of Fathers and Sons for Citizenship, a non-profit organization that organizes marches and works with ministers and members of Parliament as well as other activist groups to lobby for the cause. This is a huge political and social problem that can cause the country to fall apart easily. It needs to be put straight, the English instructor said. On June 17, 2009, Samira Soueidan, a Lebanese citizen, was granted the right to give her nationality to her children after the death of her Egyptian husband in 1994. Ever since, groups have mushroomed advocating a new law and many global organizations, including Amnesty International, also lobbied for this cause. My children are Lebanese more than they are British, Prescott-Decie said. They havent lived in England. They attend Lebanese scout meetings, and they study regular Arabic program at school although they can be exempt from it. If this country didnt give my children their rights as Lebanese, my children have no duties to this country, he added. Prescott-Decie had hoped that the former government would resolve the issue but they failed to do so. He said he is not optimistic that the current administration will take action either. Im prepared to continue fighting, he said, a determined look in his blue eyes. I hate to see my childrens country fall apart. I want to be heard. Photo by:Ahmad Yassine are not granted the Lebanese passport. My wife is Lebanese and the Lebanese law rips her and our children off their rights, Prescott-Decie said. The Lebanese constitution states in Article Seven that men and women have equal rights and duties but, in reality, Lebanese men are more privileged. This is glaring and unpleasant. The English instructor is frustrated that his two children, Edward age 8 and Celia age 10, are confused as to

Religious Students Joggle Academic and Religious Duties

By Assaad Hawwa LAU Tribune staff
Although class was supposed to end five minutes earlier, the oral communication instructor continued his lecture about the importance of non-verbal communication. Rachelle Mikhael, a pharmacy student at LAU, looked at her watch with worried eyes. As soon as the instructor dismissed the class, she ran toward the LAU upper gate and left campus in a rush. Minutes passed that felt like ages before a taxi driver stopped to pick her up. Eventually, an old man in an old car asked her about her destination. I am late for an important ceremony, she said. , the priest articulately said as Mikhael entered the church. With a large smile on her face, she sat on one of the benches, glad that she made it on time for the service. Religious students on the LAU campus find they have duties beside their academic responsibilities. Christians and Muslims have prayers and ceremonies held on specific times during the day and it is sometimes not easy for observing undergraduates to juggle between what instructors impose and what God requests. Their relationship with classmates and friends on campus is at times restricted by the requirements of their religion. Muslims pray five times a day. Christians have various prayers set according to the upcoming feast. For example, in Orthodoxy in the Great Lent period, a service is scheduled every night at 6. Like many others, Neam Katerji, a radio/TV/film student at LAU, sometimes finds herself obliged to take courses that work around her prayer schedule. In rare cases, I might miss class if I have something urgent to do and if that doesnt harm my academic duties, she said. It is almost noon; the sun is nearly at its highest point. Katerji felt the rays on her face. She wore a purple veil and a matching long-sleeved shirt. A moment later, the voice of the imam at the Koraytem mosque announced duhur. , the voice resounded. Katerji, prostrating in an empty classroom, closed her eyes and murmured her prayer. Religious students are sometimes restricted in the way they relate to their peers. In a campus where male-female interaction is more or less relaxed, such behavior may stand out but, according to students, does not provoke negative reactions. My friends never complained about my devotion to Church, Mikhael said. Katerji reported the same general understanding. No I dont face problems, thank God! She said. But when guys try to shake my hand or hug me to say hi, I always back up, which sometimes annoys me. But I always explain it to them. Both the dean of student affairs, Raed Mohsen, and the university counselor, Norma Moussally, agreed that LAUs religious students never faced any problems. Several university policies including the LAU code of ethics and the student code of ethics warn against discrimination based on religious differences, among others. Mousally added that the only rare cases where religion came up in counseling were instances where major differences between parental beliefs existed. Mikhael, now an LAU graduate, remembers the good days she spent on campus. I will never forget the semesters I shared with my friends at LAU, especially Muslim girls, Mikhael said. We always felt that there is something in common that connects us even though we belong to two different religions.

