April 22, 2010
Two weeks ago, the letters of acceptances to the AUB Medical School were sent out to senior premedical students. In short, several very qualified candidates did not get acceptance letters while others with much lower grades got the approval. The role of ‘wasta’ (i.e. connections) was very apparent, especially with the new rolling-out admissions system they are implementing.
Freedom of Speech at AUB: Why I was fired from Align
This article is featured on the Support Freedom of Speech Blog . --- A month ago, I got recommended by a friend to work for Align, the official Olayan School of Business (OSB) month…
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A month ago, I got recommended by a friend to work for Align, the official Olayan School of Business (OSB) monthly electronic newsletter at the American University of Beirut (AUB). I applied and immediately got accepted.
A month ago, I got recommended by a friend to work for Align, the official Olayan School of Business (OSB) monthly electronic newsletter at the American University of Beirut (AUB). I applied and immediately got accepted.
In a spontaneous effort to expose the truth while trying to cheer the deserving people up, I published an opinion piece on my personal profile on Facebook and my personal blog “Mind Soup” discussing the effect of ‘wasta’ and favoritism on decisions made by several departments in AUB while focusing on the recent results of the Medical School acceptances. This opinion article, entitled “There is no ‘wasta’ at the American University of Beirut” raised much more controversy that I have anticipated, and I recieved tons of supporting messages and opposing messages to my personal e-mail address and Facebook inbox. This article has received more than five hundred distinct hits from 17 different countries on the blog alone in two days.
Two days after that, I received what I would like to call a “hate phone-call” from an anonymous private number bashing me for writing the article. I, then, pulled the article down from Facebook and my blog for security reasons, but then put it up again after I received tons of requests from friends who haven’t got the chance to read it.
Tuesday morning, I receive an e-mail from the Align faculty advisor and a personal phone call requesting to see me to discuss some “bad news.” I didn’t think of it very highly and proceeded to work on my INFO 200 project until I had some free time. During that meeting, I was informed that effective immediately, I was fired from Align and no longer hold a “Staff Writer” position. I was told that someone with a high position accessed my personal blog and read the ‘wasta’ article, asked around about me, and requested from the Dean of OSB to lay me off from Align. I was also requested to remove the Align logo and link from my blog. I was being exiled for voicing my opinion on my personal blog which has no relation whatsoever to Align.
In accordance with that, I recieved a formal letter which relieved me from my duty at Align. This letter clearly blamed my ‘firing’ directly to the ‘wasta’ blog post, as follows:
It has come to my attention that you posted an article to your personal blog entitled “There is no ‘wasta’ at the American University of Beirut.” Your blog post does not uphold the spirit that the extended team abides by. […] Consequently, we cannot associate ourselves with writers who heavily criticize the larger institution that ALIGN represents and at the same time promote it in another context because this action lacks internal integrity. Therefore, I regret to inform you that effective immediately you will no longer be a staff writer for ALIGN. […]
It was very clear that this decision was not made by the advisor of Align, but from higher authorities at AUB. For that, I am very appreciative of the whole Align team, and especially its advisor, for the opportunity to be part of such a hard-working team. I sincerely hold no grudge on any of the Align team members, nor the Dean of OSB or any AUB employee that took part of making and implementing this decision.
What seems annoyingly interesting is how these official got hold of my blog and read my article. After some investigations, I was tipped off by a source (who shall remain unnamed) that one premedical student who got accepted to the AUB Medical School got so upset by my opinion piece that he/she directed a highly influential figure in AUB to my blog, who then took this extreme measure. I’m still not sure if this information in one hundred percent accurate, but I would rather not believe that AUB officials stalk students online activities.
This experience has proved pretty much that as much as AUB tries to uphold the Western values, and pretends to give its students the right to freedom of speech, this notion is very doubtful. It is very sad that students have no right to voice their opinions, even using personal means such as Facebook or personal blogs. I am sure that all hell would have broken loose if my article would have been published, as I was considering, in Outlook, AUB’s official student newspaper.
Moreover, I was very grateful for the reaction I immediately recieved from friends and colleagues about this issue. My inbox was flooded with support letters from caring friends and colleagues that made this loss seem much more of a victory than I thought.
I would just like to thank my friends and colleagues for all this support and assure them that I am in no way upset or disappointed for being fired for defending deserving students and voicing the truth. On the contrary, I take this as a huge compliment. My voice was heard by some high official in AUB who got so pissed to the extent that he/she had to hunt me down and fire me for the journalistic integrity that I uphold.
They all know that what I am saying has a huge extent of truth in it, if not completely true. They could have simply caught my bluff and retaliated with a press-release denying my claims (like what have been done on previous occasions), but what they did only makes my point stronger.
They all know that what I am saying has a huge extent of truth in it, if not completely true. They could have simply caught my bluff and retaliated with a press-release denying my claims (like what have been done on previous occasions), but what they did only makes my point stronger.
I consider this unfortunate incident as a blue ribbon on my chest. It pushes me forward to pursue a third major in journalism after I was thinking about it for the last two years. I now know how hard it is for true journalists to make it in real life. If they thought they have shut me up by firing me, they better think again. I am a true journalist now.
