20 Friday | DECEMber 17, 2010 DeCEmber 17, 2010 | Friday 21

Campus
Vol. III, Issue 4

H! There! Abdullah Al Rawahi and risk to pedestrians - especially   those reluctant Dr Shahid your mother is sick. That’s one side of the issue. The

chaos
Language Centre, to look before they cross! Abrar-ul-Hassan other side is the fact that people want to be more
SQU To solve this, it may help for SQU to look into Language Center, independent and freely moving without waiting for
some alternate models. I know some North American SQU PT to show up and, in certain times, it’s not even
I ALWAYS say that if universities actually ban cars inside the campus gates guaranteed. I would rather advice everyone, however,
we are not aware of and provide constant shuttle service to metro, train At the moment, I to use PT if possible and not prioritising owning a car
a problem, this does and bus stations. Generally, awareness campaigns don’t think that we over other important priorities.
not mean that we do in schools and workplaces help. But people need are confronted with
not have it. It may be to have real incentives for changing their lifestyles. a serious problem Ahmed Mohammed
still smoke, and fire Some countries, for example, provide cash rebates on of environmental Al Shuaili
is best extinguished the purchase of hybrid low pollutant cars. It seems pollution at SQU campus. However, due the ongoing Deputy School
when it is smoke. As car traffic is apparently a bit of a double bind, a ‘mixed message’, if you expansion of the university, we might face such a Headmaster
increasing on SQU campus, vehicle emissions are like, to promote pollution awareness when the car problem in not-too-distant future. And, the problem

W
elcome back!
Hope you are all well rested after a slew of
holidays and filled with pride and joy as the nation
is celebrating the 40th anniversary of National Day decked
out in vibrant colours.
Holidays would of course mean hectic trips to meet and
greet or simply to reach destinations, such as the Qurum
Natural Park, to witness the fun and fireworks.
Team H!SQU too had a great time, especially enjoying
the amazing craft that lit up the evening horizon above the
Qurum park. That was splendid!
That wasn’t all that we did during the break. We were
really counting. The blessings? That of course we do, but
this time around we were actually counting the cars on our
expected to impact negatively on our environment.
So, waiting or refusing to admit that we have this
problem will only exacerbate it. The best solution is
A 10-minute count by Team H!SQU at Gate Number 3 points to a large number of cars and fewer passengers. simply to nip it in the bud. Public transportation is one
On a typical day as many as 570 cars drove into SQU campus through the gate but there were just 931 travel mode that is competently planned and used by
most developed countries. Unfortunately, Oman lacks
passengers in them: less than 2 per car! Has the number of cars reached so high that some mornings you a sufficient transportation service.
could actually see a thin layer of pollution floating in the air? Opinion is divided. Team H!SQU goes pollution Let me share with you an embarrassing situation I had
checking in Australia. Once the teacher asked the students to
talk about the public transportations in their countries.
I was in a group with Korean and Japanese students
who went on talking about buses, trains, magnetic
trains, metros and ferries, and when my turn came, I
said hesitantly, “We don’t have public transportation.”
manufacturers are  stepping up their ads to sell
cars. There needs to be a collaborative plan, not only
for drivers, but city planners, the car industry and
consumers. International standards of lower emission
filters may need to be introduced.  adjustment with the existing public transport facility
This requires the involvement of regulatory, usually
government, agencies. I discovered this when told I
could not ship my current car to Canada as it did not
meet the lower pollution emission standards there.
I believe we need to keep an overview of
how individual choices make a difference to the
whole. To shift from an attitude of ‘I’m only  one car,
what difference can I make? Most residents in my
apartment block, for example, work at SQU and leave
will mainly arise out of the high number of vehicles
on campus. The public transport system in Muscat is
limited to only a few routes, and as a consequence,
many of the university can’t benefit from it. Moreover,
is yet another issue. But, I guess this adjustment will
improve in the coming times. Apparently, there is a
tendency among student population to rely on their
personal transport arrangements rather than making
use of public transport. At present, they have some
valid reasons for their preference for commuting
by private transport. Against this backdrop, the
vehicle occupancy rate is very low, and this was
substantiated by your survey (i.e., 1,500 vehicles with
WE do have a
pollution problem on
SQU campus. The
air is a bit polluted;
there is noise pollution — not to mention the traffic
and what negative impacts follows it as to make the
job of an ambulance, for instance, a real danger.Public
transport is available in Oman, but it requires vast
improvement.
I think staff and students at SQU do not have to
rely on cars most of their times. Parking the car near
my lecture hall and then driving to another lecture
hall is unacceptable. They need to be aware how
much pollution each car produces. There is a plan