CULTURE & FASHION

Malas Brothers: Revolutionary Artists
By Mayya Al-Ogaily LAU Tribune staff
In the heart of Damascus, behind the walls of a small bedroom that barely fits 10 people, sit two young twin brothers in slim jogging suits. A glaring light illuminates their faces, which shine in contrast with the black wall behind them. In front of them, a small crowd watches, amused. I am a Chinese actor who speaks Arabic fluently, one of them says, emulating Syrian army insurgents who appeared on Arab news stations such as Al Jazeera to announce their rebellion against Bashar Al Assads government. I announce my revolt against Chinese drama, because of the many Chinese actors who support the art. Ahmed and Mohammed Malas are 28-year-old actors and playwrights who chose art to defy authority. Turned down around Syria because they have no connection to the power elite, they transformed their tiny bedroom into the smallest theater in the world, a one-square-meter stage. Their unusual performances made headlines because of their simplicity and impact. Raised in the suburbs of Damascus, the twin brothers come from a conservative family. As teenagers in high school, they were deemed unfit as members of Al Baath Party by their school principle. In 1997, the two brothers saw a stage performance by Syrian director Hatem Ali and knew right away that they belonged to the world of theatre. From the outset, the performances of the Malas twins defied authority and called for change. But their art only acquired the importance it has today with the rise of the Arab Spring. Art has played a major role in the recent Syrian uprising, and its our responsibility as artists to express solidarity with our people in these times, Ahmed said. Among their most successful plays is Tomorrows Revolution Postponed to Yesterday. The play, which saw the light in their modest bedroom, stages a conversation between a police officer and a detained protestor. The scene, familiar in the Arab World, was up until then a taboo issue only discussed in private. In the play, the Malas twins criticized the system and defiantly accused the regime of failing to provide the Syrian peoples basic rights. The performance was staged 25 times in Damascus, five in France, once in Russia and once in Beirut at the Sunflower Theatre. The Malas brothers faced major difficulties because of their work. On July 13, they joined other Syrian intellectuals in a protest that ultimately led to their arrest and detainment. It was so awful that you feel like the place is there but time does not exist, Mohammed said. But prison did not thrash them. The twins performed one of their plays inside the detainment center. The play was attended by strong

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supporters of the regime, strong opponents and security personnel, Ahmed said. Every time they heard the word president or regime, the officers in charge would tell us to stop the play right away, also whenever somebody laughed or applauded. The twin brothers tried to explain to one of the officers that this was just a play, although they were well aware of the significant power of their art. The officer chastised them for wanting freedom because, he said, people in free countries pay three times more than Syrians for the price of food. It is when you hear such nonsense that you know that the culture and the art you are offering is worth a hundred weapons, Mohammed said.

Lebanese Designer Succeeds in New York

By Mohamad Al-Oraybi LAU Tribune staff
Back from the New York Fashion Week where he displayed his Spring 2012 collection last September, Lebanese designer Jad Ghandour has a full schedule meeting clients, working on his next collection and finishing dresses before deadlines. Make it quick Mohamad, he laughed as he looked over his tailors in his Victorian atelier. Walking in his show room feels like a stroll in a princesss closet. Ghandours latest dresses surround massive antiques and Victorian furniture. Only 24, the young designer has become an official member in the Mercedes-Benz New York fashion week. He dressed many celebrities including Naomi Campbell, IMAN, Kesha, Miss Universe and Paris Hilton. Born and raised in Beirut, the young man grew up a designer. As a little boy, he I always got into trouble for that, Ghandour remembered, laughing. A year after enrolling in Esmod, an international design school with a branch in Beirut, Ghandour sold his first dress. His first official collection was displayed in a fashion show in Beirut, after which he was invited to Dubai and Miami. Everything happened at a really fast pace, Ghandour said. Never did I imagine that I would be an official member at the New York Fashion Week at this age. Today, Ghandour plans to base his main office in the Big Apple. The young designers last show was themed Sahara. The collection included shoes, dresses, jackets, pants and, for the first time, swimsuits for both men and women. In terms of colors, Ghandour used gold, chocolate brown, blood red, navy blue and pearl white. The show was a big success, he said. I am very happy but will keep pushing forward. It was not a surprise to see a lot of silk on Ghandours runway. He also used satin, tulle, organza and chiffon. I was highly inspired by my voyages to the Arabian deserts, Ghandour explained. He finds the desert a mystical art piece. Ghandours slim models in New York City were not alone on the catwalk. He had a cub and a young tiger in cages bordering his runway a first in the history of fashion shows. Only hours before the event, Ghandour recieved complaints from animal activists who tried to close down Ghandours show, arguing that the young animals hearing may be damaged from the loud music. I designed ear plugs especially for the animals under the supervision of a veterinarian, Ghandour said. They were perfectly fine and I hope they enjoyed the show. Ghandours collections are known for being prt-couture, a hybrid between ready-to-wear and haute couture. This new trend allows women to wear customized prta-porter that has been tailored by hand. My outfits can be worn to society brunches up till weddings and red carpets, Ghandour said. I refuse to limit myself. Harpers Bazaar magazine named Ghandour the new Elie Saab. I refuse to compare myself to other Lebanese international designers, he said. Each has his own style and the fashion industry has no limits. Photo via Facebook sometimes cut the curtains at home and made dresses out of them. My mom used to come back home from work and find her curtains torn and worn,

