AUIS Makes the Impossible, Possible!

Mahdi Murad hails from the town of Ranya in the Sulaimaniyah Governorate of Kurdistan. He graduated from AUIS in 2014 with a degree in business administration. He currently lives in Amsterdam, Holland where he is working for a well known multinational company. 

After finishing high school, I was looking for a program that would allow me to focus on more than one field of study. The liberal arts education at AUIS was a great answer to my search. I joined AUIS because I found it a far better choice than any other available to me. Not to mention, AUIS is still the dream university for any student in the region! I achieved so many personal goals that might have been impossible at any other university. I not only majored in business administration, but I also became a journalist, a playwright, and a sports lover through the various extracurricular activities that AUIS offers its students. I believe that the extra knowledge and confidence that I gained, along with my degree, has been really helpful to me in getting hired by one of the most well known international companies around the world – Cisco! After I graduated, I turned out to be a businessman, a journalist, a playwright, and a worldwide traveler who visited more than 30 countries around the world mostly because of AUIS. Therefore, I would like to leave a message to my fellow students and friends in the region and at AUIS.

AUIS and Connections!

by Hemn Mohammed

Hemn Mohammed 

To write about what is wrong with AUIS, a book, a collection of books or even a library may be required. We have read many articles about the cafeteria’s food or smoking issue, but the major problems that created a real resentment for many AUIS students and graduates have never been talked about in details. Every single student at AUIS knows about these problems except a small circle of people among the students and AUIS staff who think that they can disprove the existence of the sun by only closing their eyes.

 John Dolan suggested that the main concern for most of the AUIS staff is to make the most possible amount of money in the shortest time, he had a point,

A Kurd’s Journey to Baghdad: Accepting Our Differences

by Mahdi Murad

It was in March 2011 when I visited Baghdad for the first time in my life, even though I grew up only 300 kilometres north of the city. As an Iraqi Kurd, a member of a group that is ethnically and linguistically distinct from Iraqi Arabs, I live in the northern city of Sulaimani, which is part of the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Because of the ethnic and religious conflicts that have torn Iraq apart over the past decade, Iraqis from the Kurdish region rarely venture to the South of the country.

Evaluate Christopher Edwards!

Chris Edwards
Photo Courtesy of the AUIS website

Chris EdwardsThe Third Eye, this time, introduces its readers to Chris Edwards, an AUIS APP instructor. Mr. Edwards has joined AUIS community since 2009.According to the AUIS official website, Mr. Edwards, “… holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Master’s degrees in Theology and Teaching English to Speakers of other languages.”

Mr. Edwards has, by far, been one of the most visible faculty staff members among the AUIS community and various AUIS activities in the eyes of The Third Eye. We, The Third Eye, have also heard a lot about Mr. Edwards. Thus, we decided to dedicate a place in the blog for him.

The Third Eye looks forward to hearing constructive feedback from the AUIS community about Mr. Edwards.

To AUIS Community: Respect Patrick Cline!

by The Third Eye

Earl Patrick Cline
Photo courtesy of the AUIS website 

Earl Patrick Cline, known as Mr. Pat, among the AUIS community, has been in Kurdistan for about five years. He has contributed a lot to the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani community, students and faculty staff members.

In a brief letter, I would like to thank Mr. Pat for being such an amazing professor and would love to let everyone know how much I, who have taken many classes with Mr. Pat and is an AUIS graduate now, learned from Mr. Pat. I would never be able to thank him enough for all the great lessons he has taught me during my few years of being one of his students. I am sure almost every single student who has taken classes with Mr. Pat feels as the same as I do about him for his awesome pedagogy and his willingness to teach.  

What Did Students Say about Geoffrey Gresk?

by The Third Eye

Photo Courtesy of Google

Mr. Geoffrey Gresk, a teacher and Assistant Dean of Academic Integrity, was under The Third Eye Evaluation Page for about two weeks. His fellow students and friends at The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani said different things, mostly anonymously, about Mr. Gresk.

In addition, many students inboxed The Third Eye and expressed their feelings about Mr. Gresk. Surprisingly, when the Third Eye asked them to put their feelings on the post in the blog article, all of them said they were afraid of doing that as the university might know about them and they would face troubles by the university and particularly Mr. Gresk’s office. However, they asked The Third Eye to anonymously publish some of their words.

SAP-AUIS Chapter's Tolerance Walk: Photos Tell a Wonderful Story

by Mahdi Murad

Photos by AUIS Communication Department

Sunday, Nov. 24^th, 2013,- The Student Ambassadors for Peace (SAP)-AUIS Chapter,  held its first ever event at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani(AUI,S) and invited all of the AUIS students and faculty staff members to celebrate the anniversary of the International Tolerance  day .  

What Do You Think About Mr. Geoffrey Gresk?

Photo courtesy of AUIS Website

The Thirdy Eye is pleased to take some moments and have Mr. Geoffrey Gresk to be evaluated by his fellow students and friends at The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani. We prefer constructed comments, and we would be happier if commenters write their names when they comment. We would also  like to hear specifically from those who know Mr. Gresk and have had classes with him.

