News
As another semester begins adding to the horde of textbooks that pile up over previous semesters, SGA held its first Book Trade event on February 5th. Organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), the outdoor event provided students with a venue for an easy, free, and direct book exchange.
SGA President, Mohammad Al Abdalrazzaq, introduced this event in an effort to offer students an exchange of educational books with their colleagues while promoting a sense of community at AUK.
During the event, students were offered a selection of books that were displayed on table stalls and sorted by subject under a total of 15 categories. Students were given an outlet for donating their textbooks from past courses that were counted upon registering their name on a list, and then selected an equal number of books to choose from.
"The purpose of the book trade is another way of donating and fostering education while connecting students around campus," said Al-AbdalRazzaq. "Students can miss out on acquiring lots of useful educational books with valuable information. They may miss the chance to benefit from many of the books due to the hassle of purchasing them." Through this event, students were given the opportunity to quickly obtain much needed books that might otherwise be unavailable in the AUK bookstore in times of need.
In addition, Al-Abdalrazzaq hopes to continue the book exchange by further proposing a plan to the government to supply additional free books for AUK students.
Freshman representative Abrar Al-Shammari said,"The SGA was a great help in the planning and arrangement process, as well as the success of the event."
The Book Trade was shown to be very beneficial to students. The SGA plans to hold more of book trades in the coming semesters.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 11th February 2013
The Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) hosted a public lecture entitled "A Portrait of Low Income Migrants in Qatar: New Data from a Large-Scale Survey." by Dr. Andrew M. Gardner, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Puget Sound.
In his talk, Dr. Gardner outlined the details of his comprehensive study (funded by the Qatar National Research Fund as part of the National Priorities Research Program) on migrant, low-income laborers (classified as workers earning 2000 Qatari Riyals or less per month), the purpose of the study, and its initial findings. The study conducted used a sample of 1,189 low-income migrants. They were interviewed about a range of aspects concerning their national and cultural backgrounds, their employment, their housing, and their treatment.
The results of the survey revealed that 90 percent of migrant workers had their passports confiscated by their sponsors upon their arrival to Qatar. The low-income laborers all had to pay for their work visas to be able to work in Qatar, with an average cost of the visa amounting to $1031 USD. Other key findings were that 21 percent of those surveyed claimed they received their salaries either sometimes, rarely, or never on time. The results also suggested that small but significant percentages of the population reported having insufficient supplies of water, power, or air-conditioning.
One key purpose of the study was to analyze trends between the nationalities and religions of the low-income migrants and their overall treatment under employment in Qatar. The findings showed 'Arab' low-income migrants earned slightly higher wages, worked less hours, and shared their living spaces with fewer people than their 'South Asian' counterparts. Dr. Gardner explained that this correlation could possibly be attributed to similarities in culture and language.
The study revealed an inconsistent process of applying for visas outside of Qatar, allowing for exploitation and misinformation to occur. The study also revealed areas where there is room for improvement, specifically in the treatment of the migrant workers, and the respect of their basic human rights, as is the case with the confiscation of their passports.
The Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at the American University of Kuwait aims to promote greater cultural understanding of and increased intellectual interest in the Gulf, by facilitating free and open academic discourse on a range of issues that both shape and challenge this critical region of the world. The goal of CGS is to enable scholars as well as political and civil society actors both within and outside the region to contribute and add value to the burgeoning field of Gulf Studies, while at the same time informing and engaging the general public. To this end, the CGS encourages, supports, and cultivates interesting and original research on the Gulf, while regularly organizing a variety of public academic events such as lectures, roundtable discussions, and conferences.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 7th February 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
Following an extensive international search, AUK President, Dr. Winfred Thompson, announced the appointment of Professor Nizar Hamzeh as University Provost, effective this Spring Semester.
Hamzeh, who joined AUK in 2005, is an expert on Middle East politics, Islamic movements, international law, research methodology, and Western and Islamic political theory. He served at AUK as Associate Professor of Political Science, Head of the Social Sciences Division, and Director of the Gulf Studies Center until August 2006. In May 2007, Hamzeh was promoted to Full Professor based on reviews by an external Advisory Committee, which was created in the United States with assistance from Dartmouth College. He was appointed Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at AUK in the same year. In 2011, Hamzeh was appointed Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs.
