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Contents Ahmad El-Nemr Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail delivering the dinner address at the Knowledge Society Symposium Page 8 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 8 FROM BRAIN DRAIN TO BRAIN GAIN 3 AUSCENES AUC and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina team up to host the Knowledge Society New chair elected to Board of Trustees, Symposium, a high-powered two-day meeting on higher education in the Arab world. Largest class graduates, El Hitami retires as vice president of student affairs 12 GOING UP:AUC’S NEW CAMPUS ON THE MOVE As above-the-ground construction speeds ahead,AUC’s new home is rapidly evolving. ALUMNI PROFILES 16 WEDDING ON THE PLATFORM 37 Sophie Sarwat ’70 reflects on a Volunteers in Action creates a new tradition, as three couples tie the knot lifetime of swimming success on the Greek Campus. 39 Yousef Jameel ’68 fuels education 18 GRADE EXPECTATIONS With today’s students demanding more A’s, grade point averages continue to creep up at universities around the world. 34 ALUMNI NEWS Alums meet in New York and Qatar, 20 WHAT’S IN A NAME? Distinguished Alumni Awards, Foreign A flashback through AUC history gives insight into names on campus and the stories service reunion, Senior class gathering behind them. 37 CLASS NOTES 23 PHONETASIA Class updates and weddings Computer science students develop interface for cellular phone communications. 24 OF STEEL AND SPICE 40 AKHER KALAM Dina Sarhan ’89 tells of her leap from mechanical engineering to the culinary arts. Mohammed Selim ’04, journalism and mass communication graduate student 30 DE-CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS and vice president of the Graduate Through videoconferencing students from AUC, New York University and Yale bridge Student Association, shares views on the cultural divide. media ethics

On the cover: Construction crew hard at work on AUC’s new campus, photographed by Ahmad El-Nemr AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:26 PM Page 2

Editor’s Notes AUC TODAYSpring 2005

Volume 13, No. 2 Seeing is Believing

In the first issue of The American University in Cairo is a AUCToday that I worked nonprofit private institution devoted to on as editor, the new providing English-language liberal arts campus project was our education to serve Egypt and the Middle East. cover story.At the time — about three years ago Editor in Chief — we only had Dina Abulfotuh watercolor renderings of Senior Designer what the campus would Inas Tohamy look like, and that was a Designer step up from the initial Rehab Farouk conceptual drawings that Staff Writers required even more Dalia Al Nimr, Lamya Tawfik imagination. For 80 plus Amid the construction work on AUC’s new campus project site years, generation after generation of alumni can probably remember talk of a Advisory Board Ann Boudinot-Amin, annual giving new, more spacious home for AUC and have no doubt wondered whether it office; Gretchen McCullough, English would ever materialize. and comparative literature department; Having for the first time walked through the new campus site, I must Afaf William, alumni office admit the experience is transforming, especially for the little skeptic in all of Photographers us. I am not sure what strikes first: the sheer size of the project, the absence Ahmad El-Nemr,Thomas Hartwell of the downtown symphony of horns or the small army of construction Illustrator workers clad in bright blue helmets and bustling in every direction. Samistudio One thing is for certain:AUC will have its new campus.The questions now are about all the little details of what the campus will be like, what AUCToday is published three times a year by the American University unique facilities it will have and the difference in the student experience. For in Cairo. those of us who work or study at AUC, dodge traffic on Mohammad Mahmoud Street and are constantly trying to make the most out of every We welcome all letters. Submissions may be edited for space and clarity. inch of space, the answers never come fast enough. In the meantime, we can Please send all correspondence to: take comfort in knowing that while we are shuffling through the downtown AUCToday campus, an entire crew is making steady progress on what will one day be The American University in Cairo 113 Kasr El Aini Street AUC’s new home. PO Box 2511 Considering that the first class to graduate from the new campus has Cairo 11511 already enrolled and that 2007 is on the horizon, it will not be long before Egypt or we witness a major milestone in AUC history. AUCToday Until that day, we look forward to continuing to bring you real, full color The American University in Cairo play-by-play coverage of the new campus project as it unfolds. 420 Fifth Avenue,Third Floor New York, NY 10018-2729 USA

e-mail: [email protected] www.aucegypt.edu Dina Abulfotuh

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AuScenes

AUC’s Board of Trustees Elects Boyd Hight Chairman

chairman.The current challenge facing AUC, in Hight’s view, is building the new campus on time and within budget, while simultaneously continuing to invest in the enhancement and development of the academic programs. When asked about specific areas he is personally interested in, Hight emphasized the importance of enhancing AUC’s quality and finding ways to adequately finance the graduate program.“We would like to get the graduate program on the kind of financial footing that enables us to expand it,” said Hight. Prior to his retirement, Hight served as a partner in the Los Angeles-based law firm of O’Melveny & Myers.The best known of the firm’s partners is former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Among Hight’s many victories as a practicing lawyer was winning the third largest verdict in the state of California in 2000. Described by the Los Angeles Daily Journal as a lawyer who projects “a subdued air of authority and places a premium on professional respect and courtesy,” Hight’s activism and leadership date back to his time as an undergraduate at Duke University. As a senior, he founded and launched the Duke Symposium. First held in 1959 on the “US- Soviet Conflict,” the symposium became an annual tradition for 11 years. Hight received his law degree from Yale University, where uring its November meeting,AUC’s Board of he was an editor of theYale Law Journal, and a diploma in D Trustees elected Boyd Hight as its new chairman. comparative law from the University of Stockholm.A father Hight, the board’s former vice chairman, succeeds Paul of two, Hight has served as deputy assistant secretary for Hannon, who has served on the board since 1976 and held transportation and telecommunications at the US the post of chairman since 1998. Department of State. During this period he negotiated the Hight, 65, first joined the board in 1987 at the first civil aviation agreement between the United States and suggestion of Hannon. “Like many members of our China. He also spent five years as executive vice president, board, my wife and I have fallen in love with Cairo and general counsel and a director of Santa Fe International AUC,” said Hight, explaining his decision to take on the Corporation, a large oil services firm based in Alhambra, additional responsibilities of serving as chair of AUC’s California. Hight’s son Kevin served as a presidential intern at board. For many trustees — who volunteer their time, AUC in 1990. money and energy — the turning point is their first visit Hight is also an overseer of The Huntington Library, a to Cairo and the university, said Hight. trustee of the Autry Western Heritage Museum and a Having led a distinguished career as a lawyer, Hight has member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the now retired and will be focusing on his new role as Pacific Council on International Policy.

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AuScenes AUC Graduates Largest Undergraduate Class in its History

his year’s mid-year commencement marked the graduation of the largest T undergraduate class in the university’s 85-year history.The 467 graduates received their degrees at the Cairo International Conference Center, amidst cheers and applause from the audience of friends and family. In a similarly festive event, 110 students received their graduate degrees at AUC’s Ewart Hall, including 92 master’s degrees and 18 graduate diplomas. Recognizing the works and contributions of two prominent Egyptian scholars and scientists,AUC awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and an honorary Doctorate of Science to Rushdi Said, one of Egypt’s best known geologists, who served under former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser as head of the national mining organization. Hawass, who is also director of excavation at Giza and Bahariya Oasis, delivered the undergraduate commencement address.With contagious enthusiasm, Hawass spoke to the graduating class about his passion for Egyptology and love of antiquities.The lesson, he stressed, is “that it’s important to love what you do and to concentrate to make the best out of it.” Delivering the graduate commencement address, Said shared with the graduates a vision for Egypt, which he wished they could bring about.“I cannot imagine a leadership more fit for the task of regenerating Egypt than Provost Tim Sullivan hoods honorary doctorate you,” he told the graduates. recipients Rushdi Said (top) and Zahi Hawass

Iraqi Writer Wins Naguib Mahfouz Medal raqi novelist and short-story writer year’s prize, saying:“Modern Arabic I Alia Mamdouh was awarded the poetry was born in Iraq, then it spread 2004 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for to the rest of the Arab world. Iraq is a Literature for her novel, Al-Mahbubat. cornerstone in modern and ancient Mamdouh is the 11th recipient of the Arab culture.” award, which consists of a silver medal, Mamdouh has served for more a cash prize and translation and than a decade as editor in chief of the publication of the winning book by Iraqi magazine Al Rassed and then the AUC Press. worked as a journalist in Lebanon and “This award is for Iraqi literature Morocco. itself, not just for me,” Mamdouh said Censored for the themes she raises at the ceremony.“It is an award for all in her books, most notably women’s Iraqi women writers, alone and rights and the ideology of power, disillusioned by dictatorship in the Mamdouh has lived in exile in Beirut, past and occupation and extremism in Rabat, London and finally Paris where the present. ” she currently resides. In a televised address from Mahfouz, She is also author of two short-story the Nobel laureate commented on this collections and four novels.

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Graduate Student Wins WASH Media Award ournalism and mass journalists play an integral role in J communication graduate student making society aware of these issues,” Nadia El-Awady received the first said El-Awady, who is a graduate of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All Cairo University’s faculty of medicine (WASH) Media Award for her article and is the managing editor of the “The Nile and Its People:What Goes health and science section at Around Comes Around.” Established IslamOnline. by the Water Supply and Sanitation El-Awady’s article was ranked first Collaborative Council, a UN affiliate, by an international panel of judges the award recognizes investigative who evaluated more than 100 reporting carried out by journalists in entries submitted by print, radio and developing countries on water, television journalists from more than sanitation and hygiene issues. 40 countries. Entries were evaluated El-Awady’s article highlights the according to subject originality, impact of industrial pollution, sewage content and research quality, El-Awady wishes her article would be and solid waste management on the relevance of WASH issues and translated to Arabic for the Egyptian health of people living along the Nile potential public impact. public to read and understand the River, with a focus on Al Munufiya Robert Lamb, chair of the judges’ issues at hand.“I have been governorate. panel, praised El-Awady’s article, recognized at an international level, “I had attended conferences and describing it as an “outstanding piece but not read by people in my own workshops on water and sanitation of journalistic work –– clear, concise country. I hope to reach the public in and wanted to write about water and investigative.” order to help build awareness about issues in Egypt because I believe Proud to have received the award, water and sanitation,” she said.

