The job market is more competitive than ever.

Make sure you’re on the inside track.

A CRUCIBLE FOR CAREERS LAU students begin their careers long before graduation day. Our programs are regionnally and internationally renowned hothouses for the next generation of innovators. Over 100 major companies attend dozens of campus recruitment events and job fairs per year, and hundreds of students annually receive corporate and academic internships. With figures like these, and with LAU’s energy and forseight in career guidance, it’s not surprising that so many of its graduates land promising jobs within six months of commencement. An LAU degree gives you the practical skills you need to confront life’s challenges head-on, and the intellectual flexibilty to adapt to a dynamic economy. www.lau.edu.lb & ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014

FEATURES CONTENTS 6 In pursuit 4 Reporting women’s rights of perfection 5 A lifeline for health sciences Numerous experts are raising the alarm about the perils of trying to look “perfect.” Mehrnoush Shafiei 10 Paving the way to a brighter future investigates how the pressure to conform to unrealistic 12 A home away from home beauty ideals can have devastating effects and speaks 13 Exchanging thoughts, knowledge and skills to those who have broken the mold. 18 From the Cedar to the Maple 19 An essential component of future leaders 14 An education for all 20 Mirroring society Awareness, acceptance and adequate accomodations 22 LAU carries the ball are all essential in creating a nurturing environment for differently abled individuals. Selim Njeim probes into 23 Off to a running start the contribution of the Lebanese education system in 28 Making classrooms come alive the attainment of this goal and what is still needed. 30 Recipes to make dreams come true 31 Embrace limitation 32 Picture perfect 24 Culture and its 33 Fly Dubai many faces 34 Train Train 35 The under print of the LAU Tribune Three leaders in the cultural sphere, theater director Lina Abyad, technical director Mona Knio and film 36 Humans of LAU director Amin Dora discuss with Natalie Shooter 37 Educating future healers whether culture can play an important role in highlighting difference and what the implications are. 38 Hot off the printing press 41 The sheer determination to help 46 Campus notes 42 Rebel with a cause 50 To give is to receive There are many ways that a person can make a 51 From Accra with love difference to improve the quality of life of others. 52 Alumni update Leena F. Saidi talks to those who have made their mark to discover why they took this journey and 54 Staying connected what they achieved. 56 Why I give back

page 1 LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin Volume 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014

President Wherever You Go Joseph G. Jabbra LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin is your platform to share photos Editorial Advisory Board and news about yourself, your family and your friends. We Peggy Hanna, Assistant Vice President, MarCom Nassib Nasr, AVP Development, MENA and Europe encourage you to update us on your professional and personal Robert Hollback, AVP development, North America activities and achievements—from wherever you are! Abdallah Al Khal, Executive Director, Alumni Relations Edward Shiner, Director, Alumni and Special Projects Managing Editor Leena F. Saidi Associate Editor Zeina Abdallah Writers Mohamad Ali Nayel Linda Dahdah Dalila Mahdawi Selim Njeim Mehrnoush Shafiei Natalie Shooter Maryam Zoma Contributors Manwa Ghanoum Sana Kouatly Ghada Majed Nayla Abou Merhi Moujaes Editorial Assistants Maria Abou Atmi Palig Haroutunian Graphic Designer Marianne Amkieh Siblini Help Tell Our History Photographers We welcome news from alumni, friends, supporters and current and former Khalil Fawaz faculty and staff representing all the university’s current and former schools Pro Studio Yehia Malla and colleges. Submit your stories and photos for inclusion in LAU’s online Elie Mouarrek and print publications. Lana Yassine

Submit to: [email protected], or Front cover by Lara Zankoul Marketing and Communications Department New York Headquarters and Follow Lara @larazankoul or checkout her website Lebanese American University Academic Center www.larazankoul.com P.O. Box 13-5053/F24 Lebanese American University Chouran, Beirut 1102-2801 211 East 46th St. Lebanon New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Wherever You Go Children (left to right): Kiyan, Lamar and Rayan Photo taken at the newly opened Early Childhood Center at LAU. Letters to the Editor LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin is published Our son, now a Vice Chancellor of the Court of Chancery, founded in 1792 in the quarterly by the Marketing and Communications State of Delaware, had his initial schooling-start in the campus Nursery School, back Department (MarCom) at LAU and is distributed in 1972 as part of the 3 year-old class, and what a start it was! … If your new project free of charge to alumni, students, staff, faculty, picks up and carries on with the same standards and goals for the children as in its friends and supporters worldwide. ancestor’s day, it will be reinstating and continuing a vital offering to the children Direct comments can be sent to: and the future of Early Childhood Education in the Middle East. I have every faith [email protected] that it will. —-Dr. Madlon Laster, Winchester, Virginia, U.S.

Connect with LAU through: Although it is always a pleasure to read the magazine, it would be even better with a section on faculty news. Would you consider adding a section featuring the very real achievements of LAU faculty, both past and present. —-Claire Clemons Cowan, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.

page 2 President Joseph g. Jabbra newspaper. All ofwhich showcasefuturerolemodels, whowillonedaygooutintotheworldandmakeadifference. fields ofexpertise,majorproductionandgettoknowabout The Tribune, attendlastsemester’s thestudents’ digital from thecrowd.Inaddition, weputthespotlight onathletics, lookatrecentbookspublishedbyfaculty intheir present, asabodyandindividually. Inthisissue, wecelebratedifferenceandthecouragerequiredtostandout shed light on achievements – not only of the university’s faculty and staffbutalsoofitsstudents, both pastand We havealottobeproudof;far morethancanbementionedinthismessage.Ineach issueofthismagazine, we acquiring inspirationandmotivation. methods thatallowbothstudentandinstructortomove outoftheclassroomandexperiencelifeinrealworld, our capabilitytoproduceexperiencedgraduates. The universityhasalsoinvestedheavilyininnovative teaching At LAU, wehavechosen ourMastersprograms withcare, takingintoconsiderationtheneedsofjobmarketand difference. OurM.A.inSpecialEducationeffectivelyservesthisend. behalf. LAU’s School of Arts &Scienceshasheeded the needtonurturetheseindividualsandcelebratetheir touched bysomeoneclosetothem, someonewhoisdifferent, havetakenupthechallenge ofadvocatingontheir Cultivating thepotentialofallpeopleisindeedcoretoouruniversity’smission.Many, whohavebeenpersonally to beaccepted. At LAU, we inspireourstudentstodiscover theirinnerselvesandbringaboutchange. that tobe “in” onehastoconform.Oneneedn’tlooklikeeveryoneelsebebeautiful, northinklikeeveryoneelse of expressingindividuality. Bystandingout, onecanbreakfreeoftheconstrictionspeerpressure, which says Likewise, atourDepartmentofFashion Design, itisdifferencethatmakesfashion innovative andfresh;itisaway were examinedinanotherplay, I.D. taboos. A disabledchild wasgiventheopportunitytoactin A ShellintheHeartwhiletransgenderidentityissues experimentation and, throughitsmajortheaterproductions, isnotafraidtobreakcastingstereotypes andtackle societal stigmasandchanging perceptions. OurDepartmentofCommunication Arts provides fertilegroundfor society, aroleatonceethicalandintellectual. To thisend, arthasasignificantparttoplayinbreakingdown As guardiansofthevaluessocietythatsustainsus, weuniversitieshaveauniqueroleinnurturingthat are differentandtolearnhowcultivatetolerance. apart fromhisorherpeers. At LAU, weencourageourstudentsnottobeafraidstandout, toacceptthosewho helping othersandanunshakeablecommitmenttoeasinghumansufferingmightjustbewhatsetsayoungleader who havealreadystartedtodosoasmembersoftheuniversity’scommunity. The desiretogiveback, apassionfor LAU iscommittedtograduatingyoungleaderswhonotonlywantmakeadifferenceintomorrow’sworld, but Dear Friends, From thePresident’s Desk page 3 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 R eporting women’s rights

Reporting women’s rights IWSAW and Thomson Reuters Foundation highlight importance of responsible journalism in gender equality By Mohamad Ali Nayel Try typing the words “women should” and advocates in their campaigning into Google and let the search engine’s on women’s rights, be it in the field of predictive search feature make a few finance, health or journalism.” suggestions on how to finish the sentence. Ghantous and Bassoul took turns to Chances are you’ll stumble across some tackle important issues currently facing disquieting answers that reveal what many women in the Arab world, such as the people really think about women’s place marginalization of women from politics in society. The following are only a few in post-Arab Spring Egypt, women in the examples of suggested answers based on Syrian opposition movement and the popular searches by other Internet users: sexual exploitation of female refugees. “Women should not go to college, women “There are ample opportunities for should serve men, women should not be journalists to highlight rights abuses,” in combat, women should remain silent.” noted Bassoul, adding that such reporting Google searches in Arabic deliver similar must be ethical, informative and “The aim of the program results. Predictive searching is proving to engaging. The trainers shared their own is to reform the way be a good tool for discovering just how experiences as reporters in the Arab world widespread gender bias still is. and emphasized that reporting about women are reported It is precisely because of such prevalent women was something that both men and about in the news.” views that journalists must work harder women should do. Using a human rights to properly advocate the human rights of perspective in reporting can help change —Thomson Reuters Foundation women, said Ghaida Ghantous and Joelle the way women’s rights are viewed and trainer Ghaida Ghantous Bassoul, two trainers from the Thomson enforced. Reuters Foundation. They were at LAU Myrna Nasser Eddine, a Lebanese to lead a weeklong journalism workshop, journalist working with Naharnet, said made possible by the Institute for Women’s she’d been eager to attend the workshop Studies in the Arab World (IWSAW), on how from the moment she saw the application to strengthen Arabic-language reporting invitation. “We all need to learn about on women. Some twelve journalists — women’s empowerment, particularly both men and women— from across the in the Arab region. It’s a time of change Arab world participated in the training, and women’s rights are an important entitled “Reporting Women”. topic. The workshop will help me in my “The aim of the program is to reform reporting as a woman and a journalist the way women are reported about in the wanting to make a difference in the way news,” explained Ghantous. “The training is women’s stories are told.” also meant to empower women reporters On the final day of the program, and boost their self-confidence in what participants went on a field trip to talk to remains a very male dominated field.” women who had been empowered and The workshop is part of several those whose stories had yet to be told. ongoing development projects at IWSAW They visited women refugees at Amel intended to improve the status of Arab Association and also met female prisoners women, said Anita Nassar, the institute’s working for the high-end handbag associate director. “Our goal is to create company Sarah’s Bag. a solid platform to support activists

page 4 visit www.lauhf.org orwww.campaign.lau.edu.lb goes to the heart ofLAU.” to theheart goes To learnmore LAUHF, about givingopportunities “We have always placed a priority on serving the onserving a priority for health funds for LAUMC- Foundation raises public andIthinkthat A lifeline sciences schools —Board of Trustees member sciences or todonatethefoundation, please RH andhealth and MaryamZoma By DalilaMahdawi LAU Health Philip Stoltzfus

osblte ta icue nw operating new a include that possibilities unique of number a sciences health the tax- make to U.S.deductible contributions.” the in charitable corporations and 501(c)(3) individuals a permitting organization, as created was “LAUHF explains. institution, LAUMC-RH,” Khoury to U.S. gifts tax-deductible a make cannot not donors is crucially, hospital the more “Because funding. of but avenues identifying institutions, and forging individuals involves like-minded with This partnerships physician. a and LAUHF of Dr.Khoury, programs,”chairman says Sami sciences health LAU’s LAUMC-RH in at and excellence facilitate to is to grow insizeandquality. sciences health university’s to the assist opportunities outreach creating and partnerships building funds, securing with scienceshealth programs.and chargedis It LAUMC-RH of arm U.S.fundraising the as Health created require recently was LAU (LAUHF) Foundation projects The support. ambitious considerable such But centers.medical academic leading world’s Arab the in of one into district,it transform renovations to order extensive Achrafieh undergoing Beirut’s is in located Rizk – Hospital (LAUMC-RH) Center in 2009. The hospital, Medical university’s the andSciences. ofArts School the within programs nutrition the and health and public to Nursing addition Pharmacy,in of School of School Chagoury sciences, Medicine,of School AliceRamez Chagoury health Rose-Marie the and Gilbert the encompassing in education become for destinations has premier region’s LAU the years, of one few a only In AH ofr dnr itrse in interested donors offers LAUHF purpose primary foundation’s “The acquired LAU programs, its support To h hsia i a a o rnwn the renewing of to way university’s service legacy.” and a is programs hospital academic the these to across thespectrum, andourcommitment people intrinsically helping with service, is with up tied profession medical The LAU.of heart the to goes that think I and — public the serving on priority a placed always have we — institution academic an solely been never have we that reminded am university,I our I of history the “When at look says. Stoltzfus LAU,” of legacy and ethos the with do to has that reason fundamental more a “also LAU,is of there mission academic the broadening in role innovative will its of because people LAUHF support many While university. the and foundation the of trustee a Stoltzfus, Philip region,” says MENA whole the excellence for of centers becoming are and the most advanced curriculums in Lebanon introducedarehave probablywhat schools ofequipment.and in-kindgifts endowments are as needed, are students exceptional for Scholarships naming. for available also world,is Arab the in kind its of facilities sophisticated most the of one Center, Simulation refugee university’s The camp. Palestinian Shatila the Outreach in Volunteer Clinic LAU-staffed the projects at health community support the can benefactors addition, throughout In sciences. health initiatives Pharmacy. of education School inter-professional support also can the Donors for Bioequivalence Center a and Nursing of of the School at School research cancer the breast Medicine, in laboratories include On the academic level, giving unit.opportunities care room, cardiac and unit emergency care intensive the well of as renovation hospital, as the at complex room A lifeline for healthsciences Te eia, usn ad pharmacy and nursing medical, “The page 5 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 in pursuit

FeAtUre of perfection the perils of conformity By Mehrnoush Shafiei

page 6 prompt extreme dieting. can body same the have and else everyone like look to Wanting disorders.such forfactor risk huge a be conformistmay a being journal the in published University Syracuse from researchers two by report negativea to Accordingbodies. a their of have image others of expectations the with along go and me.” around see I that Indeed, else studies have shown everybody that youth who like tend to be conformist look to want I and around look I obsession, an of something become “It’s adding: tells me that I look normal but to me it’s never enough,” she says, everyone and weight healthy a am I that looks.know her “I with satisfied never is Sleiman nature, by perfectionist professed A else.”everyone outworking overcompensateby would I mold the interior design like people expect field you competitive to look a a certain “In health.way and her since of I didn’t expense fit the at coming was business in success her that finding was Sleiman she says. ease the stress I would overeat. And the cycle would repeat itself,” to and look I way the by stressed become would cycle.I terrible a was look—it I way the with struggled have I years home.“For to close hit a concerns such business, with design entrepreneur interior successful an Sleiman, Nathalie and For food issues. image, body weight to relation in behaviors and emotions attitudes, extreme include disorders Eating disorders. eating of can havedevastatingconsequences.”of perfectionism doctrine the image,to dedication uncritical body an individual’s problem: an to comeshealthy, it and when advantageous the is excellence of recognizes LAU, at “Though there program are times when striving to conform to a high level nutrition the of the of pressure “perfect”. tolook perils the of warning of are activists number social and increasing academics an Indeed, perfection? with obsession ‘perfect’, like andlooking everyoneelse, looking tobelong.”with obsession an is There zones. comfort their of out seems that there is an LAU uniform and arepeople afraid to step guys.the It even it’s girls; the Sawalha.just “AndJoanna not it’s student journalism LAU look-alikes,” says of campus a is “This shirt. normal polo tomistakepeople mefor… I’lljustgeta LAU student:Maybe, butIdon’twant likeyou don’tneedtolook everyoneelse. different… Whynot?It’s Salesperson: comfortableI’d be wearingit. LAU student:I’mnotsure, Idon’tthink unusual pattern. funky? Here’s withacool at-shirt something Whynotchoose Salesperson: Overheard inashopnearLAU: Described by her friends and family as driven and ambitious,and driven as family and friends her by Described prevalence increasing the is this of manifestation such One Dr. Nadine Zeeni, assistant professor of nutrition and coordinator an meets conformity of culture a when stake at is What > Body Image, Body page 7 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 FEATURE

In pursuit of perfection

Hildos’ artwork combines erotica with a dash of wit and humor. Image courtesy of hildos.com

