AUC Student Activism

1990s-2000: Final Documentary

During the late 1990-s throughout 2000, the students at the American University in Cairo were witnessing historical events change the lives of everyone in the Middle East. Consequently, they decided to be proactive and voice their concerns. While their demonstrations did not exactly change the world, they would leave a lasting impact on the history of the university.

Promo-Student Activism at AUC

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Audio Promo Script

Music fade in and continues to play low in background: 50 Cent, Ready for War

ANNC: In the midst of the violence across the Arab world during the 90’s throughout 2001, students at the American University in Cairo wanted their cries to be heard inside and outside the university walls.

SOT: Sara El-Khalili, Student journalist during the 1990’s: “They marched from the AUC downtown campus to the US embassy to Garden city, and that was the first time AUCians went outside their campus.”

ANNC: To listen to the full documentary, Attend the listening sessions at AUC's New Cairo campus on Sunday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 19 at 10 a.m., BEC building, room 1061.

-END with music slightly amplified-

Newscast: Saladero

A-U-C’s SALADERO 2010 WRAP
ABDELLATIF
21-4-10

LEAD-IN:

Among the new student-run food outlets at the American University in Cairo is Saladero, a salad bar that is providing students and staff with a healthier choice of meals.

This new project, which was started by one of the university’s very own students, allows customers to create their own salads. Inspired by similar projects from the United States, Ahmed Alaa, an economics major turned his vision into reality by bringing the business to A-U-C.

(start w/ natural sound of Alaa at work)

ALAA: “It’s a start for me. I’ve always dreamt that I’d get my own business especially before I graduate so it’s my dream thing right now.” (:9)

Alaa is not only hoping the business will become a success at A-U-C, he’s also thinking about spreading the idea across other private universities in Egypt in order to give more students the option of eating healthier:

ALAA: “Maybe I will go to private schools. But I don’t have to apply it with the same idea. I could just get healthy food, not just salads, I could get like healthy sandwiches, quiches, soups. I’m having very limited area here but I want to introduce soups, quiches…” (:31)

Nancy Naser El Deen a student at the university and customer at Saladero is not only glad to see a healthier food alternative on campus but she’s also very inspired to see one her fellow colleagues take initiative by running his own business while still attending classes:

NASER EL DEEN: “It’s like he would put it as his number one priority even before classes or anything to make it happen and I think its good for a change I think he’s a leader to be able to do something like that. You know, most people at A-U-C won’t prefer to eat something healthy but by starting this he can make a change, make people change the habits of their food he can definitely make a change. I think that it’s very good of him that he started this.” (:29)

April is Saladero’s first month of business on campus. The booth is currently located right next to the HUSS Plaza where Alaa is often found monitoring his new business.

Reem Abdellatif, A-U-C News.

Cardinal links pedophilia to homosexuality

Yet another blunder by one of the members of the Catholic church. This is just not their year! According to an article published on CNN, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is also the Vatican's Secretary of State stated: "Many psychologists, many psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relationship between celibacy and pedophilia but many others have demonstrated, I was told recently, that there is a relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia."

Consequently, the gay community is outraged. Personally, I feel that it is completely unacceptable to relate homosexuality with pedophilia. Pedophilia is a crime, while homosexuality is a way of life for some people. This is just like saying rape can be linked to heterosexuality. The fact that the Cardinal would link the two is offensive to me as a person who believes in the rights of all individuals, regardless of their race, sex, or sexual preference.

With all due respect to the Vatican, I think they really need to reevaluate the ideologies of their members, as well as the things that these members broadcast to the rest of the world. After all, words can be like swords and some of the claims that they've been making lately are unacceptable and just plain ignorant.

How I Met Your Mother: The new F.R.I.E.N.D.S?

The cast of HIMYM from left to right: Lily is played by Alyson Hannigan, Marshal is played by Jason Segel, Ted is played by Josh Radnor, Robin is played by Cobie Smulders, and Barney is played by Neil Patrick Harris. Photo courtesy of www.fanpop.com.

How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) is an American sitcom produced by CBS. The show first aired in 2005. It is a comedy that takes us through the lives of five friends who are toughing it out and living it up in New York City. Sounds familiar already, doesn't it?

Alright, I'll just make it clear from the beginning that I am a huge fan of HIMYM and I was and still am a fan of F.R.I.E.N.D.S as well. There are a lot of similarities between the two shows and when you have a sitcom that is such a huge hit like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, you will always find critics comparing every other sitcom to it.

However, while they may seem very similar, HIMYM has several completely different twists than F.R.I.E.N.D.S, therefore it is by no means a copy of the it. Its definitely not here to replace it either.

