Professor Samia Mehrez teaches "Translating Revolution" a course developed as part of AUC 's 'University on the Square' initiative

As AUC continues to integrate the unprecedented and historic changes in Egypt into its curriculum, AUC professors are investigating aspects of the process to investigate and interpret for their course offerings.   As part of the University on the Square initiative at AUC, Professor Samia Mehrez has decided to reinvent her Arabic and Islamic Civilization 402/513 courses into “Translating Revolution.” The objective of the course is to archive and translate material from the revolution including chants, slogans, jokes, poems, eyewitness reports, media coverage, interviews, diaries as well as presidential and cabinet speeches and declarations. Given the diversity of material, different linguistic registers and referential worlds, these documents and materials present a great challenge to any translator.

Mehrez says that leading the course helps her carry on the spirit of the revolution in the classroom.   “We were being asked to come back and teach as the revolution was continuing to unfold. Many of us at AUC were finding it very difficult to pull away from Tahrir when it had become a daily engagement and commitment. For that reason, the Provost’s curricular initiative after the revolution was most welcome among most faculty,” she said.

Sarah Hawass, a comparative literature senior says that the course has given her comprehensive exposure to translation as it applies to history and society.  “I’m taking the course as an elective as I find it a great opportunity for covering the ongoing uprising as well as reflecting on it academically and productively,” she said.

According to Mehrez, many of the students in the class are international students without fluency in Arabic.  She points out that these students have the same opportunity to be successful in the course as native Arabic speakers.  “The group is working on translation as a semiotic and discursive field. At this level, one doesn’t necessarily need to be proficient in Arabic to translate a visual or performative text into English with the help of native speakers, of course,” Mehrez clarified. “Thus, the students learn from each other during the translating process,” she added.

To complement the practical work in this course, students will read a selection of texts in translation theory and practice. Readings will focus on various questions in translation, including issues of language variation, literary devices and compensation, as well as creative transformation (adaptation, re-writing, etc). Students will also explore problems of genre, issues of terminology and special language, the problem of target readership and purposes as well as the translator’s role in society as an agent of social change.

Over the past several weeks, as the world’s media converged on Egypt and the Middle East, pundits and journalists have been particularly transfixed by one question: “How did this revolution happen and why didn’t we see it coming?” While most of the literature on Middle East politics and many policy makers had not considered the possibility of a citizen-powered regime change, the AUC Forum publication, The Changing Middle East: A New Look at Regional Dynamics, published by The American University in Cairo Press in October 2010,  outlined the circumstances were likely to push Egyptians to the point of revolution,

Baghat Korany, AUC professor, director of the AUC Forum is the editor of The Changing Middle East, a compilation of essays on developments in Middle East politics. The book, says Korany, challenges the prevalent concept of Middle East exceptionalism, or the sense that while the rest of the world changes, develops, and advances, the Middle East remains stagnant and homogenous in its politics and points of view.

In the book, Korany drew early attention to what many are now citing as the catalysts of the revolution, specifically, the youth population bulge and the idealistic gap between this huge group and aging leadership. “My colleagues looked too much at the top of the political system and not enough below. This is why they could not see “the volcano” underneath. The lesson from this is not to limit ourselves; that the politics of ordinary people matter as well,” he said.

Korany believes that the voice of Middle Eastern youth will continue to resonate in the coming months of government and social transition. “I believe that the youth get a lot more credit now. Previously, many used to think that they had no interest in major public issues, but they have proven now that this is not true. Young people have proven now that they can achieve. If the communication between the youth and the new government happens, I believe that the transition will be effective and smooth.”

The Changing Middle East features essay chapters by Middle East scholars, Rasha A. Abdullah, Ola AbouZeid, Omar Ashour, Julie C. Herrick, Amani Khandil and Hazem Khandil. It will be re-released in paperback with a new introduction to reflect recent events.

The AUC Forum is held several times per semester to discuss issues of global importance. The next AUC Forum, titled “The Arab Awakening Revisited: From Tunisia to Egypt and Beyond” will be held March 7 and will feature Clement M. Henry, professor emeritus in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin and distinguished visiting professor of AUC’s political science department, discussing civil society theories, practices, and new arts of association.

Left to Right: Seif, Said, Fahmy, Abdel Rahman and Abass

With Egypt’s political landscape changing so dramatically in recent weeks, discussion and talks on the country’s future has spurred young people to embrace and engage in the rebuilding of the nation. A panel discussion held in Moataz Al Alfi Hall on Wednesday brought together young Egyptian activists and bloggers to talk about their experience in the January 25 revolution and Egypt’s path to democracy. The discussion, “Road to Democracy: Reflections on the Revolution,” was moderated by Khaled Fahmy, professor and chair of the history department at AUC.

Organized by the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, the panel addressed the capacity of this young generation of Egyptians to create change and to lead a nation. “The young people were always the ones who ruled Egypt,” said Fahmy, providing examples of Mohamed Aly and Gamal Abdel Nasser who ruled Egypt at a young age. The leaders who were above 40 were King Fouad and Sultan Hussein Kamel, whereas ousted President Mubarak was around 52 years old when he became president. “What we are seeing now is a healthy phenomenon to listen again to the young people who made modern Egypt.”

Panelist Hisham Seif, member of the Muslim Brotherhood, explained that the January 25 revolution did not belong to any religious party. “We agreed not to flag any signs of religious indicators,” said Seif. “It is the revolution of the Egyptian people and not the Muslim Brotherhood,” he added.

Kholod Said, activist from Alexandria, began her talk by explaining that she only represents her beliefs and does not represent any particular group or a political party. She asserted that although international media attention focused on events in Tahrir Square, the revolution was a nationwide event, driven by people from all walks of life and every corner of Egypt. “We made history,” Said continued, “Today, we are living in a historical moment, and so we have to think of the future, not only talk about memories of the revolution. Now, that the idea of erupting to the streets has happened, what should we do now?” Said questioned the audience.

Wael Abass, an award-winning Egyptian blogger and activist, described the activism of Egyptians as a surprise to him. Abass has been an online political activist since 1994, who says his work took place mostly underground until 2004, when movements started to rise in Egypt and people started talking about the presidential elections “When the revolution erupted in Tunisia, I had doubts that the same thing will happen in Egypt,” said Abass. “After January 25, I regained my trust in the Egyptian people,” Abass continued, “However, it is not over yet, we need to continue to maintain the gains of the revolution and persist on the demands that are not met yet.” Abass added that the lack of leadership to the January 25 revolution is what made it a success.

Abass further elaborated that the Egyptian president should be treated as a civil servant and the ministers should be able to make decisions without having to get approval from the prime minister or from the interior ministry. “There should be decentralization and independence and this is what I hope for the future of Egypt.”

Seif echoed Abass’ sentiments saying that the revolution is not complete yet. He called for the release of all political detainees, investigations in the incidents that took place during the revolution and the removal of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik, who was appointed by ousted President Hosni Mubarak.