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“Shisha”-holic Campus “Ontornet” Cultural Day Fine Arts 102 Meet LAU’s Ken
TRIBUNE
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CAMPUS NEWS
“Playshop:”Improvising Art Exhibition: An Exhibition of
Public Speaking Talent and Creativity
By Eleena Korban By Nour Monajjed
LAU Tribune staff LAU Tribune staff
CAMPUS NEWS
Mental Health Issues in Burj El Workshop for Empowering
Barajneh Refugee Camp Female Iraqi Journalists
By Mona Hammoud By Zahi Sahli
LAU Tribune contributor LAU Tribune contributor
CAMPUS LIFE
The Art of Doodling
By Maria Fellas
LAU Tribune staff
“I really, really love cats,” a this habit, research reveals “This way, I can study easi- Full-blown conversations that they are barely notice-
student wrote on one of the that doodling may be helpful er.” sometimes take place on able. Math and chemistry
desks in a Sage Hall class- in raising the concentration Many just do it for fun. Lama some of these desks. Ran- formulas mix with account-
room, perhaps reflecting on levels of the students. Ac- Hmaidani, an LAU student, dom strangers just find it fun ing and biology lingo.
the felines he or she crossed cording to Applied Cognitive finds doodling to be a likable or important to reply to each If some students don’t doo-
on the way to the building. Psychology, people doodling practice. “Paper feels totally others’ small notes or leave dle, they certainly enjoy
“Every MWF in this time a while on the phone were able different than the desks,” she comments next to a drawing. reading what is found on
little part of me dies,” anoth- to retain 29 percent more in- said. “It’s like exploring to- “The Amal party is the best,” their desks. “I rarely choose
er student scribbled on his or formation than those who tally new grounds and I find one student wrote on a desk a clean desk,” Khoury said. “I
her desk. weren’t. it very efficient in the face of and got a series of replies, in- prefer to sit on one that has
Whether they are bored dur- “Believe it or not, I think it’s extreme boredom.” cluding some foul language. doodles all over it because
ing class, trying to concen- the doodles that helped me But are the doodles ran- Students sometimes attack they intrigue me and they
trate on the instructor across pass calculus last semes- dom ideas that cross a stu- individuals, and some even leave me guessing about the
the room or just plainly blow- ter,” Paul Yammine, a civ- dent’s mind on a whim or do attack LAU. “Once, I was personality of the person who
ing off steam, students at il engineering student, said. they come from deeper, bur- so mad because I had failed wrote them.”
LAU tend to doodle on class- “I mean I would never doo- ied feelings? Something like a test, so I wrote f*** LAU Whether students do it un-
room tables, providing a cre- dle during a major course, “Iron Maiden” may just re- on my desk,” a student who consciously or knowingly to
ative outlet to their imagina- but when in an elective class, flect an appreciation for the wished to remain anony- fight off boredom, doodles re-
tions and a revealing window I find that it helps keep me artist but a carefully written mous said. “It made me feel main a great lead to the per-
into their world. awake and alert.” sentence such as “you are my a little better at the moment, sonality and the ways of the
“I don’t necessarily draw. Many students said they world” may be an expression but then I realized how stu- students who chose to leave a
Sometimes I just write sil- use doodling as a note-tak- of more poignant thoughts. pid it was.” mark.
ly stuff on a piece of paper,” ing method. When in class, A study by LAU media re- One student left his or her “When I’m down, and I read
said Sendy Elias, a graph- Gilbert Khoury, a comput- search methods students number with instructions for one of the doodles I wrote
ic design student at LAU. “I er engineering student, does suggests that a person can other students to “call me.” the day before, it just makes
don’t just enjoy it, but it has just that. “I draw graphs, I doodle consciously and un- Students also cheat by doo- me laugh so hard and even
also proved to be a great way make up new ways to inter- consciously and that, most of dling small notes and us- gets me thinking about what
to resist dosing off in class.” pret what I understand from the time, doodling expresses ing them in tests. They write was on my mind during that
While teachers may resent every lecture,” he explained. hidden feelings and ideas. them in such a small font time,” Yammine said.
