Ever since the establishment of the Syrian Protestant College back in 1866, students have been keen to invest their energies not only in academic issues, but also in many extra curricular activities, one of which is creative writing and journalism. 
    A look at the AUB Archives in Jafet Library permits one to journey through more than 200 different journals, magazines, and newspapers written and published in Arabic and English by both students and faculty over a period of more than one hundred years.  In some instances, both students and professors wrote in the same magazine.  Each department at certain periods of time had its own infrequent publication.
    One can find around 70 handwritten student journals and magazines from the early establishment of the University up until 1932, when the typewriter was first introduced.
    Zahrat Al-Kuliya (The College Flower) in 1899, Al-Asr (The Century) in 1900, Al-Kinanah in 1900-1901 are just three out of seven handwritten newspapers published between 1899 and 1901.  
    Competition was very high among the publications.  Some claimed to be the only official newspaper of the University;  others forbade the publishing of political and religious letters.  
    The mode of reproduction was usually an ink pen and a number of hand sewn white sheets.  In some instances, the color of the ink used changed in the middle of an article.  Al-Haz (The Luck), for example, was once written in red ink, another time in black.  No matter what color was used, the obituaries were always in black.  Sports were thoroughly covered;  interestingly, sometimes the sports articles were written in the form of poetry.
    Due to the tiresome job of writing by hand and the lack of any modern means of copying, only one copy of each publication was produced, which was circulated among students. 
    Most of the publications were written in good classical Arabic, and just a few were written in English. Although these newsletters were handwritten, illustrations, classifieds, and even black and white photographs were used. 
    One of the first English publications was issued in 1902 as IOU 5 Minutes, A Monthly Review of Criticism Closing with a French Supplement.  The IOU was a 20-page handwritten newsletter produced by prep students.  It was full of spelling and grammar mistakes.  Someone made the effort to underline some words and correct others in a different color.   
    In 1906, the graduating class published its own newsletter and called it Senior of the SPC.  In 1914, The Beirut Bazoo, a four page English handwritten sports newsletter was issued, in which different games were covered.
    With the introduction of printing facilities on campus, AUBites continued to publish, however, with a more professional touch. 
    In 1949, Outlook, the official student newspaper, came into existence. This student newspaper had many branches.  Starting in 1969, ACEM, a supplement of Outlook, written by student and faculty of the School of Engineering and Architecture was published for three consecutive years.  Outlook also brought out Arabic supplements, sometimes weekly and other times irregularly.
    The publication was then stopped in the mid '70s due to the war, to be restarted again in 1997.  Over the years, the newspaper has clashed with the administration on several occasions, each time resulting in the suspension of Outlook for a couple of months.  
    However, nothing demoralized these enthusiastic students.  In 1970, the Outlook staff unofficially published Inlook, which unlike Outlook, published material  without administration censorship.
    In 1974, after Inlook was prohibited on campus, the Outlook team published Lookout, which launched a severe attack on the administration and specifically on  former President Kirkwood and the security forces under the slogan:  "Once united ever victorious."  The students seized private administration documents and published them in a couple of brochures.
    Practically every department, school, club, and student group published now and then a newsletter, a newspaper, a magazine, or only a pamphlet.  Some of the student writers of these publications are now important political leaders, journalists, and academics in Lebanon and throughout the world.  
    After the war, student activism declined.  Today, there exist no student publications other than Outlook;  the Campus Yearbook;  Perspective, an on-line Business Society Publication;  and from time to time infrequent brochures, pamphlets, and journals of different student groups and clubs.  
    However, many students are now trying to establish their own publications.  Unfortunately, many face severe financial problems.   
    A group interested in writing in Arabic has been seeking for the past two years for an outlet to express themselves.  The ambitious students, who have a lot of potential in the field of journalism and writing, have found themselves crippled by financial burdens of starting a new newsletter such as the cost of equipment, printing and, of course, a license that would allow the circulation and selling of the newsletter in any part of Lebanon.
    The dream of establishing an Arabic newsletter was shattered by the students' inability to find funding through student organizations on campus.   
    The Biology Student Society was luckier.  They published, with the help of some sponsors, a couple of issues of their own newsletter called Bits and Pieces of Science.  However, the black and white photocopied pages produced did not satisfy its editors,  who went on to seek through the help of student representative committees funds for a full color magazine and the five million Lebanese pounds needed for a license.
    On-line publications have been more fortunate.  Perspective's editor-in-chief, Zina Sanyoura, explained that since they are an on-line publication, "it did not cost much."  With help and encouragement from Business School Dean George Najjar, Perspective was able to launch its first on-line edition.  "In the beginning, the dean pitched in financially to help start up, of course.  Therefore, we got by with help from sponsors and the Business Student Society."
    Perspective's ultimate goal, according to Sanyoura, is to publish both on-line and in print at the same time.  "To cover the charges, with the help of the dean, we are going to try to secure corporate sponsorship."  
    Sanyoura claims it was not difficult to launch the publication on-line.  "By going on-line, you gain a lot of experience to start with, and then again you have something to show the sponsors.  After that you try to secure corporate sponsorship for a license and the cost to publish."
    Sanyoura thinks that an interesting way to solve the problem of licenses is "to buy five publishing licenses for each faculty so several publications could be covered.  Ultimately, the University would be encouraging student driven publications."    
    Other American universities frequently have more than one student newspaper in addition to magazines and newsletters.  Columbia University, for example, has a large number of newspapers:  the School of International and Public Affairs has its Communique, the Law School has its Law School News, in addition to the university's general daily student newspaper, The Columbia Spectator.