AUBG DAILY Fall 2025 OWL THE NEWS Vol. 8, Issue 1 Offi cial Title Sponsor
Find our website here Find our YouTube here Dear Reader, The AUBG Daily Team is thrilled to present to you the Fall 2025 issue of our newspaper! We are incredibly excited to share this selection of articles that delves into the heart of AUBG - exploring its challenges and refl ecting on the topics that matter most. Every part of this newspaper is a testament to the energy and commitment of our creative team, providing you with insights into who we are and what we aspire to bring to the community. After you complete the journey this newspaper presents, you can head straight to our website, www.aubgdaily.com, where you can explore the full depth of our work. Enjoy the read! TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 04 05 06 08 10 12 JMC Accreditation Reevaluation – Alexandra Lewis A Historic Night for SG and AUBG – Mila Kostadinova Th e Financial Struggles of AUBG Students – Miryana Tunteva What Is Next for AUBG’s Sofi a Semester? – Hary Dikov Is Under Over? – Kostadin Dimitrov & Hary Dikov Th e Benefi ts and Downsides of Bulgaria’s Euro Adoption– Veronika Ivanova AI Movies: Th e Future of Film Industry? - Bilyana Spasova 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 Message from UBB Crossword / Jokes Horoscope Comics / Guess the Professor Message from BG Market AUBG Daily’s Gallery Letter from the Editor In partnership with:
JMC ACCREDITATION REEVALUATION Oct. 28, 2025 T he Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) program at AUBG is currently in the process of reapplying for its Bulgarian accreditation. According to the Professors and Co-chairs of the JMC department, Prof. Darina Sarelska and Prof. Jason Murphy, this review follows recommendations from the Bulgarian National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) regarding the habilitation status of professors. While this review is ongoing, the JMC program remains fully accredited in the United States. Both professors emphasized that no current JMC senior student will be aff ected. “All seniors will graduate with both their American and Bulgarian diplomas,” confi rmed Prof. Murphy. The AUBG administration has 12 months to make the required changes, the standard interval for accreditation reviews. What is the habilitation process? According to the Accreditation Coordinator, Tanya Papazova, the habilitation process is a formal process that determines who is offi cially recognized as a professor under Bulgarian law. Habilitation is both a promotion and hiring procedure for the academic posts of Associate Professor or Full Professor. To qualify, a candidate must present a dossier proving that their research meets Bulgaria’s minimal national requirements. However, these research-heavy requirements diff er from those in many foreign systems, where teaching and professional experience may often carry more weight. As a result, professors who earned their titles abroad may not automatically meet Bulgaria’s specifi c habilitation standards. This is true even if they hold equivalent academic positions internationally. Another factor in this may be the discontinuation of a previous bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Bulgaria. This was once supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which recognized American professors as habilitated. Its closure, on July 1, 2025, may have indirectly infl uenced current accreditation standards. What happens if accreditation is not renewed? Both professors stressed that losing Bulgarian accreditation is not a scenario they anticipate. “There is a lot going on that we are all doing, and we’re confi dent that we will get it back,” stated Prof. Murphy, as it relates to reattaining the accreditation. The team’s focus remains on compliance and renewal of the accreditation. Prof. Sarelska mentioned a Plan B: a potential collaboration with a European university to ensure degrees remain valid within the EU. Despite this, a future without accreditation for the JMC major is not in AUBG’s plans. Impact on Students and Curriculum? For now, nothing changes in terms of graduation requirements or course structures. To dispel a myth that has been circulating on campus, Prof. Sarelska said, “The only risk upon your graduation is, you know, failing your exams. We still have our solid American diploma, nothing’s changing there.” Both professors clarifi ed that the concern lies entirely with administrative technicalities and not academic standards. However, students still have their own concerns: Freshman student, Eva, has stated, “I was always sure about majoring in JMC and something else. Hearing that I have to think about another major that will be accredited in both America and Bulgaria, I didn’t feel as secure as I did before.” Sophomore student, Carol, expressed concern, “I was planning on majoring in JMC and Psychology, and Psychology is only American-accredited. I don’t want to pick another major, so I really need JMC.” Junior student Nadine, despite being secure as she had already declared her major, said, “It bothers me a lot. I know I want to work in JMC. I wasn’t planning on just working in the U.S. or having just an American diploma; I was looking forward to the EU diploma.” What Steps are Being Taken? Both professors described the development as unexpected. The current challenge, they explained, has nothing to do with teaching quality. The faculty and administration are working hard on getting the habilitation for professors. The process of hiring new faculty who already meet the Bulgarian habilitation criteria has begun. They are following every recommendation from the accreditation board “to the letter,” as Prof. Sarelska put it. Editors: Bilyana Spasova & Vasil Paskov by Alexandra Lewis 3 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily
A Historic Night for SG and AUBG Nov. 10, 2025 O n October 8, the Annual All Student Assembly took place in Dr. Carl Djerassi Theater Hall in ABF. The main points of discussion were the annual Student Government goals and the presentation and approval of the student club budget. 