Mind Soup

Update: May 26, 2010 Dear AUB Community, With the announcement issued recently by AUB regarding the delayed implementation of the new tuition policy, I wish to address some remarks to all who hold this University dear. Universities exist in part to champion the exercise of free speech and to empower the members of our community to use it. But the right to express one’s opinion requires judgment and consideration: free speech does not equate to free license. Last week the limits of tolerance and respect were violated in numerous ways. I wish to salute those at AUB who upheld the best traditions of the University during three turbulent days: professors who endeavored to keep their classrooms open, though frequently subject to brute intimidation; students who exercised their freedom to get an education, though several were physically dragged out of class; staff members who crossed blockade lines in front of College Hall and other buildings, in the face of the crudest physical a...

Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odbxzTGGf6Y

  Photos posted by Van Baptist on Facebook

This article is a repost from the Daily Star ( link )  BEIRUT : A strike held by students at the American University of Beirut (AUB) was ended on Friday after an agreement was reached between students and university administration. “The strike has been suspended at this point,” said student council president Elias Ghanem. “This compromise is for the benefit of the students.” The strike, which began on Wednesday, was called in protest over university plans to raise tuition fees for new students. The proposed policy would have scrapped the university’s existing system whereby student pay for a maximum of 12 credits per semester, and would have raised the minimum number of credits to be paid for to 15. The policy would have accounted for a rise of $3,000 in fees per year tuition for students starting after Fall 2010. Many students striking also expressed mistrust over how the money raised from the fee rise would be distributed. “We have submitted a detailed proposal about ho...

Sawt Al Niswa interviewed students involved in the strike against the 31% increase to tuition. This increase to tuition is part of AUB’s intention in making quality education less accessible to middle class student. Independent students are now leading the initiative after the USFC failed to lead a united student movement. ( link )

The following article is a repost from Farfahine blog. ( link ) AUB Strike: PCC & BDS withdrew. "We won't tolerate the USFC's irresponsible, ill-mannered & racist behavior" Here what I got from the PCC and the BDS. Waiting for further clarifications: After a series of events today, during which the leadership of the USFC strike did not stick to the plans that were decided upon during the meetings the night before and during which USFC VP Elias Ghanem unilaterally demanded Palestinian Cultural Club be kicked out of the strike, we have decided to withdraw our participation from this strike. These "leaders" from the UCSF "organizing" this strike are not serious; they do not represent us. While USFC members show up with their speeches on the megaphone once the crowds have gathered, they go to classes once the crowds have dispersed. This hypocrisy is not worth our time, hard work, effort, and resources. Despite clear support from other clu...

( link  to comic)

Below are some articles from renowned newspapers and blogs across Lebanon and the region that discuss the Student protest at the American University of Beirut due to the shift from the 12-credits system to the 15-credit system which increase the tuition for newly enrolled students (as of Fall 2010) up-to 25%. English Daily Star: AUB students hold strike against hike in tuition fees ( link ) Star Scene: AUB students protest against tuition increase  ( link ) Now Lebanon: Strike at AUB ( link ) Demotix:  Students of AUB university in Lebanon protest rise in tuition fees ( link ) This is Beirut:  Empty classrooms a week before finals at AUB! ( link ) iloubnan: AUB students go on strike protesting increase of tuition ( link ) Gino's Blog: The AUB Problem Breakdown ( link ) Farfahine:  Letter from AUB students: Support us to take our campus back. ( link ) Blog Under Construction: AUB Students Boycott Classes ( link ) Sawt Al Niswa: Stike: It is your rig...

Dear AUB Students, I’d like to congratulate the organizers of the demonstration yesterday for an event that was well organized and well executed, making a number of deep concerns to our students known to the administration. I especially appreciate the commitment by the organizers—representing the USFC and the Campaign for an Affordable Acceptable Education—that their aims are “ voluntary, nonviolent, and progressive .” The event was carried out in a manner consistent with that pledge, and I applaud both the intention and the outcome; it reflects the best traditions of free speech and the dynamics of a responsive academic setting. Yesterday I had the chance to talk with a number of students who had relevant questions about the new tuition policy. One question needs to be laid to rest immediately. A good number believed that they would have significantly higher tuition costs next year and were worried about how they or their families could afford it. Nothing could be further from the ...

