Msh Zanbik, formerly known as You-W-Ana Too, is hitting the stage at AUC on March 22. Months in the making by AUC students, faculty and alumni, the production consists of five plays, each one exploring a different perspective of sexual harassment: families and couples, bystanders, victims and perpetrators, men and women, power and incapacity. The plays each deal with a different aspect of this issue and together reject the common assumption that victims of harassment and assault are at fault.

Conceived by Jillian Campana, professor of theatre and associate dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, along with Dina Amin, head of the Theatre Program and associate professor of theatre, the play drew inspiration from a  2018 Washington Post article, “In Egypt, a #MeToo complaint can land a woman in jail.” With the events that unfolded this past summer in Egypt and the movement around sexual harassment awareness gaining unprecedented traction, Campana and Aminhad known that this sort of production would gain support and interest.

News@AUC caught up with some of the playwrights to hear about what they believe is the importance of this production and what they look forward to most. 

Play 1: Ensah

Playwright: Nour El Captan, theatre sophomore

Ensah explores PTSD in sexual harassment victims. El Captan said she believes this aspect is often overlooked in conversations about harassment, so it is important to showcase this to let people know they are not alone.

“With so many stories coming out each day, it is easy to get overwhelmed and forget that there are real people who suffer the consequences of harassment in their day-to-day life. I’m hoping that the production could remind people of just how widespread harassment is and how its effects are destructive and permanent. ... The people I know personally who came out with their stories are the ones who inspired me most because I had no idea that they had gone through something like that.”

Play 2: See Me

Playwrights: Nour Ibrahim, theatre and IMC senior; Omar Omar, theatre senior

See Me looks at sexual harassment from the perspective of the family. For both playwrights, it was important to focus on the family because of the central role families play in the support — or lack thereof — of survivors and the role of family in society as a source of nurture and growth for children.

“Discussing the aftermath [of sexual harassment] has always been taboo, again something burdened on the women. The pressure is always on the woman to deal with it on her own and not to place this pain in the hands of the people who promised to care for her. No one wants to see their parents cry. No child wants to do that. We hope to show in our play the anxieties these survivors of sexual assault and their families all have, not to give excuses for a parent's avoiding behavior, but to give an understanding of the realities that plague a parent and their child when these situations arise.”  - Nour Ibrahim

“Many survivors, especially young ones, are left to carry their burdens alone when members of their family are not emotionally present, and that is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. Emotional support is vital to the wellbeing of a person, especially in the aftermath of painful experiences like sexual assault. It was our goal to highlight this message in our play. Additionally, we wanted to make sure that other perspectives, specifically those held by parents, were presented, examined, and explained. Sexual assault can have a serious impact on the family at large, and we wanted to touch on that with our work.”  - Omar Omar

Play 3 : The Report

Noran Alaa Morsy ‘20

The Report explores the dynamic between two female characters, one who wears the hijab and one who doesn’t.

“This perspective is not heard often, and we never see hijabis in the theater, let alone on a stage where they are not powerless or a side character to fit into someone’s story, so I thought it was about time that that perspective is heard.”

The play also delves into the topic of reporting.

“I think I really hone in on female friendship and female solidarity, as well as the role men play, or often don’t play, in situations of harassment. We try to show the pros and cons of reporting, leaving the audience to decide if it’s worth it or not. I think it’s important because we often preach seeking help and reporting harassers but we never really examine the consequences of that and where that leaves the victim of the situation. Sometimes we even go as far as to blame those that haven’t reported their situation, disregarding the difficulty of that and the very real effects that it can have.”

Play 4: Esh Fahemek 

Playwright: Yehea Abdel Ghany, theatre, integrated marketing communications senior

Esh Fahemek shows audiences the clash of social classes in Egypt. Bringing together characters from wealthy backgrounds and those from impoverished ones.

“The reason behind this is to explore a very evident class struggle in Egypt while also highlighting how women of all classes are victims of some sort of violence.”

He said that the “bold and courageous” feminist movement in Egypt has been inspirational, but people need to understand the actual lasting effects of harassment. 

“I noticed that while we consume so much news around horrendous acts of violence against women, we only absorb them as headlines wihtout reflecting on how it may have scarred the female victims emotionally. I wanted to highlight the emotional aspect through this play.”
 

Play 5: The Day We Met

Playwrights: Marwan Abdelmoneim ‘20, Passant Faheem

The Day We Met explores harassment in relationships. 

"The relationship perspective is an essential part of the me too movement and in any conversation about sexual harassment. We grew up fearing strange men. Our mothers told us to avoid men in the streets, but nobody told us that harassment can take place anywhere, even in an intimate relationship. It's a conversation we need to have because too many of us have doubted themselves with their partners because the lack of awareness about sexual harassment within relationships."

