The No Frontiers is a leftist student-formed organization that has no links to any off campus authorities. Ever since it was established in AUB in 1997, No Frontiers has embraced an ideology of social equality and justice. No Frontiers believes in the civil responsibility of students in their capacity as adult citizens and seeks the better welfare of world-wide communities. This human perspective dictates a good will toward ambition, an ambition that has no limits, a dream with No Frontiers.

    No Frontiers realizes that there is no magic quick button at the university which students can press and pursue their demands. The group also realizes that change is the result of perseverance, hard work and persistent follow up.

Achievements.....and the struggle continues

    The No Frontiers group feels inappropriate to claim credit for any student sponsored activity. However, through its heavy participation in a few clubs; activities, the group takes pride in its involvement in several major events.

∞The waiving of women’s dorms curfew:

In 2000, the Office of Student Affairs introduced a system which freed women dorms’ residents of a long-imposed curfew. This success came in the aftermath of a No Frontiers-led campaign which started in 1998. The No Frontiers initiative came in line of the group’s vision of equality and anti-gender discrimination.

∞Improvement in the Jafet Library Facility

The No Frontiers 2001/02 proposed in the University Student faculty Committee (USFC) improvement in the university’s main library. The result was an increase in the number of computer sets, improvement in the library’s toilet hygiene and the decrease of noise produced by wood-made chairs.

Still pending are several issues that include the issue of increasing the number and maintaining the status of the library’s photocopy machine.

∞Stopping the Malik Bookstore monopoly over books

In 2000, the administration contracted the university-run Bookstore, located in Bliss Hall, to the Malik Bookshop giving him unlimited monopoly and a free-hand in pricing text books required for different course readings.

No Frontiers have been resisting the Malik’s dominance by organizing an annual (Fall/Spring) book fair which facilities the selling and purchasing of second-hand books among students. In the USFC, the No Frontiers lobbied for the administration to impose further restraints on Malik forcing him to give a 20% discount on book sales for AUB students. The USFC pressure also resulted in Malik committing a percentage of his profit for the financial aid of needy students.

∞Waiving clearance requirement for graduating students

In 2001, representatives proposed the abrogation of the previous clearance system which required that students tour around a dozen of offices seeking their signatures. The initiative urged the administration to think of a couple of scenarios that would minimize the number of offices, centralize clearance and spare graduating students time and effort.

∞Work Study Program as part of financial aid

The previous Work Study Program stipulated that, in principle, needy students be granted on campus jobs. In fact, only students with on-campus connection could win such jobs. In the USFC, No frontiers has pressured for the reformulation of the prevalent system and replacing it with a new one that would give students equal job opportunity under which paid wages would be automatically deducted from the students’ tuition fees. Under the proposed new system, the rate per working hour will be increased leading to an overall increase in payment wages.

∞Publicising the Financial Aid procedure

Financial aid has been the point of complaint among students. Connections and sectarianism have been among the factors that over-rule student financial aid and academic performance. It has been pressured for more automated and more transparent system which secures fair grants under a system that students can comprehend. A portion of this system has been already put into effect.

∞Lowering cost of official Transcripts of fees

The No Frontiers has also pressured to lower the price of official Transcripts of fees. It is a matter of time before the administration officially endorses this decision.

Announcement

∞Recruitment Center providing jobs for students

A new Recruitment Center (Career Counselling and Placement Services office) has been established whose role is to provide matchmaking between students seeking employment and available jobs and summer training. The office is close to be launched and is only waiting for the appointment of its director and some final touches. A related issue is the formation of the “Job opportunities web site” by USFC to post job offers available to prospective AUB graduating students.