Watergate Expert, Nixon Adviser Exposes Bush’s Secret Presidency atergate expert John Dean, man’s terrorist is another man’s W who also served as counsel to freedom fighter,” he said. former US President Richard Nixon, Dean also blamed the president for delivered two lectures at AUC:“The what he called a new tradition of Secret Presidency of George W.Bush” offending allies and ruining decades and “The Nixon White House of good will. Drawing parallels During Watergate.” between Nixon and Bush, Dean Sharing some of the secrets to the asserted that both presidents never Bush presidency, Dean said that the really felt that they could fill their 9/11 attacks,“though extremely tragic, office.“Both presidents would refer to allowed for many things to happen that themselves in the third person as if may not have happened otherwise.” they were someone else,” Dean Terrorism, according to Dean, was pointed out. played up time and time again to Famous for recounting the further Bush’s political objectives. Watergate scandal and his days in the “Bush won the 2004 elections by Nixon White House in two books, frightening people into believing that Lost Honor and Blind Ambition, Dean he can deal with issues of terrorism has also written many articles on law, better than John Kerry,” said Dean. government and politics. His most Yet Bush failed to come up with a recent book is Worse Than Watergate: good definition of terrorism.“One The Secret Presidency of George W.Bush.

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AuScenes

Goneid on Supreme Council Committee

mr Goneid, computer science A professor, was re-appointed for a second term as secretary for the Supreme Council Committee for AUC’s Regional Programming Champions Computer Science and Informatics. UC’s team won first place in School Scholarship recipient The committee reviews and the Seventh Association for Mahmoud Abdel-Fattah ’05, accredits all computer science A Computing and Machinery ICPC electronic engineering graduate, and programs in Egypt.“It seeks to regional contest held in Kuwait last computer science seniors Ahmed establish high-quality standards for December.The team competed Ezzat and Fadi Mounir, the AUC the education of computer and against 35 other teams representing team won two honorary titles at the information sciences in Egypt,” 26 universities from 11 countries in regional competition. Goneid said. the Arab world and North Africa. The team secured the future gurus Goneid has previously served as a The AUC team will represent title by being the highest ranking consultant to the Egyptian Ministry the region in the world finals in undergraduate team and were of Interior,Ain Shams University’s Shanghai, China this April, dubbed the relentless programmers Information Network Board, the competing against 78 teams from for coming up with the right answer International Academy for Media 71 countries. two minutes before their allotted five Sciences and AUC’s state-of-the-art AUC’s team will be the only team hours were up. In addition, the team campus in New Cairo. from the region to participate in the had previously won the Egyptian Recognized for his achievements, world finals, where awards, prizes and national title. Goneid has received the Egyptian scholarships will be at stake for top “They are truly dedicated to State Prize for Physics in 1971 and computer science and engineering programming and approach it with a the Egyptian First Degree Order of university students. passion,” Zeid said.“You have to be Sciences and Arts in 1973. In 1994, “Just being part of the finals dedicated to program in your spare he was honored by the Egyptian among teams from the world’s top time to win this competition, and Computer Society for distinguished universities is an honor. I have high that’s what the students are like.” contributions in the development of hopes for them,” said Amir Zeid, AUC’s computer science program is computer science studies at AUC. visiting computer science assistant the first outside the United States to professor and the team’s coach. be accredited by the Computer Made up of Citibank Public Science Accreditation Commission.

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El Hitami Retires as Vice President man who has been an integral “When you see a student grasp a A part of AUC’s development concept that you have been explaining, throughout the last 39 years says that he it’s a very gratifying compensation in is “disengaging gracefully” as he retires that line of work,” he said. from his position as vice president for Over the years, El Hitami has seen students affairs. Farouk El Hitami, who the university change.“We were much is currently serving as senior adviser to smaller. I only had 15 students in my the president, will be on sabbatical for a class, which allowed me to take care of year as he prepares himself to return to each student’s needs,” he said. an old passion: teaching. Speaking on his style of management, “I resisted the administrative Nahed Serour, assistant to the vice assignments until I was forced into it in president for student affairs, said that El 1982. In 1993, I was the first dean for Hitami is a “true example of Last December, President David the School of Business, Economics and professional leadership.Through his Arnold presented El Hitami with the Communication,” he said. firm belief in delegating authority, he Presidential Award for Distinguished After serving as dean for seven years, helped build high caliber people who Service in recognition of his role in El Hitami was asked to fill the position have reached success and continue to improving student services and of vice president for student affairs in do so.” building a strong and dedicated team 2000 by John Gerhart,AUC’s late Having worked with him for more at the university. president emeritus.“I liked working than 23 years, Samia El Shazly, deputy Explaining why El Hitami was with Dr. Gerhart so I accepted,” said director of the student financial aid chosen for the award, Provost Tim El Hitami. office, commented on his ability to Sullivan said,“This award is not just Having started the management build a team.“He let us have a say in about years of service to AUC; this is department in 1966, El Hitami enjoyed what we do, encouraged teamwork and recognition of an outstanding human the one-on-one interaction with was very considerate of personal being. It is a chance to honor a students and is keen on resuming his requirements,” she said.“He is a wonderful man –– a mahatma, or person teaching responsibilities once again. wonderful person to work with.” of great soul.”

AUC’s Connection to Hit Film on Media Coverage of War in Iraq ecipient of five international film operations during wars and reveals interview the station’s Managing R awards in 2004, Control Room issues of truthfulness, humanitarianism Director Mohammed Jassim Al-Ali. gives a behind-the-scenes account of and journalistic integrity. In addition, through his press contacts the Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera Abdullah Schleifer, director of AUC’s as TBS senior editor and former NBC during the US-led war on Iraq. Adham Center for Television Cairo bureau chief, Schleifer helped Directed by the award-winning Arab- Journalism and distinguished mass Noujaim gain access to CentCom, American filmmaker and Harvard communication lecturer, served as the where she met and interviewed key graduate Jehane Noujaim, the film’s executive producer.A professional characters in her film, including NBC documentary was a hit in the United journalist for more than 20 years and a journalist David Schuster and the US States, where it played for months in senior editor of Transnational Broadcasting press liaison Lieutenant Josh Rushing. art-cinema theaters in every major city. Studies (TBS), a journal produced by “When I was approached by In Control Room, shot at CentCom the Adham Center, Schleifer developed Noujaim, I sensed her sincerity and — the press office set up in Qatar extensive contacts with journalists at talent, and I wanted to encourage such during the war — and at Al Jazeera’s Arab news stations, and in particular at a young and dedicated artist,” said headquarters, Noujaim focuses on a few Al Jazeera. He was instrumental in Schleifer.“I knew this was going to be US and Arab journalists.Through them, helping Noujaim get approval to shoot a serious film — one where journalism she portrays the intricacies of news at Al Jazeera headquarters and to meets art.”

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From Brain Drain to Brain Gain By Dina Abulfotuh Photos by Ahmad El-Nemr

AUC teams up with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to host a two-day Knowledge Society Symposium

n early February, the Knowledge education in the Arab world and the of the day, it is the human resources Society Symposium was born in a creation of a knowledge-based society that will make the difference.” I room roughly the size of AUC’s with a focus on potential solutions and Also speaking at the symposium’s Oriental Hall, barely able to contain possible paths to progress. inauguration were Amr Salama, the stature and prominence of the “Our intent is for this conference to minister of higher education and high-level group gathered within. be forward-thinking and action- minister of state for scientific research, Drawing around 70 key players in oriented,” said AUC President David and Tarek Kamel, minister of the development of the Arab world, Arnold at the inauguration.“One of communications and information the symposium’s list of participants our goals for the symposium is to … technology. Both Egyptian ministers read like a Who’s Who that included discuss promising new approaches and highlighted the country’s dedication to ministers of Egypt and Jordan, reform initiatives geared toward reform programs that aim to build a presidents of major universities in the knowledge-based development.” knowledge-based society.“It remains region, a Nobel laureate, high-level Emphasizing the symposium’s long- the only hope for the region to bridge officials from the US Department of term focus, Ismail Serageldin, director the development gap and ensure an State, representatives of the various of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and equitable share in the growth in United Nations agencies and the librarian of Alexandria, expressed his welfare potential brought forth by president of the Ford Foundation, to hope that the symposium “be globalization,” said Kamel, who served recount only a few. succeeded by other events in as the inauguration’s keynote speaker. The high-powered group was alternating years between Alexandria “Knowledge is power, and we are fully selected and invited through a joint and Cairo.” Drawing attention to the committed in the region to harness initiative between AUC and the role of human resources in the creation this power and create a better future.” Bibliotheca Alexandrina, designed to of knowledge-based societies, he said, The two-day intensive gathering was provide a forum to discuss higher “Whatever is done in policy at the end composed of four main sessions, each

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“It remains the only hope for the region to bridge the development gap and ensure an equitable share in the growth in welfare potential brought forth by globalization.”

Left: Zewail; right: Mark Welland, professor of nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge and Fadel Assabghy, dean of AUC’s science and engineering school

involving one or more major Culture of Assessment,” Isam Naqib, Funded through the largest grant in presentations followed by an open- project manager for the UNDP’s the foundation’s history, the program format discussion.Allowing for a free Higher Education Project, underscored has thus far supported the graduate exchange of ideas, the participants were the importance of adopting education of 1,506 fellows who have seated on round tables with a standardized assessment models and come from many of the most microphone for each one. fostering a culture of self-evaluation as marginalized groups around the world. In the first session, which gave the an integral part of improving higher To recruit these local leaders in their context for the discussion, Maen education in the region. communities — who would not Nsour, senior program adviser at the Interspersed throughout the emerge in normal selection processes United Nations Development conference and offering a respite from — program recruiters have gone to hill Program’s (UNDP) Regional Bureau the main sessions were several special tribe areas in Vietnam,to remote for Arab States, enumerated the addresses. In the first lunch address, regions in Brazil and worked with challenges currently facing the region. Susan Berresford, president of the Ford women’s organizations in rural Presenting the key issues in the 2003 Foundation, delivered a passionate plea Senegal. Calling for a sense of urgency Arab Human Development Report, for widening access to education, about widening access to education, Nsour ended on an optimistic note. especially among the developing Berresford asserted,“Broad and assured “The foundations of the Arab world’s most underprivileged. access to quality education is an civilization once supported a Berresford spoke about the Ford essential ingredient in modern and knowledge society that was the pride Foundation International Fellowship successful states.” of the world,” he said, calling for a new Program, a unique initiative designed As the dialogue continued to “Arab renaissance.” to find ways to reach new categories of deepen, the symposium’s third session, In the second session,“Achieving students not formally in the higher “Capacity Building for Science and Quality in Higher Education:A education system. Technology,” looked at the issue of

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“There is no way out of investing in research and development. If you buy what’s available in the market and stand still for a while, you will ultimately be in a backward situation.”

