AUBG DAILY SPRING 2023 OWL THE NEWS Vol. 4, Issue 2 Offi cial Title Sponsor
Written by Eka Iakobadze 2 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily AI generated illustration
The conversation around ChatGPT has been dominating university life in recent months. In its description, ChatGPT is defi ned as “an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI, based on the Generative Pretrained Transformer language model.” Th e chatbot receives written prompts and is able to generate human-like responses in a surprisingly short time. It can also utilize the content from previous messages in order to form new responses in conversations. Professor Markus Wien, who teaches History at AUBG, talked about how ChatGPT is usually discussed in a negative context in universities because it is viewed as a tool for cheating and plagiarism. Wien is aware of the complications ChatGPT may cause. He discussed how it may push universities to completely reevaluate their style of assessments. “I have not really made any major changes to my teaching, yet and consequently, to the assessments because ChatGPT has only been out since early December,” he said. Wien is confi dent that such tools as ChatGPT will eventually improve over time. “Artifi cial intelligence will develop and then we will have to develop even more sophisticated detection tools,” he said. Wien has tested ChatGPT himself and said that it could write essays worth at least a B-. “I expect that it will not take more than two years to write essays that are really good.” He views ChatGPT as something that is developing and will gain signifi cant sophistication and skills over time. “It can also grade essays, so I could simply ask it to grade the essay for me and give me detailed feedback,” he said. Wien is cognizant that it is not a one-way road, thereby ChatGPT may have an impact on the work of both students and professors. “It can really take us into the grotesque situation where artifi cial intelligence will grade the essays which were written by the artifi cial intelligence. So, you start wondering: what about us humans?” he said. Wien said that all of this will eventually push us to reevaluate the process of thinking. “Th inking may become more like a dialogue and interaction between humans and artifi cial intelligence.” He said that people have to approach this the right way so it does not substitute their thinking, “If we are afraid that a machine takes over and does the thinking for us, then something is going wrong.” He further elaborated on the importance of developing a symbiotic relationship with artifi cial intelligence. “We need to be creative and open-minded,” Wien said. Wien is adamant that banning ChatGPT from academia will mean isolating academia from real life. “It is there, and it will be there, and once you leave AUBG, you will get out into the world where it plays a crucial role,” he said. “Certainly, we will have to give up part of our autonomy, but this is what happens with every technological progress,” Wien said about the integration of artifi cial intelligence tools in people’s lives. He said other universities have already established policies to ban ChatGPT because they only look at it as a tool for cheating, “but I think this is only a temporary solution.” Felix Diaz, a Psychology professor at AUBG, said it might be troublesome to talk about ChatGPT with students. Yet, he is open to conversations regarding artifi cial intelligence tools and discusses ChatGPT in his classes. Just like with plagiarism, conversations about ChatGPT can be uncomfortable. “I always have a suspicion that there’s a part that students are not willing to talk about.” Diaz started worrying about ChatGPT aft er the December examinations. If he had known about ChatGPT before submitting the syllabi, he would have come up with diff erent assignments. “In a way, my assignments are immune to ChatGPT,” he added. His assessment system is mostly based on presentations and written assignments, which are connected to reallife situations. “I ask students to work on real cases and experiments,” he said. “I will arrange the assignments in a way that cannot be generated by ChatGPT.” Recently, he read a Spanish paper that had published an opinion column by Manuel Castells. Manuel Castells is a famous sociologist who has a unique style of writing. Th e piece was actually produced by ChatGPT, but the reader could clearly spot that it was not Castells’ voice and style. “Th at gave me some hope,” Diaz said with a smile. Diaz said that ChatGPT might impact the way students perceive learning. “I am a great believer in writing and productivity as a human thing,” he said. He tries to transmit to students the notion that they write by producing from scratch. “I promote sitting in front of a blank page, even if it makes you anxious.” Diaz hopes that students do not use ChatGPT to generate writing. Yet, he is aware that some students perceive cheating as acceptable if it helps them achieve their aims. “It will take many years to change it. I devise my assessment system to try to prevent cheating and I will keep doing it,” he said. Diaz then discussed how the environment at AUBG promotes the ethics of integrity and collaboration, which play a huge role in trying to deal with artifi cial intelligence tools. “Integrating students in the process of their learning will actually help them take full responsibility for learning rather than just passing the exams,” he said. Diaz is sure that ChatGPT will provoke important changes in the academic sphere. “It is a huge challenge and it is going to change the ways in which we assess and teach,” he said. “In a joking way, I have been saying to other professors that maybe it is time for us to retire,” Diaz said with laughter. “It is a joke. Obviously, we are not retiring yet, but all of this leads us to such sort of refl ection,” he added. Tornike Rukhadze, a sophomore from Georgia majoring in Computer Science, talked about ChatGPT perspective. “Sadly, most people’s brains are focused on fi