MEDIA & LITERATURE

Traveling to Another Dimension
By Carla Hazarian LAU Tribune staff
Since its release on May 17, 2011, Fable 3, a video game by Lionhead studios production, has pleased PC gamers worldwide. Major elements like quests, downloadable content, a hardcore mode, and 3D functionality have been implemented since the games first release in 2010 in Xbox version. The games new availability on PC encouraged me to try it. The beginning seemed to be a little slow, as you have to get past a boring introductory tutorial. If you are an experienced gamer, you may find this a bit mundane. But the story soon picks up and you are sucked into a tale of fantasy, humor and tragedy. You will have the pleasure to deeply immerse yourself in a world known as Albion, where you are the younger sibling of a tyrant ruler. At the beginning of the game, you flee from his castle with two trusted companions and your dog. Early on, you know you must get an army and overthrow your evil brother, but how you go about it is entirely up to you. You have the option to be good or evil, which all depends on how you complete your tasks. For example, you will have options like sparing your surrendered enemies lives or taking them. As you travel from village to village, you meet different people who will help you along your quest. How you treat them affects your relationship and influences how others perceive you. You can either win them over with your bravery and kindness or bend them to your will with fear and terror. Besides the main story line, you can also pursue business ventures like buying shops or renting homes. To earn an extra buck, you can perform side quests or take up an odd job like playing the lute or blacksmithing. You can Photo by: Ahmad Yassine

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oct. 31, 2011

even buy your own home, get married and have kids. And if married life proves disappointing, you can still get a divorce. If being a law abiding citizen doesnt appeal to you, you can always try a life of crime and break into shops at night to steal goods. This of course will affect your reputation with the people of the town, but who needs to be liked when they can be feared? Your characters appearance is adjustable. Although, at

the beginning of the game, you are only given the option to choose your gender, you will later be able to try new haircuts, dyes and clothing. Your characters appearance will also change to look more angelic or demonic depending on the morality of your actions. Even your dogs look is changeable as you unlock different breeds with game progression. Your dog will be your constant companion, warning you of enemies up ahead and

helping sniff out treasures. You have the ability to train, reward or mistreat him. The graphics are good and, on a PC with a good graphics card, they are even better. I sometimes couldnt help but admire some of the scenery, as my character traveled from place to place. Probably the best thing about this game is the captivating and rich storyline, as you follow your character on all sorts of adventures. The cinematic made me feel like I was watching a good movie, and half the time kept me on the edge of my seat. The dialogue in itself is hilarious, and I would often find myself laughing hysterically in front of my computer screen. Fable 3 gives hardcore gamers a better, and more difficult, version of its predecessor. It brings more to the table with its story line and its style, making it a game for everyone from new amateurs to veteran players.

Facebook Privacy... Does It Really Exist ?

By Nora Kamareddine LAU Tribune contributor
The news came to him as a shock. Maximilian Schrems, a 23-year-old law student at the University of Vienna, found upon investigation that Facebook collected 1,200 pages of information about him since he signed up to the social network three years earlier. According to the data protection law applied throughout the European Union, all EU citizens may request any and all information a company saved or collected about them. Being aware of this directive as a law student, Schrems decided to do exactly that. His first attempt was ignored by Facebook. After several more attempts, he received a CD with 4.8 MB of information collected on him (in print form, the information was laid out in 1,200 pages). The data was divided into 57 categories such as physical token, religious views, realtime activities, etc. What exactly is written on those 1,200 pages? Schrems found that a large part of the information comprised private messages he had deleted from his Facebook page. Delicate information was collected about him and his friends, some of which were not Facebook members. Information included items such as sexual orientation, political beliefs or health data, inferred from wall posts or status updates. It even contained material that was not openly stated but that was concluded based on pages Schrems liked, the links he shared or the pictures he was tagged in. For example, if you were caught on a picture at a protest, Facebook can infer that you follow a specific political ideology or party. Facebook, which was founded in 2004 and only operated at Harvard in its early beginnings, now has over 750 million members worldwide and the figure is rising. But even with such a large number of participants, the social network can still accumulate and retain information over the years because its servers in Silicon Valley are large enough to accommodate this amount. We may share your information in response to a legal request (like a search warrant, court order or subpoena) if we have a good-faith belief that the law requires us to do so, the Data Use Policy on the Facebook site said. This means that the data Facebook collects on you may be given over to the authorities or to the police if Facebook deems it necessary. Looking further into the policy document, one will find that Facebook will also pass on the information in its possession if the company thinks there is a possibility of a user doing something illegal or harmful. What does one do with all this information once it is in ones grasp? Schrems knew that what Facebook did -retain his deleted items- is illegal in the European Union so he sent the files to the business seat of Facebook located in Ireland. Within four days, he received a reply from the Irish, saying that they would audit all Facebook dealings within the EU to ensure legality. Many people have sued Facebook on similar basis but only elicited a slow response. This time something was being done. Schrems sued Facebook in 22 different lawsuits, 16 of which were already passed and approved by the authorities in Ireland. Will Facebook respond to the outrage and introduce stricter privacy laws? And if it does, will it apply them to users beyond the European Union? Until that happens, you may want to think twice before you send another message to a friend.