A group photo of the participants; bottom center: Fayza Aboulnaga, Egypt’s minister of international cooperation

expanding the region’s science and partnerships as a means of providing reform initiative. Focusing on the research base through four different knowledge from those who have it to program’s major elements,Al-Misnad lenses: research institutions, universities, those who don’t,” she said.“Rather, the asserted that these reforms would industry and international partnerships. most fitting potential of international ensure that “Qatari society will be The common denominator partnership lies in sharing knowledge endowed with the capacity and desire throughout the debate was the essential while preserving diversity, at the core to seek, generate and capture new role of human capital, which needs to of enriched scientific research.” knowledge and the ability to absorb be developed and supported through The fourth and final session,“Policy and utilize this knowledge efficiently.” institutional frameworks that nurture Reform and Action,” examined the While the obstacles to educational research and scientific endeavors. necessary educational policy reforms policy reform in the region are many, Carrying forward the discussion on from the public sector, private sector the participants identified complete the critical importance of joint and university perspectives. Illustrating transparency about the reforms taking initiatives, Fayza Aboulnaga, Egypt’s a new example of educational reform place as the key to their success and minister of international cooperation, in the public sector, Jordan’s Minister widespread adoption. delivered the second special address of Education Khalid Toukan spoke of Among the highlights was an address titled,“Building International his country’s 10-year $500 million by Ahmed Zewail, Nobel laureate and Partnerships in Education and program to raise the performance of Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Development.” Calling for an Jordanian students to global standards. Physics at the California Institute of expanded role for international Sharing another example of Technology.Well-versed and often partnerships,Aboulnaga suggested non- successful reform efforts, Sheikha Al- quoted on the state of science in the traditional forms of cooperation.“We Misnad, president of Qatar University, Arab world, Zewail honed in on the must not think of international presented Qatar’s expansive educational necessity of creating a knowledge AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:26 PM Page 11

society to bring the Arab world in line and analysis around three central moving account that captured the with the demands of the 21st century. questions: what the region has, what it essence of the participants’ reflections “There is no way out of investing in needs and how it can use the former and built on the words of great Arab research and development. If you buy to secure the latter. What the region intellectuals like Ibn Al Haytham and what’s available in the market and stand has, he said, is an excellent diagnosis Ibn Al Nafis. Citing the words of still for a while, you will ultimately be and analysis of the problem, as well as a Bryon and Gandhi, Serageldin called in a backward situation because other core network of committed individuals the group to action. countries are developing as fast as “who get it.” What the region needs, “Within this group, this emergent possible to get into new frontiers of Arnold elaborated, is the leadership coalition, this nascent network and the research and development,” said and support, financial resources, networks that each of us have, we Zewail.“We have to find a way; management capacity and the desire to should be able to promote many otherwise, we will not sustain this sustain and institutionalize change. knowledge-based development effective revolution that is happening.” Covering the issue of brain drain, initiatives,” he asserted.“We should After the concentrated discussions which was at the core of several meet again periodically, to measure our covering a vast array of topics, a final discussions,Arnold stressed the achievements, assess our shortcomings wrap-up session adjourned the importance of creating “an enabling and draw strength from our shared symposium, synthesized its environment” that allows for fostering values to redouble our efforts.” recommendations and brought hopes high-end local talent and making use Urging the symposium participants that this would be only the beginning. of Arabs abroad through partnerships to form the “coalition of the caring,” Led by Arnold and Serageldin, the that turn brain drain into “brain gain.” Serageldin ended with a palpable closing session recapped the Following Arnold’s summary, energy and sense of urgency, as he symposium’s major highlights. Serageldin, who was the symposium’s asked the group,“If not us, who? If not Arnold structured his summation final speaker, delivered a lucid and now, when?”

“Within this group, this emergent coalition, this nascent network, and the networks that each of us have, we should be able to promote many knowledge- based development initiatives.”

Right: Magdi Yacoub, professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the British Heart Foundation; top: Al- Misnad, Toukan and Berresford AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:26 PM Page 12

Going Up: AUC’s New Camp us on the Move AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:26 PM Page 13

Construction on the new campus picks mp us on the MoveBy Lamya Tawfik Photos by Ahmad El-Nemr up the pace with the first signs of buildings starting to take shape

tructures are finally starting to mushroom as the above-ground S construction of AUC’s 260-acre new campus buildings started last August. The construction began after AUC signed an LE 850 million contract with the general contractor, which is a joint venture between Samsung, the Korean partner, and the Egyptian contractor Samcrete. In many parts of the construction site cranes, pumps and bulldozers are humming away as the overlapping of various stages of construction work take place. So far, work has begun in four “parcels,” a word used by the engineers on site to refer to buildings as they communicate with one another through more than 70 walkie-talkies across the site. “In the Park and Square area –– where the performing and visual arts building, the information center and the bookstore will be built –– we’re now doing foundation work. Excavation has also begun in the library area, the humanities and social sciences school and the science and engineering school,” said Tamer Nasser, civil engineer and site inspector. The five-floor library, which has a total area of 19,000 square meters, is the first building that is expected to be completed by February 2007. “This will allow for the gradual transfer of material to the campus by the spring of 2007 before the start of the all-university move during the summer of the same year,” said Ashraf Salloum, director of AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:26 PM Page 14

planning and design for the new campus. Scattered throughout the site are steel rebar workshops where foundation steel reinforcement is being prepared and carpentry workshops where the forms for the concrete are being constructed. “During the days in which we pour concrete, we place an average of 50 to 280 cubic meters of concrete in the building foundations,” said Nasser. He added that the new campus construction crew is currently working on a 10-hour shift each day, except when concrete is being poured, which sometimes requires that the work day extend until midnight. Sometimes, Nasser explained, the workers also come on Friday to prepare for the next day’s work, in order to ensure that the project is moving according to the schedule. “We are working aggressively with the contractor in overcoming obstacles to ensure all facilities are complete for the fall of 2007. At present, we are confident of achieving this date, barring any unforeseen delays,” said Bruce Malinski, site construction manager from Fluor International, the project manager for the new campus project. The buildings expected to follow the library include the performing and visual arts theater and the School of Science and Engineering, both scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2007, just one month after the library is complete. In April, the new campus development office was relocated to the new campus site, becoming the first AUC office to move to the university’s new home.“We are literally the first office to be AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:26 PM Page 15

moved to the new campus and are same materials as you would in other excited about this important milestone,” construction projects, but you have lots said Salloum. of unique specifications to build labs, In addition to obvious special theaters, a library and classrooms.” equipment, reams of steel and concrete, As construction rapidly progresses, a site visitors will notice that everyone tower at the center of the site has been Construction workers prepare for the day ahead with dons hard hats and eye shields.“This is built for visitors to get a bird’s-eye view morning exercises one of many safety measures that are of the construction development. of the AUC new campus site taken on site. In fact we recently Over the next few months,Web cams preparation was completed, which celebrated a fantastic milestone of will also be placed in different parts of included the grading of the site and the 1,500,000 safe hours,” said Nasser. the campus site to broadcast hourly live installation of the underground The safety regulations on the site also pictures from the construction site onto networks for natural gas, sewage, require that all cars, cranes and trucks the AUC Web site for those who would irrigation and fire fighting and the be equipped with reverse alarms and like to monitor progress. construction of a 1.6 kilometer long under no circumstance should any car The campus will be built over a total service and utility tunnel. The current drive at a speed that exceeds 20 area of 165,000 square meters and will construction was designed to kilometers per hour, explained Nasser. use 24,000 tons of reinforcing steel, as accommodate 5,500 full-time students The high level of safety and quality well as 115,000 square meters of stone, and 1,500 faculty and staff members, control makes this project stand out marble, granite cladding and flooring. with room for expansion.The projected among all construction projects in Throughout last year, the first phase cost of the project is $300 million. Egypt, said Nasser, who has worked on several other large-scale projects in Expected Completion Date by Building Egypt.“This is one of the biggest Library February 28, 2007 construction projects in the country Performing and Visual Arts March 28, 2007 alongside the building of the new Cairo School of Science and Engineering March 28, 2007 airport and the Sharm El Sheikh School of Humanities and Social Sciences April 30, 2007 airport,” he said, stressing that it is a School of Business, Economics and Communication April 30, 2007 career challenge as well. Student Housing April 30, 2007 “You don’t get the chance to be a Campus Center May 31, 2007 part of building a university complex Sports Facilities June 30, 2007 everyday,” he said.“You’re using the