nding the easy way out.” Tornike talked about how some students may use ChatGPT as a tool for cheating. However, there is a small percentage of students who actually use the system to their benefi t. “I can say I am one of them,” he said. Tornike tends to use ChatGPT for his Computer Science and Math courses. “I use it to get extra material without having to search Google for hours on end,” he said. He also mentioned that ChatGPT does not introduce anything out of the box. “Everything is already out there. Th e diff erence is I do not have to go through false information.” Tornike views ChatGPT as a very strong learning tool. “When ChatGPT gets smarter and stronger, it has a huge perspective of boosting the productivity of students who wish to have their productivity boosted and their knowledge increased,” he said. Tornike is ultimately staying positive. He said, “In my opinion, ChatGPT has a very bright future ahead of it.” from his own 3 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily 3 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
exStudying abroad and participating in change programs are essential parts of AUBG’s culture and spirit. Every semester, students from all over the world have an exchange semester in AUBG where they have the opportunity to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and foster a culture of dialogue and debate. One of these universities is the American University in Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. AUCA is only two years younger than AUBG and the universities have a lot in common. Both American Universities hold leading positions for education in their respective countries and promote the liberal arts tradition. But what are the similarities and diff erences between these two American Universities, and can the institution’s location make a diff erence? While talking about the two universities, Umarjon Voheedov, an exchange student from AUCA, said, “I found AUBG students more individualistic. People are more focused on their own business, while in AUCA, I feel we have more of a friendship aura.” But Umarjon also shared that clubs in AUBG are more active compared to AUCA. He said, “Th e reason might be the lack of fi nancial support from the administrative department in AUCA, but I am not sure.” Despite the diff erences in club activities, Bakhtovar Umarov, a student in AUCA. Photo courtesy of Bakhtovar Umarov. Umarjon Voheedov, a student in AUCA. Photo courtesy of Umarjon Voheedov. Umarjon said that both universities’ students are very active and ambitious. “Students in both universities study hard and also are busy with extracurricular activities,” Umarjon said. Bakhtovar Umarov, another exchange student from AUCA also shared his experience. “One of the fi rst diff erences was food. In AUBG, your food options are limited, and the canteen food is not very good,” he said. Bakhtovar said that it is almost impossible to fi nd food aft er midnight in Blagoevgrad, while in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, he never faced such problems. He also said that he found AUBG more advanced and developed, which surprised him because he did not have high expectations before coming. “I liked that in AUBG, you have a huge library, and also the housing is very close. In AUCA, our housing is far from campus, that’s another diff erence that I experienced,” Bakhtovar said. Bakhtovar said that he enjoyed his overall experience at AUBG. “AUBG has a great atmosphere, and I would recommend students to try this experience themselves,” he said. Written by Anusher Mahmadjonov 4 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
An important change in how students register for courses will be in eff ect from May 2023 onwards. Th ere is a new Student Information System called “Empower.” All AUBG students are going to receive training on how to pre-register for courses before the start of the actual Robert White, the Dean of Faculty at AUBG, held information sessions for students who would like to learn more about the changes and improvements. He presented the main features of the system and answered questions that arose in the student body. Th e Registrar’s Offi ce “does not expect everything to go smoothly” with Empower. It did not provide students immediate access as it wanted to look through the data and iron out any bugs. Th e goal is “for the new Student Information System to be operating smoothly by the start of fall 2023.” What are the main features of the new student information system? Th e most notable aspect is that it will host all functions such as course registration, course information, forms, and useful tools like the study plan and the academic catalog in one place for convenience. As a result, the old course registration system and the Blackbaud Student Portal will no longer be used and be switched off permanently at the end of Spring 2023. One major change introduced in Empower is the ability for students to complete various forms, such as the Leave of Absence Request, online. Th ese will no longer be available as PDF fi les and will not be submitted on paper in the Registrar’s Offi ce as they were until now. Another diff erence is the introduction of Faculty and Staff Directories, which display details such as their individual schedules. Th is feature will be useful for students when they want to arrange a meeting with a professor or a staff member. pre-registration process in the summer. Th is will ensure they are prepared for the real course pre-registration at the beginning of the summer and will relieve unnecessary stress. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Empower? Th e advantages, from a student’s point of view, include all of the useful features that the system has. Th e advantages for the Registrar’s Offi ce are, according to White, “phenomenal.” He said that diagnosing Written by Hary Dikov Students planning to participate in the Erasmus exchange program will be able to view courses in other universities that are pre-approved for transfer. If a desired course is not included on the list, students can submit a Course Approval Request form. Aft erward, they can send it to the Department Chair responsible for the given course who will review it. Empower will feature the study plan function, enabling students to organize their academic future at AUBG. At the same time, it is going to enable the Registrar’s Offi ce to forecast the demand for certain courses and apply changes if necessary. Students will have the opportunity to consult more than one academic advisor about their course choices. In case they are completing a double major, they will have an advisor from each of the two departments. What will change in the course registration process and will students receive training? Th e implementation of Empower has resulted in a shift in the course registration period for AUBG students. Th ey are now going to sign up for courses for the Fall ‘23 semester at the end of May and the beginning of June. According to the offi cial information presented by the Registrar’s Offi ce, the plan was for registration time slot groups to be removed. However, aft er the fi rst wave of testing the system on April 12, it was decided that the registration time slots will remain. White presented a three-step testing process of course pre-registration consisting of small-group tests, training “play” sessions, and a senior students’ “stress test.” Th e last one will feature all future senior students who are going to simulate real pre-registration. problems during add/drop week is easier and that “the new system saves time for both myself and the Registrar’s Offi ce.” White can also access student information such as personal data and emergency health contacts. In terms of disadvantages, White said, “It’s diffi cult for me to say at this point.” Th e only disadvantage he stated was “simply the amount of work that’s involved in transitioning from an old system to a new system.” Why was the new student information system not introduces earlier? White said the decision to create it was taken over fi ve years ago and “it was a battle.” Th e necessary steps included budget approval and support from higher administration and the Board of Trustees, which took years. Th e approval for the system was given two years ago, and right aft er that, the process of choosing the system’s interface began. White said, “We’re still in the process and there is a lot of work to be done.” them from 5 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
hLast semester, several AUBG students ad an unpleasant experience with their university accommodation because there were not enough rooms in the dormitories for everyone. As a consequence, these students were forced to stay at Hotel “Merida”. AUBG managed to deal with that problem, and from the start of the Spring 2023 semester, no AUBG students are living in the hotel. However, that issue only raised more questions about what the future holds for AUBG and the university’s plans for the next academic years. David Evans, the President of AUBG, and Ilko Drenkov, the Residence Life Director, gave more information on the important questions regarding housing and the future of AUBG. What is the reason behind the increase in the student body of AUBG? Th e AUBG strategic plan 2022-2027 includes an increase in the university’s student body by 50% within those fi ve years. Evans pointed out two main reasons behind that decision. Th e fi rst one is the university’s fi nancial independence. Th at is why more and more students will be accepted in the next fi ve years. “We are fi ne fi nancially, but we want to have more fi nancial fl exibility,” he said. Th e other reason is linked with America for Bulgaria Foundation. “America for Bulgaria Foundation would like us to be less reliant on them,” Evans said. In the past, America for Bulgaria was giving AUBG nearly $2M in scholarships for Bulgarian students, which was about 15% of the university’s total budget, but they are not doing that anymore. “We had to replace this money with money from somewhere else,” Evans said. Evans also commented on the criteria for acceptance: “To be clear, we are not going to lower academic standards, the goal is to keep the academic standard as high as it is now or increase it,” and said that it would be easier fi nancially if the university is larger. How is AUBG going to accommodate its students? AUBG is going to implement a completely new housing policy to deal with the acceptance of more students. Th e old policy was seniority-based, while the new one will favor the younger students. 6 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily Can the hous semester occur o AUBG higher a from the mista last semester a strategy to pr r a e Th ere will be a fi r students. “It is p space for new fi 20 spaces,” Eva d t m is p w fi e va id. Drenkov said t the fi xed num at . First and secon a chance to s be obliged to li Juniors and senio line for a place in t o ce in t “My clear mess any one of th giving preferen fi rst-year studen and we are r coop ng ad in the s f s ence bd o den d sh re r their understanding a most optimis development, w be able to m their desires , w ll m es accommodat Drenkov said. He wants t convince t students that A learned its les from the last s housing problem. wa n t AG s les lem. “I hope we wil anyone who wa campus,” Dren July or early A stating that lat “A student wh to join AUBG should be ready to digest the inconvenience of no housing,” Drenkov said. His advice for every student is to pay the needed deposit on time to ensure they have their promised bed. What will be the university’s approach to fourth-year students who want to stay on campus? “We would probably have around 1100 students in the fall. We have about 710 spaces in the residence halls and, let’s say, around 450 fi rstyear and second-year students in the residence halls,” Evans said. “Th at leaves us 375 people and 260 spaces.” So, most probably, there will not be enough rooms in Skapto to accommodate all seniors who want to stay on campus.