OPINION
Jump in to the New Era!
By Farah Al Saati LAU Tribune staff
Who, in this age, does not own a Facebook account? Answer: No one! Well, maybe your grandmother doesnt but shes exempted from counting. What about your Twitter account? Does it still have the egg as your profile picture? By the way, if it does, its bad! Social Media has taken over our lives even though we may not notice it. Thats why this course is here to make us notice, engage and excel in the field. COM 485 is taught by Ayman Itani and it is one of the youngest courses in the Middle East. Before Facebook, on your birthday, only your close friends called you, sent you an email or maybe a mobile text message to wish you a happy birthday. But now, with your presence on a social channel like Facebook, everyone will know. You will get at least a 100 wall posts of wishes, greetings, videos and so on. Even people you never spoke to but added as friends would post something on your wall. So you are on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Flickr, YouTube and LinkedIn etc but do you really know how to manage and link these social channels to get the best out of them, or do you just go with the flow? Why not have a perfect profile on LinkedIn that will make companies ask for you? Why not learn the techniques of staying active in all of these channels without losing much time? Do you know the secrets and etiquettes in handling them? Yes, there are etiquettes when it comes to being active on social media! For example, do you know that deleting a tweet you

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Note: The LAU Tribune is not responsible for the opinions expressed on this page.

A Standard Too High

By Natalia Elmani LAU Tribune staff
wrote that mentions someone else is considered offensive? This is why you need to take this course. You must have the keys to the game the world is playing so you can play it well. This course is your gate to acquiring all the skills to put you on the road to social media success. COM 485, or topics in current affairs, aims at enabling communication arts students to adapt and fully take advantage of the industry shifts. It specifically teaches: content generation, consumption, distribution, and commercialization. And guess what? Anyone is welcome to join and take it as a free elective. Its the social media era! Ride the train, and in a good seat, or get left behind. Situating myself in the front row, I was ready to take on Standard Arabic I. In my mind, the class was basic, standard and, above all, I understood a relatively decent amount of Arabic words that were thrown my way. Even though I was exempted from the required course, I thought I could handle it. But as soon as the instructor entered the room, she wrote the alphabet on the board and asked us how to form certain sentences with the proper slashes and dashes above the letters. My face went blank and my head twisted around as I tried to understand the mumbling of the Arabic speaking students in the back. They seemed to know exactly what they were talking about. You have got to be kidding me, I thought. I do not know how to compose a proper sentence in Arabic in the first place, but writing the letters on the board was in a whole other ball park. I could barely catch what the teacher said and the fear spread fast as I tried to dodge eye contact with her in hopes that she wouldnt call on me to answer one of her questions. My only option was to come clean to her after class, admit I cant string 10 words together and that a majority of what she said in class might as well have been in Chinese. The end result went much better than I expected. Apparently, I wasnt the only foreigner who thought she could take on that course. I was thankfully transferred into a new class with a handful of students who were in the same boat as I was: the original standard Arabic I was not what we had in mind. We began the new class with a clean slate. We were asked to write each letter three times so that we could eventually become comfortable with the written aspect of the language, and were taught how to say alif, baa, taa, etc until we somewhat perfected it and ultimately learned how to read small texts in Arabic. For me, this basic course classified more under the standard I terms for an Arabic class, but others might have argued that it resembled more of some kindergarten material. Even though the amount of non-Arabic speakers at LAU probably doesnt exceed that of a football team, we should be given an option to avoid the difficulty and the embarrassment that might occur to us. Just like theres an abundant amount of extensive and intensive English classes offered to students, at least one or two courses of beginners Arabic should be taught for the less experienced.

