Caravan, Vol. 71, No. 20

              CARAVAN
C
Volume 71 No.20
Sunday February 24, 1991 ^
 Security Measures Lead Commencement Back to Ewart
    By Tamer Ibrahim
    After a iwo-weck postponement, the commencement ceremonies for the February class of 1991 took place in Ewart Hall on Feb. 15 and 16.
    The ceremonies were canceled earlier due to problems with security measures required for such an event under the present circumstances in the Gulf. Accordingly, security was tight at AUC on the nights the ceremonies were held. Admission was restricted to invitation holders only, unlike previous graduations held in the Scmiramis Intercontinental Hotel, where students were admitted by their AUC I.D. cards.
    Also, university entrances were closed at 4:45, leaving late comers, with or without tickets, outside. While some may have felt this to be somewhat unfair, security officials believe it was necessary to insure safety and order.
    Assistant security director. Said Hanno, said that it would have been difficult to allow people to enter the university after 5:00 while the procession of graduates and professors were entering Ewart Hall from the main lobby. Hanno also stressed that the invitations made it clear that punctuality was a must.
    Along with the unusual security measures and the location of the ceremonies, a third difference in this clas.s’ graduation was the duration. Previous classes had to sit through long speeches by the university president and vice president, among others. This semester, AUC President, Donald McDonald, gave a concise, well-read speech, followed by an even shorter speech by Vice Provost Heba Handousa. While Vice President Mohamed Allam didn't honor the class and their parents with a speech, he was on hand to give out the diplomas while Ismail Safwat, director of admissions, read the graduates' names.
    As usual, the President's Cup was awarded to the student with the highest GPA of the class. Adham Ramadan, Chemistry graduate, was the recipient this semester.
    In addition, the Parents' Cup was awarded to two students. Susanne Chabara, Journalism and Mass Communication graduate, was nominated by the Journalism and Mass Communication department, the OSA and the SU. Hatcm A1 Attawy, Mechanical Engineering graduate, was nominated by the SU.
    "I'm very proud...I feel that all
Computer Network Opened
       By Rasha Abdulla
    President Donald McDonald inaugurated the electronic communication networks of EARN/BITNET at the AUC Computer Center on the third floor of the Hill House, on Thursday, Feb. 14.
    EARN (European Academic Research Network) and BITNET (Time NetwOTk in USA) link universities, colleges and research centers around the world. They represent, with cooperating networks in other countries, a single logical network connecting 1300 sites in 38 countries for the electronic exchange of
r---------------------------------
noncommercial information.
    The EARN/BITNET Guide states that "a wide array of services are provided through the network to enable its participants to send and receive mail, gain exposure to valuable data bases, conduct Joint research, receive electronic magazines, access other networks worldwide as well as numerous other functions initiated by users."
    After he cut the ribbon. President McDonald wrote a statement to the Computer Center staff: "Congratulations and many thanks to everyone involved in getting AUC connected to the world academy through
                                                                                                                                                                            Cont. page 5
February 1991 Parents Association Cup recipiants
the activities 1 took part in while in university were recognized and rewarded," said A1 Attawy. When asked if the change from Semiramis to Ewan Hall put a damper on the ceremonies, A1
  Attawy said, "On the contrary...! enjoyed Ewart Hall with its AUC atmosphere...! orefer graduating from my university than from a hotel."
   Similarly, Noha Ibrahim, Journalism and                 Mass
                                                                                                                                                     Photo by Mohamed Fahmy
Communication graduate, also prcferral the university to Semiramis. "Having the graduation in Ewart Hall gave the ceremony more of an academic flavor," she said.
Students Want Break before Finals
     By Sahar Ghabour
     A common point of complaint among students is the fact that there is no break between the last day of classes and the beginning of the finals.
     Arecg Ibrahim, English and Comparative Literature junior, said the problem is that the first day of exams is right after the last day of classes. This doesn't give the students examined on the first and second days a chance to study.
     "I don't ask for a long break before exams, a day or two would suffice and students who are examined last don't get bored. It gets tougher when you have two exams on the same day especially when it is the first day of exams," Ibrahim added.
     Hebatallah Ramzy, Journalism and Mass Communication junior, .said, "It is very exhausting for the students, especially since some professors choose to give the final
  exam before the scheduled time."
     Ramzy thinks the best solution is that the last day of classes should be a week earlier to give students a chance to study.
     Another suggestion Ramzy gave, was to have the exams on alternate days. She also said
that professors should not give pre-finals unless absolutely necessary.
   Eveyln Saad, Economics junior, said, "I think we should be given more time because professors give material at the last minute which they expect us to study for the final
                                                                                                                                  Cont. page 5
 INSIDE
Editor-in-Chief
                                                                Anyone interested in running for the post of
    Caravan Editor-in-chief needs to hand in a letter of intent and a C.V. to Professor Richard Boylan in Rm. 024 by 3.00 p.m. Wednesday, February 27.
   Candidates will be required to give presentations to the election committee on Monday, March 4.
                                                           The presentation will be from 11.00-12.30 in Rm. 03.
    All candidates should have Journalism experience, be fluent in both Arabic and English, and be registered AUC students for 1991-92 academic year.
   Knowledge of computer graphics, a deep understanding of local, national and international issues, patience and a sen.se of humor are highly desirable.
                                                                                                                                      A