By Aya Beydoun | Staff Writer

Almost four years have passed since the last Rally Paper in 2019, which means that most current AUB students don’t know about it. This is the result of the crisis and pandemic that tremendously affected many and caused AUB’s infamous Rally Paper tradition to come to a halt. But since we’ve finally fully returned to campus, it’s back and here to stay!

The AUB Rally Paper is a yearly competition organized by the Student Representative Committee of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut. This event consists of around six teams made up of about 50 students each who will compete against each other with the goal of earning the highest score. The rally provides a unique opportunity for students to push their limits and discover new areas of Lebanon. Teams must also collaborate with an NGO to ensure that any prize money won is donated for a charitable purpose.

The teams participate in a two-day competition that consists of four different challenges. The first challenge involves answering questions that are a combination of trivia and logic from booklets sent out by the organizing team. The second challenge is a treasure hunt referred to as the quest, where teams must solve challenging riddles and locate specific locations to win. The third challenge is a series of fun activities distributed throughout Lebanon, mostly in Beirut. Finally, the last challenge involves obtaining rare collectibles. Each of these four challenges is worth 150,000 points, and the team with the most points at the end of the rally wins.

In order to participate in the competition, teams will be responsible for securing their own sponsors to cover expenses such as fuel, food, and a suitable operating base. It is crucial for each team to obtain the necessary funds to successfully compete in the event. However, the organizing team recognizes the importance of ensuring each team has access to the resources they need to succeed, which is why it is committed to providing support to the teams by assisting them in securing the budget required to cover their expenses.

This event is not only a great opportunity for the teams to showcase their skills, but also a chance for the NGOs to reach a wider audience and raise awareness about their cause. At the end of the two days, the team with the highest score is declared the winner, and their NGO is awarded the prize money which can be used to make a real difference in the community. The rally is not just about winning; it is the collective effort and impact that truly matters.