On May 27, the young PR gurus made presentations covering controversial issues in Lebanese politics to a room full of students, faculty and members of the community.

Their reports spanned hard-hitting and timely topics such as discrimination based on sexual orientation, violence against domestic workers, violence against women and cyber-bullying, among others, most of which were selected by the students themselves, said Public Relations Instructor Abir Chaaban.

"The concerns of the youth are the common concerns of everyone," she announced at the outset of the event.

During a presentation about the weak representation of women in the Lebanese Parliament, some startling statistics were put forward. Namely, that of the 128 seats in Parliament, only four are held by women. A proposal put forward to adopt a quota of 33 percent female lawmakers has been repeatedly struck down.

Some audience members challenged the students, asking why they supported 33 and not 50 percent quota, or no quota at all, but the presenters swiftly retorted: "We want the quota as an introduction, a first step," demonstrating their well-honed rebuttal skills.

For their presentation about discrimination against women in the penal code, students examined the letter of the law, citing article 522 whereby a man can absolve himself from punishment for raping a woman as long as he marries her within a certain period of time.

Using tactics such as social media campaigns, posters, TV spots, workshops, lobbying and academic conferences to get their message out, the goal of the campaigns was to instill change and while none of the projects were actually implemented, the exercise revealed the challenges of reversing the status quo, and prepared young activists for the arduous road ahead.

"It's difficult to really achieve the legal amendments necessary for change," said marketing and advertising student Luciana Younis. "Our community is not helping either as some Lebanese are very narrow-minded, but we're trying, bit by bit, to sway public option."

Aside from tackling weighty topics, students learned to work in a group, says Chabaan.

"There are some that are good at research, others at running around and others at making presentations. But distributing tasks amongst group members and formulating a coherent project is how organizations function, and they mastered that."

Skills that will serve them well after graduation said third year marketing student Lina Srouji, who gave a powerful presentation on the deplorable living conditions in Roumieh prison.

"What I learned through this exercise was how to convince my audience, and who to target," she said. "You cannot address audiences as a whole, people have different values and different perceptions, so you have to tailor your arguments."

Meanwhile, for the technologically inclined the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC) set up a booth outlining the advantages of recycling old cell phones.

AFDC and Nokia have joined forces with the goal of raising environmental awareness and providing solutions for recycling mobile phones. Students learned that mobile phones contain gold, aluminum, copper, plastic and other raw materials that can be recycled and turned into useful items.

"We are looking for mobile phones with zero dollar value and zero emotional value," said AFDC representative Karine Zoghby. This is the first time the organization has visited LAU.

To commemorate World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Nutrition program in the Department of Natural Sciences, together with the Nutrition Club, orchestrated a series of activities on both campuses to raise awareness of the risk factors associated with the disease, and the complications that result from leaving it untreated.

Accordingly, the National Diabetes Organization (DiaLeb) organized an interactive lecture addressing the importance of maintaining healthy dietary and lifestyle habits, followed by a complimentary administration of blood glucose tests. The event took place on November 13 on the Byblos campus and on November 14 on the Beirut campus.

"Diabetes is a chronic illness that requires lifelong management. It is not a disease that comes and goes. But there should be no fear or shame associated with saying, 'I have diabetes,'" said President of DiaLeb Dr. Jacqueline Kassouf Maalouf at the onset of the lecture.

There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. While both can affect people at any age, type 2 diabetes - which amounts to 90% of total diabetes cases - can be prevented by maintaining healthy body weight, consuming a balanced diet, and engaging in regular physical activity. Type 1 diabetes, which affects 10% of total diabetes patients, is not preventable.

Doubtless, many affected individuals might find it difficult to -- publicly or otherwise --acknowledge that they have diabetes, but this is largely to misconceptions about the disease, stressed Maalouf.
Dr. Maya Bassil, assistant professor of Nutrition and coordinator of the event, agrees. "The more you know about the disease, the better prepared you are," she said. "When it comes to diabetes, knowledge is power because it can't be cured, at least not yet."

When Maalouf's daughter Sylvie Maalouf, current managing director of DiaLeb, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 24, the mother-daughter duo decided to take action and help to spread awareness about the disease. Founded in 2011, DiaLeb is the fruitful product of this collaboration. The non-profit organization aims to support affected individuals by disseminating pertinent information about the disease, and encouraging them to better manage their condition by promoting healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

"My daughter has two children now, and she is probably healthier than anyone in this room," proudly said Maalouf. "If your diabetes is under control, you can lead a very wholesome life."
Students rushed to get their blood glucose levels tested after the lecture, creating a flurry of activity in selected areas on both campuses. "The lecture was very interesting, but also reassuring. It's good to know that you can lead a normal life if you're managing your diabetes properly," said first year Nutrition student Nour Fakhoury after getting her finger pricked for the blood glucose test. "I'm curious about my blood glucose levels. You can never be too safe," she added.

The School of Medicine, together with the Medical Students Association, also raised awareness on November 14 at LAU Byblos with a blood testing station attracting students, faculty and staff on campus.
 

LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, who participated in the event, stressed LAU’s full support of the implementation of Law 174 in its entirety.

“We live in community, on the basis of social contract; where one’s freedom end is where someone else’s freedom begins. It is people’s right to live healthy, breathe healthy, without being harmed by the smoke of others,” said Jabbra, reminding attendees that both Beirut and Byblos campuses have been smoke-free for more than a year.

The gathering that took place at the call of the American University of Beirut Tobacco Control Research group and civil society partners, brought together all prominent academic institutions, government officials, MPs, representatives from the health industry, the service industry, international organizations and other interested parties.

Hosted at the Order of Physicians, the meeting comes after MPs and tourism associations called for urgent amendments to the law that took effect on September 3, and that, according to them, has already resulted in tremendous business losses.

While some contend their businesses are suffering, the health effects of smoking are clear. It is the primary cause of 3,500 deaths in Lebanon every year, Dr. Sharaf Abou Sharaf, president of the Order of Physicians, reminded participants, noting that official research shows that Lebanese smoke more than one million packs of cigarettes daily. “Eighty percent of our children are subject to passive smoking at home and 70% in public spaces,” he said.

Ministry of Health Director General Dr. Walid Ammar said that the ministry would not give in to pressure. “This law is the implementation of an international agreement the ministry has signed, that was ratified by the parliament. Any amendment will only serve the tobacco companies.”

Since the law went into effect, restaurants and café owners have been demonstrating across the country, and a great number of televised debates on the topic have taken place.

“To allow exemptions on the smoking ban in certain establishments is totally contrary to one primary purpose of the law, which is to ensure a safe work environment,” said AUB President Dr. Peter Dorman. “Even if patrons could choose not to frequent a place where smoking is allowed, workers have no such choice. As tobacco control advocates explain succinctly: ‘Smoking is a choice, breathing is not’,” he added.

Dorman stressed that from New York City to Istanbul, laws banning public smoking have been implemented successfully, with no loss in revenue for businesses and with huge health benefits to all.

“This law was passed by the absolute majority of the 128 members of parliament,” MP Dr. Atef Majdalani, head of the Health Parliamentary Committee, reminded his colleagues, wondering what made some change their minds.

“When governments make decisions they are bound to implement them in full,” said Jabbra, adding that the government should be responsible for finding ways to compensate those who are adversely affected, and encouraging them implement the law.

Organized on May 23 by LAU’s Outreach and Civic Engagement (OCE) unit, the fair gathered around 80 NGOs, from various sectors, that set up informational booths to inform students of their objectives and invite them to participate in their activities.

“We hope this fair will bring NGOs and students into close contact, allowing them to harness their creative talents, education and energy for the improvement of society,” said LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra at the event’s opening ceremony attended by Minister of Environment Nazem el-Khoury.

In his speech el-Khoury stressed the role of NGOs as pillars of sustainability and continuity in society. “This wouldn't be the case if the Lebanese youth wasn't so hardworking and dedicated to improving this country," he said.

Executive Director of OCE Elie Samia also expressed his respect for the NGOs’ work and constant efforts to make the Lebanese society more humane and more creative.

"We, at LAU, consider civic engagement to be an integral part of our mission statement, and we believe that encouraging our students to volunteer and join NGOs of their choice, will not only sharpen their leadership skills, but will also prepare them to become fully committed citizens,” he said.

Indeed, the annual fair seeks to form a bridge between student life and civil society by highlighting not only the specific work of various NGOs but also the general importance of cooperation between the government, civil society, and academia in improving the social, educational and environmental conditions of areas in need.

To that end, and in addition to hosting NGOs, the fair featured — for the first time — roundtable discussions tackling four main issues: health, citizenship education, social work, and the environment.

The sessions brought together stakeholders, decision-makers, representatives of various ministries and students in a single venue, and provided them with a platform to brainstorm, exchange ideas and develop solutions to community problems and challenges.

While the environment roundtable addressed issues such as biodiversity, ecotourism, natural resources management, and waste management, the health roundtable focused on the importance of partnership between the Ministry of Health and NGOs. Participants also discussed the role of the Lebanese Doctors Syndicate in raising awareness among doctors and encouraging them to provide assistance and guidance for NGOs.

The citizenship education roundtable, on the other hand, tackled an issue of great — but often overlooked or trivialized — significance: community service.

Director General of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Fady Yarak described a current proposal that requires school students to complete 40 hours of community service in the course of their school years, which would eventually become a prerequisite for university admission.

“If this proposal comes through, it will really push school students to engage in community service,” said Yarak. “We need youth to be more proactive in our community. Volunteering doesn’t have to be restricted to a particular activity — even scouting counts.”