20% of the student body had to be present in order for both points to go under voting. Quorum was met, and the assembly started successfully. Student Government’s President Mariam Arakelyan presented the accomplishments of the government for the past year. Among them were securing membership in the American Student Governments Association, establishing the Skapto III Working Group, and empowering new clubs. After that, the main SG goals for this year were mentioned. They are in two aspects – partnership & growth, and student experience & engagement. The students’ representatives set out to enhance communication between themselves and the students through coff ee meet-ups and engaging social media content. SG strives to improve student life by promoting oncampus safety and strengthening support for off -campus students. Another goal for the Student Government will be to improve Alumni engagement and mentorship by building better relationships with the AUBG’s Alumni Association and the developing Alumni Network. This will give opportunities for students to go on international internships instead of Work and Travel. SG will also work on more Career advising opportunities, launching Graduate School Advising. These goals seemed to satisfy the students, and they had an obvious consent for them. The next part of the Assembly was the presentation of the clubs’ budget. Jara Karaguteva, Chair of the Budgetary and Allocations Committee and Treasurer of the Student Government, presented the main allocation guidelines. She highlighted that each club’s funding request was reviewed individually, food and marketing expenses were prioritized, and no deductions or reallocations will be made. After two Preliminary Leadership meetings, 125,733 leva were distributed. After everyone reviewed the proposal, no one had questions, and the voting took place. With a simple majority, the budget was accepted unanimously. With that, unexpectedly, the assembly ended less than 40 minutes after the start. Dzhan Hyusein, a Junior, summarized it perfectly with just one word: “Unbelievable.” Another student, Denitsa Dimitrova, also a Junior, said, “I have been to the past two assemblies, and this one was very diff erent. Of course, it was a lot more peaceful than the last two.” Mariam, SG President, commented, “I am really thankful to all of the team, I am thankful to the colleagues from the Executive Board, all of the senators on the Budgetary and Allocations Committee.” When asked what she thinks is the reason behind the success, Mariam answered, “Of course, hard work and preparation are something without which we cannot do it, but I think the committee was also really dedicated to going the extra mile for the students.” “The involvement and enthusiasm of the students were also essential for achieving good results,” she added. The student body also shared its reasoning on why the Assembly went that way. Denitsa pointed to the “reasonable allocation of the budgets.” Vasil Kalchev, a third-year student, said, “I think it was because you cannot get a deduction. They will not deduct any money from any club. They made that clear.” Editors: Hary Dikov and Vasil Paskov by Mila Kostadinova 4 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily In partnership with:
Oct. 29, 2025 niversity THE FINANCIAL $TRUGGLES OF AUBG $TUDENTS U life is usually fi lled with many new experiences, parties, and, of course, studying. However, one main hurdle that all university students face is the new level of fi nancial responsibility they have. Many students encounter diffi culties in managing their budget, which aff ects many aspects of their lives. 25 students from diff erent standings and backgrounds were surveyed for this article in order to understand what are the most common fi nancial struggles of AUBG students. High Tuition Fees and Insuffi cient Scholarships According to the Academic Catalogue, “tuition is set annually, and students may anticipate some increase over the four years of study.” At the same time, scholarships keep shrinking (Board Book October 2025, p. 35: “Less releases from restrictions and released scholarships. These were below the budgeted numbers since fewer contributions were received in the past years, and this impacted the scholarships awarded in FY2025.”) When these two factors are combined, students face serious challenges with the payment of their tuition. Many respondents who receive scholarships mentioned that the scholarships do not signifi cantly relieve their fi nancial pressure. With other yearly student fees adding up, such as an activity fee of €630, €100 for books, and approximately €1,800 for food, students feel stressed about paying for their future semesters. The Hidden Burden of Work & Travel and Student Loans “Work & Travel is not a choice – it’s survival” is something many of the surveyed students mentioned. They outline that going to the USA feels mandatory for them to aff ord the tuition and living costs for the next academic year, yet even those earnings are sometimes not enough to cover their second semester living costs. Another notable highlight is that Work & Travel programs deprive university students of internship programs and career growth during the summer. 25% of the participants in the survey shared that they have taken out a student loan. However, the majority are optimistic about fi nding a stable job post-graduation that will allow them to pay off their debt. The Largest Daily Expense All the participants in the survey mentioned that food has become a daily hardship for them. Some of them share that canteen prices are high, and the mandatory 300 leva meal plan lasts only for two to three weeks. This opens the door for cooking on your own, but here comes the problem with the dorm kitchens. They may not always be available at a time that suits the students. When they are, students still must be mindful of what they buy, usually opting for easy-to-cook meals, not necessarily nutritious ones. Off -campus students face similar pressures as grocery costs keep rising, but their main challenge is compromising on food choices while trying to stay healthy. Takeaway food is not a common choice, with only 14% of the respondents mentioning they occasionally make use of it. On-Campus Versus Off -Campus While it does matter where students live, neither of these two options is aff ordable. Although the Skapto dorms off er safety, a fi xed cost, and are close to all university buildings, they hide a few hurdles for students. For example, the meal plan costs, laundry, and other small fees add up. Many of the interviewed participants also feel the price diff erences between room types are minimal and not refl ective of actual conditions. Living off campus provides a personal kitchen, more privacy, and greater control over daily life, with rent prices being more aff ordable than dorm costs. However, off -campus students mention they also struggle with groceries and rent. Budgeting and Sacrifi ces Budgeting feels necessary for most students, who mention that they usually plan essentials fi rst and then allocate their remaining money for parties or events, where possible. However, some of the interviewed freshmen acknowledged that they were overspending in the fi rst few weeks of the semester, which has now caught up to them. Students of higher standing tended to have stricter routines for their budget. The weekly spending of most participants is around 150 leva, though for some this goes up to 300 leva due to meal plans. When asked to rate their overall fi nancial situation on a scale of one to fi ve, most gave a three, pointing to a constant, but manageable struggle. Lack of Transparency and Support from the University Scholarships, fi nancial aid process, hidden offi ces, and lack of guidance – all of these are the main complaints of the surveyed students. They share that they do not feel fi nancially supported or understood by the university. Many mention that scholarships have decreased over the last few years, while others highlight that the process of receiving fi nancial aid is very unclear. The student loan offi ce is not easy to fi nd, students admit. Many also feel there is a lack of fi nancial guidance and budgeting support. Impact on Mental Health Financial stress aff ects students both emotionally and socially – even if they do not always show it. The constant anxiety of trying to fi t into a certain budget, as well as the guilt some experience after overspending, often leads to overthinking and burnout from trying to balance academic, personal, and fi nancial pressures. 40% of the students admit that fi nancial stress does bring some kind of negativity in their daily lives. Editors: Toma Krumov & Hary Dikov by Miryana Tunteva 5 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily
What Is Next for AUBG’s Sofi a Semester? Feb. 17, 2025 A UBG’s Sofi a Semester is being off ered for the second time in the university’s Elieff Center since its inauguration in Fall ‘24. A major change as of Fall ‘25 is that the Sofi a Semester has its own Project Manager, Professor Rossen Petkov. Previously, the initiative was handled by AUBG’s Provost and current Interim President J.D. Mininger. The offi cial statistics provided by professors lecturing in the Sofi a Semester show that there were a total of seven students who signed up for the initiative in Fall ‘24. In the Fall ‘25 semester, that number has dropped to fi ve. Ivet Peeva, Class of ‘25, said that not many people are open to an experience like the Sofi a Semester. She added that most of the students hold positions in clubs they joined and prefer to keep them instead of enrolling in the initiative. Valeriya Sotnikova, Class of ‘25, shared that a reason behind the lack of interest in the Sofi a Semester is the limited pool of courses. “I think defi nitely that there are not a lot of courses,” she said. Christian Tenchev, a fourth-year student at AUBG, said, “It was Spring of 2024, and they advertised to us the various courses that would be off ered, and I think there were a couple of Gen Eds.” Addressing the topic, Prof. Petkov shared that a recommendation from students is to add a course focused on Finance to the already existing pool of courses off ered. There have also been students who are taking part in the Sofi a courses remotely, as certain hybrid options are available for courses in the Business major. The Project Manager stated that fully on-ground classes are preferable. Professor Elena Radeva, who teaches a 6 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily course off ered in the Sofi a Semester, agreed with this opinion. “It’s not effi cient to have the course as a hybrid,” she said. Based on the results of a Sofi a Semester students’ feedback document, many students also agree with this idea. Respondents said that they would feel better if a course were either fully online or on-ground and did not feature students located in both Sofi a and Blagoevgrad. Internships are a focal point of the Sofi a Semester opportunity and can be used for AUBG course credits. According to both students and faculty, improvements should be made in this aspect. Prof. Radeva expressed that many of her students who underwent the internship interviewing process did not receive off ers in time to manage to fi ll in the AUBG internship course paperwork. She explained that the students need to receive approval and have a commitment from a company. “They [the companies] go through a process that, for whatever reason, takes longer.” “I don’t feel like you would particularly sense the diff erence between looking for internships yourself and AUBG helping you out,” said Christian.
Prof. Petkov explained that an “internship menu” is being developed with the help of Provost Mininger, which will off er many opportunities to Sofi a Semester students. “Our goal is to start talking to companies this semester for next fall,” he said. AUBG has recurring internship partners from Fall ‘24, such as Lufthansa and Postbank. “We are shooting for maybe even more than 20 internship opportunities,” Prof. Petkov said. These should be paid and last for 20 hours per week as students combine them with lectures in the Elieff Center. Prof. Petkov also expressed the importance of informing the students early about the Sofi a Semester. “...We can benefi t from letting students know, maybe even a year in advance, about the Sofi a Semester program,” he said. Students thought that there were not enough social events organized by AUBG in Sofi a. “We were promised that there would be events in Sofi a, that they would gather people in Sofi a, but nothing was done for half of the semester,” said Valeriya. Christian added that “one thing was to go and have dinner at J.D. [Miniger]’s apartment, which was only suggested one time.” There was transport organized by AUBG from Sofi a to Blagoevgrad for larger campus events such as the Halloween Party and the SG Christmas Ball. Valeriya added that “they organized one excursion to the [Ivan Vazov National] Theater in Sofi a.” Prof. Petkov expressed an idea for improving the social aspect, which is to host more networking events, such as leadership talks organized for the EMBA students in the Elieff Center. He emphasized the work in progress on students visiting events and other activities related to their major as a part of the Sofi a Semester experience. The Project Manager also shared about landing an opportunity for the current Sofi a Semester students. “With the help of alumna Stephanie El Fil, we are able to secure gratuity tickets for the Crossroads Startup Conference, which is happening on 17 and 18 of October,” he said. Students expressed their opinion that the housing on off er for the previous Sofi a Semester did not have satisfactory In partnership with: 7 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily Editors: Niya Manditsch and Spasiela Gizdova and conditions, and its location was too far away from the Elieff Center. Prof. Radeva said, “The previous housing was in Hipodruma [district], which is very far and extremely inconvenient for students to commute.” Prof. Petkov explained that the housing problem is being worked on at the moment. Together with Student Aff airs, “we will start looking for next September, basically 11 months ahead of time, so we can have something which is both nice and nearby and students can actually be together.” The Project Manager shared about a potentially new position off ered because of the Sofi a Semester. “We have not named this position yet, it could be called a Local Liaison, it could be like a Resident Assistant on steroids,” he said. The idea is that this person takes care of other students as well as possibly their housing in Sofi a. Prof. Petkov said that the plan is to attract would be to bring in maybe about 20 seniors next fall,” he stated. Prof. Radeva agrees with the Sofi a Semester expansion plan. “It cannot run as a small, very boutique type of thing, using the resources of a professor for fi ve students. That’s a waste of resources,” she said. Ivet has some advice for AUBG students considering the Sofi a Semester. “Try that opportunity to get out of that bubble that we usually live in in Blagoevgrad.” She concluded that the Sofi a Semester will help students to prepare for the real world. Dikov fourth-year students to the Sofi a Semester because of the advanced-level courses off ered. “Our goal
