“Women`s Political Participation in Lebanon”

ISSUE
#188
23/3/2015
“Women’s Political Participation in Lebanon”
A Debate Hosted by the European Union to Lebanon
and the International Affairs Department at AUST
AUST President Hiam Sakr
Mr. Maciej Golubiewski, Head of the Political Section
at the Delegation of the European Unnion to Lebanon
On the special occasion of the International Women’s Day that falls on the 8th of
March, the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon and the Department of
International Affairs of the American University of Science and Technology, jointly
hosted a University Debate about “Women’s Political Participation in Lebanon” that
took place on the 5th of March, at AUST.
AUST President Hiam Sakr, welcomed the attendees; she stated that she takes
pride in AUST for hosting not only technology and science related symposiums and
events, but also debates that shed light on one of the most current humanitarian
issues - Women’s Issues. This speech was followed by another given by the Head
of the Political Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, Mr.
Maciej Golubiewski, in which he was swift to remind the attending audience of the
fact that though Lebanon was one of the first countries who gave women the right
to vote, yet this privilege is still not practiced to the full within the Lebanese political
domain.
Mrs. Betty Yrikian, from the Department of International Affairs of AUST, acted as the
moderator and introduced the panelists, who were divided into two groups:
Students of the International Affairs, namely, Magaly Kochkarian, Mireille Maddah
and Elias Hamouch were the first group of the panelists; each expressed her/his
empirical perspectives on current women’s rights issues; especially, issues related
to domestic violence, gender inequality, and the Lebanese society’s male point of
view on women’s social role, and their role in politics.
The second panel included an all-female, distinctive honorary guests who also
Debators from left to right: Ms. Tatiana Akl, Dr. Leila
Azouri Jamhouri, H.E. Diana Janse, and Ms. Nada Anid
presented their own solicited arguments about a multiple of women-related issues.
The panel was initiated by Her Excellency Diana Janse, Head of Mission/Chargé
d’Affairs, Embassy of Sweden to Syria and Lebanon. Ms. Janse shed light on the
heavily debated subject of how minimal is the Lebanese women’s participation in
politics in comparison to their counterparts in the region.
Women in Front’s Co-Founder, Ms. Nada Anid, shared her insight and that of the
Front’s into the issue under debate; she stated that the objective of the organization
is to promote expert and specialized women, by highlighting their expertise and
pushing them to the front line; and, to encourage these women to play leading roles,
therefore contributing to the creation of a new modern and reformed Lebanese
society. The Lebanese National Commission for Women’s Affairs’ member, Dr.
Leila Azouri Jamhouri, shared her well-renowned veteran, law knowledge with the
audience and offered crucial advice as to how to contest the real obstacles women
may face when venturing into the Lebanese political system, and how to follow
a civilized approach to attain the different positions and ranks women aim to be
part of, taking into consideration the country’s own law-making regulations and the
versatile means to methodologically implement them. Ms. Tatiana Akal, instructor at
Department of International Affairs at AUST, shared her expertise and knowledge of
the Lebanese women’s current status quo, and the means to apply the right tools
and standards to ensure a better future for them.
Later on, the debate’s attendees had the opportunity to ask the panel’s experts
questions around the different debated subjects.
By Mireille Maddah
AUST Engages in Developing
International Criminal Law Program in Lebanon
International Criminal Law is a field that is still in its infancy stage. Even though a number
of international tribunals have been established to try perpetrators of crimes on an
international scale, the laws governing such tribunals have yet to be fully worked out.
Four years ago, eight Lebanese universities, including AUST, teamed up with the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) to undertake an ambitious feat to develop a Certificate
Program in International Criminal Law under the name “International Criminal Law and
Procedure.” The program headed by Mrs. Olga Kavran, STL Outreach Director, and in
collaboration with Asser Institute in the Netherlands has generated substantial interest in
the Lebanese legal and political science academic communities and dozens of Law and
International Affairs students have completed successfully the program and obtained
the prestigious certificate. In appreciation of their achievements, the top 25 students in
the Certificate Program, sponsored by the STL Outreach Program, visited The Hague,
dubbed the Internal Criminal Law capital of the world, where they get acquainted with
the various international crime tribunal,s including the International Criminal Court (ICC),
the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), STL and others.
In addition to students’ visits, chairpersons and deans of concerned faculties from
the participating universities visit as well The Hague and conduct meetings in order
to develop the Certificate Program into a full-fledged Master’s Program in the field.
The academic team visits the various courts and Asser Institute. Dr. Georges Masse,
Chairperson of the Department of International Affairs and Dr. Zouhair Attieh, Dean of the
Faculty of Health Sciences and Acting Chairperson of the Forensic Science Department
represented AUST during this year’s visit last January. This year was pivotal in working
out the details of the planned curriculum that is supposed to see light by the Fall of the
academic year 2016-2017.
Dr. Attieh and Dr. Masse in the International Court of Justice Palace
CAMPUS NEWS
Snapshots from the Debate at AUST
Ms. Betty Yirikian
H.E. Diana Janse addressing the attendees
AUST Debators from left to right: Ms. Mireille Maddah,
Mr. Elias Hamouch, and Ms. Magaly Kochkarian
Ms. Nada Anid
Ms. Tatiana Akl
Dr. Leila Azouri Jamhouri
Dr. George N. Farha Represents AUST in Developing a Model Safety
Course for Journalism in Expert Group Meeting in Amman/Jordan
The International Federation of Journalism (IFJ) and UNESCO have joined efforts to develop a Model
Safety Course for Journalism in the Arab World with the support of the Norwegian National Commission
for UNESCO.