E Adin o h e a le f o de o f coletly fa , in hi o th h th uden h the hight GPs. “ thi l id. Dr t co, fi d a h a y f h t . S d ss h t e n w unsfi d, bt bd o h m a h he wll b h pl S y wh o lie t . What is the ct p a ka wg? I s, th h b lot of tlk rdin h co f eih n ka r a Skara 4, b hing hs b et. Drkv had a p h td t t ll b did d ll b cod hefll ” h id. Evans said he hopes the new Skapto 3 wings will be done by Fall ’26 but was not optimistic about a future university expansion. “One of our challenges is that there is no more physical space in Blagoevgrad for us,” he said. What are the future development plans for the university and how will they change campus life at AUBG? Th e fi rst main change of AUBG was the increase in housing and student activity fees, starting in Fall ’23. v explained that due to the pandemic, using fee had not been increased for o with the infl ation happening right at change was needed. v s o G expressed another future desire: an e in the number of international G e e ts in the university. Evans said, “One ur strategic goals is for 10% of the ts ts to be from the US.” He also said that h the student body is increasing right h e cannot see the university having udents, for example. e u al is to preserve the essential identity e institution as it grows,” Evans said. e i e got this transitional period for ext few years, which is going to be enient.” “ th ex inen Ading to Drenkov, the growth of the sity will be benefi cial. “Students will er that they have to cherish much n-campus living,” he said. “In terms lerance er n ler lif ime and quality of on-campus r sure, we will be witnessing a lot of ement.” y, the Student Government sent an l in which they expressed concerns he rapid growth of AUBG. However, hing looks sure, whether the students r not, the university will continue its sion in the upcoming years. Only time l how successful that strategy is going l in r AUBG. r r Written by Vasil Paskov 7 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) is one of the most desired majors at AUBG and has repeatedly been ranked #1 in the National University Rankings in Bulgaria. Th e program off ers numerous career options for its graduates including working as journalists, PR specialists, marketing professionals, copywriters, or producers. Th ere are, however, some less wellknown professions in the communications fi eld that students might also want to consider upon graduation. Working as a media analyst is one of them. “Th e media analysis industry is very niche but its importance keeps growing especially now that audiences become more conscious and corporations face a lot of external challenges in their communication,” said Gabriela Georgieva, a Senior Media Analyst at Commetric, a company that off ers advanced media analytics and consulting. Gabriela joined Commetric right aft er graduating from AUBG in 2021. She majored in JMC and Psychology which helped her acquire many skills that she now applies in her work. Written by Stanislava Pashkulova Sponsored by “What I fi nd most helpful are timemanagement skills, the ability to eff ectively prioritize tasks, and to keep strict deadlines,” Gabriela said. A journalism diploma is not a necessary requirement for anyone passionate to enter the media analysis industry. Christina Totseva, the current Managing Director at Commetric, is also an AUBG alumna who graduated with degrees in Economics and Political Science and International Relations. “If you are a genuinely curious and analytical person, who likes reading and being informed about various topics, industries, companies, trends and you tend to see patterns and causality, you will enjoy applying this in the world of media analysis,” she said. Christina also shared that “the media analytics job is a great career starter.” According to her, the fi eld introduces employees to diverse clients and industries. Th is provides analysts with insight into the latest developments in the respective fi eld, as well as the communications strategies of all kinds of companies. “Th e media analyst work could be a great stepping stone for diff erent careers in the fi eld of communications. As we work with big clients across various industries, the skills and knowledge we acquire are transferable to other career paths as well,” Gabriela said. According to Christina, many of her colleagues at Commetric are promoted to Project Managers or continue their professional path in sales and client servicing. Some pursue careers in the fi eld of PR and communications while others choose to go in the direction of data science. Th e role of a media analyst could also be suitable for ambitious university students who manage to combine their studies with work. Such is the case of Mihail Mishev, a junior at AUBG who recently joined the media analysis team. “I like the fact that the company does analytics for companies all over the world with all kinds of backgrounds. It pushes you to broaden your horizons and gain knowledge in areas you weren’t even interested in initially,” he said. Gabriela shared a similar opinion saying that “the advantages of media analytics work are that it’s dynamic, it allows you to develop a variety of skills, and to stay very wellinformed about current events across many industries.” In addition to that, media analysts become familiar with diff erent platforms and soft ware tools. Commetric invests heavily in technology in order to optimize all processes and enable employees to focus on delivering the best quality analysis to their clients. “In that aspect, we do off er a unique blend of technology and human insight on the market,” Christina said. When asked what makes Commetric stand out in the industry, Gabriela said it is the people. “A lot of companies use innovative technology, but at Commetric this technology is combined with the insight of great professionals which takes everything to a higher level,” she said. 8 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
