Community Shocked At Zamalek Dorm Closure

BY MERNA EL-HENNAWY

President Lisa Anderson told a University Senate meeting earlier this month that the Zamalek dorms will “suspend operations” by July 1.

The Zamalek residence, an 11-story building that houses both students and faculty, has served the community since it was constructed in 1991.

Executive Vice-President for Administration and Finance Brian MacDougall told The Caravan that the board of trustees made the decision for strategic reasons because there is a need for AUC to concentrate its activities on the New Cairo campus.

Samia Mehrez, professor of Arab and Islamic civilizations who has lived at the Zamalek dorms for nearly 25 years, said that the residents there were informally told about the shut down at the University Senate meeting.

“All residents and staff are in shock at how their lives are being unilaterally mishandled by the administration without any effort to communicate such a serious decision in [a] timely manner for the residents and staff,” Mehrez said.

An email later sent only to Zamalek dorm residents and obtained by The Caravan said:

“In the trustees meeting on March 6, the board authorized suspending operation of the Zamalek Building as of July 1, 2015, and directed the Administration to develop a plan during FY15-16 for the use or disposal of the building that is consistent with the long term strategic plan of the university.”

Samy El Sawy, a member of the security staff at the Zamalek dorms, said that faculty residents informed workers that no decision had yet been made regarding workers in the building.

It remains unclear whether all of the Zamalek residents are expected to move to the New Cairo facilities.

However, MacDougall believes that they can be accommodated.

“Based upon residential life projections of supply and demand, we have enough space at the New Cairo campus to accommodate all of the students,” MacDougall said.

Fatma Abou Youssef, associate dean of international student affairs for residential life, said that there are about 25 empty beds at the New Cairo dorms that are used for visitors.

“Nothing is clear yet, but there is a suggestion that we use the Zamalek dorms for visitors instead of making them stay at the New Cairo campus,” Abou Youssef added.

The future of the building at this point remains unknown and speculation in the AUC community is rife.

Some believe that the building may be leased, like the Greek Campus in Tahrir, or sold.

“We have to make a determination of what to do with the building for the future because the building is a highly valuable piece of real estate,” MacDougall told The Caravan.

“One might make the decision to sell the building, and use the proceeds from the building to pay down the debt of building this campus,” MacDougall added.