Just in case the gushing water didnt give it away:

Fountain in Bartlett Plaza, Outside of Library

Every time I walk by this sign I crack up. In the midst of all the seriousness that is this semester, it's great to see something as amusing as this.

I just wonder if the people who put it there really think AUC students are that stupid.......

Decisions Decisions

One of the greatest things about the new campus is all the amazing technology we are supposed to have. Mass Communication labs are equipped with brand new MAC computers. Students should be able to learn Quark, Dream Weaver and Adobe Photoshop to name a few.

But they don’t really need Internet do they?

I was working in the computer lab late Sunday night. I clicked on the Firefox button, and not surprisingly the browser told me I was not connected to the internet. I turned to the lab assistant and asked him if the internet was up.

“The network is up,” he said. “You have to restart your computer so that it can pick up the connection.”

Now I’m no computer science major but that didn’t sound right. I asked him why? What changes when I restart the computer?

“When AUC moved to the new campus they bought a program named Tunnel Guard,” he said. “You can find the little icon for it on the Windows computers. It’s not compatible on the MAC computers though. So it doesn’t tunnel the internet properly onto the MAC computers. Students are getting annoyed because they have to stop working to restart and get online.”

I was shocked. It seems to me when you are building a techonolgy friendly campus, you make sure the software you are using is compatible with ALL the computers on campus, not some.

As my roommate Jasmine put it, “just another bad decision made by AUC, what do you expect?”

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Students at the American University of Cairo are tired of being taken advantage of by the administration. They are sick of indirect answers, and want action for the grievances they have filed. However, while their concerns are legitimate their method of communication leaves much to be desired.

I’ve been reporting on a story about the sit-in that was held last Wednesday. I’m happy that the student body feels comfortable enough to be able to speak out when they feel the need. However, they proved to the administration, and many of the other students, that AUC is full of kids not adults.

The students were situated in front of the Administration building the entire day. They yelled their demands, and shouted their grievances. Eventually a crowd formed, and apparently the administration felt that something needed to be done. They sent vice president of student affairs Ashraf El-Fiqi.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing El-Fiqi earlier in the semester. I was reporting on a sensitive topic, worker harassment, and had some pointed accountability questions to ask. El- Fiqi was polite, kind and decent. Therefore, I was shocked to learn from various witnesses that he was treated with anything other than respect.

The student organizer stood with a cigarette in her hand and proceeded to yell at him. She had him stand in the sun for about forty five minutes, arguing and making demands, while the students sat behind her under an umbrella. Students who tried to voice their concerns were told to be quiet, and sit down.

In the end the sit-in was a bust because of the lack of respect. Many students refused to go to the forum because they did not want to associate themselves with such insolence. They felt that the whole situation could have been handled in a more mature manner.

I agree with the students. Although I wore my red bands yesterday, and will continue to wear them until the reasonable demands are met, I do not agree with what happened last Wednesday. I hear the students, and they are not complaining, they are giving reasonable demands. What the student body needs now is true representation. Someone who will unite them, represent them, and make their lives at AUC easier. Someone who makes them feel like they are not so out of touch from the administration.

Wait, isn’t the SU president supposed to do that?

Core Center to Minimize Pedestrian Traffic

AUC claims opening the new Core Center will minimize student pedestrian traffic on main walkways, but students are not convinced.

BY: Sarah Wali

Cairo- Construction delays have left students at the American University in Cairo (AUC) with limited seating areas. As a result, students are inconveniently located on main paths leading to classrooms.

The Bottleneck

Senior Ahmed Hendi says walking up to the library early afternoon is equivalent to fighting traffic on the October 6 Bridge. The students are seated along the borders of the AUC spine under the shade of the bridge between the Core and the SSE.

“Getting from the HUSS building to the BEC building shouldn’t take more than five minutes,” said Hendi. “But because there are so many people and booths in that area, it takes twice as long.”

Passersby may find a narrow path in the midst of the chairs. Traffic going both ways is often delayed by students greeting one another, and tensions raise when students bump into chairs and people. Junior Amr Hakeem can be found sitting along the wall of the Core Building during his breaks. He says that he, and the other students seated there, mean no harm. He picked this place because of the shade.

“The most important thing is the shade,” said Hakeem. “The shadow from the bridge and the cool air here is nice, so we sit here.”

Convenience Over Consideration

Hakeem also says students find this area convenient. It is strategically located in the midst of the academic buildings, making a quick chat with friends during breaks easy.

In addition Cinnabon, one of the campus’ three main food suppliers, is located in the plaza level of the Core Building. Long lines of customers and students enjoying their coffee add to the traffic problem.

Crowds are also found at Jared’s Bagel in the Administration Building and the Cilantro at the Main Portal. However, Cilantro is further away from classes, and Jared’s is below the building, with a narrow access corridor.


Campus Center to the Rescue “Soon”

According to Vice President of Planning and Development Paul Donoghue, AUC’s pedestrian traffic problem will be dramatically reduced with the opening of the new Campus Center. The center is located beside the library and includes all student activities, medical facilities, a daycare center, a conference center, and food.

“This is the student life of the campus and is to be the focus of all the activities,” said Donoghue. “It was designed as a whole, a little city. It’s huge.”

Students will have outdoor seating areas on two terraces which overlook the AUC Park, and the sports complex. Indoor seating is also available in the dinning room and food court. Furthermore, the completion of the sports complex will add a 24-hour Cilantro and a student’s activity center. According to Donoghue, by populating these new buildings, the pedestrian traffic problem would be greatly reduced.

However, Hakeem is not convinced.

“The people sitting in this area aren’t concerned with food or services,” said Hakeem. “They go where it is convenient. If they want food they’ll get up and get the food and come back. The only time they may move is when it gets cold. Then they will look for somewhere indoors.”



For more information on the new Campus Center at AUC visit www.aucegypt.edu.