Great Expectations? AUC Inaugurates Ricciardone
@YasmeenShaheenn
AUC celebrated the inauguration of Francis J. Ricciardone as its 12th president on October 17.
The inaugural speeches were delivered at noon in the Bassily Auditorium, followed by a succession of festivities in the plaza – including a performance by AUC Folklore troupe.
The inauguration ceremony included a welcome speech by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Richard Bartlett and the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education Ashraf El- Shihy.
The inaugural speeches were followed by the President’s own address.
“I have the intention and enthusiasm to enhance AUC’s certificates and bring it back to the top ranks,” said the newly appointed president.
“There is no where else I would like to be but Egypt at this moment in history, and AUC is part of that future,” he continued.
The ceremony was concluded by the AUC song ‘We of AUC’. The delivery of formal inauguration addresses was followed by the campus community’s celebrations across Bartlett Plaza.
This included folklore dances, diverse student performances and a welcome address for the new president.
“I liked the inauguration… I wish him good luck in this mission,” said Ricciardone’s predecessor Lisa Anderson.
“He has a lot of important networks that will help bring AUC to new places and allow new sources of funding that we didn’t get before,” she added.
The ceremony was also attended by a large number of Egyptian and international businessmen, regional university presidents and political pundits.
Prominent politician Mostafa El-Fekki told The Caravan that he expects a lot from President Ricciardone.
“He [Ricciardone] loves Egypt,” El-Fekki said.
In the build-up to the inauguration, AUC set up a series of activities and showcases called AUC Up Close; these ranged from tours on campus to theater productions and panel discussions.
Panels titled AUC and the Liberal Arts: Education for Citizenship and Research that Reflects Innovations and Impact Poverty Alleviation both took place on October 16.
AUC Up Close also featured three exhibitions by renowned artists such as Azza Fahmy and Boulos Isaac.
However, not everyone was happy about the inaugural commemorations.
“As a student who’s been a part of the AUC community for over five years, I can only be appalled at today’s inauguration ceremony and everything it stands for,” said mechanical engineering senior Omar Abdel-Sattar.
He said that he would have expected a “simpler display of celebrations” during this phase of the country’s economic recession, particularly given rumors of a 10 percent hike in tuition fees next year.
“Today was an extravagant display and needless celebratory features; all of which come directly from the money we pay to receive our education,” Abdel-Sattar said.
