In the hope of a new wave to come By Zina Sanyoura --- Throughout my four years at the American University of Beirut the learning experience was, beyond a doubt, tremendous. The greater part of my personality, perceptions, and thoughts has been formulated within the walls of this University. Funnily enough though, the most value added I received was not a result of the academic curriculum of the School of Business (or any other department or faculty for that matter); in fact, the learning experience was maximized as a result of the non-academic life that any university student is expected to lead parallel to academics. At AUB a student can embody one of three types: a "politically" active individual who joins one of the many, and ever increasing, political ideologies Ñ ideologies which can be reasonably defended and justified, but can also be as reasonably destroyed and abolished Ñ, a "socially" active individual who joins the many "neutral" clubs and movements and participates in the overwhelming amount of activities and events occurring throughout the academic year, or a "clueless" individual who believes that a college education materializes in the classroom and the library oblivious to the fact that such a narrow-minded education will ultimately lack the one most important lesson one can learn at college: people and communication skills. Non-academic life at AUB is correctly considered to be a perfect prototype to the life beyond university walls: a life that analogously suffers from a fierce tug of war between the public and private sectors. The public sector at AUB is embodied in the many and varied representative councils. These councils no doubt have a very distinct and noble cause to uphold: the cause of the students. These councils speak in the name of the students; they act in their names and in their best interests. Unfortunately and similar to many decaying public sectors, these councils seem to uphold any cause whatever Ñ be it be in the form of a demonstration, a discussion forum, or a peaceful inquiry Ñ half way: they make their statement public, have the press talk about it, and then pack up and leave without even considering taking the matter further to actually bear the fruits of their efforts. As a result of a job not completed, objective observers can safely conclude that these councils are mainly for show, and not for any affirmative action or accomplishment. It is sad to have witnessed so many great ideas and initiatives taken only so far as to reach egotistical achievements rather than actual results. On the other hand, there is the private sector, a sector that includes the ever-mushrooming clubs and societies at the University. These student groupsÕ main goals are to enhance the cultural and entertainment standards of the student body at large. They organize concerts, lectures, debates, parties, and even demonstrations sometimes. They usually bear the fruit of their efforts; yet efforts still short of the expected performance of university students who are characterized mainly by immense idealism, enthusiasm, and drive for achievement. Passivity is an overwhelming attitude at AUB, an attitude primarily shows by students who seem to expect things to be offered on a silver platter with no effort or hard work exerted on their part, and secondly by selfish individuals, parties, or groups who take away the limelight and exhaust the efforts of earnest, genuine, hardworking, loyal, and dedicated students and abuse them to serve their own "political" or side agendas such activity ultimately, resulting in an environment infested with neutrality, aloofness, and the desire to get through the university years as soon as possible. Yet one cannot blame the passive attitude solely on the students. The University administration has rarely been supportive of student initiative and creativity. The administration was always determined to incubate the University environment, crush all the rough patches, and nurture a very homogeneous, mundane environment. After four years at AUB, my observation and belief concerning non-academic life is disillusioning and distressing, especially when one hears nostalgic encounters of the days when students were full of drive and enthusiasm to do something, no matter how crazy and illogical it was. Hard work and effort pale when students do not invest in continuity, when students just take advantage of the University campus and resources to get a beautiful golden tan or to lounge about and kill time. I sincerely do hope that sooner, rather than later, a new wave of determination will be awakened, a wave that will create a new reality in student life, a wave that will ultimately pave the way to a new form of education complementing mundane academic material that anyone can obtain from the average textbook.