׉?ׁB!בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://UOWJDuUb1vvV86015me8LAvdXDIl6NTCIJZKFBmJFZYˬ`׉ 7cassandra://UJKDiGmrdOOExSoWFSPL_1z0mxcn5UAXk82XMyh-Nvg>'`c׉ 7cassandra://uC9BKnxs0-xxoWmsQWd0BNmMxau85L_JBNTsJEOqig4`̽g?Nb>Oz %טu׈Hlj׈Eg?Nb>Oz ׉EAUBG DAILY Spring 2024 OWL THE NEWS CAN AUBG BECOME A SMOKE-FREE UNIVERSITY? Read inside to fi nd out Vol. 5, Issue 2 Offi cial Title Sponsor ׉ 7cassandra://uC9BKnxs0-xxoWmsQWd0BNmMxau85L_JBNTsJEOqig4`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://bex7FoHnQ2uQzrZ1DygoUlpiflx5i5bPle0B5KSfpC4;`׉ 7cassandra://7w5_YrmlyV_25tpIOPjGQPZYxXjOWWf-JNXnIXqjhDg>`c׉ 7cassandra://vCa3nqpIdkQeKKjc5AfWK5Vw074D9FZDhdumOmkTU6k:`̽g?Nb>Oz (טu׉׉ 7cassandra://0yOSUf3dD4w2ZA3A0kN_wT0QMZpkGDsf80Ej9oenJKA]`׉ 7cassandra://sQhp0yKOhsHaeqCqBtaOJYSp6Y7EUNHVkid8uoVaLkY͈$`c׉ 7cassandra://PbGlPU-cj5k4B_Hs9BU9WW2BcOH7onSbY35PJHSkZI4%|`̽g?Nb>Oz )נg?Nb>Oz ,A̲9ׁHhttp://www.aubgdaily.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EDear reader, TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 04 06 07 08 10 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 2 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily AUBG Daily is excited and proud to present you with the Spring 2024 issue of our newspaper! In the next twenty pages, you will read through a selection of our most captivating work from this semester. As always, we have been active throughout the entire semester, yet, unfortunately, not every article can fi t into this space. But don’t you worry! Allow us to redirect you to Page 17 or our website www.aubgdaily.com, where you can explore and read all of the stories we gave life to this semester! Enjoy your read! Best, Th e AUBG Daily Team Th e Financial Future of AUBG Vasil Paskov How Bulgaria’s Partial Schengen Entry Aff ects AUBG and its Students - Hary Dikov Th e Highs and Lows of Independent Studies Preslava Gyuzeleva Ralitsa Vuycheva: From Journalism to Media Analysis Tsvetina Georgieva AUBG’s Sofi a Semester Loading Tsvetina Georgieva Can AUBG Become a Smoke-Free University? Eka Iakobadze Studying at Two Universities: An Opportunity or a Challenge? Janina Ormanova Crossword/Word Search Major’s Horoscope Grocery Shopping on a Student Budget: Smart Choices at the Supermarket Hary Dikov Honorable Mentions: What’s on the Daily Menu? Daily Senior Vox Pop Letter from the Editor ׉ 7cassandra://vCa3nqpIdkQeKKjc5AfWK5Vw074D9FZDhdumOmkTU6k:`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉EfTHE Financial Future OF AUBG Mar. 20, 2024 S tarting in Fall ‘23, AUBG switched its payment currency from the dollar to the euro. Bulgaria aims to adopt the euro as a primary currency with a target date of January 1, 2025. However, the process is complex and continuous, and nothing is confi rmed at this point. Th is decision combined with the increase of 10.1% (approx. €700) in average net tuition, as per a document provided by the AUBG administration, resulted in an inconvenience for many students before the beginning of the academic year. “I was personally aff ected by the change because I was on Work & Travel this summer with the intention to use my earnings to pay the tuition. Since my paychecks were in dollars, I needed to calculate the currency exchange and pay for it as well,” said Aleksandra Angelova, a sophomore at AUBG. She also expressed her dissatisfaction with the way the change was used as an excuse for slightly raising the tuition. Dilyana Mileva, VP of Finance and Administration at AUBG, gave a detailed explanation of the reasons behind this decision. “Although the university was foreseeing that Bulgaria would join the eurozone sooner or later, the reasons [for the currency transition] were not related primarily to that,” Mileva said. According to her, the key driving force behind the currency change was the dollar volatility, which caused a problem with the university’s profi t and loss account. She mentioned that when she fi rst joined the university in 2021, 90% of the university revenue was generated in U.S. dollars coming from tuition fees, donations, and endowment drawdown, while more than 80% of university expenses were incurred in local currency. “Th e university was suff ering from this volatility by registering a lot of fl uctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar, the euro, and the local currency without being able actually to address them,” stated Mileva. She added that around 90% of the American universities outside the U.S. have taken similar measures to avoid a mismatch between income and expenses and to make the transactions easier for European students as they are the majority at AUBG. Payments in euro advantage Bulgarian students because of the currency board that fi xes the exchange rate between the lev and euro at exactly 1:1.96. Unlike the dollar, this means that when the university announces the tuition amount for next year, students will know exactly how much leva they will have to pay. Mileva also commented on the increase in tuition fees that happened simultaneously with the change in payment currency. She listed the growing infl ation in Bulgaria in the past three years (approx. 32,2% for the period Jan. 2021 – Jan. 2024, according to the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute) as a primary reason for the rising university cost. “Th e university is a non-profi t organization, which means that whatever we generate, we should invest it in the university activity. Th ere are no owners, there are no dividends distributed there. So, when we do that balance, we still need to be on the safe side and have some surplus,” said Mileva. On Feb. 14, 2024, the president of AUBG Dr. Margee Ensign gave an update on the university’s fi nancial strategy during the Town Hall meeting. Th e estimated increase in the gross tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/2025 will be 1,6% which is below the projected infl ation for 2024 (4%) and 2025 (3%). Th e only AUBG students aff ected by this increase will be the ones living in Skapto I and II as they can expect a 6% increase in their housing fees for the next year due to the increasing prices of maintenance and utilities. No changes are expected in student activity fees and meal plan deposits. “We try to keep that balance strict so according to the fi nancial sustainability policy that universities have, students should not experience significant increases,” said Mileva. She also stated that although 51% of AUBG’s budget comes from tuition fees, the university is trying its best to keep the changes as minor as possible. a Editors: David Mitov and Radina Shtereva P 3 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily V a s s l i ko v ׉ 7cassandra://PbGlPU-cj5k4B_Hs9BU9WW2BcOH7onSbY35PJHSkZI4%|`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://lIQ1igQ1AqZd4vnGB9OsPNeWZjmI6mi-L67LY0OwVh4_`׉ 7cassandra://yZ8RiQL966Qx4AFG2QOn0DWTmYjbwcIrlYmJ0VzvyQk̓8`c׉ 7cassandra://qQZLtOJcrh2Hz64wXNeGNebjWRiFRe86TxDoyCs6Cjs$`̽g?Nb>Oz -טu׉׉ 7cassandra://ikU0hJC5DlynZaHMhSjg7Cu-d99EbySYR1RnDGBzehw[`׉ 7cassandra://2cQhZzIN6XpIgDCXa7g3G52K09LXyAN5CwRSMOXFIlMc`c׉ 7cassandra://eryp_a_uFy3hcqi5qysUfF-FXSCGeZ0ywA-csNd2I1s`̽g?Nb>Oz .