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Wedding

onPlatform the

Volunteers in Action pioneers a new tradition on campus

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he Greek Campus has been witness to more than five decades of AUC traditions and activities. On a Friday evening in T January, an entirely new tradition was born on campus when three young couples tied the knot at AUC, complete with wedding decorations, entertainment and a full-fledged zaffa, the traditional Egyptian wedding procession. The creative event was organized by the student club Volunteers in Action (VIA) and was the brainchild of Marwa Yahya, an economics junior and the head of VIA’s housing and supplies program, which is focused on furnishing the homes of orphan brides. The program is one of many charity activities that VIA has undertaken since its establishment in 1997, including Children’s Day during Ramadan and weekly visits to poor areas in Cairo to provide literacy training.The club, which continues to expand the scope of its activities, has a primary focus of helping orphans in Egypt from infancy all the way to independent adulthood. The couples were chosen from the underprivileged areas of Meet Okba and Zaytoun, where club members regularly volunteer and have become close with orphans in these areas. Over the last couple of years,VIA has helped seven couples get married and has purchased home appliances and furnishings ranging from bed linens to washing machines and refrigerators.This year, however,Yahya said that she wanted to take their work “one step further” by providing a wedding celebration that would have otherwise not been feasible for the couples.“We just wanted something extra, to walk that extra mile, to bring joy to their hearts,” said Yahya. The wedding, which Yahya describes as the icing on the cake, represents the culmination of their work and a vehicle to increase awareness about the club’s work with orphans among the AUC community. “A large sum of the money came from the annual charity concert and from sponsors.We’re so glad this worked out the way it did,” said Randa Ahmed from VIA’s public relations committee before rushing to meet her colleagues who were helping the brides get ready. For a year,Yahya along with fellow club members, diligently raised funds, courted sponsors and managed to make the wedding a reality. “We rented the brides’ dresses, and through our networks managed to bring sponsors for the food and many of the arrangements,” she said. “One of the brides kept delaying her marriage for almost two years because all she needed was LE 500 worth of appliances,” said Yahya, adding that this wedding is the first of what will be an annual event. More than 200 well wishers enjoyed a traditional Egyptian wedding as the couples were greeted with traditional stick dances and even a whirling dervishes show.The theme of the wedding was blue and white, and the couples walked the course of their zaffa to the sound of drumbeats and Egyptian wedding songs marking the festive day.

By Lamya Tawfik

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Grade ExpectationsIllustration by Samistudio As students are increasingly feeling entitled to higher grades, the C is becoming an endangered species

“Grade inflation compresses all grades at the top, making it difficult to discriminate the best from the very good, the very good from the good, the good from the mediocre … Professors who give easy grades gain just a fleeting popularity, salted with disdain. In later life, students will forget those professors; they will remember the ones who posed a challenge.”

Harvey C. Mansfield, professor of government, Harvard University, 2001

study except for the occasional self- vibrantly in the 1980s and 1990s. D’s conducted destructive student who doesn’t hand and F’s combined now constitute only A in 2003 by in assignments or take exams –– if 2 percent of all grades given at Stuart Rojstaczer, exams are even given.” prominent universities such as Duke Duke University Generally, grade distribution should and Harvard, Rojstaczer noted. professor, indicates follow a normal distribution curve, In addition, a 1999 study conducted that grade point with a C grade being the average and by Duke University’s biostatistician averages (GPAs) in the United an A grade awarded to a smaller Valens Johnson showed a positive States are rising at a rate of about 0.15 number of top performers. Grade correlation between grading schemes points every decade.“If things go on at inflation, on the other hand, is defined and student evaluations of their that rate,” he noted in an article as a trend of the dominance of the A professors, with the easy graders published in The Washington Post, and the diminishing of the C grade. receiving the best evaluations and the “practically everybody on campus will This trend began in the 1960s, subsided highest class enrollment. be getting all A’s before mid-century, in the 1970s and returned strongly and “Faculty have begun to fear poor

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student evaluations and possibly and F are nearly extinct, B and B- are one anyway.” shortened careers. Consequently, some regarded as shameful and A and A- have To address the problem, Berenger have caved in, giving A’s to too many come to constitute the majority of noted, there has to be widespread students,” said Ralph Berenger, assistant grades in some classes,” Berenger said, awareness, especially among professors professor in journalism and mass attributing the phenomenon to what who may be unconsciously communication at AUC and head of he calls the consumer-based university contributing to the problem. Many the University Senate’s Student Affairs education theory. schools in the United States are now Committee (SAC), which is looking at “Education has now become a monitoring grade inflation on a regular ways of combating this international commodity that is run the way you run basis.AUC has begun to do the same, trend at AUC. a business.You operate on the notion with plans to monitor grading patterns Berenger defines grade inflation as a that the customer –– the student –– is and share the information with gradual rise in students’ mean GPA always right. Students and parents departments. In addition, courses with without a corresponding increase in demand a return on their educational nearly duplicate content are being work.“It is a cause for investments, and professors feel obliged eliminated and professors are required concern because it to give them what they want,” he said. to regularly vary their course material debases the At AUC, research conducted by the and examinations. currency of a Office of Planning and Institutional But the key to combating grade college diploma,” Research found that the average inflation lies with faculty members and he said.“When undergraduate GPA rose from 2.9 in administrators, Berenger asserted.They too many A’s are 1993 to over 3.1 in 2003, and for have to set specific course objectives given, the A loses its graduate students, it rose from 3.37 to and performance standards and grade value and the institution is 3.55 in the same period.The toughest their students according to those looked upon as a place where anyone graders, the SAC report noted, were in standards. If too many students are can get high grades.” the freshman Writing Program, getting A’s in classes, instructors should A study by the American Academy of followed by political science, raise the standards of their instruction Arts and Sciences has shown that grade mathematics and Arabic studies. Music, and grading expectations. inflation is a problem in nearly all US electronics engineering and business “Faculty members should set their universities, including the Ivy League. administration gave the highest grades. standards high in order to keep The study found that 50 percent of The report showed that AUC’s challenging students,” students at Columbia University are on grade distribution was nearly the Berenger said.“They the dean’s honor list and that nearly 70 same as grades given to students should teach them percent of Harvard students are getting at US universities. In fact, GPAs what they ought to a B+ or better, compared with 15 might be inflating faster in the be taught, clearly percent in 1950. In addition, 50 percent United States than at AUC. state their grading of the grades at Harvard are either A or Grade inflation creates unrealistic policies and A-, rising dramatically from 22 percent expectations on the part of students. expectations in the syllabi, in 1966. “People feel entitled to a grade,” said induce rigor in the classroom and keep Fifty years ago, Berenger explained, Berenger.“They expect to get an A or raising the quality bar in order to the average GPA at American a B whether or not they earned it.” motivate students to perform at their universities was a C, and students Sharing Berenger’s viewpoint is Kurt highest levels.” accepted it as an indication of average Wiesenfeld, physics professor at the More importantly, students should be performance.An A meant that the University of California at Berkeley. He educated on their value-added student was a top achiever who stood indicated in Newsweek that “in the last experience at the university. They apart from others. But with today’s few years, some students have should understand that they are being grade-oriented students, a C means to developed a disgruntled consumer educated to think and learn; not just them that the professor is employing a approach ... Many, when pressed about receive good grades, he added. tough and unfair grading system. why they deserve a better grade, admit “C is an endangered species now, D they don’t deserve one but would like By Dalia Al Nimr

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AUCToday Spring 05/final 9/8/08 12:27 PM Page 20 What’s in a Name? By Lamya Tawfik

A look back at the names on campus and the stories behind them

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honor on buildings, rooms, Howard Theater scholarships and even chairs. Ewart For decades,AUC’s theater students Hall itself was later renovated in 1992 rehearsed and auditioned their through gifts from alumni whose performances at what became known names adorn its chairs. as Howard’s Theater, inaugurated in the spring of 1956. Thorne Fountain The C.Worth Howard Student The fountain on the outside wall of Drama Workshop was initially a large the AUC library is seen everyday by classroom that was remodeled through most AUCians, yet only a few know alumni donations raised in honor of the story behind it. It was built through C.Worth Howard, the former dean of a gift to AUC by Miriam Thorne, the faculty of arts and sciences who former AUC trustee and wife of the 80-year-old Ewart Hall served at AUC from 1925 to 1957. n 1925, a visitor to AUC made an late Landon Thorne Jr., former Board In his last year in office, Howard sent important decision. Escorted by of Trustees (BOT) chairman. a letter to what he called AUC’s “inner I Wendell Cleland, then head of the The Thorne Fountain is a replica of circle” of trustees, former staff Division of Extension, she asked him an Ottoman fountain in the Islamic members, graduates and old students what AUC needed the most? A few museum and is made of white Italian that said:“In leaving AUC I have many hours later she offered a gift of marble surrounded by an expanse of regrets about breaking close ties, which $100,000 for the construction of a black marble with a border of colored have meant so very much to me, yet I 1150-seat auditorium. She did have two stone that is an adaptation of an inlaid am happy in a rich experience of many special requests: she wanted to remain Mamluke panel. years. It was 32 years ago last month anonymous, and she wanted the The unveiling of the fountain took that I landed in Port Said, eager and auditorium to be named after her hopeful.What a privilege to share in grandfather William Dana Ewart, who AUC’s development, in the interests had in the past visited Egypt for health and concerns of hundreds of young reasons. Construction began in June people of the Middle East and in the 1926 and the final touches were community affairs of an exciting completed in April 1928. cosmopolitan city!” Ewart Hall, as it came to be known, has housed musical and theatrical events Jameel Center including Egypt’s renowned singer Om In 1968,Yousef Jameel graduated from Kalthum and AUC’s own Osiris AUC with a bachelor’s degree in Singers. Every Egyptian president has economics. He later developed a Toyota attended an event at the hall, and in the distributorship for his family that 1970s, when the Cairo Opera house became one of the most successful burned down, it became the home of the Egyptian opera and ballet. In the 1927 ceremony of the laying Landon Thorne III speaks at the 1983 of the cornerstone, then AUC President dedication of the Thorne Fountain Charles Watson said that the new hall place more than two decades ago, in would “place at the disposal of Egypt 1983 during which Thorne’s son the best that American experience and Landon Thorne III said:“One of the experimentation can afford.” qualities my father had was a sense of AUC’s history is filled with similar the rightness of things — of form and examples of people who have decided symmetry.This Egyptian fountain to give to AUC and place their names belongs here, and he would have or the name of someone they wish to appreciated it.” Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel (center) at the Jameel Center’s groundbreaking ceremony