The citizenship education roundtable featured Antoine Zakhia, representing the Ministry of Social Affairs, who spoke about the importance of establishing a tripartite union between the government, the civil society and the private sector in order to produce a full cycle of civic engagement that benefits communities.

Zakhia also emphasized the role of NGOs in empowering disadvantaged individuals, especially the disabled.

“Ten years ago, a physical disability would simply elicit sympathy — today, we’ve turned it into potential,” said Zakhia. “These people’s energy used to be wasted, like a light you forgot to switch off. But everyone has something to give, and our job is to see how we can maximize their contributions,” he added.

Vanessa Issa, a student at the Champville school, agrees.

“It’s up to our generation to make the big changes now. We should be engaged in social work so we can learn how to be responsible vis-à-vis society — and empower those in need,” she says.

Indeed, academic institutions — both secondary schools and universities — are not outlying, independent entities, emphasizes Sarah Bou Ajram, coordinator of leadership and civic engagement at OCE. They constitute only one piece of the puzzle.

“Universities exist within a larger societal unit,” adds Bou Ajram. “This is why it’s important to help students engage in civil society.”

Train/Train, an NGO that aims to raise awareness about the importance of railways and preserve Lebanon’s railway heritage, held a booth at the fair.

“One hand can’t clap, and it’s very important to spread the word and target the youth in these kinds of projects,” says Elias Maalouf, founder of Train/Train.

“Railways stopped operating in Lebanon around 40 years ago — but decent public transportation can help the government become more sustainable, which is our ultimate goal,” he explains.
 

The campaign was aimed at showing the LAU community how to stay healthy and fit during the summer months. As it kicked off, students, faculty and staff came together in the fountain area to participate in an outdoor gym class.

“The summer is quickly approaching and everyone wants to look their best. Our goal is to make sure that they do it safely,” said Dr. Ghada Khoury, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy and NAPHASS coordinator.

While NAPHASS student distributed sunscreen samples, participants could visit the various information booths discussing health and nutrition concepts, such as sun protection, U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved weight loss products, and safe tanning habits.

According to Khoury, awareness campaigns shed light on important social and medical topics that aren't always well understood. “NAPHASS, being a society of pharmacy students, provides the LAU community with professional and educated answers to various health concerns," she added.

The event also marks a very special milestone for the Nutrition major at LAU. “The Nutrition major was formed at LAU just about three years ago and we will be graduating our first group of students this spring. It’s wonderful that they were able to make an impact before their graduation,” said Nadine Zeeni, coordinator of the Nutrition Club.

The awareness campaign raised cognizance about various health topics, such as smoking cessation, drugs and safe driving and influenza prevention and treatment.

Many students congregated in the cafeteria area, where various booths addressing these health topics individually were held.

“We’re very happy it’s been such a great turnout this year,” says Dr. Ghada Khoury, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy and NAPHASS coordinator who organized the event.

“We’re essentially trying to bring about change in a culture where you see people throwing trash out their car windows,” says Semaan, the dean of students on the Byblos campus. “Ours is not a simple approach and it will take time, but I’m confident that we will have come a long way by spring.”

The campaign began on October 17, when students gathered for live music and refreshments around the campus fountain. Mister-Tanak donated two compactors, each with a capacity of 2,000 cans, and Sanita donated cardboard boxes for paper disposal. Students tried out the compactors as they finished free soft drinks provided by PepsiCo. Multiple bins, also from Mister-Tanak, were placed around campus as receptacles for empty cans.

Semaan says that, so far, the paper-recycling aspect of the campaign is “working extremely well.”

“Aluminum is working less well,” Semaan candidly admits. “We don’t have enough bins outside, and unfortunately some of those we do have are being used for general trash.”

But Semaan has faith that with better communication — his office has created posters with a “cans-only” picture to be placed above special bins — student awareness and compliance will increase.

The two compactors, which are currently placed in the cafeteria and dorms area, are meanwhile getting plenty of use, he says.

Semaan’s office is also working on getting special bin covers with slots only big enough for cans to fit through, says program coordinator Alan Kairouz.

“The aluminum component of our campaign is taking some time to catch on, but we are very happy that the paper part is doing wonderfully,” Kairuz says. “We already have a huge amount and we’re trying to work out a bigger storage area.”

He adds that faculty members have been calling him to request more paper-recycling bins for their offices, which is “very encouraging.”

Both Semaan and Kairouz emphasize that this campaign isn’t only about recycling; it’s about decreasing litter, making the campus more beautiful, and raising overall consciousness about how we treat the world around us.

“Globally speaking the environment is a hot issue,” says Kairouz. “It’s about time that we in Lebanon became more aware of what’s going on — both in our atmosphere and on the ground — and of what we can do to address it.”

LAU announced the ban on July 25. Students who fail to abide by the new regulation will receive a disciplinary warning.

According to Dr. Raed Mohsen, dean of students at LAU Beirut, the new rule “is about conveying a message of civilization, which means that we have to respect other people’s right not to smoke.”

In an attempt several years ago to provide a healthier environment for students, faculty and staff, the university’s Smoke-Free Campus initiative prohibited smoking inside buildings. Until this summer, however, smoking was still allowed outdoors.

Earlier this year the initiative was revived and revisited, prompting the university to deliberate a total smoking ban. On April 21, students, faculty and staff members took part in a Student-Staff-Faculty Forum (SSFF) panel discussion, “The Need for a Smoke-Free Campus,” debating both sides of the issue. The eventual consensus was for smoke-free campuses.

Throughout the summer semester, several designated campus smoking areas remained. “Given how small the Beirut campus is,” says Mohsen, that solution however was not sustainable.

In spite of the larger size of the Byblos campus, officials implemented the policy there too.

“With the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing now prospering, we are communicating a healthy message to the LAU community,” adds Mohsen.

Non-smoking banners, flyers and billboards have been spread all over both campuses.

While some students feel their right to smoke has been infringed upon, many welcome the new rule.

Asked how he was holding up under the new regulation, Dr. Brian Prescott-Decie, an instructor of English and cultural studies and a regular smoker, said he "didn't mind it at all."

"If it gets me to walk a few extra paces each day, and perhaps even smoke a little less, that can't hurt,” he says, adding that “if it does the same for the younger generation, even better. I support it.”

Those who wish to smoke may do so off-campus. Students caught smoking on campus twice will lose financial aid benefits. If they are caught doing so three times, they will be suspended.

LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra urged faculty, staff and students alike to work together to make sure the new rule is successfully implemented.

“I extend my gratitude to all those who worked very hard to bring to reality our long-standing aspiration to convert our campuses into non-smoking campuses,” says Jabbra. 

The agencies occupied booths in the courtyard facing the Safadi Fine Arts Building, inviting streams of students to learn about job, internship and volunteer opportunities available at the UN.

Some of the participating UN agencies included the UN Development Program, UN Population Fund, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Labor Organization.

“What we’re trying to do is promote social movements through civil society,” says Marita Kassis, a member of LAU’s Outreach and Civic Engagement unit that organized the event in partnership with the United Nations Information Center in Beirut.

“We want to shift the limelight from politics to society,” Kassis adds.

During the event’s launching ceremony, Bahaa El Koussy, UNIC director in Beirut, noted that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution two years ago proclaiming the period stretching from August 12, 2010 to August 11, 2011 the International Year of the Youth.

He said youth deserve the full support of UN agencies and “present great potential” for improving livelihoods.

“No one can make as big a difference as you,” El Koussy told students. He added: “We at the UN have considerable faith in your potential and in your capacities and are quite confident that our future is in safe hands.”

Also speaking during the opening ceremony, Dr. Joseph Jabbra, LAU president, quoted the words of Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general: “A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline.”

“We at LAU have listened very, very carefully at this admonition,” Jabbra said. “And instead of cutting off from youth, we embrace them, for youth are our only hope for a better future for humanity.”

Last month, OCE also organized an NGO fair on campus with similar aims.
 

The event was hosted by IWSAW , LAU’s Institute for Migration Studies, and KAFA (Enough) Violence and Exploitation at LAU Beirut, on March 30.

It presented studies by Kathleen Hamill, lawyer and human rights activist (“Trafficking of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon: A Legal Analysis”), and Dr. Ray Jureidini, professor of sociology at LAU Beirut (“An Exploratory Study of Psychoanalytic and Social Factors in the Abuse of Migrant Domestic Workers by Female Employers in Lebanon”).

Both examine — through different disciplinary lenses — the structural factors shaping the situation of Lebanon’s 200,000 domestic workers.

Cecile Abadie, a section head for the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, spoke first, highlighting the need to work together to improve living conditions for foreign women in Lebanon, in particular “to develop rights-based government policies concerning migration while taking into account contributing social and cultural factors.”

Abadie emphasized that abuse can be physical and sexual, but is often much more subtle, taking forms that are actually both permissible by law and widely accepted in social and cultural terms.

Abadie was followed by Ghada Jabbour, head of the Exploitation and Trafficking in Women unit of KAFA (enough) Violence and Exploitation, a Lebanese NGO committed to the human rights of women and children.

KAFA initiated the “Stop the Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers” project in 2010, of which these two studies form part.

Hamill’s study involved identifying and redefining terms such as “human trafficking” and “abuse.” Part of the problem, she concluded, was that many domestic migrant workers do not realize they are being inhumanely treated, and many employers do not see themselves as abusive.

Her legal analysis report also flagged the vulnerabilities that Lebanon’s labor law and system not only allow but encourage. Problems stem from the very beginning of the process (the sponsorship system) and continue to develop through the recruitment procedure, culminating in a lack of labor protection and legal redress.