Electricity: A Problem We All Share

By Carla Hazarian LAU Tribune staff
In a grungy residential building in Beirut, a family sits together in candle light, some engage in small talks, and others read a book. Surprisingly, this is neither the middle ages nor a time before Benjamin Franklin. This image that is painted for you in every other building in present day Lebanon that does not have the privilege of a local generator. Every day like clockwork, Lebanons electricity shuts down at certain hours, and everyone who has the means switches to generator power. Something the rest of the world might find surprising in this day and age. Yet, this is Lebanons genius solution to the countrys inability to produce enough electricity. With that, we have grown to become the children of the generator; it is the deluxe item that no full functioning upper middle class home goes without. I sometimes wonder if we lead the way in the worlds highest demand of generators. Then there is the UPS, also known as uninterruptible power supply. Another valued piece of machinery that helps us through these tough times. The longevity of my computer and play station depends solely on my little UPS battery. Its ridiculous that we are still battling third world problems. You would have thought that, by now, they would have at least taken some steps to getting this country a more reliable supply of power. Lebanons power production was an already flawed design before the civil war, and little has been done since then. Yet, there is one obvious solution: renewable energy. There is no shortage of wind, water, and sun in this country. But why havent we changed already if the answer is right in front of us? The real culprit here is greed; the government doesnt want to spend on the pricey budget it will take to completely renovate Lebanons energy capacity. Even though, on the long term, the project would be profitable, we live in a place where no one is willing to spend money unless they can be instantly gratified. After all, more electricity equals bad news for the generator suppliers. I dont see a solution any time in the near future, unless maybe overthrowing the government in the Arab Spring fashion sounds like a simple task. If not, then all I can say is speak your mind and do what you can to improve this energy crisis.

Do you have anything youd like to say?

Tribunes opinion page is designed to provide you with a free forum where you can be published. Send your articles to TribuneLAU@gmail.com

WRITE!

CONTINUED
New Ban With No Plan
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Water-Rich Lebanon is Thirsty

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Company offices in Mount Lebanon, explained that the problem only surfaced after the Civil War. I started working in 1961. During those days, water reached all apartments 24/7, and people never had to buy tanks, he explained. The crisis began in 1975 because water pipe maintenance and development stopped with the war. Also, water supplies in some areas were not enough with people on the move. El-Haber proposed that the government should work on three types of solutions: building enough dams and reservoirs in order to conserve river and rain water, teaching people to use water efficiently, and performing regular infrastructure maintenance. Meanwhile, Wadad, a Lebanese housewife, paid fifty dollars to the mechanic who repaired her washing machine. It broke again because of the calcified well water she is forced to use. Every year I have to buy a new one because of this water, why dont they do something about it? she asked, furious. They take our money and just let us suffer. That is what I call corruption.

As a smoker, Lyn Abu-Seraj, a journalism major, is not concerned by the crowd as much as she is worried about the constant passing of cars. I almost got run over by a black pick-up the other day! Abu-Seraj complained. Mohsen explained that a solution to this problem is in the works. We are going to build four speed bumps for the cars outside the upper gate, Mohsen said. He warned students to watch out for themselves and those around them. Walking down from Copy House, you find a path that has been drawn by a countless number of cigarette buds on the floor. At the gate, a cloud of smoke ensures that every student entering campus smells like an ashtray. Investigating the littering, I counted 22 cigarette buds per square meter on the floor outside; the surface area of the upper gate is 25 meters. In other words, there may be around 550 cigarette buds in the upper gate area. In the four meters in front of the gate, about 62 buds could be found at 2:30 p.m. on a Monday and it got worse as time passed. According to the guards, the mess on the floor is a daily occurrence. One of the guards asked to be moved to another gate after he developed allergies from the smoke. Natalie Kreidieh, a film major, thinks that the university should supply more ashtrays and garbage bins for students to prevent littering. LAU must not forget that a large number of their students are smokers so making such a decision needs more responsibility of providing a safe environment for students, Kreidieh said. If LAU is taking the decision to make a non-smoking campus then it must supply the necessities that come with it, Hadi Dernaika, an interior design student said. Although I am a smoker, I always throw my buds in the ashtray when I finish, I dont understand why students dont do that. Mohsen argues that smoking outside campus does not explain the mess. Banning smoking on campus does not justify littering in front of the gates, there is no correlation between the two, he said. It definitely reflects lack of civilization when a person decides to place a cup of coffee on the fence or throw a cigarette bud on the floor when the ashtray is two steps away. It is unclear how many people voted on the LAU Tribune website but, of those who did, 76 percent have indicated satisfaction with the ban. Just two months into the semester and the smell of upper gate has already begun to affect people. This leaves students who go outside during their break at a health hazard. Im a smoker but yet every time I walk through upper gate, the fog of smoke leaves me coughing, Adam Simon, a business major, said. Dr. George Cortas, a gastroenterologist at Saint George Hospital, said that non-smokers are transformed into second-hand smokers in such an environment. Whenever you are around people that are smoking, especially up to 80 to 100 students, you will definitely get second hand smoke, Dr. Cortas explained. Since the start of the semester, rumors have circulated that a designated smoking area on campus would be considered. But Mohsen dismissed the possibility of such a decision in the near future. For the time being, it is not being considered, he said. I really hope that the bad doesnt outweigh the good in this decision to ban smoking because it can really better the environment of the LAU campus, Soufan concluded.