HIMYM revolves around the lives of Ted Mosby, Marshal, Marshal's college sweetheart and wife Lily, Robin the reporter, and last but not least their eccentric and sexually liberated friend Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris.

Ted is going through several dates with different girls every now and then. In fact, he dates their friend Robin for a long time. Later on, after only dating her for a few months, he gets engaged to a girl named Stella, played by Scrubs' Sarah Chalke. Eventually, she ends up leaving him at the alter for her jerk ex-husband. He is also searching for the perfect career, even though he is 30 years old, which is quite normal these days as many people today go back and forth whether its because of confusion or the current job crisis.

Barney, who is your typical player goes through hell and back just to pull tricks on girls in order to sleep with them with no strings attached. But, he finally falls for Robin, dates her, and they end up breaking up later on. Finally, Marshal and Lily are the cheesy couple that make every other couple gag because of how emotionally dependent they are on one another.

The story revolves around the hopelessly romantic Ted as he goes through the life experiences that he faces before meeting his future wife. All throughout the show, we don't actually have any idea who his wife is. Each episode begins off with the voice of the older version of Ted as he is telling the crazy stories of his dating experiences and his friends' lives to his children, a teenage boy and girl.

HIMYM actually portrays relationships and friendships very realistically. The sitcom shows how every one goes through the ups and downs of life before they find a comfortable spot and a comfortable partner. Whether these tough times happen with family, relationships, or work, they hit everyone and you always have your closest friends there with you through it all. Yeah, that last part did kind of sound like F.R.I.E.N.D.S, didn't it? Well, Although the two shows have some similarities, they are still very different. You'll find a different taste of comedy in HIMYM.

Aside from the comedy and the crazy shenanigans that the cast goes through, people can easily relate to the experiences of the cast. And, the fact that the show is based in New York City just makes it even more lovable.

Listening Journal 4: Muslims Fighting for Israel

Israeli soldiers march back into Israel from Gaza during the offensive of January 2009. Photograph: Jerry Lampen/Reuters (Source: The Guardian)

This documentary is produced by the BBC World Service and narrated by Rashid Sekag, a Muslim who works for the Arabic section of BBC. Only 23 minutes long, it is a very interesting piece that takes its listeners to Israel. It explores how Muslims make up 10 percent of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), meaning that hundreds of Muslims sign up every year.

This topic is very interesting because I have only heard rumors of how some Muslims do indeed join the Israeli army. I've never officially seen it documented before. The documentary explores how these Muslim soldiers face oppression and discrimination from their own people because of the fact that they join sides with Israel. They also face discrimination from Jewish citizens, when it comes to being hired for jobs. Many of these soldiers suffer an inner conflict because sometimes they have to fight against their own families in Palestine. However, they are technically Israelis because they are given Israeli citizenship upon their entrance into the IDF. Some of these Muslims even prefer speaking Hebrew and some Muslims view it as treason, others view it as the exact opposite. These Muslims believe that they are being loyal to their country by fighting in their country's army. The impression that I got from this documentary is that many of these Muslims want to belong to a nation so they assimilate themselves into the Israeli lifestyle in order to be protected by its laws; and technically they become Israelis anyway.

The narrator interviews a Muslim mother whose son allegedly died accidentally while he was in the army. She expresses how she regrets his decision to join and she explains that he joined because he was in desperate need for money and help with his career. He also speaks to a Muslim religious leader who discusses a Fatwa that was issued to keep these Muslim-Israeli soldiers from being buried by their mosques. The reporter also speaks with Israeli citizens, who many of them were not aware that there were Muslims in the IDF.

The length of this documentary was very appropriate. It was not too long or too short, it was just right in order to explain the situation throughly and fairly. The quality of the narrator's voice, however, is not very good. I feel that while he covered the story very well and reported all sides of the story, his voice was not suitable because he is very monotone. I understand that he might not want to show emotion in such a documentary, but his voice had to be less boring and more engaging. He speaks very slowly so his listeners can understand him, however, this just makes his monotone voice even more boring. The quality of the interviews throughout was very effective. Not only did he interview people from every side of the story, but the things that they said added a lot to the effectiveness of the story. However, the music throughout is very irrelevent in my opinion. It does not add to the meaning of the piece. However, the music right at the very end is dramatic and it goes very well with his ending comment when he states: "And as one soldier put it to me: We're doomed if we serve and we're doomed if we don't."

Interview: Yasir Khan

Yasir Khan, a professor at the American University in Cairo, shares his experiences as a journalist over the years. Khan has been a journalist since 1995 and he has been teaching journalism for about 2 years now.

Questions:

Why did you choose to go into journalism?

What is the most memorable story that you've covered as a reporter?

Khan has covered stories all over the world.

Photo from www.aucegypt.edu