"I am pleased to appoint Dr. Hamzeh to his new position, which recognizes not only his long and distinguished service to the university but also the increased responsibilities he has assumed. I look forward to working with him in his new role," said President Thompson.
Prior to joining AUK, Hamzeh was a lecturer at the University of Southern California from 1987 to 1989, Assistant Professor and Associate Professor from 1989 to 2004 at the American University of Beirut, and Chair of the Political Science Department 1990 to 1999, member of the AUB Senate from 1997-1999, and Acting Dean of Student Affairs from 1999 to 2000.
As a 1979 graduate of the Lebanese University Faculty of Law, Hamzeh pursued graduate studies at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles receiving his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science in 1982 and 1986, respectively. Building on his dissertation, Conflict in Lebanon: A Survey of Opinions and Attitudes, Hamzeh has become an internationally recognized authority on the culture and politics of Lebanon, with special focus on the development of Hizbullah and Islamist movements across the Middle East. Hamzeh is the author of In the Path of Hezbullah, published by Syracuse University Press, December 2004, a work that received the U.S. Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Book Award for 2005. He has co-authored two other volumes on Lebanese Politics, and his articles appear in scholarly international referred journals such as International Journal of the Middle East (IJMES), Third World Quarterly, and Middle East Quarterly. His research work is also published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington D.C.
"I am honored to be appointed to this new post. I look forward to continue serving the students of the American University of Kuwait to the best of their interest and future," said Hamzeh. He added, "I also look forward to working closely with the University President, Dr. Win Thompson, AUK BOT, faculty and administrative colleagues, and our Dartmouth partners, to enhance the academic programs that sustain AUK's distinctive intellectual environment".
The AUK Provost is the chief academic officer of the university, responsible for the academic and administrative functions of the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Business & Economics and oversees all other academic support units and centers, such as the Registrar, the Library, the Writing Center, the Academic Advising Center and the Center for Gulf Studies. With oversight of curriculum development and implementation; faculty recruitment, development, and evaluation; policy development; and budgetary and outreach supervision, the Provost works closely with the President and serves as a member of his leadership cabinet.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 5th February 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
The Drama Program at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) presented its production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, performed at The Black Box Theatre on AUK's Salmiya campus.
Simon's comedy was directed by AUK's new Assistant Professor of Drama, Dr. Kathleen R. Downs, under the auspice of the newly formed Music and Drama Department. It included such veteran AUK actors as Nader Abdullah and Yousef Nayef. Newcomers to the University's theatre community include Eamon Issa, Amran Aldallal, Yacoub Aljaffrey, Ken Downs, Nouf Al Mazidi, and Tori Danner. The production crew included stage manager Nouf Al Mazidi and assistant stage manager and acting understudy Mohammed Al-Saeed, with Mariam Al Refai on costumes and Mohammad Saleh manning the light and sound boards.
The company met nightly for close to two months as they diligently learned lines, rehearsed movement and improvised comedic situations to delight audiences of all ages. The play was performed before a sold out house on three of the four nights of the show.
Despite limited space, the troupe ably performed comedic gags and slapstick routines as they struggled with the question of whether two completely opposite roommates could live amicably together. The story of the two roommates, Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar, has been performed all over the world since the original 1965 production. It also has been made into two television series, a cartoon series and a movie.
AUK is proud to have continued the saga of the two mismatched roommates, who not only survive each other but learn to grow and develop as a result of their friendship. The AUK community looks forward to the next theatrical event, planned for the Spring semester of 2013.
The Department of Music and Drama offers a wide range of opportunities for both beginning and advanced students within the context of a liberal arts education. The Music and Drama faculty of talented professionals work closely with students to prepare them for campus concerts and plays, and to academically challenge them in courses on performing arts. The department fosters artistic proficiency, cultural appreciation, a sense of community, and a lifelong commitment to the arts.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 5th February 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
Important - Last Chance!