IS Nov 26, 2025 under C lub Underground - AUBG’s famous Thursday night go-to place. Located just 15-20 minutes from campus, Under off ers mainstream music, cheap drinks, and an American dive bar atmosphere. For decades now, the club has been a staple in every AUBGer’s experience, with each generation forming its own traditions. However, recently, students of upper standings have expressed their dissatisfaction with the club. In this article, we examine diff erent people’s opinions and experiences of Under. We surveyed AUBG students, and one of our respondents says, “Right now it seems that fewer and fewer people are going, the atmosphere is not what it used to be.” The survey received a total of 101 responses. Some of the questions included ranking Under from one to ten, explaining on what occasions respondents usually go there, and what their fi rst impression of Under was. First vs Current Impressions Ivan-Asen Enchev (‘22) says that his fi rst expectations of Under were that it would be a quiet bar - a spot for every AUBGer to chill and socialize. However, Under turned out to be wilder than he imagined. Dimitar Vitlyanov, a fourth-year student at AUBG, shared another point of view, “At fi rst I hated Under, and my reason was that it was too full,” he shares. Over time, he realized that most people in the club were his friends. This created a great atmosphere and made his experience more enjoyable. Same Music, Same People When asked to describe the major issues with Under, many students say that the music needs to be improved. According to 70% of people who participated in the survey, the problem is not the genres or the songs themselves, but how repetitive the playlists are. One of the suggestions is to play more recent tracks. 8 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily According to Ivan-Asen, he can practically guess the next song. “It is almost the same thing every night, I see the exact same things [people and music],” says Lisart Mella, a fourth-year student at AUBG. Paul Rother, an exchange student from Germany at AUBG, shares his opinion: “It’s really repetitive … I think over time it just loses its sparkle.” niors were there,” AUBG Community Feel Before 2022, “everyone in AUBG from freshmen to seniors were there,” explains Ivan-Asen. You could see the board of your club, your orientation friends, even faculty and staff . The presence of the AUBG community created a sense of safety and belonging. However, a recent problem in this regard has been the housing crisis. Some students in the survey believe that a problem can be found in many students of higher standings living off -campus and not gathering together to go to Under like before. Despite this, a total of 50 people state that they like the AUBG community in Under. Paul emphasizes the importance of the social aspect. “It’s a small place, and it really depends on who’s going. If the right people are there, then I really enjoy it,” he states. Safety and Locals in Under Ivan-Asen shares that safety is Under’s best attribute. He explains that even if you get absolutely drunk, there will always be someone to take care of you and bring you back to your room, due to the larger AUBGers’ presence. On the other hand, Deni Luca, a freshman from Albania, says that Under is not a safe place for girls to go alone. He mentions creepy guys who hang around the club, and that girls feel threatened by them. “Security doesn’t react at all,” he adds. In partnership with:
ver v Nevin Boshnakova, a bartender at Underground and a third-year student at AUBG, shares that people from Blagoevgrad prefer visiting Under on Fridays and Saturdays. “Because if you’re from Blago and you go to Thursday night there, it’s people from AUBG, and you don’t know anyone,” she says. Growing Number of Chalga Clubs in Blagoevgrad One of the major reasons for Under’s downfall is the growing number of AUBG clubs that partner with “Chalga” clubs. For example, some of the main events of the AUBG Griffi ns club are the parties they organize in another nightclub - Billion. Dimitar Vitlyanov shares that student clubs prefer to visit Chalga places like Billion, as there are not enough international members, and most of the club members are Bulgarian. The root of this problem is the insuffi cient admission of international example, only around 17% of the current freshmen are international students, according to offi cial Orientation data. Some of the Chalga clubs’ advantages are the fact that they are more spacious, you have a table to put your drinks on, and more places to sit down, according to a fourth-year student at AUBG, Georgi Badalov. When talking about his standing’s preferences, Deni says that most freshmen prefer Billion over Under. The reason is that Billion has something new every week, while Under is repetitive. Issues and Areas for Improvement in Under Nevin states that the club recently made improvements in the lighting and the speakers. She also said that refi nements in the ventilation system were being discussed. Additionally, she provides a suggestion for Under to appeal to more people. “I think if there are more thematic parties, maybe people will be attracted,” she said. One of Under’s main issues is the lack of space. As Georgi puts it, “going outside or to the bathroom or to the bar is a challenge.” He also adds, “sweaty people step on my shoes, spill drinks on me, and shove me all the time.” 29 people in the survey list aff ordable drinks as Under’s best attribute, but 32 people said that the alcohol lacks quality. Deni says, “When you don’t have money, you go to Under. When you have money, you go to Billion. But overall, in Blagoevgrad, alcohol sucks.” Is Under Dying? The survey shows that 83% of people have not visited Under in the past two weeks as of November 11. students in AUBG. For 80 people state that they go to Under only when someone “makes” them go. 74% of people believe that the quality of Under has fallen, but Ivan-Asen believes that “Under is certainly not dying.” What seems to be the issue is the lack of hype. Dimitar shares that recently, people do not go to Under without a reason, and the recent word-of-mouth about Underground “dying” is his main explanation for this. Despite the fact that he “feels disgusting there,” Georgi would visit Under one last time before graduating in May 2026. He does not plan on going anytime soon, but going to Under right before graduation would be an appropriate thing to do to close this chapter of his life.s life. Editors: David Mitov & Kaloyan Ivanov by Kostadin Dimitrov and Hary Dikov 9 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily ?