“A lot of girls are coerced to do things they are uncomfortable with to please their partners. This is normalized and encouraged under the umbrella of ‘saving the relationship.’ This of course can be as minor as a kiss or as big as marital rape. I think the magnitude of the assaults that happen within relationships is what makes this angle worth exploring.”

“Gender-based violence can be in the form of patriarchal norms through propagating gender stereotypes and always putting women and girls in a weaker position, or assuming that certain things are out of their capacity because of their gender traits and identity,” asserted Aisha Altubuly '21, political science graduate who received the Tomorrow’s Leaders US State-Department Funded (TL) scholarship at AUC.

Originally from Libya, Altubuly has actively been highlighting gender-based violence (GBV) through her work with Together We Build It (TWBI), an NGO based in Tripoli. For her, the definition of GBV isn’t just physical violence.

Under the title “She’s Libya'', Altubuly co-led the campaign, which aimed at raising awareness of displacement and the struggles faced by women on the national level to highlight gender-based violence, especially during armed conflicts and displacement. Launched on International Women’s Day 2020, the online national campaign addressed the situation of displaced women in Libya, showcasing a true story of a displaced young Libyan woman’s family and the painful conditions accompanying their displacement process.

“The idea of She’s Libya came to our team as  we wanted to salute all women, and especially Libyan women, for their strength, passion, patience, resilience and adaptation to the tough and challenging circumstances imposed on all Libyans because of the ongoing armed conflict since 2014,” said Altubuly. “There’s no doubt that the armed conflict happening in different areas is affecting all Libyans, but the displacement process especially affects Libyan women in many ways. The stories of displaced Libyan women not only describe the suffering and pain, but they also illustrate the courage and resilience of Libyan women, and their commitment to counter violence with peace.”

The video, which was welcomed positively, stirred discussions among the international community at events held in Tunis by the Canadian, French and Dutch embassies. In fact, it was sponsored by the Netherlands Embassy in Libya and supported by the UN Women office. “The goal was to raise awareness of the issue and the struggles faced by women on the national level,” explained Altubuly. “ We wanted to use this campaign to seek advocacy from the international community to emphasize the need for peacebuilding efforts. It’s a highly relevant matter to all Libyans, and TWBI and I felt the need to address it.”

Moreover, Altubuly had partaken in the past "16 Days of Activism against GBV" campaign, during which she and her team launched the second series of the "Super Banaweet" campaign, addressing social, economic and political issues that affect girls’ lives using visual story-telling comics. The campaign, based on true stories within Libyan households and schools, reflects how women and girls are harmed by gender inequality and patriarchal norms in different contexts.

“The idea of the campaign was to provide a virtual space for conversations and debates where Libyans can engage and discuss the presented stories,” she said. “We wanted to initiate conversations on topics and behaviors that are traditionally ignored and seen as normal or okay to do. Through monitoring the conversations, we were able to debate and reply to people’s comments as needed to clarify what’s harmful within the stories.”

As the world navigates the pandemic, it is also witnessing an increase in domestic violence and cyberbullying, especially in Arab countries, with the latest survey conducted by the United Nations in several Arab countries revealing that 46% of Libyan women fear an increase in violence under the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the exceptionalities of this year and its circumstances, the campaign attempted to include and relate to the effects of emergencies like lockdowns on women, while raising awareness of the daily harmful gender norms within Libyan society and increasing momentum toward ending violence against women around the world.

Ever since Altubuly witnessed the 2011 uprising in Libya, she’s been eager for “prosperous change” and grew determined to work on Libyan women’s issues. Since she was as young as 15 years (now 24), she volunteered with TWBI organization to become more involved in activism and work toward peace building and advocating gender equality in Libya. “Since then, it became a part of my identity and life path to keep exerting this effort,” she reflected.

“Through the Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship program, I was able to pursue a major in political science with a specialization in international relations. I wanted quality education university, and indeed, my education here at AUC has expanded my horizons and exposed me to many skills, including quality research, academic writing, analysis, and more,” said Altubuly.

“All of this helped me develop and become more productive in my work with TWBI, and improved my capacity to handle projects and campaigns with esteemed institutions such as UN Women and other networks and international NGOs," she said. Now, I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge even more as I start my Master of Arts in Gender and Women’s Studies in the Middle East/North Africa at AUC.”

Lana Kurdi '20 and Mariem Abutaleb '20, graduates of the graphic design program, both designed posters that were recently recognized as some of the 100 Best Arabic Posters of 2020. 

Curated in Quarantine

Kurdi created both of her posters while staying home during the lockdown last year. 

