News
AUK had a brief but compelling talk from a very charismatic Dr. Sarah Brewer, Associate Director of the Women and Politics Institute at American University in Washington DC, and author of numerous notable publications such as Gendering American Politics: Perspectives from the Literature, Women Campaign Consultants: A New Actor in the Campaign Process, and Women in Politics: Outsiders or Insiders?
Approximately 50 students, faculty and staff members gathered at the American Corner at the library to listen to Dr. Brewer speak about the challenges of Women's Political Participation.
Brewer noted that much of what stands in the way of women's political participation are societal barriers. Women are generally not ambitious enough, this is partly due to them being part of societies that don't look favorably upon strong, ambitious women, and having historically not been socialized into politics.
A poll in the United States showed that only 40% of women have ever thought about running for office, while nearly all men said to have thought about it at some point in their lives.
Access problems have been eradicated, both in the US and now in Kuwait, but there still exist many structural barriers that keep women from entering the political sphere, she said. There are business and social networks that govern politics which are traditionally dominated by male society, and those are the most difficult barriers to deconstruct.
Brewer said it was very important to mention the work of one organization which was built on the idea of empowering women nation-wide to enter politics. Emily's List, founded by Ellen Malcolm in the mid-1980s, sought to raise funds and sponsor women all over the US who were running for public office. The methods of Emily's List were revolutionary at the time because they did not limit funding to any particular district.
She went on to describe the ability barrier in women. A self-inflicted problem, the ability barrier stems from a woman's own self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. Studies showed, she said, that men despite how unqualified they are, always feel like they can do the job. Women, on the other hand, no matter how qualified, tend to feel like they don't know and can't do enough. Women need a lot more encouragement than men to run for office, and are quickly discouraged by not winning, and often don't try again.
Brewer commended Kuwaiti women for their recent enfranchisement and urged them to make use of their rights and to not shy away from entering the political arena. She congratulated Jawaher Ali-Redha, President of AUK's student body, for having won the title and encouraged her to stay politically active, noting that people who start practicing politics at the university level are more likely to succeed in making a political career for themselves later in life.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Campus Access |
Saturday through Wednesday, 7am - 2:30 am Thursday, 9am - 5pm Friday, 4pm - 8pm |
| University Offices | Saturday through Wednesday, 9am - 3pm |
| Library | Saturday through Wednesday, 9am - 3pm and 7pm - 10pm Thursday & Friday, CLOSED |
| International Clinic | Saturday through Wednesday, 12pm - 2pm and 7pm - 11pm |
| Evening Classes | scheduled in Self-Service will now commence at 7pm - consult the new Ramadan Class Schedule e-mailed by the Registrar |
| The Writing Center | 5pm classes The Writing Center is now open for fall semester Sciences building, room 307 Ramadan Hours: Saturday through Tuesday 9 - 4 Wednesday 9 - 3 |
Beginning Saturday 23rd, campus security will be increasing its enforcement of the University policy regarding AUK I.D.s. Access to campus will only be available to those who have valid 2006/07 I.D.s. If you do not have your AUK I.D., you must present another form of picture I.D. and register as a guest to gain entrance to the campus.
Starting September 30th, anyone who does not have a valid 2006/07 AUK I.D., or cannot register as a guest using some other picture I.D., will be denied access to the campus.
Please be advised that in order to honor the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, AUK will change the undergraduate evening class schedule by two hours. The exact timing of iftar will move from 5:44 pm early in the month to 5:07 at the end of Ramadan, so only the classes beginning at 5pm or later are affected for the duration of the month.