The Benefi ts and Downsides Nov 26, 2025 B ulgaria is offi cially set to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026. This is a historical event for the country, and the debate surrounding the decision has been heated. For more than a decade, there have been talks in Bulgaria about the Eurozone and whether the country is fi nally ready to join it. The two opposing sides – the one against and the one in favor –have both strong views and opinions. This article is a part of a paired series. A twin article presenting the supporting viewpoint can be found here. Every state that joins the Union must sign the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). According to it, Member States should adopt the euro once they meet specifi c conditions. Bulgaria has been part of the European Union (EU) since 2007. Upon joining, Bulgaria did not meet the needed requirements to join the Eurozone. In 2025, the European Commission declared Bulgaria ready to take this next step. The euro area comprises all Member States of the Union that have replaced their national currencies with the euro. Currently, 20 out of all 27 Members have taken this step. The main objective of this unifi ed currency is to further integrate Member States and ensure price and economic stability. The Opposing Side The main arguments used to oppose the adoption of the euro are the loss of Bulgarian identity and fi nancial independence, which would lead to an economic crisis in the form of extraordinarily high infl ation. The Bulgarian far-right nationalist party “Revival” has given an active word of warning about the aforementioned consequences. Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of the party, even called for a referendum. This motion was later rejected by Parliament. The party has also organized protests, some even escalating to violence. Infl ation According to AUBG Economics Prof. Nikos Fatouros, any potential consequences that could come as a result of adopting the euro have already been experienced. He adds that there is no credible evidence to expect infl ation in Bulgaria after January 1. One of the reasons is that the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has not been independent for many years. BNB must adhere to the EU’s regulatory framework as it is part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). This means it cannot set its own separate monetary policy. After joining in January, BNB will also have to abide by the 2% infl ation policy of the European Central Bank (ECB). The other important reason why there should not be an extremely high infl ation is that the lev has been pegged to the Deutsche Mark since 1997 and later in 1999 to the euro as Germany adopts it. This leads to a constant exchange rate between the two currencies. Any change in the value of the euro directly aff ects the lev on the same scale as the lev. The Greek Crisis 10 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily In partnership with: Another common example, given as a reason to not replace the lev, is the Greek crisis from 2009. Greece changed its currency from drachma to the euro in 2002. In 2009, when the global fi nancial crisis hit, Greece’s economy collapsed, entering a recession. There were speculations and even claims that the crash happened because of Greece adopting the euro, and that the same will happen with Bulgaria. In the words of Prof. Fatouros, “There is a diff erence between causation and correlation. The adoption of the euro did not cause the crisis.” He went on to explain that while it is true that the crisis happened after Greece had adopted the euro, there is no credible evidence to support any claim that the euro caused the collapse. The facts are that prior to the change, Greece was misrepresenting data about its fi nances, building up its public defi cits and public debt. When the global economic crash happened, the weaknesses of its economy were exposed. The Loss of National Identity Besides the argumentation, economic the opposition states that the replacement of the lev will be a major blow to the national identity of Bulgaria. AUBG Politics Prof. Robert Philps helps us understand the core of the identity crisis. In his words, people tend to look at this not as an economic issue, but rather as a personal one: “Currency holds symbolic and emotional value,” he said. For some Bulgarians, a change in the currency is the same as a change in identity. Citizens feel like they are giving up a part of themselves. It is irrelevant that the country has given up its authority over the lev in 1997; what matters to those people now is that they are giving up the symbolic power of the currency. The Supporting Side For Bulgaria, joining the Eurozone off ers several benefi ts, both economic and political. The primary economic advantages are fi xed maximum infl ation, an increase in trade investments, and the elimination of most
of Bulgaria’s Euro Adoption transaction costs. The major political gains for Bulgaria are obtaining a seat at the table of the European Central Bank (ECB) and having a stronger voice and power to promote Bulgaria’s own position within the Union. Another important aspect is the further integration within the Union, which is a direct result of adopting the unifi ed currency. The Bulgarian representative to the General Council is Dimitar Radev, who is the governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB). Price and Infl ation stability The European Central Bank has set a clear objective of a 2% infl ation “over the medium term.” This means that the ECB aims to keep the average infl ation over a period of several years near the 2% mark. Price stability is closely linked to infl ation – as per the ECB, to achieve price stability, infl ation must remain “low, stable and predictable.” There is some unrest in the Bulgarian public Lagarde, that that infl ation will skyrocket after the offi cial adoption. Christine the President of the ECB, addressed the stating issue, these concerns are “entirely legitimate.” She went on to add: “Currency changeovers can produce a temporary uptick infl ation, often when fi