Dieting at a young age is something Hilda “Hildos” Abla can media bombards viewers with on a daily basis. relate to. She began her quest to lose weight at the tender age of While eating disorders are less common in males, Zeeni says five and has seen nutritionists on and off for over ten years. Last that about ten percent of those suffering from them are men: year, Abla gave a provocative talk at TEDxLAU about her personal “Studies demonstrate that cultural and media pressures on men struggle to come to terms with her body image. to have the ‘perfect body’ are on the rise.” She captured the crowd’s attention by beginning her talk with a Men are increasingly obtaining plastic surgery as well, notes dance to Lady Gaga’s smash hit Born this Way. She then went on Dr. Shady Murr, plastic surgeon at University Medical Center – to offer a glimpse into her personal experience of being bullied Rizh Hospital (LAUMC-RH). “Plastic surgery is becoming less and because of her weight: “One day a friend of mine was asked: less taboo—especially in the Middle East—and men similarly ‘Why do you speak with her, she’s fat?’” On another occasion a seek to defy the aging process,” he says. “Of course, the number hiring manager asked her during a job interview if she was on of women who opt for plastic surgery is still much greater than a diet. “The dieting is not the worst part—society is,” says Abla men but each year we are seeing an increase,” he adds. “Men are emphatically, explaining that it is not about fat versus skinny but now beginning to delve into the realm of surgery that may be rather about the impossibility of living up to unrealistic notions considered by some as unnecessary.” of beauty. The line between necessary versus unnecessary plastic surgery In an attempt to boost her self-confidence on the eve of can be fuzzy, particularly in Beirut, where some banks even offer her 40th birthday, she arranged for a professional photo shoot loans for cosmetic enhancements. “Young women are extremely and posted the glamorous shots on Facebook. Although she pressured by society,” says Dr. Rima Tbeur, a plastic surgeon in received lovely comments and many “likes”, the effect was short- New York City of Lebanese-Moroccan descent. The idea of what lived, appealing to her vanity while ignoring the deeper issue. constitutes necessary plastic surgery is culturally determined. It’s She decided to take a more drastic course: she began painting not completely shocking to know how prevalent plastic surgery is pictures of herself nude. “The hate, the struggle, the denial, the in Lebanon, often fuelled by the ubiquitous images of “perfect” anger—all of that was present on my canvas,” she explains. With pop stars and celebrities. “I’ve met many young girls who have time came self-acceptance to the point where she even appeared planned out a strategy to fund their future plastic surgery as nude in public while painting her self-portraits. In this series of young as seven or eight years old,” she laments. paintings, called Seeing Beauty in Imperfection, her aim was to The children’s book “Maggie goes on a Diet”, published in celebrate a different kind of beauty — an alternative to what the 2011 by American author Paul Kramer, is described by Amazon page 8 to look like beautiful,”to look everyoneelsetobe shesays. This way of thinking resonates strongly with Abla. “You don’t have are the very things that make them different and hence beautiful. about insecure are people most characteristics physical the that message the home drove ultimately campaign pictures.The the and reflect on what part body they were trying to deemphasize in Organizers asked young women and their mothers to take selfies the insecurities many self-portraits.behind of the picture-perfect images.of unrealistic body the tide the against driving of of result a as garnered has note Dove success taking world companies the other in many with changer marketing, game of a as dubbed been has campaign beauty. The unique their embracing sizes and shapes different of Dove women successful show ads highly powerful beauty”. The real the for “campaign being perhaps example best the companies“perfect”a of areidea the against back pushing body, image and to repel these harmful media messages, some Western self-comparison, whichmayproducein feelings ofinadequacy.engage to platform easy an users giving by problem this Many reality. of reflection a to studies the have factpointed media has that exacerbatedsocial not are images such that fact the about educated are they unless images such of influence the to vulnerable are girls, young particularly and Children,airbrushing. of effects removing flaw the to immune not are Chung Alexa and are.actually they Mirandaas such famousworld Even Kerr models than thinner seem models make to enhanced digitally are images “ideal”such not, than often more that is alarming more What even media.is the by circulated ideals beauty the about concern as“extremelyPost disturbing.” decriedthebook more popular and less bullied as she loses weight. The becoming Huffington Maggie depicts it because controversial extremely as seen was book appearances.Indeed,the to worth self linking of ideas destructive image.”to children books,experts, accordingexpose to Such self positive a develops and confident more and star. Through time,soccer school exercise the and hard becomes work,who Maggie girl becomes normal-sized more a to insecure and overweight extremely on being fromtransformed goes is and who diet a girl 14-year-old a about is book “This follows: as en dfeet s o ol epwrn o a esnl level, personal a on empowering only not is different Being uncover to “selfie”campaign a recently, off Most kicked Dove In an attempt to decouple the linking of with self-esteem body Abla’s share today fashion, of world the in including Many, “The dieting is not the worst part—society is.” dieting“The isnot theworst part—society and I laugh at you because youareand Ilaughatyoubecause allthesame. different,YouI’m line: because me at laugh following oft-quoted I how feel,” on hesays. depends like sillytolook everyoneelse.” “Ithinkit’s morning the in on put my I individuality. express What and want I what wear “I literature. comparative in really fit into any social group,” says Zahi Sahli, a graduate student a newpath.” forging about is it fashion; behind idea the not is that and the same looked girls the of many that noticed I LAU at arrived first society,” boring I very says.“When a he for make would it thing way ofexpressing one’sindividuality. “Ifeveryonewore thesame not always simply isabout labels and expensive clothes but fashionrather a Steel, For fresh. and innovative fashion makes what is difference design, fashion of department LAU’s at academic fashion contemporary British Steel, Jason to According design. but it is fundamental in other arenas as well, such as fashion and ehp te raet ers f idm a b fud n the in found be can wisdom of pearls greatest the Perhaps don’t “I LAU. at even exceptions, always are there course Of —Hilda Abla, and artist TEDxLAU speaker Famous faces youngto imitate girls try page 9 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Today’s multinational corporations and business, are offered at flexible times to suit international organizations are always on the students’ busy lifestyle,” says Hisham the lookout for better-educated, specialized, Hashash, IT and operations management and more cultured employees who are senior academic assistant. capable of thinking for themselves, strong in “The timing of the classes (Friday their communication and comprehension evenings and all day Saturdays) certainly skills, and competent leaders. An advanced allows for a greater balance between degree may be worth thousands of dollars work, home and EMBA-life. The program Paving in extra earnings over the course of a career. gives me the opportunity to network With an eye on the market, LAU offers a with bright executives from vast and wide range of graduate programs specially varied backgrounds,” says EMBA student the way to designed to give graduates the tools they Magdalena Roumy, owner of Diet Delights. need to succeed in the real world. LAU Roger Tanios, general counsel of Indevco Magazine takes a cursory look at some of Group, agrees wholeheartedly. “I enjoyed a brighter those programs and talks to students to putting my knowledge from weekend understand why the university’s graduate classes to work the following week, and make future programs are second to none. a difference,” he says. “The opportunity to travel to emerging countries, like China, The business elite was a unique and invaluable learning Through its The first of its kind in Lebanon and experience. The peer-to-peer interaction the Middle East, the executive M.B.A. is particularly valuable. I formed solid post-graduate program, offered by the School of Business, friendships with other executives facing was established in February 2000. Since similar challenges to mine.” programs, LAU then executives have gone on to hold top management positions at some of the Educating the educators forges careers for best-known institutions in Lebanon and The educational sector in Lebanon worldwide. Highly flexible and designed has undergone major changes since a global employment to meet the needs of a demanding work government decree in 1997 made education By LAU staff force, the program allows professionals to compulsory for children aged 6 to 15. This receive top-notch training and education was the first in a series of initiatives that while remaining in their positions at their have elevated the debate about the purpose respective organizations. It is proving so and quality of education, overhauled the popular, the number of graduates doubled delivery modes and assessment practices this year alone. in the field, and created new positions in “The EMBA is developed to enhance educational settings. students’ managerial as well as leadership LAU’s highly successful M.A. in skills. Courses and seminars, in all areas of education, offered by the School of Arts page 10 Tried andtested major ofeducation” field global the the in all technologies and of policies up-to-date changes, skills given and are knowledge says: we Hammad, students “As Beesan program, in enrolled the student A training. advanced teacher of provider premier country’s the enrollment,become trackto on is LAU Arab the and world.” Lebanon in institutions and educational administrators,leading in developers material counselors, educators, teachers, as special role unique a play to needed techniques or management skills, research strategies, counseling and teaching educators their update to want merely “Some Adding: of Department. field the professor and chairperson of the Education affecting education,” says Dr. policies Rima Bahous, associate and technology, information, of edge cutting educators who would like to remain on the professional for new ofeducation.skills inthefield develop background or theoretical fieldwork, a acquire who those wish to study a for particular field in education, 80 designed is over and students of degree enrollment master’s boasts The program in. ushered have changes these that professionals qualified for need the fulfill to aims Sciences, and daily life, the need for engineers is growing. As technology becomes a ubiquitous part of osdrn te rga’ high program’s the Considering for designed was program “The M.S.Computerin an and engineering an engineering, environmental & Civil in programs—an currently masters three Engineering offers of School LAU’s y h Dprmn o Cmue and Computer of Department the by provided one the than environment safer or friendlier comfortable, more a is think there don’t “I engineering. computer in degree master’s a pursuing is Khalife,who could offer for a fresh graduate,”employer any says than Joseph money more make to able been have I and assistantships, research teaching both Through offers. employment LAU student graduate the with prior myself and support to able was goals “I experience. career long-term with practical of solution the engineering problems.” to knowledge skills acquired and the of and application knowledge, of independent acquisition programsthinking, stimulate to engineering designed are excitement, graduate “Our of Engineering.E.of Nasr, School the of dean full learning stimulation and mentoring,” says special Dr. George a environment providing and faculty students our sense between real partnership a of exists there research, and ofengineering.and appliedaspects conduct to research,theoretical the combiningthereby opportunity the and courses give students access to a variety of advanced their multiple in emphases and tracks. The unique programs are Management—that engineering & engineering industrial in Indeed, the programs better suit students work independent urge we “While M.S. M.S. r aog hs wo ae a their had have theses published. who those among are Yafawi Al- Amr and Fayad Saad Khalil Muhannadi, Hessa Ali, Abi Assem students year’s past fact,stage.this In international the on mark their leave truly to students allows program The finance. and business government, media, the diplomacy, and Science. fulfilling careers in academia, foreign Social affairs of and successful to proceed often Graduates Department the of chair and anthropology and professor sociology of associate Tabar, skills,” Paul Dr. research says to and as analytical well theoretical as develop field, the and in perspectives methodologies facts, major master thoroughly to opportunity complicated community. global increasingly an in thrive to necessary practical skills and foundation theoretical the with them providesprogram the that find Students forgeleadership to striving global in path perspectives.a of variety wide a from issues international analyze to and environment to unpack global complexities rigorous intellectually an provides LAU at Sciences and Arts of School the by offered world,the the of regions dynamic most politically the of one of heart the in Located affair A global like I am part ofafamily.”like Iampart feel I LAU. at here Engineering Electrical Te rga ofr suet the students offers program “The also Affairs international in M.A. page 11 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 A home away from home

Students on the Beirut campus now have Health Services. It is also home to a new A home away a home away from home, following the gym, music and choir rooms, dance studio, recent opening of the Widad Said Khoury student club meeting rooms, a Red Cross Student Center. office and film screening room, as well as from home Located at the corner of Upper Gate, two classrooms, a student lounge and a the 4,307m2 building connects to Nicol games room boasting table tennis, table The Widad Said Khoury Hall via a spacious and futuristic revamped football and billiards. cafeteria. The ultra-modern center was A typical day at LAU will find the building Student Center: A place designed so that students “could have a teeming with students. “I really like the to unwind place they feel is solely theirs,” said Dr. Raed new building and spend a lot of time here Mohsen, dean of students for the Beirut when I’m not in class or the library,” said By LAU Staff campus. “They can meet to listen to music, Dana Younes, an English major. “It’s nice play games, socialize or study.” to see that the university is staying true to The building was designed with “special its values of student centeredness through consideration to sustainability and energy such an inviting space,” she said, adding management,” noted Georges Hamouche, that she hoped the center would eventually assistant vice president for Facilities be open on the weekends too. Management. It houses the Outreach and Civic Engagement program, SINARC and the Office of the Dean of Students, which “ A place that is solely theirs.” comprises Academic Advising, Counseling, —D r. Raed Mohsen, dean of students, Career Counseling, Campus Activities and Beirut campus

page 12 Exchanging of Rola Nader, administrative coordinator successful without theindefatigable work knowledge one monthatLAU thoughts, and skills Experienced Iraqi academics spend academics spend higher education This program couldn’t have been and KhaledKabbara, assistant learning about learning about administrative coordinator. By LindaDahdah h Otec ad ii Eggmn unit, Engagement Civic and Outreach the office, Relations Alumni the with meet opportunity to the had also Hospital. academics American The Center-Rizk Lebanese Medical affiliated facilities University sports the libraries, as and LAU’s labs, as teaching well other and computer visited disciplines, academic similar faculty from of classes attended and with met requirements, and approach education art They liberal university’s activities. the to introduced were extracurricular and life student accreditation, governance, shared planning, strategic affairs, faculty research, excellence, academic to approach diverse genuine and communication exchange,” sheadded. good to key is This language. same the speak who education American system in an Arab environment with people the to introduced being are we LAU to coming By to. relate really cannot we that countries foreign to us sends usually ministry “The Moussel. of University the from professor mathematics are done in Lebanon,” said Dr. Inas Younes, a (UEO).the UniversityEnterpriseOffice by LAU at hosted and embassy Iraqi the by of education and higher education, facilitated ministry Iraqi the by its initiated was program about and programs. vision fact, exchange In month-long learn the strategic system, to governance universities Iraqi different from members faculty 19 hosted reputation ineducation. professors,active regainingits on focused is the today government, in collaboration with been instability,of years of but brunt the has bearing academia Iraqi country, the image of mirror A to. flock would quality of instruction pursuing and scholars regional international where nation a ago long so not was Iraq education, higher and free in excellence of model world’s Arab the Once Participants were acquainted with LAU’s with acquainted were Participants “We were really eager to know how things LAU that framework this within is It indicators ofthisprogram’s successes.” only the are foresee I collaborations future the and build institutions to our striving between bridges are We many come. for to last years will hope a we of that beginning journey the only is month “This collaboration. future to initiative pilot this Dr. George K. Najjar in linking the success of great Iraq between future andLAU.” partnerships of promises carries and experience fruitful venturea this into turning in crucial was which community, collaboration university’s the tremendousof “the without achieved been have couldn’t results such discussed.being already were exchanges and professor visiting research collaborative conferences, and workshops co-organized for plans 31, LAU’sfurthering missionintheregion.” world, Arab the in exchanges and research collaborative encourage as well as Iraq, reform in academic support to opportunity “the faculty university’s the offers Social program of a project,such the Department managed who Sciences the at professor us,” he for added. eye-opener “Such real a engagement. was focus civic a on put extracurricular the stress and students of the to offered quality activities and number of Baghdad. academic University the from professor mathematics a with Hammad, Dr. person,” Mejbel said whole students knowledge. the educating at aims actually It beyond goes providing here education of concept World, amongothers. Arab the in Studies Women’s for Institute the Programand Education Continuing the This echoed the address of LAU Provost LAU of address the echoed This Touma, Walid Dr. Director UEO For January on ceremony closing the At According to Dr. Makram Ouaiss, assistant the at surprise his expressed Hammad the that fact the is us struck “What E knowledge andskills xchanging thoughts, page 13 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 RE An education U T A E F for all T oward more inclusiveness in school and society By Selim Njeim

page 14 n h pr o te oenet te dctoa sse and andathome.schools system in educational students needs special the support to government,needed also are the individuals of part the on efforts Converging support. of pillar one only is disabilities, with discern,” sayshismotherproudly. to able been have never would we that commonplace something never ceases to impress us, when he particularly and notices a detail in smart so is “He him. about most the liked parents his what was constantly behavior energetic vigorously Gabriel’s he that was understand “because undisciplined son table.”dinner the at fidgets failedto have might person that What his called family him andwhisper.” marginallyat cousinsdifferentolder his of look some would when relatives,”visit to or reminisceszoo his father.the to him take“He only started to to feel that he me was and mother his beg would younger,was he he most.When the out going loves who one the is, still and was,society. “Gabriel into integrate to how learn and tasks everyday out carry to guidance and attention,care full-time difficulties, such as dyslexia, are under the high incidence category. communication and learning among disabilities,while incidence low consideredthe are dystrophy muscle and impairment, diabetes hearing juvenile and visual as example, well For prevalence. as emotional,their or cognitive physical, as such kind, their on depending classified generally are They disabilities. different progressed somuch, butwestillhavealongwaytogo.” anonymity.of conditionhas on “He mother, speak to agreed who activities,”daily to Gabriel’s knowledge says his apply to skills the concentratenor to ability the clever,had very never is he son but it.Our anticipating been had condition,we his about learned we when shocked weren’t I and father “His ago. years five Disorder calls itaday. homework,he his of rest teacher.the complete to Tooexhausted English his paragraphby the assigned writing finish to 12-year-old forthe minutes forty and snack.hour a full preparingan took starts It a compose and kitchen to the to over couch,sprints able the off hops sentence. being He Gabriel without by crawls Time his frustration. tutor,his at communicating nonverbally looks place.he eyes first weary Through the in abundant been never has which pen, a holds Gabriel struggles to keep his equanimity, hand trembling his As Aware parents and a loving home, while crucial for individuals for crucial home,while loving a and parents Aware the of acquaintance an when time a recalls father Gabriel’s require disabilities learning or physical with individuals Some of array an representing term umbrella an is needs’ ‘Special Hyperactivity Deficit Attention with diagnosed was Gabriel > page 15 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 FEATURE