The New Deans of LAU

Continued from page 2
Inter-Faith group which helps form a better understanding between people of all religious backgrounds, to create coherence in society. He has written extensively in scholarly journals, newspapers and magazines and made numerous media appearances. Frossard has replaced former deans Samira Aghacy of the Beirut campus and Fouad Hashwa of the Byblos campus. Elfakhani has replaced former deans Tarek Mikdashi of the Beirut campus and Wassim Shahin of the Byblos campus.

Blind Love
Continued from page 5
and talk more about themselves. Y. Y., a business management student at LAU tried the service but was disappointed. We had a nice chat, but I didnt find her hot, he said. So far, six couples tried the blind date, three out of which worked out. This 50-percent success ratio gave the founders the motive to continue and promote their business further. Ibrahim and Harisi hope the outcome of each date they initiate would be love and marriage. We began with a blind dating service. Nobody knows; we might end with a wedding planners company, Ibrahim said, laughing.

Interested in writing? Contact us at tribunelau@ gmail.com

Disabled Suffering
Continued from page 1
repeatedly inquired about the state of the elevator and that the latest answer she got related to a missing spare part. They were trying to fix it during the summer but they now stopped working on it completely until further notice, she said. When we urge the operation office to fix it as soon as possible, we ask them for the sake of people with disabilities. It is not a luxury anymore, Ghorayeb explained angrily. We should have an answer as to when it would be fixed. Meanwhile, Haidar is still being carried by two men everyday certainly until the recovery of the elevator or possibly until her own. If people are disabled, it doesnt mean they are different, Haidar bitterly said. They deserve to pursue their education like everyone else without any difficulties.

The Team:
Adviser: Yasmine Dabbous
Staff:

Editors-in-Chief: Farah Al Saati, Ranim Hadid, Zahi Sahli

Maria Fellas, Lyn Abu-Seraj, Layan Doueik, Assaad Hawwa, Natalia Elmani, Carla Hazarian, Mohamad Al-Oraybi, Iman Soufan, Zeina Shehayeb, Caroline Feghaly, Mayya Al-Ogaily, Rouba Jaafar, Omar El Tani, Samia Buhulaiyem

LAU Students Proceed, LU Students Protest

By Layan Doueik LAU Tribune staff
After a long three-month summer, the academic year at the Lebanese American University resumed smoothly but the Lebanese Universitys fall term has been paused until further notice. Samara Nour Eddine, an 18-year-old freshman who ranked second among the candidates applying for architecture at the LU, is eagerly waiting to initiate her college journey. Unfortunately, she is still in abeyance. I cant wait for this strike to end, Nour Eddine said. I was full of energy to start, now I feel like I am losing it. This situation doesnt only affect the young woman and all freshman students like her, but it also afflicts the thousands still waiting for a second round of examinations, held for those who initially failed their courses, in addition to others who are yearning to graduate in order to improve their financial status. I cant wait any longer, its my future at stake here, Bilal, an LU student who refused to give his family name, said. I have to leave the country as soon as possible for there are many interviews pending. Dalal Jarmak, histology professor at LU, explained that the universitys instructors are significantly underpaid. The salary doesnt cover my daughters fees at any private university, she said. It barely covers my own expenses. According to the office of institutional research and assessment at LAU, the average yearly basic salary of a professor, excluding bonuses, is 97,099 US dollars, an associate professor 67,595 dollars and a minimum of 30,291 dollars for an assistant instructor. At LU, untenured professors with a B.A. have a salary of 25,000 Lebanese pounds per hour while tenured professors with a Ph.D. earn only 2,500,000 Lebanese pounds per month, excluding insurance. A number of LU students were asked about the strike; no one supported it. Interviewees reprimanded their professors and worried that their entire academic year could be in jeopardy. It is going to be a burden on us [students] for there would be extra work and overnights, Nour Eddine lamented. Plus they will extend the scholar year till the end of June. On the other side, nothing seems to disturb the harmony between students and professors at LAU, who began their year peacefully and expect to end it in the same way. There is this unwritten agreement between us, Jalal Tamim, a 20-year-old LAU student said. We pay, they teach. LAU increased the cost of a credit at the beginning of this academic year by 12 US dollars, which adds a total of 140 dollars to the whole tuition. When asked about this raise, Tamim seemed oblivious. Oh really? When was that? he asked as he checked his BlackBerry in one hand and rejected a call from an IPhone with the other. Like LU students, Tamim began his classes late, but not for the same reason. His classes informally started on the second week of the academic year. First week is always useless so why bother? he asked. I dont believe that LAU faculty would go on strike due to income-related issues, Raed Mohsen, the dean of students at LAU, explained. At some point during the Lebanese civil war, faculty and staff willingly worked without pay. The support of foreign countries such as the United States, in addition to the generous donations from the alumni are of a big aid to the educational system and faculty at LAU. Unfortunately, the Lebanese University is not gifted with such benefits, barely being assisted by the Lebanese government. Nour Eddine was among 30 students who got accepted out of the thousands who applied for the LU architecture department. Tamim was among the hundreds who got accepted to LAUs business department. But the journey of education in Lebanon differs from one college to another, where fortunate students seem unworried about any interruption or delay, as long as this unwritten agreement is still running. Well, I have no other option but to wait as I cant afford any private university, Nour Eddine said.