“There’s no attendance to- university students do miss ter for a course is the equiva- instructor at LAU, explained ior. “I trust students to do
day?” cried a student in dis- class once or twice during the lent of one third of the given that learning is a process. what is best for themselves.
may, noticing that the in- year owing to personal rea- semester, unless the instruc- “Interaction and collabora- There shouldn’t be anything
structor is starting the class sons. tor chooses to impose a differ- tion in the classroom are very to force them to attend,” he
without taking out the atten- “Some teachers don’t want ent policy. important, and when you said. “They’re not kids; if
dance sheet. to hear your excuse,” Louay Other students, however, don’t attend, this process is they choose not to come to
The look of annoyance and Hasan, a business manage- think that this policy is not interrupted,” she said. class, they will have to deal
disappointment on the stu- ment student, said. “They strict enough. Dib Ganaui, Patricia Prudhomme, a bi- with the consequences. I am
dent’s face said it all: “What just think you didn’t want political science student, is ology student, also believes responsible for the content
was the point of coming to to come to class, that you’re one such student. “There that when you absent your- of my courses and for the
class?” sitting in some café or some- are a lot of people who would self from class, you will even- knowledge I transmit. The
LAU has what some would thing. There isn’t much con- never show up to class if tually feel like there is some- rest is up to them.”
term a strict attendance pol- sideration for what personal they didn’t have to,” he said. thing missing. “In my field, So are students really dis-
icy. If you miss class a certain reasons you might have.” “You’re paying a lot of mon- you need to be curious, to ask inclined to come to class?
number of times, you are con- Hasan himself had to face a ey, so you should want to questions. That’s just not Some seem to think so, and
fronted with two choices; ei- teacher’s “lack of consider- come to class!” possible when you don’t come the question of how to amend
ther drop the course or face ation,” when he was absent Fouad Bocti, an education to class,” she said. the situation remains unan-
the firm and fearsome “F.” several times in a row. major, had a bad attendance Though some instructors do swered.
“We shouldn’t have to stress With six allowable absenc- record in the past because he not hide their displeasure Louay Hasan, business man-
about missing class or being es MWF and four TR in most lives an hour’s drive away when they are obliged to dis- agement major, argued that
late,” Yasir El Sheikh, a po- departments, this policy has from university. miss their class because less there is not enough motiva-
litical science senior at LAU, been the cause of some out- Nevertheless, Bocti believes than half of the students are tion for students to attend
said. “Sometimes it is dif- rage among many students. that attendance is of the ut- present, others like assis- classes. He explained that
ficult for us to manage our Some have even dug deep most importance, and tries to tant professor of history Ray some English colleges give
time, and this policy really into the Rules and Regula- make it to class despite hav- Mouawad, put their faith en- students £30 per week for
doesn’t make it any easier.” tions of the university and ing to fight his way through tirely in the students. good attendance.
While some make absence have pointed out that the Beirut’s traffic-jammed Mouawad believes that stu- Would that motivate LAU
and tardiness a habit, it is number of absences allowed streets on a daily basis. dents should be respon- students to attend classes if
safe to assume that most by the university per semes- Giselle Pempedjian, English sible for their own behav- all else fails?
April 18, 2011 Tribune 5
CAMPUS LIFE
“Shisha”-holic
By Sahar Moukaddem
LAU Tribune staff
It’s midterm time. Surround- four times per week on aver- I get from arguileh.”
Jhonny Dibo a 19-year-old fi- Sara Hameyi an 18-year-old Sandra Zein Eldin a 20-year- Mariam Keserwan a 19-year- Ali Hamade a 21-year-old
nance student. communication arts student. old business student. old biology student. business student.
His favorite teacher is Mar- Her favorite teacher is Reine Her favorite teacher is Rabi Her favorite teacher is Rony His favorite teacher is Elie
wan Chbaklo, a business in- Azzi , an English instructor Abi Ammar, accounting 2 in- Touma a mathematics in- Maalouf, a business instruc-
structor. structor. structor. tor.
6 Tribune April 18, 2011
You might think that your Embarrassingly ranked last will be realized in the near
“It’s been four years since I’ve the limited space. Bilal The LAU website states that, computing” as a solution to sure and once we’re confi-
used my LAU email,” Allen Kbeissi, a biology student, if this quota of 20MB is ex- all the problems that come dent we’ll start moving the
Khoury, a graphic design stu- said that emails from previ- ceeded, students will be un- with the LAU email. emails,” Abou Nasr said.
dent, said. “I’m just not used ous semesters are unneces- able to receive emails until Cloud computing is defined In the meantime, Abou Nasr
to it.” sary and should be deleted. they delete older messages to as computing services pro- stressed, students who en-
LAU’s official website states “The storage space isn’t an is- create space for new ones. vided over the Internet (or counter problems with their
that the LAU email address sue for me because I delete all Many professors complained “cloud”), whereby shared re- existing LAU email should
is used for official communi- my emails anyway,” Nadine that students’ inboxes would sources, software, and infor- contact the IT helpdesk im-
cations from the university Bou Ali, a business student, be overloaded and therefore mation are provided to com- mediately. The helpdesk re-
and should be checked regu- said. unable to receive the emails puters and other devices on ceived 1,400 calls this month,
larly. But some students do Not everyone shares this en- they send them. demand. 760 of which were concerning
not use it at all, and many of thusiasm, though. Many stu- “You don’t only empty your “Student emails will be host- software issues.