An education for all

It wasn’t until the early 20th century that parents in America disabled where she spends time with her friends and learns basic started to cluster into advocacy groups, putting such a topic as skills, such as reading the alphabet. Unable to talk, she cannot voice special needs, foreign to many at the time, under the spotlight. In out the letters but she has been helping everyone around her hone 1961, under the term of President John F. Kennedy, the ‘President’s their communication skills. Panel on Mental Retardation’ was created. Halfway into the century, “Usually one blink means ‘No’, two mean ‘Yes’. A blink while funding was granted for primary education in an attempt to make squinting and making a funny face means ‘Get away from me, I schooling more accessible to children with disabilities. In Lebanon, don’t like your cooking’,” says her mother, Amale. Spending a few however, it has taken much longer for the momentum to build. minutes with Dana confirms the veracity of her family’s words. “We go to her for comfort, she has always a smile on her face. The only time she cried was when our father died a few years ago, “He is so smart and never ceases to impress us.” but you could still see this immense hope in her eyes,” recalls her —Gabriel’s mother brother Mansour. Chaaban’s mother works at the institution Dana goes to up to In the late 90’s, a couple of Lebanese schools inaugurated six times a week. She is grateful for the opportunity but says she special education departments, constructing specialized facilities would love to be able to send her daughter somewhere where she or offering tailored programs. Around the same time, and as a could “flourish more.” Unfortunately, such luxury is beyond the result of advocacy by the Lebanese Down Syndrome Association, family’s means. Heritage College became the first school in the country to accept At the dawn of the 21st century, there has been a growing a student with Down Syndrome. Numerous conferences and focus interest in special education and related services in Lebanon. With groups were organized. Results were anything but tangible, though. around 30 schools introducing special needs departments over the “Sadly, a lot of plans were laid out but they were never brought last decade, those with learning disabilities are now less ostracized. down off the shelf. Nothing was implemented, especially by the Nevertheless, those with means have easier access to services. public sector,” says Dr. Ahmad Oueini, LAU associate professor “What ends up happening is that families from privileged segments of education with an emphasis on special education, learning of society are the ones who can afford to pay for assessment tests. disabilities, and counseling. There is discrimination, in a way, and unfortunately, benefits are Around 2005, the Ministry of Education approved the possibility usually accessible only to the rich and powerful,” notes Oueini. of an exemption from the Lebanese official exams for children Tuition fees within special education departments are usually with learning difficulties. Before that, such exemption had been higher than those for the regular curriculum. Enquiries by LAU granted only to students with a dual citizenship or ones who had Magazine & Alumni Bulletin at five different schools showed tuition studied abroad for two years or more. Another achievement was increases of 7.5 to 13 percent. attained in March 2006 when a government decree made this type of exemption lawful. Oueini, a consultant on the decree committee, stressed the importance of that triumph: “With this “ T he legal text led to a better understanding of legal text, a ‘culture’ pertaining to special education finally saw the learning disabilities and the struggles of the light, leading to a better understanding of learning disabilities and people who live with them.” the struggles of the people living with them.” —Dr. Ahmad Oueini, associate professor The exemption process has evolved considerably over the of education at LAU years. Nowadays two options are available for examinees with special needs. Depending on the severity of their disability, they can either be exempted or receive accommodation to make the experience more manageable. Parents seeking an exemption for their children are required to provide professional assessment test results, seek positive recommendation from the school and go through an interview process at the ministry. Nevertheless, this attempt at accommodating differently-abled children leaves much to be desired. According to trusted sources in Lebanon’s education field, proctors do not always adhere to ministerial instructions. It is not uncommon for classroom supervisors to simply give the answers to the students or read the questions out loud to them, thus limiting the benefits they get from sitting for their tests. Special accommodation provided during standardized tests, such as the SAT and the TOEFL exams, are more professional, say those sources. However, there have been efforts to uphold the rights of special needs students and stifle possible corruption. “What the ministry is trying to avoid are students who want to get away with not sitting for their exams out of laziness,” Oueini explains. Dana Chaaban, 32, has never sought an exemption. She has muscle dystrophy, is unable to walk and has been in a wheelchair ever since she was a child. Dana goes to an institution for the page 16 their lectures. record her let to encouraged are professors her and cane, a use to learn to Deaf and Blind the for School Lebanese the to Jouni Mohsen, dean of students at LAU Beirut, the university also sends electronic books provided by her and instructors.audio Accordingas to services,such Dr.of multitude Raed a uses now and braille using read to how learned school,had high she in student bright program.translation the A in enroll to scholarship full a received their to Jouni year,Faten needs impairedlast visually September instructors.In their detailing letter a show and, discretion, counselor their at university the seeking see students can LAU, accommodation At special inclusive. more become to striving students withlearningdisabilities Step”, founded“Smart and centereducationalto catering own her LAU at education special in degree master’s letters.a obtained representlater She to leaves of break kinds different to using technique words innovative down an developed She read. to how learn children younger assist to required grader,was six Daouk a educator.success,”for special solid foundationDaouk, a As Carma a says and self-confidence of sense strong a build can students the support, right the “With outcomes. satisfying about bring to with thepressure atschool.” less cope environment home shaky a have who those and school students. Those who have support at home find it easier to learn at various inclusive schools in Lebanon. “It’s the same case at for teacher regular and developer program skills life as well University,as Tadros,Charbel student educationat Notre special master’s Dame schoolwork,”their in says reflected then is productive,which and receptive more becomes child home,the at them for cater to try family is vital. “When parents really understand the differences and ihr dcto isiuin i Biu ae lk schools, like are, Beirut in institutions education Higher What is more, rigorousassistance has after-school the potential the of role the sufficient; always not is school at care Special her wheelchair,” saysNour, Dana’ssister. laugh. Now, a lot of people help us carry her out of the car and into would stare,some would out.Everyone Dana taking hate to used

hose who have support at home find it it at homefind hose whohave support “ easier to learn at school.” T  Signs of greater change in Lebanon are starting to surface.to Lebanon in greaterarechange starting of Signs “We —S pecial educator pecial Charbel Tadros page 17 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 From the Cedar to the Maple

From the Cedar to the Maple LAU signs a five-year agreement with the University of Ottawa in Canada By Mehrnoush Shafiei

“LAU is continuously seeking As the world becomes more and more exchange. At the same time, we are interconnected, LAU is expanding its committed to welcoming international to expand its international global reach at lightening speed and students and scholars on our campuses.” research collaborations.” fulfilling its promise as a university Located in the heart of the Canadian without borders. It is in this spirit that capital, UO is the largest bilingual —Abdo G. Ghie, assistant vice president for LAU has signed a memorandum of university in the world, where it is possible Enrollment Management agreement (MOA) and memorandum of for students to study in French, English understanding (MOU) with the University or in both languages. It shares LAU’s of Ottawa (UO) that is set to run through commitment to excellence in research to July 21, 2018. and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge creation. As part of the agreement, LAU students can study at UO and benefit from a differential fee waiver, meaning Lebanese students pay local tuition fees. The fee waiver is applicable only to LAU students registered to study in French. “LAU is actively seeking to significantly expand our international research collaborations to support the strategic goals of our global agenda,” says Abdo G. Ghie, the university’s assistant vice president for Enrollment Management. Since both institutions share similar academic goals in teaching and research, they are intent in strengthening the links in their areas of common interest. Through the MOU a framework is provided for activities such as faculty, “Such agreements serve to provide staff and graduate student exchanges, international exchange opportunities for co-supervision of doctoral theses, joint our students with the main purpose of research activities and participation in widening their horizons and expanding academic conferences. their perspectives,” says Assistant Provost “These agreements will benefit for Academic Affairs Dr. Mona Majdalani. researchers and students in both Canada “We continuously strive to promote and Lebanon, and strengthen ties LAU as an academic institution of high between the University of Ottawa and standards that thrives on international LAU,” he adds. page 18 An essential An essential component BCNSP, istheinterim deanofthe Dr. ImadBtaiche, B.S., Pharm.D., of future leaders By Dr. ImadBtaiche School of Pharmacy.School Op-Ed to becoming a successful manager or or manager successful a becoming to curricula, of crucial are administration abilities non-cognitive subject whereby business the been the has intelligence stress tolerance andregulating emotions. management, conflict sensitivity, interpersonal empathy, as conscientiousness, such education, emotional of aspects admission various embed and systematically processes,to in curricula accomplished, science be health to remains more However, students. their in skills cognitive non- and cognitive both developing of disciplines.role academic in Health of disciplines have long recognized the investigated areas been limited has intelligence curricula, and academic performance improved. school psychological the behavioral, in students’ skills such of school-based educational development the integrating programs. By promotion in and skills examined prevention emotional mostly and is achievements. social academic Teaching and professional abilities their improves students by skills emotional positive of acquisition the and intrapersonal abilitiesofstudents. interpersonal on improve to little of development cognitive and reasoning educationabilities has done the formal emphasizes data, that to such of In happiness.spite contributes and achievements one’s largely sole the intelligence not emotional that and is success of predictor alone (IQ) intelligencequotient the that shown been has It relationships.saving and problem-solving and to imperative becomes understand emotions manage to skills necessary the presents itselfwithchallengesandrewards. mind emotional and rational the between the of work and in life demands, striking a balance conflict workplace with or facing the mounting pressures dealing social Whether management. relationship self-management, and awareness self- components: awareness, four emotional in classified intelligence Goleman, Daniel through developed proper training andpractice. be can intelligence fastintelligence is considered innate, emotional emotional the raw While intellect. human behind of progression human lagging is of intelligence evolution The Similarly, the role of emotional emotional of role the Similarly, In higher education, the role of emotional that shown has research Preliminary having arise, conditions stressful When psychologist, and author Renowned to be themissing piece?to be proveuniversities intelligence in emotional of education formal the could students’ So,leaders. tomorrow’s are social students to Today’s developing abilities. and approach creative cultural, by intellectual, holistic a education promote to change. responsibility the have Universities influence and lead to positioned well are for exploration. Leaders in higher education opportunity unique a present unanswered may increase.further education higher of the costs launched, financial are programs new allocated when be to outcome needing resources more desired the to education.emotional of measuresSo, with developed assess further be reliably skills to emotional need also of aspects qualitative course additional material atreasonable depthandbreadth. include to room little is there courses, academic regular of full packed being curricula objectives.the With their achieve to order in well-designed and continuous frequent, be to need such activities alternative, possible a provide may problems or scenarios. Although workshops real-world addressing on skills practice requires emotional of Acquisition sessions. traditionalin lecture teaching discussion or acquired effectively be cannot application Forinstance, and understanding emotional outcome data, rigorous so far, of its broad to support application. of lack the with ways along proper around assessment, and delivery of implementation, revolve identification reasons the the of exploratory.Some and marginal largely to-date remains curricula university in education in skills soft recruitment andhiringpractices. individual’s being the on is placed emphasis more Much growth. students’support that and personal professional outcomes sensitivity, coping educational as strategies, constructive and cultural self-awareness effective as recognizing such skills, communication, soft are of role the programs education perseverance, motivation, humility andeffectivecommunication. including positivity, skills soft and personal special unexpected of set a them fromrequire and that challenges ongoing to subject are forerunners,leaders effective leader. be To h mn qetos ht remain that questions many The the measure quantitatively that Tests emotional of incorporation the Still, higher of councils accreditation Slowly, An essentialcomponent of future leaders page 19 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Mirroring society

Mirroring society the 2013 fall major theater production, “Rumors” By LAU Staff

In keeping with tradition, the Communication Arts Department’s flagship academic program presented another astounding success.

page 20 can’t helpbutgiggle. you stage, the at down Theater, looking Gulbenkian the in However, sitting life. not a laughable situation if it were in real is this an course, in Of manner. exhaling exaggerated and inhaling by herself down calm to tries She panicking. is heels.high jacketand fur cropped a She suit, fuchsia and black a wearing is she and up made fully is huge face a her chignon, in is hair her up, dressed all is room.She living the into door revolving kitchen’s the of out storming Christina with starts play The style. comic his for Arabic. into Simon, an American Simon,playwright, is known herself Neil by English Khoury in and translated education, of production, situationahilariousone.particular that of major out make to managed Rumors, fall directed university’s who Khoury, Theater Lina and Instructor, Director Stage LAU Still, ear andhiswife wasnowhere seen. tobe find that the man had shot himself in the to your friends’ to 10th anniversary party invited were you if laughing be wouldn’t You Peretjatko. Antonin funny wrote life,” necessarily in not are that things at laugh to is comedy of essence “The sounds. it as easy as not is funny Being The hosts are in no state to welcome to state no in are hosts The professor Dr. Oueini,associate Ahmad rgnly written originally Rumors — Director, LAU LinaKhoury Stage Director “ I chosethisplay because it f h atn, y oh tdns and students plausibility both professionals, by had on a themajor impact The acting, the of performance. the that thecharacter isreal,” saidKhoury. to laugh if you do not believe impossible be will “It seems. it humor key to element a is Believability Abdallah. Zeinab farce,real”a was it felt I but student said hilariously unrealistic. are course, of other. which, of the All after one occurred, unlikely events several Meanwhile, out. finds everybody later or sooner and task easy hosts. Covering up for missing hosts is no don’t notice what has happened with the they that so attention their divert to try and guests other the to arrive,attend to Fady, who always insists on being the first husband her and Christina disappeared. himself.Mira, wife,his have help the and of from the Valium member he took after having shot a parliament, Charlie,is lying in bed, guests.heavily sedated their love spreading rumors.” resembles us, theLebanese Indeed, bursts of laughter characterized “I liked the play very much, I know it is and Theater Instructor like us. “wacko” all are explains play, she the in characters, country”. The this spreading adds, in rumors love director “Lebanese the continuing, us”, resembles it Lebanese scene. the to popularity his successfully adapt to managed Khoury feeling”. are they unhappiness the to contrastludicrous in his of consists things funny doing and characterssaying It kind comedy. particular painful very of a of control fine recliner andhideslike achild. the under slides he crash, car benign a investigate to in comes and door the on in the North, when the policeman knocks elections for running supposedly is who policeman, likeable. Zeitouny,TakeJoseph by Mikhael,played are Hamdan, Samy by sluggish played stereotypically the fact, even play, the In in characters characters. the if all the one, of least more, at not with empathize and identify to easy it find will audience the attitude, unheroic and situation tragic youknow.somebody to them relate to not difficult it find will Rumors, are convincing in their roles. in couples,You four play. All the of success “I also chose this play because because play this chose also “I his upon rests popularity “Simon’s their of exaggeration the to Due page 21 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 LAU carries the ball”

LAU carries the ball The university’s year kicked off with a hectic sports schedule By Natalie Shooter

Winning over AUST team in chess Dina Alaeddine (LAU) winner of the Winners in the swimming competition women’s table tennis tournament with director Sami A. Garabedian

There was certainly no slow onset to the Also in early 2014, LAU gave local high Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship year, if the university’s jam-packed sports schools in Beirut the chance to compete on and the Third Annual International calendar is anything to go by. On January its turf with the 15th Annual High Schools Tournament were postponed, but there 18, LAU held its annual swimming, table Invitational Tournament in basketball, are hopes they will be re-launched soon. tennis and chess tournaments. The table tennis and swimming for boys and League championships across a variety competitions have become a popular girls, along with a special indoor soccer of sports, resumed in February and will pre-exam stress release, marked by a (futsal) tournament for boys. With 30 continue until May. healthy dose of competition, as the schools invited, there was an excellent turn “LAU’s Athletics Department continues country’s universities used wit, tactic and out as over half them took part. Running to develop and grow,” said Sami Garabedian, the fitness peak that comes with intense in parallel to Beirut’s competition, high director of athletics on the Beirut campus. training sessions to take the glory for their schools in North Lebanon came together “We have the full support of the university institution just before finals. as of January 20—1,080 student athletes and the Student Development and The year got off to an encouraging start took part in all—to battle it out for the Enrollment Management (SDEM) office. as the university’s Byblos Swimming Team winning place in the 12th edition of their Since the launch of the new fitness center struck gold – seven times to be precise – yearly tournament. more people are getting back in shape at the meet. After doing their best dolphin Meanwhile, LAU Byblos and Beirut’s and now we are looking into purchasing impressions, they swept up an armful of varsity teams restarted their intense additional machines to cater for this medals, also winning silver and bronze. practice sessions following fall finals. At increased demand.” In other competitions, LAU Beirut the top of their game within university’s Joe Moujaes, director of athletics on campus men’s basketball team won various athletic departments, they the Byblos campus, voiced a similar three out of four home matches and prepared to compete against other top sentiment. “Thanks to SDEM we were one of the two away matches. Within the varsity teams for the retour leg of the able to replace the gym’s old machines women’s fifth basketball league, the LAU USC. On February 12, the heat was back with the newest models on the market,” Sailors breezed through their matches, on for Byblos’ varsity teams, with their he said. Moujaes is particularly proud of winning four out of seven. And in the weekly games commencing in the USC, the new physiotherapy room, which will University Sports Conference (USC) fourth competing across 10 different sports. be dedicated to student athletes from the men’s handball tournament, LAU proved Other tournaments had some bad varsity teams so that they may be treated themselves kings, wining all six matches of news after the Basketball Intramural on campus in case of injury. the year. Championship, the Women’s National

