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AROUND
Carnegie Mellon Qatar Campus
Issue 1
Tuesday, October 18th 2005
All Around Back On Track
Dear readers,
I’m amazed how popular All Around became by the end of last year. All Around
was established to express the thoughts and belief of CMU-Q students to our small community in Education City. We, the Editorial Board, succeeded in publishing eight distinctive issues throughout the 2004-2005 academic year. However, our accomplishments were
limited due to our small number.
Our main target last year was to have a Student Newsletter! This year, we redirected our thoughts. We are aiming at having a high quality, student newsletter covering
different issues, news, and topics by various writers. All Around’s team more than doubled
in size. The Editorial Board is now formed of ten editors, each in charge of a specific duty.
This year’s team also includes Staff Writers. These writers are responsible for supplying a
certain number of articles every issue.
I would like to welcome Amun Bashir, Basheera Banu, Christina Shin, Dana Hadan, Marium Chandna, Ramsey Ramadan, Noor AlMadeed, Noor AlJassim, S. Mustafa
Hasnain, Yasser Khan, and Zaina Shreidi to All Around’s family. These enthusiastic persons joined All Around with a lot of energy and have lots of ideas and skills, which I hope
will all be an advantage to All Around. I would also like to welcome back the old members
and thank them deeply for their great efforts.
We all share a new goal, a new dream, and this is to ‘develop’ All Around to satisfy you, the reader.
I’m proud of All Around’s family and what has already been achieved. I’m also
very excited about this year and what we’ll be accomplishing together!
Noor AlAthirah
Editor-In-Chief
Joining CMU-Q
In Disraeli’s words, “the secret of success in life is to recognize an opportunity
when it knocks”. And it is my belief that by choosing to join Carnegie Mellon University, I
have taken up an opportunity that will serve as my gateway to a bright career and a fulfilling future.
The whole process of joining CMU has been like an exciting adventure for me. To
begin with, I hadn’t the slightest idea that I would be pursuing my studies in Doha. Six
months back, I was visiting Doha on a break and casually flipping through the Gulf Times
when I saw an article about CMU-Q. The idea of CMU being a world renowned research
university and the realization that I could be a part of it and have a role in shaping the future through advanced technology excited me. This made me become interested in knowing more about the university. Before I knew it, I was filling out the application and a
while later was done with the interview.
Continued on next page
2
But the most arduous part of all was the long...long…wait until June for the results
to be known. Then in the nick of time, when in three days time I was about to leave Doha
to appear entrance examinations in India, I was informed of my acceptance to the university. Imagine my delight! (Well...I didn’t have to take the exams). There was also anxiety,
excitement and fear though that comes with the consciousness of entering the entirely new
environment of “university”. However, a month ago on the 21 August, I officially stepped
in to CMU as a freshman, I was proud of doing so.InshaAllah, I will realize the goals I
have set for myself and make the university proud too.
But hey! This does not end my story …it’s only the beginning …& the story is yet
to unfold…when it does I assure you it will be a much more interesting read.
Basheera Banu,
Staff Writer
We Are All In The Same Boat
We start a new year with new faces, new experiences and new things that in time
we shall adapt to. I can confidently say after these few weeks in Carnegie Mellon that
there are two main groups that will need to adapt to different things.
Although what I am about to address may be a controversial issue that is bothering
the two adapting groups (I shall clarify to you in a moment who these groups are) if we are
to live in this community together we should learn to understand and respect each other.
With the new faces at Carnegie Mellon, come new cultures and traditions; we should each
embrace the diversity that has entered this semester and discover the unique individual that
exists in each of us. Yet the two groups may be different in many ways, it is our differences that at times bring us together to discover the things we might lack in ourselves.
Group one consists of the people that are enjoying their new year in Carnegie Mellon and
perhaps haven’t yet gotten accustomed to the culture in Qatar or the reaction of various
individuals. Group two consists of the people outraged by group one for disrespecting
them and the culture.
Why are they outraged? How are they being disrespected? First of all group two
would argue that a certain dress code is needed within our community, group one wearing
and exhibiting many styles that would seem disrespectful and inappropriate to a community which we live in. Open public displays of affection are also increasing with this new
semester; group two are becoming very uncomfortable with it and also see it as disrespect
to our social and educational environment.
As courtesy to Qatar’s culture and tradition, group one should adapt and alter what
they can of clothing and PDA, without losing their sense of individuality, as a sign of respect to the whole Carnegie Mellon community. Group two should also try to adapt that
we are now diverse and it will take time until everybody understand the given and perhaps
unspoken ‘rules of discomfort’ in our society.
Hopefully this article will bring this to the attention to both groups, and to encourage various individuals to take the chance and get to know new people and perhaps have a
friendly chat about what is considered appropriate and comfortable for all of us.
We’re all in the same boat. Have a great semester.