Sixty-five percent of the domestic migrant workers Hamill interviewed in her research had experienced forced labor. Tellingly, most were unaware that according to international law this itself constituted abuse.

Professor Jureidini’s study concentrated on the psychoanalytical and social factors that can lead to abuse. These can range from unconscious processes or mental health issues to authoritarian attitudes and jealousy. The geography of the home as a ”secret” place — where one is literally behind closed doors — can be an exacerbating factor.

Most crucially, Jureidini’s research revealed the extent to which “migrant domestic workers are part of the psychological framework of the family.”

The talks were followed by a lively Q&A session. Audience members pointed out that the culture within the home countries of domestic workers also requires analysis.

An LAU migrant worker also spoke, thanking the panel for their research and highlighting the positives of working in Lebanon alongside the exploitation they sometimes face.
 

Building on the success of last year’s debut NGO fair at LAU Byblos, which recorded the participation of about 70 groups, the recently established Outreach and Civic Engagement unit at LAU took charge of the effort this year, bringing in more organizations and adding new activities.

“What a wonderful opportunity to have the university engaging with the community to provide for our students — the youth of Lebanon — opportunities to become real citizens of a country that needs a lot of help,” said Dr. Elise Salem, LAU vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Management.

Representatives of NGOs staffed booths across campus, where they welcomed visitors, promoted their causes, and drew in students to join their efforts.

The participating NGOs included Caritas Lebanon Migrant Center, which helps defend the rights of migrants in Lebanon; KAFA (Enough) Violence and Exploitation, a group established to end abuse and discrimination against women; and Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an animal-rights group.

Inside a large tent on campus, some 20 groups screened short films providing either an overview of their organization’s goals or information about the cause they promote.

During the event’s opening ceremony, Sarah Bou Ajram, coordinator of leadership and civic engagement at OCE, introduced a new portal for NGOs to help engage students. NGOs can register at http://volunteer.lau.edu.lb, create profiles and announce volunteering opportunities.

“Outreach and Civic Engagement is established for you,” Bou Ajram told the audience. “We want to partner with you, work with you, help in your volunteer efforts, fundraise with you, provide you with a venue, and work with you on any civic-engagement initiatives you want.”

For more information, contact Sarah Bou Ajram at sarah.bouajram@lau.edu.lb.

Click here to read about last year’s NGO fair.

For the first time, the event was organized through the collaborative efforts of the Student Development and Enrollment Management division, the Department of Natural Sciences, and LAU’s Hospitality Club.

“It was a team effort,” says Dr. Ahmad Kabbani, chair of the Natural Sciences Department at LAU Beirut and the mastermind behind the collaboration.

The event even drew some graphic design students who helped their friends studying natural sciences develop their posters.

“We emphasized teamwork,” Kabbani adds. “It’s very important that students learn about the interdisciplinary aspect.”

Kabbani also notes that the event created an opportunity for interaction between students and their community, and allowed them to realize their potential to learn and engage outside the classroom.

A health booth was set up during the event, where Dr. Nancy Hoffart, dean of LAU's School of Nursing, measured students’ blood pressure. Biology, pre-medical and nutrition students helped measure the body mass index of their peers visiting the booth.

During the event, over 50 posters were displayed outdoors that hit on a variety of health-related topics, including nutrition, cancer prevention, and substance use. Students voted for their favorites.

Spotlight on cervical cancer, HIV and travel safety

On the first day of the event, three LAU faculty members gave health-awareness presentations.

The first presentation focused on cervical cancer and was led by Dr. Wissam Ghandour, a part-time faculty member in LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences who holds an M.D. in gynecology.

The causes of most types of cancers, Ghandour said, are unknown, despite the association of some habits, such as smoking, with the disease. But unlike other cancers, he revealed a direct link between the HPV virus and cervical cancer, and said that 99.9 percent of cervical cancer patients have HPV.

HPV is most commonly transmitted sexually. Mothers may also pass it on to their newborns.

Many people who are infected with HPV, Ghandour said, are unaware and may lead perfectly healthy lives, but are still in danger of transmitting it to others.

“If someone gets infected, there is a high chance that the virus can clear up on its own without any type of treatment if exposure happens only once,” Ghandour said. “But if there is continuous exposure to the infection by having repeated sexual exposure to a person with HPV, that may lead into a pre-cancerous stage.”

According to Ghandour, 80 percent of women in the United States will be exposed to the virus by the age of 50. The peak age for developing cervical cancer is between 35 and 55, he said.

“Every two minutes, a woman dies of cervical cancer somewhere in the world,” he said. “Here in the Middle East, it’s every hour.”

Later in the day, Dr. Mona Haidar, a specialist in social medicine at LAU’s School of Medicine, gave a lecture on the global HIV epidemic.

More than 97 percent of new HIV infections occur in underdeveloped countries, she said, adding that the groups most vulnerable to the virus are sex workers, drug users, and sexually active people.

Haidar dismissed common misconceptions that HIV is passed through shared utensils, shaking of hands, kissing, using public toilets and swimming pools, and through mosquito bites.

The final presentation on travel safety was conducted by Dr. Anna Farra, who teaches immunology and microbiology (with an emphasis in infectious diseases) at LAU’s School of Medicine.

Farra said the first things to consider when traveling are the vaccines that need to be administered, paying particular attention to any viruses that the destination country is known to have a high prevalence of.

Ideally, she said, travelers should prepare six months before a trip and visit their health care providers for a pre-travel evaluation informing the physicians of all planned activities.

“It kind of takes the spontaneity out of life,” Farra admitted.

She said it is important to keep in mind the travel season, as different viruses spring up according to weather patterns, climate and other seasonal changes.

She also cautioned students against food safety hazards. Do not drink tap water, make sure it is not used to make ice cubes, and also avoid raw meat because it can carry parasites, she said.

She added: “A good saying when it comes to food is ‘boil it, peel it, or forget it.’”
 

LTA, Lebanon’s chapter of Transparency International, a global anti-corruption non-profit organization, presented where the country stands on corruption and the challenges that face the implementation of anti-corruption mechanisms to an audience of students and faculty members.

According to Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) results, which evaluate a country’s degree of corruption on a continuum from zero to a perfect 10 (zero being the most corrupt), Lebanon’s score was 2.5 over 10, said LTA researcher Atallah Al-Salim. Lebanon ranks “127 out of the 178 countries and its regional position is 13th out of 22,” he added.

The absence of certain protective laws has contributed to the upsurge of corruption in the country, according to the association.

A study done last year by the organization revealed that “as a matter of fact, no anti-corruption national strategy exists in Lebanon,” said Al-Salim.

Steps to reduce the degree of corruption in Lebanon have been taken, however, starting with the government’s ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in April 2008 and the attainment of UNCAC membership status the following year.

“Following the ratification of the convention, it will be necessary for the party state to either amend existing laws or enact new legislation which are consistent with the convention,” Al-Salim told the audience.

LTA senior researcher Dani Haddad, who also spoke at the event, pointed out that anti-corruption efforts have been revitalized following the government’s failure to allocate a national budget between 2005 and 2010.

“Fighting corruption, especially in public administration, needs new initiatives,” Al-Salim said. And NGOs such as LTA have been trying to enforce the introduction of fresh laws.

Several national and foreign organizations have recorded considerable success; the Center for Constitutional Rights was able to bring forth significant changes ahead of the 2008 Lebanese parliamentary elections.

“CCR, through its outreach and media campaign, was able to enforce several amendments to the electoral law of 2008,” Al-Salim said.

But Al-Salim maintained that the government has not been assisting NGOs in their efforts to fight corruption.

“No effort has been made whatsoever to consolidate all legislation in one package and the laws cannot be found on the government’s official websites,” he said.

Yet Al-Salim remains upbeat about the role of civil society in reshaping the anti-corruption laws.
 

Elie Samia, executive director of the office that was established in October, describes it as a student-centered unit involved in the creation of future leaders. “It aims at engaging students with civil society and adds extracurricular activities that build a well-rounded personality,” he says.

Samia “is nurturing and developing students who have limitless potential, and the unit is already a beehive of student activism with a wonderful, creative spirit,” says Dr. Elise Salem, vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Management.

An event to mark the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War on April 13, 1975 is currently being planned by OCE for April 2011, when students will gather to establish a Guinness World Record by having a water fight with 150,000 water balloons, as a way to poke fun at the futility of war.

Samia is extremely proud of such ambitious ideas. “The whole beauty about this unit is that we ignite the spark, coach, facilitate and motivate the students,” he says. “But they’re the ones with the passion and energy to run the projects. They’re active, creative and competent, and this becomes a snowball of positive energy because their enthusiasm is so contagious,” Samia adds.

OCE projects focus on a diversity of issues — from environment clean-up outings to tackling human rights issues, youth empowerment, and violence against women.

Last month, OCE was involved in the organization of several activities to raise awareness about domestic abuse and violence against women. These events were held in partnership with local and international non-profit organizations, the UN Information Center in Beirut, and LAU’s Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World.

Also last month, OCE launched the Youth Leadership School: “Youth Teach Youth” in collaboration with Al Safadi Foundation. As part of the program, students between the ages of 12 and 14 from around 50 public schools in Sidon and Tripoli were trained by LAU students in conflict resolution, peace education, public speaking, and leadership.

“By training the trainers, we’re able to narrow the age gap between the student trainers and the trainees so that our students become role models and are thus able to creep into the pores of civil society,” says Samia.

This year, OCE is planning to host the second LAU NGO Fair, supported by the Minister of Social Affairs. It will also hold the LAU UN Fair, exposing students to 22 organizations and specialized agencies that will be offering very sought-after internships.

