A literary, historical and political repositry

“Students are prohibited from engaging in non-academic religious and political activities, as well as any unauthorized group formation within the university, nor should university facilities be used for those purposes. AUC encourages open study and examination of all intellectual subjects in its academic work. Both its curricula and extracurricular activities are dedicated to helping produce informed and independent minded human beings. However, as a matter of basic policy, AUC carefully refrains from involving itself in political or religious issues, as well as any group formation that may inflict psychological or physical harm on its members or any member of the AUC community. Therefore, the university does not permit its campus or facilities to be used by outsiders or by AUC personnel or students for such involvement.”

The fact that this very same administration intends to supervise any kind of transitional restructuring speaks volumes about the kind of infrastructure within which AUC students, including student government bodies, are asked to exist in. The false and imposed separatism that has constituted the identity of AUC students, their respective government bodies, the administration and the University at large is the direct result of efforts to further atomize and segregate Egyptians. The University attempts to naturalize, indeed, neuter its position in the wider public sphere of Egypt. AUC identifies itself as above and beyond all things Egyptian, insists that it is apolitical when its behavior indicates that it is precisely the product of the outgoing regime and its institutions. Separatism, paternalism and zero transparency are at the core of the charade of apoliticism.

– AUC Tahrir Communique #2

Typical bullshit from the administration. Revolution-themed classes, the campus on the square etc. All essentially bullshit if this policy isn’t substantially changed. This institution has done everything it can to disengage its students from the wider community. You wouldn’t think it was possible after everything that’s  happened, but AUC remains a political vacuum. I have nothing but contempt for this entire community. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here, but it’s been in spite of the administration and not because of it. I can guarantee that only very few students care that they essentially don’t have the right to express their opinions publicly on campus.