rms round up prices during conversion.” As per the offi cial European Commission website, “On average, past euro changeovers have led to a very small and one-off increase in prices, ranging from 0.1% to 0.3%. Over time, however, the euro has a price-stabilising eff ect.” Lower Transaction costs The constant exchange of Bulgarian lev to other currencies may not seem like a signifi cant problem. In reality, it is not, for individuals and one-time occasions. The business sector, however, experiences consequential money losses. Businesses usually trade with foreign companies, and most of the monetary transactions are not conducted in Bulgarian lev. The mainly accepted international trade currencies are the Euro, Editors: Kaloyan Ivanov, Vasil Paskov, Hary Dikov, & David Mitov by Veronika Ivanova 11 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily in measured EU Integration Adopting the euro as the offi cial currency is a major step Bulgaria takes to further integrate itself into the European Union. As a member of the Eurozone, Bulgaria now has a voting seat in the ECB’s Governing Council. This means the Bulgarian representative to the Council will directly express the country’s position on monetary and other issues under the ECB’s jurisdiction. Having a seat in the Council means Bulgaria will now have the ability to advocate for its own stance on monetary matters as opposed to simply following the ECB’s decisions without any input. As Lagarde expressed, “Bulgaria will have a view, a voice, a vote.” The President of the European Commission, Leyen, Ursula shared her von der position: “Thanks to the euro, Bulgaria’s economy will become stronger, the US Dollar, and the British Pound. Therefore, when Bulgarian companies trade internationally, they must exchange the lev for some of those currencies. This results in signifi cant money losses. Adopting the euro will eliminate almost all of those conversion costs and allow companies to use this capital for the expansion of their business. Christine Lagarde acknowledged these benefi ts, saying: “For Bulgarian fi rms, that means zero conversion costs when exporting to their primary European customers. Small and medium-sized enterprises will save around one billion levs every year in conversion costs alone.” Trade investments In the words of Lagarde: “Adopting the euro will also open the door wider to European capital markets. It will lower funding costs and provide a more stable basis for long-term investment.” Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, two of the world’s major credit-rating providers, have upgraded their rating of Bulgaria to BBB+. This rating characterizes Bulgaria as having a “stable outlook,” indicating the country is a relatively safe investment-grade borrower with moderate risk. The achievement is a direct result of the country’s adoption of the euro and has a strong potential to attract foreign investors to the country.
AI MOVIES: The Future of T Oct. 21, 2025 he fi rst short fi lm festival in Bulgaria to feature a special category for AI-generated fi lms took place on October 16-19, 2025, in Blagoevgrad, community centre “N. Vaptsarov.” It included both Bulgarian and international productions. Around 15 out of 38 were created with AI. “AI allows for young fi lm directors (...) to make a movie without thinking about logistics and fi nances. It gives you an opportunity,” says Kristian Iliev, lead organizer of Blagoevgrad Short Film Festival (BSFF). According to Iliev, Bulgaria is falling behind, compared to other parts of the world, where AI fi lm festivals are already an established practice. The AI Film Festival in Amsterdam and the AI Film Festival (AIFF) in the U.S. are some examples. Along with the creation of fi lm festivals, the AI movie industry has recently acquired its fi rst employable AI actress - Tilly Norwood. While talent agents seem interested in this new opportunity, actors are outraged. Renowned stars such as Emily Blunt, Sophie Turner, and Ralph Ineson commented on Tally’s Instagram page, expressing their concerns. According to the actors’ union SAGAFTRA, AI actors devalue human artistry. Eline Van Der Velden, CEO of AI Talent Studio Xicoia, a company designed to create hyperreal artists, does not agree. Velden assures that Tally is not a replacement for humans but a piece of art. She described her as an animation, a tool, and possibly the start of a new fi lm genre. Legal concerns regarding the data AI actors are trained on keep circling around the fi lm industry. Violation of copyright laws includes the use of voice replicas, images, and mannerisms without the actors’/production’s consent. Unauthorized creations featuring characters like Batman and Bugs Bunny led to Warner Bros studios fi ling a lawsuit against Midjourney earlier this year. Yet, as actors, animators, and make-up artists fear the loss of their profession, other job opportunities appear. AI prompters have mastered the “communication” with AI algorithms and utilize them successfully. Angelier shared that AI platforms are helpful Film Industry Jeremy Angelier, fi lmmaker and founder of the AI fi lm platform Shaike, is one of the benefi ciaries of this new genre. He gave a presentation on the step-by-step process of creating an AI fi lm as part of the BSFF. tools that support scriptwriting, image, and video generation, but do not undermine the creative process. The idea comes from the artist. “You have to give it [AI] instructions, what and how you want something done. When it gives you a product, you can always say ‘move this to the left, change the color, make it softer, etc,“ said Liliana Aleksandrova, assistant organizer of BSFF. ABSOLUTE CINEMA “The human element is not lost. There is always an artist behind the project,” added Iliev. At least for now, but rules are changing. In their research, Tsiavos and Kitsios explore the topic of AI and its role in the fi lm industry. “We highlight emerging ethical concerns, such as authorship, creative integrity, and labor displacement that accompany AI’s expanding role,” say the researchers. Assuming AI follows a “collaboration, not replacement” paradigm, how do we respond to AI-generated fi lms? What turns moving images into meaningful experiences that move us? The New York Times’ article shows that old movies are living a second life in Hollywood with screenings of “Black Swan” (2010), “Apollo 13” (1995), “Jaws” (1975), and others. These movies were written by people, shot by people, and played by people. Editors: Janina Ormanova & Toma Krumov by Bilyana Spasova