those that do find it difficult. dents feel that 20MB is insuf- inbox, you also should emp- ed at Microsoft’s ‘live@edu.’ The helpdesk once got a call
According to a survey con- ficient. “The storage space is ty your sent folder because You will have inboxes 50 from an “LAU constituent”
ducted by media research too small,” Adam Dabliz, a all folders except trash will times bigger, meaning you complaining that a long-
methods students, only business-marketing student, count toward your quota,” will have 10GB mailboxes awaited mail was never re-
51percent of students use said. “I always have to delete Abou Nasr explained. and your emails will keep the ceived. When the helpdesk
their LAU email. Around 34 my emails.” The minimal storage space domain name ‘@lau.edu.lb,’” inquired about computer re-
percent of these check their Camille Abou Nasr, assis- is not the only problem stu- Abou Nasr explained. lated issues, the person won-
emails once a week and only tant vice president for infor- dents encounter with the Live@edu is a service by Mi- dered why it was relevant.
5 percent check theirs over 10 mation technology at LAU, LAU email. Other difficulties crosoft which offers edu- It turned out the caller was
times a week. acknowledged that 20MB is include session time-outs, cational institutions free waiting for snail mail and as-
LAU provides students with not enough. “But if you think which force students out of hosted, co-branded commu- sumed they should seek as-
20MB of email storage space, about it, as a university we their mailboxes before they nication and collaboration sistance from the helpdesk.
an undersized option com- have around 40,000 mailbox- are able to send emails, limit- services for students, faculty, “We still laugh about this,”
pared to Hotmail’s 5GB, es for students and alumni,” ed access outside LAU, slow- and alumni. Abou Nasr smiled. “My point
Gmail’s 7GB and Yahoo’s un- he said. “To support and back ness and emails bouncing “We are in the middle of the is that we get all sorts of calls,
limited alternatives. it up with a bigger storage back when sent. project right now, we’re do- so when you have a problem
Some students do not mind space is difficult.” Abou Nasr proposed “cloud ing some tests. Once we’re do call us.”
April 18, 2011 Tribune 7
Delicious foods from Leb- ucts, distinctive attire and said. LAU students who attended ance,” Greek-Cypriot stu-
anese tabbouli to Jordani- other traditional items. “In 1983, UNESCO felt that the event were unequivocally dent Adnan Adam said.
an msakhani and Ameri- Tarek Na’was, associate pro- international heritage is vul- pleased as they looked at the Program coordinator Riman
can cookies. An Armenian, fessor of biology and pharma- nerable to the behavior of successful portrayal of their Jurdak expressed her pride
red version of the tabbouli. cy opened the ceremony at 11 leaders and to the effects of respective cultural identi- in the students’ ideas and ef-
Abayas, gelabiyas and tan- a.m., welcoming students, war and thus required states ties. fort. “Honestly they keep on
tours. And, in front of the staff, faculty and guests to to do whatever they can so “I think the Palestinian cul- surprising me so I’m real-
American Club stand, noth- the event, and introducing that the diverse, but rich, in- tural club’s stand really re- ly happy and proud of their
ing less than a Harley David- LAU President Joseph Jab- ternational heritage is pro- flected the cultural image work,” she said.
son motorbike. bra. tected,” Jabbra continued. of the Palestinians through The show featured an open-
Cultural clubs at LAU put in Jabbra gave a historic over- The president thanked the their presentation and folk ing dance from the Lebanese
a colorful and engaging show view of the sparkling occa- students of various back- dance,” Aya Ibrahim, a Pal- folklore before each of the
on April 8, as they celebrated sion, noting that its roots grounds who have, in Jab- estinian English Literature other clubs performed its na-
the eighth annual Interna- date back to a 1982 interna- bra’s own terms, contribut- student, said. tional dance.
tional Heritage Day at LAU’s tional council in Tunisia. ed to the ongoing success of Students also noted their joy The American, Armenian,
Beirut campus. “In an international commu- the annual event since the at the cooperation among the Greek, Iraqi, Jordanian, Pal-
Each of the nine participat- nity meeting in Tunisia on 2003/04 academic year. “The different clubs. “The atmo- estinian, Saudi, Syrian, and
ing cultural clubs set up its April 18, 1982, one of the de- event has been made vibrant sphere is friendly between UNESCO clubs participated
own stand where it promoted cisions was to set a day on through our diverse students clubs and they are sharing in the event. The latter rep-
its country’s unique customs which humanity would cel- and our different cultural ideas about how to improve resented the Lebanese cul-
through food, national prod- ebrate its heritage,” Jabbra clubs,” Jabbra said. each others’ stands appear- ture.