This project falls under both organizations’ mandate to promote freedom of expression and specifically
Safety of Journalists. This topic is fundamental for every media professional; especially now that
UNESCO has been working towards the development of a safety of journalists’ action plan which was
approved and adopted by the UN General Assembly.
In this regard, professors, lecturers and experts of media and communication from esteemed
universities from all over the Arab World as well as international experts and representatives from the
IFJ and UNESCO participated in the Expert Group Meeting to discuss a draft safety course which was
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being prepared and to be presented in regional and international
platforms. Dr. Farha, The Chairperson of the Communication Arts
Department, representing AUST in this meeting, had a significant
share in this discussion and affirmed the need for an awareness
campaign adopted by all the world nations to protect all media
professionals from harassment and/or torture.
Dr. Farha said, “With 89 journalists killed in connection with their
work, 2012 was the deadliest year for journalists; since reporters
without borders began producing an annual round-up in 1995,” He
added that “Another 52 journalists have been killed in connection
with their work since the start of 2013. We were outraged by the
murders of veteran French journalists in Mali on November 2,
as we have been by the murders of fellow journalists in Syria,
Somalia, Pakistan, Brazil and other parts of the world in 2013.”
“To discuss this issue, at this very moment in time, we are simply
sending a strong message to those who persecute, harass and illtreat journalists. It is vital that all UN bodies continue to proclaim the
importance of combatting impunity for those held responsible for
various kinds of physical attacks against journalists,” Dr. Farha said.
He concluded by saying that the safety of journalists is an essential
prerequisite for achieving freedom of expression, democracy,
social development and ultimately peace.
During his stay, Dr. Farha was invited to visit the Jordan Media
Institute and met with its founder, Princess Rim El Ali, and her
staff. A discussion took place regarding collaboration between the
Communication Arts Department and the Jordan Media Institute
regarding AUST students who may wish to continue their higher
education in the field of journalism and digital media.
CAMPUS NEWS
American University of Science and Technology
"Experiment to Learn": The Motto of the New English Lab at AUST
The English Lab in Block A, Room 503, is a free service
offered to all AUST students wishing to improve their
English language skills. Open daily from 8am to 5pm,
the Lab offers students the opportunity to “Experiment to
Learn”. We strive to transform English from a punishment,
or something that students are forced to do into an
enjoyable pastime and an integral part of their daily lives.
Since it opened at the beginning of the Spring Semester
2015, the Lab has already been a huge success with
students of all backgrounds coming together to push
themselves to reach their full potential in the English
language.
Equipped with six computers with headsets and
microphones, the Lab provides students with the
opportunity to practice their listening skills and record
themselves in order to improve their pronunciation and
fluency of speech. In addition to the computers, there is
ample space for students to work on individual projects or
additional reading and writing resources provided by the
teacher, as well as a round table for group discussions
and debates.
The English Lab is run by Helena Williams, a British
teacher who joined the AUST team in June 2014. She
is from Buckinghamshire, England, but after completing
her BA (Hons) Middle Eastern Languages degree at The
University of Manchester, she moved to Beirut where
she completed her CELTA teaching diploma at ALLC.
Since then, her love for travel and adventure has sent her
around the world teaching in various locations including
Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, Turkey and Jordan.
Helena uses a variety of methods in the Lab to
accommodate the different learning styles and educational
needs of her students. Having studied more than five
languages, she tries to use her own experience as a
student to improve her teaching methods. She has worked
with students of all ages and abilities and specializes in
ESL (English as a Second Language) education. Unlike
the classroom environment, students in the Lab are able
to go at their own pace and choose topics that they are
interested in order to facilitate their learning. Instead
of focusing on the mechanics of the language, the Lab
sessions prioritize overall fluency and comprehension
with the goal of giving students to a solid foundation to
go on to successfully complete their major courses and
future business endeavors in English.
In the Lab, students are offered the opportunity to
practice their speaking, reading, writing and listening
skills in a relaxing and interactive learning environment.
There are group as well as individual sessions in which
the students are presented with a variety of activities,
games, and articles that encourage them to find ways to
express themselves effectively in English, both in writing
and speech. Students who have busy schedules and
therefore cannot attend regular sessions at the Lab are
also welcome to submit writing to be checked at any time.
Students of all levels and abilities and from all majors at
AUST (even those who are not currently taking an English
course) are invited and actively encouraged to drop by
at any time. The teacher will then give them assistance
and study materials according to their individual needs
and preferences. Unlike the classroom, English Lab
offers a more personalized approach to English language
acquisition. We look forward to seeing you there!
