News

The American University of Kuwait (AUK), a private independent liberal arts institution, recently announced that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Shafeeq Ghabra had reached a mutual agreement not to renew his contract as University President. To ensure a smooth transition, the Board has appointed as Acting President, Dr. Marina Tolmacheva, Dean of the College of Arts and Science.

Sheikha Dana N. Al-Sabah, Chair of the AUK Board of Trustees, said "Dr. Ghabra was our founding president, a strong proponent of the philosophy of a liberal arts education; he has made an important and lasting contribution to the growth and development of AUK and was instrumental in establishing our relationship with Dartmouth College - a relationship that continues and endures."

Dr. Shafeeq Ghabra said in a statement sent to Faculty & Staff "While I am tremendously proud of the work we have accomplished together and have enjoyed working with everyone in this community, it is time for me to move on," adding that the time was right for AUK to enter into the kind of transition in leadership that is part of every healthy university's life cycle." Dr. Ghabra added "AUK will always have a place in my heart. I know that it will continue to grow and flourish and I wish you all success in your future growth, personal development, and academic endeavors."

Dr. Marina Tolmacheva, a member of the AUK leadership team since January 2006, will continue in her role as Dean while serving as Acting President. Dr. Tolmacheva, Professor of History and past Directors of Asia Program at Washington University, is a specialist in Medieval Arab History and Islamic Civilization. Her research explores the works of Medieval Arab Geography travelers, among them the famous Ibn Battuta.

The American University of Kuwait is a liberal arts institution based on the American model of higher education. It is dedicated to providing students with knowledge, self-awareness, and personal growth experiences that can enhance critical thinking, effective communication, and respect for diversity. AUK seeks to create leaders and life-long learners who aspire to the highest standards of moral and ethical responsibility in their societies. The university opened in 2004 and will graduate its first class this spring.

Dartmouth College has signed a memorandum of understanding with AUK that has allowed the two institutions to initiate a series of advisory, consultative, and cooperative projects. Founded in 1769 in New Hampshire in the United States of America, Dartmouth is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college with graduate programs in the arts and sciences, medicine, engineering, and business. The agreement reflects AUK's commitment to creating the best in liberal arts education, drawing from the rich tradition and expertise of Dartmouth, and Dartmouth's recognition of the AUK commitment to quality.
 

Dr. Marina Tolmacheva AUK's Acting President

Back Row (L-R): Abdullah Al-Zamel, Jasim Al-Hassawi, Anthony Salandy (Head Coach), Abdullah Al-Sabah, Sami Maan (Cpt.), Ahmad Lotfy, Khalil Al-Wafi, Tadd Kruse (Asst.Coach)
Front Row (L-R): Bashir Ibrahim, Ahmad Al-Salamin, Najeeb Al-Awadhi, Edmond Eid, Fahad Al-Maktoum, Sherif Mohamed

It is my pleasure to announce the Dean's Honor List for the Fall 2005 Semester.

In order to be honored with inclusion in the Dean's Honor List, a student must meet several important academic conditions including a cumulative semester Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher. The students listed below have achieved an excellent scholastic record during the Fall 2005 semester and their fine work is certainly worthy of recognition.

Being placed on the Dean's Honor List is a source of considerable pride and satisfaction to the students, their families, and their professors. On behalf of the American University of Kuwait, I extend my congratulations to these students and wish them continued success in their studies.

Sincerely,

Marina A. Tolmacheva
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
American University of Kuwait

Dean's Honor List

Courtesy of Arab Times
5-6th January, 2006
Event was held on 4th January, 2006

Kuwait City, Jan 4: Opening up of the Kuwaiti market, said Edward W. Gnehm Jr, is the most important economic reform to be adopted for the development of the private sector. The former American envoy to Kuwait and an expert in Middle Eastern geopolitics was lecturing at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) Wednesday, sharing some of his views on critical issues in the region to an au-fait audience comprising professors and students.

Dr. Shafiq Ghabra, President of AUK, introduced Gnehm as the American ambassador who had his tenure during the most difficult times of Kuwait, "invasion and the first Gulf war that followed." The former ambassador, he added, was one of the first envoys to return to Kuwait after the war, "when the oil wells were still raging and the sky was black."

Gnehm said he sees Kuwait as steadily marching in the way of progress and development. Kuwait, he added, is also a country with a growing population of talented youngsters. "The country has also been playing a leadership role in the region post invasion, always in the frontlines of problem-solving alliances." Regarding the opening up of the Kuwaiti market, he said it might wipe out some of the traditional businesses in the face of competition, but would ultimately do good to the economy.