׉E Schengen Entry How Bulgaria’s partial affects AUBG and its students Mar. 13, 2024 O n Dec. 30, 2023, the European Council offi cially announced the partial inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area starting from March 31, 2024. Th is applies to the two countries’ borders by air and water. On the AUBG scale, students who are not from EU member states will be the biggest benefactors from this change. Political Science and European Studies Professor Magdalena Bernaciak commented on the impact that this decision will have on Bulgaria. She emphasized the fact that the opened channels will be used mainly by people and not for transport purposes. Citing Bulgaria’s International Road Hauliers’ Association, Bernaciak said that “8% of all transport operations take place by sea and by air, the channels that are opened.” Th e other 92% of traffi c will still be controlled and potentially delayed which does not benefi t the economy in any way. “When it comes to the human side of it [partial entry], it defi nitely makes things easier,” Prof. Bernaciak said. She pointed out how this change will signifi cantly help international students as there will be no need to obtain an additional Schengen visa. 4 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily When asked whether Bulgaria’s land borders will also be included in the Schengen area, she highlighted the dependence on Austria’s political situation as it was the last country to oppose the partial entry. “Odds for Austria at the moment are extremely pessimistic when it comes to who can be the winner of these elections,” Prof. Bernaciak stated. She added that the most likely winners are the far-right party which is populist right-wing oriented and would probably not allow Bulgaria’s land borders entry into Schengen. Dean Sabina Wien shared that she hopes AUBG international students “can benefi t the most, can get the most privileges, if not equal privileges, as Bulgarian nationals.” When asked whether the Schengen entry will make more students willing to come to AUBG, she said that more interest is defi nitely expected. Dean Wien added that this will certainly be utilized by the Marketing offi ce to promote the university. She mentioned the organized trips to Greece by the International Offi ce as an example of a case when certain AUBG students could not participate exactly because of their non-EU nationality. Dean Wien said that “we are possibly more ready than ever” to join Schengen and Bulgaria has to keep gaining even more trust. She continued by saying that AUBG’s diversity in terms of nationality will benefi t from this change, and she hopes this applies to cultures and ethnicities as well. Dean Wien fi nished with the words: “I will defi - nitely celebrate,” meaning Bulgaria’s partial inclusion in the Schengen area. Ngan Th an Ho, an AUBG senior from Vietnam, is very satisfi ed with the changes. “Now, with the partial entry, I can at least go by plane or boat to other European countries without a visa,” she said. Ngan shared that the expensive visa fee and time-consuming document preparation will not be necessary for her anymore. When asked whether a potential inclusion of Bulgaria’s land borders in Schengen would aff ect her, the Vietnamese student said that she mostly travels by plane and it does not matter whether this happens or not. Ngan stated that the change will potentially attract more Asian students as they will be able to travel to more countries. She also mentioned ׉ 7cassandra://qQZLtOJcrh2Hz64wXNeGNebjWRiFRe86TxDoyCs6Cjs$`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉EBulgaria’s adoption of the Euro currency and that the country is going to “lose its charm” as the cheap one in Europe. Mark Supanat, a junior student from Th ailand, said the partial entry would be very benefi cial for many students. Until now, he had to go to Vietnam in order to receive a visa for other EU countries. He said: “Future students from Th ailand won’t need to go through the same process I did.” When asked whether more international students would be willing to come to AUBG aft er the changes, he said that “only students who have already accepted and wanted to go [to AUBG]” will be aff ected. He mentioned a related problem - there is a limited number of Bulgarian embassies in Southeast Asia. Mark fi nished by saying: “I don’t think we will see the results during our time at AUBG,” meaning an increased diversity due to the partial entry to Schengen. AUBG senior Mohamad Hachem from Lebanon said: “For now, this [the partial Schengen entry] is a step in the right direction.” He continued by sharing that it would have been great if the decision had been made earlier than his senior year. In that case, he would have been able to travel to conferences and professional events in Schengen area countries easier. “It is really going to improve the quality of education for international students who are going to come here [AUBG],” Mohamad said. He added that the university must be selective regarding students right now and this is going to alter aft er the changes are implemented. 5 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily Th e Lebanese student added that another way students would benefi t is if Bulgaria’s land borders entered the Schengen area. Currently, some of them limit their travel because they cannot aff ord fl ight tickets. “If we are talking politics, this is going to be great for the economy,” Mohamad said. Similarly to Prof. Bernaciak, he mentioned the current problem with trucks and cargo vessels which wait for hours and days at Bulgaria’s land borders. “AUBG students who are coming next year as Freshmen and Sophomores, and Juniors this year should fully utilize this opportunity,” Mohamad highlighted. Editors: Vasil Paskov and Radina Shtereva Ha r y D i k o v ׉ 7cassandra://eryp_a_uFy3hcqi5qysUfF-FXSCGeZ0ywA-csNd2I1s`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://6HohB6eL8gL0I1YNTUnY7cki3hfNYdhvVqwEeejCJAU`׉ 7cassandra://DOvFO4isYJndw_JpVJGViiQFkKm94RM0SIKj13RB_Q0͊O`c׉ 7cassandra://YV-YC_4N1E-lmWcwDZ2Adnd_QM5hnjYAfdjCQCoSpzI%`̽g?Nb>Oz 1טu׉׉ 7cassandra://S202BSAQuNDpE8jYun2KMzi-U1q2hSxtlEL7XOt4P7M5`׉ 7cassandra://y-v0znHF0AEvZwvzMyJNbRJs_X8BaYbLhsPSLjgebLYtw`c׉ 7cassandra://N69dLXcybofwX6Ncdzr8gmW1TqIm1eSxrTEuZLkm1oo`̽g?Nb>Oz 2׉E*The Highs I Feb. 23, 2024 f one is interested in a certain topic outside of the catalog, then an independent study may be the right option for them. Many students see it as a golden opportunity to enrich their curriculum. Yet, what exactly does an independent study consist of, and is it worth it? What is an Independent Study? According to the Undergraduate Catalog, “Independent study provides AUBG students with the opportunity to undertake a specialized study and to work closely with individual faculty in the model of an English tutorial”. Th e student and advisor agree on a topic, but how it is approached is entirely up to the student. Th e study could be an academic research paper, a theatrical performance, or a work of fi ction. Professor Krastanka Bozhinova, who is teaching French at AUBG, is currently working with students doing an Independent Study (Advanced French through Media and Film) and she defi nes it as “an opportunity to off er a course which does not exist in the catalog.” For her, this is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. “It allows a professor to have a course which is more fl exible, on a topic which is of interest both to them and the student. It is an opportunity to enrich the curriculum with diff erent, usually more advanced topics,” Prof. Bozhinova says. To qualify for an Independent study, one must have a cumulative GPA of 3.100 and have completed 30 credit hours. Th e professor they work with must be a fulltime faculty member and the chosen topic must not overlap with already existing courses. Why an Independent study? Independent studies are not mandatory, so the motives behind doing one are different for each student. Some see it as an opportunity to test their creative skills or research methods. Others need the credits to complete their chosen major or minor. Such is the case of Anastasia Dimitrova, 6 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily a junior at AUBG, who already has two independent projects behind her back and is currently working on a third one. “I am doing a self-designed major in Th eater and Film, therefore I would not be able