Anonymous
3
Pittsburgh Vs. Doha
Monday morning, 7:30 am. I wake up to my auto-tuned satellite dish powered television blaring out news briefs from all around the world; get ready to drive
to school in a brand new rental car; and upon my arrival at University, find myself
immersed in what seems like an Antarctic-wind powered atmosphere which just may
be the magical force driving the technology clasp of this high-powered, wireless campus. I find myself lost and displaced, but at the same time feeling right at home.
The hand of western culture has molded Doha into a surprisingly similar setting to the settlements of the States. Of course, there are the notable differences (i.e.
lack of public transportation, Giant Eagle supermarkets, bowling, rain…) that one
must take to get past, just like squeezing in between a Land Cruiser and a cement
hauling truck to get to the right lane at a roundabout. Tough situations may arise, and
adapting can be compromising at times, but coming to Doha without expectations, I
was quite surprised at finding myself in CMU-Qatar, and finding it to be only another
building in addition to the seven in Pittsburgh, despite its further location.
Education powered culture is universal, to an extent. I believe CMU culture,
however, withstands boundaries and borders. Walking through the corridors past the
robotics labs, I reminisce back to my strolls past the Computer Science buildings on
the Pittsburgh campus. CS students of both sides of the world are stationed outside
classrooms and on floors, faces illuminated by their laptop screens, engrossed in their
work, with traces of their breakfast, lunch and dinners still lingering by their sides.
Business students walk the earth urgently, roaming and mingling with all sides of the
campus, Cornell, A&M students alike.
I especially love how the student lounges slowly start to substitute for the
students’ homes, whether they live in dorms or commute from home. Comfy
couches change into rest havens, and dolls and random other bedroom figures mysteriously appear to greet their owners in between classes. Day and/or night, the
lounges are alive, with whiffs of fast-food takeouts, chatter in different corners, stress
and tension from work stressed and tensioned by students together, until the next
takeout is delivered.
In Pittsburgh, we have the O. In Doha, Hardee’s. In Pittsburgh, two blocks
to the nearest Starbuck’s. In Doha, two roundabouts. Pittsburgh offers arts and modern architecture in its downtown area. Doha offers the same, with a different ethnic
twist. The other day, I was walking by Chili’s in The Mall, and paused to listen to
waiters and waitresses singing an off-key Happy Birthday tune to a customer while
giddy family members cheered and applauded on. I’m beginning to find myself right
at home.
Christina Shin
4
ear
iary
Head Orientation Counselor’s Orientation Week
Spring semester 2005:
Noor Al Athirah, Nora Al .Subai and I were selected to be the HOCs, Head Orientation Counselors, for the second orientation at Carnegie Mellon Qatar. It was the first student
organized orientation on our campus, Kristin Gilmore being our advisor and our backbone.
However most of the work that got done was general planning of the day’s activities and getting things to happen at the right time in the right place.
Summer 2005:
June-July: Real work started getting done, with us getting more specifics about the
logistics, dividing the speeches amongst the counselors and a collection of other duties among
the remainder of those present at the time. Even when any of us left the country, we kept in
contact via e-mail, making sure that we were right on schedule and that everything was going
as planned. Orientation was getting closer, and expectations were now taking different forms
regarding students and activities. We finally got the names of all the new students. We start
imagining what orientation was going to be like when they got here and what the campus
would be like when we double in size.
August:
I was out of the country for the first ten days of that month, and all that I could think
of while I was in Egypt was orientation. Noor and Nora were updating me about whatever
was going on, I still just wanted to be there where all the action was taking place. I finally
returned to Doha on the eleventh, which with my bad luck was a Thursday. On Sunday, I
came to university to meet with Nora, Noor and Kristin; we were full of excitement for the
last two weeks before orientation. We are now working on every detail from what ice cream
flavors to have for the ice-cream social day, to how to organize transportation from and to
City Center on the final day of orientation.
5
Lunch during Orientation 2005
Convocation—Orientation 2005
Internet Source: http://www.qatar.cmu.edu/media/m_relations3.php?type=PV&id=112
The last Thursday before orientation: Our first encounter with the students was over the
phone, some of them didn’t even answer us, others say that they are not coming, and some
complain about the timing of the family orientation. We, only the three Head Orientation
Counserlors, not Krisitn, got frightened, we start thinking that the freshmen are going to
hate orientation and that the first student organized orientation would not work that well.
Sunday (1st day of Orientation): Before the students and their families arrive at around 2
o'clock in the afternoon, we meet with the rest of the orientation counselors and our spirits
lift as we are once again among friends, so we feel that no matter what goes wrong, we still
have each other. By 2 o'clock, the students and their families start coming in, but the only
problem is that the registration and tour buildings are taking less time than that scheduled
so we don’t know what to do to maintain the new students’ interest. With the help of everybody involved, we manage to go through the whole program, finishing early though!
Overall everyone seemed to have enjoyed their time.
Monday-Thursday: In the first day or two we thought that the freshmen hated everything
that we did, but I guess it was just part of us being so worried about the success of
orientation. However I also have to add that the fact that they didn’t like "This is a what?"
extremely shocked us and kind of depressed us as well, as we just love this game. But I
guess every group has its own taste.