gAUBG ives a stable basis of knowledge and skills that help each of its students fi nd a job. Every year many AUBG students decide to intern at Postbank. Aft er graduation, some even fi nd their fi rst jobs at the bank. Others climb the ladder of success and hold Chief positions there. “AUBG gave me a clear vision and readiness to develop, learn more, and meet new challenges,” said Alexander Danchev, AUBG alumnus (Class of 1997 and eMBA Cohort 1, 2004) and the Chief Risk Offi cer at Postbank. Th e university prepares its students to meet the job market requirements and build a successful career path. “AUBG has defi nitely given me a certain set of knowledge. More importantly, it has helped shape my way of thinking, mindset, and approach to solving problems, rather than giving ready templates and solutions,” Danchev said. “AUBG taught me of good organization and balance between work, study, and personal life,” said Mariana Hristova, AUBG alumna (Class of 2005) and current Head of Accounting at Postbank. “It gave me the ability to manage time eff ectively, prioritize tasks, set goals, and develop systems for achieving those goals.” A useful way for students to learn, get experience, and acquire skills is to work for the diff erent administrative offi ces at AUBG. “Th e fact that I worked at the Finance Offi ce of AUBG while studying helped me prepare for my life aft er AUBG,” Danchev said. Postbank not only off ers career development but also has its annual internship program off ering positions in diff erent departments. “Th e internship is interesting, colorful, and fascinating,” said Desislava Veneva, a junior at AUBG and a current intern at the Sales Department at Postbank. Th e internship helps current AUBG students apply the knowledge they gained so far regardless of their standing or majors. “I was surprised that a lot of th things we study at university a a useful and implemented in the work process,” said Denitsa Roussinova, a second-year student at AUBG and an intern during the summer 2022 Internship Program at Postbank. “No matter what you are studying, Business or Politics, and how much knowledge you have, there is always a place for you.” Th ere are still things AUBG does not teach its students before they apply and get a job or internship position at Postbank. “I understood the client is the most important. I know this may sound like a cliché, but I would rather call it “classic” because it is 100% true,” Veneva said. “I also like learning things not only related to ATMs but also to the banking and business world.” “I learned how multilateral the process of implementing something in such a big company is,” Rossinova said. “When you have an idea, you have to communicate it with people from diff erent departments so that they can make it the best way possible.” Th ere are even skills AUBG students wish to have acquired during their academic lives, which will help them better integrate into Postbank’s working team. “I wish I have known to be more confi dent, to believe in myself,” Hristova said. “Also, I wish I have known that making mistakes is not the end of the world. Postbank Management appreciates openness and honesty far more than having someone who never admits to making a mistake.” Th e lessons those current and former AUBG students acquired are valuable not only for their own career development but also for their personal improvement and contribution to Postbank’s working process. “Th e internship program helps both the student and the bank improve themselves,” Roussinova said. Sponsored by AUBG students participating in the internship program or currently working for the bank realize what a jumping start AUBG has given them. Th at is why they advise current students to try, be open-minded, and continue learning. “I would advise the future interns to go there and grab everything they could, everything that the team is off ering to them,” Veneva said. “I would advise current AUBG students to be prepared for Written by Tsvetina Georgieva hard work and never give up, to fi nd their passion, be active, and to not allow others to defi ne success for them,” Hristova said. “Studying at AUBG gave me the chance to enhance my skills and knowledge about our industry, continue performing successfully in the position I hold, and upgrade. Th ank you, AUBG!” 9 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
