CAMPUS 11TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE!

Limited Edition

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Alex EIT – El-Amreya (Showroom & Service Center) Tel:(03) 4700165/6 EIT – Gleem (Showroom) Tel:(03) 5822474/6 EIT – Down Town (Showroom) Tel:(03) 9601393

Mansoura (Showroom) Tel:(050) 2223425 Asiut (Showroom) Tel:(088) 2289663 Sohag (Showroom) Tel:(093) 2322732 Luxor (Showroom) Tel:(095) 2361255

Aswan (Showroom) Tel:(097) 2324222 Sharm El Sheikh El salam road (Showroom) (New) Tel:(069) 3604734/5

CHAIRMAN Shady Sherif

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Louis Greiss

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Leila Tapozada

EDITORS

Wessam Sherif Yasmine Zohdi

JUNIOR EDITOR Youssef Saad Eldin

FASHION EDITOR Asma El Husseini

MEDIA EXECUTIVE Zeina El Alfy Ghada Zayed Ismaeel Khoudeir

FINANCIAL MANAGER Ehab A. Aziz

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT Sherif El Haggar

ACCOUNTANT Ahmed Serag

OFFICE MANAGER

OCTOBER 2011

Sylvia Peter

OFFICE ASSISTANTS Ibrahim Mansour Mohamed Eid

IT MANAGER Ahmed Saher

HELIOPOLIS

69, Adidas(elmarghany), Africana Café C&CO (horeya st), Blue Brry (ard elgolf ) , Café Mo, Cairo International Airport, Chess, , Coffee Roastery, Colors, Compu Me,Cat, Diwan Bookstore, Desire, Einstein,Euro Deli, EveryMans Bookstore,Farah Café , Flower Market, Function, Gelateria Roma Cafe, Gravity, Harris Café, Gudy, Gallery Bel3araby (elnozha st.) ,House café , Hope Flowers, Hot Pink, Khodier, IIPennello Ceramic Café, Kan Zaman Restauran, Linea, Liquid, , Maestro Music, Makani Cafe, McDonalds, Mobil Mart(elnozha-eldaery), Musicana, Munchies Café, No Name, Nuts @ Nuts, Occo, Oro Café, Pottery Café,Quicksilver, Ro 8,Schatz Café, Smart Gym, Shell Mart elnozha, STR8 , Spicy, Taurus, TresBon , Up 2 Date, Viking Cafe, Wabi Sabi, Why, World Gym, Zein Café.

NASR CITY

2 Play (City Stars), Adidas(Genina mall-City star), Aroma Lounge (City Stars), Calvin Klein Jeans, Casper & Gambini’s, Cat,C & Co(city star),Esprit(city star), Farah Café(Genina mall), Glatteria Roma Café(city star), Gudy Kenoz Restaurant, ISI (City Stars),Legourmet marche café(city star),Madas , McDonalds (Abbas el Akkad), Musicana, My Day cafe, Quicksilver(city center), Renaissance (Wonderland, Genina Mall, Tiba Mall), Ravin ,Spicy (City Center - Genina Mall) , Virgin Megastore .

MOHANDISEEN

4Get -Me -Not!, Adidas & Timberland(lebnan st,shehab st-Gezert alarab st), Alcott, Beau jardin café ,Café Mo, Café Nour, Cedars café , C& Co, Ciccio café , Chess, Cilantro,Mohamed El Sagheer, Miss Coco, Cocolina, Dar albalsam Book store ,Diwan, Eventya Flowers , Harrod, Hot pink, Laguna Café, L`aroma Cafe, Makani, Marsh Café, McDonalds, Mori suchi , Multi stores, Non bookstore, Oxygen, Pasqua Café’, Quick, Quicksilver, Renaissance library, Ricky’s Diner, Royal Nails, Reblay , Safari Café, Samia Alouba, Silviana heach (Gezert alarab) Solitaire café , Show Room , Second Cup Cafe, Spectra café , Spicy, Sports Café , Tommy & Hilfiger , Tornado Cafe, Toscanini café, Café, Volume One, Zarina , zein café . Zee Lounge café .

DOWNTOWN & MOKATTAM

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE MANAGER

AUC bookstore, Beymen ,Botry café, CIC (Markaz El Soura El Mooasra),Cilantro, French Cultural Center, Lehnert & Landrok Bookshop, Main, Maktabet El Balad, McDonalds (Tahrir), Sixteen, Ravin, Cinema Renaissance (Nile City), Jungle Café,

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Beanos café(maka st), Coffee Roastry(nadi elsaid-maka st), International Cultural Center, Mr. Joe, Makani café , Momento Café, Orange café, Quick24 , Quick seliver , Retro Café, Renaissance Cairo Sheraton, Spicy, Tabasco Café(mesdak-oman sq), Zein Café, Zarina .

Sherif Mahmoud Mahmoud El Araby Shazly Eid

DISTRIBUTION

Abdelhamed Fathy Ashraf Ramadan Gamal Moustafa Ramy Afifi Ragab Fathy Aly Afifi Aly Fawzy Waleed Gilani Abdel Aziz Abdel Rahman Mahmoud Samir

ART DIRECTOR Ahmed Saad

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bassem Raafat Nora El Gazzar Muhammed Abdelaal

COVER CREDITS Nora El Gazzar

DOKKI

ZAMALEK

Alakhbar Bookstore, Arabica café, AUC bookstore, Bean bar, Cilantro, Cocolina , Crave Café, Diwan, Einstein Café, Euro Deli, FDA, 69, Gardenia Flowers, Goal café, Googan Bookstore,Joffrey’s Café, Kodak exepres , Latverna Café, L’aubergine, Makani café Medza Luna, Mobil Mart, Mohamed El Sagheer, Mori Sushi, Munchies Café,Oringett café , Pizza Tabasco, Quick 24,Ravin, Romanci Bookshop,Segafredo Cafe , Sequoia Timberland, Zamalek bookshop. Van Gogh Bookshop .