to graduate, had I not done an Independent study,” shares Anastasia. However, she also enjoys the creative freedom that comes with the project. “I like the idea of having control over what activities you plan during your Independent study and how it goes.” Boyan Bozhinov, an AUBG senior currently writing a work of fi ction with the help of Professor Michael Cohen, is in a similar situation. “Th ere weren’t any courses that were available or fi tting for me at the moment, so doing an Independent Study is something I need because at the same time I want to get done with the creative writing minor. I took it because of both necessity and interest,” he says. Benefi ts and Drawbacks Like many academic activities, an Independent Study is both rewarding and strenuous. Th e biggest challenge for most students is time management. “I would have all of my classes and my job and on top of that I would have to dedicate a signifi cant amount of time per week to work on it,” said Anastasia. Fitting the Independent study in your schedule is also diffi cult for professors. Professor Bozhinova says: “Th e minimum required is to meet our students once a week, but they usually prefer to have meetings twice a week. We try to remain fl exible, according to our schedules.” Some students struggle with doing everything on their own if the professor is not familiar with the process. “Some professors are very adept while others are kind of clueless. Th ere is not much information about the procedure so at one point it is just constant emailing to department chairs until you fi gure it out,” Boyan says. Yet, this autonomy is what makes Independent studies attractive to students, as it gives them a way to unleash their full potential. “Drowning Ophelia is the fi rst independent production by AUBG students in 30 years that has been in circulation,” says Anastasia. “Th e Independent studies at AUBG give you the opportunity to really experiment with where you want to go and what you want to do. Professor Nedyalko Delchev, who supervises most of my Independent studies, allows for creative freedom.” Boyan is also optimistic about how his current Independent study will turn out. “Professor Cohen is very open to having the study be a huge aid in the long run. He mentioned he was going to also share the publishing options I would have by the end of it.” A Word of Advice Despite the hardships, professors and students generally enjoy working on Independent studies. When asked whether he would recommend this type of activity, Boyan says: “I would say go for it. Th e professor is going to give their full-time attention to you and it’s a study that basically fi ts your remaining credits for the major or the minor.” For Prof. Bozhinova, it is the enthusiasm of the students that is gratifying and this is why she fi nds the working process enjoyable. “You can always see their interest - these studies are not mandatory - it is all their own initiative, so it is really nice to work together,” she says. Anastasia shares: “If you really want to do an Independent study, there is nothing that should hold you back. Since AUBG grants this opportunity to us, we should take it.” Edited by: Niya Manditsch and David Mitov Gy P re sl le a av a u ze v ׉ 7cassandra://YV-YC_4N1E-lmWcwDZ2Adnd_QM5hnjYAfdjCQCoSpzI%`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉EC Ralitsa Vuycheva: From Journalism to Media Analysis Apr. 29, 2024 B eing one of the most desired majors at AUBG, the Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) degree opens the door for students to develop themselves in a wide range of fi elds. Television and radio stations, newspapers, and Public Relations (PR) are among the most popular ones. Few people know about media analysis although it provides a pleasant fi eld for JMC students to thrive in. “Media analysts answer research questions, fi nd trends, make data-based conclusions, and even educated predictions. Media analysts slice and dice, dig and dive deep to answer the million-dollar question – ‘why?’,” said Ralitsa Vuycheva, Account Director at Commetric, a company that provides media analytics solutions. For Vuycheva, JMC students and graduates are prepared to do the tasks a media analyst does. “Everyone with a JMC degree knows exactly how to do it – what to look for, where to search it, how to read between the lines to get the big picture, and how to combine the puzzle parts. And maybe the most important skill – the ability to navigate confi dently and quickly through large information fl ows and to assess fast the importance of certain facts/news,” she said. For Vuycheva, journalism was a dream. She studied Journalism at Sofi a University, which helped her develop personally and professionally. “A JMC degree helps natural-born journalists build solid self-esteem, providing them with tools and “weapons” they’d need in their journey to fulfi ll their internal urge and mission,” Vuycheva said. “While attending diff erent classes and working on various projects, a JMC student inevitably learns more and more about the mechanisms that drive individual and social processes and gets knowledge about various spheres of social and economic life.” Vuycheva is aware of what a JMC degree brings to a graduate student who has yet to jump into the professional environment. “A JMC degree comes with a vast intellectual background, supported by upskilled know-how, which is always a solid starting point for becoming a successful and self-confi dent professional,” she said. Aft er graduation, Vuycheva worked at a TV station, women’s magazines, a morning block, an editorial team, and as a freelancer. Her experience in diff erent journalistic fi elds helped her realize what advantages a JMC degree provides. It also aided her in her career path in Commetric, starting as a media analyst. “I strongly believe that a JMC student or graduate would feel comfortable in the shoes of a media analyst,” Vuycheva said. “In Commetric, I’m not the only example that this is possible, we have many talented colleagues with JMC degrees who are constantly promoted by rights due to demonstrated skills and work ethics.” Th e skills and knowledge she gained through her experience navigated her through the new job despite the initial uncertainty and diffi culty. “For me, it was hard to believe that a JMC graduate with no experience in media analysis could fi t perfectly in the role of a media analyst as I literally had no idea what the media analysts were actually doing,” Vuycheva said. “My curiosity made me accept my fi rst assignment with Commetric and very quickly aft erward I realized that my background would indeed help me tremendously in my work as an analyst.” Th e Journalistic and Media Analysis fi elds share common characteristics regarding what people take out of them. Th e skills acquired in both fi elds help Vuycheva and every other JMC-major student succeed since the two complement each other. “Maybe the most important skill for both journalists and analysts is to be able to ask the right questions in order to receive meaningful answers, to comprehend. To think out of the box and to be creative. To believe that there’s always a smart way to get information,” Vuycheva said. According to Vuycheva, the two fi elds also diff er. “Th e only diff erence is the perspective – in the focus of the media analysis are the questions of our corporate clients/NGOs/ governmental bodies, while journalists are searching for answers on behalf of the society,” she said. Working in the two diff erent spheres provided her with important lessons for her self-improvement and professional development. “While working in the Journalistic fi eld I’ve learned how to think and make decisions fast, come up with diff erent ideas, and have the courage and persistence to defend them. In my work in the Media Analysis sphere I’ve learned that a JMC degree can open many career doors – one can thrive as a journalist, a PR expert, or a media analyst.” From her long and diverse experience in the Journalistic and Media Analysis fi elds, Vuycheva shared advice with all current, graduate, and future JMC students. “Dream big and have no fear, at least not for your professional development – you’re (re)searchers in your blood, and you’ll be always welcome in the media analysis universe.” Sponsored by: Ge 7 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily T sv ie a et in rg a o v ׉ 7cassandra://N69dLXcybofwX6Ncdzr8gmW1TqIm1eSxrTEuZLkm1oo`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://5PGi1vM1677ayL_9iI1FHBUrQUgHDTG8uxDafao3e7k`׉ 7cassandra://AE-igBeyX99WJTSH6Sy2FRXU58CFmw5XIf-hcMvwImAy;`c׉ 7cassandra://jXVSLq4G2xmzYsUg5sMP2Nz4xsGay4deo2OBTrOTJT8!