Letter to the Editor: Much Ado About Nothing

The title for my Caravan contribution is borrowed from a play written by William Shakespeare in 1598 and 1599. I borrowed it due to the fact that Shakespeare relied upon the “double meaning” attributed to the word “nothing” at his time. For Shakespeare, “nothing”, which sounds the same as “noting,” – meaning gossip, rumor and overhearing – allowed a double interpretation to his title.

In some respects, and especially since the announcement of the financial crisis facing AUC there has been a considerable fuss and concern expressed at all levels of the University and in different constituencies over “nothing” meaning “noting” (i.e., “rumor and gossip in Shakespearean English).”

This is unfortunate as it affects people who rightly feel threatened, concerned and insecure given the overall socio-economic and political climate in Egypt today. It is within such a context that misunderstandings can easily arise, which is why I wanted to elaborate on and clarify my comments in a Caravan article published at the end of the fall semester.

I believe my comments may have been misinterpreted and therefore require sufficient background to adequately convey what I meant when I addressed educational standards at AUC during last semester’s forum about the financial crisis.

I fully understand how this could have happened, given the prevailing climate at AUC at the time, and have no issue with the particular reporter as such. Instead I appreciate the opportunity given to me by the Caravan to explain in my own words what I see and feel about educational standards at AUC, then and now.

Let me state categorically at the start that I have great admiration and confidence in the academic standards upheld at AUC and it is for this reason that I also took early retirement from the UK and came to teach at AUC.

Since Jan 2004, I have taught several undergraduate and graduate courses in two different departments (Political Science and Anthropology/ Sociology) and believe I had the pleasure of encountering some of the brightest students I have taught in my long teaching career in the UK and other countries and have greatly appreciated the high quality education provided to students at AUC.

My students exemplified critical thinking, creative analytical skills and exemplary professional presentation skills that could only be acquired in an institution which maintains high academic standards. In my class, I was the beneficiary of such an educational standard.

The high quality education we provide students at AUC is our trade mark in Egypt, the region and globally and that whatever happens during this difficult period it is the one thing that we cannot allow to be affected. I believe passionately that our reputation rests upon this one element more than anything else and that it is one area we cannot sacrifice even one iota.

Thus, I argued vocally in the Forum last semester and again to the reporter that the Senior University Administration must recognize this and bring the entire community together in order to face the crisis without any effects on the quality of education.

It is my belief that for the quality of education to be upheld at AUC every member of the University community needs to be involved and contribute.

I was the beneficiary of bright students in my classes because numerous people at AUC had made important contributions. This includes the faculty, of course, but also the administrators and all the staff that provide the wide educational environment within which we maintain a high quality education.

Every element is vital and any tampering with the human fabric of the University will affect educational quality.

It is for this reason that at the Forum concerned, I had vocally asked for a special commission to bring together all the constituencies of the university and work together towards solving the problem and ensuring we do not affect educational standards.

The President did respond positively and such a commission was formed. Thus, I conclude by noting my optimism that together as a united community we will resolve the crisis and we will preserve the high quality education that is the hallmark of AUC.

Pandeli Glavanis

University Senate Chair