page 22 student athleteswith Recognizing talented LAU isoneofonlyafew scholarships to talented institutions inLebanon to offer competitive running running Off to a toa Off student athletes. scholarships By DalilaMahdawi start at theLondon OlympicGames in2012 Alumni Karen Chammas represented Lebanon my understanding both my and sharpen technique fighting me helped has that love activity I extra-curricular an “Having years. five past the for coaches dedicated fighting his Boxing). with training and years 11 last honing the for skills (Thai been has Thai Chehimi Arts Muay Martial and (MMA) Mixed in Championships Inter-University the at victories following 2013 in Year the of Athlete LAU’s received give theirall.” incentive to and themselves dedicate to students for important an are scholarships and athletics, national of forefront been the at always have its We on strength. itself sporting prides “LAU of athletes. dedication their the acknowledge universities to says need campus, Beirut the on campus are offered annually. Year”.the per scholarships new ten Around of “Athletes distinguished to scholarships additional two grants off,LAU all it top To for packages.aid financial making attractive extremely aid, with financial of combined forms other be exceptional The in can percent circumstances, 25 athletes. to rising but student tuition of percent 15 usually scholarships, talented to institutions in Lebanon to offer scholarships rewarded.those whocan shouldbe can sports, that into LAUbelieves but goes that everyone practice grueling of hours long Not the sustain commitment. and takesathlete hardan Being work, discipline ai hhm, sno i marketing, in senior a Chehimi, Hani athletics of director Garabedian, Sami few a only of one is university The is a really fun way to relax and creates a a creates healthy atmosphere for and studying.” relax to way fun really a is tennis playing and team volleyball the with Training obligations. academic our of way the in get doesn’t playing that sure makes motivated to excel in and sports class. “LAU 25 her percentmakesscholarship more the all her says athlete, award-winning and campus community through sport. the together bring help will and the momentum of the university’s athletics LAU,join accelerate to athletes student for incentive additional an be should facilities The built. also were rooms activities and studio dance multi-purpose new a where Center,Student Khoury Said Wadad the at old fitness the center into an ultra-modern gym renovating and courts basketball the campus,resurfacingBeirut the on facilities attract talentedathletes,” saysMoujaes. to possible services maximum the offer to the of want we reputation,so athletic because university’s LAU to coming now “Students are room. weights and gym a pool and swimming indoor an courts, tennis facilities, sports indoor two track, outdoor an with field green a of comprise campus.will This Byblos the at complex state-of-the-art athletics a build to plans initiated has LAU excellence, sporting for hub a as Olympians. future other support help 2012, to expects in and Lebanon Games Olympic London represented the at who Chammas, campus.LAUprepare helped Karenalumna Moujaes, directorByblos the on athletics of to namejustafew. swimming,soccer,in and over tennis times decoratedseveral been also so.has do LAU to university first row,the a in years three competition Conference Sports University Lebanon’sannual won has team basketball successes.Byblos’athletic LAU its men’s in goals.”competitive andpersonal both achieve me helped have Al-Kamand, Riad coach kickboxing/MMA longtime my with together who Muay team, MMA renowned best a has and region the Arab the in trainer is Thai Kiblawi, Sami here, sports gym,”and style my says. instructor he “The the both promote to how in as well industry, as strategies marketing of Kim Sadi, a third year pharmacy student student pharmacy year third Sadi,a Kim sports its revamped also has LAU reputation LAU’s cement further To Joe says Olympians,” recruiting “We’re reflected is sports to commitmentLAU’s off toarunningstart off page 23 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Culture and

FeAtUre its many faces giving difference a chance By natalie Shooter

page 24 price ispaid? fails,government what a where in steps art when But difference. highlighting in role important an play can Culture for heridentity.” gender,forher fighting only person a not also is but this thought they “Suddenly says. character,” Abyad this with tremendously person.identified transgender“People a facing issues of realities pre-prepared actressthe to questions pose to them asking theon challenged be prejudices on transgender issues, can sparking audience down.interaction by stereotypes broken stigmas audience’s and An huge. be can tolerance, of equalityandeducation. climate a promote help can art unspoken, the speaking and society of fringes the on groups minority to platform a offering audience.Lebanese By a to issues same the broughtcountry the Arts NYC’s of part as play,realities.shown the daily was Though their which It focuses on the identity issues of a transgender person, exploring Lina Dr. director, theater Abyad’s play and LAU, at Arts Communication of intensity.hard-hitting Professora Assistant message the give can live, even if a play lacks audience interaction, its physical proximity impact.instant Performed and direct a creating and audience an Dora andwriterGeorges recent Khabbaz’s Ghadi. film Amin director in Syndrome Down with boy young a to reactions adaptation of Reginald Rose’s documentary Daccache’s Zeina in Prison Roumieh from inmates 45 to voice have taken a or social perspective cause to their work, from giving perceptions andchallengingstereotypes. play a significant role in breaking down societal stigmas, changing minority of rights equal groups that have long neglected.been to the the toit’s left arts Often for fight to in step to have others laws, archaic or priority funding, of lack diversity, through with dealing for model real any provide to fails government a Where y akig ifrne n tg, h efcs n n audience an on effects the stage, on difference tackling By Theater is perhaps one of the most powerful art forms in shaking In Lebanon, many artists, directors and cultural commentators , is yet to be performed in Lebanon,,in performed be to yet is pressthe coverage inside ewe te es etvl f eierna Performing Mediterranean of Festival Seas the Between I.D. could certainly be considered boundary-pushing. wih h sae a an as staged she which Lebanese, Angry 12 > iety hlegd audience’s challenged directly I.D. 12 Angry Men, at society’s to a look page 25 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 FEATURE

Culture and its many faces

The recently released local film Ghadi explores the reactions Through interaction and proximity, often comes acceptance. of a Lebanese village to a young boy with Down Syndrome. Some By giving a stage to those often seen in the outside world as of the villagers translate the “difference” of ostracized Ghadi into “different,” that difference is in a sense broken down or forgotten meaning he “has the devil inside.” However, the film turns that about. “The fact that you are on stage puts you under the difference into something positive, as Ghadi’s father Leba tricks spotlight. [In the past] people didn’t want to expose a child with the town into believing his son is an angel. disabilities. Although this has changed, it still breaks down stigmas With few support systems in place for children with Down to put someone different on stage. It’s quite a strong statement,” Syndrome in Lebanon and little public awareness on the disability, Abyad says. could the reaction of the villagers to Ghadi in the film be close to Such acceptance though, doesn’t always translate back to real reality? “Yes, it still happens in some areas,” director Dora says. life. Abyad remembers staging the play The Blind in front of a “Though we have exaggerated [their reaction] for dramatic effect, group of children. Offstage the same kids, unreactive during the in some places you can still find people talking about such kids as performance, pointed and giggled at the actor’s hunchback. “It Satan.” Perhaps, as the first film in Lebanon to tackle the stigma of was interesting because on stage the kids didn’t point at him. But learning disabilities on screen, Ghadi could certainly be considered when they were standing in a line outside, the actor looked from groundbreaking in at least bringing the topic to a mass audience. one to another, and they started chuckling. Within a moment the Some art instead highlights difference through “visibility,” with entire line was giggling,” Abyad says. equal opportunities casting giving segregated individuals a place There are certain issues that come to play when exposing an in front of an audience. Abyad’s plays often highlight issues of individual in front of an audience. Matters of ethics are perhaps difference. A Shell in the Heart cast Zeina Salem, an actress with felt most strongly when casting those with learning disabilities Down Syndrome, while in her adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s – how much can such a child really give their full consent The House of Bernarda Alba she cast a student with a hunchback. to being in a performance? “If I had a character with Down “When I am working with people who have differences, it’s not Syndrome most likely I would not cast Zeina. I would like to take therapy,” she says. “I work with them because they really fit the somebody who could compose this character,” says Abyad. For part.” Dora the question of exploitation is ever present, but he feels Abyad’s casting of Salem in A Shell in the Heart, performed that somehow Emanuel has the “right presence” in the film. “You at LAU in 2011, was due to the actress’ “special presence.” “I’ve barely feel him,” he says. known her for more than 10 years. She’s not over-styled and she’s During the pre-production of Ghadi, Dora visited several a very talkative person,” Abyad says of Salem. “She is the only one schools to meet children in search of the one who would fit I thought of for this part.” For Abyad, these kinds of castings can the title role and came across a charismatic Emanuel. Originally have a double edge. “I think it’s interesting when people realize finding it a challenge to convey the script to the young boy, the that you are taking them because they are very good actors and director and actor learned how to communicate with each other they fit the part. The difference is discarded and yet, at the same on set. “I started to get really close to Emanuel. I turned it into time, it is more acknowledged. It is pointed out that despite the a game for him and me. He made me forget that he’s a special difference Salem fits the part beautifully.” case,” says Dora.

page 26 nros “ ws las okd on t Te automatically They at.assumed I should be a down man when I told looked people I was a always technician,” was “I wereenormous. industry male-dominated a within working of challenges designers in Lebanon, things weren’t always so easy for Knio. The places.” challenging more other to different very is equally treated be shareto can course, environmenttakenwhereis forit granted are you supposed that of “Art, says. largercommunity.a with questions an in questions these Asking constantly she be things,” to need questioning We privileged. as not are who women ofquestioning everything. insists ontheimportance woman,a she as university a in equality of position assumed an in be to grantedfor arts,it communicationtakes of chairperson and LAU at theater of professor associate Knio, Mona Though rejected.structures assumed and ignoredchallenged, difference s n o te is fml tcncl ietr ad lighting and directors technical female first the of one As are there that forget I time the of most that admit must “I itself, art of field be the can within stereotypes working While society.” in ripples create to them use eventually will they and audience backstage, crossthey thepeople then into the and hopefully but actors the touch first ripples water.calmThese in it when throw ripples you makes that pebble a like is theater think “I says. them,”comfort you or them Abyad disturb breaches,createyou you them,shake relate.“You to lost.ability anand emotion capturing being audience’s while taboos, without approach pushed, to hand be gentle a can takes It audience an far how in is perhaps answer The stereotypes? long-held down break and to this.” citizens,as responsibility drawour to attention beings human as “It’s lives. our of part every enter should engagement civil that art,of butresponsibility the not is change social that suggesting agrees,Knio change. social create to prerogative a have should build self-confidence, tocreate visibility,” shesays. tremendous. For those who are acting, it’s a platform for them to people,on it’s has it impact intention,the realizewithout you it do huge.you “When be can change social on arts the of impact view.”their changing into somebody shake might ForAbyad, the film honest.A be to responsibility their through it’s but society reflective. a “It’s truth medium. They have a major role to play in only womanaround,” shesays. the are was I confident.ago Twenty They and years assertive them.more much questions nobody and designers lighting and acceptable. more and “Currently, more I have at least now 30 female students working as is technical choice career provocative show, Iwouldhavetohearcertaincomments.” a on working was I whenever remember tough.I was me, which around men these all to orders give to asfrosty. had somewhat role“I technical the taking woman a to attitudes found has often Knio Downtown, in concerts Fairouz to Hamra’s Madina from al Masrah everywhere long scenes her the Throughout behind example. working career, by change create and divide she hasthestatusofamother, notjustthewife.” she says. “I grew up in a society where a woman is accepted when Can a piece of art have a significant impact, create real change art” of “mission the that though, believe, doesn’t She ultimately, be ForDora,should default by and cinema honest a considered once was what and evolving are Opinions gender the out level industry, helped the Knio in working By Women behind thescenesWomen behind page 27 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Making classrooms come alive

Making classrooms come alive Innovative teaching techniques By LAU Staff

Though the university prides itself on its delivering babies. “LAU is one of the first—in my classroom, the group operates deeply rooted traditions, its classrooms are regional pioneers in using simulation in as a collective of equals, where everyone’s anything but traditional. “A commitment teaching, which is now a requirement for opinion is valued.” to innovation in teaching is at the heart of most medical schools in the U.S.,” says If Asfour is redefining what a classroom everything we do,” says LAU Beirut Dean Dr. Vanda Abi Raad, associate professor means, then Dr. Jose Manuel Madrigal, of Students, Dr. Raed Mohsen. Students of anesthesiology at the School of chair of the department of Architecture learn in different ways—some are visual Medicine, as well as the co-director of the| and Interior Design is taking it to a learners, others auditory. LAU-Clinical Simulation Center along whole new level. Students have a rare Technology and innovation go hand in with Dr. Nadia Asmar, assistant professor opportunity to travel abroad to research hand and nowhere is this more evident of medicine. for the department’s Travelling Studios than in the Clinical Simulation Center, But innovation is not just about Exhibition. Accompanied by their located in the Gilbert and Rose-Marie technology; it is also about alternative ways instructors, students journey to such wide- Chagoury Health Sciences Building on the of perceiving the classroom. For instance, ranging places as Tokyo, Cuba, Dublin and Byblos campus and accessible to all health take the School of Architecture and Portugal, where they immerse themselves science students. “The center is equipped Design (SArD) instructor, Dr. Hani Asfour’s in the cultural and architectural landscape with advanced patient simulators so that foundation design class studio, where the of their chosen destination. “This is a students can learn important medical traditional hierarchy of professor-student very intellectually stimulating experience procedures without putting real patients is turned on its head. “I like to do things for our students,” says Dr. Elie Harfouche, at risk,” explains Dean of the Alice Ramez differently,” Asfour declares. “The first assistant professor and coordinator of the Chagoury School of Nursing, Dr. Nancy thing I say when students enter my class is Travelling Studios. “It provides them with Hoffart. “The safe setting allows them ‘Stop thinking, start seeing’.” a unique opportunity to step outside the to build confidence before they begin With over 20 years of industry classroom and become acquainted with a their rotations.” experience, Asfour knows that the new way of thinking.” The center’s high-fidelity mannequins traditional classroom no longer sufficiently “I learned so much from the time I are capable of simulating physiological prepares students for the fast and furious spent in Dublin,” enthuses fourth-year changes such as loss of pulse, sudden world they live in—the 21st century SArD student Joseph Tabet. “I was able to drop in blood pressure or pupil dilation. demands innovation. “A great deal of what experience spaces that I had read about They can also be used to treat a range happens in my classroom is unlearning,” in textbooks.” Echoing that sentiment was of scenarios from heart attacks or he admits. “Some students are quite sixth-year SArD student Lily Hamouche: stab wounds to giving injections and uncomfortable with the experience at “My trip to Cuba had a huge impact on me.

2

1 page 28 n pia lann evrnet where environment learning optimal an Beirut,in but available alreadydaycare the to addition an merely “not is institution, center in the Arab world within an academic physical development. children’s and emotional linguistic, in cognitive, social, experience hands-on assess gain and apply and activities appropriate to developmentally able are University students development. in cognitive time pivotal their stimulating a most at possible the education toddlers give transformation to drastic undergone since nursery,have premises and curriculum the teaching. forstrategies effective acquiring also while children of learning and about development the knowledge practical students, develop graduate who and undergraduate both for opportunities placement offers It distinction. academic of path a on pupils children for state-of- sets fourthat and two of ages the between facility a educational is the-art (ECC) Early Center LAU’s away. Childhood throw stone’s a only a from fresh perspective,” design heexplains. and architecture see can they that so environs new to exposed be curriculum.for to students important is “It students’ design the of part as exhibition the establishing with credited is 1990, in LAU joined who Lahoud,lecturer, Antoine learned somuch.” otherwise.I there gone have never could I The facility, which is the only childhood childhood only the facility,is The which a as 1950s the in established Originally occurs learning best the sometimes But Design and Architecture of Department 3 a piaiy n h isrco a the at instructor the on primarily was check andoperations management. sound- lighting, construction, asset such productions, the of staging the to crucial they are also responsible for technical tasks plays,directthe and in act students the do only finish.Not to start from arts execute they communication that production major a organize students LAU classroom, in the Department of Communication Arts. theater of Dr. professor associate Knio, says Mona read,” and films watch theater, the to go to have you facing, is society a challenges the understand to want renowned.you “If most and oldest region’s publishing,the of one media—is journalism, other and in filmmaking careers for students prepares program—which The case. the necessarily not programis this that know Arts Communication LAU’s in students playing, to antithesis is learning of school a excellence,”leadership par be stresses Samia. to years proved the throughout has made, LAU MUNprogram are the they and born, not are “Leaders (MUN). Nations United Model successful highly the hosts LAU that spirit similar a in students.is It school high local to teach speaking turn in they which writing,resolution public and negotiation, in training research, receive leaders social Student and life. Arab cultural recreate economic, to political, an opportunity provides exciting which (MAL), League Arab Model annual the like activities through capital.leadership andsocial teaches professionalism,public civic justice, social that participation, democratic about students pedagogy innovative an educational employ unit. team his Engagement and He Civic and Outreach Elie is classroom Samia, executive director of the the university’s outside learning of professor education. assistant and director ECC and students Kaloustian, Dr. Garene LAU faculty,” out points with interact pupils n taiinl lsro, h focus the classroom, traditional a In In a prime example of a student-centered that feel instinctively us of many While skills civic gain students year Each for advocates greatest the of One 4. approachSArD studentstake for ahands-on avisceral 3. Accompanied by theirinstructors, studentsexperience 2. CenterLAU’s (ECC) EarlyChildhood is astate-of-the-art 1. Students immerse themselves inthecultural and o ae epniiiy o ter own their for responsibility educational journey. take to themselves challenge and zones comfort their of outside stepping are students LAU production, major in a staging or students diplomacy school high training arrest, cardiac from mannequin a rescuing is it active are in their participants own learning. Whether students student-centered more approach—where a toward shift been a has there Today class. the of head 4 experience. ofinnovative theimpact structures.first-hand educational facility for children. architectural landscape ofmajorcities. page 29 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 15 | issue nº 4 | Fall 2013 recipes to make dreams come true

Magical realism is a style of writing that combines the real with the unreal, as in the Recipes to case of Laura Esquivel’s novel Like Water for Chocolate (1989), where food is used as a medium to transmit deep emotions. LAU students taking English 212, part of the Liberal Art Curriculum elective requirements for all the university body, had the chance to make dreams experiment with this genre and discover the power of food. After reading the book, the students were asked by Dr. Luma Balaa, assistant professor come true in the Department of Humanities, to compose a short story interweaving their narrative with a recipe utilizing magic realism. The resulting stories were outstanding and Balaa had a tough time choosing specific ones to share with the LAU community. “It is amazing Futur writer pu what students can write when given the adequate ‘ingredients’ and encouragement,” she pe t paper pointed out.