Undergraduate Ramadan Schedule |
| Regular Schedule | Ramadan Schedule |
| Days | Start | End | Start | End |
| SMW | 8:00 AM | 8:50 AM | 8:00 AM | 8:50 AM |
| SMW | 9:00 AM | 9:50 AM | 9:00 AM | 9:50 AM |
| SMW | 10:00 AM | 10:50 AM | 10:00 AM | 10:50 AM |
| SMW | 11:00 AM | 11:50 AM | 11:00 AM | 11:50 AM |
| SMW | 12:00 PM | 12:50 PM | 12:00 PM | 12:50 PM |
| SW | 1:00 PM | 1:50 PM | 1:00 PM | 1:50 PM |
| SW | 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM | 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM |
| SMW | 3:30 PM | 4:45 PM | 3:30 PM | 4:45 PM |
| SMW | 5:00 PM | 5:50 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:50 PM |
| SMW | 6:00 PM | 6:50 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:50 PM |
| SMW | 7:00 PM | 7:50 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:50 PM |
| SMW | 8:00 PM | 8:50 PM | 10:00 AM | 10:50 PM |
| UT | 8:00 AM | 9:15 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:15 AM |
| UT | 9:30 AM | 10:45 AM | 9:30 AM | 10:45 AM |
| UT | 11:00 AM | 12:15 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM |
| UT | 12:30 PM | 1:45 PM | 12:30 PM | 1:45 PM |
| UT | 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM | 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM |
| UT | 3:30 PM | 4:45PM | 3:30 PM | 4:45 PM |
| UT | 5:00 PM | 6:15 PM | 7:00 PM | 8:15 PM |
| UT | 6:30 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:45 PM |
Please also be advised that the Ramadan schedule will be in effect as of Saturday, September 23.
Ramadan Kareem.
Dominique Lynette Gergen from the small town of Dalhart, Texas, is a member of the Dartmouth class of 2007. At Dartmouth, she is pursuing a major in English Literature and a minor in Spanish Language and Literature. Dominique is a teaching assistant at the Claflin Jewelry Studio and participates in the America Reads program as a tutor to young children. She has completed training as an Eating Disorder Peer Advisor (EDPA) and a Sexual Abuse Peer Advisor (SAPA), and played rugby during her freshman year at Dartmouth. Her other interests include Kayaking, wood-working, dance and travel. Dominique is delighted to be travelling to the American University of Kuwait to serve as an intern in Fall 2006.
Rose Mutiso, Dartmouth class of 2008, plans to major in Engineering Sciences with a double minor in Mathematics and Women and Gender Studies. She was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. At Dartmouth, Rose is actively involved with the Tucker Foundation where she chairs a local community service program. She has also served as a Tucker Foundation Fellow in Tanzania, among other service projects. Rose also works for the Dartmouth College Writing Program as a Writing Assistant, and as an Undergraduate Advisor for the Office of Residential Life. In Kuwait, Rose looks forward to pursuing her interests in Women and Gender Studies and to exploring the relationship between culture/religion and the Western model of economic and social progress. Rose is passionate about people, nature, life, social justice, equality, sustainability and Africa. She enjoys singing, thinking and smiling.
The September 2006 issue of the AUK Chronicle (newsletter) can be downloaded or viewed by clicking here.
Dear AUK Community,
It is a privilege to address you in my new capacity as President of the American University of Kuwait. The wonderful beginnings of AUK bring a tremendous sense of responsibility because of the exciting challenges that lie ahead. I am inspired by the confidence shown in me by the Board of Trustees and appreciate the support and contribution of all who helped to make our young university a standard of excellence among the institutions of higher education in Kuwait.
Spring semester 2006 ended on a high note. Ten faculty were awarded research grants for project initiation or completion, and several others received professional development grants for conference travel. In June AUK gained accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education Council for Private Universities (retroactive to February 2006). Also in June we celebrated the first graduation of AUK's transfer students. Eight graduating Business majors were feted not only by their faculty and families, but also by a distinguished group of visitors from Dartmouth College who presented AUK with a Proclamation of June 20, 2006 the AUK Day on the Dartmouth campus. Dr. Sheila Culbert of Dartmouth delivered the keynote speech.
This issue finds AUK preparing for the new academic year 2006-07 with renewed energy and expanded resources. Our faculty ranks have been strengthened by the arrival of ten new faculty whose photos you will find elsewhere in this issue. The new college building is being completed, with spacious new classrooms on three floors. On the fourth floor are faculty offices for the Divisions of Business & Economics and Humanities & Arts. In addition to the large conference room next to the new Dean's office is the attractive faculty and staff lounge. On the ground floor the cafeteria, open computer lab, and a new multipurpose room are nearing completion. This building will allow AUK to expand enrollment on this campus to 2,000 students. We are ready to welcome new and returning students, new Dartmouth interns, and our first Fulbright visitors.
Marina Tolmacheva
President,
American University
President Marina with the first AUK graduating class