Students interested in the Cambridge International Diploma in Business must register for the May 2013 exam before February 14, 2013.
The Cambridge IDB will be discontinued in 2015, and because of this, it is important to register for at least one module before the deadline, even if you don't want to start studying immediately, in order to be eligible to sit Cambridge exams in the future.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 31st January 2013
As part of the daily show "Good Morning Kuwait", Kuwait TV hosted Dr. Hesham Al Awadi, Associate Professor of Political Science and History at AUK to talk about Kuwait's Future Generations Fund (FGF) and its role in boosting the governmental education sector in Kuwait.
The discussion covered several points including, the increase in the assets of the Future Generations Fund (FGF) and the concurrent talks over loans write-off. Dr. Al Awadi expressed his optimism about the rise in educational funds from 10% to 25% of oil revenues. This, in his opinion, should make great contribution to the standard of education in Kuwait, if wisely utilized. Such resources should go to the development of educators and educational resources rather than infrastructure investments. "People need to regain trust in governmental education in Kuwait", stressed Dr. Al Awadi.
The public discussion over loans write-off, in Al Awadi's opinion, should not be seen in separation from the positive efforts in building the educational process. "The mentality of exclusion of opposing views should disappear from our dialogue", Al Awadi commented on the Parliament talks over loans write-off. "Unless we forget about personal interests, we will never be able to build a future for our coming generations" he concluded.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 16th January 2013
After several months of hard work, the AUK Library officially started receiving visitors in the new expanded area on its second floor. In an Open House event on January 10th, the library opened doors to the AUK community to enjoy the new renovations and facilities in the previously closed area.
The new library section now houses part of the book collection, in addition to periodicals display, a reading space, a terrace, and a book display area, with a special stand for books published by AUK professors. AUK Freshman Rawah Al-Hassan , especially likes the "calm atmosphere of the new Library section and the fact that AUK Professors' books are receiving good recognition."
According to Ms. Asma Al Kanan, the newly appointed Library Director, planning and preparations started in the Library during the Summer, while actual work started beginning November and was completed in mid-December. The process was exhaustive as it included transferring and moving a book collection of over 30,000 items without affecting the daily operations and services of the library,. Fiction and Journals' current and old issues were relocated to the new space, allowing the library to free the middle area in the ground floor for twelve new tables. The Circulation Desk was also reduced and moved to the corner to free the middle area and better serve library users. Al Kanan says "I feel very proud of a hard working library staff and a supportive administration. I'm very pleased to see the productive use our users are making of the new space."
The Library Open House saw many students and faculty members, who came to help and enjoy the social and intellectual atmosphere of the event. Among those, was the current Chair of the Library Committee, Dr. Kathy Nixon, who showed appreciation to the work undergone by the Library staff. "I am impressed with the Library staff, they worked really hard," said Nixon "It is a great thing to have this event to show the students how hard the Library staff have worked to support their study process."
The Library Terrace, which has been closed for years, has turned into a lively area during the event. Dr. Marcelline Fusilier, Professor of Management and former Chair of the Library Committee, said she likes the open terrace overlooking the AUK campus. In her opinion, it serves as a breather for students to rest during studying or make conversations that are not possible inside the library "The atmosphere of the Library Open House is very welcoming, it is something new," said Dr. Fusilier.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 15th January 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
Under the slogan "Be a Distinctive Journalist," the organizers of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah Award for Journalistic Excellence launched their awareness campaign aiming to establish a new generation of expert journalists in Kuwait. This year, universities around Kuwait were among the most important targets of the campaign.
On Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, the organizers visited the American University of Kuwait (AUK) to meet the students and present the competition guidelines, conditions and requirements for eligible participation.
Ayman Al-Ali, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, conducted the presentation at the AUK Auditorium. He started off by introducing the competition and the motives behind initiating this contest. Al-Ali spoke of Kuwait's keen interest to establish a new generation of expert journalistic writers in Kuwait.
