| Documenting History
A new initiative seeks to preserve the change in Egypt through the
eyes of the AUC community
Weeks after the historic AUC Tahrir
Square bore witness to the 18 days of
demonstrations that toppled the
Mubarak regime, AUC announced the launch of a
new project, University on the Square. The project
documents the experiences of AUCians in the
revolution through photographs, videos,
testimonies and other digital material online, in
addition to designated collection centers for the
donation of physical items. It is one of several new
initiatives created by AUC to integrate the
revolution into the academic and cultural life of
the University.
AUC President Lisa Anderson described the
initiative as "a constantly evolving project that
combines systematic archiving and creative
exhibition in an effort to preserve the facts and
feel of these transformative times in Egypt as well
as at AUC," she said. "Individuals with compelling
stories and captivating experiences will have the
opportunity to schedule interviews with our staff
to recount and preserve our oral history."
Project planners have already begun conducting
interviews with members of the AUC community
for their testimonies. According to Steve Urgola,
co-coordinator of the Oral History Committee,
senior librarian, University archivist and director
of records management, there are approximately
80 people on the list of targeted interviewees,
including students, alumni, faculty, staff, senior
administration and Board of Trustees members, as
well as security personnel at AUC Tahrir Square
and vendors who have long served the Tahrir
Square campus. In addition to those who are
formally contacted, the project will set up booths
on campus where those who wish to share a story
can do so.
"Historically, oral histories have been important
in adding texture to events and issues," said Kim
Fox, associate professor of practice in AUC's
journalism and mass communication department
who is co-coordinating the oral history
component of the project. "We hope to do the
same by adding to AUC's oral history archives
with the experiences of AUCians in the Egyptian
Revolution. People who want to share their
stories will be able to make an appointment to
talk about their experience with someone from
the oral history team. The audio recordings will
eventually be available on AUC's Digital Archive
and Research Repository."
While the project is currently in the data
collection stage, the University plans to showcase
materials through the Web, exhibitions,
publications, seminars and presentations.
In addition, AUC is launching After Tahrir, a
Web site dedicated to coordinating the multitude
of initiatives held at AUC New Cairo and AUC
Tahrir Square that revolve around the revolution,
from public lectures and panel discussions to
workshops, courses and seminars.
To contribute to the project or for more
information and updates, visit
www.aucegypt.edu/onthesquare
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