8 Tribune April 18, 2011
PEOPLE
Behind the Door of Fine Arts 102
By Ivana Hindi
LAU Tribune staff
“Prononciation” is how Ma- not make a difference. “The said. personal involvement. And critical ability” and have a
ria Alieh, a student at LAU, school would teach us Eng- Alieh admits that the Amer- yet, French-educated stu- better general knowledge.
reads the word. Her class- lish only in grade 6,” she ican system is more lenient dents seem to excel more in She noticed that even vocab-
mates laugh and don’t seem said. “I learned the language than the French, where stu- American systems than their ulary wise, French-educated
to understand what she just through movies, TV and the dents face a strict set of rules English-educated counter- students are better.
said. Humiliated, Alieh does Internet.” and endure a much heavier parts. They are used to regu- “In a literature book, a great
not want to read further. She One of the biggest challenges workload. lations and hard work. deal of the vocabulary comes
drops the book on the table she had to face is writing es- The American school system Sara Giusti, a business stu- from French,” she said.
and sits still. says in English. “My phras- provides a curriculum that dent at LAU, agreed. “It is “Hence the English educated
“While reading in English, if es were disorganized,” Alieh takes into consideration the so much easier homework have problems with the big
I can’t pronounce the words, said. “And when I couldn’t children’s needs and inter- wise,” she said. “French words.”
I do so in French,” Alieh said. find the words in Eng- ests. It’s flexible enough and schools make you work hard- Reem Moussa, an LAU grad-
“During my school years, I lish, I used to write them in allows students to partici- er and even the material we uate, found no difficulty
was French educated.” French.” pate in extracurricular activ- study is heavy.” transferring from a French
Alieh found the shift to an Because of her poor language ities. Giusti does not see lan- school. “It was way more re-
American institution compli- skills, Alieh had to take the A World Health Organiza- guage as an issue. Being in laxing as a curriculum and
cated and hard to adapt to. remedial English class at tion study showed that more a French system, students atmosphere,” she said.
“I never spoke in English LAU. Although her skills im- than six out of 10 students have a better base than oth- Moussa explained that she
with my friends,” she said. proved, the young woman complain of being anxious in ers, she said. was well trained through es-
“Only when obliged, I would.” still struggles. French schools. Samira Aghacy, dean of arts says and oral presentations
Alieh was never comfortable “When I have a presentation, Philippe Meirieu, an educa- and sciences and literature at school.
with the language. the students laugh at me be- tion science professor, ad- professor at LAU, said that “I didn’t find the change dif-
The English class Alieh took cause most my sentences mitted that French schools the French educated are ficult because I went from
during her childhood did aren’t structured right,” she discourage creativity and more equipped with “this hard to easy,” she added.
April 18, 2011 Tribune 9
CONTINUED
LAU Becoming a Non- Neurons Crackle on Campus
Smoking Campus? Continued from page 1
my problems,” he said. “I would freeze during exams and not know what to do.”
Continued from page 1 he was in school, it was the The problem escalated outside the classroom and reached Richie’s personal life. He began to
ban on smoking that creat- have depressive episodes during which he would contemplate ways to end his life. “At that point
from concerned students, the ed social pressure on him to I knew I hit rock bottom and sought help,” Richie said. “I began seeing a therapist for a year and
issue cannot be ignored. smoke. To this, an audience a half; even during my summer vacation.”
In 2005, Al-Mustaqbal, Assa- member replied by saying: Life for him got back in order, but not for long. Richie’s blissful state was shattered when his fi-
fir, Annahar and Al-Anwar “I am a smoker, my father ancé broke up with him. “I relapsed and slipped into the gutter,” he said while trying to keep his
featured articles about the is sick from smoking, and I calm. “When I thought I had it all figured out, she left me and now I’m back to being nothing.”
first anti-smoking event in wish I can quit. That same Richie has terminated his private therapy sessions. However, he showed an interest in visiting
Dr. Najib Ghosn’s campaign. social pressure is what I feel the counselor’s office on campus in the near future.