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Water-Rich Lebanon is Thirsty

By Samia Buhulaiyem LAU Tribune staff
Photo by: Farah Dabbous It was late in the evening when Umm Youssef entered her kitchen after the last guest had left. Heaps and piles of dishes and other kitchen utensils awaited her. She turned on the water tap to but did not get a single drip. Umm Youssef activated the pump to muster some water from her ground floor tank, but did not hear water pouring into her apartment reservoir. I became hysterical, she said. Do officials in this country suffer like I do? They only discuss our problems before elections. Ultimately, Umm Youssef decided to call a man from whom she always bought water for 25,000 Lebanese pounds per tank. his full name, is a water tank owner who has been selling water since 1976. I buy water from government reservoirs, he said. I pay the guards 5,000 Lebanese pounds for a two-cubic-meter tank and I sell it for 25,000 pounds. Shawki was unconcerned about Lebanons water shortage problem. I do not care, as far as my wheels are running and customers are paying. Why should I care? he asked. I earn my living, I am building two extra floors, and buying my wife new clothes and furniture. I work during summers when tourists come, and like an ant, during winter, I sit beside my stove, Shawki added. After the delivery boy gave her four twenty-liter gallons of potable water, Mona, another Lebanese housewife, looked quite angry. We pay the government, tank owners, and potable water sellers, she said. That is extortion! Nicolas Tohmeh of Al Jazeera reported on the news outlets website that water waste in Lebanon is estimated at 1.2 billion cubic meters annually. Although Lebanese authorities began formal studies for the construction of 24 dams, successive governments have only approved of 10. They deferred the implementation of remaining projects for political reasons. Nicolas El-Haber, former director of one of the Water

Lebanon enjoys the most important sources of water in the eastern Mediterranean. During high school, we failed our exams if we could not remember the names of the fourteen Lebanese rivers pouring into the sea, rainfall readings and famous government projects like the Green

Project, the Qaraoun Dam, and many others. With this in mind, one finds it quite curious that a Lebanese housewife like Umm Youssef is forced to buy water tanks when she never fails to pay annual government water bills. Shawki, who refused to give

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From the Far East to the Middle East

By Ivana Hindi LAU Tribune contributor
Japanese branded cars flood Lebanese highways. Beirut summer outings include dinners at hip sushi bars in narrow Ashrafiyeh alleys. Yet, it was never Lebanons concern that the makers of brands such as Nissan or Toyota are actually worldwide renowned tourists who frequent different parts of the world. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the influx of Japanese sightseers to the country reveals a considerable increase. Joumana Kibrit, head of research studies at the ministry, revealed encouraging statistics: 2008 welcomed 1934 Japanese visitors while 2010 boasted a significant 3906. The Lebanese population amounts to 4,017,095 according to the CIA World Factbook. The Japanese embassy in Lebanon reveals 60 registered Japanese in the country, 30 to 40 of which are long-term residents. Junko Hoki, one of the few Japanese residents of Beirut, explained how the Japanese in Lebanon, like any other minority, strongly stick together. I got to know the few Japanese people who come and go, as well as the few ones who live here, Hoki said, keen on sharing her story. Hoki works at Jing, a refined English tea room on Monot street. With her pitch black hair tied in a knot, a wide smile and sculpted eyes behind black framed eyeglasses, Hokis physical appearance seemed to match the mood of the tea room. I am very knowledgeable about tea. The owner of Jing was looking for someone like that. So I switched from being a fascinated tourist in Lebanon to a long-term retailer resident, she said proudly. Back when she was a tourist, Hoki resided in Talal, a small hostel located near Downtown Beirut and which houses many Japanese tourup to 40 dollars. The backpacker movement started around 2001. Asians used to come in bigger numbers. Abou Lteif explained that Japanese tourists usually know when to spend and when to skimp. They give each country its merit, and Lebanon does not appeal to them shopping-wise because they do not see it as a shopping city, he said. In fact, Japanese people like to save money. Kimi Taka is in Lebanon for the second time as a tourist. He is a loyal client at the Talal hostel. Dressed in a worn out orange shirt and striped knee high socks, Taka is the typical splurge-free tourist who uses his eyeglasses to gaze at monuments instead of showing off his latest sunglasses. A khaki backpack rests on his shoulder. I came to Lebanon during the winter of 2010, and stayed here for a week before going to Syria, he said. Taka said he fell in love with the Lebanese weather, landscape, and Mediterranean Sea, but also pointed out the expensive costs in the country. Abou Lteif explained that the Japanese tourists who visit the hostel are only concerned about having a proper bathroom and somewhere to eat. Sometimes, those people wake up at 5 am to cook obnoxious smelling food, he laughed. It is a normal ritual for them, and it helps them save money instead of eating out. Hoki proudly talked about her friend, the only Japanese chef currently working in Lebanon. His name is Mitsu, he works at My Bar in downtown Beirut, she said. Some of our mutual friends come to visit us while they tour Lebanon at the same time. But if they come to Lebanon, it is mainly to visit us. Japanese people usually like to plan most of their holidays in Europe, but I did love Lebanon, she added.
Photo via Creative Commons