By Sahar Daouk, Magical Brownies Joseph Abdelnour, Feras Obeid Preparation and Zeinab Darwish It was March 25th. Sara was in the kitchen baking when she had a flashback. All the memories of her with Karim came flooding back. The time they had spent together, their conversations and their love of baking haunted her like a ghost. Karim had Ingredients died on that same date four years ago, and from then on, every 25th of March Sara • 400g caster sugar would make some brownies in the memory of her love. • 225g melted butter Sara started by whisking the ingredients together. As she was mixing her • 60g cocoa powder necklace fell into the bowl. She immediately searched the mixture but couldn’t ffind • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract any trace of it. The necklace was a gift from Karim and was the only thing that still • 4 eggs reminded her of him. What has she to do? The only tangible object left of him and now it is gone. • 225g plain flour After she ffinished baking the brownie mixture at 180 °C for 25 minutes, she left • ½ teaspoon baking powder it to cool and then sliced it into equal square portions. Sara thought that maybe a • ½ teaspoon salt piece of the brownies might cheer her up. She had a bite and couldn’t believe her • 60g walnut halves eyes. Karim appeared in front of her more alive than he ever was!

By Rafif Jammal, Amani Dakkak, Zamzam Chaar, Yaman Kossaybati and United by Cookies Anne-Laure Troesch Preparation As we preheated the oven to 175 °C , we mixed the butter with the white and brown sugar until creamy. Then we whisked in the eggs one at a time and added the Chocolate Chip Cookies vanilla. Next we dissolved the baking soda in hot water, representing my image of a group of Lebanese from different sects getting along regardless of their Original recipe makes 4-dozen differences, and added it to the rest of the ingredients, where each represented a Lebanese individual of different backgrounds, all were united and moving together Ingredients in harmony. • 1 cup softened butter We then placed small round balls of mixture on a cookie sheet. Finally, we baked • 1 cup white sugar the cookies for about 10 minutes until the edges were nicely browned. As I waited, • 1 cup brown sugar I started imagining what it would be like if people weren’t so offensive to others • 2 eggs because of their differences. • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract The next day, during the independence parade, a typical scenario took place with • 3 cups all-purpose flour two guys arguing about politics. I gathered my courage and went to offer them • 1 teaspoon baking soda cookies, even though I knew they were going to think how stupid and irrelevant I • 2 teaspoons hot water was to do so. But I did. I approached them and handed them each a cookie made of • ½ teaspoon salt love, passion and hope. A few minutes later they were hugging each other and apologizing for the stupid • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chip argument. Before I knew it, people were seeking my cookies and once they had a • 1 cup chopped walnuts bite, I saw love and passion taking over. This image made me realize that with just a little of hope and faith anything is possible.

page 30 Embrace the and Moral Reasoning andthecurator in European Humanities, 2007, from Reine ofEnglish Azzi is aninstructor University ofSt. Andrews (Scotland), of TEDxLAU. Shereceived herM.A. limitation University ofBergamo (Italy) and University ofPerpignan (France). By Reine Azzi Op-Ed from scratch. Lack of a proper budget for budget proper a of scratch.Lack from own our manufacture or creations LED of every concept a abused develop to disposal our at item and reused recycled, we meant design stage for funds exorbitant of Lack expression. of means creative to us alongfor therest oftheride. carried dream our and together work our of value the of them convince was do to students who showed me the way. organizing All I own had our was It first. at me to clear that all wasn’t manager a as strategy and beautiful set design for only USD1,250. activities, My space social speakers, 12 managed to create our first live event, with we yet financial, was limitation major our such, As worth. our of everyone convince to difficult was it unknown,relatively was conferencethat TED-style a team.As a as anotherincrediblewould justbe path. a when particular challenge is overcome. self-actualization TEDxLAU complete of feeling the bliss, pure of moments these cherish to cameother. time,I the In after obstacle one with climb, uphill an always been has I life My that. fact, on banking In was straightforward. path be our that wouldn’t aware was I Lebanon, in university a for kind its license,of first the tends toignore thisessentialfactor. regularly prowess managerial our that is irony, though, The teamwork. of context the perceive we way the in necessary be may be revolution complete to a then revived, were premise of this out If born constraints. generally is it abundance; for instance. MacBook, the to predecessor the fashion rummaging to garages, order in gadgets second-hand through their innovators, of in stories working heard all We’ve of context limitations. And this case isn’t exceptional. the within creativity human the in Cloud’ ‘School developing of example an indeed is His questions. right the ask to them allow with and minds children inquisitive of full one room take a concept:computer, simple a of out idea prize-winning a developed Mitra Sugata To overcome our restrictions, we resorted Limitations came to define who we were TEDxLAU the for applied I When of result the rarely is Creativity euy f elzn a ra ais a amidst dream prevalence ofboundaries. a realizing of beauty the of aware fully also I’m identity, but that embrace dreamers.I realisticit, call to like motivation. I as and dreamers, of fellow are We means ultimate the is it dreams; on tag price a put can’t One here.own my of one offering be I’ll but to overcome these“non-challenges”. drive the of loss subsequent our and resources our upon dependence My possible limitations. of utmost fear in the forthcoming days is our rewards the perceived and success of bounty the balance between delicate the maintain to team leader a for harder becomes It reins. our have in us and our people vision, the faith more no flexible more The are same. the limitations longer our years, the Over back. answers community the inevitably, appreciation,and greater to leads success toproveour teammembers themselves! allowed that restrictions these precisely majors,wasother it the all and hospitality to design graphic of students From out. stand to them allowing in and process the minds original corresponding stimulating a solution, create to team young our challenged restriction Each bags. tote hand-drawn one-of-a-kind 500 designed –we souvenirs event for funding of Lack meal.simple a over together people bring to picnic exciting an created –we buffet a I tend to detest oversimplified answers, every following: the in lies paradox The embrace thelimitation page 31 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Picture perfect

Picture perfect LAU graduate and team create successful photo sharing mobile app, EyeEm By Mehrnoush Shafiei

In the ever-increasing competitive field When asked to reflect on what he of technology, only the cream of the attributes to EyeEm’s success, Rizk says: crop can hope to survive. Though still a “It was a combination of things, the size relatively new kid on the block, EyeEm is of our network increasing meant that the giving photo-sharing apps like Instagram impact of features in app stores and press a run for their money. Recently profiled in had a bigger effect.” Forbes magazine, the free photo sharing EyeEm has been cultivating relationships mobile app is a unique platform where a with corporate powerhouses, such as photograph can be shared, uploaded and Lufthansa and Red Bull, in a bid to allow even sold for profit. EyeEm users the opportunity to make The app was created just three years ago money in exchange for licensing of their and allows users to take and edit photos, images. This interesting business model using seventeen filters and twelve frames. has caught the attention of social media The photos can then be shared on the users and is perhaps one of the reasons for EyeEm website, via email or on Facebook, EyeEm’s success. Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr or Foursquare. “The peak in January 2013 can be The Berlin-based startup is the attributed to word of mouth mostly,” says brainchild of LAU graduate Ramzi Rizk, Rizk. High school students in a suburb of “Software engineering Florian Meissner, Lorenz Aschoff and Gen Houston started using EyeEm and asking Sadakane. Rizk graduated in 2003 with a their friends to join - within a day or two, is about building things, B.S. in Computer Science from LAU Byblos. we were trending on Twitter in the U.S. testing limits and At an astounding ten million users, and globally, and that led to hundreds of pushing boundaries.” EyeEm is well positioned to compete with thousands of people downloading the app. the likes of Instagram and other similar It was (as is always the case) a combination —EyeEm team member, Ramzi Rizk photo sharing applications. In fact, last of word of mouth, quality products and (B.S. ’03) January the application topped the U.S. social media.” app charts at number two in the photo/ The app is perfect for photography video category. aficionados or amateurs looking to network with like-minded individuals since it boasts a unique tagging system that makes a theme or location or an event to each photo taken. “We’re building some awesome technology and using it to power a marketplace that will change the landscape of photo agencies,” says Rizk. Reflecting on his experience at LAU and the inspiration it instilled in him to strive toward distinction, Rizk has the following words of wisdom to offer budding app- builders: “If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to never accept the status quo. Software engineering is about building things, testing limits and pushing boundaries. Facebook’s motto ‘move fast and break things’ sums it up,” he says.

page 32 receive allows themto adapt quickly toquickly any situation they international airshow The Emirate’s annual field for over60 LAU Department chair, Department Dr. Josiane Sreih “The in-house hands-on in-househands-on “The becomes atraining experience ourstudents Fly Dubai business students —Marketing andHospitality are faced with.” By LindaDahdah tns eevd vr 0 vstr a day, a visitors 500 over received these stands of “Some students. and graduates LAU by managed and wholly were EADS,Eurofighter Electric company General Mubadala, parent Boeing, its and Airbus a orders. total ofUSD206.1billioninbook and media, regional and international 1,735 countries, 50 60,692 world, from exhibitors the 1,046 some around from saw attendees trade event the website, they but requested us.” connection, no absolutely had we who with caterer new a had event the year,this as go to going were we that even sure not were “We 2000. in venture this of onset the behind was who Department, Marketing and Hospitality the has in instructor participating the Slim, substantially,” Bassem so students increased said even of event, this number in part taken tents. exhibitors’ the for servers and supervisors managers, with them provide to – Center Trade World Dubai by – caterers invited event’s the been had Business of LAU’s School November). (17-21 Airshow Dubai the of Dubai edition 13th the to to mid-November off took hospitality members faculty 63 two by accompanied of students and delegation graduates LAU An h pvlos f e cmais like companies key of pavilions The Airshow Dubai 2013 the to According has LAU that time sixth the is “This formation istheiraddedvalue,” and she said. education situation Their with. any faced are to they quickly adapt to them enables receive students our experience and theoretical technological,practical skills. their Dubai is in popular so students hospitality emirate.” requestedthe in place taking of events who other for them number people the and is companies the proof of biggest Department. “The chair Hospitality Sreih, and Marketing Josiane Dr. said professionalism,discipline,”and seriousness success ofthedelegation’smission. the guaranteed supervisor, lab hospitality Tamer, Georges colleague his and Slim by supervision close the enormous, was task the Although industry. business figures the with from network to opportunity the take as well setting,as major test a in skills to his able was student Barakat pavilion, Airbus hospitality year the in supervisor a Barakat.As Christopher second said important futureour impact may that careers,” people very some to befriend talk even to chanceand a have to happy were we day, all running and walking standing, take alotmore todeterthestudents. say.may marathonsome However, would it dash around nonstop, almost like running a a.m. For the next 12 to 13 hours they would 6 by site on be to ready get would students succeeded.” control and give our best,” she said. in “And be we adapt, cultures to have We different nationalities. and many so with dealing great and companies is big with working There pressure experience. unique new a and it’s time “Every exhibitors. the of some by requested specifically was time, third the for salon the in participated who lunch,” outSlim. pointed instance, for at sittings two had and 700 over welcomed Airbus, presidents, businessmen. members, key family royal figures prestigious like were whom of many “The broad in-house and hands-on hands-on and in-house broad “The LAU makes what that believes Sreih of lot a shown have students “Our from burning were legs our “Although the morning, every a.m. 4 at up Waking graduate hospitality a Kambriss, Lara Fly Dubai page 33 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 train train

It might be difficult to imagine that Lebanese railways, footage of the coastal Lebanon once had a fully functioning rail line’s construction and a collection of Train Train system, but travel back over a century and maps, documents and plans. A successful A Lebanese NGO is you’ll discover a network that connected exhibition at Beiteddine Festival brought its capital city to the rest of the Middle an audience of 25,000 people and another working on preserving East. The NGO Train Train, founded by at Beirut Souks unearthed numerous LAU alumnus Elias Maalouf, was set up to more archives to add to the collection. and reviving Lebanon’s shed light on the country’s long-forgotten Train Train is in the process of creating rail industry. an archive and research center in Beirut rail industry Built in 1895, Lebanon’s first railroad to preserve their century-old collection, By Natalie Shooter connected Beirut to Damascus, through restore damaged archives and digitize Rayak, launching the first chapter in it for the future. “You don’t know how Middle Eastern rail history. Later lines great our country was until you get into joining Beirut to Tripoli and Haifa, as the history of its railways,” Maalouf points well as Rayak to Aleppo, connected out. “The Lebanese railways were the best Lebanon to Europe revealing a time of in the region and Rayak’s train factory booming industry. created great inventions used all over Maalouf’s interest in Lebanon’s the world.” locomotive history has dramatic roots. In Train Train hopes to work alongside 2005, his final year university documentary, the government to preserve Lebanon’s first planned on Syria’s withdrawal in remaining railways and push for its Lebanon, took him to Rayak Train Station eventual refurbishment. Their plan to that was at the time a Syrian military rebuild the Byblos-Batroun line aims to compound. “I was filming the Syrian army’s show the potential success of national “You don’t know how withdrawal from the station. They burnt rail refurbishment. Train Train has been great our country was archives in a wagon as they were leaving,” working closely with the new Director Maalouf says. “As they mounted the last General for the Railway and Public until you get into the truck, I tried to save some of the archives, Transportation Authority, also an LAU history of its railways.” but they started shooting in the air, so I alumna, Ziad Nasr. “He’s been a great fled. I regret not being able to save them.” support,” Maalouf says. “He’s the first to —LAU alumnus, founder Afterward, Maalouf was inspired to do something about the railways.” of Train Train, Elias Maalouf switch the topic of his documentary, Maalouf has faith that one-day later called Ya Train, to Lebanon’s railway Lebanon’s rail network will be revived. history and started by interviewing the “Is there any other solution for the awful country’s few remaining train traffic jams? Before they thought the drivers. “Many of them died not only way out was to build more roads, long after I spoke with them. but traffic is like a goldfish, the bigger It was as if they were waiting the aquarium, the bigger it grows,” he to say something,” Maalouf questions. He’s found the enthusiasm for explains. “They all gave me his project encouraging. At a recent NGO their archives. Over time I fair over 200 applications for volunteering met so many enthusiasts that I were received from LAU. “We really decided to create the NGO.” believe with the help of students we can The NGO’s archives now stretch to get somewhere with our cause which over 3,000 original photographs of needs a lot of love,” Maalouf stresses.

page 34 The under The under the officialstudent when your articles start start when your articles “You only trulylearn A closer look at A closerlook the LAU Tribune print of print of being published.”being —Doha —Doha Adi, aneditor newspaper of theLAU Tribune By SelimNjeim

broadcast media and international news news agencies. Thatwasmyreward,” international and shesaid. and print media have major broadcast in students] names my big become [of many gratified “I’m produce. and write to returning then photographs,take and report to out going students with newsroom authentic an to closer it bringing in succeeded Magda Abu-Fadil journalist veteran In 1990s, profession. late a the as journalism and field and edited bytwostudentco-editors. supervised is known, affectionately more is it Tribune, as the of section Each articles. other’s each edit and photographs take subjects, interview and select stories, compelling content down hunt of They stages production. all in immersed fully students newsroom find will one environment,where professional a simulates Hall topic.deep intoaspecific delving longer articles or are stories interest human which features, and events, upcoming or past news for coverage pieces providing short writing relatively are of which articles, consist Assignments students. journalism all for requirement a nothing Ilovedoingmore,” shesaid. there’s editing but time-consuming, so the is process as which demanding, class, extremely is Workshop at Journalism it teach the experience I “Now, to said. exciting Dabbous university,” so was it distributing copies. campus around ran and herself student as a articles penned she when remembers newspaper, the fall for adviser academic and 2013 professor assistant on LAU Nasser, events about Dr.beyond. and Dabbous Yasminecampus read to university’s community the for platform a is Tribune LAU the students, by students for Written The course aims to reflect reality in the the in reality reflect to aims course The Nicol Beirut’s LAU in classroom Its class,the of crux Tribunethe LAU is The background,journalism a from “Coming and managingeditor at Wamda.com instructor LAURahal, Maya by given being Journalism is Workshopthe class spring This future real-life dilemmas.” them from in learnt you’ve lessons the apply then and learn will you make but will mistakes, You pressure. the of afraid don’t be importantly, push most and, to afraid yourselves be “Don’t following: the offered Akil Sara student journalism senior future, the in class the taking be will who nevertheless,” sheadded. charming a but sometimes, confusing such little a and is master to “Arabic Hard language. beautiful languages. writes both who in student journalism Chmouri, senior Majdoleen a said heart,” place special my very in a has Arabic in English, writing like I “While Arabic. in articles published Tribune LAU the inception, its pleasure for me,” shesaidenthusiastically. a such is graduating.It after Tribune,even The for write to chance the have always I hope “I class. the of post-completion cap,even Tribune LAU their off take third-year to refuse a Ayyad,journalism student, is one of many who still Zayna feel Hall newsroom. Nicol to the cease toward drawn never inexplicably but class the from editor oftheOpinionpage. co- Zibawi, Hiba interesting,” said find or and tackle could sometimes issues I didn’t think I I would like thought topics never had to I me my by introduced “Writing ones classmates— topics. the of reading articles—and array an Thursday,covering other every updated sections, contemporary exclusively eight flaunts Tribuneonline.LAUnow The went to publication the cater readers, and technological latest advances the with up keep To 2011.spring in milestone a reaching before past,the in times multiple re-launched and or graduate school. jobs to applying when use to samples writing of stack substantial a accumulate also semester, they the of end the by but offer students, class enrolled to the experience hands-on does for only page Not 2013. You fall to Introducing Tribune’s the of editor the and a student Adi, journalism Doha articles said published,” your journalism, being when start learn in truly only majoring you you’re when When asked to give some advice to those since time first the for and year, This graduate journalists budding of lot A Publication of the Tribune was suspended take, you classes many how matter “No of theLAU tribune the underprint page 35 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 StUDent SPotLight