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Studies. Located on AUC’s Greek much of what Douglas Horton, Campus, the center was inaugurated in chairman of the BOT at the time, said 1989, only two years after its is still true today. He described AUC as groundbreaking ceremony. “not only a company of scholars; it is a “We owe a lot to AUC. If Yousef company of scholars dedicated to hadn’t received his education there, our making and keeping the world a better family couldn’t do what we’re doing neighborhood.” today,” the late Sheikh Abdul Latif Hill House started as a student Jameel told Charles Hedlund, then dormitory when it was first opened and chairman of the BOT. later became AUC’s main library in 1959, holding 60,000 volumes at the Hill House time. It was remodeled in 1984 to be a The Hill House, which celebrated its student and alumni center. 50th birthday last year, was named after “This building is an affirmation of William Bancroft Hill and his wife Elise American faith in the future of Egypt,”

The Jameel Center in its construction phase Weyerhaeuser Hill.William Hill served said John Badeau, former AUC Saudi businesses and a part of a large on AUC’s BOT for almost 25 years, president, at the dedication ceremony. family corporation. including 20 years as chairman. The success of the business prompted The Weyerhaeuser family, who Armenian Classroom his father to donate $5 million, which donated $1.5 million for the original As testimony to the strong ties that was the largest gift that AUC had ever construction of the building in 1953, the Armenian community in the received at the time.The donation was also financed the remodeling of Hill Middle East has with AUC, Leon used to build the Abdul Latif Jameel House in 1984. Iskhanian ’52 and Avedis Tchakedjian Center for Middle East Management During the 1953 dedication program, ’33 launched a fundraising campaign in 1989 among the Armenian community. The campaign was to result in the remodeling of a main campus classroom in a style reflective of Armenian architectural design. The classroom, located next to Howard Theater, has on its wall the Armenian proverb:“To acquire wisdom and guidance, learn the knowledge of the intellect.” The Armenian alphabet is also displayed on one of the wooden panel walls of the classroom.The room has a plaque with the names of its patrons. Students working at AUC’s former library located at the Hill House building

Looking Ahead

While the current campus has countless examples of alumni and friends who have shared in its development,AUC’s new campus will continue to honor this heritage.Through a wide array of naming opportunities, the new campus will offer alumni and friends the opportunity to be a part of the same tradition that brought Hill House, Ewart Hall and the Armenian classroom. In addition to naming buildings, courtyards and facilities, there are possibilities for named professorships, scholarships, garden benches, trees and bricks on the Alumni Wall.

For more on naming opportunities on the new campus please visit: www.aucegypt.edu/support/campaign/naming.html

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Phonetasia

hree young computer science implementation of the connectivity students surprised themselves protocols from the developers’ T and their professors by an application. In other words, Phonetasia invention that brought them into the is a tool that can aid the development mobile phone limelight. of software to communicate between Computer science The invention was Phonetasia, a mobile phones that use the Symbian students are unified communication interface for operating system. Symbian is a software recognized for peer-to-peer communications between licensing company that develops Symbian Operating System phones. and supplies operating systems for their invention of Phonetasia was a joint graduation mobile phones. a cellular phone project completed by Mashael Al “The aim is to facilitate Sabah ’04,Tamer Soliman ’04 and communication between mobile communication Sameh Galal ’04, who all received their phones,” said Mahmoud, explaining that interface computer science degrees last spring. the purpose was to develop a ‘black “At first they were quite reluctant to box’ structure that saves developers’ time take on this project, but I prodded them from dealing with the protocols directly. to do some research before deciding, Explaining the potential of Phonetasia, and they felt that the challenge was Galal said that the possibilities are worth it,” said Mohy Mahmoud, the countless.“It could be used for playing computer science professor supervising games, sharing contacts and entire the project. phonebooks and overall improving Stemming from their compassion with peer-to-peer file sharing,” he said. fellow developers who have to deal Dubbing the project as a “real success with several technologies of story,” Galal said that carrying out the communication such as infrared, project required “patience and attention Bluetooth and TCP/IP,the group to quality and detail.” The students created Phonetasia, a middleware that submitted their project to Symbian, the hides the Symbian operating system world’s leading mobile phone operating system developer, and it was published on the company’s Web site. “It’s truly an honor to have our work recognized by Symbian. Only top- notch professionals have their work published with them,” said Galal, who is still at AUC working on his second major in electronics engineering. He added that his work with Symbian and the development of Phonetasia earned him a summer internship in developing Series 60 applications at the Nokia Research Center in Helsinki, Finland last summer. Meanwhile,Al Sabah, a resident of Qatar, is preparing for her master’s degree in computer science, and Soliman has started work as a software engineer at IBM Egypt. By Lamya Tawfik Tamer Soliman, Mashael Al Sabah and Sameh Galal

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Steel Of &Spice By Dalia Al Nimr Photos by Ahmad El-Nemr

A mechanical engineer by training, Dina Sarhan ’89 has brought kinetics to the kitchen in the process of discovering her true calling

hen Dina Sarhan ’89 looks back at her first attempts at cooking as a newlywed, she W laughs wholeheartedly.“I was a terrible cook. I didn’t even know how to peel a potato,” she said.Today, Sarhan owns and teaches at Dina Sarhan Culinary Solutions, the first institute in the Middle East to provide cuisine consulting and training, as well as hands-on cooking classes. While her current career may seem like a vast leap from her degree and training as a mechanical engineer, for Sarhan, it was engineering that helped mold her into a successful entrepreneur in the culinary arts industry. “To me, a kitchen is just like a science laboratory and cooking is just another experimental science,” she said. “Your kitchen is full of apparatus: devices to heat and cool; tools to mix, cut, grind and measure out ingredients and materials that you react together –– the food ingredients. Every time you follow a recipe you are conducting an experiment ... Good cooks will use their experience to vary the temperature or the proportions of the ingredients for the next attempt to come out better.” Emphasizing that majoring in a specific field does not confine you to one career, Sarhan noted that college should not be looked upon only as a place to learn about a particular discipline and get a good job. “College does more than that,” she said.“It lays the groundwork for you to be a well-rounded individual and equips you with skills and knowledge that you will find useful in your everyday life. I don’t regret having

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studied engineering because I feel it Pouring the Marketing Mix shaped the way I approach cooking After graduation,Al-Husseiny as a science.” joined P & G as a marketing For Sarhan, her science executive and stayed there for three background is an asset, making her years.Working on how to market “more concerned with answering products for clients,Al-Husseiny fundamental cookery questions knew that he was destined to be in about things mostly taken for the field of business, not engineering. granted.” Explaining how she “uses “I developed a love of marketing and science to control and improve was constantly challenged by the techniques” and “re-thinks creativity and problem-solving skills conventional ways to perfect the job entailed,” he said. cooking methods,” Sarhan described Al-Husseiny (center) in a meeting at Citibank And that is where engineering the “science of food” as being about oming from a family of came into play. “the chemical and physical C engineers, it was inevitable that “Engineering develops your line of transformations and reactions Ahmed Al-Husseiny ’97 major in thought,”Al-Husseiny said.“It teaches happening in every aspect of construction engineering. His love of you how to structure your thinking, cooking and baking on a molecular math, combined with his desire to be accurate and make logical level.” Ultimately, Sarhan’s goal is to become a successful engineer, made assumptions.And AUC did not just “perfect techniques and flavors” and the choice easy. teach me construction engineering; it then “simplify all of this complex During his university years, taught me personal skills that I technical information into very Al-Husseiny was an active student, migrated with, and that’s how I clear and concise everyday language maintaining a 3.8 grade point average became successful. It was at the for my students.” and juggling a bundle of university that I developed my Sarhan’s story with cooking began extracurricular activities that included analytical skills and improved my more than a decade ago, when she the Model United Nations, the ability to communicate with others, was quickly employed after Model Arab League and AIESEC. be creative and depend on myself.” graduation as a mechanical engineer Immersing himself in the engineering Set on his new career path, at Carrier air conditioning field, he also headed the student-run Al-Husseiny acquired an MBA from company. Her performance was top- Construction Engineering Association London and returned to Egypt, where notch and she was sent for intensive and was his major’s representative at he worked for three years at Citibank training in the United States, the Student Union. In addition, he in the marketing and sales quickly becoming involved in the served as an intern at engineering departments. firm’s consultancy operations.At corporations for three summers. “I was learning a great deal,” that high point in her career, Sarhan “I enjoyed my studies and had no he said.“The job taught me got married to fellow mechanical doubt in my mind that I was going to management and how to handle engineering graduate Amr El work in engineering,” he said. and motivate a team. It also built Husseini ’90 and traveled with It was not until his senior year in up my communication and him to Australia, where he was college, when he came across two coordination skills.” going to pursue graduate studies marketing and business courses at Currently,Al-Husseiny works in a and seek international management Procter and Gamble (P & G), that management consultancy firm in the work experience. Al-Husseiny’s mindset changed. United Arab Emirates. “It was difficult for me to leave “The courses caught my attention, “I am always looking for stimulating my job then, but I wanted to be and I enrolled in them for the sake and challenging experiences, but with my husband,” she said. Sarhan of learning,” he said, not knowing everywhere I go, I feel it’s the personal did not know that what awaited her at the time that he was setting foot skills that I acquired at the university in Australia was the groundwork for in a door that would change his that have made a big difference in my a career that she came to love with life forever. life,” he said.

