Balamand Red Cross Visits Hospitals

Stephanie Issa

The Red Cross Youth, of Balamand conducted their annual visiting to hospitals for Christmas on Saturday, December,18,2010  starting at 10pm.  The purpose of this event is to spread the Christmas spirit in the hearts of the people in the hospital, and to put a smile on their faces.  The Red Cross Youth team went to two hospitals, Borji and Haykaliyi. The visits included activities for kids and adults, such as Santa Clause, and Mama Clause.  Almost 60 gifts were given away by the Red Cross Youth.

UOB celebrates the Annual Christmas festival

By Ahmed al Falacy

The University of Balamand presents the annual Christmas festival which is being brought to us by all clubs. It will take place today, December 21, at Murr Hall. The festival will start at 11:00am and will end at 3:00pm. There is going to be many activities for children such paint ball, the secret Santa game, a piñata game and face painting following a magic show.

UOB’s result not very impressive in University league

By Basel Bawji

In the University league that is being held at several universities, including UOB, LAU, AUB, HU, Mar Roukoz University and USJ, the University of Balamand’s teams are not showing impressive results in most competitions. After a tie game 1-1 against LAU in football, a loss against USJ in women’s basketball, in which the team Captain Lama Moukadem got injured, UOB’s men’s futsal team lost 8- 2 to Haigazian University in a disappointing loss, followed by another loss against USJ in handball 32-28. What is notable is that UOB has one of the best physical education departments in Lebanon, and the question to why the disappointing results of UOB’s competitive teams remains unmarked.

When asked for the reason why the UOB teams are losing, Tony Deeb answered, “Our teams’ performances are in recession but they will get better once the players will get used to each others”.

UOB’s school tournament succeeds again

Bassel Bawji

Thirty four schools from the north and 1 school from Jbeil participated in UOB’s school tournament that was held at UOB’s campus facility. The tournament started on November 19 and ended on December 10. Competitions included “men’s and women’s basketball”, “men’s and women’s football”, “track and field” and “swimming”. “The tournament was very successful, and the teams were competitive”, said Tony Deeb. There was good competition amongst the northern schools, and students were able to show off their off-class talents and competitiveness.

UOB Rugby: Key win over the Wolves in Bank Beirut tournament

By Bassel Bawji

In Bank Beirut tournament, the UOB rugby team beat the AUB rugby (Wolves) 32-22 in a key win. The game was held at Tripoli Olympic field on Sunday December 5, 2010 . The Wolves The 1^st half ended 24-4 for Balamand but after a good comeback from the Wolves, the latter competed till the end and managed to keep the ball game going to the last second with a score of 32-22 for Balamand. Best scorers in the game were Hilal Kadoum & Alain Soultani with 3 points each, and each of Sami Mansour, Tarek Majzoub & Gaytong Othman scored 2 points.

The Wolves has three players who are in the Lebanese national rugby team and have the potential to be professionals.

Valrhona educates Tourism and Hotel Management students on chocolate

By Marianne Tannous

Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management hosted Valrhona company on Thursday 9^th of December 2010. In the presentation Chef Gyanloka Vesta and Mrs. Zeina Lerbi explained their motto “Chocolate…from bean to bar”, how to turn chocolate from bean to bars.Valrhona is a French company that was started by Albereck Gweruinth in 1922. It is one of the top companies that produce chocolate. Valrhona owns 5 other companies and has 60 distibuters around the world.  

Starwood Company opportunities for Hotel Management students

By Marianne Tannous

Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management hosted Starwood Company on Tuesday 14^th of December 2010 in Jacobo Auditorium. The learning and development executer Asha Bouley introduced the career opportunities that they offer for Hotel Management, Marketing and Business students after they graduate. Starwood runs a variety of the top hotels including Le Meridien, Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, W-hotels and Luxury Collections.  The presentation was about W-hotels in Doha which is a branch of Starwood Company.

Math Visions Meets Arts at Zakhem Hall

By Stephanie Issa

 The Office of Student Affairs and the Public Relation department organized an exhibition entitled, "Math Vision".  The event was held at the Zakhem auditorium on Wednesday, December, 8, 2010 at 3pm. Thirty pieces were presented in the exhibition, aimed to show the intersection between science and arts. The exhibition started with a presentation for Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, a math professor, about the techniques that he used to relate math and art together.  Dr. Abdulaziz used the cosine and sine graphs to produce the art of a bone.  In addition to the trigonometric functions, Dr. Abdulaziz also used some of the polynomial, squared equations to form an eye and a flower as well. 

Fourteen clubs celebrate Christmas Festival

By Stephanie Issa

The Office of Students Affairs organizes the annual festival for Christmas holidays on Tuesday, 21^st of December, 2010 at the Murr Hall, Khoury building. The aim this event is to reunite all the clubs together for the Christmas holidays and spread the Christmas spirit. 