By allowing students to create their own opportunities to help their societies, Samia and his team are aiming to become part of Campus Compact, an American organization dedicated to promoting community service and civic engagement in higher education, allowing LAU to share its success stories with the greater community. The recently launched LAU Student Leadership Magazine will be used for the same purpose.

One of these already well-established success stories is the LAU Model United Nations program, which recently inaugurated its sixth consecutive year and now falls under OCE.

Previously only open to grade 10 and 11 students, the program has also invited grade 7 and 8 pupils to join this year. Over 1,000 participants are being taught public-speaking and negotiation skills by LAU students, allowing them to step into the shoes of ambassadors while working in model UN committees.

In addition to local projects, the unit’s International Exchange and Study Abroad program is linking LAU to some of the best Ivy League universities, including Princeton and Yale. “This takes them out of the cocoon of their society, and allows them to be well-traveled, exposed and experienced,” says Samia of the participants.

He adds: “We want LAU not only to provide a classical education, but also to build on students’ character, emotional intelligence, and sense of volunteerism. We want them to serve society.”

Please contact the OCE team for more information about the unit and its activities.

On December 8, LAU’s Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, the Outreach and Civic Engagement unit, and LAU Beirut’s Dean of Students Office launched the White Ribbon Campaign in the university — a global campaign that strives to compel men to take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women.

Using the slogan “Be a Man: Men and Women Against Violence,” the event aimed to encourage positive masculinity and promote a petition to the Lebanese Parliament in support of a law protecting women against domestic violence and other forms of abuse.

The event was held in partnership with KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation (a local women’s and children’s rights group), Oxfam GB (a leading aid and development charity), and International Medical Corps (a global humanitarian non-profit organization).

White silhouette cutouts dotted the campus for two weeks leading up to the launch, a strategic move to peak students’ curiosity.

On the day of the event, white ribbons were hung from the big tree in the main courtyard between Irwin and Nicol halls, each with black cards tied on the end with various definitions written in Arabic of what it means to be a “real man.”

Posters of Lebanese celebrities with various anti-violence sayings on them were erected behind a cluster of booths outside the Safadi Fine Arts Building.

At midday, students held onto white ribbons to form a human chain that stretched from the Upper to the Lower Gate, and moved around the campus.

“The on-campus event was quite a success,” says Marita Kassis, coordinator for Study Abroad and International Exchange in the OCE unit. “Although most of the students are not personally exposed to such a problem at home, they were very keen on signing the petition in order to help others,” she adds.

The petition gathered more than 200 signatures, but the event’s coordinators were less concerned with numbers as they were with making sure the message got through. “How many signed doesn’t necessarily matter. It’s symbolic. It shows that youth really care about this issue and are willing to take a stand,” says Kassis.

IWSAW holds an event on gender-based violence every year, but this is the first time the White Ribbon Campaign has come to the Middle East. Besides LAU, other universities in Lebanon also held activities as part of the campaign.

Violence against women is a universal phenomenon, according to the United Nations Statistics Division. Women are subjected to different forms of violence — physical, sexual, psychological and economic — both within and outside their homes.

The rates of women experiencing physical violence at least once in their lifetime vary from several to over 59 percent depending on where they live, states a 2010 UN report.

“I approached groups of students during the campaign, especially males, and said: ‘Violence could be very far or near — in the future you might have a brother-in-law who beats your sister, what would you do then?’” says Anita Nassar, IWSAW assistant director. “If there is a law in place, the abuser can be convicted, and the students seemed to understand just how significant that would be,” she adds.

Within the framework of the campaign, other events were held at LAU to continue spreading the anti-violence message. They included a screening of a film entitled “About Latifa and Others…” by journalist Diana Moukalled on December 8, and a panel on a pioneering study called “The Effects of Socialization on Gender Discrimination and Violence Case Study: Lebanon” by Jinan Usta (M.D., M.P.H.) and Christine Sylva Hamieh (Ph.D.) on December 9.

On December 10, the 16th and final day of the awareness campaign, the UN Information Center in Beirut and LAU held a joint press conference at Irwin Hall to bring attention to the recent student and university-led efforts to educate people about violence against women.

“Awareness may create active movement. That is the point of democracy to translate public opinion into public policy,” said LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra. “Unfortunately, in our Middle East and Arab society we don’t like to talk about violence against women but it is our duty as universities [and citizens] to bring the issue out into the open.”

But, he added, it shouldn’t take a government law to tell society that violence against women is wrong.

“It is very important for women, especially those who have been subjected to violence, to rise up and to refuse to be silenced by any laws. It is their God-given right to be respected by society and most importantly by members of their own families,” Jabbra told a room of students, press and faculty.

A closing ceremony for all involved with the 16-day campaign was held at UNESCO Palace following the press conference.

Under the “UNiTE to End Violence Against Women” campaign launched in 2008 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the OCE unit mobilized LAU student volunteers to raise awareness about the issue among Lebanese youth in particular and civic society in general — both on and off campus.

The campaign started with a press conference on December 10, where LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra and UNIC Director in Beirut Bahaa El Koussy shed light on the importance of this partnership and the steps that youth can undertake to make change possible.

During the press conference, Elie Samia, OCE executive director, said that this initiative is a continuation of the LAU–UNIC partnership as part of which the two institutions “celebrated international UN days related to the Millennium Development Goals aiming at engaging civil society in positive social change.”

Following the press conference, LAU students distributed flyers on the Beirut campus and in the shops surrounding it.

The distribution of flyers expanded the next day. Students from the MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship Program, along with other student volunteers, went to two major locations in Beirut and its surroundings, City Mall Dora and Jnah Mall, where TSC stores hosted the students and supported them in distributing flyers and exposing the cause to customers.

One student volunteer says: “Some people were responsive while others didn’t care, but if we’re able to reach five percent of the people, then that’s a good start!”

The campaign was held as part of the “One Day on Earth,” a global media project supported by the United Nations and several non-profits, in which thousands of students, documentary filmmakers, and inspired citizens from over 190 countries across the world participated, documenting their experiences on October 10, 2010 (10/10/10).

Organized by the newly established Outreach and Civic Engagement Unit at LAU, the campaign was designed to draw attention to the issues of climate change and global warming, and encourage students to take action in that regard.

“We participated in the event to have a cleaner Lebanon and to promote environmental sustainability,” says LAU student Ali Sibai, the president of the UNESCO Club at LAU Beirut and this year’s associate director of project management in the LAU Model United Nations program.

LAU students from both campuses as well as some members of the MUN program took part in the event. They were accompanied by Elie Samia, executive director of the new LAU unit, and Joseph Kanaan, program coordinator at LAU Byblos who oversaw the logistics of the activity. Local volunteers also lent a hand to clean the area.

In addition to shining light on global warming, the activity by the students was organized to promote a culture of activism among Lebanese youths. The students believe they are paving a road toward a better future for the country by encouraging their peers to actively engage in communities and help confront pressing issues.

“We are setting an example for other organizations and individuals to take action to limit the effects of issues of global and individual impact,” says Khaled Kabbara, a graduate LAU student majoring in international affairs, who participated in the campaign.

Footage from the event will be sent to “One Day on Earth,” and it may be included in a documentary that the project is creating to showcase the diversity of affairs — from conflict and tragedy to triumph and goodwill — that occur simultaneously around the world in one 24-hour period.

The students also registered the activity with the 350.org, an online group that organized the “10/10/10 Global Work Party” on October 10, specifically intended to address environmental issues.

Organized by LAU and the United Nations Information Center in Beirut, the event reaffirmed the commitment of Lebanese youth to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and creating a global partnership for development.

The event was held in support of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s calls for renewed action and commitment by the international community to achieve the MDGs, through a UN Summit in New York from September 20–22.

Under the motto “Stand Up, Take Action and Make Noise for the MDGs,” the LAU students emphasized that while some progress is evident, the goals cannot be achieved without the full cooperation and coordination among different public and private actors.

As one student put it, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

In his opening remarks, Elie Samia, director of the Guidance Office at LAU Byblos and LAU MUN program director, commended “the power, creativity and dynamism of the Lebanese civil society” that in collaboration with the different segments of the public sector will be able “to create a legislative and governmental consensus around the Millennium Development Goals.”

Bahaa El Koussy, UNIC director in Beirut, underlined the essential role of youth as a “fundamental factor in the advancement of societies, a principal force for change and progress and a key, active partner in sustainable development.”

In a presentation titled “The Millennium Development Goals in Lebanon: A Process and a Commitment,” eight LAU MUN students presented the MDGs, highlighting the current situation in Lebanon, the challenges faced, the strengths involved, and the recommendations that can ensure the successful implementation of the MDGs in Lebanon by 2015.

The students’ recommendations regarding fighting extreme poverty and hunger included the implementation of an integrated and comprehensive social development strategy, as well as the adoption of social safety net systems, pro-poor economic policies, and efficient mechanisms to measure poverty.

To ensure that by 2015 children of both genders everywhere will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling, the students called for “offering children a friendly and accepting environment,” “creating a link between formal and non-formal education,” “developing a culture of quality among all those involved in education ensuring relevance of schooling,” “restructuring educational programs in a way that suits all social groups,” and promoting “the exchange of experience and knowledge between Arab countries.”

After the presentation of all the recommendations (PDF, 187 KB), LAU and Lebanese high school students participating in the LAU MUN program, together with representatives of NGOs, took an oath, pledging to “deploy all possible efforts to raise the level of awareness” toward implementing the goals in Lebanon.