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From Mechanics to Multimedia

his career destination, he found “To me, a kitchen is just himself interested in computer applications.Working with his like a science laboratory classmates on engineering projects, and cooking is just another Farrag would always volunteer to do experimental science ... the computer side of things, using Every time you follow a specialized engineering software. recipe you are conducting After graduation, Farrag’s interest in computers flourished, and he teamed an experiment.” up with one of his friends to start up a multimedia company.Acquiring a passion –– culinary arts. on-the-job training, he eventually Hardly having entered the established his own company, Mega kitchen with her mother, Sarhan Media, which is currently one of the felt nervous in Australia.“Here I biggest companies in Egypt in the was in a foreign country with no production of multimedia CDs, the one to guide me on how to cook,” set up of corporate Web sites, as well she said. as the design of brochures, flyers and Farrag’s company received numerous awards Watching cooking programs on for its multimedia products logos. One of his company’s most television, Sarhan was determined ntering the office of Maged prominent projects is in coordination to learn how to cook.“I wanted to E Farrag ’93 in Dokki, one can’t with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and learn and learn it right,” she said. help but notice the wall filled with the Center for the Documentation of Sarhan went to the local library awards and certificates of merit that Cultural and Natural Heritage, and checked out all the books his company has earned over the whereby Egypt’s cultural and in the cooking section. At home, years. Fifteen years ago, when Farrag architectural legacy is documented she read each book from cover was a mechanical engineering student using multimedia technology. to cover, taking extensive notes at AUC, he did not envision himself “I like combining text, graphics, and making sketches in her as head of a multimedia company. video and sound to produce notebook. As time passed, she “I felt that engineering was not for something original and useful. I am developed confidence and expertise me, but could not lay my hands on drawn to the multimedia industry in the kitchen. what it is I wanted to do.All I knew because it is a dynamic and ever- During her three years in was that I wanted to work in a job changing field. It is interesting and Australia, and until this day, Sarhan that I like and have a passion for,” there is always something new to cooked something different he said. challenge you,” Farrag said, adding everyday.“When a dish failed, I As a top performer in the that he plans to pursue graduate would not give up and tried it thanawiyya amma, Farrag’s family studies abroad in the field of using a new recipe. I enjoyed what wanted him to become a doctor or multimedia. I was doing and felt it was deeply engineer.“It was typical that high But he is quick to point out that satisfying, therapeutic and grades meant medical or engineering his years in engineering were not rewarding to watch and to explore school. I didn’t have anything else in wasted.“The most valuable asset I my culinary transformations turn mind and I wanted to enter AUC, so I acquired from engineering is the skill into delicious food.” majored in mechanical engineering,” of problem-solving. Engineering, Giving up her initial plans to he said. with all its practical applications, sets pursue a master’s in engineering, From his first year in college, Farrag you on top of things in a way that Sarhan carved a path for herself in knew he was not going to work as an you can manage, learn and adapt to the cooking arena. She studied engineer.Though he was not sure of new fields,” he said. catering business management at

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the institute of Technical and cookbooks.“I would not let go of Further Education in Sydney, an them,” she said. affiliate of Le Cordon Bleu in “I enjoyed what I was Upon her return, Sarhan did not France.“I knew how to cook by doing and felt it was deeply want to just open up a restaurant; then, but I wanted to focus on and satisfying, therapeutic and she wanted to do something more study the business side of it,” she unique and serviceable. “In Australia, said.“I wanted to know how to set rewarding to watch and there were many recreational up a business in the world of to explore my culinary cooking schools for amateurs and commercial and retail food transformations turn chefs. Egypt was void of such production.” into delicious food.” schools, and I had a dream of starting Alongside her education, Sarhan one in my country.” also sought work experience in some Making her dream a reality, Sarhan of Sydney’s most prestigious prepared for my own business when advertised for cooking classes and restaurants, working in front-of-the- the time is right,” she said. got a large number of responses.“It house and back-of-the-house areas. When it was time to leave shows just how much the field is in “I was learning all the happenings Australia and come back to Egypt, demand,” she said. behind-the-scenes so as to be the first thing Sarhan packed was her Sarhan designed her own

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“In Australia, there were many recreational cooking schools for amateurs and chefs. Egypt was void of such schools, and I had a dream of starting one in my country.”

curriculum for amateurs with more aged 7-11. Under Sarhan’s to the food scene and will be serving than 30 different courses. She supervision, the children make as an instructor to demonstrate his operated her first classes from home, pizzas, pastas, cookies and pies. specialty dishes to food lovers. El teaching three people at a time in “They have a lot of fun, and it Husseini will also be handling their her own kitchen. As the business creates awareness for them that future expansion plans in the prospered and expanded its scope kitchens can be dangerous as much Middle East.Working together as a into professional food consulting and as they are fun. In these classes, if I team, the couple hopes to training, she moved to their am not there, the place would be demonstrate through their classes Heliopolis facility equipped with swarming with sauce and melted that cooking can be fun for women two purpose-built kitchens: one for cheese,” Sarhan said. and men. amateurs and the other for The children, little chefs in the As for Sarhan, she is up to professional training, as well as making, now prepare their own something new everyday in her test product development and testing. breakfast and sometimes pack their kitchens, from Mexican and Chinese Sarhan has also begun to give lunchbox for school.“Because they dishes to Italian and fusion cooking. cooking classes on Egyptian TV. make their own snacks and Inspired by her vast training and Sarhan’s passion for cooking is sandwiches, I’m always sure they’ll experience in the field, she creates contagious, passed on not only to eat it. It also develops in them a innovative dishes and techniques all her students but also to her family. sense of accomplishment,” she said. the time but acknowledges that she Her children, 9-year-old Nour and El Husseini, Sarhan’s partner in life is still learning. 6-year-old Tamara, are dropped off and in business, has always been keen “Food, like everything else, is from school everyday at their about cooking. An expert in the always evolving, whether it’s new mother’s cooking school, where they telecommunications and ingredients and techniques, the latest sometimes help her prepare lunch by electromechanical industries for the in tools and equipment or the ever- chopping the vegetables and helping past 15 years, El Husseini will soon changing food trends,” she said. her make salad. In addition, Nour join Sarhan full time. And that’s the best part for Sarhan and Tamara conduct their own Having done professional food –– there is something new to do and classes in the summer with children training in Sydney, he is no stranger learn everyday.

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Diplomats Reunited n a day of nostalgia and Ahmed Aboul Gheit was the event’s reminiscence about the university, keynote speaker and guest of honor. I more than 50 alumni working in Addressing the graduates, he praised the foreign service and diplomatic their competitiveness and motivation. fields, accompanied by their spouses, “Looking at all of you, I feel how came together for a reunion on AUC’s much this institution has contributed Main Campus. Sharing professional and to the strength of the Egyptian personal experiences and renewing foreign service,” he said.“AUC has long-time ties, many of the graduates added great people to our field, found the event a good chance to meet including Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s old friends, make new ones and ambassador to the United States. I see reconnect with colleagues. lots of Nabil Fahmys in the faces “Though many of us work at the surrounding me today.” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we usually meet on a touch-and-go basis at airports or in hallways.The reunion is an excellent idea and a positive step that should be nurtured into an annual event,” said Obaida El Dandarawy ’97, third secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Heba Mostafa ’00, ’03, deputy assistant at the ministry, valued the event because it allowed her to return to her alma mater.“I am happy to meet with my friends from college and excited to be back at AUC –– a university that prepared me not only for diplomacy, but for life.” Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

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De-clash of ivilizations By Dalia Al Nimr C Photos by Thomas Hartwell

Videoconferencing technology traverses thousands of miles and bridges the cultural divide

hroughout the fall semester also established for students to carry on on a weekly basis with universities in AUC students had the rare their conversation as if they are the United States to discuss topics of T opportunity to meet face-to- physically present in the same place. interest and learn about themselves and face every week with fellow students And the process is not without its American culture. from New York University (NYU), and protocol.Though it may differ from Last spring there was one dialoguing they never bought a single plane ticket. class to class and from instructor to class at AUC that met with eight Thanks to videoconferencing instructor, students on each side different universities in the United technology, it is now possible for generally come prepared with questions States.This fall there were two classes, students on opposite ends of the globe on a pre-determined topic, and each dialoguing with a single university. to communicate as if they are sitting in discussion flows from these questions. The first class, taught by Michael one classroom. Employing the use of Sharing experiences and listening to Lattanzi, assistant political science video cameras, microphones and each other’s viewpoints, the students professor, dialogued with NYU on monitors, a class in Egypt can “meet” form effective relationships and learn to socio-political issues in the Middle with a class in the United States appreciate cultural differences. East.The second, taught by Malak without any of them leaving home. At AUC, the dialoguing initiative Rouchdy, assistant sociology professor, Two large screens are set up in each started two years ago and has since dialogued with Yale University on room, through which students are able become a fundamental educational gender issues.The aim of both classes to see themselves in one and see the tool.Through a seminar course, was to bridge cultures and create lines other students in the other.A sound Cross Cultural Perceptions and of communication between AUC system with echo-effect cancellation is Representations,AUC students meet students and their American peers.

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For many students, the experience course readings and dialogues. there is always room to learn and was transforming. “I now know that, throughout discover new things about ourselves “It was a phenomenal course! I was history, many women in the Middle and other people,” she said. challenged as an American, as a East have stood up to demand their For many students, dialoguing was a feminist, as an academic and as a global rights and didn’t succumb to male path to understanding people whom individual,” said Della Sentilles, an abuse. More importantly, I’ve learned to they had long perceived as different and English literature sophomore at Yale. accept and appreciate different cultures foreign.“I always had the notion that For Nada Samra, an Egyptian AUC and traditions and not judge or the ‘West’ connotes materialism, student who was raised in Boston, the stereotype people. On the whole, I’ve secularism and a liberal attitude. But, course was a path to discovering her become more open-minded and when dialoguing with the NYU roots.“It got me thinking about my respectful of different opinions.” students, their sensitivity and religiosity identity and touched me on a personal Janan Delgado, an AUC political shattered this stereotype for me ... I level,” the political science senior said. science sophomore, went through a now refrain from using terms such as “I expected it to be a good course, but similar identity reconstruction.“Being a East and West; people are different and not this rewarding.” Muslim from Ecuador, I always felt generalizations cannot be made,” said Before the course, Samra felt “bitter” caught between East and West. I didn’t Yara Shokr, an AUC journalism and that some Arab women are treated and know where I belong and wanted to mass communication senior. portrayed negatively and that many of find out my identity, my place in the “Often I found myself disagreeing them are “complacent” about that. But world.This course taught me a lot with students from NYU and agreeing her perspective changed through the about myself and made me realize that with AUC students,” said Amy