"At that time, I was working remotely and, like everyone else, feeling quite uninspired and overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the events," she said. "But, I tried to distract myself after work by experimenting with different posters."

Her first poster involves Arabic hand lettering and reads "You tell yourself: I shall be gone." Drawn digitally, the poster is based on a poem titles "The City" by C.P. Cavafy. 

"It touched me because it discusses that common desire to leave your city believing that a brighter future is awaiting you in some other place," Kurdi said. "But the poem concludes with a confronting statement: 'There’s no new land...for the city will follow you,' so it felt like the ocean that you might think is waiting for you is nothing but a small nice pool."

She describes her second poster as a "fun one," as it's an illustration of someone dancing on a laptop. On it is written, "That's what you need to do when you're going through a creative block."

"I was having one myself, so I thought that the best thing to be done when you’re dysfunctional is to stop working and have some fun," Kurdi said.

When the Best Arabic Posters announced an open call for posters, Kurdi sent hers under the 'Experimental Posters' section. 

 "I was thrilled when I heard back from them as it means a lot to me, especially that the jury members are designers I look up to," she said.

Kurdi said she hopes to keep developing as a designer and that competitions like this one encourage aspiring designers and artists to connect.

You can find Kurdi's posters here.

Putting Research to Design

Abutaleb's creativity stands out in that her passion lies not only in design, but embedding research into her artwork. 

"I believe in the ultimate importance of the cultural heritage in different fields and how design and research are able to bring powerful statements and support our identity," she said.

The main motivation in her work typically revolves around Arabic Lettering designs and type design.

"I love experimenting with the beauty of the Arabic script alongside reflecting on its richness," she said.

Her award-winning posters are a series made for her graduation project "Folk Songs Archive: Visualizing Egyptian Folk Songs." The project's aim is to document Egyptian folk songs, inspired by the lack of archiving folkloric materials. Her work focuses on visualizing folk songs in Al-Sharqia governorate (agricultural environment) and Port Said (coastal environment) into lettering designs. The difference between each area is depicted by envisioning the lyrics through lettering designs and turning each song to an illustrated piece from the original environment.

"This reflects on how the cultural environment influences the group to create their own kind of folk songs," she said. "The style of the posters focuses on analyzing the cultural environmental elements along with integrating them within the design."

Abutaleb said she felt honored to have her work featured as one of the Hundred Best Arabic posters.

"I am glad that my work is presented at such a reputable competition with an amazing and creative exposure," she said. 

You can find the full project here. 

The AUC Ethics HelpLine encourages the AUC community to report any acts of misconduct or violations of the University's policies on its premises. It guarantees confidential reporting and documentation of complaints, as well as the timeliness and completeness of the administration’s response. News@AUC spoke to Wessam Abozeid, senior director of compliance in the Office of General Counsel and Compliance.

What is the benefit of an Ethics HelpLine?

The AUC Ethics HelpLine is a tool to report any misconduct, actual or potential legal violations, or violation of University policy. The AUC Ethics HelpLine also provides the option to report anonymously. This confidential and impartial web-based system directs the reports to the authorized University official to handle the issue and track progress to ensure timely resolution.

During the AUC Ethics HelpLine’s three-month pilot phase, we will work to improve/optimize the system to meet the University’s needs.

Why does AUC need an Ethics HelpLine?

The earlier we address any potential misconduct, the easier we prevent or remedy any potential impacts or risks, and the better we improve our working and learning environment.

When should people file a report through the AUC Ethics Helpline? 

Any situation, activity, or transaction that could potentially violate a law, regulation, or University policy or procedure could be a compliance issue. If you are concerned that an activity is inappropriate under these guideposts, or if you encounter a situation that simply feels wrong or makes you uncomfortable, you should speak to your supervisor or contact the University official that manages the area in which the issue has arisen. If, for whatever reason, you are uncomfortable going through these channels, or if you have raised an issue with the appropriate people but feel that it has not been addressed, you can make a report through the AUC Ethics HelpLine.

What are examples of types of cases that should be reported?

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Any forms of waste, fraud, abuse, or neglect whether rising to the level of potential illegality or at minor levels, that appear relatively easy to rectify for the general benefit of AUC and our community;
• False claims, financial misstatements, or accounting or auditing irregularities;
• Undisclosed or unmanaged conflicts of interest;
• Physical, sexual, verbal, and mental abuse;
• Retaliation;
• Mismanagement or abuse of authority relating to a contract or grant, including the competition for or negotiation of a contract; and/or
• A substantial or specific danger to public health or safety. 

What distinguishes the AUC Ethics HelpLine from other reporting platforms that currently exist?