13 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily
C RR OO SS SS WWOORR DD Down: 1. Which famous American pop star went to space and came back in 11 minutes? 5. What is the animal in Hangout’s logo? 6. Which movie won best picture at the 2025 Oscars? 7. Who currently acts as both an interim president and a provost at the university? 9. A notoriously ugly keychain toy, often paired with matcha lattes 10. What is the name of the joint event organized by AUBG Olympics and Project S in Fall ‘25? Across: 2. In which month of 2026 is the construction of Skapto 3 expected to fi nish? 3. Name of the program that guides freshman into their university life 4. The ambassador of which country visited AUBG to talk about the Presidency of the Council of the European Union of his country? 8. In which sport did the Bulgarian national team win silver medals this September? 11. Which major might lose its Bulgarian accreditation? JokesJokes 1. How does a JMC major get a job? They use their degree… oh wait. 2. What do Griffi ns and American Football have in common? Absolutely nothing. See you in Billion. 3. Who says that the sense of community at AUBG is lost? All Sofi a Semester students know each other by name. 4. What do Margee Ensign and Ivan-Asen have in common? Both of them love laundering. 5. It is called The Face because you won’t remember seeing any after you leave. 6. With the number of students from Sofi a, you would think every weekend is a Sofi a Semester. 7. I fi nally decided that I am majoring in procrastination. I am thinking of a second one, but I will decide later. 8. Skapto is so culturally diverse that it even has a distinct smell on every fl oor. 9. Imagine actually fi nding a job at the Job Fair. 10. Do you know why Sofi a Semester is the most environmentally friendly in AUBG? Because all of the students enrolled can fi t in a single car. 14 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily In partnership with:
What Type of Person You Are Based on Where You Spend Your Time? Hangout Okay, you are fancy, we see. You live for coff ee, love matcha, and posting your aesthetic drinks on Instagram is your favorite activity. Studying is just an excuse for you to go to Hangout, but the main things you do there are watching people from the window and gossiping with your friends who stopped by “by accident”. The charming atmosphere makes all deadlines seem to disappear (keep being delusional!) You call it ‘vibing,’ the universe calls it ‘procrastination.’ Keep sipping, scrolling, and pretending that life is as eff ortlessly chic as your latte art - you have basically mastered the art of looking busy while doing absolutely nothing. BBachinovo Nature lover, peace seeker, down-to-earth character – your focus and relaxation heavily rely on your connection with nature and quiet! You love a quick getaway from the bustling campus and the busy streets of Blago. A book in hand and a bench with a beautiful view of the pond are all you need to relax your mind and forget about all the deadlines awaiting on Canvas. The calm energy of the trees and water fuels your focus, helping you return to campus refreshed and grounded. The park is your personal sanctuary – where time slows down, and the sound of nature allows you to catch your breath and recharge. AAUBG Cafe The social bee has arrived! You thrive in social settings and the noise of chit-chat all around! Studying for you involves your whole group of friends gathered on the couches at the café! You enjoy the random social interactions and just like the unpredictable gust of wind, you enter the café looking for some good time! Your mind recharges through connection, and even your most stressful assignments feel lighter when shared over a latte and a muffi n. Library You either like to be alone, calm, and do not like your roommate, or you just want to look mysterious and cool. Be honest, have you ever opened a book from the library? We hope you are at least studying there, not only waiting for your crush to come by and think how smart you are because you are in the library. Either way, you have perfected the art of looking deeply focused while secretly scrolling through your phone. Sure, your brain might be napping, but your library vibes are fully awake - and everyone can feel it. Aspire You usually spend around 12 hours a day inside the transparent fi shbowl of Aspire, mostly so everyone walking by can see how hard you are “grinding.” You are almost certainly a Business or Computer Science major, and your laptop screen is a chaotic mix of code and crypto charts. Your bible is ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad,’ and your religion is the ‘Never-Ending Hustle.’ Despite your constant manifestations of success, you are currently in Blagoevgrad, not Wall Street, so we promise that taking a break from time to time will defi nitely not hurt you. SK3 Bubblebble Ah - the sacred bubble of panic, gossip, and ambition. You and your friends step in with the attitude of, “We are getting EVERYTHING done,” only to waste the fi rst hour gossiping about things you have already talked about millions of times. You prepare for an apocalypse - closed in an academic aquarium with snacks for a week, just for someone to end up asking about the homework. Your faith - leaving with academic despair but more united than ever. Still, the universe approves - at least you tried. Polca Congratulations - you are seen as the soul who believes an overpriced coffee can heal your emotional damage. You have stopped counting the number of coff ees you have bought. You are on a fi rst-name basis with the cashiers who know your major, your order, and possibly your zodiac sign. You are the type of person who wants to live on a budget but leaves with a sandwich, soup, and a dessert. Budget who? - live deliciously. 15 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily Crossword Answers: 1.Volleyball, 2. Denmark, 3. J.D. Mininger, 4. MentiFY, 5. JMC, 6. August, 7. Chameleon, 8. Squid Games, 9. Anora, 10. Katy Perry, 11. Labubu
