THE
Clarion
Volume 77, Issue 1 \Neb Edition
www.brevard.edu/clarion
SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
Sept. 2, 2011
Student returns from conflict in Syria
By Karam Boeshaar
staff Writer
“So Karam, what did you do this summer?”
people would often ask after returning to
Brevard. I would answer,
“Well, I spent 3 months visiting Syria.”
Most peoples reaction to my reply was either
a surprised or perplexed look. Some people do
not even know what is going on there or have
never heard of Syria.
For those who did know, they wonder how
I was able to survive there in one piece. Most
of the time, I was in Damascus, one of the
more stable areas in Syria (as well as Aleppo,
the second biggest city in northern Syria).
Damascus is where the main Syrian government
headquarters are led by the Assad regime, which
means they have the most control in that area.
Other Syrian such as Homs, Hama, Latakia,
Daraa, Dier el Zoir, as well as many towns,
have been holding anti government protests.
Government responses came with violence,
first with police and security forces, and then
military intervention. This has gone on for
nearly six months with no apparent end, and so
far it appears to be a stalemate.
So, what was I doing in Syria? Well, my family
still lives in Damascus, and my dad still has his
job, where he has worked for nearly 19 years,
and never in the two decades living there, have
In this issue...
News:
Interim President
2
Brevard's Best
2
Arab Spring
4
Eartliquale
4
Arts & Life:
Top summer movies
5
Faculty recital
6
Waterfall must sees
6
Comic by Karam Boeshaar
6
Sports:
Cycling team
7
Interim athletic director
7
New cycling coach
7
Odds and Ends:
CAB
8
This week in history
8
we ever seen anything like this happen in Syria.
Syria had been peaceful and calm for many
years until now.
We do not know how much longer we will
stay there, but I am surprised that till now, we
are still in Syria. And despite hearing what was
going on in Syria everyday on the news, it had
been pretty safe and cakn in Damascus.
My family and I were for the most part, able
to go about our lives as normal. As have most
people in Damascus. Many people who were
protesting in Syria were poor people who
had nothing to lose in protesting against the
government, while the middle and upper class
people living in Damascus would have much to
lose or benefited from the Syrian government,
so they remained silent.
Pro-govemment rallies were held often in
Damascus where people would show their
support for the Assad regime and many patriotic
billboards would be posted around the country
saying “1 am with Syria” and “Syria is fine.”
The local state TV would report that “armed
gangs,” “terrorists” and “foreign influences,”
were responsible on what was going. They
covered up the truth, especially since journalists
were not allowed into Syria to report.
Despite this, many amateur photographers
would record graphic footage, recorded from
grainy, handheld cell phone cameras, and upload
them on YouTube or Facebook for the world to
see what was really happening.
Due to the videos, the internet is heavily
monitored by the Syrian Intelligence which
meant the Internet would often be extremely
slow or unresponsive, and there were some days
when the Internet was completely cut off. In fact,
we had a strong feeling that our phones and other
sources of communication were being tapped,
and the Intelligence were keeping a watchful eye
on us and people around us, especially since my
family and I are Americans.
Although I saw much shooting, many killings,
and violence on the news, I rarely saw it happen
in real life while in Damascus except for one
incident.
It was a Friday on a hot July day; it seemed
like another normal day for me until I heard
shooting in the distance a few blocks away. It
lasted for about five minutes, my family and I
knew it was security forces firing at civilians at
an anti government protest.
We found out there were snipers on rooftops
shooting at people in an attempt to disperse the
protest, and five people were killed. That was
the closest you could say that I came to danger
while staying in Syria.
I am thankful that my family and I were safe
most of the time this past summer, but the stress
of the situation and wondering what could
happen the next day, did in a way put a toll on
us. So it has been quite a summer At least things
are still cakn in Damascus, and I hope they will
stay that way.
The new face of SGA
By Olivia Fawcett
staff Writer
The Brevard College SGA (Student Govern
ment Association) had its first official meet
ing on Aug. 30 in the Coltrane Underground.
There, the new student SGA officers introduced
themselves and the Student Government to the
school. For those readers who attended BC last
year, SGA has made leaps in a new direction,
creating a new identity for itself
SGA has become independent of the clubs
in order to better focus on campus issues. This
means they are no longer giving money to clubs,
but they will however advocate for a club if the
club is in needs of funds. SGA is now working
with CAB and BC Clubs to promote student
interest, and work more with the students of
Brevard College.
“Students who get involved stay involved and
feel connected to the college,” President Lucy
Matthews said during the meeting. She is eager
to gain new senators as well as ideas and opin
ions from the students this upcoming year
By not working with clubs anymore, the
SGA can focus more on issues around campus
as well as better advocate for the students of the
college if they believe that something should
be changed.
Student Government Association officers for
2011-2012.