Even if by Thursday we still had any doubts about whether the students really liked us or
not, they made it terribly obvious as they bought a big card for the orientation team and
they all signed the sweetest words ever on it and they got us flowers and teddy bears. As a
result, the Student Majlis is going to buy a glass closet to be able to keep any gifts like this
one. Therefore, first-year students actually started off a tradition at CMU-Q.
On behalf of the whole orientation team I would like to say: thank you, we are so glad that
you had a good time during orientation, I hope that I attend you rgraduation as I attended
your convocation. I also hope that next year many of you will join the orientation team so
that we can all organize an even better orientation for the next freshmen class at CMU-Q.
Yasmine Abdelrahman
Lead Writer
6
My Orientation
...A Freshman’ s View
As I walked towards the huge white edifice ahead of me, I harbored a sense of uncertainty as to what to expect once I enter. I had gone a long way, worked extremely hard and
overcoming many hurdles, had finally reached my destination, Carnegie Mellon University.
Since the day when I had received my acceptance letter, till now, I was eager to start college
and begin my new life. However, when I was so close to realizing my dreams, I had butterflies in my stomach and was feeling exceedingly tensed and vulnerable. It was my first day of
Orientation week and several questions kept popping up in my head. Will I like it? Will I fit
in? Will the seniors be helpful or will they just make sure that we don’t forget we’re freshman? What if I can’t cope up with the studies? What if I don’t live up to my university’s and
my family’s expectations? And God knows what else.
I took a deep breath and entered the CMU building. And the moment I set foot in
CMU, a surprising feeling of euphoria washed over me. I instantly knew that I was here to
make a difference. I put my head up and with a big smile on my face, walked with my father
towards an area where we could see a group of several dynamic people, with bright faces and
wearing T-shirts that said, “Get in the Game!!”, running around with papers in their hands,
attending to everyone possible.
Orientation is usually meant to be a process of attending to people’s direct interests
and acquainting them with their new surroundings. However, for me it was something entirely different. It was an exhilarating experience of knowledge, wisdom, communicating
skills, confidence, friendship and fun. The friendliness and helpful manner of Faculty and
Sophomores was unbelievable. It was so easy to relate to them. The Faculty treated the students so well and made sure that we were informed about every detail that would be of use to
us during our years to come. We dined with the faculty and sophomores every day of the orientation week and we were made so comfortable that we could discuss any sort of issue with
them. The part of the Orientation I enjoyed most was the “Ice-Breakers!” I think it was an
excellent way to get to know our fellow peers, the faculty members and the sophomores better. And believe me, it really worked.
By the end of the orientation week, I felt completely at home. And to prove my point,
I would like to mention that on the last day of Orientation I actually came in my pajamas!!
The last part of Orientation was a Bowling trip to City Centre, and as I left from there and bid
everyone goodbye, I felt as if I knew these people for ages. And at that point I looked down at
my T-shirt, that said “Get in the Game”, and thought I should go change now, because I didn’t need to “get” in the game anymore, I was already more than half way in it.
By: Marium Chandna
BA Freshman
7
Aunt Zaina…
She has all the answers!
Aunt(3amto) Zaina,
I have a pwoblem! I envy workaholics!! I want to be one, but I can't work very efficiently!
Anonymous
Dear, dear, Anonymous,
I must admit, I have the same problem!! And although there are many
solutions, it is nearly always easier said than done…
The best way to work efficiently is to organize and manage your time
wisely. The easiest piece of advice I can give you is to make a schedule, preferably on a monthly calendar. Start out with fixed events (classes, club meetings,
etc) in order to have an idea of what free time you have. Then, week by week,
plan out your days. For example, if you have an hour break between classes
three days a week skim over readings/notes for the class(es) following the break.
There are many ways you can utilize your time wisely, however, there are even
more distractions that keep you from getting anything done during long breaks
or empty weekends. So, in order to resist or plan around distractions stay organized! Type up class notes so you can quickly pull them out during a break and
review, make flash cards of math formulas or terms you need to memorize and
keep them on hand; these things will not take you very long to make but they
will help you in staying on top of your studies.
And by the way, all those workaholics are just very organized and focused students!! The ideal student is able to plan his/her days around studies,
personal, social, and/or family time. They do not study all day every day, but
rather, they focus when they need to focus in order to sit back and enjoy the A's
later on.
I know you can do it, although it is difficult to get into this type of routine, every one of us has to!! After all, this is college, we have so many things
going on that it takes a lot of energy to actually make and follow a reasonable
plan in order to work as efficiently as we can.
Hope this helped,
Z
p.s. congrats on being my first writer!! Thanks anonymous!
8
Entertainment
Weekly
Garfield
http://www.garfield.com/comics/comics_archives_strip.html?2005-ga050907
Peanuts
www.unitedmedia.com/comics/peanuts/archive/peanuts-2005096.html
All Around’s Directory
You may forward any contributions, enquiries, questions, or suggestions to our official website
<all-around@qatar.cmu.edu>
Or to the Collection—Editor; Nora Al Ansari <naa@qatar.cmu.edu>