OFF CAMPUS

12

tribune

oct. 31 , 2011

Coloring Hamra
By Farrah Berrou LAU Tribune contributor
Six colorful benches were recently added to Hamra street, thanks to a sponsored follow-up project connected with the Hamra Street Festival, Maraya 2011. Not only did the people of the neighborhood gain the luxury of sitting on a bench for a breather on an idle Tuesday afternoon, they also got to benefit from the splash of creativity that came along with them. The benches are still concrete slabs placed on legs, but they have undergone artistic enhancement. Najwa Baroody, director of the Maraya Hamra Festival, explained that the organization conceived the idea of the benches in order to involve young upcoming artists and provide the residents of Hamra and those who frequent it with a breathing room. What inspired me to put these benches was the idea of giving back to the people of the street a chance to sit and enjoy and relax, she said. Three artists and LAU alumni, Dalia Baassiri, Danny Khoury and Nisreen Mohtar, executed the project. We had the artistic freedom to address society the way we wanted, as long as it was not offensive in any way, Baassiri said. The images she painted were not based on prior sketches. They were entirely spontaneous, Baassiri explained. She described herself as a graphic reporter in how I translate what I see and hear into images. The layers upon layers in her pieces were inspired by the interaction with the people around her during the painting process, which took five working days to complete. The process itself attracted an audience of all ages; even older groups liked Baassiris abstract work, appreciated the detail and revisited to see her progress.

ists. Most of them surprisingly visit Lebanon on cheap budgets or long backpacking trips. The New York Times shows that a Japanese employee is likely to expect a short vacation with an average of 7.4 days in the manufacturing sector, yet travel is a must on his to-do list, and it is a primary activity for him to indulge in. Statistics from the ministry of tourism in Beirut revealed that the areas mostly visited by Japanese sightseers in Lebanon are Tripoli, Jbeil, and Baalbeck. Oussama Nasser is the owner of a yellow, rusty looking taxi cab. He welcomed us in an atmosphere that combined heat, worn-out leather and loud Arabic music. I do receive Japanese tourists in my taxi, he laughed piercingly, emphasizing his statement with a hand gesture out of the window. Sometimes I can witness 3 or 4 of them in my taxi per day, yet a year can go by without having encountered at least one Japanese tourist. The Japanese, who are reputed to buy the world in twoweek holidays, are heavy trip planners who head mainly toward Europe. But the Japanese people who come to Lebanon seem different. Sophisticated consumer-tourists are rare in Beiruts high end boutiques. Surveys show that 92 percent of Japanese women

own a Louis Vuitton handbag. I have therefore decided to enter the Louis Vuitton boutique on a crowded and heated weekend afternoon in Beirut. The smell of heavy perfume emanated from the sleekly designed room. One of the vendors, Nisrine Bleik, looked suspicious once the subject was evoked. Japanese visitors solely enter the shop to duplicate models of the newest collections, and then sell the knock offs. They never buy, she revealed. Considering the high percentage of backpacker tourists from Japan, Talal, a hidden hostel near downtown Beirut is where most of them stay the few days they spend in Lebanon. They range from nomad students, journalists, photographers to families and groups of friends. Wissam Abou Lteif is the manager of the Talal hostel. The four-walled reception room is poorly ventilated and neon lit stairs lead the way to a cafeteria, where computer printed papers that read the words Talal caf were glued to the walls. Talal hostel offers special prices for tourists. We have dorms for tourists who come in groups. They cost 12 dollars per night. We also have private rooms without toilets, that cost 30 US dollars per night, Abou Lteif said. If toilets are requested to be included, thats a good 35 dollars, and add a king size bed to that, it will go