A proclamation containing the recommendations on the implementation of the MDGs in Lebanon was handed over by students to the representatives of the Lebanese executive and legislative authorities and to El Koussy, who delivered a copy to Ban Ki-moon.

The event was attended by around 150 students, university officers, UN staff, government officials and civil society members, including representatives of the Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, ministers, MPs, ambassadors, representatives of non-governmental organizations, heads of UN agencies, members of the LAU MUN Secretariat, and representatives of various schools in Lebanon.

The lectures were organized by LAU’s Department of Natural Sciences within the context of environmental science courses.

Green buildings

The first lecture, entitled “Green Buildings in Lebanon: Luxury or Crucial Need,” took place on May 20, during an environmental science course taught by Riwa Al-Atrash, an LAU faculty member in the Department of Natural Sciences.

Maya Karkour, a consultant for U.K.-based sustainability consulting firm EcoConsulting, talks about green-building projects, during a lecture at LAU Beirut on May 20.

Invited speakers included Maya Karkour, a consultant for U.K.-based sustainability consulting firm EcoConsulting, and Khaled El Rassy, an engineer and the partial owner in charge of the development of a new eco-friendly building being constructed in Beirut.

The speakers detailed how, and why, they set out to encourage sustainable development projects, and talked about the rise and utility of green buildings.

“We spend nearly 90 percent of our time inside buildings — whether at university, at home, or in the office,” said Karkour, who advises engineers and architects on how to design buildings in order to prevent waste.

Karkour noted a study conducted in the U.K. revealing that buildings account for about 52 percent of total energy consumed in that country.

She described how her company attempts to combine three pillars that are required for sustainable development — social concerns, economic development, and environmental protection — to convince real-estate investors and developers to make environmentally sound choices.

“The whole idea is to try to look at the long term and not just the short term,” said Karkour, adding that in many cases, high upfront costs will pay off over time. “You’ll be improving the health of the occupants, and you’ll save money on energy, water, and [other resources].”

The environmental impact of buildings was hardly an issue of concern for engineers, architects and developers to consider until recently when going green has become a global trend.

Karkour explained that everything now that goes into the design and construction of buildings — such as lighting, ventilation, insulation and even the paint used to cover walls which, over time, evaporates and releases dangerous toxins into the air — are becoming scrutinized by specialists who are quick to point out the shortcomings in many of Beirut’s older structures.

The situation in Lebanon

Khaled El Rassy, an engineer and the partial owner in charge of the development of a new eco-friendly building being constructed in Beirut, explains why he decided to undertake the project.

El Rassy, who recently moved back to Lebanon after spending most of his professional life in the Gulf and Europe, described being “shocked” after witnessing the amount of waste in the country. So he decided to introduce something different.

“I was stunned by the low standards of construction in Lebanon in terms of certain aspects such as how wild the waste of energy is,” he said. “This is something unacceptable.”

“This time I’m acting as a moral developer. … I decided that I want to go green, and this was of course a challenge,” El Rassy said, pointing out that his friends cautioned him against undertaking the project in Lebanon where the market for green buildings is uncertain, and which could prove to be a financial disaster for him if the skeptics are right.

He said his main goal for the project was to find ways to save energy, primarily through the use of energy-efficient technologies (such as the new VRV air conditioning system), and renewable energy sources, like solar, which are widely used to heat water in other countries.

In her lecture, Karkour pointed out that only one percent of houses in Lebanon use solar water heaters, compared to 50 percent in Cyprus, which El Rassy described as a “crime.”

One of the biggest mistakes developers make, El Rassy said, is with the placement and orientation of the buildings.

“80 percent of the buildings in Beirut are wrongly oriented,” El Rassy said, explaining how they prevent drafts from flowing through, and attract unwanted sunlight and heat, that prompt residents to turn on their air conditioners.

El Rassy said he hopes his project will encourage others to demand the same. “In Lebanon, we work by fashion, and if [sustainability] becomes a fashion, people will start asking for it,” he added.

E-waste: A growing problem

Nadine Haddad, director of the NGO Beeatoona, warns about the dangers of e-waste, during a presentation on May 24.

Four days later, on May 24, Nadine Haddad, director of Beeatoona, an NGO founded in 2008 in Lebanon concerned with environmental protection, shed some light on a rarely discussed issue in the country: the environmental and human health dangers associated with electronic wastes.

She was the guest lecturer in an environmental science course taught by Mohammad Al-Zein, a faculty member in LAU’s Department of Natural Sciences.

As consumers race to purchase the newest electronic gadgets — like batteries, cell phones and computers — their old machines are often simply tossed in the bin and then they pile up in landfills.

“E-waste has become a major crisis,” Haddad said. “The amount of e-waste that is being generated every day is growing.”

Many electronics contain toxic substances (such as lead, mercury and cadmium), which can cause diseases upon human contact. Many plastics also contain flame retardants, which leach into soil where they are buried.

When electronics and plastics wastes are simply thrown into a pile and set aflame — a familiar practice in Lebanon — carcinogens and neurotoxins are released into the air.

Unlike more developed nations, Lebanon has no way to recycle the electronics, said Haddad. Currently, her NGO is collecting and storing e-waste in a warehouse until enough of it has been gathered to ship it to Europe for recycling.

Consumers in Lebanon and Jordan can visit the organization’s e-cycle project website for locations of e-waste collection points, and a list of accepted items.

Haddad admitted that shipping and recycling the waste will be very costly, and said the group hopes to find a more sustainable solution in the future to deal with the problem.

Representatives from the NGOs engaged with students throughout the day, encouraging them to volunteer and support causes ranging from human rights to environmental protection.

“We wanted to encourage humane work to serve the [community] through cooperation with civic society,” says Elie Samia, director of the Byblos Guidance Office, which organized the event.

“This is a historic event,” said LAU President Dr. Joseph Jabbra during the launching ceremony. He praised the university’s “close cooperation” with NGOs, which he described as “the root of change in society.”

Dr. Selim El Sayegh, Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, also spoke during the opening ceremony, where he described how the partnership between LAU and the NGOs could serve as a model for the country.

“We should go beyond the university for the nation,” El Sayegh said. “This partnership creates the possibility [for the ministry] to implement actions and plans in Lebanon.”

The event brought together some of the most prominent NGOs in the country, such as the Lebanese Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières, as well as lesser-known organizations such as animal rights activist group BETA.

Members from the Volunteer Outreach Clinic, an organization founded in 2001 by American University of Beirut medical students and faculty members, were scouting for potential recruits to help staff their medical clinic in the Shatila Refugee Camp. The clinic is open from 10:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. each Saturday and offers free and low-cost services to the camp’s residents.

“Student participation benefits us both. It gives the students experience working in a clinic,” and helps the clinic reach out to more people, said Dr. Ahmad Saad, a 2009 LAU Pharm.D. graduate and VOC member.

Some nature lovers drifted toward the Lebanese Green Party stand. While technically a political party, LAU student and party supporter Youssef Ghoustine staffing the booth explained that the organization does not deal with political issues in the traditional sense, but rather exists as a voice for the environment.

An event raising awareness against fad diets and misleading herbal diet medications was held April 28, on the Beirut campus, on the occasion of the International Health Day. It was organized by the Health Services at the LAU Guidance Office in Beirut, in collaboration with the Event Organization Club to promote healthy, natural traditional Lebanese food.

Called “Riddouni 3al day3a” (Take me back to the village), the event promoted exercising and having a healthy and balanced diet. Students and other attendees were offered healthy saj snacks, traditional bean and cumin dishes, and Lebanese dried fruits and nuts. 

Healthy natural herbs, fruits and vegetables found in Lebanon were displayed under tents covered with decorative vine leaves, in front of the Safadi Fine Arts Building.

Traditional Lebanese dishes that are healthy and light — such as labneh — were promoted using posters hung over decorative traditional objects representing Lebanese village life, including water and food jars, musical instruments, and old gardening tools.

Five student clubs participated in a live cooking contest held as part of the event. Representatives of the Greek Group, UNESCO Club, Women’s Voice Club, MUN program group, and the Red Cross Club had to prepare creative and healthy fillings for four pieces of saj dough, two as main dishes and two as desserts.

 The contestants were judged by Dr. Tarek Na’was (5th from right), Dean of Students in Beirut, chefs Afif Hachem (3rd from right) and Chafic Koleilat (2nd from right), from the Hospitality Management Department of LAU’s School of Business, and Janine Zacca, Director of the Guidance Office in Beirut (1st from right). First place went to the MUN program representatives, second place to the Women’s Voice Club, and third place to the UNESCO club. The three winning teams were announced by Na’was at the end of the event and received special trophies. Here, the representatives of all teams pose with jury members.

Dr. Na’was and chefs Hachem and Koleilat sample one of the dishes in the cooking contest presented by a student.

The event started with a small sketch by students, introducing the theme of the event and talking about healthy, natural Lebanese food.

Then, a performance by the Music Club started the dabke spark and had students dancing in front of the Safadi Fine Arts Building hand-in-hand until the end of the event.
 

LAU’s Pharmacy School in collaboration with the No Apathy Pharmacy and Health Awareness Student Society (NAPHASS) club invited students to party inside a simulation night club free of drugs and alcohol, at LAU Byblos April 23, to discourage drug use on the occasion of Pharmacy Day. After taking shots of orange juice and dancing dabke under a disco ball, students sat down with representatives from the Oum el Nour Rehabilitation and Drug Prevention Center for a discussion on how to deal with drug abusers.