“Blue Ocean Strategy” Introduced at AUST
in Coordination with the Department of Marketing
On Thursday, March 12th, 2015, Mrs. Dima Bassila of
the Department of Marketing, and under the supervision
of Dr. Robert Gharios, invited Mr. Amr Habbal, who is a
professional business coach and the founder of Mynditute,
to give a lecture to a 100 Marketing and Marketing and
Advertising students at 11 a.m. at Block B, 7th floor. The
speaker gave an hour-long presentation and workshop
about a new strategic concept under the name “Blue Ocean
Strategy”. The strategy was initiated and developed by the
INSEAD (established by Kim and Mauborgne) in which
practitioners and students were given the chance to think
outside the box. The “Blue Ocean Strategy” as explained by
Mr. Habbal suggests that businesses need to be innovative
in terms of the product concept and its development, and
to seek new groups of buyers with dormant needs. The
strategy aims at creating a new competitive environment
based on adding values to buyers that were completely
neglected by the major industry players. Mr. Habbal trained
the attendees on the meaning of strategy canvas, and how
to assess the factors embedded in it with respect to both
the Red Ocean versus the Blue Ocean. He concluded his
lecture by explaining the four premises behind the strategy,
which are: eliminating, raising, reducing and creating some
of the products’ attributes and values while applying the
strategy. Throughout the lecture, the students succeeded
in showing significant signs of interest and enthusiasm
through their constructive participation, and ability to answer
the speaker’s questions.
AUST Optics & Optometry Students Participate in X-Cel Contact
Lenses Workshop
Optometry students were given the chance to attend and
participate in the X-Cel Contact lenses workshop that was
held at Beirut Eye Specialist Hospital. Mr.Felipe Arroyave
presented a very informative lecture, which was followed by
a workshop where students could see real cases being fitted.
The topic discussed was “Specialty Contact Lenses (SCL)”
ranging from the Flexlens ARC, which belongs to the newest
family of custom-made soft contact lenses for irregular
astigmatism, to the newest scleral contact lenses made for
very difficult corneas.
Scleral lenses are large-diameter gas permeable contact
lenses (up to 24mm), specially designed to vault over the
entire corneal surface and rest on the sclera (the white of
the eye). They are more comfortable because the smaller
lenses that rest on the cornea may induce more sensation
than larger lenses that rest on the conjunctiva (soft, clear
tissue that lies over the sclera).
Mr. Arroyave also explained the use of those lenses, their
efficiency with the irregular cornea conditions (keratoconus,
post-surgical, astigmatism, corneal transplant…), or severe
dry eye patients, how they mask the irregularities and allow
clearer vision and better visual acuity, and their inability to
dislocate.
Moreover, the lens fitting was mentioned and applied in the
workshop. Flexlens ARC has a new fitting philosophy called
"1-2-3 fit strategy". This strategy is based on the principle
of customizing the lens fit by manipulating three zones to
control the sagittal height relationship; the central zone, the
limbal zone and the scleral zone.
We are indebted to Mr Pierre Antaki for this wonderful
learning experience. Mr Anataki was gracious to allow
our students to participate. It was a wonderful learning
experience. There was a great deal of information that each
of the attendant students personally learned; the process of
giving the information through the presentation then getting
the opportunity to discuss study cases and ask questions
was very valuable. The workshop was extremely helpful,
clear, practical, and well worth attending!!
For your comments, e-mail us at: austmidweek@aust.edu.lb
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CAMPUS NEWS
AUST Communication Arts Student New Host of NRJ Lebanon Radio Show
Ever wake up one morning expecting a completely ordinary
day, but ending up faced with something that would change
the course of your whole life? That would be exactly what
happened to the two Communication Arts students, Asraa
Bitar and Reem Hachache.
It was a Monday morning when Asraa was goaded into
trying for what turned out to be a life-changing experience.
Aware of her spontaneous way with words, Asraa’s friends
emboldened the student to participate in a competition, which
she thought would allow her an opportunity to visit Italy. Asraa
gets in an NRJ van, where she was yet to meet with another
Communication Arts student, who happened to be her friend,
Reem Hachache. Asraa rushes to her friend in an attempt at
gathering information about what to expect. “They handed
us a microphone and asked us to talk for a good couple of
minutes about certain topics. There were cameras involved as
well,” Reem explained. A few minutes later, a voice shouted
out Asraa’s auditioning number. After encouraging words from
her friend Reem, Asraa was ready to face what was waiting
for her. Confused about what was going on, Asraa sat in front
of the microphone, which was initially pointed at her, and
asked the camera man about what she had to talk about.
“Talk about anything that comes to your mind,” the camera
man suggested That was exactly what she did for the next few
minutes, after which she was allowed to get out of the van.
A while later, Asraa discovered that the Communication Arts
Department at AUST had organized the event and invited the
NRJ Factory to conduct their try-outs on campus so that all
the students would be able to benefit from the experience.
This step was the starting point of an ongoing cooperation
between the Communication Arts Department and NRJ
Radio. A couple of months later, Asraa received a phone
call about the NRJ experience back at AUST, during which
she discovered that there were, unfortunately, no tickets to
Italy. However, she was hyped about knowing that she was
given the opportunity to compete against 500 students from
different Lebanese universities for the position of a host on
a new show called “NRJ Factory” ,on MTV Lebanon, to find
new-generation radio hosts.
The number of contestants was cut down to 50 at first, and
then to 25. Asraa and Reem were amongst the top 25, and
had to stand their ground in the face of the rising challenges.