Answering a question on the important challenges in the region, Gnehm identified Iraq as the biggest challenge. Without further deliberation on the point, he counted the next challenge: "Iran" He was quick to add: "our eyesight should not be clouded by just nuclear issues while dealing with the country. Israel fell next in his list of challenges gripping the region, and lastly figured energy, which though is available in vast reserves, still is not inexhaustible." Despite Iraq featuring on top of his "problem" list, he said he is very confident that Iraq will sooner or later return to normalcy. "The pressure tendencies, sociology and history of the country point to this fact. There will be pressure on ethnic groups to unite, as every group has interests in the country, all of which can be realized only in an atmosphere of peace."

Gnehm then dwelled upon the reasons for his lack of hope for an amicabe le settlement of the Palestine-Israel problem in the near future, citing the inability of the Palestinians to get their acts together, while the coalitional nature of Israel's government affects smooth tabling of decisions. He also rued the lack of a strong political will in the US to see a solution to this Middle East crisis. "There is not a single constituency in America today that is pushing for peace in the Middle East." The reason for this, he said, is because "after 9/11 the American public is focused on terrorism. The continuing violence by Palestinian uprising is increasingly seen as terrorism by the US electorate, which is losing sympathy for the Palestinian cause."

Watching what's happening on the ground in the conflict-ridden Israel and Palestine, "things are moving away from a peaceful solution." The ex-envoy hit out at the Israeli premier, Ariel Sharon, saying, "if he gets re-elected, he will not have any of the agenda that he is talking about now." Sharon, he added, is only trying play up "demography versus geography, i.e. whatever is there in the Israel that he carves out will be Jewish, and nothing Arabic."

President Bush, he stressed, strongly believes in a two nation theory, separate states for Palestinians and Jews, and thinks that will be the only logical solution to the problem. "However, the administration did not pursue this agenda and drifted away from it."
Gnehm then answered informed queries on the geo-economics of the region, with reference to oil pipelines and their routes, connecting the energy rich Caspian area to other parts of Asia.
He underscored an important aspect of the American foreign policy: "not to let the energy resources of the world to fall into hostile powers. First it was the Soviet Union, then it was Iraq and now it is Iran."Therefore, he summed up, a pipeline through Iran is out of question. However, he also added that despite the trouble with Iran since 1979, "we - Iran and the US- have common interests."


Copyright (C) 2006 Arab Times
 

Courtesy of the Daily Star
5th January, 2006
Event was held on 3rd January, 2006

Kuwait: American University of Kuwait held its first Annual Art Exhibition on Tuesday, showcasing art work that AUK students had put together. The art work included colour photos, pencil sketches, acrylic paintings, poetry, oil pastels with metallic paint, engraved pictures on black cardboard, charcoal and multi glitter glue posters.

The exhibition was organized by Coordinator of Student Affairs at AUK Tadd A. Kruse and a number of students. A student came up to me with a painting and proposed the idea of having an art night," Kruse said. He added that he gave the students about a months notice and that a lot of the paintings were completed prior to this notice.

This is our first attempt, and since it was a success, we have every intention of sticking to it in the upcoming years."
Many of the AUK staff attended the opening of the exhibition. The President of AUK Dr. Shafiq Al-Ghabra was delighted to be at the event.

"The exhibition is organized so that students can expose their talents and creativity in art. As you can see all the posters reflect their deepest feelings about the future, the present, and their strong connection to their culture and identity," Al-Ghabra said.
AUK wants the students to express themselves in doing different types of activities while they are in school," Al-Ghabra added. "It gives the students the opportunity to learn in school and pursue their interests and hobbies as well.

Professors at AUK also visited the art exhibition to see what their students have submitted. "I am interested to see what talent they have. I don't see their artistic side in terms of this kind of medium," said Steven Jacques, Intensive English Language.

Another IEP Professor David Hart suggested that AUK encourages having its students try expressing themselves in any way that is more creative than other students.

In addition, AUK students were present at the event. Some came to witness their art work being displayed and others were non-participants interested in the work.

AUK student Tasnim Saleh, who displayed her photographs, paintings, poetry, and bead work at the exhibition said, "It is really fun, inspiring and calming to take a photo or write poetry."
She said that this exhibition had encouraged her to pursue her talent in art. "This is the first time I have my work on display thanks to AUK."

Al-Ghabra gave a speech at the exhibition where he encouraged AUK students to continue to apply their creativity. The art exhibition will be on display in the multi purpose room at AUK for the next few days.

Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star

Courtesy of the Daily Star
30th November, 2005
Event was held on 28th December, 2005


The American University of Kuwait held a lecture on Monday evening titled "Muslims in European Politics after 9/11." The speaker, Sajjad Karim, is a Liberal Democrat Who represents North-West England in the European Parliament.

He serves in both the International Trade and Human Rights Committees of the European Parliament and is also a member of the Delegation for relations with the Gulf States. Karim describes himself as "a person of Pakistani origin, Muslim faith, and British birth."