The night club was designed by five LAU interior design students taught by Dr. Rachid Chamoun, director of LAU’s Urban Planning Institute: Stephanie Atamian, Cynthia Hamamji, Rouba Mouawad, Audrey Asly, and Diane Chaoui. They competed against two other groups for the winning design.

Dr. Aline Saad, clinical assistant professor who chose the winning design, says the project attempts to show students that they can still have fun at night clubs without drinking or using drugs. “We dare to say no to drugs,” she says.

Visitors to the night club answered trivia questions about the effects of drugs to win a free, non-alcoholic drink.

Pharmacy student Ibrahim Bob Choucair was the bartender in the club.

Anti-drug pamphlets were distributed to visitors.

Dr. Rabih Dabliz, faculty member at the School of Pharmacy, was the DJ at the event. He kept the beats booming loud inside the club, though the music could be heard throughout the campus.

Students assemble into a dabke circle.

The music and smoke machine attracted dozens of students to the night club.

Oum el Nour lent organizers dozens of drug-awareness posters and pamphlets to display and distribute outside the night club.

Saad (wearing black) says the event took about a week of preparation. Many of the materials to decorate the night club were rented.

After the fun activities, Nady Sfeir, the director of Training and Prevention Project Development at Oum el Nour, spoke with pharmacy students about what they should expect in their professional futures dealing with drug abusers.

He explained that the most effective method of spreading caution regarding drug use was through their efforts as youths reaching out to other youths. “It is a lot more effective than someone like me giving students a lecture,” he said.

The Armenian student clubs at LAU Byblos and Beirut held events on both campuses on April 21 and 23, respectively, to mark the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with music, dance and presentations.

Separately, three LAU fine arts faculty members are participating in a collective art exhibition, along with 26 other Lebanese artists, in an off-campus event, organized by an Armenian cultural organization to mark the same occasion.

Beirut-campus event

Texts, photographs and posters were displayed on the Beirut, to inform passers-by about the genocide committed by Ottoman Turkey. The Beirut event was held a day before the date Armenians throughout the world commemorate the tragic events every year.

Tsolere Arslanian, a member of the Armenian Cultural Club in Beirut, opened the event with a moment of silence for the victims of the genocide.

Four traditional Armenian dances were performed by the Freedom Dance Group outside the Safadi Fine Arts Building.

Lebanese director and actress Carmen Labaki was the main speaker at both the Beirut (here) and Byblos events. In 2006, she directed My Name is Aram, a film that revolves around the life of a 92-year-old witness to the genocide.

Hagop Kelougian played the duduk, a traditional Armenian flute, at both events in Beirut (here) and Byblos. Between songs, he told parts of a story of an old man who loses everything he had ever known and finds himself alone in a desert.

The Beirut event was attended by LAU students, faculty and staff. From left: Vatche Papazian, LAU Beirut Registrar; musician Hagop Kelougian; Sami Garabedian, Athletics Director at LAU Beirut and advisor of the Armenian Cultural Club in Beirut; guest speaker Carmen Labaki; and Dr. Tarek Na’was, Dean of Students in Beirut.

Attendees place flowers in memory of the over 1.5 million Armenians who were killed during the genocide, next to the Tzitzernakabert monument replica made by Armenian scouts. The original monument was constructed between 1966 and 1968 on a hill overlooking Yerevan, Armenia, where hundreds of thousands of mourners gather each year to commemorate the victims.

Byblos-campus event

During the Byblos event, Labaki showed a clip from My Name is Aram that depicts an old man mourning over the grave of his brother who was killed during the genocide.

Dr. Mars Semaan, Dean of Students in Byblos, and Dr. Elise Salem, Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management, honor Labaki with a plaque on behalf of the Armenian Club in Byblos.

Information and photographs about the genocide were hung on columns, windows and walls down the hall toward Selina Korban Theater where the event was held.

A student looks over posters about the genocide following the presentations in Byblos.

Remembering the genocide victims through art

LAU fine arts faculty members Mona Jabbour, Ghassan Ghazal, and Greta Naufal (not pictured) are showcasing their paintings, together with such renowned Lebanese artists as Guvder, Maroun Hakim, Hasan Jouni, Krikor Norikian, and Haroutioun Torossian, at a collective exhibit dedicated to the genocide victims, in the Hamazkayin Lucy Tutunjian Art Gallery in Bourj Hammoud. The exhibit opened April 22, and will continue till May 3 (excluding Sundays), from 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. It is being organized by the art gallery and is under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia.

Mona Jabbour in front of her painting titled Aftermath, during the opening. Jabbour began working on this painting after the 2006 war in Lebanon. She explains, “It is a dark view of a place that has been hit by a tragedy. … Since the genocide is a human calamity and crime, therefore sad and full of death, this painting … might relate to that theme: A desolate place after some sad event.”

Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, the Prelate of the Armenian Diocese in Lebanon, representing Catholicos Aram I, looks at Jabbour’s painting, at the opening.

Ghassan Ghazal made this painting he is exhibiting, called Suspended Memory, specifically in memory of the Armenian Genocide. “In one sentence, my title and painting represent the memory of the Armenians’ tragic destiny,” he says. He explains, “On the left side of the painting, a human shadow is hidden behind bars colored with red, blue and orange. For me, the shadow represents the spirit of our memory. As for the right side, I’ve painted in a messy way some symbolic figures, such as a cross in mourning, a surviving fish, and ironically a little toy soldier in upside-down position, shooting bullets in all directions.” Ghazal adds, “Since my Assyrian ancestors were also persecuted, most of my artwork is related to subjects such as memory and identity.”

A painting (left) by Greta Naufal decorates the wall of the exhibition hall.

Organized as part of the course Introduction to Public Relations with Dr. Ramez Maluf, chair of LAU’s Communication Arts Department, the event included a fashion show featuring local boutiques and international and local designers, as well as a hair show, live entertainment and an alcohol-free cocktail party.

LAU students and graduates were behind three of the showcased brands — Tamara Designs, Clara & Lula, and Miri NJ Bags.

Approximately 380 people attended the event, which was covered by local and international media, and over $9,000 in net profits were donated to drug rehabilitation and prevention foundation Oum el Nour.

The 10 students — Alia Samman, Natalia El Mani, Jihane de Freige, Nicolas Hadad, Maria Antoun, Tala Tourbah, Karim Jamaleddine, Myriam Agha, Raha Richani and Ali Yassen — collaborated with about 15 companies and individual sponsors. Thirty-one volunteering students from various high schools and universities in Lebanon modeled. Tickets for the event were sold for $40.

A raffle gave attendees the opportunity to win mobile phones, DVDs, spa treatments, gym memberships, free manicures and pedicures, handbags, and other goodies from sponsors.

According to student coordinator Alia Samman the event was not just a fashion show — it also raised awareness about drug abuse, a problem ignored by many in Lebanon. “We would like to think we opened the attendees’ eyes to a problem they were turning a blind eye to,” she says.

Samman says getting funding was a challenge, as many companies did not want to be associated with drugs in any way. She explained: “We asked certain big companies for financial donations and they were interested until they knew the cause, and they did not want to relate their name to drugs in any way.”

The assistant general manager at the Oum el Nour foundation, Pamela Hakim, says the students clearly demonstrated awareness of the problem as well as a willingness to take action. “It reflects their acceptance and support of our cause. It shows they perceive a person with drug addiction as an individual worthy to help, care for and support,” she says.

It is not easy to stop drug use by decreasing drug supply and trafficking, Hakim says. Instead, reducing the demand for drugs by raising awareness is effective, she adds.

Recent LAU graduate Miri Najarian, who launched Miri NJ Bags last year, says she participated for the exposure but also for the cause. “We need more prevention for drug abuse in Lebanon because even though we don’t really talk about it, it’s going on a lot. It’s really important that we be aware of these things,” she says.

“The effort put in the planning, organizing and realizing the event was impressive. It showed that the students were driven by their enthusiasm,” says Hakim.

The group brought along several rescued dogs and explained how the K9s are helping disabled and injured children find new joy in life.

“We are really against buying animals, we’d rather see them adopted,” said Sevine Zahran, one of BETA’s board members present at the event.

Zahran said that BETA is looking after about 240 dogs in its shelter that are in need of permanent homes and she encouraged people to consider an adoption.

The event was organized by LAU’s Institute for Peace and Justice Education at the School of Arts and Sciences.

“Peace education is not limited to human relationships. We have to learn to respect life in all its forms,” said Dr. Irma-Kaarina Ghosn, the institute’s director and chair of LAU’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in Byblos, after citing one of Gandhi’s famous quotes: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

During the 2006 war on Lebanon, BETA rented a new center in Monteverde in Mount Lebanon to protect animals abandoned by their owners from Israeli bombings. BETA members also drove throughout the South with bags of food for cats and dogs left stranded on the streets.

Helena Husseini, another BETA board member, said the group promotes a vegetarian diet and cautioned against the consumption of meat from the Beirut slaughterhouse because of its unsanitary conditions.

The group also responded to critics who argue that they should be helping humans instead of animals by pointing out that there already exist thousands of registered organizations in Lebanon with that goal.

“Some people will say it’s a bit unusual to protect animals in Lebanon when people often don’t even respect human beings,” Husseini said. “Well the thing is, you can do both.”

For more information about BETA, visit its website.

Lebanon is heading toward “concentrated” AIDS outbreaks among homosexuals and drug users who share needles if a trend of increased infections continues, said Dr. Jacques Mokhbat, chair of the Department of Medicine at the Lebanese University, who was one of two speakers. Dr. Mona Haidar, an LAU medical school faculty member, also gave a lecture entitled “HIV, Social Response and Human Rights Issues.”