The first challenge was the easiest and they were able to get
into the top 12, which was best described “the survival of the
fittest”. They were then instructed to go through a series of
different tasks and challenges, including “The Blind Test” identifying the songs they had to listen to, and “The Takeover
Challenge” - speaking for the longest possible time without
any hesitation or pauses. The two students were among the
remaining 6 competitors.
Their journey continued, and the surprising challenges kept
springing up. During the final challenge, each contestant was
expected to speak as if he/she had their own radio show for
three minutes. Asraa chose to speak about smiling and being
happy - you could easily recognize the smile on her face as
she spoke.
By the end of the competition, there was room for only three
contestants. “I thought I was going to Italy, but I was handed
an even bigger opportunity. I am now NRJ Lebanon’s new
morning live radio host”, said Asraa Bitar.
World Renowned Abed Mahfouz Visits
the Fashion Design Department at AUST
AUST President Hiam Sakr welcomed the Lebanese world-renowned Fashion
Designer Abed Mahfouz, who visited the American University of Science and
Technology, Beirut Campus, on Monday, March 9, 2015.
Mr. Abed Mahfouz is an established and common name on the red carpet;
he has dressed several notable celebrities to red carpet events engaged in
multiple celebrity editorials.
A designer who started his career in 1985 with a series of successful
achievements in the field of fashion, Mr. Mahfouz has nowadays three product
lines: Bridal, Couture and Ready to Wear all of which preserve a high end level
in design, quality and innovative designs.
Mahfouz’s creations are now being sold across several points of sale in the
United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Mr. Mahfouz’s visit will hopefully pave the way for further collaborations and
development to the Fashion Design Department of AUST, as well as providing
our students the privilege to accomplish their internship requirements under his
supervision.
AUST in IEEE Lebanon Section Committees
The AUST faculty is strongly represented in the IEEE
Lebanon Section Committees, reflecting the leadership
role that AUST is serving in Lebanon. The elections of the
new IEEE Lebanon Section committees was conducted at
the end of last February, and the following positions were
filled by AUST members:
1. IEEE Lebanon Section’s Vice-Chair: Dr. Aziz Barbar,
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
2. IEEE Lebanon Section – Communications Society
Chapter’s Treasurer: Dr. Roger Achkar, Chairperson,
Department of Computer and Communications Engineering
3. IEEE Lebanon Section – Computer Society Chapter’s
Chair: Mr. Michel Owayjan, Chairperson, Department of
Mechatronics Engineering
4. IEEE Lebanon Section – Computer Society Chapter’s
Professional Activities Coordinator: Dr. Saeed Raheel,
Coordinator, Department of Computer Science
5. IEEE Lebanon Section – Young Professionals Affinity
Group’s Chair: Mr. Eddy Deeb, Graduate student in
the Department of Computer and Communications
Engineering
6. IEEE Lebanon Section – Young Professionals Affinity
Group’s Vice-Chair: Mr. Nashaat Halabi, Lab Instructor
at the Department of Computer and Communications
Engineering
Congratulations to all!
AUST ‫ ندوة دبلوماسية رابعة يف‬:"ً‫"تجربتي سفريا‬
‫ أقامت الجامعة األمريكية‬،‫ التي تنظمها دائرتا اإلعالم واملنشورات‬،‫ضمن سلسلة ندواتها الشهرية الثقافية‬
‫ وهي‬،2015 ‫) الندوة الثالثة من السلسلة املمتدة لغاية شهر أيار من العام‬AUST( ‫للعلوم والتكنولوجيا‬
."ً ‫بعنوان "تجربتي سفريا‬
،‫ تواكب هذه السلسلة التجربة الدبلوماسية لسفراء لبنانيني مثلوا لبنان يف دول متعددة‬،‫وكام يدل العنوان‬
.‫وتيضء اللقاءات عىل أبرز املحطات واألحداث واملهامت يف مسريتهم‬
‫ يف حضور رئيسة‬،‫جمع اللقاء الثالث وجوهاً عديدة من السفراء والدبلوماسيني والرسميني واملثقفني‬
.‫الجامعة السيدة هيام صقر والهيئتني اإلدارية والتعليمية‬
،‫ تجربتي يف اليابان لَ َمحاتٌ و َخواطر‬:‫حارض يف الندوة السفري سمري شــ ّمــا عن تجربته تحت عنوان‬
.‫ من بريتوريا إىل روما‬:‫والسفري رشبل أسطفان بعنوان‬
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UP TO DATE
American University of Science and Technology
Brown Eyes Go Blue
From the piercing blue eyes of Paul Newman
to the steely gaze of Daniel Craig, blue eyes
have always been a measure of attractiveness.
But exactly why they make hearts throb and
catapult actors and models to stardom is a point
of conjecture.
Theories range from evolutionary psychologists
who say that blue-eyed women in Palaeolithic
societies had a better chance of standing out
in the crowd; others posit that pupil dilation
-- a signifier of attraction -- is easier to see in
lighter eyes. Either way, only 17% of the world's
population has blue eyes.
But today there's a medical procedure that can permanently turn your brown eyes blue. Pioneered
by Stroma Medical, the laser procedure works by eliminating the brown melanin that's present
in the anterior layers of the iris.