For the la e ademic h as hlog d h s everal ne majors in in Creative W paying clos s is workin g t But how a further. So, how do Creating a n minor hav are several from the dep curriculum a student r all-faculty a new major h approval f d of Tes. According t trustees is an organiza best interes managemen dep m (w r d vg b . Th f a r h f d of Tes. g t a, “ f s f za d sks t h es f skhlder ll t f en ” Robert W university, exp curriculum co to actuall departmen AUBG an have to con see whether list of potenl co W m co nt h o do a con ben n ” Th nd uden er th d p a enl coes. Th is applies within exi example, if t is ademic dep f the facly decides t ff r in Environm f ti the Mathema ics and Science Department. Conversely, if the proposed program does not coincide with any department (an Engineering major for instance), then the Dean’s Council must approve the proposal before it goes to the Curriculum Committee. In it, all the chairs of the departments meet and discuss the possible benefi ts of a new program. d S i D t t What factors are considered when determining the feasibility of a new major/ 10 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily Written by Kristina Dimitrova ly a better h nd is high. he facly les that there is a call for a new program when they hear that there is an increased interest among s the students. In such situations, the risks of creating one are lower, because the costs will be proportionate to the actual demand. How is the success of a new program measured? Th e biggest indicator of success is the number of students who enroll in the new program, but the cost must be considered as well. a h d ad what are th and other r th em? Th e r d m? and and the m, which are a diff erence pon existing m a e to hire new o ecause they g courses and g c t draw upon ces, “ quire hiring es creating new h n n fact, some the General e Literature e faculty were ual Analysis here weren’t l cos o establish the j t d u n e e fa h will need f courses and h ure that there m because it ulty,” White e m der t ys are made hough they h ctive in the for students survey and ould benefi t h mpleting the y
Let’s take the recently introduced Physics major. In terms of enrollment, it is not very prosperous, but from a cost point of view, there is no loss since it was created from an existing department. Psychology, on the other hand, is a very flourishing major as the cost for it is proportional to the student demand. There are also circumstances in which a given program has low demand. Such is the case with the American Studies major. It was not successful among the student body and had to be removed eventually. Are there any new majors/minors in the making? The most recent minor, which was introduced at the beginning of Fall 2022 semester, isw Creative Writing. It is an “interdisciplinary program appropriate for students who wish to study both the practical and theoretical aspects of creative writing.” The program offers not only Literature courses but Journalism ones as well, thus complementing the majors in each of the departments. One major that has been approved by the Board of Trustees but still goes through development is Film and Creative Media. According to Professor Another new academic program in the making is a Tourism and Hospitality concentration within the Business Administration major. As of now, the department is still in search of new professors who can teach in this specialty and as soon as they find such, the concentration will get started right away. Anything else? Sean Homer, the Chair of the Literature and Theater Department, those programs require a lot of money as film equipment needs to be bought and filming and editing studios need to be built. “Things are progressing, but they are progressing slowly because the costs are high,” Homer said. Taking everything into consideration, one can conclude that such creations take time. As Professor Laura Kelly, the Chair of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, said, “Academia is a slowmoving ship. There are a lot of things at stake. There’s lots of talking, planning, debating, speculating… All perspectives are considered. So, decisions are made that hopefully are solid.” Across 1 2 5 3 4 6 1. Coffeeshop/bar near campus 5. According to our university slogan: AUBG is the ________ to be 6. The colloquial name of the Albanian national dance 7. The name of a new BUS professor 8. Park near Blagoevgrad 9. Number of majors offered at AUBG 10. The name of the new student information system 12. Crown event of international week 7 8 9 11 12 10 Down 2. The name of AUBG Daily’s event this semeser 3. In the last issue, you had to solve an _____ - themed sudoku 4. Broadway Performance Club’s theme this year 5. New AUBG club 11. The name of a new JMC professor 11 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
“One of the best experiences I’ve ever had! AUBG really gave me opportunities to challenge myself, further develop my academic potential, meet amazing people, create lifelong friendships and memories that I’ll always keep close to my heart!” Irena Georgieva “It is a life process one can only experience. Kinda a fee that you pay to ride on a rollercoaster.” Alex Human “Came to learn, mastered procrastination.” Branimir Ivanov “Th e four years at AUBG defi nitely shaped me as an individual. Th e best way to describe it is “a roller coaster of emotions” . It may sound cliché but here I learned how to think critically, how to make friends, and how to chase my goals. I am a bit sad that it’s over but I am also excited about what’s next!” Lachezar Valev “AUBG is a community within a small city. It is going to be your small world for 4 years.” Mariami Gugushvili 12 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