Any community member (faculty, staff, students, vendors, and visitors) can use the AUC Ethics HelpLine to raise a concern. Additionally, the AUC Ethics HelpLine supports anonymous reporting. Meanwhile, only students can report concerns or violations through the Advocate system.

Is this common practice in other universities? Can you give examples?

Yes, most universities have several tools for reporting concerns and the option to report anonymously. Many US institutions such as Harvard University, Georgetown University, Columbia University, and Northwestern University, as well as the American University in Beirut, use the same third-party provider, NAVEX, to facilitate reporting.

Other examples include Lehigh University, Miami University, Cornell University, Villanova University, Claflin University, and the University of Buffalo.

Who manages the AUC Ethics HelpLine? 

The Senior Director of Compliance manages the AUC Ethics HelpLine.

What is the role of the third party, NAVEX Global? What's the benefit of having this third party?

The NAVEX system is entirely stand-alone and web-based, which means it does not link to AUC’s internal systems. In fact, NAVEX, as the provider, is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter’s identity. This enables individuals to report issues and concerns associated with unethical or illegal activities while maintaining anonymity and confidentiality.

How can someone file a report?

The AUC Ethics HelpLine is carefully designed to maintain confidentiality and anonymity at every step. Go to the AUC Ethics HelpLine from any device (mobile, home computer, etc.) and select "Make a report."

Following the on-screen instructions, complete the report as thoroughly as you can. Specify what report you would like to make from the available choices and read the anonymity information carefully—it helps to ensure that you do not compromise your identity during the reporting process. It is recommended to include the following information about the incident you are reporting:

• Who: persons engaged in the incident, including titles
• What: what specifically occurred
• Where: the location of the incident
• When: the time and duration of the incident

Create a password and write it down with the "Report Key" that will be given to you. You will need both of these to follow up on, review, or amend your report later.

You may also email the Senior Director of Compliance at [email protected] or visit our office in person on the 2^nd floor of the Administration Building to file a report in person.

Who can file a report?

Students, faculty, staff, vendors, or visitors to the campus may file a report through the AUC Ethics HelpLine.

Who accesses these reports? 

The AUC Ethics HelpLine enters reports directly onto NAVEX’s secure server. NAVEX makes these reports available only to the Senior Director of Compliance and individuals designated by the University’s complaint procedures, who are charged to promptly evaluate the report and decide how to follow up for effective resolution. Depending on the nature of the report, the system will send it to the appropriate University official.

Can people file anonymous reports? Will their identity be known to anyone?

Yes, they can. The AUC Ethics HelpLine allows you to submit reports anonymously. The AUC Ethics HelpLine does not generate or maintain any internal connection logs with IP addresses, so no information linking your PC to the AUC Ethics HelpLine is available.

How do people who file a report guarantee that they will not be discriminated against afterward? Are there policies that protect them?

Reports filed through the AUC Ethics HelpLine (and reports made through other University channels) are covered by the Policy on Reporting Unethical or Illegal Conduct, which recognizes that reporting is a service to the University and prohibits retaliation of any kind for reports that are made in good faith.

What happens after someone files a report?

If you include your contact information when filing your report through the AUC Ethics HelpLine system, the Senior Director of Compliance will follow up with you directly to schedule an in-person or telephone meeting. If you file your report anonymously, NAVEX will send you an email when the Senior Director of Compliance responds to your report or asks you any follow-up questions. You will have the option to continue to respond anonymously via the AUC Ethics HelpLine.

Can someone provide additional information after filing a report? How? 

When you file a report through the AUC Ethics HelpLine via the online system, you will receive a case key number and the system will ask you to choose a password. You can return to the AUC Ethics HelpLine system at any time to access the original report or add further information.

Will people who file a report be informed of the outcome? When?

Yes, the reporter will be notified of the outcome of any reports filed once the investigation is finalized. The investigation time varies on a case-to-case basis.

What can people do if a false report is filed against them? What if the report is anonymous?

Any reports or complaints filed through the AUC Ethics HelpLine will be fully investigated, and actions will only be taken based on the evidence found, not just based on the report itself.

How can people get more information about the AUC Ethics Helpline?

They may visit the AUC Ethics HelpLine page or contact the Compliance Office by email at [email protected] or in person on the second floor of the Administration Building.

AUC welcomes the Class of 2025 in unusual circumstances — with new hopes and challenges awaiting them. AUC is still implementing a hybrid model of classes with an emphasis on maintaining a low-density campus.

Having the first month of the spring semester entirely online did not prevent the incoming students from enjoying their orientation and preparing for their AUC journey.