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Robinson, an NYU senior studying That is what many of the AUC admit that Israel is the main contributor international education development. students found out as well.“It was to the horrible situation in Palestine, “The students at AUC seemed quite interesting to see how amongst but I was surprised to see that some of similar to our class because they all ourselves as an AUC class, we disagreed them didn’t feel any guilt toward siding came from diverse backgrounds and a lot and didn’t have a united stance on with Israel,” said Karim El Dessouky, an were open-minded yet highly any one topic,” Shokr said. AUC economics student. opinionated. Overall, this course has The dialogues also gave students the When one of the NYU students got taught me that there is not an Eastern chance to hone their communication angry and stepped out of class during and Western line of thought or way of skills.With each dialoguing session, that discussion, many of the AUC reacting to situations.” students from both sides learned how students considered it an offense.“It is Agreeing, Sentilles said,“I no longer to convey their feelings and attitudes in just not acceptable,” said Basel El lump the Middle East into a big group ways that would not offend the other Thalathiny, an AUC mechanical where everyone is a Muslim and people side.At the beginning, Robinson engineering senior.“You should defend are oppressed.” explained, everyone was being “overly your opinion, not leave.That made me

For Chandra Morrison, a junior at polite.” However, as the class progressed, more convinced of my stance.” NYU majoring in multicultural studies, people were “more inclined to express For many of the American students, the dialogues were her first interaction their true opinions, especially if claims the dialoguing session on the with Middle Eastern people.“Before made by others offended them,” Palestinian-Israeli conflict may not have taking this course, I didn’t know much Robinson said. changed their opinions on the issue, but about the Middle East,Arabs or But even though both sides exhibited it was definitely an eye-opener. Muslims, but through the dialogues, I tolerance and understanding of one “I got a better idea of the passion and definitely feel I can relate to people my another, there were some discussions in complexity of the conflict,” said age in the Middle East,” she said. which communication was charged Morrison.“I don’t know if I have a Morrison also came to realize that, with emotion and people held on to more defined opinion about it, but it contrary to what the US media their preconceptions.This was feels more real now and I can better portrays, there “doesn’t exist a standard particularly true when discussing 9/11, understand how much it actually affects Middle East or Middle Easterner; the Palestinian-Israeli struggle and people in the region.” within one region, there can be an female oppression. Sharing the same viewpoint was incredible amount of diversity.” “I thought the NYU students would Maureen Belluscio, a political science

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and journalism junior at NYU.“I did not feel the same way. political science senior.“There were so always thought I understood the “It really hurt me to hear [that] from many things left unsaid.” conflict, but I only really understood some of the AUC students,” said Morrison agreed:“Sometimes at the what was written on paper: how many Belluscio.“I understand the concept of end of class, I felt that we hadn’t gotten were dead, when the conflict began, the Twin Towers being a symbol of past the first level of the subject.” why people support one side over the globalization and all of the negative For some of the American students, other. But in our dialoguing session, I things that the United States sometimes the course left them with an urge to witnessed and was acquainted with — represents, but the symbol could never visit the Middle East and interact with for the first time — the truly powerful be separated from the tragedy.” its people.“I would really like to learn emotions behind the reasoning and As for women’s liberation, the classes more about the history, languages and behind the conflict.” were a fertile ground for discussion. culture of the region and hopefully When it came to discussing 9/11, “My perspective on veiling, after travel there. I now feel I could connect there were mixed reactions, especially hearing Janan talk about the way in to a lot of the Cairo students –– like when some AUC students said that which it can be used as a tool to they could be one of my friends here in

even though they sympathized with liberate rather than oppress, has New York,” said Morrison. people dying, they felt that 9/11 made convinced me that it is not a sign of For Sentilles, the course was a people in the West understand what the male domination,” said Robinson. motivation for her to conduct an Middle East constantly deals with.They For Dalia Adel, an AUC economics in-depth study about Egyptian felt it sent a strong signal to the US senior, discussing the issue of women’s women. In the summer, she plans to government that it could not continue freedom in the Middle East was a step travel to Egypt and interview women its aggressive foreign policy. in the right direction.“The West sees about their conceptions of feminism, “I agree with the AUC students,” the veil as anti-modern, but we see it as freedom and oppression.“I want to Robinson said.“While I do take pride a normal part of our lives.You can’t travel, see things, converse with people in my country, I feel that the American change perceptions but could at least and put myself and my ideologies on government seemed to think that close gaps,” she said. the line,” she said.“This course has America was untouchable and was With so many multifaceted issues to made me question and secure my faith therefore conducting its foreign policy discuss, class time was not enough. in the possibility of transnational in an inappropriate manner.” “I feel that we never reached an feminism and made me more aware of However, other American students agreement,” said Abeer Ziadeh, an AUC what it means to be a world citizen.”

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Around the World

United States Nicholas Kristof (YAB ’84), a several other prizes, including the columnist for The New York Times and George Polk Award for foreign former associate managing editor of reporting and the Overseas Press Club Alumni meet in The Times, was one of two alumni who Award for international reporting. New York’s received the Distinguished Alumni The second recipient of a Harvard Club and Award in New York. Distinguished Alumni Award was during the Middle An ambitious university student, Yervant Terzian ’60, David C. East Studies Kristof graduated from Harvard in Duncan Professor in the Physical three years and shortly joined Oxford Sciences at Cornell University for the Association University as a Rhodes scholar, past six years. conference in winning first-class honors in his study “My passion since I was a small boy San Francisco of law. Deciding against becoming a was astronomy –– the planets, the stars lawyer, Kristof pursued a career in and the universe.At AUC, I was the journalism with a special interest in the only physics major when I graduated,” Middle East. It was then that he he said. realized that he must learn Arabic. With a bachelor’s in physics from “There was a desperate need for AUC,Terzian embarked on a career Arab-speaking journalists,” he said. that made him one of the leading Consequently, he joined AUC’s Arabic experts in his field.After obtaining his Language Institute in 1983, and by the master’s and doctorate degrees in end of the academic year “was able to astronomy from Indiana University, he do interviews in Arabic and read the worked as a research associate at front page of Al Ahram newspaper.”In Cornell University’s Arecibo addition to Arabic, Kristof also studied Observatory in Puerto Rico. In 1977, Chinese in Taipei. he became an astronomy professor at Kristof joined The New York Times in Cornell, and in three years was October 1984, climbing up the ladder promoted to chairman of the from an economics reporter to the astronomy department–– a position he newspaper’s bureau chief in Hong held for 20 years. In 1996, he was Kong, Beijing and Tokyo.Throughout appointed as director of the NASA his career, Kristof traveled to more than New York State Space Grant. 100 countries. Recipient of numerous honorary In 1990, Kristof and his wife Sheryl doctorates from different universities WuDunn, also a journalist, won a around the globe,Terzian holds many Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of professional affiliations. He is a research China’s professor with the National Astronomy Tiananmen and Ionosphere Center and a member Square of the International Astronomical democracy Union, the International Union of movement. Radio Science, the American They were the Astronomical Society and the Hellenic first married Astronomical Society. couple to win In addition,Terzian was scientific a Pulitzer for editor of The Astrophysical Journal for 10 journalism. years and is author and co-author of Kristof was more than 200 scientific publications awarded and editor of more than six books.

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Qatar

Lunch hosted by Mr. and Mrs.Alaa Deeb ’89 (Nesreen Al-Refai ’90) Alumni reception hosted by Mr. and Mrs.Ahmad Samarah ’94 (Nadia)

working at the library at the time.” El Difrawi and his wife traveled extensively, before settling in Qatar, where he taught at the University of Qatar.Today, he is the financial expert in Qatar’s Ministry of Finance. “I feel very grateful to AUC, this wonderful educational institution which gave me a lot. Receiving this award from my university is a moment I will always cherish,” he said. The fourth award winner in Qatar Parents dinner hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fathi Samarah (Tahany) was Samar Atassi ’87, ’91. Her career began with Qatar National Navigation At the alumni gathering in Qatar after marrying her classmate Alaa Deeb Company, where she worked as the last December, four alumni received the ’89.They have been living there ever finance manager’s executive assistant. Distinguished Alumni Volunteer Award. since with their two children, Nour She then moved to Qatar National After obtaining her bachelor’s in and Kareem. Bank, where she rose to corporate business administration, Amany In Qatar,Al-Refai held challenging communications manager. Currently, Bassily ’83 moved to Qatar, where she positions at international oil and gas she works as a marketing supervisor at worked in the oil industry. In 1994, she companies. She currently works as a Qatar Telecom. shifted her career to banking and is management assistant with Occidental Emphasizing the assets she acquired now country credit manager of Petroleum of Qatar. Her husband has from the university,Atassi said,“AUC consumer banking at Standard also maintained a successful career in helped develop my love of teamwork Chartered Bank in Qatar. the oil industry and is now the and volunteerism. It gave me the A mother of four, Bassily maintains a managing director of Al-Mamoon Oil freedom to express my opinions.” busy schedule both at home and in the and Gas Field. workplace. Nostalgic about her days at Magdi El Difrawi (MBA ’72), also AUC, Bassily said,“I admit that all the an award recipient, developed a solid successful achievements I made in my foundation in management through his life were mainly due to the investment work with Egypt’s Central Agency for my parents put in my education at Organization and Administration. AUC.The award I received [from the “The MBA was key to my success in university] was one of the most every place I chose to work,” El touching moments I had in my life.” Difrawi said.“I left AUC with a degree The second award winner Nesreen as well as a wonderful wife, Jacqueline Al-Refai ’90 moved to Qatar in 1990 Maghraby, who was a faculty member

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Seniors Celebrate

Celebrating years of hard work, the graduating class of 2004 came together in a special reception organized by the alumni office. Not only did the event give the seniors a chance to celebrate their graduation together, it also made them aware of the the services that would be available to them when they become alumni.

The Egyptian group, El Mesaharaty, performed at the event, which included Arabic folklore music and theater sketches, followed by dinner.