According to, Veronik, an assistant of the co curriculum activity, fourteen clubs will participate in the event, each having a special theme for Christmas. Some of the clubs will organize children activities.  Christmas music CDs will be sold, others will do secret santa, a magician brought by another club, bakery sale, and more. 

Veronik stated, "this event is considered as profit and charity on as this time of the year and specially this holiday."   "There will be a DJ, huge sound systems to spread the music around", Veronik added. The festival is open for the public.  

Highlights sixth’s issue next week in campus

Stephanie Issa

The Highlights, the UOB newspaper, will be distributing its issue No. 6 on Tuesday, December, 21,2010. The main theme of the new issue of Highlights is "eating habits".

Amal Dib the managing editor of Highlights, explained that this issue will provide students with students’ experiences and perspectives about eating habits. "students don’t know what they eat. They live in such a hectic life because they don’t pay attention to what they eat, or whether living a healthy life",  Amal Dib said.

Forum Fares held anti-terrorism conference

By Bassel Bawji

An anti-terrorism conference was held on Thursday 9 of December at 12:30 pm at Fares hall 226.The conference overviewed the effects of post 9/11 attacks on global society. Moreover, the conference discussed advanced and new ways that are being used by governments, specially the Western ones. These methods include sophisticated airport security, increased internet security, and phone tapping.  The conference also discussed better ways of Western governments in dealing with the Muslim world. The lecturers of the conference were Professors Jude Howell, Mrs. Nisrine Mansour and Professor Jeremy Land. It is mentionable that the three speakers are doctors in political sciences and UK University lecturers.

  

Cine club presents the screening of L’avventura

By Ahmed al-falacy

The cine club will be present the movie called L’avventura today, Tuesday 14 of December, at 5:00pm in Fares 119. The movie was followed by a commentary Dr.Charles Dick who is the advisor of the cine club. L’avventura is an Italian movie from 1960 which was directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. The story starts with a woman disappears during a Mediterranean boating trip and during the search, her lover and her best friend start to fall in love with each other.

Scholarships offered for students to study in Germany

By Marianne Tannous

Andreas Wutz, the representative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) was invited to talk about the study in Germany on Thursday the 25th of November 2010. Main topics of the presentation discussed universities in Germany, the studying theme, scholarships and doctoral programs.

Andreas started the presentation with information about Germany and its history and inventions. Then he mentioned the requirements needed for scholarships that foreign students need to study there, as well as PhD programs.

It was estimated that all in all living expenses for a student studying in Germany would not exceed 700 Euros per month. Students going to study in Germany don’t have to be fluent in German in order to apply or enroll in universities there as there are 950 programs offered in English. More than 57000 scholarships are granted each year, and in 2009 statistics more scholarships were given to foreigners than Germans.

Opportunity for Balamand students to study in the United States

By Marianne Tannous

The Fulbright visiting program offers new scholarships to study in the United States for the Academic Year 2011-2012. The mission of the Fulbright visiting program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. Its aim is to provide educational exchange experiences to a maximum number of individuals not previously afforded such an opportunity.

Applicants should have citizenship or permanent resident status, doctoral degree or equivalent professional training or experience, proficiency in English and sound physical and mental health. The deadline for all applications is January 4, 2011.

Presentation for Hip-hop impact on music and culture

By Marwa Al-Hussein

The Office of Student Affairs in association with the Cultural Affairs Section in the American Embassy presented the “Low Frequency Group”, a hip-hop group, on Thursday, 2^nd of December in Hariri’s Auditorium. The group showed a work craft about the history of hip-hop and its impact on music and culture.

 Ken White, Low Frequency’s Musical Director said: “We came to Lebanon to find people who connect and relate to this culture that started in the US and propagated worldwide. Hip-hop is much more than what we know about it; there are many other important sides of its origin.”

The event was addressed to all northern high schools not just Balamand students and the audience even interacted with the group by getting up on stage and freestyle dancing with them.

Balamand Students Celebrated Halloween

By Marwa AL-Hussein

The students of balamand celebrated Halloween on Thursday, December 2. ,The celebration that happened in front of the cafeteria was a traditional one and it included wheat boiling and a performance dedicated from members of the music club.

”We are going to distribute wheat to everyone even to all of the offices nearby.” Says Maya from the OSA department. The event started at 10:00 a.m and was done at 3:00 p.m

The evening of the 3rd of December is Berbara in Lebanon.Youths dress up in costumes and go around singing songs door to door in return, they are given treats, traditionally a 'boiled wheat dish' flavored with rose water [2ameh el berbara].

Interactive Club hosted Meriam Nour

By Marwa AL-Hussein

The Interactive club hosted Meriam Nour Today, the Friday 3^rd of December, at 2:00 pm in the Jacobo Auditorium, to give a lecture about Macrobiotics and Healthy Lifestyle. “The lecture was interrupted for several reasons one of them was that Meriam couldn’t stand the crowd because the auditorium was fully crowded.” OSA representative.  Meriam Nour is a follower of the New Age movement, a movement that re-establishes old Pagan Ideas into our modern life.

