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“What do you think about the Israeli / AUC controversy?” |
Letter to the Editor:
Not so “embarassed to be an AUCian”
In the November 11 issue of Caravan, Ms Kate Dannies wrote
the article, “Embarrassed to be an AUCian.”
First, I’m a great believer in freedom of expression and therefore
think that Ms Dannies is entitled to express her views. However, since
the picture Ms Dannies presented us with was incomplete, it is only fair
that I exercise the same right and complete it.
So, dear readers, here’s what really happened: The event on Saturday,
October 27, was the closing ceremony of the Junior Cairo International
Model United Nations (JCIMUN) conference. For this event, the fountain
area was reserved well in advance; and, yes, with the “permission”
of the AUC Office of Student Development (OSD). The event was kept within
the confines of the AUC campus upon the request of the parents of the
participating high-school students. In addition to all that, AUC provided
at least four to six security guards to monitor the event and make sure
that AUC rules and regulations were upheld during the celebration.
This is why I do not even think it is worth mentioning that the picture
Ms Dannies gave us of a hip-hop nightclub “complete with older men,
scantily clad, underage women” is –to say the least—a
blatant exaggeration by her.
So, again to clarify, no AUC rules were broken during the celebration
and the present AUC personnel and CIMUN supervisors made sure of that.
However, Ms Dannies, if you think that girls and boys dancing together
is something embarrassing, then consider leaving the Dabka club. If you
think that loud music, the basis for any Dabka performance, is embarrassing,
then consider leaving the Dabka club. And finally, if you think that young
people having fun and enjoying dance and music is embarrassing, then again
please consider leaving the Dabka club.
Ms Dannies, the CIMUN team was doing nothing of a nature that would embarrass
any AUCian. Admittedly, the problem is merely that the music was too loud.
And we have already apologized for that.
As for the kind invitation you extended at the end of your letter last
week for us to bring the young delegates in to watch your Dabka rehearsal,
it was a bit late. It would have been a nice idea, however, if instead
of fighting with the JCIMUN organizers, the Dabka club presented them
with a nice performance. I’m sure they would have loved it.
On behalf of the CIMUN team.
Dalia Ashour
Master’s in Political Science, Spring ‘07
