Major Campus Spaces
                    INAUGURATED

  Photos by Ahmad El-Nemr

In two separate ceremonies held at AUC New Cairo, the university officially inaugurated two spaces on campus. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hall was inaugurated by Prince Alwaleed, chairman of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation and Kingdom Holding Company. In addition, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al- Qasimi, ruler of Sharjah and member of the United Arab Emirates Supreme Council, inaugurated Journey Through the Orient, an exhibition held at the Sharjah Art Gallery featuring an exceptional collection of lithographs by world-renowned architectural artist David Roberts. Al-Qasimi also named the Sultan Al-Qasimi Department of History during his visit to AUC.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hall
“I am very happy to be here in the midst of this spectacular campus,” said Prince Alwaleed during the inauguration ceremony. “This is not only a symbol of AUC success, but of Egyptian success.”

In recognition of a $10 million donation, AUC named the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hall and the Prince Alwaleed Center for American Studies and Research (CASAR). The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hall houses the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, which includes the departments of Arab and Islamic civilization, English and comparative literature, history, philosophy, political science, performing and visual arts, rhetoric and composition, as well as sociology, anthropology, psychology and Egyptology. It is also home to the Arabic Language Institute, the Middle East Studies Center, the English Language Institute, as well as the Model United Nations and Model Arab League. CASAR provides scientific and academic studies of U.S. society, history, domestic and foreign policies, and Arab-American relations.

In addition, the hall features offices, meeting rooms, as well as a central courtyard, fountain and several outdoor terraces. According to Alwaleed, the layout and facilities at the new hall are conducive to highlevel research and scholarship that will promote understanding and peaceful coexistence among Eastern and Western societies. “My aim is to correct the misconceptions in the West about Islam especially after 9/11 and the terrorist attacks by a number of misguided individuals,” said Alwaleed, who concluded by commending AUC for working toward a better world.

AUC President David Arnold agreed that the educational promise of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Hall extends AUC’s mission to bridge educational and cultural gaps between East and West. “By naming this building, Prince Alwaleed demonstrates his unwavering commitment to liberal education and, in particular, the humanities and social sciences,” Arnold noted. “Courses in history, literature and philosophy help students to think broadly and creatively about human nature, to apply lessons of the past to the challenges of today and tomorrow, and to find meaning in their lives and their societies.”

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi

Sultan Al-Qasimi Department of History
In a ceremony held at the Sharjah Art Gallery, which Al-Qasimi named and officially inaugurated last year, Al- Qasimi opened the exhibition, Journey Through the Orient, which included 52 lithographs by David Roberts, RA, inspired by his journeys through Egypt in 1838 and 1839. The works comprise landscapes including scenes of the Nile, Cairo’s architecture and people, and the many famous ruins that Roberts encountered on his journey from Upper Egypt down the Nile to Cairo and Alexandria. The exhibition also featured a rare map of the Nile from Nubia to the Mediterranean, marking the sites that Roberts sketched and later painted. The collection was on loan from the Sharjah Museum to AUC’s Department of Performing and Visual Arts for a temporary exhibition at the Sharjah Art Gallery.

Describing the collection as “inspiring,” AUC President David Arnold said that students are privileged to have the opportunity to experience the works firsthand. “Sharjah has a wonderful reputation for its love of culture and heritage, whether that stretches back millennia, centuries or even decades,” he said. “These prints are the perfect example of how we must preserve our past to inspire future generations. They do not merely record a moment in time; they instill a passion for students to make their own mark on the world.”

During his visit, Al-Qasimi also inaugurated the Sultan Al-Qasimi Department of History, where he held a seminar with history faculty members. The seminar was moderated by Provost Lisa Anderson. “We appreciate the continuous support that HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi shows to AUC and to Egyptian and regional culture and education in general,” said Anderson. “His initiatives help instill an enduring appreciation for the arts in our youth and foster a better understanding of regional history.”