Celebrating the power of pictures through students’ stories

By Selim Njem

Traipsing around campus loaded with her a compelling story to share with the online photographic equipment, Noura Andréa community. “It is hard to read people Nassar, an LAU graphic design student, is and know what is going through their always on the lookout. Ever so attentive heads without conversing with them,” she to detail and observant of the scenery explained. around her, she walks over to people The page, initiated in October 2013, now offering to take their picture. This is not for has over 1,400 “likes”, and counting. It not a photography class project, though. The only serves to give a voice to individuals, pictures and their accompanying captions but also works to bring people together, serve to embellish a Facebook page, sparking new friendships. “Noura once Humans of LAU. asked me if she could take my picture and Inspired by the original Humans of New post it online, and I said yes,” recounted York (HONY) project by Brandon Stanton Isabelle Atallah, a first-year LAU student. and loyal to it in format, the LAU-bound “Some people really liked what I had to page features students from around the say and reached out to me. I’ve remained Beirut campus, with stories to tell. Everyone friends with them ever since.” has an experience to share, even if they Owner of an autographed copy of aren’t always brave enough to relate it. Stanton’s book Humans of New York, a The page provides a platform to encourage collection of the best and most popular students to talk about their lives, as well as photographs he’s taken, Nassar met the their academic and personal challenges, street-photographer last September during among other topics. a trip to New York. The “Humans of…” “The point behind the page is to look concept, an offspring of Humans of New at someone’s picture and read what they York, has resulted in nearly every major city have to say. Not to judge based only in the world having its own page. upon their appearance. Everyone has an Like Stanton, unique, inspirational experience,” said Nassar. “There is always stories are the driving force behind the more to someone than what meets the effort Nassar exerts to maintain the page. eye.” The content of the page may be The answers people give to her questions viewed by anyone, even if they don’t have are a celebration of their individualism and a Facebook account, though commenting offer a glimpse into their true selves. She is on and “liking” the post is only available to considering the possibility of collaborating those who have signed up. with someone from LAU Byblos in order to Nassar is usually drawn to people sitting give equal coverage to both campuses. alone or in small groups, reading a book or perhaps simply walking around. She approaches them and tries to initiate conversation. “Not everyone I try talking “ Do not judge based only to is receptive to the idea of having their upon appearance.” picture taken. Degrees of responsiveness vary, for sure.” She sometimes wanders —Noura Andréa Nassar, photographer around for days before she stumbles upon

page 36 upss ciia stain ae created are situations learning clinical and purposes, teaching For students. for environments provide learning effective can and safe that discipline patients. developing of safety Simulation-based education the (SBE) and is a rapidly to, about, committed concerned increasingly are learning is indispensable, medical educators actual in patients clinical settings. real While hands-on, experiential with training on relied has education Traditionally, medical education?based ofsimulation- What are thebenefits all,that above s/heisamerciful healer. deeply believes also but medicine, century 21st of skills the in trained superbly is who one graduating, is it physician of kind by the determined is school our of character abiding the that education. forget not let’s However, simulation–based including strategies innovative and new of use the as contextual well exposure,as clinical favors early and learning also It learning. based problem- and case- as strategy, such study enquiry-structured and self-directed group, small student.on reliesthe curriculum of This new needs developmental and a educational the on an is based education clinical of embraced that model have curriculum we integrated LAU-SOM, At helpthestudents? methods innovative waysandhowdothese How doweatLAU-SOM teachin teaching.her assessmentofhands-on get and education medical into further the delve Center, to Dr. Simulation of LAU-Clinical co-director with and anesthesiology of down professor associate Raad, sat Abi Vanda Magazine LAU By LAU staff means ofteaching strive toperfect excellence asthey LAU faculty incite healers future Educating Q&A once said, “We teach what we like to to like teaching multifactorial,ordinarytranscends we what although teaching, learn”. clinical teach Excellent “We said, once Brookfield Stephen expert education Adult practicing it? teachingmedicinedeterfromDoes inLebanon. theneededspecialties about students direct also opportunities they specialization, for international and national professional paths. While the faculty presents the various and specialties different the explore to opportunity the year an class every hold we in students fair,offers career LAU-SOM,which annual At Lebanon. in different is distribution The pediatrics. and practice medicine/general family medicine, physicians wereinternal careof primary the specialties active of numbers largest the with specialties survey,U.S.recentthe a In in? specializing the yearsandwhatare ourdoctors How hastheprofession changedover incorporated curriculum. intheschool’s deeply also are process,and this for crucial are thinking critical and Self-improvement learners.” lifelong as preparing medicine of practice at aimed the students to meet skills the “changing science and is of emphasis of fostering area important An into play? Where critical does thinkingcome students. our of education clinical the enhance and supplement to order in year school first medical of the in introduced is education trainers, LAU-SOM, simulation-based simulations.At computer-generated part-task or patients simulated mannequins, using

Simulation Center. and co-founder oftheLAU-Clinical ofMedicine of Anesthesiology at the School Vanda Abi Raad professor isanassociate residents andfellows. 21st-century students, LAU-SOM for a model role practice providing and while teaching in research excel to needed capital attract,to retainand develop intellectual the able be hospital to is organization this new its for through plan The excellence. of and university hospital containing several centers reconstruction expansion to convert it into a major comprehensive undergoing Our teaching hospital LAUMC-RH is currently research, andclinical. basic topflight conducting also while better outcomes produce hospitals teaching major carepatients.to U.S.in Studies that showed generation” next in where addition the to delivering “teach medical to hospital is mission a primary the is hospital teaching A advantage andwhy? Do youseeteachinghospitalsasan students. with communicating and involving actively and is characterized by inspiring, supporting, E ducating future healers page 37 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 hot off the printing press

Hot off the printing press Leafing through the latest books by the university’s faculty By LAU Staff

LAU boasts one of the Dr. Paul Tabar, associate professor of sociology and most published university anthropology and director of the Institute for Migration Studies, examines Arab migration to Australia, faculties in the Arab world. focusing particularly on Lebanon’s sizeable diaspora. Faculty research regularly In the second book he has written on the topic, Tabar provides a sociological study of Arab settlement and appears in academic community building in Australia, looking at the group’s journals and periodicals, integration in Australian society and diasporic relations with their homeland. The book explains how Arab and our experts are migration to Australia has followed the typical process regularly solicited by the as described by sociologists: once the number of a press. LAU Magazine takes particular community reaches a critical level, members of the community begin to build their own specific a look at some of the community organizations to better cope with the recent books released by Arab Communities settlement process and to preserve their own ethnic identities. However, while they hold on to some aspects our professors. in Australia of their ethnic identities, they are also transformed and By Paul tabar reinvented to suit life in Australia. Tabar surveys the Published by The Centre religious institutions founded by Arab communities for Arab Unity Studies and their significance in their settlement in Australia. The book, which is the first of its kind in Arabic, is meant to put an “end to the folkloric version of Arab migration experiences,” Tabar says. He hopes the book could be used by Arab states to effectively connect with their diasporic communities.

The Government and Politics of Lebanon By imad Salamey | Published by Routledge

Dr. Imad Salamey, associate professor of political science, has authored a book to explain Lebanon’s complicated government and politics to global audiences. Salamey provides an examination of the origin, development and institutionalization of sectarian consociationalism —a term originally coined by political scientist Arend Lijphart, as the manifestation of sectarian politics where power is divided and shared— in Lebanon, revealing it as both a blessing and a curse in the formulation of political settlements and institution building. “On the one hand, and in contrast to many surrounding Arab regimes, consociational arrangements have provided the country with a relatively democratic political life,” says Salamey. “A limited government with a strong confessional division of power and a built-in checks and balance mechanism has prevented the emergence of dictatorship or monarchy. On the other hand, a chronic weak state has complicated nation- building efforts in favor of sectarian fragmentation, external interventions, and strong polarization that have periodically brought the country to the verge of total collapse and civil war.” The book provides a comprehensive introduction to Lebanese politics for both students and Middle Eastern history enthusiasts.

page 38 Reach a Child— Teach a Child ﺗﻮﻫﺞ اﻟﺒﺼﻴﺮة By irma-Kaarina ghosn Published by the Institute for ﺑﻐﻴﺎب اﻟﺒﺼﺮ By nidale Al-Amyouni Peace and Justice Education Daccache Published by Dar Sa-er Al Mashreq

In this book, Dr. Nidale Al-Amyouni Daccache, assistant Dr. Irma-Kaarina Ghosn, associate professor at the School of professor of Arabic literature at the Department of Arts and Sciences and director of the Institute for Peace and Humanities, reviews some of the contributions to historical Justice Education, has published a handbook for teachers. The Arabic literature made by blind thinkers and poets. She argues book is the result of a two-year teacher development project despite being blind, these figures made lasting contributions involving 30 teachers from schools in North Lebanon. The to Arab thought, allowing their readers to inhabit a world underlying premise of the handbook is that the basic human that they have experienced in a completely different way. dignity of children must be respected at all times, including Using the poet Bashar bin Bord as a key example, Daccache when they misbehave. It outlines ways teachers can prepare contends that many blind people can see with their insight, and create learning environments that engage children and and many people who have sight are blind. “Knowing the minimize disruptions and misbehavior, and that respect difference between sight and insight and between sight the human dignity and rights of the child. The handbook and the light is necessary for anyone seeking physical and introduces them to simple techniques to deal with disruptive spiritual development,” says Daccache. She argues that it is behaviors that have been successful elsewhere. In many also essential to recognize the importance of language in cases, behavior problems occur because of the lack of careful transferring poetry from one era to another, arguing that planning of classroom management strategies or the teaching Bashar bin Bord’s enduring relevance as a poet resulted from itself. “We tried to emphasize that the techniques we taught his ability “to understand the secrets of language.” did not require take extra time but could still change the way things were done,” says Ghosn.

Conversion and Apostasy in the Late Ottoman Empire By Selim Deringil | Published by Cambridge University Press

Dr. Selim Deringil, professor at the Department of Humanities, recently published a book that was chosen as the co-winner of the M. Fuad Koprulu Prize, given by the Turkish Studies Association. In the book, Deringil critiques the commonly accepted perception that nationalism replaced religion in the age of modernity. In the 19th century Ottoman Empire, the focus of this book, traditional religious structures crumbled as the empire itself began to decline. The state’s answer to schism was to administer controls and regulations, and it was against this background that religious communities negotiated their survival by converting to Islam when their political interests or their lives were at stake. As the century progressed, however, and as Deringil illustrates with real- life case studies, conversion was no longer enough to guarantee citizenship as the state became increasingly paranoid about apostates and what it perceived as their “denationalization.” The book tells the story of the struggle for the bodies and the souls of people, waged between the Ottoman state, the Great Powers, and a multitude of evangelical organizations. Many of the stories highlight current flashpoints in the Arab world and the Balkans, providing alternative perspectives on national and religious identity and their interconnections.

page 39 YOUR opinion matters

Check: http://evaluations.lau.edu.lb/Blue/a.aspx?l=1531_1_AAAAAAAAMA8 Check: http://evaluations.lau.edu.lb/Blue/a.aspx?l=1531_1_AAAAAAAAMA8 YOUR matters opinion strips people down so much that it exposes down somuchthat it exposes strips people considerable chunkoftheyoung director’s and trust that life willtake mewherever it life hasdirected —she two plays, in acted her future. “I float, that’s what Ido. Ifloat them to theaudience, just asifthey were develop herskills, attention to the paying a confrontation comfortable that isboth reality show. TV theater as Shedescribes real life andon stage, shealways triesto Khalil’s life play, islike amulti-act which multiple productions and been castmultiple productions andbeen ina Khalil preferred to remain elusive about Who isTanya Khalil? A multi-dimensional character, A multi-dimensional in both come out soraw, vividanduncensored minutest details. “Letting my emotions and uncomfortable. For Khalil, acting she manages to direct withprecision and dedication. Theater makes upa proved way harder to be thanIhad wants to take me,” shesaid. expected,” sherecounted. standing onstage naked. By SelimNjeim truckloads in total.truckloads 25 collection,amassing the for especially purchased had they blankets, and items some clothes warm of full December bags in donating Sunday cold a on Beirut, downtown in BIEL, at up turned people am too,” sheadded. cold,are they I.hungry,aream they so If I country.own her in tourist a called she “If what or observer passive a being stop to decided she So Khalil. or university explained work,” to way my on daily street the in children refugee into run I crisis, with themfrom timetotime. messages exchanges and kids the of some with contact in still is She there. Village, Children’s at SOS NGO,the international the out help to month to a for traveled Leone Sierra she back, years few A work. on theater, Khalil is no stranger to volunteer my reality,” saidKhalil. become has it because interest particular ongoing the Syrian refugee Lebanese crisis. with deal help of to citizens responsibility the highlight to collective bid a in tourist” a not am “I named she event nationwide into turned Facebook, on drive clothing scale wide- a into evolved friends and her LAU of some relatives from her Khalil, donations Tanya student as began What By Leena F. Saidi questtomakeone student’s adifference to help The sheerdetermination o hlls upie mr ta 4,500 than more surprise, Khalil’s To Syrian the of beginning the “Since focusing student arts communication A of is Syria in happening is “What “ This campaign has restored my faith inhumanity.” with asmile. Khalil humanity,” concluded in faith my a restored make has to campaign “This ability difference, their and people in medicine, food, water.” most: need they whatever for project. be will bigger “It a launching of thinking are we worse, getting is displaced the of future.the in “Ascollections situation the further arrange to intends she said Khalil Lebanese at around 1.3million. refugees, many with put the true number government officials but Lebanon unregistered in refugee agency UN the with registered Syrians ‘human a formed chain’ thetrucks,” toload who Khaliladded. volunteers 50 than clothes,morecollectingreached but Valley. Bekaa the in and areas mountainous the the in increasing particularly tragedy their of magnitude hit, Alexa storm winter after especially refugees, Syrian help to meant Lebanon,was Child War and Syria for SAWA NGOs the of collaboration the me howtheycan help,” out. asking shepointed me, contacting started countries different from people and media social lhuh h hs las a faith had always has she Although initiative, the of success the to Due displaced 842,000 around are There people five about with started “We with Khalil by organized initiative, The through spread campaign “The StUDent SPotLight page 41 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 rebel with

FeAtUre a cause Standing out and inspiring change By Leena F. Saidi

page 42 improve thelivesofothers. will that made difference a and about brought be can change action simple a would have died with him. By performing known,it dream that made not had he if dream,but a had King Luther Martin o ae ces n te potnt t qaiy dcto ad to oftheircommunities. includedasvalued and equalmembers be and education quality to opportunity the and access have to inherent rightofthosesufferingfrom thedisorder accepted, tobe children,” our stresses. forshe since,Ever promoteferventlythe to continues Salem opportunities create to needed We chance. a their potential and had to convince people around us to give them we had the to meet the challenge and prove them wrong. We believe in with curriculum.conventional“So,students” “regulara with in side by worked Salem createto willing programa side integratingstudents needs special daughter, College her Heritage the from teachers of group a and administration for environment children anddonoteventrytogivethemachance, shesays.” myths with it.associated dispel “People are skeptical the aptitudes of our about and promote disorder the with to persons of aims image positive a which (LDSA), Association Syndrome Down toenrollit allbehind inanM.A. Education atLAU. inSpecial highly successful architect managing her own company, Salem left a as career her school,”of in peak daughter recalls.the my So,she at register to wanted I when attitudes negative and challenges Syndrome,Down that.many with exactly facedso did “I born was anything?” to“Whatcan Idotomake achange?” do I can person,how one only “I’m from thinking their changing by just so do can anyone And change.created difference,they a endless.few—theis a list name to couldthey make believed They —just Nightingale Mandela,FlorenceKing, Nelson Luther Martin many have people impacted the lives of others. history Mother Theresa, harder. Throughout Gandhi, even is community a the Changing of feat. lives small no is person one of life the Changing fe fcn edes ifclis o id sial educational suitable a find to difficulties endless facing After Lebanese the founded who parents of group a of one is Salem LAU alumna, Hana Abu Khadra Salem, the mother of Zeina, who page 43 page >