Book Club Café Discusses "Animal Farm" on December, 9

By Stephanie Issa

The Book Club plans for a discussion for the members about the book entitled, "Animal Farm." the meeting will be on Thursday December 9, at 1 pm, at the OSA lounge.  "The book was chosen because it is controversial." Said Amal Dib, the president of the book club café. Amal also added that everyone is invited to read and come to discuss it. 

"Animal farm" is a short book written by George Orwel. The book was first published by Harcourt Brace and company in 1946. The book reflects historical era. It resembles the revolution that took place and resulted in the formation of the Soviet Snion and a new political system called proletarian dictatorship. The author used animals to embody humans in a magnificent style and anchor.

Exhibition for civil peace held at Fares Hall

 By Bassel Bawji

“Books from the Battlefield”, an anti-war and peace-encouraging exhibition is currently being  hosted in Fares Hall, until December 3, 2010. The exhibition is a collaboration between UMAM research and documentation and the University of Balamand.  It includes book covers, videos, and live presentations that remind the audience about the sorrows and tragedies of the wars over the past 300 years. Conflicts include the Turkish occupation, French occupation, civil war, Israeli invasion, and more. The exhibition aims to raise questions, not only suggest solutions. The event is a collaboration between the University of Balamand and UMAM D&R.

   

Fair trade lecture at zakhem auditorium

By Ahmed Alfalacy

The Interactive Club hosted a lecture for Fair Trade on the 25th of November at the zakhem auditorium. The lecture included presentations by the Interactive Club of the University of Balamand and a representative from the fair trade Lebanon Committee. The main objective of the organization is to help and improve the lives of people in rural areas of Lebanon due to the difficultness of sustaining a standard living quality. The event was concluded with a small reception for professionals and attendees from the industry to network. Fair trade Lebanon is a non profit, non-government organization that was first created in 2006 by a small group of Lebanese citizens.

Balamand celebrates Lebanese Independence Day with a Concert



By Stephanie Issa

The University of Balamand celebrated the Lebanese Independence Days on Tuesday, 23^rd of November with a concert.  The University choir sang with the help of the Lebanese army playing the music.  The concert was held at the Zakhem auditorium. The concert began with the Lebanese National Anthem played the Lebanese army lead by the Koronel George Herro, and sang by the choir, which was lead by Madame Gina Razzouk.  There were almost 14 songs sang by the choir and 3 were sang by one of the Lebanese army members.  Also, the folk chore dance had presented a scene for the event. Towards the end of the event, Dr. Elie Salem the president of the University gave a thank you gift to the Koronel. 

BBQ To Be Held Outside of Alba

By Ramsey Kharroubi

A homecoming barbeque is to be held by ALBA students for ALBA students only, outside of the ALBA building. The event is scheduled to take place on December 3rd at 8 pm. It will be priced at $10 per student. The heads of the planning committee stated that there is a special surprise for Alba students. Karaoke and a student DJ will provide entertainment for all guests. 

Social club: Karaoke Night at Eight café

Marwa Al-Hussein

Social club presents their first event for the academic year 2010-2011. The Karaoke Night is being held tonight, the Wednesday 24^th of November, starting at 9:30 pm at Eight Resto-Café; a new restaurant opened right in front of the main gate of the university.

 “ We are hoping to raise funds to help some families in the village of Kalhat who are in need of financial support! ”, said Jules Sassine, the Social Club President.

Tickets were on sale at the main gate all day by the club members, each ticket  for 20 L.L. including 2 drinks and appetizers.

Today, Balamand celebrates the Lebanese Independence Day with a concert

By Stephanie Issa

The University of Balamand celebrates the Lebanese Independence Day with a concert.  The concert is held Today, the Tuesday 23^rd of November, at 7:30 pm.  The university choirs will b e singing some patriotic songs with the army playing the songs.  Led by Koronel George Herro, the music band of the Lebanese Army will participate with the choir of the Balamand headed by Madame Gina Razzouk.

It was the 22 of November 1943, when Lebanon was declared independent and free from the French dominance.  Since then, Lebanon has been celebrating the Lebanese Independence day.

3 days book sale in Atef Daniel Library

By Stephanie Issa

Atef Daniel library has planned a 3 days books sale starting Tuesday, November 8^th 2010.  “This is not the first time that this event has happened; it is the fourth time to do such a thing”, said Ms. Sameera Bachir, the Library director.

Ms Sameera explains that the main objective of this event is to encourage students to read and benefit from the books. “We offer books, journals, and magazines with reduced prices, ranging from 1.000 LL to 15.000 LL”. 

The Library Director points out that books presented are duplicates of titles that the library owns. Books are offered in three Arabic, English, or French.