In a campaign in 2006, live when I go outside and can’t Karim Mohamed, a biology student, believes that LAU is doing a great effort in reducing the
music written by LAU stu- resist the urge to smoke, stigma associated with mental health issues. “It’s a good thing LAU offers psychological assis-
dents specifically for the cam- since I am smoking it second tance for free, it’s a blessing for students who need it,” he said. “Teachers here are generally ac-
paign was sung, guest speak- hand anyway, I might as well cepting, to a reasonable limit.”
ers like former LAU student have one. Banning smoking Along with being a place of education and support, LAU also prides itself with the open-door pol-
and Miss Lebanon 2003 Ma- will help me think twice be- icy used on campus. “A student can go up to the president’s office anytime they want,” an un-
rie Jose Hnein spoke, and fore lighting a cigarette.” named LAU staff member boasted.
creative fact sheets and post- Moussally explained that so- This claim is in fact, true. Maria Fellas, a journalism student who suffers from OCD, said her
ers were handed out on both cial pressure is a very strong condition “didn’t allow [her] to enter class.” Consequently, due to the consistent absences, Fel-
campuses. and effective force. “Social las failed the class. However, after presenting her case – along with her psychologist – before the
In 2008 and 2009, pharma- pressure could be anything presidentw, Fellas was offered a second chance. “The president was very understanding of my
cy students spread aware- from a remark or comment situation,” she said. “I’d go to class and walk back, then go to class and walk back. It went on for
ness against the dan- to just the self stat- quite some time.”
gers of smoking and, in ing fact that you are “I’m obsessed,” Zahi Sahli, a journalism and Arabic student, said. His words aren’t trivial,
2010, LAU hosted the
famous guitarist Ama-
deus with his band to
“I an outsider because
you don’t smoke,
and it is powerful,”
they’re actually rooted in a deeply troubling situation that often prevents him from having a
good night’s sleep. Sahli has been diagnosed with Purely Obsessional OCD, which is a lesser
form of obsessive compulsive disorder that mainly revolves around one’s inability to stop think-
promote an anti-smok-
ing campaign. The
sneak she added.
The debate went on
ing excessively.
“As a child, I’ve been obsessed with the dictionary, any word I don’t know I’d look it up,” he said.
housing and health
section in the Student back unresolved, but sev-
eral solutions were
Sahli’s condition is geared toward making sure whatever project he starts is finalized to his sat-
isfaction. If not finished, he will not sleep till it is.
here
Life website contains proposed. “Banning Sahli makes the most out of his condition and keeps himself busy by writing for the LAU news-
a downloadable doc- it will not solve the paper and working as a freelancer at Global Sports Media and the marketing department at
ument titled “How to problem, we won’t LAU. “I’m very busy… I like it; it is part of the illness,” he smiled.
Quit Smoking.”
Last Monday, a pan- for a quit,” Akra argued.
“LAU needs to grad-
el was held to debate
whether LAU should couple
ually implement
changes in the forms Naturally Fake
become a non-smoking of programs and Continued from page 12
campus with designat-
ed areas or a complete-
puffs” awareness to help
us ease out of the
ly smoke free campus. habit.”
Representing a non- Shami sympa-
smoking campus with desig- thized, being a former smok-
nated areas were assistant er herself. “For those who are Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to sue Zein Al Atat. The accuser provided medical evi-
professor Tamara Abou An- addicted, I know that some- dence that these products, and especially the creams, have cancerous ingredients.
toun and humanities profes- times they just need that cig- Consumers Lebanon Organization, a non-governmental institution by Zuhair Berro, helps pro-
sor Samira Shami. Rula Bu arette,” she said. Bu Alwan tect consumers under the patronage of the law and of the ministry of health. An individual can
Alwan spoke for a completely insisted that designated ar- raise a complaint by filing a report to the organization, who directly contacts the ministry for
smoke free campus. Instruc- eas would not free the cam- help.
tor Ussama Akra, assistant pus of second-hand smoke “We worked with the ministry of health in a campaign against the marketers who promote un-
professor Abdallah Kahil, and pollution. natural products and we made a progress in controlling the wide spread of these products, but
student body president Hish- The debate was heated and some marketers are politically supported,” Alan Sabee, a member in the organization, said.
am Baalbaki and student the audience was emotional. Sabee said that the government couldn’t ban some marketers from promoting their products on
Mohamad Abu Chahla spoke Vice President Elise Salem TV, but they forced them to include a small line at the bottom of the screen or the billboard ad,
on behalf of the smokers. who had been watching con- noting that these products are not medical.
The audience was divided cluded that “as long as emo- Following the ban, Zein shops closed their doors. No party from Amana Care or Zein Al Atat com-
among the two camps with tions are involved, and from panies was available for comment.
the smokers largely outnum- the audience we see that they Al Atat’s advertising campaigns cost millions of dollars. In Verdun, facing the UNESCO Center,
bering the non-smokers. are, it’s difficult to get any- a huge billboard for Zein’s recent product, financed before the merchandise were banned, still
Akra confessed that, when where.” stands proudly, evidence of a lost kingdom.