`̽g?Nb>Oz 5טu׉׉ 7cassandra://kVHTLjtZ3oN0iSED5Obo-F0z3jwNtfiWAOJh_FBw1RI`׉ 7cassandra://QzonFWlP-EdE6DINFDdh6sZzTrXArBX9PAut-DI5eIḱ-`c׉ 7cassandra://sz_AacQq2v6p2i5QFNp2A9h9vyQl8suoTqv9hLl_HOE" `̽g?Ob>Oz 6׉E AUBG’s Sofia S preferences and needs. “At this point, we are trying to be as fl exible as possible because if we’re able to run this even just one fi rst semester in the Fall, I think it will, in turn, promote opportunities for others in the future,” J. D. Mininger, AUBG’s Provost, said during an info session about the Sofi a Semester opportunity held on March 20. What about the courses? A preliminary list of the on-ground and online courses is already available. Depending on students’ preferences and professors’ eff orts, more courses will be added to the list so that students with diff erent majors can enroll. Apr. 1, 2024 A UBG is on track to off er its third- and fourth-year students the opportunity to study in Sofi a instead of Blagoevgrad. Th e Sofi a Semester optional program will provide a full load of AUBG credit-bearing courses. Th ey will be taught for one semester either in the Elieff Center or online while students live in Sofi a. As of March 27, there is an ongoing process of research and gathering interest among students to evaluate their willingness to study a semester in Sofi a, their majors, and the courses that can be off ered. Th is is also a way for AUBG’s Administration to see whether a Sofi a Semester can happen depending on students’ 8 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily “Th ere are one or two GenEd electives, and then most of the onground courses for this semester are Business courses. But that’s not because we only want Business students,” Mininger said. “Th at’s because the department was the one that found they were most easily able to off er certain courses. But there are some other majors that, I think, can fi gure this out between a little creativity, online courses, and some other things.” What is the biggest advantage? Th e Sofi a Semester aims to provide internship off ers in big and well-developed companies, such as IBM, Commerzbank, Coca-Cola, Postbank, MSG Global Solutions, Nu Boyana Film Studios, Nova TV, Luft hansa, etc. “Internships are one of the great, great values of this [Sofi a Semester],” Mininger said. “One of the things that for AUBG is pretty incredible, but for an on-campus student you don’t always see, is how many connections we actually have in Sofi a.” What about some diffi culties? Some challenges remain for AUBG’s Administration to decide on and clear out before actually launching the Sofi a Semester. “Th e fi rst thing that will be the most challenging is the fact that the number of courses we can off er in Sofi a to get this started is very minimal,” Mininger said. “We will have a few courses that are on the ground in the Elieff Center. But then there would be online course options depending on your particular situation, even an independent study,” Mininger said. What remains the same as in a Blagoevgrad semester? Studying in Sofi a extends to the academic opportunities off ered at AUBG. Th e terms and conditions of an academic semester remain approximately the same; only the location is diff erent. “Th ere are lots of diff erent creative things we can do with this location. But we also want this to be an academically legitimate environment for you [the students],” Mininger said. “We would never wish to harm or water down the quality of the academic opportunities that you would have. We hope, at some point, it’s even more.” Th e situation with club participation, student activities, and events does not drastically change either. “You’ll be away from this campus, but it doesn’t mean you have to be ׉ 7cassandra://jXVSLq4G2xmzYsUg5sMP2Nz4xsGay4deo2OBTrOTJT8!`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉E Se emester Loading alienated from the things that happen on campus, and certainly when it comes to big events, we would fi nd a way to make sure that all of you, if you wish, could travel,” Mininger said. Studying in Sofi a does not change the tuition fee a student pays. According to Mininger, “Th e tuition will be the same. You pay for AUBG credits either way, and the idea is that, for the most part, the cost doesn’t change unless you want it to somehow change.” What can be slightly diff erent? A change can appear in accommodation costs. Students who live or have a place to stay in Sofi a can do so. For the rest, an option for housing is Kitchen 59, which has conditions, services, and housing fees similar to those of the AUBG Resident Halls. “Th e cost will be similar to living on campus in Blagoevgrad. A meal plan option is available for an additional fee for those who wish,” Mininger said. “Students will pay AUBG; AUBG will hold the housing contract and take care of the details. Th ere are some notable amenities available onsite, such as a rooft op café and a swimming pool.” If the group of people housed in Kitchen 59 is at least of modest size, there can even be a Resident Assistant (RA) working there. Th ey will sign a student contract with AUBG, work under the same terms and conditions as an RA in one of the three Skapto Resident Halls, and have their housing fee covered for the Sofi a Semester. Th e Sofi a Semester is not a requirement for any major off ered at AUBG. As Mininger said, “It is simply a cool opportunity!” and students can express their interest by fi lling out a form. What do students think about the Sofi a Semester off er? “Overall, I feel like this is a great opportunity for AUBG students. It provides you with numerous possibilities to intern at big companies,” Radko Mishev, a second-year student, said. “Sadly, I am not going to enroll due to it not having enough Computer Science courses.” “Right now, the Sofi a semester idea is very small-scale, meaning a very limited number of courses are actually off ered. Depending on your major, doing a semester at Sofi a might be impossible for you,” Kaloyan Dimitrov, a second-year student, said. “Also, the community aspect of the university inevitably suff ers, as you will have a lot fewer classmates studying alongside you.” “Th is 1-semester pilot project will be the bridge that connects AUBG students with opportunities for professional development. And I am hopeful that once the fi rst trial is done, the program will steadily grow in popularity,” Alexander Yordanov, a senior student, said. “However, given the short notice for this program, people could not plan their courses in advance.” “I can’t be more excited about it!” Mihaela Mihaylova, a fi rst-year student, said. “Sofi a is my hometown, which means being closer to my family and living at my home. Also, I work in Sofi a, so traveling every week will not be necessary anymore.” “Th e Sofi a Semester seems like an amazing opportunity that deserves more attention. If more students show interest in it, more professors will be