For those of you who do not know Mr. Gresk.

Unlike Politicians’ Kids!

Photo courtesy of Google

by The Third Eye

There are two distinguished groups of students in Kurdistan’s and Iraqi both public and private universities whose plans and opportunities specifically after their undergraduate schools clearly differentiate them from each other. I will use the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani students as an example to identify the two different groups and will do my best to support the argument with clear examples and evidences.

From politicians’ sons and daughters:

I will go on vacation for two to three months as soon as I am done with final exams, I will leave Kurdistan to one of the European countries after my graduation, I will study my master’s degree right after my graduation, my father owns several companies and I will be a CEO of one of those businesses, or I will do nothing because I have already achieved everything way more than what I need and many many more!

Fall Semester, Fool Ds!

Photo courtesy of Google

by

The Third Eye

Directly to the issue! AUIS professors, except few of them, harshly disappointed many of their students at the end of the fall semester. It seemed that they wanted to show their students and AUIS administration their classes were so challenging that didn’t even let the smartest students get not only As but also Bs and Cs.

The Third Eye both talked to many students and followed many of their Facebook accounts right after the grades were announced through Top School. Guess what? It was rare to see a student who positively posted about his or her final grades. Whose fault was that, professors or students themselves?

Some students blamed their professors for given Ds and Cs and even Fs randomly based on their moods when they were grading the final exams as the letters surprised many of them on Top School.

Fahrettin Sumer, a Star Professor at AUIS

by

The Third Eye

February 2012 was a shining moment for the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani when a smiley person whose face could only show respect and hard-working joined the AUIS and became one of the highlighted professors among the AUIS faculty staff members; a face that glimpsed not only a classroom of AUIS, but also the entire AUIS campus. Fahrettin Sumer, an assistant professor of the International Studies & Economics, is the one who gets credit for many candles that continuously brightens AUIS since ever he joined the institution in 2012.

The Third Eye feels obligated to shed the light of the astonishing effort professor Sumer has offered AUIS so far. The Third Eye walked around the campus and found some of those students who know professor Sumer and have classes with him. Unsurprisingly, whatever we heard from the students was words like, “Professor Sumer is by far has been the best professor I have ever known at AUIS,” said a senior business major. “I have never had any problems and difficulties with professor Sumer. He always teaches with his full heart. He not only teaches the course so great, but also respect us more than any other professors at AUIS.”

Some students said that they still have whatever professor Sumer has taught them in their minds and thoughts unlike some other courses.

Why Student Ambassadors for Peace (SAP)-Iraq Chapter?

by

Mahdi Murad

The Student Ambassadors for Peace (SAP)-Iraq Chapter is one out of many other SAP chapters around the world. It aims “to bring peace by involving young people at all levels.”

The Student Ambassadors for Peace is a non-governmental, non­partisan organization created to represent and empower students globally.  It provides resources, forums, and other tools through which students can educate themselves about the issues affecting humanity, discuss these issues with their peers from around the world, and translate their views and ideas for addressing these issues into meaningful action. In addition Student Ambassadors for Peace serves as a useful forum to voice views of the Youth about a range of national and international issues.

Mahdi Murad, a senior Business Administration Major at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, has been elected by the SAP founders as an International Officer of the SAP in Iraq and he recently established the Student Ambassadors for Peace (SAP) -Iraq Chapter. As an International Officer of the SAP, Murad works to open as many chapters as he can in almost all the Iraqi and Kurdistan universities, both public and private institutions. The Student Ambassadors for Peace constitution states the International Officer as,

Welcome Back to the New Semester!

The Third Eye is pleased to warmly congratulate all the AUIS students and faculty staff members for starting a new semester. We hope you all nothing, but best of luck with your classes and all the other activities.

We hope that the new semester will be the best time for all of you to turn your dreams into reality.

The Third Eye has warm congratulations for  the new students who just enrolled to AUIS and those who graduated in the Academic Preparatory Program (APP). We wish them best of the best with their classes and other activities.

Along with the support of the students, faculty and administration, the Third Eye is pleased to start its activities to help create the best environment at AUIS, where all its members feel nothing, but great. 

Welcome back to the new semester !