OPINION
Miss LAU Hey, Ken
Tala El-Riz
Reem Swaidan LAU Tribune staff
LAU Tribune staff
“Do you have the qualities selves, is another issue I will any opportunity there is to Ken arrives and she runs off dards, then who gets to be
to become Miss LAU? Wait get into in a bit. show off their “hotness.” to alert her friends. his Barbie? Who lives up to
a minute.. Did I just read Everyone knows that Leb- Let us get back to the rea- He’s dressed in a perfectly his standards?
Miss LAU?” So I read on one anese citizens have a rep- son these girls feel the need ironed pink chemise, paired The winner has to be well-
of the flyers that were posted utation of being “shallow,” to enter this wonderful beau- with perfectly squared trou- qualified and up to the stan-
all over LAU. I took another no offence, and most Leba- ty pageant that only happens sers and matching grey moc- dards of Ken’s wardrobe.
look at the pink piece of pa- nese hold that status proud- at LAU. Most of these girls casins. Girls, and may I say guys, I
per with a cartooned girl on ly. Young Lebanese men are never take the risk of just be- One girl asks her friend: “Do felt what you felt. I inspect-
it that ironically had her hair only satisfied when a “hot ing themselves. I don’t blame I look good?” To which her ed, observed and became fa-
and makeup done. chick” is by their side. Now, them honestly. It’s the soci- friend replies: “Yeah you do. miliar with the model that
As I walked around the uni- let us describe this Leba- ety that we live in today. It’s What about me?” looks like he came straight
versity, I was puzzled with nese “hot chick,” shall we? the world around them tell- He goes off to class and they out of a catalog.
the level that we have sunk No need to be too tall, she will ing them they need to look sit around, waiting for him to What’s funny about it is that
to. wear heals at any given time perfect every minute of every return. Time and expertise he’s not even aware of the
I don’t get it. Do we need anyway. Her makeup will be day. helped them get his full-time show that is taking place
some girl with her 6-inch sti- done perfectly no matter how What I do blame them for is schedule so they know when around him. His nose is so
lettos, full make-up and hair early she needs to wake up. not having enough self-es- and where to find him. high up that it might just
done to represent our uni- Her hair? Oh, her hair. Noth- teem to ignore this society I wondered why every girl touch the sky and his mind,
versity? As if LAU hasn’t al- ing ruins that perfectly done and just be. There is no need wants to be Ken’s Barbie, and from what it seems, drifts off
ready got a reputation for be- hair. to enter some beauty pag- tried to find out for myself. into “Ken’s world.”
ing “materialistic.” Do we Now imagine the picture I eant in a university just to He has a well-defined jaw, 48 hours of observation
need something else to push just painted. That “hot chick” feel good about yourself. You golden tanned skin tone and proved that the girls didn’t
us off the edge? that you imagined is right are beautiful. a physique that proves the give up. They kept running
What horrifies me even more here! Look around! She is all Yes, by “you” I mean all you gym has done its job. The mo- a show to impress him. It is
is the enthusiasm many of over! girls at LAU. You don’t need ment he sets foot on campus, funny how girls let super-
the girls felt over this event. What goes through these to win a beauty contest to feel girls run off to the bathroom ficial factors win when it
The fact that many of them girls’ minds, you wonder? beautiful. You need to tell to check themselves out and comes to guys. Look around
welcomed the need to enter Well basically, in order not yourself that you are beau- guys, unfortunately, feel in- you and try to look beyond
a beauty pageant in an aca- to throw away all this work tiful. So who cares about the timidated by the elected “hot- exteriors. Try to open up and
demic institution, just to feel they do to themselves every credentials for being Miss test of 2011.” read what’s there on the in-
more confident about them- single morning, they grab LAU? If Ken meets all girls’ stan- side.