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Class Notes A Lifetime of Swimming to Success ’47 peaking fondly of what she calls Leslie Martin would like to hear from S her “synchro” family, Sophie her colleagues, who will be celebrating Sarwat ’70 has coached thousands their 58th anniversary this year. She can of girls in synchronized swimming. be reached by e-mail at In December 2004, she received the [email protected] or at by Excellence in Sport award from the regular mail at 5313 Iroquois Road, International Olympic Committee Bethesda, MD 20816, USA. for her lifelong commitment to sports and for establishing and ’51 nurturing synchronized swimming Sarwat receiving the award Samira Dabbagh takes pride in being in Egypt. an AUC graduate and believes that the An avid sports lover, Sarwat has (TSSC). In addition, she was vice high-quality education she received at taken part in swimming, diving, chair of the International TSSC and AUC helped her lead a successful basketball, tennis and squash, but received both the silver and gold diplomatic life with her husband, synchronized swimming is her Federation Internationale Nation Ambassador Hassan Dabbagh. She passion. President and founder of Amateur pins for her dedication to moved from one country to another the Synchro Friends Society, which synchronized swimming. Sarwat has and adjusted to different cultures easily seeks to preserve the sport, Sarwat also served as an international judge, and confidently. Dabbagh plans to said that the Olympics recognition attended six Olympic games and continue serving her alma mater is an honor. lectured in many parts of the world. through the scholarship fund and “I’m recognized abroad because Today, Sarwat plays bridge on the encouraging alumni and friends to synchronized swimming is part of the Egyptian ladies’ national team and support the university. Olympics now. However, it still hasn’t is a member of the Egyptian realized its full potential in Egypt,” Association for Environment and ’57 she said. Community Services. Peter Estiban would like to wish his Sarwat was a board member of the “I can’t play sports anymore but I professors and colleagues majoring in Egyptian Swimming Federation and love the challenge of competition. chemistry a merry Christmas and chair of the Egyptian Technical Bridge is a mental game that gives happy new year. He is praying that the Synchronized Swimming Committee me that thrill,” she said. year brings peace and prosperity around the world, especially in the pursuing a doctorate in public ’89 Middle East. administration. She has two sons, Gihan Abdou is the owner of Mohamed, 14, and Omar, 10. Maher is the Daniel Center for maternal ’76 a member of two non-governmental and children clothing in Mohandessin, Jehan El Mekkawy (MA) recently organizations working on community Egypt. Abdou and her sister wrote four novels, including The development: the Egyptian Women Sherine ’93 are both members of the Descent of Queens, which was published Association and ZKH for Holistic Rotary Cairo Capital Club.The sisters by the Egyptian General Organization Human Development. for Books. recently took part in the Student ’87 Clothes Exhibition. ’85 Yasser Hassan (MBA ’91) was Aya Maher (MA ’02) is currently promoted to managing director of Al ’91 working as a business instructor at Watany Bank of Egypt’s Mohandessin Rania El Farouki has a 1-year-old AUC’s Center for Adult and branch and currently teaches part time baby girl, Maya and two boys;Adham, Continuing Education. She is also at AUC. 13, and Selim, 9.

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’92 Committed to Fueling Higher Education Heba Shaaban (MA ’04) moved to Dubai in June 2003 with her husband Omar Delawar. She has two girls Hoda, 4, and Hana, 9 months. Shaaban is currently working as a freelance translator with the UNFAO in Rome, Italy and has completed her master’s degree in political science with a thesis titled,“Public Private Partnerships and the Experience of Alexandria, Egypt.” ’96 Hala Mattar has been promoted to head of the science department at the International School of Choueifat, Cairo. Mattar was aslo blessed with a second baby boy, Karim, and her son Ahmed started kindergarten this year.

Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel and the chancellor of the University of Cambridge, The Duke of ’97 Edinburgh Dhabiya Al-Mehairi (MA) has been ousef Jameel ’68 was recently Today, Jameel’s business endeavors appointed as the first female ambassador Y honored by the University of have diversified into many fields. It of the League of Arab States Mission in Cambridge, which admitted Jameel as is focused on high technology and New Delhi, India. companion of the Guild of innovation, actively supporting Cambridge Benefactors. research and development teams in ’98 During the official ceremony, various universities worldwide. Julie Purcell was promoted to director Jameel was praised as a “generous A long-time supporter of higher of marketing at Kenny’s Country supporter of the high academic aims education, Jameel’s generous Cheeses in Louisville, Kentucky in of this prestigious university.” donations to AUC have been used August 2004. One of AUC’s most devoted to construct the 16-year-old Jameel alumni, Jameel is a well-known Center on the Greek Campus, ’01 Saudi Arabian business leader and a alongside other initiatives at the Manal El-Meligy is married to visionary pioneer in several university. Jameel has also supported Haitham El-Okda and has one industries. Jameel built one of Saudi the School of Business, Economics daughter, Halla. Arabia’s most important and and Communication and will diversified corporations.After provide funding for scientific ’03 graduating from AUC with a research and education at AUC. Islam El Adaway recently published bachelor's degree in economics, Explaining why he is committed an article titled “Moral Technology” in Jameel, the eldest son of an to supporting educational the Common Sense Intercollegiate Journal established Saudi Arabian institutions like AUC and of Humanism and Free Thought. It was businessman, the late Sheikh Abdul Cambridge, Jameel said,“Education also published in the Quodlibet Online Latif Jameel, went to work for his is key to the success of our future Journal of Christian Theology and father’s Toyota auto agency. Under generations.Therefore, universities Philosophy. It focuses on the evolution his leadership, the Jameel Company which have spearheaded high- of technology and its application in quickly grew to become the sole quality educational programs should peace or in war and can be viewed agent for Toyota in Saudi Arabia. be supported whenever possible.” online at http://www.quodlibet.net.

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El Adaway is working as a contracts engineer and claims consultant for Honoring Academic Excellence Nile Aster International. ahmoud Abdel-Fattah ’05 M received the Abdel Rahman ’04 El Sawy award during the Midyear Mohamed Selim ranked third Commencement.A mark of among student participants in the extraordinary achievement, the award Ninth Arab-US Association for is given to a student who has attained Communication Educators the highest grade point average in Conference. His winning paper was engineering and who has received a titled “The Internet in Egypt: public school scholarship, granted to Prospects and Challenges.” Egypt’s most outstanding students. Abdel-Fattah was a Citibank Public Special Programs School Scholarship recipient. and the Association for Computing Michael Rodriguez (YAB ’88) has “I am very proud and pleased to and Machinery (ACM) student returned to the field of international have received the award,” said Abdel- chapter. He was also a member of the development after working for a Fattah, who is currently studying for AUC team that ranked first in the decade in community and public a master’s in computer science under latest ACM regional competition. health in the United States. He now a fellowship from AUC. “These activities taught me serves as information technology Actively engaged as a student, organization skills, how to projects director at John Snow Inc. in Abdel-Fattah has participated in a communicate with others and work the international and health services wide range of extracurricular in a team, how to initiate an idea and divisions. He would like to get in activities at AUC, including the amend it through trial and error,” he touch with alumni interested in the International Conference on said.“I really appreciate my years at international public health and Information Technology, the Arab AUC. I now have clear goals and am development fields via e-mail Youth Development Congress, the open to new ideas, new fields and [email protected]. Electronics Engineering Association new cultures,” he said.

Weddings

Eman Fouad ’01, marketing coordinator at International Travel Center, was married to Sameh Sobhy,IT consultant and software developer at IT-Connection,in November 2002.The Mayada Wahsh ’02 and Mohammad couple honeymooned Abusaa ’01 were married on July 30, in South Africa. 2004 at the Cairo Marriott Hotel.They traveled to the United States for their honeymoon and currently live in Florida.

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Akher Kalam

hen Marshall McLuhan predicted nearly 40 longer impartial and years ago that the world will become a objective, but is W global village, he was right. Electronic media many times –– including television, the Internet and even mobile interspersed with phones –– allow for the quick transmission of information viewpoints and across the globe, sometimes faster than it takes for us to opinions –– a big know of events in our own communities.The world has no in journalism. become one entity, interlinked through digitized media. Media coverage of Though McLuhan’s hypothesis seemed far-fetched at the the same event time, it is obvious today how the media play an integral differs from one role in our daily life. channel to the other Can you imagine starting off your day without and from one medium to the other even though the event checking the news on your favorite satellite channel or is the same and the facts are the same.That is because skimming through the newspaper headlines? If you missed every channel communicates news in a way that upholds that and woke up in a hurry, you would definitely tune to its own political agenda. your favorite radio station in the car to catch up with For example, in the recent assassination of former events happening in your country and in distant Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al-Hariri, CNN’s coverage continents.And the first thing you do when you reach the pointed fingers at Syria, and Al-Jazeera was filled with office is certainly to log on to the Internet to read through theories about who would be the beneficiary from Al- international news sites and check your e-mail, which Hariri’s death. Same with President Hosni Mubarak’s many times contains global news bulletins and updates. recent decision to amend the Egyptian constitution and This all confirms McLuhan’s hypothesis. However, the allow for multi-candidate presidential elections. Egyptian question that perplexes many people, and to which I stand national newspapers hailed the move and glorified oblivious, is that of universal media integrity. Do media Mubarak, whereas foreign media indicated that it is a step systems have a universal code of ethics –– a code that is that should have been taken at least a decade ago. widely accepted and universally applied by journalists The question of media integrity is essential to make worldwide? Journalists do, of course, abide by a code of McLuhan’s hypothesis valid for all people. In my view, the ethics, but it seems to me that the standards of media ethics global village lacks media sincerity, and thus the world is have deteriorated over the years. set on a path to be a diversified and scattered entity –– one The fundamental basis of journalism is to serve the comprised of independent local villages. public interest, helping people become informed, engaged citizens.That is achieved by imparting news to them in an Mohamed Selim ’04, journalism and mass communication objective manner.What’s happening now, however, is that graduate student, is the vice president of AUC’s Graduate news is being mixed with opinions. News coverage is no Students Association.

Akher Kalam is an open forum for members of the AUC community.We invite you to share your thoughts on any topic of your choice. Submissions should be sent to [email protected] and may be edited for length and clarity.

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