Message from the President

October 18, 2023

Dear AUC Community,

Today, hundreds of our students organized a demonstration on campus in solidarity with the Palestinian people and showed their outrage at the atrocities taking place in Gaza, in particular the horrific bombing of a hospital yesterday. I, along with the provost and other senior leaders, went to Bassily Auditorium to support our students and listen to their views and expectations of the University.

I know that our students, faculty and staff are deeply impacted by these events, some of them losing family members and loved ones. We are in close contact with our Palestinian students and ready to provide any assistance they and other affected students may need. We have lowered our flags to half-mast and join Egypt in mourning the loss of innocent lives in Gaza. In light of the current situation, we ask our faculty to show as much support as possible in accommodating students.

Our role as a University is to provide a protected space for the expression of thoughts and ideas, discussion and debate. We will continue to ensure our students are able to let their voices be heard on campus. I look forward to participating in open and frank discussions about a situation that has deep historical roots in the 75-year old plight of the Palestinian people. My door remains open to all members of the community. 

As a historian who grew up in this region, I bore witness to this unfolding geopolitical crisis since youth, and even studied it as an academic. I am deeply troubled by the heart-wrenching loss of innocent lives and the escalation of violence unfolding before our eyes in Palestine. Violence against innocent civilians can never be justified. We pray for an end to the bloodshed, and a just and peaceful solution.

Ahmad Dallal
President