willing to give lectures in Sofi a or have online sections,” Samuil Mladenov, a second-year student, said. “For now, we can’t really know what diffi culties might exist since it’s something new. But the university is willing to help with any hardships that the people enrolling may face.” Editors: Radina Shtereva and Darya Dolgopolova Ge 9 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily T sv ie a et in rg a o v ׉ 7cassandra://sz_AacQq2v6p2i5QFNp2A9h9vyQl8suoTqv9hLl_HOE" `̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://drGzovUuJrmPQZbYczk6mEQTm6IT0RlsNVxbBxLbYqoM`׉ 7cassandra://bVOkR09F_LhgeQLFc7YtUJEPMjgEGNgD1Nw5p_3DTJc̓`c׉ 7cassandra://PpXh8PY4mi0O4eP6Hiw4iiRMFjKjpbmNuqjnKjEsVSM#`̽g?Ob>Oz 9טu׉׉ 7cassandra://VuQOiRQpO-L4tmYtp2JfvX_WsR8iXujUJlEX_bnNP9UU`׉ 7cassandra://BUxLJUnaA-4I-rUVHp2Y9OE3WMclWAMUr_6FQtIRp1w͂`c׉ 7cassandra://Wc_IlwowXGSGT8LDuo1r53humPonjkZr0wgyE2HOKJE$`̽g?Ob>Oz :׉ECan AUBG Become a Smoke - Free University? Mar. 7, 2024 I t is not a secret that a lot of people on the AUBG campus are smokers. So when the conversations about the potential restrictions on smoking started to escalate, clashing opinions became prevalent. “I don’t smoke. But I’m a smoker. I’m a passive smoker. And that is the problem,” said Sabina Wien, the Dean of Students. Dean Wien stated that decisions such as restricting or banning smoking don’t just happen overnight. “I hope that students are aware that whenever the university has the intention to do something, we inform the students, not only inform them, we also consult with the students,” she said. Dean Wien pointed out that a lot of new people have joined AUBG, including the new president, who noticed that the signs about not smoking in certain areas were not really working. “It is a natural life of signs. At a certain point, people stop noticing,” she said. Conversations around smoking started with the intention of supporting the rights of people who prefer not to smoke. “When you enter the buildings, you have to walk through a cloud of smoke,” Dean Wien noted. She also said: “Limiting somebody’s freedom is wrong and smokers may not always be aware of non-smokers around them.” Yet, nothing has been decided. “We don’t want to harm people who are smokers,” Dean Wien said, “We want to educate people.” 10 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily The conversations involved resident assistants, who are aware of the habits of students. “We discussed how we can accommodate people. We even discussed if we could have smoking and non-smoking balconies,” she shared. “It is not about banning smoking, it is about banning the possibility of smokers harming the non-smokers,” Dean Wien added. Rati Sirabidze, a junior from Georgia, does not perceive smoking on campus as a problem. He currently lives off-campus, but still thinks that potential restrictions on smoking will affect him in some ways. “I don’t think that people are considering the deep-rooted cultural context and the meaning of smoking in the Balkans, especially in Bulgaria,” he said. Rati said that smoking is a personal choice and this personal choice should not be restricted. “Every addiction is harmful. They might as well ban drinking on campus,” he said. He also raised the issue of the financial implications of the possible restriction or banning of smoking. “Does AUBG have money for such spending, considering that campus with about 1000 students has only one counselor?” he asked. Rati said that topics tend to come and go. “It almost feels like they are trying to shift the focus from very problematic topics to something which people don’t really care about,” he added. Rati Sirabidze smoking in front of the BAC building. Photo courtesy of Eka Iakobadze Rati thinks that nobody would go out of their way to smoke on a different balcony or go off campus. He also raised the issue of how it could be monitored: “I don’t think resident assistants would be willing to do that job on top of everything they are doing already.” Ethan Perelstein, a senior from the U.S., had a contrasting opinion. “Smokers can just walk down to the river,” he said, “The rest of the country is designed for smokers, let’s make sure that at least our campus is safe for everyone.” Considering that AUBG has a new president and the university has started the planned expansion, Ethan is not surprised that this conversation is coming up now. “It is a good opportunity for cultural change,” he said. Ethan has written an article on smoking in AUBG. In his article, he discussed the notion of “individual freedom”. “Smokers who know better ׉ 7cassandra://PpXh8PY4mi0O4eP6Hiw4iiRMFjKjpbmNuqjnKjEsVSM#`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉E all over the world cite that it’s a ‘personal choice’ to subject themselves to cigarettes. To them it’s about individual freedoms. But for me, it is not a choice,” he wrote. He also raised a point about how smoking aff ects non-smokers. “I have become what the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) calls a passive smoker,” he said. Ethan emphasized in his article how passive smokers are also predisposed to lethal diseases due to the secondhand smoke left in the air. Ethan also highlighted that, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDS), “there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke; even brief exposure can cause serious health problems.” Finally, Ethan raised the question: “Where are my individual rights?” Gage Miller is an exchange student from Louisiana, the U.S. He compared AUBG to his home university and said that students are not allowed to smoke cigarettes on campus. “You have to go off -campus, but you just have to go a foot off campus and you’ll be fi ne,” he said. He said that smoking on the AUBG campus is defi nitely much easier: “I defi nitely smoke a lot more here than I did in the U.S.” Dimitar Vitliyanov, a sophomore from Bulgaria, shared that he had informal conversations with the administration about smoking on campus. “I feel like banning smoking would be impossible. Th e administration is just thinking of the options of how to restrict smoking on campus,” he said. Dimitar pointed out that such a policy will be diffi cult to attain because Boryana Ivanova. Photo courtesy of Niko Kochalidze 11 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily Bulgarians smoke a lot, and there is no structural support. “By that, I mean the state having specifi c programs and an interest to discourage smoking in general,” he said. Just like Rati, Dimitar is concerned about the fi nancial implications of the potential policies. “Th e administration will have to think about such things as ventilation if there are designated smoking areas,” he said. Such equipment costs a lot of money. Dimitar considers smoking a systemic issue. “Some people don’t understand how diffi cult it is to not smoke once you are addicted,” he said. Yet, Dimitar said that he understands why the conversations around smoking are taking place. “Th is is a change that is normal for Western universities, and being a model for a Western university in Bulgaria, it is only logical to pursue such policies,” he said. Another student, who decided to stay anonymous, shared that he noticed how trash cans were moved away from the ABF and BAC entrances last semester. But, back then, he did not really think much of it. At the beginning of this semester, he was smoking outside the ABF building with his friends. He said that they were standing two-to-three meters away from the entrance when suddenly a loud alarm went off . “I was terrifi ed,” he said. “I feel like the new president is trying to ban smoking as much as she can. She is trying to Americanize AUBG,” he said. “I don’t think she realizes where she is and how things work here,” he said, “People smoke so much