USAID

AUC doesn't have graffiti. During the student strikes that took place this September, some students wrote on pieces of paper and tapped those pieces of paper to the wall. USAID stickers are, however very abundant on the AUC campus. The American government's version of graffiti?

They are found on tech-equipment (i.e. ID scanners, computers, projectors) and are most noticeable in the library (it has the highest concentration of tech-equipment), but found in classrooms as well.

According to its website, USAID funded 25% of the AUC new campus (where undergrad & graduate classes are vs. the downtown campus, where continuing education classes are).

In describing its education program, USAID makes the distinction between basic and higher education. This distinction is important because AUC caters to a different set of Egyptians than the public universities in Egypt, and certainly a different set of Egyptian than a rural primary school.

USAID has come under fire in Egypt recently. In June, USAID placed advertisements for open grants to civil society organizations in Egyptian newspapers. According to Egyptian law, unregistered (it's very difficult to become registered here) civil society organizations can't receive foreign funding. US Ambassador Anne Patterson recently presented SCAF [Supreme Council of Armed Forces] with of Egyptian civil society organizations that receive US funding.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/507011

"My perception of An Ideal Revolution..."

This exhibit is featured at the entrance of the AUC library. Each piece of artwork was done on an identical 9’’x 18’’ piece of (possibly) cardboard. While it was probably a project parameter, said medium seems very restricting—especially if the objective of the project is to depict “My Perception of an Ideal Revolution.” Maybe it's just me, but I think the streets of Cairo are better suited for that.

A note about the library…

In order to enter the AUC library, you must swipe your AUC ID (with several security guards there to make sure it is valid). In order to enter the AUC campus, however, it is necessary to show an AUC ID. So what is the point of having to swipe your ID a second time?

A few weeks ago a friend suggested to me that the policy was in place to keep workers out of the library. (AUC employs a lot of staff— including many cleaning and gardening staff. These workers participated in a strike this September along with the students).

When I asked for a comment from the library staff, I was told that the library employed a swipe system "to keep outsiders from entering the library." When I asked for clarification regarding who exactly these "outsiders" were, I was told that outsiders can in fact enter the campus and they need to be kept out of the library.

(Disclaimer: visitors can visit the campus, but they must be cleared through campus security before entering)