GUESS THE PROFESSOR “Th at is all, folks, now leave me alone.” - Hint: Literature Professor who lives in Th essaloniki “Стъпка по стъпка (step by step)” - Hint: American Economics Professor “Have you tried Borovets?” - Hint: Italian Philosophy Professor “I will call you in ten years and ask if you remember this.” - Hint: Bulgarian Literature Professor “Good stuff , man, good stuff .” - Hint: Co-Head of the Journalism and Media Communications Department, Irish “Questions, no questions?” - Hint: Italian Mathematics Professor “Talk to the village.” - Hint: German Business Professor “Th at is the spAAAAAAAAAN of the vector space.” - Hint: Famous Mathematics Professor 17 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily Answer: Tatiana Ivanova Answer: Mirko Tarulli Answer: Bettina Bastian Answer: Jeff rey Nilsen Answer: Diego Lucci Answer: Lyubomir Terziev Answer: Jason Murphy Answer: Sean Homer AUBG’S MOST WANTED
Where traditional taste meets the modern and innovative: Classic Burger and Fresh Sandwiches At BG Market stores, you’ll fi nd a classic burger waiting for you. You’ll also discover fresh sandwiches made with baguette, Italian cheeses, fi ne meat delicacies, and crisp vegetables. Every bite delivers authentic taste and quality! Real Greek Yogurts and Kefi r with Unmatched Taste! BG Market is an established supermarket chain with over 20 years of history, off ering a rich assortment of high-quality products. With ten stores in Blagoevgrad and an online platform (www.bgm.bg) serving the entire country, BG Market provides convenient and easy access to groceries and household goods. Discover authentic Greek products from Koukakis Dairy Farm — a family farm with long-standing tradition and full vertical integration of production: from raising the animals to the fi nal product, everything is controlled on site to ensure guaranteed quality and freshness. Enjoy real Greek yogurts with rich fl avor and velvety texture, as well as kefi r - a natural probiotic drink made from 100% fresh Greek milk, with no preservatives.. Discover the Magic of Authentic Greek Feta from Bizios! Produced from 100% sheep’s and goat’s milk at the foot of Mount Olympus, this feta off ers a dense texture, balanced saltiness, and a distinct, lightly tangy fl avor: with no added preservatives, colorants, or GMOs. Authentic Salads and Spreads Alpha Gefsi is committed to tradition, clean ingredients, and uncompromising quality. 100% natural ingredients, without unnecessary preservatives or colorants - just genuine fl avor crafted from home-style recipes. BG Market continues to off er its customers only the very best — from fresh products to convenient solutions for everyday life. Visit us and see for yourself! 17 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily
head SPONSORSHIP TEAM head Gabriela stoeva petrva petrova Magdalena Yordanova Hary Dikov Maria Pencheva Nikolay Lyutskanov Kristiana Krasteva Niya Vladova Mila Slavova Viktoria Enkina DESIGN TEAM Deyan Kenarov Hristiyana Ivanova Janina Ormanova Daniel Todorov MEMBERS MARKETING TEAM head THE PRESIDENT Vasil Paskov Vayana Sinabova raya zasheva Radostina ivanova melani Karovska PODCAST TEAM Manuela Vukadinova ema beloreshka Jasmina Vitanova 18 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily silvio kostadinov mariAM gogiashvili
producer REPORTERS mila kostadinova veronika ivanova Miryana Tunteva bilyana spasova Nia pavlova dimitar daskalov maria Stoyanovska Musallam Al Sabbagh Stefan Tanev GALLERIE EDITORS Alexandra Lewis editor in chief Kaloyan ivanov Alexander Lazarov Kostadin Dimitrov konstans bogdanova Ruby guelda Spasiela Gizdova david mitov toma krumov Kamelia Rusenova valentina velikova In partnership with: 19 Fall 2025 | AUBG Daily
Letter from the editor Dear Readers, As we have reached the fi nal stretch of the semester – and the year – it is time for some well-earned rest. And what better way to unwind than with a glimpse of the semester presented through the stories you are about to read. Without further ado, I am beyond excited to present to you the Fall 2025 issue of AUBG Daily! Toma Krumov Editor-In-Chief Firstly, I would like to thank you, dear reader. Thank you for putting your faith in us. Thank you to all of you who intently read our lovely reporters’ articles, participated in our interviews, and reached outwrote in to correct us when we got it wrong. You are the pulse of this university.; Tthis compilation of stories is as much ours as it is yours. Although this semester has been full of ups – and especially downs – the AUBG community must stand united once more. In light of this, I would like to express my most sincere thanks to the wonderful AUBG Daily Team. Through challenges, – seen and unseen, – we have managed to keep the spirit of AUBG alive on every page. Your commitment to journalism, truth, and creativity has been nothing short of inspiring. Thank you for all of your eff orts – they shape the very foundation of what we do. Find our website here: Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank the Board of AUBG Daily for their unwavering dedication. A special thank -you goes to the President, Vasil Paskov, for all his eff orts and kind but fi rm guiding hand. As we look forward to the holidays, my hope is that this issue serves as both a refl ection of where we are and a reminder of where we are headed. We can only make a lasting change if we stand united in the face of adversity. With that said, I wish you all the best of luck on your fi nals and a warm and restful break! In partnership with: Keep Reading, Toma Krumov Layout, Design, and Illustrations: Magdalena Yordanova, Maria Pencheva, Mila Slavova, Gabriela Stoeva, Viktoria Enkina, Niya Vladova, Janina Ormanova, Kristiana Krasteva
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