ووتاره‌که‌ی سه‌رۆک بارزانی و چه‌ند سه‌رنجێک

مه‌هدی مڕاد

خه‌ڵکی خۆشه‌ویستی کوردستان پێویسته‌چی تر به‌قسه‌ی چه‌ور و چۆڵ

 هه‌ڵنه‌خه‌ڵه‌تێن. سه‌رۆک بارزانی به‌شی خۆی، بگره‌ زۆر زۆر زیاتریش له‌وه‌ی که‌ شایه‌نی بوو، له‌ سه‌ر ئه‌و کورسیه‌ دانیشت که‌ که‌ له‌م ڕۆژانه‌دا بۆ جارێکی تر به‌رگی کورسیه‌که‌ی نوێ کرده‌وه‌و جێگای دانیشته‌که‌ی خۆشتر کرد. ڕاسته‌ له‌ وتاره‌که‌یدا به‌ڕێز کاک مه‌سعود وانیشان ئه‌دات که ‌ به‌نیازنی یه‌ بۆ ماوه‌یه‌کی درێژخایه‌ن له‌سه‌ر ته‌ختی ده‌سه‌ڵات وه‌ک سه‌رۆکی کوردستان بمێنێته‌وه‌ و ته‌نها بۆ ماوه‌یه‌کی که‌م تاوه‌ک و بارودۆخی په‌رله‌مان و کوردستان له‌بارتر ئه‌بێت بۆ هه‌ڵبژاردن، به‌ڵام زۆر ئاشکرایه‌ که‌ ئه‌مه‌ سیناریۆیه‌کی ده‌سه‌ڵاته‌ و به‌لایه‌نی  که‌مه‌وه‌ تا دوو ساڵی تر بارزانی ده‌ستبه‌رداری پۆسته‌که‌ی نابێت

A Letter to the New President

Cartoon by Brwa Aziz

Dr. Moulakis, the current AUIS president is leaving. So, it is time for students to reflect on the new president who is going to come and lead AUIS. The question, “What the students expect from the new president?” should be asked before we welcome the new president.

At the first point, it is obvious that the administration has accomplished several very good things for AUIS such moving AUIS to the new campus, providing better planning for financial circumstances of the university, and re-establishing the boards of trustees. But, the next president should focus on establishing a better-communicated environment between the administration and student body. Students want the next president to be better connected to the students and be more visible to the student body.

To Professor Jim Owens: Thank you so much for leaving AUIS!

Jim Owens sits in his office
at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
Photo courtesy of AUIS Voice

Only the tittle of this article should shed tears on your eyes and say, “What a terrible person I am.” We, a group of the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani who have taken classes with you before, must seem very selfish to bit you our fare well this way. People might assert that we are just horrible people to, instead of appreciating the time and all the contributions you have offered us so far, tell you we hope to never see you again. However, the question, “Why do we think about you that way?” should also be considered. There are many reasons behind that. Bear with us for a while please!

The Arranged: We did it!

by Mahdi Murad 

Mahdi Murad

It was December 20^th when I published an article on the AUIS website promising to bring The Arranged to the stage. At that time, I had not written a single word of the play. I was afraid that I would not be able to keep my promise, but as soon as I saw my article published on the website, I started writing The Arranged.

“Are you still awake?” asked my mother when she woke up for Fajir prayer. That was the question my mother asked me every single morning for two weeks. During those two weeks, I was awake until 4:00 am every night, doing nothing but writing the play. Was that all I did? Of course not! The second week of my winter break was the same story, re-writing, re-writing, and re-writing The Arranged. Several times, I time changed almost every single scene of the play. Luckily, I wrote the whole play during those two weeks.  After that, I wondered if I could call myself a playwright. “Of course, not.” I told myself, as I knew there was still a lot that I had to do to be considered a playwright.

An Open Letter to The Arranged Cast

From Mahdi Murad, the playwright

The Arranged cast

Now, as I am writing this article, I have a bunch of tissues right in front of me. Trust me, I don’t write not only a sentence, but also a word without shedding tears like rain. I don’t know where to start expressing my gratefulness toward all the hard work and effort you have put so far to turn one of my best dreams into reality. I am sure, a much better writer should write an article and describe you all to be worth published. However, I will try my best to use as much writing skills as I have to show at least small part of the work you have done so far to make The Arranged real.

It was Thursday, December 20^th, 2013, when I published an article on the AUIS official website and promised to bring The Arranged to stage. It was a moment when I have not even written a single word of the play. It was scary at the beginning and I was afraid that I would not be able to make my promise. But, as I had met with every single of you and had you went through the auditions, I thought I would not be alone to do this project. I was convinced that with such a talented group of students, I would be able to make everything possible. Thus, I encouragingly started writing The Arranged. 

Power Play

by Mahdi Murad

Several students have made good progress toward forming a student government – however, the process appears to be inefficient. So inefficient , in fact, that this government or what they call, the student association seems like it will never be born. So what will be this effort’s fate?

The Voice did research to find out the answer for this question. It is unclear who is at fault for the constitution not being finalized yet. Some background: Four students wrote a first draft of a constitution for the student body of AUIS. The students were not elected but, rather, choose on their own to begin this process. In November 2012, these students submitted a draft to the administration. Revisions and discussion have been made by the administration. Now, according to the Director of Student Services, the students plan to openly discuss the constitution soon and even hold a referendum. If these final steps take place, this will be great; however, it should have happened before the constitution was written – not after.

AUIS Ministry of Finance

 Brwa Aziz

The AUIS Finance Department is a lackluster place for the AUIS students and faculty staff members. Alas, the Finance Department is not what it should be: it has weak customer service, cold relationships with its clients, and inefficient work performance.

The Department, unfortunately, has weak customer service; instead of seeking to serve others, they act superior.  Indeed, the Finance Department is famous among students for not communicating well with its customers. Employees, who work there, with the exception of one or two, act like they are elites and the top class at AUIS. The way they respond and talk to people, and the way they walk around campus bothers many. Today, the Finance Department is more about showing authority than performing their work just like what people experience in the ministries of government.