UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1947-11-17_Page-009

229 One reason for the University's continued success was its freedom from student turbulence and political activity. Government schools did not open until late in December, and throughout the year their students were in a restless mood. In con-trast, the University began on schedule and did not miss a day of instruction bemuse of student strikes. Nor was this accomplished by repressive administrative action; the student body itself cooperated in the conduct of school and showed a spirit quite different from that of other Egyptian institutions . Repeatedly officials of the Ministry of Education have spoken with amazement of our record in conducting school without strkes or absences. It is evident that our lessons of tolerance, scholarship, and community service, are having their effect. A further mark of the University's unique place is its growing integration with Middle East life and culture. While we continue to be an "American'' University, it is not in the same sense that the Lycee is "French" or Victoria College "English". How thoroughly we have been accepted by Arab life is shown by the number of invi-tations extended to us this year to share in purely local movements. The Society for Egyptian Law requested University representation at its Annual Conference, held this summer in the Lebanon. Members of the staff have shared actively in such enter-prises as the Cairo School for Social Work, the Pioneers, The People's University, and the Laubach Literacy Campaign. The Acting Director of Extension, John Aizq, delivered over one hundred lectures for various Egyptian organizations, the last series being broadcast from Alexandria. The same tendency is' shown in the enroll-ment of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Lincoln School, where this year approx-imately seventy percent of the student body was Arabic speaking. It is just because of this integration with local culture that the University is increasingly fulfilling the role of serving as an international service station. This year there were many calls from foreign agencies for liaison with the Middle East. The Committee on Friendly Relations with Foreign Students sought our help in serving students coming to America from Egypt, and the College Entrance Board has appointed the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as the Supervisor of its examinations in Egypt. Innumerable individual Egyptian students have come to us seeking advice as to enrollment in institutions in America, and a number of Egyptian business men and officials have been given contacts in America through our courtesy. In the School of Oriental Studies the foreigner finds a program especially designed to introduce him sympathetically to Egyptian culture and language. One of the most encouraging features of the year in this Department was the large enrollment of Western business men and members of the diplomatic corps, who turned to this insti-tution in preference to commercial language schools. Basic to these accomplishments is the creative thought with which the University marshalls its resources of staff and ideas for effective service. That the Division of Extension again led the field in lecture and educational cinema programs was due principally to the ingenuity and devotion of its staff. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences held its own by heavy teaching loads, skillful planning, and utilizing many resources drawn from outside our regular University staff. A large measure of the institution's success is due to the locally employed members of the staff, who not only carry a major share of the work, but form a liaison between the Americanism of the permanent staff and the outlook of the Egyptian conununity. It is to further their contrith tion that a program of specialized training in America for key Egyptian personal: has been inaugurated. During this year the Registrar of the College and the Head of the Mathematics Department were given paid leave-of- absence to study in America, and next year the same arrangement will be made for the Supervisor of Educational :inerna and the Supervisor of the Egyptian Secondary School