"The fundamental principle is that under every brown eye is a blue eye," Dr. Gregg Homer said.
"The only difference between a brown eye and a blue eye is this very thin layer of pigment on
the surface. If you take that pigment away, then the light can enter the stroma—the little fibers
that look like bicycle spokes in a light eye - and when the light scatters it only reflects back the
shortest wavelengths and that's the blue end of the spectrum."
He said the effect is similar to the Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in the sky -- the physics that
makes our sky appear blue.
The company says it has developed a laser treatment that disrupts the layer of pigment, causing
the body to begin removing the tissue naturally. While the procedure takes all of 20 seconds, the
blue eyes lurking underneath do not emerge for several weeks.
He said that Stroma Medical wanted to develop a procedure that was safer, cheaper and more
convenient than any of the alternatives on the market.
Office Germs: Viruses Spread
Everywhere in Just Hours
Keeping your distance from sick co-workers may
not be enough to avoid contact with their germs:
A new study shows that some viruses quickly
spread through offices and other buildings,
contaminating many surfaces in just hours. In the
study, the researchers placed virus samples on
one or two surfaces - such as a doorknob or a
tabletop - in an office building, hotel rooms and
a health care facility. They used a virus called
bacteriophage MS-2, which is harmless to people,
but is about the same size and shape as the
human norovirus, a highly contagious virus that
causes diarrhea and vomiting. In other words, the researchers were able to trace how norovirus
might spread through a building using a harmless virus. Throughout the day, the researchers
sampled 60 to 100 surfaces in the buildings, including light switches, bed rails, tabletops, coffeepot handles, sink tap handles, doorknobs, and phone and computer equipment. Within 2 to 4
hours, 40 to 60 percent of sampled surfaces in the buildings were contaminated with the virus,
said study researcher Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. In the office,
"the first area contaminated was the coffee break room," Gerba said. In a second part of the study,
cleaning staff and employees were given disinfecting wipes containing quaternary ammonium
compounds (QUAT), which were used to disinfect commonly touched surfaces about once a day.
These disinfectants, along with proper hand hygiene, reduced the spread of the virus by 80 to 99
percent, Gerba said. "The results show that viral contamination of [surfaces] in facilities occurs
quickly, and that a simple intervention can greatly help to reduce exposure to viruses," Gerba
said in a statement. To avoid catching norovirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends hand washing after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food.
Apple Might Be Getting Into the Auto Industry
Apple hasn't admitted publicly that it wants to get into the
auto industry. But there's plenty of evidence out there.
It could be an actual Apple car, or perhaps just a sleek
operating system for another company's car.
Apple is poaching car battery engineers: In the last month,
Apple has hired so many engineers from electric car battery
maker A123 Systems that A123 has sued. It claims that Apple
is playing dirty and on the verge of gutting the company
completely.
A123's lithium ion batteries are currently found in several
hybrid cars, including the BMW ActiveHybrid series and
Chevy Spark. There's an unmarked van loaded with cameras
and sensors that's been driving around Brooklyn. Another
one just like it was just spotted in the San Francisco suburb
of Concord. As it turns out, California's Department of Motor
Vehicles has the one in Concord as registered and leased to
Apple, according to the CBS affiliate there.
Apple hired a Mercedes-Benz executive: For nearly six
years, Johann Jungwirth led research and development for
Mercedes-Benz in North America. In September, he jumped
ship to Apple, where he's now director of Mac systems
engineering.
Jungwirth's resume shows he specializes in building Internetconnected cars and autonomous driving.
Apple is assembling an auto team: Apple has scooped up
dozens of executives and engineers from auto companies
in recent years, according to publicly available employment
records. It's also hired a number of recruiters from the leading
electric car manufacturer, Tesla (TSLA).
Apple's talks with Tesla: Tesla CEO Elon Musk acknowledged
that he did met with Apple's acquisitions chief last year,
following a San Francisco Chronicle report. But he wouldn't
say what for. "We had conversations with Apple. I can't
comment on whether those revolved
Apple design guru Jony Ive is obsessed with cars
A recent profile in The New Yorker was heavy on references
to Ive's tastes in cars. He owns a black Bentley Mulsanne and
Aston Martin DB4. Every summer, he attends the Goodwood
Festival of Speed vintage sports car exhibition in southern
England. And he seethes at the sight of a Toyota.
Extraordinary Brain: Woman's Missing Cerebellum Unnoticed for 24 Years
Doctors in China were surprised to find that a young woman
who had lived a normal life for more than two decades was
actually missing an important part of her brain, according to a
new report of her case.
The 24-year-old's strange condition was discovered when she
went to doctors because of a month long bout of nausea and
vomiting. The patient told the doctors she had also experienced
dizziness her entire life. She didn't start walking until she was
four and had never been able to walk steadily.
When the doctors scanned the woman's brain, they found she
had no cerebellum, a region of the brain thought to be crucial
for walking and other movements. Instead, the scans showed a
large hole filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
The cerebellum, which means "little brain" in Latin, is responsible
for coordination and fine movements, such as the movements
of the mouth and tongue needed for producing speech. People
with damage to this brain area typically experience debilitating
motor difficulties. Yet contrary to the doctors' expectations,
the Chinese woman's absence of the cerebellum resulted in
only mild to moderate motor problems and slightly slurred
pronunciation, according to the researchers. "This surprising
phenomenon," demonstrates the plasticity of the brain early in
life, they wrote.