AIDS “is not a low prevalence anymore,” said Mokhbat in his lecture entitled “HIV in Lebanon,” adding that the spread of the disease would be categorized as an epidemic if the figure of infected individuals climbs to 5 percent within those groups. “We are getting there,” he added.

Mokhbat identified a host of problems facing infected individuals in Lebanon, namely with the shortage of effective medical treatments, ignorant and unqualified medical workers, and a widespread stigma in Lebanese society which often leads to infected persons losing their jobs.

According to Mokhbat, there are about 500 known individuals living with HIV in the country, though he suspects the figure to be closer to 2,000.

During the second lecture, Dr. Haidar who specializes in social medicine, raised awareness about another side of the global HIV endemic — as a human rights issue. She linked the spread of the disease to issues of fear, stigma and discrimination, using the example of poverty-stricken countries where AIDS is prevalent, such as many African nations.

“AIDS is a disease of poverty and social injustice,” she said. “And to do something about AIDS, you have to do something about poverty and injustice.”

Haidar is an activist with Partners in Health, an organization treating HIV patients in the tiny African country of Lesotho.

She cited statistics revealing that globally one person dies every 16 seconds from HIV, while every 12 seconds, a new person contracts the disease.

Dr. Kamal Badr, founding dean of LAU’s medical school, emphasized the sense of urgency to mobilize efforts to support not just HIV patients, but individuals infected with other diseases such as tuberculosis.

“When you have activists going after people in power, you get something done,” he said.

In a separate event the following day to mark World AIDS Day, the Guidance Office–Beirut set up an eight-hole golf course on the Beirut campus, outside the Safadi Fine Arts Building. Some of the holes were constructed with a medical-themed design including a syringe and a feeding bag. In addition to the awareness-raising golf game, participants enjoyed live music and food.

The university has issued advice and precautions to all students, staff and faculty. LAU Provost Abdallah Sfeir reminded the university community by email at the beginning of the academic year that, “Faculty are kindly reminded not to penalize students should they absent themselves. Staff are urged to provide support to students if and when needed.”

Staff, students or faculty who get sick are advised to immediately contact the registered nurse of their campus: Joceline Karkour in Beirut, at extension 1132, and Maria El Ghoul in Byblos, at extension 2179.

H1N1: Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs were emailed to the LAU community by Dr. Elise Salem, vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Management. She launched and is a member of the LAU Epidemic Steering Committee, which also includes the Deans of Students, directors of Guidance and registered nurses on both campuses, as well as Dr. Anna Farra, an infectious diseases specialist and a faculty member in the LAU School of Medicine.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are the same as the regular flu, with sudden onset of fever, coughing and airway symptoms. Occasional diarrhea might occur. In many cases the symptoms are mild.

When should I suspect that I have the flu?
It is cold season now, and every other person has a runny nose and coughs. If you have fever (38 C or more) and the above-mentioned symptoms, you can suspect the flu.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you have fever over 38 C, runny nose, sore throat, chills, GO STRAIGHT HOME by private car or taxi. Do not stay in your dorm room unless you have nowhere else to go. In any case, please notify the relevant school nurse:

Beirut: Joceline Karkour, ext. 1132
Byblos: Maria El Ghoul, ext. 2179

How long do I stay home?
STAY HOME for the duration of the fever and 24 hours after the fever has subsided (without the help of Panadol or other medication).

Will I be penalized at the university?
NO, as faculty are well aware of the epidemic. Provide reasonable support documents if you miss classes.

Is it necessary to get the H1N1 test?
NO, unless you are in a risk group or your physician has special reasons to advise you to do so.

Am I in a risk group?
The risk groups are:
• Children below 5 years of age;
• Pregnant women;
• People of all ages with another disease (asthma, diabetes, heart conditions …); and
• People over 65 years of age.

How is the flu transmitted?
The flu is transmitted through droplets (aerosol) from an infected person. The virus can also be deposited on surfaces.

How do I prevent transmission?
Hand hygiene and cough etiquette as well as frequent cleaning of all used surfaces.

Shall I stay home if my classmate was sick yesterday?
NO, if you are healthy, you are supposed to come. Only exceptions will be made for people in risk groups on a case-by-case basis.

Shall I go to the pharmacy and start taking Tamiflu?
NO, if you are healthy, the benefits of antiviral medicine are of little value. If you are in one of the risk groups, contact your physician as soon as possible.

Should I be vaccinated?
Vaccination for the regular seasonal flu is recommended, even if it will not protect you against the H1N1 flu.

How do I protect myself?
• Avoid close contact with anyone sick.
• If you have symptoms (like common cold), avoid crowded places and follow cough etiquette (cough in a paper tissue and throw it).
• Use thorough hand hygiene. Wash your hands!
• Using a mask is efficient in a health care setting but very questionable in other settings.

These are some sites to follow the pandemic:
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

For further information, please contact the Deans of Students at LAU:
Beirut: Dr. Tarek Na’was, ext. 1427
Byblos: Dr. Mars Semaan, ext. 2343
 

To educate the LAU community on effective drug use and the current Influenza A (H1N1) epidemic, pharmacy students carried out a series of awareness-raising activities on the Byblos campus on November 6, with the collaboration of the Guidance Office–Byblos. The Pharmacy Day was the first event organized for this academic year by the No Apathy Pharmacy and Health Awareness Student Society.

The event included a new campaign, “The Flu and You,” related to the current epidemic, in addition to the “Educate Before You Medicate” campaign, which offered information about safe medication use.


With Influenza A (H1N1) constantly in the news, pharmacy students shed light on the signs and symptoms, prevention, vaccination and treatment of the virus, as well as the history of pandemics and pathophysiology. Hand sanitizers were also distributed to passers-by.


Height, weight, ideal body weight and body mass index calculations were available.

Blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and other tests were also offered.


Passers-by enjoyed vitamin C-rich fruits and healthy drinks such as orange juice and lemonade.

Dr. Farid Sadik (top, 5th from right), dean of the School of Pharmacy, with pharmacy students and faculty.

Hospitality management students at LAU’s Beirut campus offered handmade sandwiches, desserts and drinks on October 28 to promote healthy eating. The event, themed “Healthy Eating, Healthy Living,” was held in collaboration with LAU’s Hospitality Management Program and was organized by the Beirut Guidance Office in support of World Food Day which is observed worldwide on October 16.
 

Informative stands and posters about nutrition promoted healthy eating habits.

Passers-by tasted healthy sandwiches made on campus by students taking hospitality management courses.

Passers-by also enjoyed healthy drinks like lemonade and ice tea while they flocked around informative stands, and listened to a live performance by a student band in front of the Safadi Fine Arts Building.

Over 850 cups of fruit salads and light desserts and 1,400 sandwiches were prepared by students taking food preparation and chocolate and pastry courses.

Healthy desserts such as custard and rice pudding were offered to passers-by.

Hospitality management students with event organizers and LAU officers.

Directed by award-winning Carol Mansour, Maid in Lebanon II was filmed in Sri Lanka and Lebanon with funding from the International Labour Organization. The piece is part of an awareness campaign dubbed "Gender Equality at the Heart of Decent Work," led by ILO's Regional Office for Arab States.

Maid in Lebanon I (2005) revealed cases of torture, exploitation, rape and suicide.

The sequel, produced in 2008, featured four Lebanese employers and recounted the working conditions of their housekeepers. It also addressed the rights and obligations of both sides under the Lebanese law.

According to a 2006 study mentioned in the film, in Lebanon 100,000 domestic workers were subjected to verbal abuse, 60,000 to 70,000 to physical punishment and food deprivation, and 10,000 to 20,000 to physical and sexual abuse.

A Sri Lankan domestic worker featured in the documentary said she worked for eight years without pay. "I couldn't send letters nor make phone calls and was always jailed in the house with the lights off," she said.

Another migrant worker in the film only recalled waking up in a hospital, paralyzed from the waist down, with her hands and back broken. "They told me I fell from the fifth floor," she said, adding that she had lost all memory of her childhood and the years she spent in her homeland.

"They demand so much," an employer complained. "You can't even beat them anymore because they've become so rude."

The film included interviews with more benevolent hosts. Ghada Najjar, an employer interviewed in the film, said Jelly, her maid, is considered a "helper who is loved and respected." Another woman said her housekeeper is allowed to travel three months per year. "She also goes out, has fun and her friends come over," she says in the interview.

ILO is planning to screen the documentary at other universities, NGOs, community centers and 250 public schools. The LAU event was organized on November 19 by the Institute for Migration Studies, the Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World and the Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation.

Mansour thinks this initiative should be expanded. "A regional documentary should be done due to the shocking realities that are occurring in the Arab world against domestic workers," she said.

Owner of Forward Productions, Mansour mainly shoots documentaries on social issues. At the 2007 New Zealand Documentary Festival, she won the first prize for A Summer Not to Forget, a short documentary about the July 2006 war in Lebanon. Her film about street children in Cairo, 100% Asphalt, received awards at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in 2002 and the Rotterdam Arabic Film Festival a year later.

ILO's awareness-raising project is complemented by legal initiatives. During the Q&A session following the screening, Dr. Simel Esim, senior regional gender specialist at ILO's Regional Office for Arab States in Beirut, said the office has been drafting unified employment contracts in Arabic, English, French and the migrants' native languages. The contracts are to be given to the workers upon their arrival in Lebanon to safeguard the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees.

Esim said that ILO is also pressuring the government to draft new laws for migrant workers. "Days off, overtime, sick leaves are all being put under the law but we don't know when it will pass," she added.

The latest activity included setting up stands for two days and collecting signatures in support of a draft law that criminalizes domestic violence in Lebanon.

