Student Union ‘Celebrity’ Concert Sparks Controversy

By: Farida Kamal
Follow @faridaahmed52

A number of students have faulted the Student Union (SU) for hosting a high-profile concert at a time when demonstrations have been held on campus to protest a surge in tuition fees.

Egyptian band Disco Misr, Egyptian singer Mohamed Hamaki and Lebanese Singer Haifa Wehbe performed at the SU’s Jukebox concert in AUC’s amphitheatre on October 27.

The show sold out 70 percent of the tickets, which cost EGP 300, five days prior to the event, with members of the community and outsiders rushing to buy their tickets.

The concert received mixed reactions from the student body.

“The aim of this event is to make students and faculty entertained and at the same time benefit the AUC community by collecting the money paid in tickets to create services for AUC students and campus,” SU President Mohamed Gadalla told The Caravan.

The SU hosted Hamaki and Wehbe after a student survey revealed that the two stars were the majority’s preference.

Jukebox marked the first time the SU hosts a concert with two prominent singers.

However, numerous students took to Facebook to complain about the SU planning such an upscale event that would not benefit the student body, especially with recent issues regarding the increase of tuition fees.

The issue of tuition fees has been an ongoing issue for the past year following the flotation of the pound and the increase of the value of the dollar.

Many students faced hardships in paying the fees, which influenced the Parents’ Association (PA) to file a case against the University’s demanding that the dollar portion of tuition be reflected in EGP instead.

Since Fall 2016, students have been on a number of strikes protesting the tuition increase and many had their financial aid applications declined.

“Instead of paying this tremendous amount of money on such an event, the money could be given to students who are not able to afford their fees to continue their education,” said Malak Bahig, a graphic design junior.

Habiba el Gamaly, an undeclared sophomore, also said she sees no point in the Union spending money on events that will not benefit the students.

SU Vice President Ahmed Gazar, however, said that the money collected from ticket sales at the event will help in resolving the problems students face, especially that of tuition.

However, in spite of this, a number of students t0ld The Caravan that they enjoyed the concert nevertheless, describing it as an effective distraction in the middle of the semester.

Gadalla added that the Union sought these two prominent performers in order to attract a bigger audience, which would increase the revenue that would ultimately be used to help the students.

The SU have yet to develop a strategy as to how they will distribute the revenues from the concert.

The SU was able to increase the concert’s revenues by allowing outsiders to attend the concert.

The concert also appears to have attracted media attention as Wehbe revealed on November 1 that she had been accused of indecent exposure for the shorts she wore on stage.

“I was shocked to hear a little while ago that a journalist filed a complaint against me in the Musicians Syndicate for appearing on AUC’s stage wearing shorts. Why is that  I am always criticized after every successful performance in Egypt just because this ‘modern look’ is considered unfamiliar for some,” the Tweet posted last Wednesday said.