"It shows that the young brain tends to be much more flexible
or adaptable to abnormalities," said Dr. Raj Narayan, chair
of neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long
Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, who wasn't involved
with the woman's case. "When a person is either born with an
abnormality or at a very young age loses a particular part of the
brain, the rest of the brain tries to reconnect and to compensate
for that loss or absence," Narayan said.
This remarkable ability of the brain is thought to decline with
age. "As we get older, the ability of the brain to tolerate damage
is much more limited," Narayan said. "So, for example, in a
60-year-old person, if I took the cerebellum out, they would be
severely impaired."
This is not the first case of a person found to be missing the
cerebellum. In fact, there have been eight other similar cases
reported, the researchers said. However, most cases involved
infants or children who also showed severe mental impairment,
epilepsy and large structural abnormalities in their brains, and
most did not survive the condition.
It is possible that more people are affected by this rare condition
but they don't get diagnosed or reported, Narayan said. "In
the future, it may become more recognized because of brain
imaging," he added.
First Swimming Dinosaur Was 'Half-Duck, Half-Crocodile'
The fearsome Spinosaurus is one of the icons of the dinosaur pantheon.
It was larger than T. rex (and larger than all other carnivorous dinosaurs,
in fact), and on its back it sported a sail taller than an adult man. Now,
researchers have discovered something even more astonishing about
this ancient beast. Spinosaurus was the only known dinosaur adapted
to living almost entirely in the water. Around 97 million years ago, in
a river system in what is now Africa, the enormous creature sliced
through the water, snaring fish in its cone-shaped, interlocking teeth.
Fossils reveal that the 50-foot-long (15 meters) dinosaur had a host
of adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle, including flat, possibly webbed
feet and nostrils high up on its head. "The animal we are resurrecting
is so bizarre that it is going to force dinosaur experts to rethink many
things they thought they knew about dinosaurs," said Nizar Ibrahim, a
vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Chicago who led with a
guide to lead them to the Spinosaurus site, the researchers discovered
even more bones, all from the same individual dinosaur. They soon
realized that these bones were very strange indeed. They were very
dense, without the hollow medullary cavity found at the center of the
long bones of the arms and legs in most animals. What's more, when
researchers analyzed the skeleton, they found that Spinosaurus had
a center of mass far forward on its body, which would have suited it
very well in the water. On land, however, the dinosaur would have had
to use its front limbs to balance rather than striding around on its hind
limbs like a T. rex. "You would not want to meet this animal on land, but
it was not gallivanting across the landscape," said study researcher
Paul Sereno, a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Chicago.
Questions remain about the species, however. Spinosaurus' enormous
sail remains something of a mystery, though the researchers’ suspect
it was used as a display structure and was probably often visible as
the animal swam. The researchers are also very interested in learning
more about how Spinosaurus moved through the water. Sereno said
it most likely propelled itself with both legs and tail. "It's a chimera. It's
half-duck, half-crocodile," Sereno said. "We don't have anything alive
that looks like this animal.”
For your comments, e-mail us at: austmidweek@aust.edu.lb
5
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
Sports Leisure Week at AUST
This week AUST’s campus was on fire, particularly Block
B Lobby Area. Students of all majors and staff members
enjoyed the Leisure Week Activities organized by the Sports
and Activities Office. Students got the chance to compete in
different games and enjoy their time on campus for long hours.
Several activities and sports took place be it tournaments or
competition. Foosball (baby-foot) and Darts activities witnessed
friendly games and duals. Multiple students participated in
serious challenging tournaments in Billiard, Chess, Darts, and
Table Tennis (Ping Pong). On the final day of the tournament,
students from both AUST’s Saida and Zahlé also participated.
Eventually, Director of SAO Ziad Saade distributed the cups to
the winners of the said tournaments:
Billiard
1st place: Albert Khawam (AUST- Ashrafieh)
2nd place: Mustafa Mehdi (AUST- Saida)
3rd place: Yousef Yousef (AUST- Saida)
Darts
Leisure Week at Aust - Zahle
As usual, AUST continues to provide the
best educational and recreational services
and experiences for its students and the
community. From March 3 till the 10th, the
campus was buzzing with diverse leisure
activities. Anyone who wished to improve
and develop his/her skills participated in
the self-expressive activities, such as: Play
Station, Darts, Baby Foot, Playstation and
Billiard.
This fun week provided the students at AUST
with opportunities that taught them how to
use this recreational time to enhance the
quality of life for themselves as well as for
the high school students who were involved
in the games.
The results were as follows:
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Play Station: (24 players)
Champion: Adam Barhouch
2nd Place: Alaa Moubarak
3rd place: Asoud Kanaan
Billiard: (32 players)
Champion: Charbel Raya
2nd place: Ahmad Saty
3rd place: Bassam Didi
Darts: (16 players)
Champion: Tarek Khalil
2nd place: Elias Saghbini
3rd place: Justin Chamoun
Finally, cups were distributed by the
President, Mrs. Sakr, the Director Mr.