"We are all ready for the pandemic to end and active life to resume on campus, yet for the ongoing safety of the community, we conducted this year's orientation entirely online via Zoom," said Mohamed Gendy, manager of the First-Year Program. "This didn't stop the new students from fully engaging with their peer leaders during the sessions — asking questions, exchanging ideas, sharing stories and playing educational games. The energy and vibes were great."

The new undergraduate class — 54% females and 46% males — enriches the community's diversity, with students coming from Nigeria, Algeria, Yemen, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Likewise, on the graduate level, the class — 70% females and 30% males — comprises a diverse international body coming from the United States, Nigeria, Libya, Yemen, Canada, Kuwait, Palestine and Syria. 

Students expressed their hopes and eagerness to learn more about Egyptian culture, engage in a wide variety of cocurricular activities and improve their Arabic-language skills. News@AUC caught up with some Egyptian and international students during orientation week to learn about why they decided to join AUC and what they look forward to this semester. Here's what they had to say: 

Amanda Robles, an international student, studying at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., is looking forward to forming a strong base for Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, in addition to acquiring a thorough understanding of the regions that practice those languages. "When it comes to subjects regarding the Middle East, [my home university] does not offer many options for courses," she said. "In comparison, AUC has an extensive list of courses which range from the culture of different areas in the Middle East to language, politics, and economics; this is why I chose AUC. I haven't seen a university that offers a list of courses as impressive as AUC, and since my university partners with AUC, I thought it would be an excellent option!"

Olivia Voss, an international student studying international relations at the University of North Carolina, is looking forward to improving her Arabic-language skills. "I wanted to come to AUC because it has a great reputation, and I want to improve my Arabic. I have wanted to travel to Egypt since I was a kid," she said. "Everyone has been so kind already, and my expectations going forward are to make many great and long-lasting friendships and to improve my understanding of the region."

Vebjørn Hole Uleberg, an international student pursuing a Master in International Management/CEMS, came to AUC because it is the only CEMS academic partner in Africa and the Middle East. CEMS, or the Global Alliance in Management Education, is also the only AUC program ranked by the Financial Times and The Economist. "I find Egypt — with its culture, language, and people — very interesting," he said. "AUC is also the only University in the MENA region that is part of the CEMS network, meaning that it must be of high quality while also giving a unique cultural experience."

Uleberg is also looking forward to "seeing and experiencing what Egypt is like, including learning Arabic, getting to know locals and traveling all over the country," he added.

Marissa Jean Haskell is joining AUC from the United States. She had previously studied abroad at AUC as an undergraduate student. "I loved being here and in Egypt so much that I was looking for an excuse to come back," she said. "One of the main reasons I returned to AUC is the quality of professors here. At AUC, it seems like every professor is a well-known scholar in their respective field, so I am excited to learn from such renowned professionals. I am expecting to not only substantially broaden my knowledge of education and global affairs but also take advantage of the opportunity to grow my international network."

Egyptian students are joining AUC from more than 12 governorates across the country, including Giza, Monufia, Beni Suef, Ismailia and Gharbia.

For freshman Marwan Gamea, one of the main reasons he applied to AUC is sustaining a reasonable balance between academics and cocurricular activities. Gamea's intended major is data science, which "is exclusively available at AUC."

Salma Omar, a freshman intending to major in graphic design, decided to join AUC for the balance that it offers between the quality of education and the cocurricular activities that allow her to find her passion in various fields. "I thought it would give me the best education and environment to thrive," she said. "I am looking forward to building a solid foundation for my future and enjoying college life while still learning about my passion."

Lama Khallaf is another freshman intending to major in electronics and communications engineering who has chosen AUC for its liberal arts education that would prepare her for a strong career. "I'm hoping to really enjoy the diversity of courses that are offered. Although I'm an engineering major, I still have interests outside my major that I want to be able to pursue," she said.

Fahad Muhammad Dankabo, a freshman intending to major in political science, expects to make the best use of his time at AUC on so many levels. "I want to be able to develop both academically and socially," he said. Dankabo was overwhelmed with the welcome he received from everyone since he joined AUC. "The peer leaders' dedication truly reflected on the three-day orientation. It was simply superb and worth emulating. Everything was well-coordinated and executed. What a way to set a high standard for newcomers. Thank you for making it easy for me to blend into my new family."

“A number of students sent me thank you notes during the semester. However, the most rewarding gesture of thanks that I received from them is when at the end of the last class, they unmuted the sound and video and each one of them carried a note of thanks expressing their appreciation. For me, it was a thrilling gesture, which I will always cherish,” said Walid Kazziha, professor of political science.

For Kazziha, what seemed to work the best in online learning is striking a balance between lecturing and student participation.