The activity began on November 25, coinciding with the start of an international annual event organized in Lebanon by the NGO "KAFA: Enough Violence and Exploitation," in collaboration with LAU's Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World. The umbrella event, dubbed "16 Days Activism Against Gender Violence," is to conclude on International Human Rights Day (December 10).

Danielle Howayek, a lawyer and KAFA member, explained that the new bill was needed because "the laws issued in the '40s [in Lebanon] are still being applied despite women's progressed situation."

"Given that one of our objectives is to serve as a catalyst for policy changes regarding the rights of women in the Arab world, we wanted to mobilize the students at LAU, along with the faculty and staff, to support efforts that aim at combating domestic violence," said Myriam Sfeir Murad, managing editor of Al-Raida, IWSAW's quarterly journal.

The signature collection first took place on campus November 3-5, along with distribution of pamphlets, awareness-raising stands and film screenings.

A short film titled Survivors--a mixture of fiction and real-life testimonies of abuse--showed a wife ironing clothes as her husband entered home. In the second scene, Lebanese women described their euphoric initial relationships with their husbands. Next, the wife from the imaginary story asked her husband for money to buy medicine for their sick daughter.

The film then shifted to the real-life women, this time explaining how their marital conflicts started. In the next scene, the fictitious husband was burning his wife's hand with the iron, hitting her and accusing her of not having taken care of his daughter, while the latter watched helplessly.

After the screening, Howayek discussed the movie with students. Together, they classified the types of violence portrayed, identified the victims, and argued about some captivating incidents recounted by the women, such as their sufferings at police stations and courts.

"Thanks to the documentary and the poignant testimonies of the abused women, our students realized that anyone can be a victim and it is our duty to help," said Sfeir Murad.

Three of the young filmmakers received awards at the event, the first of its kind in Lebanon.

Children of the Streets, directed by Tania Choueiri, was awarded $3,000. The young director thought of making a movie about homeless children, having worked with them as a volunteer. "They already knew me. I had spent time with them. The camera did not bother the children at all," Choueiri said. "Actually there was a competition between them to give interviews," she added. She is about to complete her master's degree at Université Saint Joseph this semester, and said she would use the money for her graduation project.

LAU graduate Yury Tamer won the second prize ($2,000) for a film he had directed as a communication media student in 2003. Most Beautiful Stories tackled the drama of a woman who had been raped but kept it a secret for fear of being judged by society. Tamer thought of this topic when a friend told him about Article 522 of the Lebanese Penal Code, according to which a rapist can be absolved of all charges by marrying the victim. "The most difficult part of making the movie was to find a woman who would talk about such an experience," said Tamer, who is now a TV director.

The third winner was Bechara Damouni for Life's Hope, which told the story of physically disabled people who struggle with life in a Palestinian camp--trying to drive even if they lost their legs and work even if they lost their hands. "I wanted to show the hope that they have for a normal life after being injured in the war," said Damouni, a senior at the Department of Audio Visual in the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. It's the second award Damouni wins for this movie.

The judges also awarded two special prizes. One went to Rawane Nassif's My Ball, about children who sold scrap iron to buy a ball to play with. Maya Dergham, a Beirut Arab University student, was equally mentioned for Girls Are the Scapegoat, a movie about abuse of underage girls.

The event was organized by LAU's Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation in cooperation with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and World Vision Lebanon, and it received support from the embassy of the Netherlands in Lebanon.

Program Coordinator Adiba Barq said the organizing team was satisfied with the interest schools showed in participating in the event. "There were sessions when we had 140-180 students in the cinema hall discussing human rights issues," Barq said.

IDCT Director Walid Moubarak was also impressed by the students' reaction to the films. "While watching the movies with the kids I became aware of the different values and the different interpretations they had for what was happening on the screen," he said. "We raised their curiosity by showing them that there are other opinions outside their community," Moubarak added.

The festival aims to cover the Middle East in 2009, according to Dr. Iwona Safi, who directed the festival with Maurice Maalouf. "There is a need in the region for programs like ours. We're building a network with other universities and the responses are positive," she said.

In the meantime, IDCT, in cooperation with several international and non-governmental organizations, is planning to develop educational kits to be distributed to Lebanese schools.

"Educate Before You Medicate" was the main theme of the awareness campaign's first and third days, led by Pharm.D. and B.S. (first and third professional-year) students, respectively. "Our message [to the community] this year is education. Learn about your drugs, and know that drugs taken blindly may be hazardous," said Dr. Marwan Akel, assistant professor of pharmacy.

The students seemed to be aware of their essential role in this regard. "We're specialists, we're pharmacists, we're drugs experts. We're not here just to sell and buy drugs... We're here to counsel patients on the way they have to take [them]," said Lama Kheir, fourth-year pharmacy student.

The second professional-year students took over the second day's activities that focused on raising awareness on cancer and its prevention. The subject was high on the agenda, as "studies have shown that cancer is severely on the rise in Lebanon due to people's ignorance of detection," said Akel.

Throughout the three days, booths erected on campus were transformed into "little clinics." Pharmacy students advised visitors of their prescriptions and diets, and measured their blood pressure and body-fat percentage. Posters on hypertension, diabetes, asthma, smoking, and cancer aimed at attracting passers-by's attention through visuals and slogans.

The pharmacy students were "excited about helping people and giving back some of their knowledge," said Dr. Aline Saad, clinical assistant professor.

On the last day, 130 highschoolers visiting the campus to learn about the pharmacy program took part in the various activities. They also attended a lecture by Dr. Ziad Nassour, former president of the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, who spoke about the educational role of pharmacists and the issue of counterfeit drugs in Lebanon.

The Pharmacy Week also served as an opportunity to raise funds for the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon by selling mugs and cakes. "We are all committed to helping the center fulfill its mission of helping children receive better care," said Christian Khoury, fourth-year pharmacy student.

The spirit of the pharmacy students during the Pharmacy Week showed that they had grasped Dean Farid Sadik's words at the White Coat Ceremony a week earlier. "A lot is expected from you as you embark toward a career in pharmacy, including your duty to contribute to its advancement, protect its reputation, and value the ethics it represents," Sadik had said at the ceremony. It had marked the start of the academic year for 26 pharmacy doctorate candidates and 75 undergraduates.

"We thought of an innovative and pioneering way to pursue our goal by promoting human rights through ... the art of filming," said IDCT Director Dr. Walid Moubarak. The institute and the School of Arts and Sciences in Byblos are organizing the event in partnership with the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR), World Vision Lebanon, and the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The event gives university students from Lebanon majoring in film, audio visual and related majors the opportunity to participate in a contest by submitting their short films by June 17. Students can choose to shed light on human rights abuse as a cause of violent conflict, youth responding to human rights violations, children's rights, or gender and human rights. The prizes range from $3,000 for the first place to $1,000 for the third.

Selected films will be screened during a festival on October 27–31. An awareness campaign will follow with the distribution of these films, along with other educational resources, to schools, universities and other organizations.

Mr. Nabil Rawda, representing Mr. Fateh Azzam, the UNOHCHR representative, described the initiative as "yet another example of LAU's academic commitment to engage with the crucial issues of our present time, and to ensure that the future is built on a solid foundation of peace, human development, and progress."

For more information, visit the Beirut Human Rights Film Festival's site.

The WHO-initiated day to refrain from smoking is observed around the world every year on May 31.

In Beirut, the Health Office tackled the topic of drug addiction. "The brain is Ecstasy's precious junk food," was one of many phrases meant to alert students to the physical and mental consequences of addiction.

A band of LAU students played songs they composed specially for the occasion.

Marie José Hnein, who majors in business at LAU and won the Miss Lebanon 2003 contest, then took to the stage to share what she learned through participation in health awareness campaigns. "Make life your only addiction," was her advice to fellow students.

A former drug addict showed courage in talking about family and social conditions that led him to addiction. Beirut campus nurse and campaign organizer Rita Doumit commended him for opening up his harrowing experiences for those who wanted to listen.

Photos of the event are available on the SDEM website.

In Byblos, the Guidance Office and the First Aid Club held an anti-smoking campaign with the aim of promoting a smoke-free campus.

A competition was organized to help smokers control the bad habit. A "quitter kit" was distributed to all participants with sugar-free juice, lollipops, chewing gum and ice cream, fat-free yogurt and milk, soya biscuits and herbal tea.

Three specialized centers--Tobacco Free Initiative, Skoun (Lebanese Addiction Center) and IQS Center--participated in the event. Their representatives answered student concerns and gave advice on the techniques they offer to help people quit smoking and drugs.

The campus events were similar to previous ones LAU organized to take a proactive role in prevention of issues that touch the lives of students.

Students were treated to a hilarious sketch by Mario Bassil '88, a comedian whose performances usually satirize current socio-political events.

Bassil's skit was followed by a Q&A between students and psychology faculty members Dr. Ketty Sarouphim and Dr. Nabih Eid. During the discussion, conducted by LBCI anchorwoman Shada Omar '93, students asked questions and received advice about personal concerns related to depression and anxiety.

The event, held on the Beirut campus April 7, 2006, included a live music performance by a band of LAU students who composed a hip-hop song for the occasion.

About 50 other students from the Photography II and Advertising Design classes in both the Beirut and Byblos campuses contributed to the event by posting photographs and advertisements with related awareness messages.

Five students won a draw for dinner at the Meridian Hotel, in recognition of their efforts in organizing the campaign.

Awareness fliers were distributed debunking myths and encouraging students to resort to the campus counselor for help in overcoming their problems, anxieties and stress.