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 FEATURE

R ebel with a cause

Giving money is probably the most prevalent means to making This disorder could affect children close to or related to you,” she a difference and not to be disparaged. A remarkable number stresses. By founding the Lebanese Autism Society, with other of people worldwide have a better quality of life through such parents of autistic children, she has been able for the last 14 years to donations. However, for some, money isn’t an option. With our raise awareness in the society. “Children are being diagnosed earlier time on this planet being finite, how or with whom this time is and intervention is starting at an early stage, which improves the spent can mean a lot. Giving time is a valuable gift that can make prognosis and quality of life of the child,” she explains. a huge difference. Difference is labeled by the society and making the society aware “I’d run into Syrian refugee children daily in the street looking is already a step closer to acceptance. “We have already promoted cold,” explains LAU student Tanya Khalil. So, she decided to stop and implemented integration projects for children with autism in being a passive observer and use her time to start a clothing drive on Facebook. To Khalil’s surprise, more than 4,500 people turned up on a cold Sunday in December donating bags full of warm “ Daring to accept difference is the real clothes and blankets, some items they had purchased especially for the collection, amassing 25 truckloads in total. challenge.” Influence change. Impact, by its very definition, implies change. —Arwa Al Amine Halawi, co-founder of the Lebanese Influencing positive change is not a matter of simply performing Autism Society one’s best, but the ability to bring out the best in others. Sarah Beydoun is the founder and creative director of Sarah’s Bag. general education system in two schools,” says Halawi proudly. Combining her interest in bettering underprivileged women’s lives Our legacy is what we leave behind. It is like a drop of water. The with her love for fashion, Beydoun created a business that is both drop never reaches the shore, but the ripples it creates will extend stylishly aware and socially responsible. outward to the shore. LAU alumnus, Zaven Kouyoumdjian, a well- In collaboration with the Institute for Women’s Studies in the known television personality of both Armenian and Lebanese Arab World at LAU and Dar and al-Amal, she trained incarcerated descent, is certainly a ripple maker. And one that has made a women on hand embroidery and stitching, and employed them. difference. Kouyoumdjian believes his program “Sireh Wenfatahit”, In the process, these women would be helping to revamp the based on tackling taboos through dialogue, participated in spurring centuries’ old traditions of artisans and textile makers in the Middle the Arab Spring because it launched new ways of living and East for the purpose of invigorating contemporary fashion. thinking. “We believed in what we did, and we did it in a measured Layal, who was in prison for a year on charges related to unpaid way, acceptable to Arab societies, at a time when the Arab world debts, began working for Beydoun from prison and has been with was ready for change.” the company since. “My parents’ outlook on me changed a lot. Even the way society perceived me changed. They stopped seeing me as someone who needed money but as a productive person.” Lama, who requested her real name be concealed to protect her family, said the project has given her a new chance at life, “My family and my village shunned me. This work has brought me respect.” “They become empowered because they can bring in money to their community,” Beydoun says. Some people dare to be different and others are born different. “However,” says Arwa Al Amine Halawi, “I believe that daring to accept the difference is the real challenge.” The challenge for Halawai started on a personal basis, “My motivation to make a difference was a personal one. I was given a child with autism. At first I had to cope with it. Then I decided to teach the world how to accept my son and his differences.” The latest statistics about autism are quite alarming, Halawi points out that one child out of 88 has autism. “Everybody is vulnerable. page 44 global culturesglobal sometimes at of the their expense own. Dar Onboz introduceso them doing by and English Frenchor use we instead longer do we read to our children in the language of our ancestors, seeks tobreakconsumption, and passive thecycleofapathy see to aims toddlers,Arabicloving and books that enjoying youth childrenthe and house publishing a Onboz, Dar of and alumna co-founder LAU Ariss, Sevine needed. is that all often is word, myselfonTV.”be to dared different.I Basically be to dared person.“I such one was perceive.Kouyoumdjian we how to change difference.They a able make been have who ones the are different something doing And from there different.” onmyaudience metobe expected Arabicto speak and thus couldn’t dream anchors. of becoming TV how know don’t Armenians that stereotype the broke “I says. he ethnicity.Arabic,”in anchor news a be to Armenian first the was “I Arabic has almost become synonymous with old-fashioned.No with synonymous become almost has Arabic better a is practical perhaps meaningful, something Doing of afraid aren’t or different be to decision the take who People his was broke Kouyoumdjian that stereotypes first the of One “ I was inspired to make achange.” begins withasinglestep.begins journey great every as mark a leave to late too never possible. It’s of whichfour are LAU students. Compter Sang ,2007,early friends createdin six ran with he which group the through Facebook on donors blood voluntary of network fast-growing a that,”built change TeyrouzHe says.to inspired was I and was there donors blood of shortage a of much how realized I enough.“Then get to able wasn’t he because died and units grandfather friend’s close five a needed when shortages a blood of created aware became 2012, He donors. blood in voluntary of LAU database from graduated who Teyrouz, Yorgui language,” sheexplains. the enjoy them make and children the of that attention the catch will programs intelligent and interesting with media visual the dialogue and development thinking, around critical the Arabic language. “It is for about infiltrating the written and platform a is aig lsig mat eurs s o eiv ta cag is change that believe to us requires impact lasting a Making yourself.limelight the in be needn’t you difference a Tomake —Yorgui Teyrouz, founder Compter, Sang ofDonner LAU alumnus page 45 page Donner Donner

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Campus notes

Campus For more details about these LAU activities, Edited by Linda Dahdah NoTes visit the news section of www.lau.edu.lb. Campus news

Taking education to municipalities LAU’s Continuing Education Program and the Muhanna Foundation have launched a five- month program to enhance the administrative and financial capabilities of municipality employees. The Municipal Administration and Finance Diploma was formally launched in October at LAU Beirut under the patronage of former caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel. The certificate, which is being offered in cooperation with the ministry’s Local Administration and Councils Directorate, will feature three modules on municipal and state law, administrative procedures and finances. The program’s main goal is to strengthen strategic planning and budgeting for municipal activities.

Joining hands to improve university programs In November, LAU hosted a conference on “Quality and Added Value of Graduate and Postgraduate Programs in Education in Arab Universities” to address the major challenges of university education in the Arab world, particularly with respect to scientific research in theses and dissertations at the master’s and doctoral levels. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon, the event was organized in close collaboration with the Arab Educational Information Network and the Lebanese Association for Educational Studies. The two-day conference looked at both theoretical and practical issues, including how a graduate program should be structured to ensure quality is upheld.

Simulating the best care Dozens of practicing doctors from across Lebanon and the region flocked to LAU Byblos in December to participate in a professional simulation training day. “Emergency Situations in Obstetrical Anesthesia”, was jointly organized by the Lebanese Society of Anesthesiologists and the LAU-Clinical Simulation Center. Capable of simulating physiological changes, the center’s mannequins can be used to mimic a range of scenarios from injections, infant delivery, heart attacks or stab wounds. “LAU is one of the regional pioneers to use simulation in teaching,” said Dr. Vanda Abi Raad, associate professor of Anesthesiology at the School of Medicine and co-director of the LAU-Clinical Simulation Center.

ECC reopens at LAU The Early Childhood Center, a contemporary educational facility for children between the ages of two and four, opened in February. The beautifully-designed center, located on the ground floor of Shannon Hall, is the only childhood center in the Arab world within an academic institution. It offers a high-quality program that nurtures problem solving and critical thinking skills, as well as individual learning patterns in children. It also serves as a teacher preparation and educational research facility for LAU students and international academic researchers.

page 46 t h LU aho Dsg Porm n olbrto wt Ei Sa, xliig the explaining Saab, Elie with collaboration in forimpetus organizing thetalk. Program Design Fashion LAU the at differentculturesinspirefashionideas,” canhelpnew Steel,Jason said professorassistant spent has art to designers.“Exposure He and and industry.aesthetics,market fashion Korea’s on fashion journalist reporting years many contemporary a Korean also the is of who Kim, love Beirut. his LAU director, shared at Ki Hong Kim critic and curator fashion by fashionKorean of taste a given were LAU December,at In designers budding Made inKorea Careers Design Heritage alternative cinema. the reminded Chahine support to public the movies,for Emile light calling likeLebanese today until up Critic that audience giant. Egyptian the with industry competition film Lebanese constant a in of ups-and-downs the about lot a speaks that fact country, a home his in shown never was picture 1950s).The the in (in ever festival studied film international had who filmmaker directorCannes young in selected be to presentation, a film Lebanese To?” “Where first as Nasr’s Hollywood.the became overall experience own an his made shared Nasr Zibawi Georges Mahmoud researcher and journalist While posters. its through cinema Lebanese about lecture a organized CLH February In Lebanese cinemathrough itsposters ai en lAdn t dlbrt te osblt ad u ti ntoa tesr into treasure national this put and Science, possibility Jewelry, in alecture entitled“Lebanese ARareperspective Amber: Treasure.” the of Nsouli deliberate of Faculty to manager al-Abdine University’s sales Zein the LebaneseFadi and the Aractingi Philippe director, at film professor renowned a Azar, director, brought Dany CLH Zoghaib, Henri together Poet resin. country’s tree the fossilized this and of possibility wealth the unique deliberated Lebanese series for lecture Center monthly LAU’s (CLH) at Heritage’s together brought experts November, In Park? Jurassic phenomenon office box 1993 the forinspiration the been have amber Lebanon’sCould Encapsulating history internships as well as volunteering opportunities in her next film, to which Labaki was receptive.particularly Labaki which to film, next her in opportunities volunteering as well as internships for students communications talented LAU’s recommend to opportunity the event, took the Sakr During questions. film-related ask and face-to-face her meet to opportunity an couldhave students that so was Labaki event,for hosting the of impetus the that said organizer and Sakr,officer guidancefilm.Rana career in lead career a about students to speak to Labaki Nadine filmmaker Lebanese renowned invited Students of Dean the of Office LAU’s when January in campus Byblos the through swept excitement of sense A A guidingstar page 47 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Campus notes

Health

Celebrating World Diabetes Day In November, LAU held several events to commemorate World Diabetes Day – celebrated every year on November 14. In Byblos, the student Nutrition Club in collaboration with the National Diabetes Organization (DiaLeb) provided awareness publications and free glucose testing, as well as a nutritional assessment of diabetes risk factors. The Medical Students Association, under the motto “Are You At Risk”, meanwhile performed check- ups on students, faculty and staff for their vital signs and blood glucose levels. Going beyond the campus, Nutrition Club students from Beirut organized a daylong awareness event at ABC Achrafieh.

Bright future for pharmacy students In November, LAU pharmacy students gathered at the University Medical Center - Rizk Hospital (LAUMC-RH), to mark the launch of the Student Society of Health System Pharmacies (SSHP). The first of its kind outside the U.S., the society’s fruition shows that pharmacy is evolving toward a bright future in Lebanon with LAU leading the way in the region. This initiative will offer pharmacy students a platform to engage within a student society, shape their own studies, connect globally to those in the pharmacy field and build their future careers.

Educating tomorrow’s doctors In November, LAU’s Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine (SOM) welcomed Dr. Ara Tekian, associate dean for the office of international education college of medicine at University of Illinois (UIC), to a four-day seminar on the latest trends in medical education. SOM Dean Dr. Youssef G. Comair noted that LAU is a leading contributor to medical education and that such lectures nurture its role as a significant player in this field. “Certainly there is a direct correlation between the quality of healthcare education and that of delivery of care for patients in the country and throughout the region,” he said.

Lectures

MEA back to black: fifteen years of challenges In October, Chairman and Director General of Middle East Airlines (MEA) Mhammad Al Hout, kicked off LAU’s Leaders in Business lecture series with a presentation entitled “MEA back to black: Fifteen years of challenges.” The event was hosted by the School of Business, in line with its mission to encourage students to gain first-hand knowledge of economic development in Lebanon and the region. “It is important for us to give our students access to leaders in the field and allow them to ask questions and share concerns,” said Dr. Said Ladki, the school’s interim dean.

page 48 Raising awareness inclusion, information social equality, equity, share achieving and at and aimed protection andcohesion, views aswellrecognizing inthisregard,” existingefforts practices organizations exchange and hesaid. policies to regional good important agencies,on is Nations “It partners. United development relevant the between dialogue governments, useful for need the in on stressed Tacon 18. Governance Day, December Migrants Migration “Global International entitled on held was Tacon.event Paul seminar lecturerThe Practice”guest and by Theory a Institute hosted university’s Studies, the Migration with collaborationfor in Sciences, Social of Department LAU’s Meeting thechallengesofinternationalmigration eidd h adec o te ed o pae dcto i Lbns scey PPM society, Lebanese in education peace incorporatingadvocated aculture ofpeace withintheeducation system. for need the of audience the reminded faculty and students by produced film (PPM).a PeacePermanentMovement While the and unit (OCE) Engagement Civic and Outreach university’s the Arts,with collaboration Communication in of Department the at course relations public the by organized consequences of violence andintolerance society. intoday’s “ImaginingTomorrow” was social culturaland serious the awareness-raisingabout an event hosted LAU January In Peace inpractice mental illnesswasatopictheywere very muchinterestedthat inbringingouttotheopen. responded attendees of percent list.”75 fact,waiting In the to names their added people 80 than more and hours 24 than less in out sold incredible.tickets was All event moraland English reasoning TEDxLAUand curator, particular this attend to demand “the to February in centerTEDxLAU V.6.oin takepart health. student mental on salon According ReineAzzi,to new of instructor Beirut’s LAU at gathered attendees 150 than More TEDxLAU SalonV.6 up toopen getsparticipants was raised inonewayoranotherbyeveryspeaker attheevent. crisis?”question identity That nation’s whole a or crisis language mere a it blame.“Is to party only the not is media the concurredtechnologies.that also new They of world the historically associated with technologies and the sciences not —could adapt to and adopt for CommissionUNESCO. National The experts collectively rejected Lebanese the idea that the Arabic —a with language that has collaborationbeen in organized was event The of Arts and Sciences hosted a seminar on the impact of the media on the Arabic language. On the occasion of UN Arabic Language Day, annually observed on Saving Arabic December 18, the School page 49 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 to give is to receive

“I believe that this award should LAU, “our alumni are a full part of our To give is actually go to LAU for what it has achieved university and help to fulfill its mission since its foundation,” said Qaddumi in as an academic institution of higher her acceptance speech. education. They are a pillar of a society to receive Teyrouz, founder of Donner Sang they have pledged to serve and support,” Compter (DSC) – an organization that he said. “LAU alumni chapters worldwide LAU pays tribute coordinates blood donation throughout are charged with reflecting the spirit of Lebanon and which can lay claim to their alma mater and of their country, to two of its saving over 25,000 lives since it was Lebanon.” established five years ago – dedicated His message is one that Qaddumi and alumni figures the award to the DSC team. Teyrouz have taken to heart. By Linda Dahdah With visible emotion, Teyrouz recalled how he organized his first blood donation Over 180 members from different alumni event as a Pharmacy student at LAU Byblos “ LAU’s support was amazing chapters in Lebanon and abroad gathered in 2008. “LAU’s support was amazing when I was a student and for the annual LAU alumni dinner at Le when I was a student and it has been Maillon restaurant on December 18. infallible ever since I graduated,” he said, it has been infallible ever The event, which usually takes place adding that DSC will soon be announcing since I graduated.” during the reunion and homecoming projects it will be implementing with events celebrated every summer, had several alumni chapters. —Donner Sang Compter founder, been postponed because of the unstable For Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, president of Yorgui Teyrouz situation in the country. “However, the indefatigable faith in and support to their alma mater that our alumni have shown made us decide to keep with tradition and hold the dinner no matter what,” declared Abdallah Al- Khal, executive director of the Alumni Relations office. “They have proven to be marvelous ambassadors of LAU, with every chapter not only dedicated to their university and to their country, but also ready to help each and everyone of its members,” he added. The 2013 alumni dinner, which was organized in collaboration with the Alumni Association, paid tribute to the work of alumni committee members worldwide and honored Dr. Ghada Hijjawi-Qaddumi with the annual Alumni Achievement Award and Yorgui Teyrouz with the annual Alumni Recognition Award. Qaddumi earned an M.A. in Arabic Literature from the American University of Beirut in 1975. She joined LAU one year later for a B.A. in Fine Arts before pursuing a Ph.D. at Harvard in History of Islamic Art and Architecture. She embarked on her impressive academic career after getting married and starting a family. Author of several publications and a renowned international lecturer, Qaddumi is the first Arab woman to be elected president of the World Crafts Council – Asia Pacific region (current term 2013-2016).

page 50 From Accra, LAU’s firstalumni celebrates itsone chapter inAfrica alumni, LAU has chapters year anniversary with love throughout theworld, Boasting over 33,000 Boasting in citiesasdiverse as London and Muscat. By DalilaMahdawi said Khal. chapters continent,the across planned being are alumni additional Africa, population in Lebanese large the Given in cities as diverse as London and Muscat. world,the throughout chapters has LAU alumni,33,000 continent.over Boasting African the on chapter first LAU’s is It community. the alumni to sizeable respond country’s to 2012 in Ghana in the help university developitspresence inAfrica. to willingness his expressed he where delegation, LAU the honor to dinner earlier an organized had Randa and study atLAU. needy support to looking students to Ghanaian deserving used be will relationship dinner the from FundsGhanaians. with their strengthening and Ghana in Lebanese the connecting in role LAU’simportant highlighted dinner the said Daou Nouhad and Ghandour the forefront of Arab education,” he said. to LAU catapulting and of learning higher institutions world-class the among firmly university the rise, positioning to attend. “Our academic standards are continuing to LAU unable Jabbra, was G. who president, Joseph Dr. of behalf LAU network evenfurther,” the know extending hesaid. and to better all getting you to forward looking greatly I’m life. to in chapter here the bringing alumni our of work hard and by have heartened the been enthusiasm impressivegrowth. chapter’s the by “We delighted was he Relations,said Alumni Dagher, prominent businessmenandwomen. Saleeby ofLAUalumni, of number dozens a and Alumni Leila the of Association Ghana President Halabi, to Ali Ambassador Lebanese by attended were festivities The together. communities Ghanaian and Lebanese 30 the bringing Accra in dinner gala a November with on anniversary first its LAU’s Ghana Alumni Chapter celebrated A etbihd n lmi chapter alumni an established LAU spouse his and Halabi Ambassador Captan Lana members Chapter on address an delivered also Khal Al-Khal, Abdallah directorofexecutive From Accra, withlove page 51 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Alumni update

Alumni update

November 2013 Celebrating Halloween Over 300 children enjoyed a fun-packed Halloween party organized by LAU’s Abu Dhabi Chapter at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club on November 2. The decorations, costumes, games and activities added to the “spooktacular” atmosphere of the event.