“At first, students found some difficulty in getting out of their comfort zone. They resorted to hiding behind muting their sound and picture, and left it to me to take the initiative while they watched,” he reflected. “However, with some effort, it was possible to draw them out gradually, as I followed the tactic of presenting the topic briefly at the beginning of class (10-15 minutes), and then asking very simple questions related to how students felt about the subject under discussion. As students began to react, I appealed more to their intellect and not only their feelings. More sophisticated questions were posed to them, and the discussion was eventually fueled by students themselves asking questions and debating the issues.”  

Kazziha also assigned students short presentations at the beginning of class to keep them engaged, interactive and focused.

Kazziha believes that the most important element in successful online teaching is not only the professor’s preparation of what he’ll offer to the students, but how it will be offered.

“The difference between face to face and online is that in the former, the students are coming to learn; in the latter, they are sitting comfortably at home expecting you to go to them. The trick is to draw them out to have a walk with you and share the effort,” he said.

On the last day of classes, students surprised their professors with handwritten notes to express their gratitude for their ongoing support in online learning despite the unusual circumstances.

Walid Kazziha, professor of political science:

“A number of students sent me thank you notes during the semester. However, the most rewarding gesture of thanks that I received from them is when at the end of the last class, they unmuted the sound and video and each one of them carried a note of thanks expressing their appreciation. For me, it was a thrilling gesture, which I will always cherish."

Read more here.

Tarek Selim '92, '95, professor of ecomomics:

"A gratifying moment from my wonderful students in the feasibility study class (Econ 4012). They were one of the best feasibility classes I taught, and I have been teaching at AUC for the past 20 years."

Soraya Altorki, professor of anthropology:

"I was very touched by the message that I received from my students in ANTH 1099 on the last day of classes this semester. It reads: 'We love you professor! Thank you for the amazing course.' It is truly gratifying to get [my] students' feedback like this. It is an experience that says it all."

Hania Sholkamy '85, '89, associate professor at AUC's Social Research Center:

"In my Introduction to Community Development course (Anth 2201), my students surprised me. They are a wonder bunch and made the course interesting and dynamic. I am thanking them for their kindness. They said 'thank you,' and that really meant a lot to me. So in sharing this with you, I am thanking them."

Students in the marker research class also decided to surprise their professor, Hakim Meshreki (MBA '05), visiting assistant professor of marketing, and show him love and appreciation. Nathalie Nabil Kamel, senior, who decided to share with us the story on behalf of her class, says:

"A class member sent the idea in our project group, and then we created a students only group to coordinate. No one hesitated to join this celebratory action for Dr. Hakim, I guess because he's not only our doctor, [but also] he checked up on everyone who missed class, every class he asked how we were and gave us advice to help us mitigate the stress. All his classes were enjoyable, even the difficult chapters, and we wanted to show him the appreciation we had for him."

Hakim Meshreki (MBA '05), visiting assistant professor of marketing:

"Toward the end of the last class, students stunned me with a wonderful thank you note that represents the best reward an instructor can get from his students. Though they were not forced to do so, they showed that good work, care and dedication pay off. They were able to understand the essence of my teaching philosophy, which is knowledge, fun and love . For this, I am thankful and grateful to all of them."

 Sonia Zulfiqar, associate professor of chemistry, 

“It is an overwhelming experience for me to earn so much love, affection, and respect, given the fact that I am teaching this course for the first time."

Read more here.

Yasmine Saleh '91, associate professor of practice of clinical psychology,

“When the students asked me at the end of the class to stop sharing my screen since they had something that they wanted to share with me, I had no idea what was going on, and I was genuinely very surprised. This was unexpected and SO appreciated, after all we have been through together.”

Read more here.

Daoud Siniora, assistant professor of mathematics and actuarial science

"I feel honored to teach such beautiful minds and future stars. The main lectures were pre-recorded and sent to students in advance. On lecture days I hosted optional live Zoom sessions for further discussions on the material, homework problems, and beauty of mathematics. When the semester became very stressful, I made all deadlines flexible, meaning that students may submit their work as soon as they can. I also supplied my students with detailed lecture notes covering the whole course so they do not need to worry about taking notes. From time to time I give easy short quizzes so students can keep up with the course. We had a WhatsApp group that included the students, teaching assistants, and myself so that we all stay connected with each other as one team."

“This last semester has been different, to say the least, and has required a lot more on my end to be creative, engaging, effective and still meet my learning outcomes, and it was wonderful to see the appreciation directly from those who mean the most: my students,” said Yasmine Saleh '91, associate professor of practice of clinical psychology.