“AUBG is a very beautiful diverse university and I am forever grateful that I was able to study here. I’ve not only learned so much from my professors but also from my peers. I’ve made lifelong friends from all over the world; nothing better than that.” Madelyn Carlile “Although AUBG off ered a valuable education and knowledge, what truly set it apart for me were the extracurricular activities. Th ese not only fostered lasting friendships but also created an ideal environment for developing essential interpersonal skills, ultimately enriching the entire university experience.” Ivan Minchev My experience in AUBG has been great, and full of emorable moments. Had the chance to meet and create y ations with some great people. Th roughout my ars here, I gained a lot academically but learned en more from my friends.” en Anxhelo Mani “Th ese past four years of AUBG were... unreal - entering adulthood, pandemic, economic collapse, war, further economic collapse, and energy crisis. Amid this, we made life-long relationships, traveled, learned, partied, and built dreams. I will always be grateful to the Radio AURA family for nurturing me into the person I am today - outspoken, confi dent, and fearless. Th ank you, AUBG, for this adventure of a lifetime” “My second home. AUBG gave me Radio AURA and so many memories I couldn’t be more grateful about” Marina Tsutsumanova Georgia Briseniou 13 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily
Simona Simeonova A beautiful and exciting journey along which I met one of the most genuine, creative, and kind people in my life. AUBG Daily is the place where I wrote my fi rst article, had my fi rst night out, and found true friendships. It is where I faced challenges and learned that it is okay to speak my mind without feeling anxious. And lastly, it is the place from AUBG I will miss the most and return to in the future. For that, I am forever grateful. Kristiana Dimitrova A place where I discovered a passion. A place where I made unforgettable memories and formed lifetime friendships. AUBG Daily has been my chosen place since my fi rst step at AUBG, and it has been a constant source of inspiration throughout my university journey. In AUBG Daily, I learned, laughed, cried, grew, and fl ourished. Th ere, I met some of the most genuine and creative people, and together we explored, created, struggled, and celebrated. AUBG Daily holds a special place in my heart, and I am eternally grateful for helping me become who I am today. Christian Tsvetkov For me, AUBG Daily was a club in which I developed a lot of new skills even without being a reporter because the ability to search for the fi nancing of projects I believe in will be helpful for life. I met amazing people not only motivated to develop their creativity and skills but also have the desire to help each other throughout the magical process of journalism. I saw how the will to work hard to produce the newspaper and to put the theory learned in classes into practice persists every year and that is what combines people in this club and makes a strong bond between them. Because of those factors, AUBG Daily becomes more than just an ordinary team, it becomes a source of inspiration. Nikoleta Stefanova A place where my attention to detail is a virtue and not a fl aw, where I slow danced and sang with my friends at 4 am and expressed myself without being judged. Th ank you for the conversations on the Skapto couches, for letting me edit your work and for all the laughs along the way. 14 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily Kristian Deyanov To me, AUBG Daily is synonymous with friendship. In this club, I met one of the most passionate and genuine people and I have established true friendships that I hope I can preserve forever. I am extremely glad that I had the opportunity to put my skills and passion toward growing and developing this club. I have learned and grown so many thanks to the amazing people and team spirit I found when I joined Daily. Th e club will remain in my memories as one of the best and most enjoyable things that could have happened to me during my university years. Kristina Dimitrova I will never forget the delightful feeling I had when I received the acceptance letter and I became one with the owlies. AUBG Daily was an incredible experience, during which I met some of the most amazing, kind and loving people that made my last year at the university unforgettable. I’m eternally grateful for all the memories we have shared together and I sincerely hope that those friendships will last for a lifetime. AUBG Daily will forever remain in my heart and I will always cherish the wonderful journey this club was for me. Ivelina Markova Imagine you’ve been swimming relentlessly for several days – strong waves crashing into you, storms raging above your head, waters fi lled with stinging jellyfi sh. Th en, you fi nd a lone island with fl owers bathing in inviting sunlight and dancing to a refreshing breeze. Th is is what AUBG Daily is for me – an alluring safe haven that helps me come to my senses. Th ank you, fellow owlies, for bringing joy and creativity into my student years.