I’m going out with my love. ing and cleaning their cars The intimacy between men according to the cars they their priorities according-
She turns heads wherever until they shine. Every day, and their cars is complete drive. A guy who drives a car ly. To be valued less than a
she goes. I devote all my time they tend to lavish them madness. They even try to that is well trimmed and tidy car is simply nonsense. And
to her. She’s beautiful and with the best fragrance to call their car “sexy.” I mean, reflects sensitivity and love; to keep arguing with your
well built. make them look first-class. who would do that? And then and these are two character- man, because he expects you
I just love showing her off Men will not spare the time they find it hard to compli- istics that most ladies would to compete with his car for
and it just feels right when or the money to correct ev- ment their girls. like their guys to have. But it attention also doesn’t make
we sit together. She under- ery scratch their babies have; “I have this kind of chemis- stops there.All girls should any sense.
stands me like no one can. they will give them the most try with my car, which I can’t get used to the idea that men I came to the conclusion that
With a light touch, she fol- expensive cosmetic surgery have with my girlfriend, and connect over many things in men turn into kids when it
lows my directions without to enhance their engines, I love it,” J. K., another car- life; and cars are at the top of comes to their cars; they be-
complaining. She’s my wife wheels and expensive trim- lover, said. the list. come so excited and selfish
and my lover; she’s my CAR. mings. For them, only the However, this might hin- Cars are men’s selfish pas- to a point where they would
Guys and cars are two insep- best they will do. der the relation between sion in life, no matter how refer to them as “she” or as
arable beings. “I treat my car better than men and their significant important their female part- “baby.” If only men would try
The guy walks around con- treating my girl because others, because men tend to ners might be. and treat their girls the way
fident enough, knowing when I ask her to move, she feel much safer around their Real girls ought to look at they treat their cars, how
that he’s got something that moves without even ques- cars than around girls, even this sad truth and decide on wonderful would that be?
makes others envy him. “My tioning me,” A.S., another though both need love and
car is my wife, we are con- LAU student, said. No com- care. Do you have anything you’d like to say?
nected, there’s just this ment! But cars do not reject men as
chemistry between us, R.S., Obviously, cars feed into girls may well do. Share your thoughts with the entire campus.
a business student at LAU, men’s desires to be accept- A lot of men think that cars
told me. ed by society. They give them define their status and ego. Send your articles to
It’s obvious that men spend a immediate and very pleasing But what men don’t know
lot of time pampering, wash- satisfaction. is that girls don’t pick guys TribuneLAU@gmail.com
April 18, 2011 Tribune 11
OFF CAMPUS
Melanoma rising, Lebanon declining
By Caroline Hodroj
LAU Tribune staff
Rima, a 42-year-old mother of skin cancer among its res- skin melanoma, a type of skin “Those who are exposed to are the cement works, refin-
of three, comfortably loung- idents? cancer that has the ability to the sun should use a sun- eries, thermo-electric pow-
es on a tanning bed while she The population of the Arab spread quickly throughout screen lotion with a sun er houses, a multiplicity of
sips chilled carrot juice and world has tripled to 360 mil- the body and invade other protection factor (SPF) of small combustion sources,
adjusts her sunglasses. No lion since 1970, and will rise cells, is steadily on the rise. 15 or more, and wear wide and generators installed at
one could mistake that smile to nearly 600 million by 2050. Within the ministry’s annual brimmed hats and enough numerous industrial prem-
on her mouth as she inhales The level of atmospheric pol- cancer registry, skin melano- clothing to cover the skin ises and residences to com-
deeply and exhales with a lution that accompanies that ma for individuals between as much as possible,” he ad- pensate for power cuts. Pro-
contented sigh. number indicates that the ages 35 to 39 has increased vised. “Sunscreens should be duction of electrical energy
In her mind, she is doing her temperature in the region by 1.6 percent since 2005. It used even when swimming, pollutes the atmosphere by
body a medical and cosmetic will rise in the coming years. has increased by 2.9 percent since the sun’s rays can reach the discharge of thermo-elec-
favor. Medically, she is soak- According to the Lebanese among individuals ranging down one meter into the wa- tric power plants. The sulfur
ing up as much vitamin D Ministry of Environment, between 40 and 44 years old ter.” content of fuel used in Leba-
and hoarding it throughout Lebanon will be suffering and by 4.9 percent among in- Aya Kabanni, a pharma- non is high,” Masri stated.
the impending winter, and from rising sea levels, dwin- dividuals between 55 and 59 cist who works for the Beirut Besides the pollution of in-
cosmetically, she is allowing dling rainfall, and danger- years old. Farah Pharmacy, says that if dustrious structures, Leb-
the sun to beautify her skin ously hot summers in the up- Dr. Danny Touma, a special- it were up to her, she would anon is having a problem
color. coming year due to the rise ist in advanced dermatology, force people to wear sun- with the increasing number
“I hate winter, thank God in temperature. The UNDP research, and surgery, gave screen even when it’s rain- of cars. The present num-
it’s delayed,” she says with a stated that the change in an estimate based on his ing. ber is 1.3 million and an ad-
happy sigh. climate will result in a cri- studies and findings. Although Dr. Touma said ditional 75 thousand are an-
Although Rima is candidly sis within the region, where “There is no question that it that the medical treatment nually imported. According
content, scientists point out temperatures may rise to 2 is significantly rising, par- for skin cancer is effective to Fouad Seniora, the former
to climate change as a sign degrees Celsius in the next ticularly in regards to ma- by 95 percent, the Lebanese prime minister of Lebanon,
of environmental disorder. 15 years and 4 degrees Cel- lignant melanoma, the dead- Ministry of Environment the average number of cars
Such change occurs when sius by the end of the centu- liest type,” Touma says. stated that the treatment for in Lebanon per person is one
there is a depletion of the ry. “Malignant melanoma, the environment isn’t that car for every three persons.