On the last day of classes, students surprised Saleh with handwritten notes to express their gratitude for her ongoing support in online learning despite the unusual circumstances.

“When the students asked me at the end of the class to stop sharing my screen since they had something that they wanted to share with me, I had no idea what was going on, and I was genuinely very surprised,” she said. “This was unexpected and SO appreciated, after all we have been through together.”

Keeping them Virtually Engaged

“[Online learning] requires thinking and planning to ensure effective learning while still making sure that students have a sense of [belonging] and no one feels left out or disengaged,” affirmed Saleh.

Saleh’s strategy to keep her students virtually engaged includes: setting expectations and planning the course well in advance, making sure to keep the workload reasonable, prerecording lectures, not exceeding the original planned class time, flexibility with deadlines and having students decide what works for them.

“This made the whole experience even more rewarding and fulfilling and every difficult point so much more meaningful and worthwhile,” she said. “I am so happy and grateful to feel so acknowledged and appreciated, and I was very close to tears — which is not an easy thing for me.” 

AUC’s Theatre Program is looking to cast actors for the upcoming production, You W-Ana Too, a play that explores the issue of sexual harassment from various perspectives, including family and couple, bystander, victim and perpetrator, male and female, power and incapacity. 

Co-creators of the play Jillian Campana, professor of theatre and associate dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, along with Dina Amin, head of the Theatre Program and associate professor of theatre, are encouraging people to try out in order to experience the joy of taking part in a one-of-a-kind production like this one that tackles some of society’s most pressing issues. Auditions will take place on December 3, with callbacks on December 5. The play creators are also looking for stage managers, designers and student guides who help audiences get from one play to the next. Credit is available for those involved. 

“Aside from caring about the issue and being interested in promoting conversation, participants will have the joy of being involved in a play,” Campana said. “There is something truly magical about bringing a story to life, embodying another person and working with collaborators to make a story meaningful and resonate. We learn so much about ourselves by studying others in this way.”

The idea for the play draws inspiration from a 2018 Washington Post article, “In Egypt, a #MeToo complaint can land a woman in jail.”

“I remember reading that article, which discusses Amal Fathy and other women who were targeted precisely because they were making or supporting accusations of sexual harassment. I decided then that one of my next AUC productions would be about this issue,” Campana said. 

With the events that unfolded this past summer in Egypt and the movement around sexual harassment awareness gaining unprecedented traction, Campana had known that this sort of production would gain support and interest. 

For her, exploring different perspectives is essential to understanding why sexual harassment happens, how it happens and what happens in the aftermath. This play, she said, can hopefully encourage conversations that increase awareness. 

““Sexual harassment and sexual assault happen everywhere, in every country in the world and most of us have experienced it in some way,” she said. "Change can happen in big and small ways. If just a few people see this performance and think more critically about sexual harassment and make a change as a result of their observations and thoughts, it will be a huge success.”

The play takes a unique format: Split into five different parts, each one takes place outdoors and simultaneously, with audience members moving from one play to the next.

“This allows for discussion in between performances — an unpacking and reflection about the theme and characters and events depicted,” Campana said. 

You can find instructions on how to sign up for auditions below. The play will premier in March at the New Cairo campus. 

“The hardest problems to solve are those that we find too shameful even to name or to admit exist,” said President Francis Ricciardone in his opening remarks during the inauguration of the AUC SpeakUp Dialog Series held last Thursday.  

“At AUC, we think of ourselves as progressive, and we don’t shy away from problems – we welcome them. We think our role in higher education is to address the great problems of our time, and we believe we do so effectively,” he added, emphasizing the role of leading higher education institutions in raising awareness on sexual harassment and conveying the measures AUC has taken to combat the issue.

As part of the AUCSpeakUp initiative, the University launched the AUC SpeakUp Dialog Series in Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square. The series, inaugurated with a dialog on “How can we combat harassment and why should we care?” features a set of conversations around key topics ranging from social norms and portrayals of gender in film to safety of public spaces, workplaces, and college campuses.

The AUC SpeakUp Dialog Series is held in partnership with several institutions and prominent influencers to participate in the national conversation on sexual harassment to raise awareness of this critical issue.  AUC had recently formed an Advisory Board of distinguished leaders to help shape the topics, speakers, sequence and direction of the series.

The board members are Maya Morsy ’95, president of Egypt’s National Council for Women; Hisham El-Khazindar ’96, co-founder and managing director of Qalaa Holdings and AUC trustee; Christine Arab, UN Women Egypt country representative; Hoda Elsadda, professor of English and comparative literature at Cairo University; Rabab El Mahdi ’96, ’98, associate professor and chair of AUC’s Department of Political Science; Nadeen Ashraf, AUC student and founder of Assault Police; and Omar Samra ’00, adventurer, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. The first of the series was moderated by Farah Shash ’09, ’12, community psychologist and co-founder of The Community Hub.

