CAIRO: On Sunday, The American University of Cairo (AUC) strikers took control of gate 4 of AUC's New Cairo campus, admitting students and professors into the university for free. For four days, up to 2,000 protesters gathered in front of the administration building chanting in unison to have their rights recognized by the higher powers of the university's administration. Students, custodians, Desert Development Center (DDC) and security guards united for justice, wholeheartedly agreeing upon the following: if all our demands are not met and we remain unsatisfied then we all continue striking. Students are demanding that tuition, which was increased by 9 percent to be reduced again. A frequently asked question among students is: How is AUC being financed and where does our money go? AUC students pay a perplexing sum of approximately 120,000 Egyptian Pounds annually and, according to alumni, the university has seen a continuous rise in fees over the years with no evident justification. Many students find that they are unable to take the courses they wish due to a shortage of professors. Moreover, several resort to private tuition to ensure they pass their classes. And so, it is not unusual for students and parents to become frustrated when they pay such large sums of money and see no improvement in the standard of academics at AUC. At the same time, with the rise of tuition workers' wages are being reduced, and are as low as 800 Egyptian pounds. Their contracts deprive them of basic rights. For instance, health insurance. Mahmoud Zouk, the executive director for public security has fired many security guards without prior warning for irrational reasons such as taking a sick day. A security guard stated that on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, Zouk fired 28 guards without warning. Additionally, security guards are expected to work 16-hour days with only one 1-hour break to use the restroom, eat and pray. Workers also demanded a rise in food allowance, which is currently 200 Egyptian pounds per month. Their demands are not voracious, but in fact just and deserved. AUC preaches democracy, but it appears the administration does not practice what they talk. Although freedom of speech is within the law of the university's policies, having a civil discussion with AUC president Lisa Anderson has proved to be near impossible. On Wednesday, September 14, the fourth day of strikes, it was agreed that protesters would meet with Lisa in the Bassily Theatre on campus. However, strikers agreed this location was unreasonable as it would not fit everyone. Despite the fact the majority of attendees were staff, Anderson proceeded with the “forum.” Requests that the forum takes place in front of the administration building were ignored. Later that same day protesters gathered inside the administration building peacefully, and after a lengthy wait, Anderson said she would come out and speak to the protesters. However, she left without listening to the strikers demands. Anderson's emails have opened little or no room for negotiation. In an email she sent out on Tuesday, Anderson essentially refused all of the demands to security, custodians and students. This proves her unwillingness on her part to cooperate and find a middle ground to the demands. The AUC strike has become somewhat of a small-scale Tahrir Square. The perfect epitome of what it is to have a peaceful democratic protest. As a participant, I believe Anderson's description of students as “ rude and unruly” is flawed. Strikers have proven to understand the meaning of democracy, allowing people who disagree with their cause to come and speak their mind freely using microphones. Over the past four days there has been a definite sense of camaraderie and respect among all students and workers, a unity many claim to have been unapparent during previous years within the AUC community. If the attitude of the strikers prevails, so will justice. BM