Karim is part of a European Delegation being hosted by the National Assembly. During his stay in Kuwait, he met with members of parliament and gave lectures at both American University and Gulf University of Science and Technology.
His lecture at AUK was attended by students and faculty, as well as delegates from the British and Polish Embassies.

Karim spoke about the condition of Muslim politicians and Muslims in general in Europe after 9/11. "It's gotten to a stage where I wonder if the terms Islam and terrorism have become interchangeable. While the world speaks about a fight against terrorism I feel that's a wrong approach.

The fight should be against extremism. And the approach should be liberal," he said. Karim added, as parliamentarians we shouldn't achieve for the terrorists what they can't achieve through their actions."

"The response we saw in the UK and Europe was a further attack on our civil liberties," Karim said. He brought forth, as an example, the incident in London when an innocent Brazilian man was killed by the police simply because he fit a certain racial profile.
Another significant issue Karim discussed is Turkey's potential membership in the EU.

He listed the usual arguments used against Turkey's membership, and added that it is Turkey's large Muslim population that is the real deterrent. "Turkey offers us an opportunity to be a bridge to the western and eastern world," he said.

Karim concluded by praising the way in which Kuwait has held moderate Islamic ideologies. "I am very impressed by the work being done by this country in relation to the idea of moderate Islam. Muslims must act proactively to take back their religion as it is being defamed on a second by second basis," he said.
He described Kuwait as being a more open society than he had anticipated. Karim also said he was impressed by the level of dialogue and openness existing in the country.

However, he urged Kuwait to "tackle the issue of equality, whether that be women's rights, foreign workers or minorities. A country is judged by how it treats its weakest people."

He encouraged women and youth to mobilize themselves and use their votes, noting that 57 percent of eligible voters are now women and that 50 percent belong in the youth segment.


Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star

Courtesy of the Daily Star
8th December, 2005
Event was held on 5th December, 2005

Kuwait: The Alumni Association of Kuwait organized a symposium at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) on the role of youth in political reform. Both political science professor Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa and political activist Dr. Ahmad Al-Munayyes gave lectures and spoke about the current political landscape of Kuwait and the need for reform.

Al-Mutawa called on youth to be effective in sensitizing society on political issues and advocating reform. She added that if people distance themselves from politics, this will only entrench corruption.

She said that today's youth should try and understand the electoral process and the criteria by which representatives are elected. She encouraged youth to volunteer in the community and contribute to civil society activities. She highlighted Oman as a leading model in fighting corruption in the region, despite its little parliamentary experience. She added that Oman has designed a voting card against forgery and that Kuwait must emulate since it is a leading democracy in the region.

Meanwhile, Al-Munayyes indicated that the Kuwaiti youth faces a new challenge regarding its contribution in the political arena. He underscored their pivotal role in civic education in light of the endemic corruption plaguing life in Kuwait. He decried the loss of prominent former MPs, which he attributed to malpractices in the electoral process. Those MPs, according to him, have immensely contributed to political life in the country.

Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star

Courtesy of the Daily Star
6th December, 2005
Event was held on 3rd December, 2005

KUWAIT: On Saturday evening, the 16-5 Committee for Voter Education and Awareness held an hour-long presentation at the American University of Kuwait (AUK). The committee is responsible for an awareness campaign called "Vote 2007" and had a booth on the AUK campus Tuesday and Wednesday of last week as a way to communicate with students and introduce them to the work of the committee, encouraging them to be more active towards the cause. The campaign aims to get youth to register for and vote in the parliamentary elections of 2007.

The presentation included three young speakers, two of which are members of the committee. Dana Al-Mutawa gave a brief introduction thanking and welcoming the students of AUK both for attending that day and visiting the booth the week before. She highlighted the goals and general structure and plans of the committee and opened the floor to the guest speaker, a young Kuwaiti dentist, Dr. Eisa Al-Eissa.

Al-Eissa shared his experience of starting small businesses in Kuwait in comparison to doing so in the United States, where during university he had established a lucrative online business called the Arab Calling Card. He described how simple and seamless it was for him to start a business in the States, where he was literally able to establish the business from the comfort of his own home. In sharing this with the audience, he was trying to urge young Kuwaitis to become more involved in the policy-making of their country to make opportunities more accessible for themselves.

Aziz Al-Enezi, a member of 16-5, also spoke at the event. He delivered a poignant and inspiring speech about the importance of becoming more politically and socially aware. He cited examples of issues that are important to youth, including sports, education and employment, which are all facing different levels of deterioration.

Al- Enezi noted that those aged 21 to 40 make up 61 percent of the population, but unfortunately they are not using their voices and rights to influence policies to benefit them. Awareness of local politics will shape their futures and the future generations to come.


Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star