AUC Tackles Security Threats, Reassures Students

BY NADINE AWADALLA

As security becomes a major concern in the midst of Egypt’s war against terrorism, AUC staff have heightened their safety procedures in and around campus.

Earlier this semester, two suspicious objects were discovered in the vicinity of the Pepsi Gate parking lot.

The first incident involved a taxi driver who found an object that was suspected to be an explosive device, and the second involved a landscape worker discovering what at first appeared to be a home-made device.

Both items were later described by security officials as posing no danger to the community even though police were called in to investigate and handle the situation.

“Police treat campus security threats with utmost seriousness, even if the suspicious objects turn out not to be bombs or contain explosives,” said Senior Director for Security Mokhtar Shalaby.

“We had cleared enough space around the object so that no one would be hurt,” Shalaby added.

Shalaby also said that his team remains on high alert.

“AUC continually monitors the [surroundings] to ensure that we can provide a safe and secure environment for the AUC community. It is possible that we may have a reoccurrence of this issue, but again we are prepared to manage these types of events,” said Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Brian MacDougall in a statement to The Caravan.

However, Shalaby said that he is in constant communication with the Egyptian National Security Council to keep abreast of security issues.

“If there is a high security threat, we can make sure only registered vehicles enter the campus; if there’s [a great enough threat] I could disallow cars from entering altogether,” Shalaby said.

Alternative measures

Redirecting entrance traffic is one security measure, and security cameras are another.

Shalaby told The Caravan that there are currently 36 security cameras installed at AUC, but that the university will be acquiring more up-to-date models that use thermal technology and alert security to abandoned objects.

MacDougall and Shalaby stressed the importance of AUC’s security budget.

“The administration is highly committed to ensuring that AUC security is well-resourced to support the needs of the AUC community,” MacDougall said.

Meanwhile, students expressed a feeling of desensitization towards the possible threats that face the campus and community at large.

“Because we hear in the news every single week that there’s a bomb [found] somewhere, right now I don’t feel that threatened, if it were a real bomb the safety measures would have been higher because I saw the one that was found next to Pepsi Gate. If it were a real scare, they’d have closed the actual gate,” said Sarah El Manna’i, an architecture senior.

Both Shalaby and MacDougall say their priority is to have students feeling secure.

“Students should feel safe [on campus] and feel confident there is a team of security and safety personnel committed to protecting the AUC community,” MacDougall said.