9 31
campus on a typical working day. The results were interest- They were as shocked as I was embarrassed. at about the same time in the morning. Yet we all 2,800 passengers entered the campus in 30 minutes of introducing a metro on campus that would link
I do not think that Omanis will resent using efficient toddle off in our separate (big!) cars. during peak hours). all points and buildings of SQU in several routes so

5m7be0r of cars
ing, and that got us into our next step: sharing our findings
with staff and students to get to know what they feel about PT. I do not think that “any man who rides a bus to Car pool, anyone? And, if public transport facility does not upgrade, everyone can use them to move around rather than
it. And that too was interesting.
Th
e num
work after the age of 30 can count himself a failure in this situation is likely to prevail in the coming years their cars. Why not? It’s possible.

passenge ber of
Pollution is a global problem, but has it arrived on our life” is applicable to us. Michael Ramsden as the university student population is on the rise.
campus? Team H!SQU shares the concern with others in Bus transportation on SQU campus is one sure step Language Centre, In other words, the primary carbon footprint will be Abdullaziz Al Muqbali
rs in 570
this month’s lead story. Read, and get inspired!
The nu i n t o S Q U cars forward towards alleviating the traffic problem. SQU much bigger, which in turn will jeopardize the clean College of Science,
How confident are you to face an interview? Getting
r o v e Introducing a car-sharing scheme is another possible campus environment. Earth Science
that d u mber solution if we are ready to accept it. This step has IT’S not worse than Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that

1,710
butterflies in the stomach? It is but natural. However
G a t e N been already taken by some universities worldwide anywhere else, but
through minutes
prepared you are, the occasion is bound to make you a little environmental pollution could emerge as a major issue I don’t think we are
nervous but the key to coming out with flying colours is and it has proven numerous benefits. that does not mean very soon! A lack of awareness of environmental giving the problem

3 in 10 am to
it is pollution free. pollution is a principal reason for this situation. But the of pollution the
nothing but confidence. And a bit of wit. In ‘Think outside
The n Maria Robson Unlike the open road good thing is that some community-based initiatives, seriousness it
the box’, Mahmood Al Hinai cracks an interesting interview
. 4 0 u
puzzle. from 7 that d mber of c Senior English the polluting gases such as the Environmental Society of Oman’s “No deserves. It does

