First Annual Commencement Ceremony at AUIS

Dr. Athanasios Moulakis, the president of AUIS,
welcomes the guests and congratulates the graduate
students. 

Sulaimani, Iraq-June 16, 2012- The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani rewarded undergraduate degrees to 37 students for the first time in the history of AUIS. AUIS conferred those students baccalaureate degrees in Business Administration, Information Systems and Technology, and International Students.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Athanasios Moulakis, the president of AUIS, welcomed the guests and congratulated all the graduate students.

After that, Dr. Barham Salih, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Founder of AUIS, gave his speech. He, first, congratulated all the graduate students.

PlayWright Akbar Ahmed Writes for AUIS Noor Cast

Prof. Akabar Ahmed
Photo courtesy of the Google

It was eight months ago when Peter Friedric, the head of AUIS Drama and Film, asked Akbar Ahmed, the author of "Noor", to perform "Noor" for the first time in the Middle East. The play stars, Kardo Kamil, Muhammed baheej, Isa Muhammed Isa, Mahdy Murad, Rawa Hamza, Helin Sofi, Saman karim, Mustafa Ahmed, Abdul Alkhafaji, Mewan Sofi, Roshna Ahmed, and Banoo Omer, with their great director Peter, tirelessly worked to bring their work to the stage.

After the AUIS Noor Cast took the play from paper to the stage successfully, the playwright sent his message to the members of the cast and the director. Below is the exact message that has sent by Dr. Ahmed to the cast:

To the brave and talented actors of the AUIS Noor Cast--my sincerest thanks and warmest   congratulations. You have taken this play, carried it from paper to reality, in the face of  setbacks, tight deadlines, rigorous course schedules, lack of props or even your own stage, and  brought to it your passion, your commitment, your faith, your good humor. I could not be more  proud as I hear of your glowing reviews, and I read your letters which speak of tears of joy--this is the best mix of art and experience. I would also like to thank your esteemed professor, Peter Friedrich, for his tireless effort to make the dream of staging this play a reality. I am most gratified as a teacher when my lessons are embraced by youth and spread through their generation--because they hold the blueprint for the future. 


Finally, I would say this to you: keep looking for noor, keep spreading your joy and positive           outlook, and you will show Iraq and the world itself the way forward.

Warm Regards, 

Professor Akbar S. Ahmed

Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies

 American University

  

The First Tears I Shed

Mahdi Murad(Ali) during the performance 

by   Mahdi  Murad

Photos by kait Taylor 

Before I went to the stage to perform in front of the audience, I felt that Noor was just a name of a girl, and nothing more! Between classes and getting ready for our opening night, I haven't exactly had the time to think about it deeply. However, I realized what an amazing name Noor was right on the stage, as I was acting. Every single word of the play meant Noor in my mind. Noor means light. Yes, it is a light that lightens every single dark corner of my home. As I listened to my fellow castmates on stage, every single word of the play showed me photos of the past. Usually, they were not pretty photos, and some brought tears to my eyes. It was even hard at times to say my lines.

A Message from Peter Friedrich, Head of Drama and Film.

Dear AUIS Students,

Eight months ago, playwright, scholar and Former Ambassador Akbar Ahmed gave AUIS students permission to perform his play, Noor, for the first time ever in the Middle East.

Can you believe it? Well, believe it, because beginning this Tuesday, the actors are ready. The technicians are ready. The play is ready. The only thing we need now is you.

WARNING: Noor deals with a struggling family during an American occupation. There is bad language, violence, religious arguments and conversations that are generally not for kids. In other words, it’s going to be fun, but not if you are easily offended.

You have a choice of attending 3 different performances!

NOOR IS COMING SOON!

The AUIS Noor Cast 

Photo by: Kait Taylor

by The Third Eye

On May 8, 10, 13, and15 the students of the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani will have their performances of the play, Noor, in the Fine Arts Building on the new campus of Sulaimani University. 

Qaiwan Group of Companies Offer Students Financial Support

by The Third Eye

Qaiwan Group of Companies is one out of many other group of companies, that provides financial support for the students and needy ones.

Qaiwan has helped many AUIS students financially so far. Qaiwan has offered a large fair amount of money for those AUIS students who can’t afford their tuition and other fees.

AUIS Will be Offering another Minor

by The Third Eye

 The Middle East Studies minor will be offered soon based at AUIS. The most interesting part of that minor will be IST 3XX/HIS 301 Special Topics in Islamic Thought.  This is a ‘special topics’ course which students could take again as long as the topic as specified in the title AND as recorded and preserved in the registrar’s office was different.  In that way, different instructors could teach topics of their own interest, and it would provide students the opportunity to study a variety of topics.