The Dialog Series was launched to keep the issue of sexual harassment at the forefront, not only on campus but on a country level. In fact, sexual harassment is a global problem that has become prevalent in today’s time.

"When I was a student at AUC, we never heard of the word harassment," reflected Morsy. "I'm a 1995 graduate, so 20 years ago, this term never existed, but now it's widely heard in Egypt and the world. It's called sexual harassment. In my generation, it was called flirtation. ... The word harassment changed everything," she said, addressing the need to continue spreading awareness of sexual harassment and stressing that the constitution and Egyptian law protect women's rights.

In the past few years, women started to speak up and society's structure and ethics underwent a major change. There has undeniably been more awareness of the topic since 2010, when the magnitude of the issue was felt. That's especially with the passing of Egyptian laws in 2014 that address sexual harassment, which resulted in women gaining the confidence to speak up and report their experiences.

“In the case of Egypt, sexual harassment is quite advanced in the social dialog, particularly if you look where it sits in the region, both in Africa and the Arab region, and that’s extremely important. Laws are fine and incredibly important to combat sexual harassment, but it’s actually a behavior shift that is required,” said Arab.

“Laws need to be enforced; that means institutions like AUC have to enforce these with rigor, impartiality, and penalty. There has to be justice. That’s when the behavior starts to change.”

Last summer, numerous women took their incidents to both social media and court, shortly after @assaultpolice was created to support women to speak up while maintaining their anonymity, reflecting the significance of civil society organizations. "The accumulation of civil society organization initiatives is very important," said El Mahdi. "State institutions and civil society organizations actually complete each other's work; they're not against each other - [working] to create an environment where people can speak up," El Mahdi noted, stressing the importance of such integration without incriminating the victim at the societal or institutional level

On @assaultpolice, Ashraf, who launched the Assault Police Instagram account that reinvigorated Egypt's #MeToo movement, explained how social media was an efficient tool in fighting sexual harassment.

"I was just sitting for years seeing that no one is taking this issue seriously from the community around me. For years, girls were told not to talk about this: 'This is not acceptable,' 'This is wrong,' 'We cannot talk about these things'", she said. "I reached a level where I felt I had to do something. ... I noticed with the first story I shared that the survivors of harassment realized that they have similar experiences and that they were not the problem, but the real problem was the harassers and society."

During the same period, several initiatives were being held on a country level by different institutions and individuals, including Samra. "Posts about social media were starting to spread about sexual harassment," he said. "I was so concerned, unhappy and upset."

"I know that this problem has been there for years, but I was upset because I didn't find that men are talking about it enough," Samra added. "There has to be a higher responsibility on men to talk about it. I believe that we're at a stage where if we're saying that we have the laws and penalties, we must all delve into a stage where the whole society becomes Assault Police. ... Silence at this stage is almost a crime."

On the workplace level, the private sector may be seen as relatively hesitant when it comes to discussing sexual harassment. Yet, there remains awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace, such as that by El-Khazindar. "I look at the issue of sexual harassment and sexual violence within a wider context related to women's empowerment, women's rights and the role of women, and I look at it from a developmental perspective," said El-Khazindar.

"At the end of the day, no community, no country, advances if half of this society, which is women, is not empowered and is subject to secondary treatment. For me, this is not an issue of man and woman but an issue of what is right and what is wrong," El-Khazindar added, emphasizing that universities have an essential educational role in creating the appropriate climate to set the rules and deter harassers, and the private sector has a role in setting a good example for institutions.

When it comes to educational institutions, units combating sexual harassment have been established at different universities, with 22 units in place to combat violence against women in Egyptian universities. Elsadda has been working since 2014 on policies fighting harassment inside universities and was one of the founders of the Anti-Harassment Unit at Cairo University in 2014.

"There was a revolutionary movement in Egypt for three years, that started from  2011 to 2014. Many taboos were discussed in society, and violence against women was one of the issues that were tackled by NGOs and other groups. ...In 2014, a law was passed to incriminate violence against women," Elsadda said.

"These university units are a first step in a long way. It's very important to enforce the law and reconsider the personal affairs code, family code and media coverage because all these elements together help in decreasing the incidents of sexual harassment."

Since the subject of the educational institutions and universities is a vast one, the next session of the Dialog Series on December 14 will tackle: “From the Playground to School: Does the Way We’re Brought Up Affect How We Treat Women?” Find out more here.

For more information:

AUCSpeakUp initiative

Dialog Series

Advisory Board profiles