earth’s ozone layer, which “I couldn’t give you a specific which presents as an enlarg- high. This average is the equiva-
may cause skin cancer due to date when we might see the ing dark mole, grows very Many policies that have been lent to that of the U.S.
UV radiation exposure. last cedar on our mountains, rapidly and uniformly leads followed by the Lebanese While one can find immense
The ozone layer is essential but eventually that might to death if not detected very government since 1950 en- difficulty living without re-
to life on earth because it happen,” said Vahakn Kaba- early, sometimes inflicting courage the extension of the frigeration, cooling systems,
functions as a filter and ab- kian, an Environment Minis- people in their twenties and field in industry, one of the and capitalism, perhaps it
sorber of radiation, sort of try official who prepares Leb- thirties,” he said. leading causes of ozone de- isn’t so difficult to avoid the
like the earth’s personal sun- anon’s next climate change According to Touma, 95 per- pletion. strong exposure of the sun or
screen. Ultraviolet radiation report to the United Nations. cent of skin cancer is treat- According to Rania Masri, wear sun screen as if it were
penetrates cells and destroys All these factors that pol- able with proper care, but on of the International Relief a second skin.
the DNA of many living or- lute the atmosphere increase the condition that it is caught Fund in Lebanon, the atmo- After all, Rima did abrupt-
ganisms on the planet. the danger of UV radiation, early on. To avoid such a spheric pollution is the least ly abandon her tanning bed
So to what extent has the which increases the risk of risk, the sun’s rays should be researched environmental when she shockingly noticed
sun compromised the safe- skin cancer. avoided during peak hours, issue in Lebanon. her skin turn as red as her
ty of the Lebanese environ- According to the Lebanese specifically from 10 a.m. to 3 “The major pollutants [in carrot juice and rapidly begin
ment and increased the risks Ministry of Public Health, p.m. Lebanon]of the atmosphere to peel.
Known as the Middle Eastern Rodeo Drive, Verdun has been the cosmopolitan to the Battle of Verdun.” The Battle of Verdun took place during the First World
shopping district that attracts consumers from all over the region. The Dunes War on the Western Front between the French and German armies in the city
Center, which is also the revamped Holiday Inn Hotel, is now a favored destina- of Verdun-sur-Meuse in France. It was one of the longest battles of the First
tion for many of Lebanon’s Gulf visitors. Along with the mirroring Verdun 730 World War and resulted in 306,000 battlefield deaths and at least half a mil-
and 732 shopping centers, it is home to various stores and cafes that cater to the lion wounded. Another element that points to a facet of unknown Verdun histo-
businessmen and coiffed ladies of the city. ry is a helical ribbon of mosaic tiles that loops to form a water fountain standing
The large Starbucks Coffee, its hookah-littered neighbor Amore Café, and the at the intersection before the Dunes center, the “Purple Ardea.” Marco Bravu-
posh Casper & Gambini’s, are the usual standard coffee shops; the so-called ra, founder of the Institute Artistique Antonin in Beirut, designed the fountain
“UM United Menus” resto-café is another choice. Goodies, which has been a in 1999. It was donated in the name of the Verdun Traders Association’s then-
Verdun landmark since 1979, started out as a high-end deli but, even thirty- President Raymond Nahhas, the owner of Fabriano Lebanon and director of the
two years later, it is quite young considering Beirut’s reputation for rich histo- Association Culturelle Italo-Libanaise. Years ago, Verdun was home to many
ry. According to Ray Mouawad, an LAU history professor, “Verdun Street was Italian families and two Italian schools. And yet, the Verdun that people have
named during the French Mandate period in Lebanon (1920-1943), as homage come to know in Lebanon today is hardly a battlefield.
April 18, 2011 Tribune 12
OFF CAMPUS
Naturally Fake Green
Diaa AlJurdi
LAU Tribune staff
Architects
Mohamad Yahia Hamade