Opinion: AUI Elitism, deconstructed

As I am trying to focus on a single aspect of AUI campus life that I would like to tackle, I cannot help but find myself reflecting on a myriad of things that I wish existed differently in my university. I understand that even the world’s “elite” colleges are subject to criticism and that we cannot possibly put AUI to the same standard as those institutions, since it doesn’t benefit from the same financial and talent support. But I know one thing that AUI has in common with international “elite” colleges, which is the fact that all of these organizations are unified by the same mission: Attracting and producing their countries’ -and maybe even the world’s- future leaders.

As much as this might sound like the natural pursuit of every decent university, one would be surprised that, as a matter of fact, it is not the case. Many (if not most) colleges and schools focus on providing their students with at least the necessary elements for them to become proficient practitioners of their chosen specialties or fields of study, with no obvious or central emphasis on leadership.

So, where does the “elite” element rest? First, it is important to analyze and reflect on what the term refers to and what it implies in general on one hand and in the Moroccan context specifically on the other. Harvard’s dean of admissions during the 1950s, Mr. Wilbur Bender, specified that “the only person who belongs at Harvard is the valedictorian, the obvious intellectual, the white-faced grind.” By using the term ‘belong’, this statement explicitly specifies that the Ivy League model that AUI’s administration, faculty, and students (both alumni and ongoing) almost unanimously viewed as the perfect example of what a university should strive for, actually focuses from the admissions process on only letting in a chosen few, la crème de la crème, the country’s privileged youth. While Mr. Bender didn’t speak for AUI per se, our administration relentless mention of “elite” talent, “elite” students, and “elite” environment, does not fail to make this allegory by osmosis valid.

However, agreeing on the value of a statement is one thing, applying it in the selection and evaluation processes is another. This point brings me to what the term “elite” refers to in the Moroccan context, and in AUI’s case. No Moroccan citizen will fail to recognize what AUI is. The university is so popular that a specific set of stereotypes is tied to its students. AUIers are viewed mainly as rich, spoiled kids whose parents are so influential and wealthy that they can afford the institution’s obnoxiously high tuition fees. While this reflection is not meant to focus on this aspect of AUI’s identity, it is relevant to its subject for us to know how much truth it holds. If you ask any AUIer, they would be quick to reject it. Most AUIers come from middle-class families, most of whom only have one income-generating parent, and many of whom studied in public schools their whole life. Many AUIers also strive to find part-time jobs on campus and those who could get scholarships study hard to maintain them, considering that those aspects of financial support could make or break their ability to get their degrees.

On the other hand, it is important to note that even though AUI is not the most expensive school in Morocco, it is not accessible to anyone. As much as the middle-class sounds ‘average’ or ‘common’, anyone familiar with our country’s social structure would know that it is a privilege to be born in it. My personal conclusion would be that you don’t have to be filthy rich to access AUI, but financial qualification plays an important role in the admissions process. In recent semesters, several AUI junior and senior students would complain to me in meetings and social outings that AUI lost its shine when it “started letting anyone in.” Who that ‘anyone’ is might constitute a mystery to those who are not familiar with the classic AUIer profile. After all, AUIers must at least be able to afford their tuition fees without having to ‘beg’ on social media, be fluent in French and English, have decent grades, and come from a good family (whatever that is supposed to mean).

With a bit of retrospection, it wouldn’t be too hard to notice the disparity in what many AUIers say about AUI, about themselves, and the meanings behind both. On one hand, there is growing frustration from the students’ side with regards to where AUI stood a decade ago, where it stands now, and where it is heading. On the other hand, a significant category of students links its “elite” school privileges with the type of students allowed in AUI rather than the quality of classes, facilities, and services provided by the administration. While it is agreed that the admissions process is relevant to any college’s status, it would fail to compensate for the quintessential gaps in its structure. What good would it be to attract and accept high-achieving and ambitious youth if it does not provide them with adequate infrastructural, academic, extracurricular, and mental support they will need to flourish?

This brings us back to AUI’s image of an elite university. Instead of putting its focus on fixing existing problems and dealing with ongoing students’ complaints, it seems like the administration decided to set new priorities focusing on outreach and newcomers’ recruitment. By contrast, the same administration invested its heart and soul in improving the university’s public image. In my four years as a member of campus life, I have noticed a significant increase in the Development & Communication department’s activities and involvement. Last semester, many students were surprised to see brand new majors declared on the university’s website, most of whom are so intrinsically related that it wasn’t much of a challenge to anyone to conclude that they could have been added as concentrations or minors to existing ones, but hey it doesn’t really matter as long as they sound fancy, right?

On a more serious note, attending elite-branded schools is not a requirement for success nor leadership. Most liberal arts institutions with a strong student body involvement don’t need an “elite” tag for them to be sought after. I believe “elite” is a title you earn without having to put it on brochures and market as a brand name. I would rather take pride in my university for producing the elite rather than just attracting it.

Lastly, from faculty shortage to the quality of food on campus, we are confident that our administration has enough responsibilities to deal with already, and though it is good to be ambitious, any professor teaching management will tell you that it is important to know one’s own limits and not overcommit. Consequently, let’s all hope that the administration will take the time to reflect on the faculty’s teachings and on its own strategy for the semesters to come.