Below is a message sent from the USFC Student Vice President Elias Ghanem to AUB Students about continuing the strike tomorrow (Thursday) For the whole album of photos from today's protest, check this facebook album. Dear AUB Students, After our highly appreciated success with the strike today, I send my fellow students the warmest cheers and sincere admiration of your commitment in raising our concerns to the administration. However, this is just the BEGINNING. Following today's movement, we are calling for a second day of strike that will continue with no turning point until our demand is met. We will escalate the intensity of our movement with absolute commitment. We believe in AUB students! You will not turn us down! Meeting point: 7am, West Hall. All students are requested to participate. Gathering at 12:00pm, Main Gate. Elias Ghanem VP-USFC AUB Students' Movement

More photos on @ dyalab 's twitpic album

Photos by: Jad Baroudi Photo by:  JimRamK

Dear Students, Today we have witnessed major student protests across the campus against the proposed changes in tuition fees that are due for implementation next year. AUB has in its long history not only tolerated the right of students to express their views but has explicitly promoted this right. Over the years this has been done in many ways, whether through the USFC, Outlook, protests and sit-ins. For students who are participating in the protests against the tuition fees changes, or thinking of doing so, I urge you to do so while fully respecting the rights of other students who wish to attend classes, or study in the libraries in peace, or go about their day-to-day business without disruption. Likewise it is important to remember the other valuable segments of our community, including faculty members and staff, who feel a personal duty to carry out their duties to the University and its community. They too have a right to disagree with the strike action or if they agree with i...

Oooh how I love hate-mail. It shows you who your real friends are. Below, you will see that obviously, someone is pissed about my recent decision not to endorse the tuition increase protest, its even worse than that American Jew being pissed about the new Miss USA. Tarek H. Al Choikani: HIJAZI!!!!! its like ur pushing me to reply to u!! metel ijri if u read this or not, and metel ijri if u reply to this or not!! but i think its better if u understand the following points: - The guy who spoke on behalf on USFC is Jeffery btw and he DID introduce his name! so i think u should go see a doctor on the expenses of the medical center WHICH will certainly start making losses trying to make u understand and correct ur insanity. - he gave more valid points than the VP did! i attended the meeting and ur tweets seem so biased!! the tenderness and relaxation in ur tone when referring to VP Kenny as if he is an angel and the anger and madness when reffering to Jeffery! as if he is ur enemy!! Hi...

Today, I attended the tuition increase town meeting that was held by members of the AUB Administration (President Dorman, VP Kenny, Provost Dallal, Dean Kisirwani, etc) and I was reporting the event live on twitter via @ mhijazi . This was my first experience with twitter reporting, and I am glad to say it was very enjoyable. Tomorrow, I will be covering parts of the protest via twitter also, and between my classes. (No, I am not skipping classes, here's why ) Below are the tweets related to today's meeting from newest to oldest, so I would recommend that you read from bottom to top.

I am officially not supporting the Tuition Increase protest anymore. Why am I so pissed, you ask? This protest, no matter how important, will effectively ruin around four months of work for the student organized AUB Outdoors and one month work for the Lebanese Bloggers Convention at AUB. What the protesters don't realize is that because of the tuition, the media will badly convey the situation in AUB, will over-explode the protest and portray to the public that AUB is unsafe, which will decrease the attendees of the AUB Outdoors. The profits of the AUB Outdoors goes solely to the AUB clubs and societies and AUB financial aid; these clubs that are helping organize this protest! How is this not a double-standard, really? Also, the fund that goes to financial aid will substantially decrease, and ironically this may be one of the goals of the tuition increase to begin with. Moreover, how selfish are the people who demand that students don't attend classes in a...

Most of you might have heard about the tuition increase protest that will be occurring in AUB on Wednesday. Here's a small briefing: The AUB Administration has announced last week that it will be abandoning the current 12-credit tuition system (whereby students pay only for 12 credits, and can get up to 17 credits for free) to a 15-credit tuition system without reducing the credit price. This will lead to a 25% increase for new enrolling students (around $3000 to $4000 per year). Anyway, the student governance at AUB in coordination with various clubs and societies are protesting starting Wednesday and calling for students to boycott their classes. A huge number of students (around 2000) will be blocking AUB's main entrances, buildings and pathways for some time. It is still not clear how long this protest will last, but I was informed that they are planning to stay longer than 5:00 PM. During this time, security at AUB will be greatly heighte...

CAIRO: Controversy abounds at the Toronto Film Festival after Ahmed Maher, the Egyptian directof of “The Traveler” pulled his film from the lineup in protest of the festival’s spotlight on Israel. The move has been received in Egypt with much praise, signaling the ongoing fight against any normalization with Israel, whether political or cultural. First-time director Ahmed Abdallah also withdrew his film “Heliopolis” from the schedule, protesting the presentation of 10 films on the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, which is being featured as part of the “City to City” program. The controversy gained steam after Maher’s decision to withdraw his film, which was produced by the Egyptian ministry of culture, screened and nominated at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. It is still unclear whether Maher’s decision to revoke the film will force it from the viewers. Festival co-director Cameron Bailey lauded the Egpytian filmmakers for “having a really strong year, addressing tough issu...