UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1963-02-14_Page-022

I I I -7- position and the Palestine issue was at its worst, the University did not suffer. It was trusted as a friend of Egypt and the Middle East, and its future was not threatened. In 1956 during the crises occasioned by United States withdrawal of proffered aid from the Asswan Dam project and the Israeli, French and British invasion against Egypt which followed, the University was not threatened. There was not even a demonstration against it, in spite of its prominent location in the heart of Cairo. Almost all American business interests ceased at that time (many of them left Egypt and have not since returned) and the ICA, which was then very extensive, came to a complete halt and has been resumed only in recent years. During this period, P.resident Nasser reduced t~e enthusiasm of several of the lesser secretaries in the Ministry of Education who were seeking erroneous­ly to apply various sanctions against the University, by saying that he and the government "wanted the American University" in Egypt, and did not want it harrassed. In ]958, when American troorPs . landed in Lebanon after the Iraqi revolution, a landing which was quite unfavorably interpreted in Egypt, there were no repercussions against the University at all. Later, when there were demonstrations against the Belgian Embassy and the USIS of the United States Embassy over the Lumumba and Cuba situations, respectively, there were no demonstrations against the University, although it is in a location physically more prominent in the public eye than that of either of the Embassies. Orefactor in the ~ontinued viability of the University is its increasing academic strength. The University has markedly improved its staff, both Middle East and foreign, so as to compare very favorably with the best of the small universities and colleges in America. Another factor is its flexibility. Over the past decade, the University has continuously reconsidered its purposes and program (as explained in detail in the Profile). It is flexible enough in its program, organization and administration so that, if need b~ the University could shift from its present role to that of graduate study, research and publication alone. From the standpoint of the University, this shift would be undesirable except as a means of insuring continued existence. In assessing the future of the University, one can see in the Universi~y's history those central elements in its existence that foretell durability and persistence. From the beginning it and its programs have been identified with Egypt, partly because the majority of its students have been Egyptian and have remained in Egypt. Partly also because its educational objectives have served Egyptian society. Through major political shifts and a revolution, the University has remained without political alignment of any kind. Last but perhaps most important, the University has been doing a job that Egypt needs and wants. The Uni­versity's new program emphasizes more than ever this aspect of service to its contextual society. The University cannot assume, of course, that it will remain untouched and unviolated. Circumstances can always change and the past is no assurance of the future. However, in the light of the University's role in the past and its proposed higher quality program for the future, one can reasonably anticipate its continuation