On Saturday, May 8, 2010, the NDU-SC family all got together to spend a beautiful long day on campus. The program of the day included a mass at 10:00 a.m., a faculty meeting at 11:00, an outdoor seated catered lunch, plus lots of games, competitions and fun activities from 12:00 noon till 5 p.m.
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The mass was dedicated to the memory of the two NDU-SC students who passed away in unfortunate accidents at different times during the past years, to the current students and their families, to the faculty and staff members and their families and to the administrators and their families. The sermon that Fr. Boutros Bou Nassif presented was about the history of the Mar Abda Monastery and the establishment of the University in Shouf, which showed that much more care should go into preserving them because they were bought and built with love, sacrifice and devotion.

The meeting that followed was attended by full-time and part-time faculty members, and was chaired by the Director of the Shouf Campus, Fr. Bou Nassif. The Coordinators of the different Faculties were all present ready to answer any questions or concerns.

Fr. Bou Nassif highlighted his personal convictions; the beliefs that govern the way he sees NDU-SC best administered:

• Every individual teacher is valuable and indispensable. Each teacher is chosen carefully and is given full trust by the administration. The Director never interferes in their jobs; they report to the Coordinators in the different Faculties.
• Every individual is a ‘human being’ first and foremost. The objective for next year is to build the ‘human’ in every student and teacher; to focus on the ‘human’ aspect that would build better communities, because what good is a president of the republic, for example, if he or she has no humanity in him/her.
• True belonging to an institution reflects itself in the way:
  • Teachers excel at what they do and exert maximum effort in the process
  • The “love of life” attitude shines through everything that is done
  • Each one truly shows this belonging to the family by offering other members interpersonal support, giving “who he/she is”, not merely part of what he/she has, being open-minded to others, knowing all others, believing that being different is beautiful and adds variety; that it is not “better” or “worse” in any way, loving his/her place of work and, most importantly, always having a positive outlook.
  • The fruit of belongingness to the University are reaped in terms of peace, joy and flexibility.

A special welcome was then extended to the new full-time faculty member at NDU-SC, Dr. Rasha Berbary. Fr. Bou Nassif assured the faculty members present that, during his directorship, all new full-timers would be chosen from the active group of part-timers who are much respected and valued for their great work.
At the end of the meeting, the Director informed everyone that this is the time of year when the Faculties have to place any requests for next year. All such needs would be met provided they are truly needed for the smooth running of the University.

Then some activities were suggested, like having inter-branch visits; for example, inviting the Barsa family over for lunch or going there for an activity and, similarly, getting together with our “extended family” in the Main Campus.

Finally, the teachers were given the chance to express themselves, but no specific request or problem was raised for discussion with the Director, despite his insistence.

At 12:00, the entertainment and lunch part kicked off:

Special Shouf Campus caps and key chains had been prepared for the outdoor part of the day.

The first activity was a special CD prepared by the “picnic team”, that included a special song for each faculty, staff and co-academic member who was there, including one for the Director!

This was followed by a beautifully prepared lunch, and then the games began!

The day ended with the distribution of cups to the winners:

• Dr. George Bou Aboud, Table Tennis Champion
• Mr. George Ghaleb, Cards Champion
• Mr. Raffy Simonian, Chess Champion
• Mr. Hrair Hovivian, Ma7bouseh Champion
• Mr. Hrair Hovivian, Frangieh Champion

Certificates were also given out to those who won in other fun activities: Mrs. Jihane Mouawad, Dr. Amer Fayyad, Mrs. Maya Abou Khzam, Mrs. Marina Bou Karroum and Mr. Jack Bou Nassif   .                      

The day was concluded around a very funny “truth or dare” circle, where everyone told everything but the truth! It was a lovely and extremely special day that will be very difficult to forget. We only hope that it will become a ritual and an event that will keep bringing the NDU-SC members closer together.