In their game against the Beirut Arab University which was concluded in AUB’s favor 6-2, the men’s soccer varsity entertained the couple of people who were their only audience.
   Yet, it is a pity that the promising team has no popular support.  Whether it is because of lousy publicity or because of student laziness, the team was not properly backed up.
   Let me ask a question here, wasn’t the Office of Student Affairs informed about such events?  Isn’t the Department of Athletics an integral part of the said Office? I can only assume that the Director of Athletics, Ghaleb Halimeh, had informed his superiors in the Office of Student Affairs about the matches schedule.
   At the field, Ghaleb Halimeh was sitting all by himself supporting his men.  No Dean, no assistant dean, no single AUB officer, administrator, or faculty came to cheer for their team.
   Aren’t these players students who have faculty that would want to watch them play, don’t these players have their friends who will come down to the Green Field and support them?  Doesn’t the Dean of Student Affairs (Acting or otherwise) and co. feel the obligation of supervising their boys.
   What is everyone waiting for?  Are they waiting for the miserable Athletes Night when these athletes get a couple of plastic trophies announcing them as the Most Valuable Players?  Speaking about the Athletes Night, this year’s night has been announced, through the sports web site, back in October.  I wonder whether the administration’s group will say, this year, that they were only informed three days prior to the event.
   Athletes say that they play for their personal entertainment and satisfaction.  
   But this is not what sports is all about.  The audience is an integral part of sports.  Athletes play both to entertain themselves and to entertain their audience.  In our case, the potential audience is missing a lot of enjoyable sports shows.  Our boys are good.  Their performance is up to standards.  So why not supporting them?
   The athletes have always voiced their concern of seeking more administrative support in terms of financial assistance and academic credit.  The administration has always replied that they would wish to do so, but it is always better to say than to do.
   Consequently, if actual support is hard to provide, then moral support is a requirement.  Students, faculty, and administration must understand that our athletes need them and that they must be available next to their athletes.  Who knows whom of these guys might turn out to become a star one day or another.  Then, he/she can only turn back and say thanks to AUB and its community.