Singing from the hearts While being entertained by karaoke songs and a DJ, alumni spent the evening catching up with old friends and classmates during dinner organized by the Byblos Chapter at the SafraMarine’s Copacabana restaurant on November 22.

Bringing families together A “Family Day” at Nesma Compound in Al Jawhara Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, organized by the Eastern Province Chapter on November 22 was a great success, attracting more than 300 alumni and their families.

Highlighting the predicament of Syrian refugees In collaboration with the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the LAU Alumni Association organized a public screening of Carol Mansour’s latest documentary film Not Who We Are. The film examines the plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and was screened on November 18 at LAU’s Beirut campus attracting a large crowd.

December 2013 Ringing in the New Year More than 200 alumni came together on New Year’s Eve for a party at the Fairmont Hotel’s Cedar Lounge organized by the Abu Dhabi Chapter to ring in 2014 in style.

A lesson in time management – Part II The LAU Alumni Relations Office lives by the mantra that education is a life-long process. As part of the Keep Learning program, the office organized the second of two Time Management lectures. The event took place on December 6 on the Beirut campus and was presented by Hassan Chaker, alumnus and hospitality management instructor.

page 52 January 5attheirhouseinHouston, Texas. El-Tayssoun,Wissam husband her on gathering alumni an hosted Tania Shaheen, vice president of the Houston Alumni Chapter, and Keeping thespiritalive performances were agreat success. 25,January on childrenHall Irwin in Februaryand 26 1, 2. fourAll for production choral singing and theater onshouda”a wa seera “Kossat organized Club, Junior Shifaa the with collaboration in Chapter Alumni Beirut the asharif), an-nabawi (mawlid Prophet For the second year in a row and on the occasion of the birth of the Celebrating thebirthofProphet January 2014 Beirut. in restaurant Che at 21 December on Dinner Christmas annual cheer and good great at food the of School Engineering Chapter’s with filled evening an enjoyed friends and alumni 120 Morethan Christmas withatwist huge turnoutandwasenjoyedbyall. a witnessed event successful highly The Kuwait. to ambassador American the by tour a with off kicked tradition, bazaar with the 6.keepingDecember In on Bazaar Holiday annual much-awaited For the third year running, the Kuwait in the Chapter participated Annual holiday bazaar the of spirit the holidays. enjoy and together come to ones loved and their alumni for opportunity an was event The 6. December on year this dinner Christmas BahrainChapter the of venue the was Senior Pacos Mexican Restaurant, in the Adliya district of Manama, Christmas dinnergathering page 53 page

& ALUMNI BULLETIN VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 Staying connected

Sharon Kay Buess, born Weeks, (A.A. ‘61) completed a B.A. at Olivet Hilda Abla (B.A. ‘96) completed a master’s Nazarene College in ‘63 and an M.A. at Tennessee State University, in marketing and communications at Ecole Nashville, U.S. She is based in Tennessee, where she worked as an English Superieure des Affaires, graduating in 2009. Alba teacher. Now retired, she still works part time for Metro Nashville Public left her job as a communication and HR manager Schools as an assessor of language skills for ESL students. Buess and her at Pin-Pay, Beirut in 2012 for a complete career- husband recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. shift, moving to Brooklyn, New York to follow her passion and work as a full time artist (https:// Hasna Reda (B.A. ‘67) went on to achieve an hildos.com), reclaiming her “sense of purpose and M.A. in Middle East Studies at the University of positivity.” In September 2013 she gave a TEDxLAU talk. London in ‘71. She is currently the head of the education committee at INAASH, an association Samar Makhoul, born Aad, (B.S. ‘97), completed her postgraduate for the development of Palestinian camps. Her studies at the University of Sunderland and University of Liverpool. previous positions include research assistant at Currently based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, she works as a director of the Palestinian Planning Center (‘72–‘76), director e-learning. She has two girls, Bella and a new addition to the family, Zoe. of the Egyptian child literature publishing house Dar Al-Fata Al-Arabi (‘77– ‘93) and director of Nour: Foundation for Arab Women’s Research and Bassam Ghalayini (B.S. ‘98) is currently based in Dubai, UAE, working Studies, Cairo (‘94–‘03). She is married to Dr. Mohammed Mikdashi and as a product and reinsurance manager. He is married with two children. they have three daughters. Rola Hamouda, born Zeidan, (B.S. ‘99) is based in Fatina Zuhair Asfour (B.S. ‘72) completed a postgraduate degree at Dubai, UAE, and works as a human resource manager. She London University, Bedford College. She has had a varied and interesting gave birth to a girl in September 2013. career including running a match production factory and founding the fashion house Kumbaz with her two sisters. Now running it solo, Kumbaz Wissam Zaarour (B.S. ‘96, T.D. ‘01) owns his own company, Zaarour aims to preserve national heritage by giving oriental traditions a modern, Computer Systems in Byblos, which provides software and hardware elegant look. Celebrities around the world have worn her designs. Currently solutions. He also teaches computer programming at high-school level based in Amman, Jordan, Asfour has three children and will soon be a (Rosary Sisters School and APOTRES College). He was elected as a member grandmother. of Byblos Municipal Council in 2010 and became the official director for the municipality. He is married to Alberta Saliba (M.B.A. ‘02) and has two Nada Loutfy, born Baker, (B.S. ‘89) completed a science-teaching girls and a boy. diploma at AUB, later moving to England to study for a master’s degree in analytic chemistry at Loughborough University. Her professional Hatem F. Halaoui (B.E. ‘99, M.A. ‘01) completed a Ph.D. in computer experience includes being a laboratory technician, physics teacher and, science at the City University of New York Graduate Center. Currently currently, a self-employed home tutor in biology, chemistry and physics for based in Beirut, he works as an assistant professor of computer science students of all levels (www.tutoringscience.co.uk). at Haigazian University. In addition to writing a book, his work has been published across 20 publications, including book chapters, journals and Mohamad Fouad Bawaba (B.A. ‘91) has been based in Kuwait for the conference papers. He is married with three children. past 16 years, where he works as regional communication officer for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the International Committee of the Red Saed Ajjawi (B.S. ‘02) is married to Nora Jaber. Graduating in business, Cross. His eldest daughter, Jana, has now left home to pursue studies in with a focus on hospitality management, he moved to Dubai and is now architecture at McGill University, Montreal. His son, Karam, is due to follow working as head of client relations at the Dubai Multi Commodity Center this summer, leaving his other son and youngest daughter still at home. “It (DMCC) is hard to see my children leaving us to settle in another country, yet, it is a feeling of pride and happiness at the same time,” he says. Mazen Fouany MD, JFPACOG (B.S. ‘03) graduated with distinction as a doctor of medicine from the University of Balamand in 2007. He has Hassan Khalil Jishi (B.S. ‘92) has worked as investment consultant for since trained in general surgery and did an OBGYN Residency at George EFG Bank since 2008. Holding the same position, he moved in 2012 from Washington University in Washington D.C. and has held several positions Dubai to Singapore, where he is currently based. He holds an advisory such as OBGYN physician at Cole Memorial OBGYN at Coudersport, license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, allowing him to work Pennsylvania, U.S., OBGYN medical director at Cole Memorial hospital in the Singapore finance sector. He has three daughters, Nour, Perla and and director of the maternal/child committee. He is currently director Zeinab. of minimally invasive gynecology at Cole Memorial Hospital and lives in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, U.S. He is married to Rola El Moussawi. Rachid Louis Labaky (M.S. ‘92) lives in Lebanon’s mountain town of Baabdat. Having been the agent for Adeline Fouad Saliba (BS ‘03, Pharm. B. ‘03, numerous European companies, as well as lands and M.B.A. ‘04, Pharm. D. ‘04,) currently lives in properties, Labaky is currently the agent of Zenner, the Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she works as pharmacy German water meter company. manager at Corniche Hospital. She was awarded the Abu Dhabi Medical Distinction Award for Allied Health in 2013, an achievement, she says, would Souheir Ahmad Nassar (B.S. ‘92) lives in Nabatieh and works as a bank not be possible without her family’s support. branch manager at Byblos Bank. She has had a career in banking since With Saliba as project leader for implementation 1994 and is married to Dr. Mahmoud Youssef Zaher, with three children. of innovative medication technologies, the

page 54 hospital pharmacistinRaficHariri University Hospital. pharmacy from the University College of London. She currently works as a clinical in master’s a with 2012 graduated(B.S.in ‘11) SarahAlaeddine and consulting engineering, management firm, astheirthermalsand renewables consultant. global MacDonald a power Mott Group, electric joined latest recently He country’s projects. the of most developing on working years, three for in Lebanon Water and Energy of Minister the to ‘11) advisor M.S. ‘09, (B.E. Hamdan A. Hassan My Pillow”. with Vladimir Kurumilian on the sound and light performance “A Piano in works. Minawi has an innovative approach to lighting, recently collaborating Heiner Müller’s “Die Schlacht” Slaughter) (The and has another play in the of staging a directed he 2013,performer. In and director designer,technical lighting a as festivals performances in the Arab world and international 150 than moreartist, in visual successfulworking a as career a built has ‘08) (B.A. Minawi Alaa Google, inDublin, Ireland. Paris,France. Careerthe attended Servicesalso Summit,She organized by Center,Avenir,CareerPo Po’sin Sciences Sciences at program exchange staff one-month a undertook she 2013, September Officer.Guidance In recentlywas and 2009 DecemberLAU in promotedByblos Leadto Career at Students of Dean the of Office the joined ‘07) (M.B.A. Sakr K. Rana Training InstituteMiddleEast. LeadResourcesthe Human at Professional1) Management level (CHRMP Institute of Personal Development (CIPD UK). He also achieved a Certified Human in Charted Certificate and Dubai Group Bradfield at a (CHRP) Practice,Resources3 level include achievements professional His January 2014. of as Company Express, Fresh the at manager to HR graduation the become after Dhabi Abu to moved ‘05) (B.S. Saie Mohammad and completed theProject ManagerProfessional (PMP)Course. services consultancy and engineering of provision the for office own his Johns HopkinsHospital, intheU.S. both and her ResidencyPharmacy Specialty in Medication Safety (PGY2) at The Hospital Memorial Sarasota at (PGY1) Residency did Saliba Practice Pharmacy suchautomation. her adopt to UAE the in first the was hospital lives in Jounieh and owns owns Nadim’s PharmacyinZoukMosbeh. and Jounieh in lives ‘07) (B.S. Nehme A. Nadim Formatech (Dubai). He married Cybelle Farha in April April 2013. in Farha Cybelle married He (Dubai). Formatech at manager regional to promoted (Antelias) recently manager branch from was he where UAE, Dubai, in lives currently ‘11) M.B.A. ‘04, (B.S. Bahlawanian Vicken rjc Itrainl o Poet n Construction and Management.career,his in Earlier Project at Kabbara established for manager design International project Projacs and architect University. senior a Balamand as working Arabia, Saudi at Riyadh, in based M.B.A. now He’s an on went complete ‘05) to Arch. (B. Kabbara Izzat Abdallah was was http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/no_talk_all_action/ function ofeachword inasentence andform itcorrectly. the out work to words Arabic categorizes that system software startup a Shakkel, founded also Touche. He and Deloitte at Specialist IT assistant ‘13) (B.S. Mougharbel Ahmad Salim atGISDomains. and worksasaJavaEEDeveloper Mohammad Hady Hassib Hadwan (B.S. ‘13) is currently based in Beirut Engineer atInteltec. Khalil Namro (B.E. ‘13) lives in Beirut and works as a telecommunication 2015 andwritinghisthesis. in internship an joining to forwardManagement, France. looking of He’s School Grenoble at entrepreneurship and innovation,strategy in Science of Master a for studying currently is ‘13) (B.S. Al-Khatib Taleb Karim moving to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she is now head of before education a in sciencemaster’s a department.achieved (M.A.‘13) Haidar AmroFerial University ofKentucky Medical Center. the at pharmacist clinical diseases.a chronic lung as fibrosis in works She the reversing in macrophages activated alternatively of role the on focus special a pharmacotherapy, with disease infectious and immunology in are interests research Her representative. CET as the elected was and in (CET) research Department and Therapeutics Experimental studies and Clinical her pursuing is she Lexington,in based.living Currentlynow is she where Pharmaceutical Sciences at the in University of Kentucky, program Ph.D. a on accepted was and pharmacy (B.S.Haydar graduatedclinical Chawki ‘13) in Dalia teaching atSahagianM.L. College, sheisalsoaresearch assistantatLAU. Araz Minas Keuroghlian (M.A. ‘13) is currently based in Beirut. As well as Komaiha, aromance thatfirstblossomedon LAU’s Beirut campus. officer in Makassed General Hospital. She was recently engaged to Ibrahim LAU’s HR an as Program.works ContinuingEducation and Lebanon at in lives She Diploma HR an completing is ‘12) (B.S. Chehade Adel Rola December in 2013. Makhlouf Abeer married He project. Airport International Abdulaziz King the Group, on working Binladin at engineer mechanical he a as where Arabia,works Saudi Jeddah, in is based ‘12) currently (B.E. Mawass Al Nasser Moh. Mohamad the BusinessSkillsDiploma. and youwillreach thebest,” hesays. underestimate yourself. Try to do your best and have faith LAU Learning Community. Wellspring future.the for at hopes Yassin“Never high has at M.A. teacher a an as working pursuing also while is ‘13) (B.A. Yassin Alaa in of process certificate the completing theProfessional SalesExecutive Diplomaand in is a and Excellence earned Service Customer She Department. Program Education Continuing LAU’s in coordinator program as a works ‘12) (B.S. Osman Bassam Christina Farah lives in Beirut and works as as works and Beirut in lives page 55 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 16 | issue nº 2 | Spring 2014 why i give back

WHY I GIVE BACK gisele (B.A. ‘84) and najib Azar (B.A. ‘83)

what did you study at LAU? I studied Computer Science and Najib studied Business Accounting.

where do you live now? We have been living in the U.S. since 1987. We have a son, Jad, and a daughter, Sasha. When we first arrived, Najib started an auto spare parts sales business and I worked as an information officer for the Lebanese embassy. We purchased our first gas station in 1997, quit our jobs and worked together in managing the station. We’ve since bought and are managing more stations and auto repair shops.

why do you give back to LAU? LAU gave us the confidence to start our own businesses and be successful. We believe that college education gives people a better chance in life and leads to higher standards. We will never forget what LAU gave us. We therefore decided to give back so that other people can have the same opportunities we had.

“We thank LAU for all it gave us and what is your fondest memory of LAU? When we attended LAU, the campus was very small and enrollment which will always remain with us.” was only a few hundred. We have great memories because we had very qualified and amazing professors. The students were friendly and close to one another. Most of the friends we made there have remained our close friends. When we look at LAU today, we feel so proud of the successes and improvements that have happened. We thank LAU for all it gave us and which will always remain with us.

what message would you like to convey to LAU alumni and students? Alumni are a very important element to the survival and support of every university. We encourage all alumni to give to LAU because the university gave to them.

what role do you think individual donors like yourselves play in LAU’s success? We support the work that LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra and his team are doing on behalf of LAU and we ask all donors to do the same. We would urge alumni to offer not only their financial support but also share their expertise in other ways, such as through lectures.

page 56 The job market is more competitive than ever.

François Bassil  is Fulfilling the Promise

François Bassil knows that investing in young people brings great social rewards.

A veteran banker, Bassil chairs one of Lebanon’s foremost banks, Byblos Bank SAL, and is president of the Association of Banks in Lebanon.

He is one of LAU’s most loyal supporters, with a relationship dating back more than 25 years, when he generously established Bassil Hall at the Byblos campus. In line with his commitment to education, Bassil continues to lend his support and expertise in a number of ways. Byblos Bank has established several student scholarships, sponsored special Make sure you’re on the inside track. events and made gifts to the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Pharmacy and a number of LAU institutes.

In recognition of his tireless service, Bassil was appointed to LAU’s Board of International Advisors in 2007 and received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters in 2008.

A CRUCIBLE FOR CAREERS LAU students begin their careers long before graduation day. Our programs are regionnally and internationally renowned hothouses for the next generation of innovators. Over 100 major companies attend dozens of campus recruitment events and job fairs per year, and hundreds of students annually receive corporate For more information, please contact: and academic internships. With figures like these, and with LAU’s energy and Beirut Development Office New York Development Office forseight in career guidance, it’s not surprising that so many of its graduates land Tel. (961) 1 786456 Ext. 1323 Tel. (212) 203 4333 promising jobs within six months of commencement. An LAU degree gives you the Fax (961) 1 803658 Fax (212) 784 6597 practical skills you need to confront life’s challenges head-on, and the intellectual P.O. Box 13-5053 211 East 46th St. Chouran Beirut 1102 2801, Lebanon New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. flexibilty to adapt to a dynamic economy. Scan this code with your Smartphone Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.lau.edu.lb to go to our giving page