7.50am throu rove into ars

‘I Travel’ takes you on a fortnight’s tour of Helsinki- Language Instructor are trapped by the to Plastic Bags” campaign, have been successfully surely exist but the problem is that almost nobody
Stockholm-Gothenburg. Join Ahmad Al Balushi to share his Language Centre, buildings. launched. Yes, there is a lot bigger need to spread the seems to be concerned about it. People do not realise
g S
in 30 h Gate Nu QU
summer in Sandinavia. SQU Unfortunately, There are few public transport word around to all sections of society. how much they are harming the environment — but
Maths is one subject some students hate, but the rea-
minu m buses. The private minibuses are uncomfortable and I think that without waiting for any mass they cannot be blamed entirely. How could you waste
son why law college students give a thump down to maths tes, i ber 3 JUDGING by the dangerous and taxis are costly for longish distances. campaign, several small but effective steps could be your time waiting under scorching heat for a bus that
2,452 nw number of cars Students and professionals prefer to drive taken by individuals and groups. First, awareness- is never guaranteed to show up? If the government
peop hich
is not because they do not like it but because they really
do not think it’s very useful in their chosen field of study. backing up at the themselves. Oman is a young nation and cars signify raising among the campus community can easily be wants to take further serious steps in solving this
In ‘Face-off’ Jane Nineham and Salim Al Azizi make their trave le gates mornings and wealth. They are also needed for large families which done through the central email system, exhibitions, problem, a study may be conducted to set up a
points on the new foundation course at SQU. lled afternoons, pollution
must be a real concern at SQU. Some mornings we
cannot be taken about in minibuses.
It will be impossible to find parking space. Traffic
and college-level events. Second, carpooling should
be encouraged and facilitated, and the campus
professional transportation system that would meet
What is sophistication? Speaking the English language the needs of all.
fluently and aping other cultures? Dr Rahma Mahrooqi can actually see a layer of pollution approaching from jams are already a problem entering SQU. The bus service can be made more popular among
raises her concern in ‘Dear Students’. Teach Arabic. And Al Khodh. I think before looking to increase public authorities are aware of the problem and have barred commuters. Thus, the efficient usage of passenger Nadia Al Siyabi
teach Englsih too! transport we might look to whether people use the student cars from certain roads on campus and vehicles will result in the need for less vehicles. College of Arts and
Besides, there are our other regular dishes. Taste them public transport that is available. I’ve heard people parking just anywhere. Finally, paper recycling is sorely needed! Social Sciences,
and drop in a line or two – like them or not! complain that it’s not always dependable or frequent There is a growing awareness provided by Mass Communication
Cheers till next month enough. I know when I lived and worked in Nizwa, education. Supermarkets are providing jute bags but Khalfan Al-Harrasi
Team H!SQU before I had a car, it was always hit and miss whether they have not caught on and cashiers still pack a Ministry of Defence Yes, we do have a
the bus to Muscat would turn up and I was advised to single newspaper in a plastic bag. pollution problem
H!SQU is brought out by the English and Translation Society at SQU. Email your take a taxi. Omanis are experiencing a time of relative Vast areas of open space give the impression of I THINK people differ on campus. There
views/suggestions/articles to hi-ets@hotmail.com or hi@timesofoman.com. For prosperity and enjoying the benefits of the judicious a pollution-free country and there is no industry to on the definition are more than
more information visit www.englishsqu.net planning of the last 40 years. Owning one or more speak of spewing forth pollution in the air so it is easy of pollution. Based 14,000 students on campus, and a lot of them using
cars is seen as a symbol to grow complacent. on each one’s way their own cars, especially boys. Why not having an
Editorial Coordinators of that prosperity. I think that especially for Steps are being taken with landfill sites and of defining it, you effective transportation provided by SQU for the
Ahmed Al Hadhrami & Sumaiya Al Kindi younger men cars are viewed as a step towards wastewater disposal but there are still areas where can tell whether students who live off campus. To go more general,
independence and manhood. In a country without a untreated sludge overflows from septic tanks. people are aware of why not having a train network which links all areas
Mr Wise long tradition of public transport like buses and trains, Advice should be taken from countries where the it. I don’t think that we have a pollution problem on of Muscat?
these forms may be regarded as too slow or used problem of pollution is being solved. SQU campus simply because we don’t feel it. That’s If we want to protect our environment, we need to
Hitch your wagon to a only by social inferiors.  Biodegradable materials to be used in shops, actually the case with many other people. Noise look at it from different angles, not just from the point
star, but walk to your
Also, in a family-centred community people feel like paper bags; speed limits strictly enforced: the pollution is surely there, as it’s part of the general air of bringing down the number of vehicles on campus.
lecture hall!
honour-bound to provide safe and private transport for faster the car is driven, the more exhaust pollution; pollution on campus. The idea of establishing projects such as “The Green
their families rather than trust a public system. The workshops to be set up in communities alerting the People in Oman cannot adjust to public City” and “The Green House” is urgently needed. Why
effects of pollution on SQU buildings will add to the public to pollution; plants and trees should continue to transportation. The reason is simple: they need don’t we have environment-friendly cars? Plant more
cost of maintenance. The need to police delinquent be a feature of the landscape as they absorb CO2. more freedom and privacy. You cannot always rely trees and turn campus a green place. All this helps.
illustration by Winie Ariany
parking will increase, as will the number of accidents on the transportation system when you know that But we need action rather than words.