"The main aim of this competition is to entice the youth category, that's why we are operating in means similar to the youth, use of technology, where our registration process is possible via the website, in a way to make it easier for the youth to participate and attract them more. We hope to have high youth participation this year," said Al-Ali.
The competition this year seeks not only to attract the Kuwaiti youth, but also to polish their journalistic skills. Therefore, the conditions for the Kuwaiti Youth category come with more privileges to facilitate the process of their participation. This includes a lower word count and the possibility of English submissions, accompanied by Arabic translation. Additionally, the submissions should be related to Kuwait, yet not limited to a single topic, allowing more space for creativity and innovation to be part of the participation.
The deadline for participation in the competition is scheduled to be the 17th of January 2013. Participants will be required to visit Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) to complete their registration application and submit their work to Yasir Al-Saadi, Media Officer.
In order to have a comprehensive judging approach, the judging panel of the competition will consist of professional journalists and academics. One of the announced renowned members of the judging committee will be Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif, Head of Media Department at Kuwait University.
From their side, the Communication and Media Department at AUK saw this competition as a valuable opportunity for students to participate and increase their exposure to technical and professional writing. Therefore, in collaboration with the Public Affairs Department, the session was successfully held to encourage interested students to learn more about the competition and share their questions.
"I would like to thank the organizers of the Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah Award for Journalistic Excellence for taking the time to talk to our students. I hope our students realize that participating in this competition will give them an opportunity to compete with other aspiring writers and to improve their writing skills," said Dr. Mohamed Satti, Chair & Assistant Professor at Department of Communication & Media.
The informational session given by Al-Ali did not only attract AUK Media students, but also students from different majors who were interested to know more about the competition guidelines, hoping to submit future contributions.
It is with the support of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Prime Minister, and his aspiration to create many initiatives to encourage youth participation and their involvement that this competition is running for its fifth session. Al-Ali, therefore, promised of a paradigm shift in attracting youth and creating more opportunities in future sessions.
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Hamad Al -Sabah Award for Journalistic Excellence was founded five years ago and took the name of the late, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, with the support and blessing of the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Prime Minister, who has spared no effort in the development of this award, which aims to encourage excellence journalist and for the first time the Kuwaiti youth, also create a spirit of competition to take them to the ranks of the highest levels of the global media.
Written by: Aya Abdulhamid
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 15th January 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
AUK Associate Professor of International Relations Dr. George Irani participated in a show titled 'The Road to the White House' on Kuwait TV. The show is produced by Dr. Abdallah Al-Shayeji, Chair of the Political Science Department at Kuwait University.
The program covered topics including, President Obama's nominations for the positions of Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, as well as a discussion on the fiscal cliff in the US. The program also discussed future prospects in relations between Obama and the US congress.
During his conversation, Dr. Irani stressed that the election of Barack Obama to a second presidential mandate is a sign of maturity in the American electorate. According to Dr. Irani, the appointment of the trio-Kerry, Hagel and Brennan-is proof of Obama's aim to build a solid team he can trust and rely upon in his second term. AUK Associate Professor of International Relations Dr. George Irani
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 14th January 2013
The Salmiya Collection is the latest book by Dr. Craig Loomis, Associate Professor of English and Chair of the English Department at the American University of Kuwait. The book, which will be published in March by the Syracuse University Press, deals with the essence of the everyday life in the popular Kuwaiti district of Al-Salmiya.
Through the forty stories in the book, Dr. Loomis unveils the distinct yet complex aspects of the Kuwaiti society that project a holistic picture of the universal nature of characters and situations. As the publisher describes it, "The book captures the spirit of life in modern Kuwait".
The Salmiya Collection received a review by Earl (Tim) Sullivan, Professor and Provost emeritus, American University in Cairo, in which he says "Loomis's stories see the world from the perspective of the characters he depicts, foreigners and Kuwaitis alike...readers will enjoy and be provoked by The Salmiya Collection."
Craig Loomis is also the author of A Softer Violence: Tales of Orient, and his short fiction has appeared in the Iowa Review, Colorado Review, Quarterly West, Louisville Review, and Prague Revue.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 10th January 2013