here that it is a wonder how smoking is banned inside.” Can AUBG actually become a smoke-free university? Out of 50 randomly chosen respondents, 78% think that it simply cannot happen. Nothing is decided though. Th ere is still no set plan for AUBG’s transition to a smoke-free campus. Editors: Vasil Paskov and Niya Manditsch Ek a Iak ob ze ad ׉ 7cassandra://Wc_IlwowXGSGT8LDuo1r53humPonjkZr0wgyE2HOKJE$`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://rirt5gsAyDvTtIxboX4uizSKDrV68iurty3kxD9Pt2c`׉ 7cassandra://eT-_ivipH_IIsz5i-ZqSaY88K1i2ZKrIEM0r-etXCeo͑`c׉ 7cassandra://6NvxHl5OqEDtO5w90YAqMDQ8E7_mmxg5RPOegYbbiGs(`̽g?Ob>Oz >טu׉׉ 7cassandra://f-zSf3G8jZlAgxmvOszzevxwIzL1zYo7C2lur_962y0J`׉ 7cassandra://6m-q_c-v6s11ezjCPpvuRjX3Ts12cJT1QS0jhTsGYPA}W`c׉ 7cassandra://cc2WofAgcr2TT4sP9TODmMLi5JeDNCCxLDglnm38OWA"x`̽g?Ob>Oz A׉E Studying at Two Universities: An Opportunity or a Challenge? Apr. 22, 2024 A UBG is one of the few universities in Bulgaria that allows its students to graduate with two majors simultaneously. However, some students decide that they are passionate about another area of study that is not part of the academic catalog. Hence, they enroll in a second university while also studying at AUBG. Among these students is Georgi Pandev, a junior majoring in Business Administration and Political Science. Apart from his studies at AUBG, he is a part-time Law student at Southwest University in Blagoevgrad. He describes his experience as a student in two universities as a very rewarding one. “I am building knowledge in several fi elds that are very much connected and complement each other in various ways,” Georgi explained. Georgi graduated from the American College of Sofi a. Studying in the American educational system was a natural choice, but he dreamed of becoming a lawyer in Bulgaria. Th ere was an option that combined all of his wishes: studying at AUBG and Southwest University at the same time. He started the two universities at once. Initially, he was a 12 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily bit anxious about whether he wo manage to combine them. Th en, h found out that the Southwest Law Department was on the third fl oo AUBG’s Main building. “Th is fact struck me because I re did not know it, and I took it as a a sign from above. It made me feel like, yeah, that is the thing for m Surely, I should try it and do my be to achieve the results,” he said Unlike him, Liliya Lazarova is a regular student in two cities: Bla evgrad and Sofi a. She is currentl majoring in Business Administration at AUBG and Fashion Design at the National Art Academy. From a very young age, she wanted to study something related to design, but then, in high school, she developed a strong interest in business. She decided to pursue a degree in the two fi elds because, in the future, she thinks she can combine them career-wise. “Th ese majors give me the freedom to be creative and also view the business aspect of it,” said Liliya. Eva Kortezova, a junior majoring in Business Administration and Economics, enrolled in a second university because she has always been good at mathematics. She has given private math lessons since sixth grade, and she wanted to make sure el m y bet aw oo f that if something goes wrong with her business career, she can always rely on her teaching skills. “I knew that I was good at this. I have had lots of experience already, and I have had lots of amazing feedback from my students,” said Eva. She enrolled at Southwest University as a part-time student in Pedagogy of Education in Mathematics, Informatics, and Information Technologies. As a part-time student, ten days a semester she has to attend lectures on-ground. “Th ere was one day when I had 12 lectures, which was horrible. I woke up every day at 6:00. I had lectures in AUBG, and then I ran to the Southwest because the mathematics campus is at the end of the city,” Eva said. ׉ 7cassandra://6NvxHl5OqEDtO5w90YAqMDQ8E7_mmxg5RPOegYbbiGs(`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉ETime management is the biggest problem for all students studying at two universities, no matter how near or far they are from one another. Georgi said that there is a part of the semester when it becomes full of exams and assignments. “It is too many things to process, and I personally want to cover everything with the best eff ort that I can possibly give. I catch myself digging too deep into some things, maybe without the need to,” he said. At Southwest University, there are two exam sessions, which helps students spread their exams evenly. “I approach the two exam seasons strategically. For example, I take half of the exams during the fi rst session and the next couple in the next exam session,” explained Georgi. Liliya shared another problem with time management while studying at two universities. “A lot of the time, you just get used to being alwa s in a rush, alwa s h h h do l d s y g y you just need to take a step back and relax,” she said. Th is is not the case for everyone. Lilia Petrova studies Business Administration and European Studies at AUBG, and her third major is Contemporary Choreography at Southwest University. “It has always been a passion of mine that I want to keep part of my life, and in a way, going and dancing for hours helps me get my mind off of things because AUBG tends to be really busy,” Lilia explained. Lilia shared that at Southwest University, she got the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and explore a completely diff erent university with a diff erent educational system and people. “Th e people that I communicate with in the other university are actually much diff erent than the people that I communicate with here. So, I get to see a whole new perspective of peop p p . D h d n - p pects of studying at two universities, Liliya Lazarova believes that people should enjoy the process. “It does not matter whether you graduate with two, three, or fi ve majors. At the end of the day, it is what you have learned and how you have developed as an individual. If only one major brings you that type of enjoyment, fulfi llment, and development, then that is completely fi ne, and the quality is more important than the quantity,” she said. Edited by Vasil Pakov and Niya Manditsch G Daily G Jan an in a Or m ov a ׉ 7cassandra://cc2WofAgcr2TT4sP9TODmMLi5JeDNCCxLDglnm38OWA"x`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://hyNTpy-jCW3nGCmu-D8T5u16G62l0jqhhoQWuHX9Fzc7T`׉ 7cassandra://QCEOHnKyQxbrBMs-JyPfCVOOBlmVRJ18A17Goa3vutYiu`c׉ 7cassandra://KUcZBDgEy0A9ZKtLwJ0M9_Vn3POeW-kQF7ArcUZPr2I#X`̽g?Ob>Oz Cטu׉׉ 7cassandra://sIAx99iXzXcRtmLPZfpUFLNDCXyMt0CG33l6oIzhZxcd`׉ 7cassandra://8O7R55CLqlLvSn9NVOHlTxt8d0lbttIBd0JjwHyu3RM͉V`c׉ 7cassandra://az6I19eqOsv-1MATNM2FSRJaE6k2u9wTq-rsquaMlbw&`̽g?Ob>Oz D׉ECrossword 1. What is the name of Broadway’s musical performance this semester? 2. What is the name of one of the newest clubs at AUBG? 3. What is the last name of the Bulgarian author who won the International Booker Prize 2023? 4. What is the name of the new Senior Vice President of Development? 5. Where will AUBG off er a new semester? 6. Who is “the Voice” of AUBG? 7. What is the biggest event off ering career opportunities for AUBG students? 8. AUBG students lost one nightclub option, which is the nightclub that closed its doors? 9. Which is one of the one-credit Adobe courses taught this semester? 