P.S. Voluntarily after this incident, I have discontinued the article “There is no ‘wasta’ at the American University of Beirut” for personal reasons. I do not want it to affect my higher education career.
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© Mind Soup 2010. This article cannot be redistributed or republished in part or in whole via any means without the written approval of the author.
© Mind Soup 2010. This article cannot be redistributed or republished in part or in whole via any means without the written approval of the author.
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Align
blog features
facebook
April 16, 2010
Many students have been surprised after they were welcomed back from the inter-semester break by the decision of the university to remove the water fountain that was situated in front of Jafet Library and turn that space into a mini-garden which some students are starting to refer to as "the mini-zoo", especially in reference to the abundance of cats in that area.
What makes this issue more interesting, however, is that a biology student at AUB has created a memorial page on the social networking site Facebook, which has attracted 700 members so far, many of who complained that they have never seen the water fountain operating during their enrollment in AUB, while others remember that week last May when it was fully shining and operating during the President's Inauguration ceremony.
Some students speculated that the university had made this decision to make the AUB camper greener, while others think that they are trying to cut their water and electricity bills. Interestingly enough, one students attributes this removal to the tragic death of an AUB cat due to drowning, which is a reason why some cat-haters wished that the fountain has operated more often. Yet, the real reason for this decison by the administration is still not clear.
Most fans of this memorial page, which is called "When I was your age, there was a water fountain in front of Jafet" have expressed their approval of removing the fountain since it was rarely operating, and was just there collecting dust and attracting cats during mating season. They appreciate the "olive trees" and the colorful "onion flowers," as they called them. Others, however, are begging for the fountain back claiming that the soil will become cat litter soon and the smell will repel students from that area.
The removal of such a fountain hadn't been the first in AUB, as a Med I student points out on that page, for there was a similar fountain in front of the main Cafeteria but was removed to be replaced by empty space, and recently by a Faqra Catering kiosk.
Some hilarious comments about this issue include: "the tree and the small onion plants resemble a Greek battle field for the cats in their mating season," "When you will be my age, CATS will be lecturing instead of professors," and "shirbouha lbarrishe [the nerds drank it all]". One particular student stated that it's part of a bigger green project by AUB. "They want to plant trees everywhere," he said.
A huge chunk of students, though, could not care less about this change. Some of them do not come to that part of campus while others think that there are much more important topics that are worthy of discussion, such as the yearly tuition increase. Yet, the great number of fans this page has attracted is probably because many students wanted to vent their frustration out or because they felt that they can relate to this simple change.
When I was your age, there was a water fountain in front of Jafet
Many students have been surprised after they were welcomed back from the inter-semester break by the decision of the university to remove the water fountain that was situated in f…
What makes this issue more interesting, however, is that a biology student at AUB has created a memorial page on the social networking site Facebook, which has attracted 700 members so far, many of who complained that they have never seen the water fountain operating during their enrollment in AUB, while others remember that week last May when it was fully shining and operating during the President's Inauguration ceremony.
Some students speculated that the university had made this decision to make the AUB camper greener, while others think that they are trying to cut their water and electricity bills. Interestingly enough, one students attributes this removal to the tragic death of an AUB cat due to drowning, which is a reason why some cat-haters wished that the fountain has operated more often. Yet, the real reason for this decison by the administration is still not clear.
Most fans of this memorial page, which is called "When I was your age, there was a water fountain in front of Jafet" have expressed their approval of removing the fountain since it was rarely operating, and was just there collecting dust and attracting cats during mating season. They appreciate the "olive trees" and the colorful "onion flowers," as they called them. Others, however, are begging for the fountain back claiming that the soil will become cat litter soon and the smell will repel students from that area.
The removal of such a fountain hadn't been the first in AUB, as a Med I student points out on that page, for there was a similar fountain in front of the main Cafeteria but was removed to be replaced by empty space, and recently by a Faqra Catering kiosk.
Some hilarious comments about this issue include: "the tree and the small onion plants resemble a Greek battle field for the cats in their mating season," "When you will be my age, CATS will be lecturing instead of professors," and "shirbouha lbarrishe [the nerds drank it all]". One particular student stated that it's part of a bigger green project by AUB. "They want to plant trees everywhere," he said.
A huge chunk of students, though, could not care less about this change. Some of them do not come to that part of campus while others think that there are much more important topics that are worthy of discussion, such as the yearly tuition increase. Yet, the great number of fans this page has attracted is probably because many students wanted to vent their frustration out or because they felt that they can relate to this simple change.
AUB
Beirut
cat
April 15, 2010
I want this clock! Does anyone know where to get if from?
I want this clock!
I want this clock! Does anyone know where to get if from?
I want this clock! Does anyone know where to get if from?
Clock
cool
gadgets
April 15, 2010
Jafet Stacks, April 14, 2010.
Honestly, I felt a little offended (though I'm not officially a Business Student yet - though I was there studying accounting. haha)
Found this in Stacks today!
