The American University in Cairo administration has reduced the parking fees by 50 percent for faculty, staff and students to 1500 L.E per year and to 750 L.E per semester for this year only.
"I wouldn't get a permit if it wasn't reduced, but now it's wonderful," said Basma Ezz, a political science graduating senior. "Of course I got the permit."
A number of the AUC community members enjoyed the free parking since the beginning of the fall semester.
However, all vehicles have been required to display a valid parking permit in order to park on campus since Sunday, September 28.
Still, others prefer to park themselves off campus to avoid paying any fees.
"I park in the desert, and I don't even leave my car with a car attendant," said Ahmad Moneeb, a political science graduating senior. "I didn't get a parking pass, and I wouldn't. It's unreasonably expensive even after the reduction, and it already costs me much to fuel my car as I come from Mohandessen."
Moreover, the AUC administration has refunded those who have already purchased a parking permit.
According to Gamal Sultan, a political science professor, parking in EL-Bostan near old campus used to cost him 30 L.E per a day. Now, thanks to the new reduced parking fees, it costs only 35 L.E per a week.
"Parking fees were over exaggerated, but now they are reasonable, I think." said Sultan.
Despite being refunded as well, students who take the AUC bus are filing complaints that the bus service fees should be reduced too.
"No, they shouldn't reduce the bus fees as well," said Letitia Gasser, a political science graduating senior. "Buses make effort to pick us from the nearest point to our homes and take us to the new campus while parking is just a free slot and one shouldn't pay much for it."
A Window on AUC
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Is that even LEGAL?!
One of my required courses to be able to graduate next semester got canceled and it is not offered anymore next Spring. My political science advisor "advised" me to find any political science course that is "somehow" relevant to this course and take it as a substitute. Eager to learn, I found this interesting course, human rights in contemporary Egypt, which is relevant to my given up for lost course, Egyptian constitution. I needed to get the instructor's consent to register in this "somehow" relevant course although it is the department's responsibility to get me the substitute.
It took a series of emails between me and the teacher to get the "divine" consent. At the very first email, I explained how my course got canceled and how it was easy for me to register for any of the political science courses that are offered next semester and take it as a substitution. But, because I am excited to learn something, I chose this specific course which is relevant to my specialization in law. The teacher asked about my GPA, and whether I am an "American Arab" or an "Arab"!!! I replied that my GPA is STILL 3.2 despite the fact that I have two Ds in my record which I am repeating to improve this GPA, and that I am Egyptian. The teacher never replied back, and when I asked for a reply anytime soon, I got this reply: "I'm afraid I cannot approve your enrollment on this course. Minimum requirement is 3.5 GPA."
I have never seen this teacher, and I don't wanna take this course anymore. I am just wondering what kind of students does this teacher accept in this "divine" course? Does the fact that this teacher asked whether I am an American Arab or a pure Arab ring any bells? Is there even such a thing as a minimum GPA requirment to enroll in a course? Is there an AUC policy that says so? IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?!
It took a series of emails between me and the teacher to get the "divine" consent. At the very first email, I explained how my course got canceled and how it was easy for me to register for any of the political science courses that are offered next semester and take it as a substitution. But, because I am excited to learn something, I chose this specific course which is relevant to my specialization in law. The teacher asked about my GPA, and whether I am an "American Arab" or an "Arab"!!! I replied that my GPA is STILL 3.2 despite the fact that I have two Ds in my record which I am repeating to improve this GPA, and that I am Egyptian. The teacher never replied back, and when I asked for a reply anytime soon, I got this reply: "I'm afraid I cannot approve your enrollment on this course. Minimum requirement is 3.5 GPA."
I have never seen this teacher, and I don't wanna take this course anymore. I am just wondering what kind of students does this teacher accept in this "divine" course? Does the fact that this teacher asked whether I am an American Arab or a pure Arab ring any bells? Is there even such a thing as a minimum GPA requirment to enroll in a course? Is there an AUC policy that says so? IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?!
Power Outage!
Roaming around campus and shifting classes from HUSS and BEC to CORE...This was the state of AUC students moving from one building to another on Nov. 10th. They were questioning working power plugs following a sudden campus wide power outage that Monday.
"We couldn't take our excel quiz in the morning due to the campus blackout," said Ahmad Hbous, a finance senior. "We have waited the entire class period for the power to come back. Then, the teacher canceled the quiz."
In an interview with campus newspaper the CARAVAN, Osama Zayed, one of the university's head engineers, blamed construction loaders outside of the campus for cutting the main power line. When the power is cut, generators are used to backup areas with electricity loss. When this procedure was followed that morning, however, generators were not enough to supply energy to power the entire campus.
"Most of the mass communications classes were canceled that morning and more classes have been canceled later in the day," said lab technician who refused to mention her name. "Students take their classes in the labs because they need the computers and definitely the internet to do their research."
The power outage is another issue to be added to the problems that AUC is having already.
"We couldn't take our excel quiz in the morning due to the campus blackout," said Ahmad Hbous, a finance senior. "We have waited the entire class period for the power to come back. Then, the teacher canceled the quiz."
In an interview with campus newspaper the CARAVAN, Osama Zayed, one of the university's head engineers, blamed construction loaders outside of the campus for cutting the main power line. When the power is cut, generators are used to backup areas with electricity loss. When this procedure was followed that morning, however, generators were not enough to supply energy to power the entire campus.
"Most of the mass communications classes were canceled that morning and more classes have been canceled later in the day," said lab technician who refused to mention her name. "Students take their classes in the labs because they need the computers and definitely the internet to do their research."
The power outage is another issue to be added to the problems that AUC is having already.
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