Question: What would you like to tell the seniors? As in advice, wish them something. “Enjoy “Seniors! I am so proud of you and your accomplishments! Remember: it is better to lose fear than it is to try to gain confi dence. Never be afraid to try and to fail and to try again!” - Professor Ronald Harvey “Dear graduating class of 2023, you probably have some mixed feelings at this point - you will be missing your friends and all other things you became close to during the last 4 years at AUBG, but I know this next phase is going to be also very exciting - I hope you will continue focusing on your personal and professional development, making new friends, starting impactful projects, and all this while helping others and having tons of fun along the way. Stay in touch and know you can always count on me. Cheers to life!” - Professor Elena Radeva “Whatever you do in the future, do it well, and choose something you really like doing, and not just for the money. Explore, take risks, and mind the others, always. Best of luck!” - Professor Jean Crombois “It’s been an honor for me to witness your growth in academia. I wish you to creatively transform your worlds. Follow your own visions, I believe in you!” - Professor Kiril Kirkov “Artifi cial intelli“Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” - Mary Oliver, one of my favorite poets - Professor Laura Kelly “Dear Th ere is a Lakota saying that goes like this: If you don’t have a seat at the table, you might end up on the menu. With that in mind, organize against all injustices, practice compassion, and never sympathize with the powerful! - Professor Ezra Winton graduates, On this milestone of your life, ready to conquer the world, aim high. Go aft er your goals with full of energy, passion, and discipline and always put your heavy weight in what you do, no matter how small. You will face as many challenges as opportunities in your life ahead, face both with courage and with determination and always remember that failure is part of this game, not the end of the game.” - Professor Ali Termos 15 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily gence is out there. It won’t go away. So, use your natural intelligence when using artifi cial intelligence!” - Professor Markus Wien “Try again. Fail again. Fail better” - Beckett - Professor Jason Murphy the ride! And remember: success does not equal happiness. Being is more important than doing. Good enough is the only functional version of perfect.” - Professor Darina Sarelska
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Presidents: Kristiana Dimitrova Simona Simeonova Editor-in-chief: Bianka Deyanova Producer: Tsvetina Georgieva Head of Sponsorship: Kristian Deyanov Dear readers, As we are approaching the end of another academic year, we are fi lled with joy for all the moments we got to spend here with our loved ones, gratitude for every lesson learned, a sense of accomplishment for reaching long-desired goals and looking forward to the adventures yet to come. Yet for some of us, this is also a bittersweet fi nale. For some of us, these few fi nal weeks will be fi lled with many “lasts” – the last walk to Main Building, the last event with the club, the last meal at the canteen (however unpleasant), the last coff ee date with friends at the AUBG Café, and the last night in the Skapto room. For the seniors, this semester was the last chance they got to get as much as they can from AUBG. And, seniors, you owned it. We know you worked hard, we know you gave it all, and you succeeded, not that there was ever a doubt. And that is why we also know that you will keep succeeding. We are honored to have walked the halls of AUBG beside you, we are grateful that you were a part of our journey here and we wish you the best of luck on your next adventure – life. However, I cannot end this letter without expressing my never-ending thanks and love to the entire AUBG Daily team, the curious and inspiring owls who worked day and night throughout the whole semester to turn this Senior Issue into reality. When I accepted the role of Editor-in-Chief, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how many diligent, capable, and ambitious young people would be on my team. I never stopped believing in you, and you shouldn’t stop believing in yurles eith. in y Th ank you for being you. It was truly an honor. Yours, Bianka Deyanova Editor-in-Chief ubscribe to ur newsletter ere: u e Head of Marketing: Borislav Bochev Sponsorship: Christian Tsvetkov Janina Ormanova Nikolay Lyutskanov Marketing: Hristina Tsonkova Aleksandra Boneva Salome Menabde Kato Jamaspishvili Radostina Ivanova Kristiana Krasteva Reporters: Eka Iakobadze Anusher Mahmadjonov Dasha Dolgopova Hary Dikov David Mitov Vasil Paskov Salome Menabde Sofi a Boneva Mihail Varnaliev Maria Hristova Ivelina Markova Toma Krumov Kristina Dimitrova Illustrations: Dulamsuren Amarsanaa and Janina Ormanova Layout design: Kristiana Krasteva 16 Spring 2023 | AUBG Daily Editors: Kaiden Myers Niya Manditsch Stanislava Pashkulova Nikoleta Stefanova
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