Boustany and the sports coordinator, Mr. Joe
Kassouf.
Congratulations to all!
1st place: Tarek Khalil (AUST- Zahlé)
2nd place: Walid Abou Khana (AUST- Saida)
Baby Foot
1st place: George Saydeh & Ahmad EL Khawajeh (AUST- Zahle)
Table Tennis (Ping Pong):
Male: 1st place: Zakariya Hamza
2nd place: Elio Tanous
Female:1st place: Stephanel Ghoul
2nd place: Nathalie Zriek
BITS & PIECES
Horoscopes
American University of Science and Technology
Announcements
ARIES March 21 - April 19
The week ahead could be frustrating, but it brings a chance
to relax and wind down. You may notice a desire to rebel
against the system, but you'd be better off finding a way
to fulfill your desires while still maintaining a positive relationship
with the laws of the country. Friday's Solar Eclipse can encourage a
spiritual breakthrough, enticing you to meditate regularly and watch
your dreams. By doing so you may benefit more than you know.
TAURUS April 20 - May 20
Get ready for an upbeat social life with options for romance
and a chance to hang out with the people you enjoy most.
Although you might feel a tad anxious about an ongoing
relationship, your best bet may be to let it go. Let it unfold as
it will. You'll release the charge around it and may even find that
the problem melts away of its own accord. Friday's Eclipse could
coincide with key changes in your friendships and affiliations.
GEMINI May 21 - June 21
Don't let a minor misunderstanding affect you early on.
Stay positive and things should soon blow over between
you. On another note, find the middle way between sharing
too much information and being superficial. You don't need to spill
your secrets to everyone, only those you trust to keep them safe.
When it comes to your career, this week's Eclipse brings a chance to
make a breakthrough. If you're offered a golden opportunity, go for it.
CANCER June 22 - July 22
You'll need to decide how much to focus on your mission
and purpose and how much to give in to another's need for
attention. One incident could make you aware of how much
of your time you've given away and how little you've gotten in return.
The move of Venus into your social sector brings options for warmth,
romance, and fun. Friday's Solar Eclipse could throw the spotlight on
your beliefs and those areas where change could be positive.
LEO July 23 - August 22
Responsibilities may impede a desire for fun and adventure,
which you'll need to remedy. What you really need is balance
- not too much of one or the other. It's certainly a good time
to study or consider making travel plans. Once Venus heads into
Taurus you'll be eager to reach out and connect with people who can
help you with your professional aspirations. Friday encourages you
to come to grips with your finances to ease any associated anxiety.
VIRGO August 23 - September 22
Don't be too quick off the mark regarding a purchase. It's best
not to buy on impulse. Besides, you may get more enjoyment
from your money if you use it for leisure and recreation. Starting
Tuesday the idea of getting away might appeal to you, especially if it
offers the chance for a relaxing break. Friday's Eclipse in Pisces could
spotlight changes to a key relationship, moving it in a new and positive
direction. A decision may need to be made over the weekend.
LIBRA September 23 - October 22
You'll be in the flow at work and at your creative best. Harness
your imagination for success. An edgy transit suggests you
should guard against letting someone disrupt your emotional
foundations. Be strong! A Solar Eclipse in your work and lifestyle
sector could coincide with events that encourage you to make a fresh
start with your health or other routines or habits. It helps to know what
you want this weekend, as sitting on the fence won't work.
SCORPIO October 23 - November 21
This week you have the option to review your thinking and
consider whether or not it's helping you achieve your goals.
If not, think about replacing your negative thoughts with
more upbeat versions. This will enhance your chances of success.
Venus heads into Taurus on Tuesday, lighting up your relationship
sector. Romance takes on a rosy and sensual glow! Friday's Eclipse
in Pisces could bring a new lover your way. Go easy, though.
SAGITTARIUS November 22 - December 21
A focus on your leisure and pleasure sector encourages
you to take it to the limit. But you need to balance this by
thinking carefully about your financial situation and how
much it might cost you. The move of Venus into your lifestyle sector
might tempt you to overindulge, which could be frustrating if you're
on a diet. Friday's Solar Eclipse might bring change to your home or
family situation, giving you a chance for a positive new start.
CAPRICORN December 22 - January 19
Self-doubt could be a problem early in the week, but you
can overcome anything with a determined approach. Even
so, you could resist changes within the home or family. It's
wise to be flexible, as this is a great time to make progress. Romance
sparkles from Tuesday, when Venus glides into your pleasure sector
to make for some divinely sensual encounters. Friday could pave the
way for a new and very exciting career or business option.
AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18
Communication and interactions continue to be very
important this week, bringing many opportunities for work,
new business, and buying and selling. The only thing that
could prevent you from getting ahead is the pattern of limitation
within you. It's time to become aware of it and let it go. A potent
influence could encourage you to make changes to your financial
situation, particularly if you've lost your way lately.
PISCES February 19 - March 20
Certain friends may no longer share your values, especially
if yours have become more alternative or cutting edge. If this
drives a wedge between you, it might be time to find people
who understand you. Use your discrimination on Wednesday, when
things may not be entirely clear cut. Friday's Solar Eclipse in your sign
brings the chance of a fresh new start in any area of life you choose.
An opportunity may come your way that's too good to resist.