Jafet Stacks, April 14, 2010. Honestly, I felt a little offended (though I'm not officially a Business Student yet - though I was there studying accounting. haha)
Jafet Stacks, April 14, 2010.
Honestly, I felt a little offended (though I'm not officially a Business Student yet - though I was there studying accounting. haha)
AUB
Beirut
business
April 14, 2010
Interestingly, this year has brought several changes to the Outdoors management. Unlike past years, there are two Chief Executive Officers (CEOs): Nathalie Rachid, a Graphic Design student, and Izzat Fathallah, a Business administration student at AUB. Other changes include the removal of the Safety team which Hiba Hamade, the Coordinator of Student Activities, describes as unnecessary at this point in time. The main reason behind this decision is probably so that the main focus be on the other teams that require a lot of effort, work and collaboration.
Another main difference that is very clear this year is the major involvement of the Office of Student Activities which is greatly supervising the work of the Outdoors committee and helping the executive team take major decisions. This will probably aid the team to be more professional and timely, and could greatly minimize conflicts of interest between the different teams.
As for other positions in Outdoors, most are filled by students who have had several years experience in Outdoors. VE of Sponsorship, Entertainment, & Marketing is Business Student Jad Naamani, VE of Food and Games is Graduate Student Ramadan Ghalayini, while the VE of Construction and Decoration is Mechanical Engineering student Khaled Ghrawy. Chief Operations Officer is Rawad Hassanie while the Operations Officer is Miriam Assaad. Karim Soubra is the treasurer and Aliaa El Zeiny is the secretary.
The most recent events done by the outdoors committee is their first general assembly, which was held at the beginning of the Spring semester to launch this year's Outdoors activities. Since then, the various teams had been meeting on a weekly basis to get on track. With a little more than two months left, the teams are set to work and promise to finish their tasks as early as possible.
It is very evident that the Outdoors experience is enriched with students of different backgrounds, majors and even nationalities. As described in the AUB bylaws, it is purely artistic, cultural, intellectual, and entertaining, and should not have any political or sectarian basis. This is what motivates lots of students to volunteer whole-heartedly to make this event a success. After the success of Hu Wai De last year, many members have returned this year to relive the experience and be part of this unforgettable family.
PRESS RELEASE: AUB Outdoors 2010
by Mohammad Hijazi This article was published in Outlook, AUB's Official Student Newspaper on March 16, 2010. After its massive success last year, the AUB Outdoors Festival is o…
by Mohammad HijaziThis article was published in Outlook, AUB's Official Student Newspaper on March 16, 2010.After its massive success last year, the AUB Outdoors Festival is officially under-way. After the recruitment process that occurred during the Fall semester, the Outdoors committee now includes more than 120 enthusiastic members, which is a number much larger than last year's. These members are divided into seven teams, all of which essential for the completion of crucial tasks required for the success of this event, which will be held during a weekend towards the end of May. Each team has a team leader chosen by the Outdoors Executive Team in collaboration with the Office of Student Activities. These teams are also supervised by three Vice Executives (VEs) who are responsible for two or three teams. The different teams are: Marketing, Decoration, Food, Construction, Games, Entertainment, and Sponsorship.
Interestingly, this year has brought several changes to the Outdoors management. Unlike past years, there are two Chief Executive Officers (CEOs): Nathalie Rachid, a Graphic Design student, and Izzat Fathallah, a Business administration student at AUB. Other changes include the removal of the Safety team which Hiba Hamade, the Coordinator of Student Activities, describes as unnecessary at this point in time. The main reason behind this decision is probably so that the main focus be on the other teams that require a lot of effort, work and collaboration.
Another main difference that is very clear this year is the major involvement of the Office of Student Activities which is greatly supervising the work of the Outdoors committee and helping the executive team take major decisions. This will probably aid the team to be more professional and timely, and could greatly minimize conflicts of interest between the different teams.
As for other positions in Outdoors, most are filled by students who have had several years experience in Outdoors. VE of Sponsorship, Entertainment, & Marketing is Business Student Jad Naamani, VE of Food and Games is Graduate Student Ramadan Ghalayini, while the VE of Construction and Decoration is Mechanical Engineering student Khaled Ghrawy. Chief Operations Officer is Rawad Hassanie while the Operations Officer is Miriam Assaad. Karim Soubra is the treasurer and Aliaa El Zeiny is the secretary.
The most recent events done by the outdoors committee is their first general assembly, which was held at the beginning of the Spring semester to launch this year's Outdoors activities. Since then, the various teams had been meeting on a weekly basis to get on track. With a little more than two months left, the teams are set to work and promise to finish their tasks as early as possible.
It is very evident that the Outdoors experience is enriched with students of different backgrounds, majors and even nationalities. As described in the AUB bylaws, it is purely artistic, cultural, intellectual, and entertaining, and should not have any political or sectarian basis. This is what motivates lots of students to volunteer whole-heartedly to make this event a success. After the success of Hu Wai De last year, many members have returned this year to relive the experience and be part of this unforgettable family.
AUB
Beirut
Lebanon