10. What is the name of the event when many outstanding students are announced? Word search 20 words total 20 words total ׉ 7cassandra://KUcZBDgEy0A9ZKtLwJ0M9_Vn3POeW-kQF7ArcUZPr2I#X`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉E 4Major’s Horoscope Business Administration Let me guess - you want to make big money? Invest in time management, because with all of the projects you’ll have to do, you’ll still have no idea what you learned. Journalism You cannot contain your natural curiosity and eagerness to learn about your surroundings which may make you gossip occasionally. Political Science You do not like the easy path, do you? Get ready for lots of papers and articles about mesmerizing topics such as the foreign policy of Niger and the energy crisis in Nepal but of course, everything will be worth it in the end…as long as your fi rst major is BUS. Computer Science Stars tell me that you enjoy geek stuff (when I think twice, it may be your shirt). If the approximate time you spend in Discord is less than 15 hours per day, you should really think about the most important question in life - Is this what I want to do with the rest of my life? European Studies From SG to the European Parliament - learn that constitution and master those public speaking skills, because AUBG needs these funding programs for expanding Skapto! Our EUROscope speaks: bureaucracy at its fi nest leads to currency divinest! Economics You willingly made your life harder. Respectable, but good luck with socializing, because you’re chasing perfection. Even if you supply your professors with good work, they will demand more. Psychology A master manipulator even to yourself. You will be most wanted and do a lot of great things in psychology (even if you barely passed your PSY1001 course). Physics Wait, you guys actually exist? Well, even if you do, good luck getting enough courses to graduate in four years. Self-Designed Major You are, to put it simply, built diff erently. You may not be able to buy yourself a carpet, but you may reach the red carpet someday. 15 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily Mathematics You are the smartest person in the room…or at least that is what your parents told you as a kid. Get ready for hundreds of complex equations and even more complicated exam sessions. And in the end, if you are lucky, the best option for you will be to return to the university but this time you will be in front of the students. Literature Creative writing skills are immaculate (lit), huh? But be infallible (lit) in catching up with the readings about Shakespeare, LITERARY…Because dictionaries are in quest of appending new, aliferous words. Information Systems You want to be a COS Major but you do not feel like programming and geeking out, which is totally understandable. Get ready for a Temu version of the COS major but as long as you enjoy it, nobody can tell you anything (mainly because people have not heard about your major). History Wow, you know when the Battle of Dunkirk was?! I hope you have fun giving museum tours for the next 40 years. Modern Languages Vous parlez français? Nein, ich kann Deutsch! Pero también hablo español! Hey, I can speak all of them, didn’t you know that? Good luck in choosing which country to visit fi rst…and good luck in not becoming byelingual, your brain is already a complete mess! ׉ 7cassandra://az6I19eqOsv-1MATNM2FSRJaE6k2u9wTq-rsquaMlbw&`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://EUSLy2hOGbbHW_fOMHRmaFONeBFmpW2XJI7QKuD-OFo`׉ 7cassandra://mF7ZBeZ9AF8RFdysc-f9tme8c-qmq-B_bsI1jjjVR2Eͅ`c׉ 7cassandra://OKNRcnQ3OD3J4o_H8_x54dr48uKVtVUsWN0CkYv15cg%Z`̽g?Ob>Oz Fטu׉׉ 7cassandra://2LQHd-psDo2ecdPyPhTOs0GkpU23WMMjDHG50L2RRbg`׉ 7cassandra://MHEa8seugwgyEcjEWz7Ovyh_xNTKUlOTJoUZ9cXCgI0V`c׉ 7cassandra://WyraCgaDIXxNJJa6vvsxre-3H3G9L74w6aR-UMV6BOoy`̽g?Ob>Oz Gנg?Ob>Oz Kb)9ׁHhttp://m.bg/ׁ ׁ Јנg?Ob>Oz Jb)9ׁHhttp://m.bg/ׁ ׁ Ј׉EGrocery Shopping on a Student Budget: Smart Choices at the Supermarket Apr. 30, 2024 AUBG Senior student Stefan Leon emA UBG students are one of the most active consumer groups in BG Market’s stores as they try to fi nd nutritious and aff ordable food items. Th ere are a variety of options for them to choose from in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. BG Market’s Marketing Director Vladimir Milenkov acknowledged the importance of students as a customer group. “Students shop at our supermarkets given the higher education institutions in town. Th at is why we strive to off er activities that are suited to their needs and preferences,” he said. Examples of such include fresh product offerings and interactive social media games. According to the results from a survey conducted among 50 AUBG students, 48% of the respondents shop 2-3 times a week and 44% do that once a week. Th is tendency is confi rmed by BG Market’s Marketing Director Vladimir Milenkov. “In Bulgaria, it is becoming more common that people shop “day by day” instead of “week by week”. Th e consumers tend to purchase more cooked meals during the weekdays, dealing with their fast-paced daily life,” he said. Th at is why all BG Market shops off er a storefront with hot meals that satisfy clients’ needs. Students prioritize certain factors when doing their groceries. According to the survey responses, the most important aspects when choosing a supermarket to shop at are th ff dble p d wide variety of p in line are c live and acces these need rious loc p cces various locations around Blagoev Sponsored by: phasized on BG Market’s off ering of sushi which has been popular among students because of its good value for money. “Th is was the bravest choice they could have made,” he said. BG Market strives to present promotions and aff ordable product prices to its customers which does not remain unnoticed. For Milenkov, the signifi cance of these aspects depends on the customer groups and their specifi c preferences. “For some, it is important to come in person to see and choose the products, for others, this is the location, and for a third group - the variety of products. However, the most essential aspect for everyone is the service; more specifi cally that it happens in a quick and accessible way with the assistance of kind and helpful staff ,” he said. Milenkov added that “a certain tendency of searching and demanding individual approach and service towards the client’s personal needs is becoming more evident.” People also want to maintain their health and well-being which impacts their product choices. “Consumers pay even more attention to the food’s origin and composition and search for higher quality ingredients, having in mind their own health. We notice that younger people search a lot more information about the benefi ts of certain products and how these impact the organism,” Milenkov said. Because of young people’s interest in hlhy li G Mk ff d undergraduates in pleasant and refreshing activities and provide them with an opportunity to win vouchers for shopping in our online store,” Milenkov said. Th e survey results show that students are very likely to choose a supermarket which is more aff ordable and works 24/7. Th is suits their demands to shop cheaply and at any time. Leon agrees with the importance of working hours. “It’s [BG Market] the one grocery store that is open past 8 PM which is the best thing they could have ever done. It works on a student schedule as opposed to everything else in the city,” he said. Th e survey also demonstrated that students do not consider the product’s availability for delivery through an online app to be that important. Nevertheless, there is a steady transition towards shopping online instead of at a physical store. People would like to save the time that is spent reaching the supermarket and going around the stands to fi nd the necessary products. Milenkov said that “the consumer is searching even more for the shorter path that leads to the desired products and satisfi es their needs. We felt this back during the pandemic. Th at is why, as a consequence of it, this alternative method of shopping through digital channels has appeared and developed in the last few years,” he said. BG Market currently has 10 shops around Blagoevgrad