For your comments, e-mail us at: austmidweek@aust.edu.lb
7
LIGHTER SIDE
Job Vacancies
For more information pass by the CLD Department or email your CV to: cld@aust.edu.lb
Many Full and Part-Time job opportunities in different fields are currently vacant in
well-known and prestigious institutions.
For more information Pass by: CLD Department – Block ‘’A’’ Ground Floor
1. Company: Abed Tahan; Job Title: Internship; Type: Flexible; Qualifications:
Graduates; Experience: 0-1 Yr. Of Exp. Email: cynthia.b@abed-tahan.com
2. Company: Bassoul Hneine; Job Title1: Assistant General Manager; Job
Type: Full-Time; Qualification: BA in business; Experience: 2 years of
Exp.; Skills1: Fluent in French & English; Email: vacancylebanon@gmail.
3. com
Company: Black Milk; Job Title: Accountant; Type: Full-Time;
Qualifications: Graduates; Skills: Good in English & French-Computer
4. Literate; Experience: 0-2 Yrs. of Exp. Email: info@black-milk.co
Company: Commercial Insurance; Job Title: Officer; Type: Full time &
Part time Qualifications: Undergraduate Students; Skills: Works with IT
management, carries out needed analysis; Experience: 0-1 Yr. of Exp.
Email: nadasalgi@commercialinsurance.com.lb
5. Company: ForeLogix; Job Title: Solution Specialist - Managed Services
Business line; Type: Full time; Qualifications: BA of engineering in IT
or telecommunications; Skills: Excellent customer relationship skills;
Experience: 0-2 Yr. of Exp.; Email: jobs@forelogix.com
6. Company: Fuego Play; Job Title: Graphic Designer; Type: Full-Time;
Qualifications: BA in Graphic Designs; Skills: Energetic & dedicated
individual; to create innovative branding designs; Experience: 0-1 Yr. Of
Exp.; Email: pamela.m@fuegoplay.com
7. Company: Integration; Job Title: Sales Associate; Type: Full-time;
Qualifications: Graduates; Skills: Excellent experience in APPLE/MAC
Administration; Fluent in English & Arabic; Experience: 0-1 Yr. Of Exp.;
Email: skhalil@integration-imc.com
8. Company: Markazia Monroe; Job Title: Waiter - Order Taker - Cashier;
Type: Part-Time & Full-time; Qualifications: Undergraduates; Experience:
No experience needed; Email: johnny.raffoul@markaziamonroesuites.com
9. Company: Orkila; Job Title1: Accountant; Job Title2: Commercial Assistant;
Job Title3: Food business manager; Job Title4: IT Support; Job Title5:
ERP Implementer & Support; Type1,2,3,4&5; Full-Time; Qualifications1:
BA in Accounting & Finance; Qualification2: Graduate; Qualifications3:
BA in MIS- BS in Computer Science; Qualification4: BA in Chemistry or in
Marketing/Business; Qualification5: BA in IT, MIS, ICT; Skills: Strong in MS
Office skills- Fluent in English, Arabic & French; Experience:1-6 years of
Exp.; Email: recruitment@orkila.com
10. Company: Picasso; Job Title: IT LED Control; Type: Part time (night shift);
Qualifications: Fresh Graduate – Undergraduate; Skills: Good in MS Office
– Fluent in Arabic & English; Experience1: 0-2 years Exp.; Email: careers@
pikasso.com
Crossword
Across
1. Grounded fliers
5. ''__ Is Your Life''
9. Party makers
14. State of the Union
15. Courageous one
16. Loosen
17. Symbol of Kansas
19. Sedimentary rock
20. Former
21. Informal wear
23. Elegant and stylish
25. Complain
unreasonably
26. Lets sit in boiling
water
29. Columbus' backer
33. Makes well
34. Shabby and untidy
35. Make public
36. British peer
37. Soft drinks
38. Strong bases
39. Winter clock setting at
MIT
40. Fortune teller
41. Make sure of
42. Get ready to open
44. Regular customer
45. Small and attractive
46. Comes to a halt
48. Dorm noise
51. John Wayne film of '70
55. More white
56. Oscar song of '61
58. Buy a pig in __
59. Very much
60. Roy's mate
61. Lipinski and Reid
62. Time-outs for tots
63. Right-angle shapes
Down
1. Not outstanding
2. Avoid
3. Pea picker
4. ''No pressure'' tactic
5. Doubting apostle
6. Paul Bunyan, often
7. Strong emotion
8. Screen out
9. Word to a baby
10. Available for work
11. Sports headliner
12. Arcade-game stopper
13. Bishops' domains
Sudoku
Easy
8
www.aust.edu.lb
Medium
Hard
18. Walks unsteadily
22. Oodles
24. Makes some hippie
garments
26. See-through
27. Vex
28. Brown, for one
30. Official stamp
31. Be stationary, at sea
32. Burning crime
34. Weeps loudly
37. Alerting sound
38. Don't make a fuss
over
40. Juvenal works
41. Flavor
43. ''Aha!''
44. Northeast and
southwest
47. Scout assemblage
48. Small quarrel
49. California wine valley
50. Fed
52. Track shape
53. Liberty __
54. Digger's finds
57. Slangy suffix