Mind Soup

What better way to end a great year than to sit down and think about the great memories and opportunities it has brought you. Overall this year was a very good year, perhaps one of the best years I've lived so far. This year has been full of achievements and memories that I would like to share with my readers as a tribute to my readers. January: Though I did not know it then, this month has probably set the ground-stone for my career life. In this month I took one of the major decisions that I will ever make. During a period where all my friends were filling in medical school applications, begging for recommendations and stressing over their grades, I decided, and after three years of premedical studies, that I will not be applying to any medical school and forgo the idea of med-school. This decision has came after a lot of considerations and consultations with family and close friends. It was not an issue of grades nor the issue of time, but I had a more clear vision where I wa...

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...

  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...

This is an article I wrote about the upcoming AUB elections. Tell me what you think. So imagine this: there's this someone who adds you on facebook with a million AUB friends in common, you accept, but still have no idea who the hell she is. Next thing you know she sends u a message saying: "Heyyy [insert name here]. how are you? wen hal ghaybe? (long time no see). You know i'm running for SRC right? i'm counting on your vote, ok? don't forget me (since I'm you're friend n all)! and btw good luck with your exams :D" which brings us back to "Vote for me, I'm your closest bestest friend!". and you have this look on your face: "say whaaa? do I know you?" and she's like: "you know I was with you in that class and I sat behind you (but you are beneath me and I wouldn't be caught dead talking to you in regular circumstances, but now since I need your vote we should get to know each other, since you know, I am your clo...