with two of them being in los o AG’ s. Th e e in ducts m.bg/ and y of m.bg/ 16 Sprin n Ha r y D i k o v ׉ 7cassandra://OKNRcnQ3OD3J4o_H8_x54dr48uKVtVUsWN0CkYv15cg%Z`̽g?Nb>Oz ׉EAWhat is on AUBG Daily’s Menu? February “Here Are the Proposed Amendments to the SG Constitution” Janina Ormanova; Feb. 4, 2024 “AUBG’s Job Fair: Limited Opportunities for JMC Students” Tsvetina Georgieva; Feb. 14, 2024 “Th e Road to AUBG’s Taste Fest: Flavour, Community, Tradition” Maria Hristova; Feb. 18, 2024 “Radan Kanev Visits AUBG” Vasil Paskov; Feb. 20, 2024 “Beyond the Stars: AUBG Astronomy Club” Borislav Bochev; Feb. 29, 2024 April “MediaWise Campus Correspondents: A New JMC Opportunity” Radina Shtereva; Apr. 2, 2024 “History in Th e Books: Th e Newest Club at AUBG” Spasiela Gizdova; Apr. 3, 2024 “All You Need to Know About the Health and Well-Being Week” Preslava Gyuzeleva; Apr. 4, 2024 “Georgi Gospodinov: Th e Booker Prize Winner Visits AUBG” Radina Shtereva; Apr. 6, 2024 “¡Adiós Professor Diaz!” Kaloyan Ivanov; Apr. 8, 2024 “TEDxAUBG: An Epiphany of Knowledge” Toma Krumov; Apr. 18, 2024 “Extension Visa: What Should International Graduates Know?” Tsvetina Georgieva; Apr. 19, 2024 “Opinion | Corruption, Scandals, and a “New” President - Th e Paradox of Bulgarian Football” Vasil Paskov; Apr. , 2024 To order from the menu: March “Dimitrina Germanova: “Th e Voice” of AUBG” Kaloyan Ivanov; Mar. 1, 2024 “Th e One-Credit Adobe Courses: Practical Skills and Useful Knowledge” Tsvetina Georgieva; Mar. 4, 2024 “Take a Chance and Roll the Dice: Th e Business Club’s New Business Challenge” Preslava Gyuzeleva; Mar. 10, 2024 “What It Is Like Being a Student Assistant” Tsvetina Georgieva; Mar. 14, 2024 “Th e Beginning of the AUBG Journey” Raya Zasheva; Mar. 19, 2024 “Beyond Borders: Matthew Whoolery” Maria Hristova; Mar. 26, 2024 “Revving Up Th e Engines: StartUP Weekend 2024” Borislav Bochev; Mar. 27, 2024 17 Spring 2024 | AUBG Daily ׉ 7cassandra://WyraCgaDIXxNJJa6vvsxre-3H3G9L74w6aR-UMV6BOoy`̽g?Nb>Oz g?Nb>Oz 2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://61IJ7Vd5dX_U7H_dTLTRTkUatYvVrh2QLNRFOa86ORA^`׉ 7cassandra://LmDGASoyLNW_bIV1C5w7zDVQ-fdsz8V-TneCzUkwGrIs`c׉ 7cassandra://sGNipNrYgsqNoytzMT0d4J5FDBz9wt-9YgZDnaXx9F4&`̽g?Ob>Oz Lטu׉׉ 7cassandra://K_BSE5kWePOJXPAVJmsYQvMqtB5zEVNH1PfGbPOOc-4~`׉ 7cassandra://fY9FrGPlGwTHKjWVjdeqnUVBD9JnGnWPCI4GkbLXJww_,`c׉ 7cassandra://Oo8HtRC47ErFZb6cf4at6UPtVJp6RNupZ22YKbo5LAU!Z`̽g?Ob>Oz M׉E &DailyySenio Question 1: What is the most important thing AUBG Daily taught you? Question 2: What advice would you give to incoming AUBG Daily members? Bianka Deyanova Question 1: No matter what hardships you are going through, be it personally or professionally, sharing with the team always makes everything feel better. I have made my closest friendships in AUBG through AUBG Daily and I am forever grateful for all the successful achievements and all of the fun we had together! Four years is a lot when you are 22, but I’m glad and proud I gave all four to Daily. Question 2: You have all the time in the world - don’t hesitate to explore all your interests, pursue diff erent topics, and give in to your curiosity. And if anything goes wrong, just try again and trust that this team will have your back no matter what. aily D Stasi Pashkulova Anusher Mahmadjonov Question 1: You can’t get far on your own. Th e magic happens when you work with your team. Question 2: Be quick and brave. But never careless. Question 1: AUBG Daily taught me that our voices are stronger when we come together. Each article penned, each story told, was a testament to the power of unity in journalism. Together, we didn’t just report news; we became the voice of change, shaping narratives and inspiring action in our small community called AUBG. Question 2: You have a very powerful tool to make a change, don’t waste it. Borislav Bochev Question 1: Bonding with the team is just as important as working hard. Th roughout these two years, I can wholeheartedly say that I have met amazing people, without which my AUBG journey would have defi nitely been more tedious and unpleasant. P.S. Special shoutout to my “Th e Bachelor” crew (I am going to miss our weekly meetings on Wednesdays and Th ursdays). Question 2: Work hard, party harder! :) ;) Tsvetina Georgie Question 1: Publishing an artic is a long process. It requires diff erent skills, starting with interviewing people and gathering information, going through writing an editing, and ending with fi nal polishing details. However, every step is worth the eff ort. Question 2: Be inquisitive! Th er is always somethin going on, so do not miss the opportunity to dig it out. Even when a piece information seems unimportant, be curious enough to fi nd an angle that i worth covering! ׉ 7cassandra://sGNipNrYgsqNoytzMT0d4J5FDBz9wt-9YgZDnaXx9F4&`̽g?Nb>Oz !׉Eio eva cle t h g nd ng ng h ere ng ot of s is ors Vox Pop Aleksandra Boneva Question 1: Honestly, how to approach and write articles. Despite not being a reporter or a JMC major, I was able to learn a lot about journalism which really helped me when I had to take JMC1050 for my marketing minor. I applaud all the reporters and editors for their hard work and dedication, they do an amazing job with keeping us AUBGers informed. Th ank you AUBG Daily! Question 2: Say “Yes” to challenges more oft en than not and don’t forget to enjoy your journey along the way. Darya Dolgopolova Question 1: Something good and worthwhile happens when like-minded people get together, share ideas, and create. Question 2: Don’t be afraid of the unexplored. Radina Shtereva Question 1: Mistakes are not scary, and sometimes, being wrong does not make you appear unintelligent. Even though I spent little time in AUBG Daily, it was one of my favorite memories from university. Be brave and curious about the joys and hardships in life around you. Question 2: Be a team player! United we are stronger! Kaiden Myers Journalism, in all its glory, is alive and well. Question 2: Th ere’s a story everywhere you look. Th e team has your back! p ׉ 7cassandra://Oo8HtRC47ErFZb6cf4at6UPtVJp6RNupZ22YKbo5LAU!Z`̽g?Nb>Oz "g?Nb>Oz !2בCטu׉׉ 7cassandra://QiFUJmYViq-oSt6E8j3M4-2jNrb57yI4weZc-vIUAI0`׉ 7cassandra://XVpo8KbxNXp41eCacVPfOMtPusbpE-A6QW_U3O_VUnof`c׉ 7cassandra://H0fisxk-5NwWboBRe_omMGHneZNLX9t2kyhT9udkQD4h`̽g?Ob>Oz O׉EL�� �� � ��� E�it�� Dear readers, As this academic year comes to an end, it is with great pleasure and excitement that I present to you the Spring 2024 issue of AUBG Daily. In between the pages of this newspaper, you will fi nd a compilation of articles highlighting the events, the changes, the highs, and the lows of the past semester at AUBG. It has been our deepest honor to inform you and tell the stories of our community. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Daily team who have worked tirelessly to make this issue a reality. Th eir dedication and commitment in the past semester have been truly inspiring to witness. Now is also the time to congratulate the graduating class of 2024. As you close this major chapter of your life and you enter the real world, remember all of the memories and knowledge that you gained here. We have every confi dence that success awaits you beyond the walls of AUBG! To you, dear readers, we say thank you for the support, the patience, and the curiosity. We shared an unforgettable journey together and documented it along the way. It was our pleasure. Yours sincerely, Stasi Pashkulova Editor-in-Chief Subscribe to our newsletter here: Illustrations: Janina Ormanova, Vasil Kalchev, Roxana Hristova, Eva Stancheva Layout Design: Kristiana Krasteva, Janina Ormanova Photographer: Martin Milevski S ta si Pa sh k va ulo ׉ 7cassandra://H0fisxk-5NwWboBRe_omMGHneZNLX9t2kyhT9udkQD4h`̽g?Nb>Oz #׈Eg?Nb>Oz $g?Nb>Oz #2,Spring 2024 Issueg?N}\F