MAADI

Adidas(Grand mall),adam bookstore, Arthur Murray, Bakier Stationary, Bander Café, Benz Café, Books & Books , Beta Bookshop , Renaissance Cinema (Maadi Bander), Beano’s Café (9 st., Grand mall) , Beau Jardin Café, Bookspot, Caj, Campus Euro Deli, Cat, Chilis, Coffee Roastery, Greco Café , Costa Café (9 st.) , Drink Shop, El Shader Café, Dunes Lounge, Emad Beuty Centre, Ghazala Stationary, Glassdeco, Green Mill, Gudy, Kotob Khan, Makani Cafe, McDonalds, Mediterraneo Restaurants, Quicksilver, Renaissance library, Rigoletto , Samia Alouba, Second cup(9 st.) ,Shell Shop Degla , Show room, Spectra café ,The Bakiry Café , Temberland , Volume One.

OCTOBER CITY

CTP & PRINTING

Beau jardin café café mo, Melounge café , McDonalds, Maxicana café , Morisuchi café Renaissance 6 October , Safary café , Second cup , Shell Shop, Solitaire , Sans soucis café , Traionon café .

CAMPUS MAGAZINE'S ADDRESS

Dar El Shorouk bookshop, Maxicana café ,Polo Shop , Renaissance Cairo Mall

Sahara Printing Company

24 Abdelmenim Riyad St. Mohandiseen Tel: 3749 8730/3 Fax: 3749 8736

EMAILS

mail@core-publications.net info@core-publications.net customerservice@core-publications. net sales@core-publications.net

GIZA & HARAM ALEXANDRIA

24Seven Café, Adidas & Timberland (Syria st, City Center), Banna Stationary, Cilantro (Kafr Abdo, City Center), Coffee Roastery, Costa Café (City Ctr), Deekom, Delight (Gleem – smouha – foud st.), Faces (City Center), Guess (City Center), Magrabi (City Ctr), Mazaya (City Ctr), McDonalds (Miami-Semouha), Quiksilver (City Center), The Sixties café , Tamarin Center, Rapo Gift Shop.

TANTA

Axon (Saeed Branch , el bahr st.) Pizza station ( tanta club , El Helw st.) La plato café.

all originals

get it on

CAMPUS may have turned out to be more trouble than I ever thought, but it’s also more wonderful than I ever dreamed.

Since starting CAMPUS 11 years ago, Shady has gone on to create G Mag, E7na and Egypt’s first online TV channel, Elgomhoreya.tv.

Editors’ Note

I

HAVE TO ADMIT, I’M OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF BEING A HERO. IT MIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH MY NEVER-ENDING INFATUATION WITH COMIC BOOKS AND CARTOONS, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT I WAS MEANT FOR GREAT THINGS, HEROIC THINGS. CALL IT VANITY OR ARROGANCE, CALL IT WHAT YOU MAY, BUT THAT’S WHAT TOOK A BIG CHUNK OF MY EVERYDAY THINKING. I would listen to motivational songs on my drives to and from work and literally imagine every little detail my grand glorious future holds for me.

I would rise up to every possible occasion, bash myself if I felt a bit of confusion or failed to take a decision. I mean, what kind of hero would I be if confusion and indecisiveness got to me? Even when I screwed up, got rejected or downright failed, I’d just tell myself that every hero has to learn in order to truly be able to take his place amongst the greats. And the revolution came to reinforce every bit of arrogance-polished fantasies I held dear.

But then I lost my father; the one man I truly idolized. Mind you, my father was an ordinary Egyptian man who he loved his wife and kids and did whatever it takes to keep them happy. He always used to tell me his life is dedicated to us; his family. My father was the greatest man I knew, but I never really grasped how great he was until I was forced to fill the very big shoes he left me. And that’s when I knew what a true hero is, and he is not the caped crusader I always had in mind. On second thought, my father was in no way an ordinary man, but alas, I don’t get to a chance to thank him for the final lesson he taught me. Sadly, my epiphany comes at a great price.

I’ve learned that a hero doesn’t need to wear his underwear on the outside nor does he need to roam the streets at night striking fear in criminals’ hearts. All a true hero really needs is to be human, accept it with humility and no matter what comes along, as a man; he’ll deal with it.

The man who roared at tanks on the 28th of January might very well be the same man who runs at the sight of a barking stray dog, the sweetest of girlfriends could be complete bitches with their brothers, and the toughest of guys do cry like babies when dumped by a girl they’re head over heels in love with. A sheikh will watch porn every now and then, a drinker does pray and a murderer might have saved your life during the revolution. We are creatures of paradox, we’re all human and there’s never been a point pretending otherwise. No one is born a hero, there are no golden boys or prodigies; we’re all defined by our struggles.

And that’s precisely what I love most about CAMPUS; it’s as human as anyone out there. It’s so human in fact I used to hate it a while before I gladly became part of its team, because I thought it was too superficial.

But you see, CAMPUS was superficial, emo, political and obscene.

CAMPUS was dumped, taken back and then dumped again. CAMPUS gained weight but still managed to get a flat tummy for bikini season.

Campus was super religious and it also doubted god. CAMPUS hates traffic but loves this country. CAMPUS was a revolutionary, yet hated life during the curfew. CAMPUS is human.

And as cliché and corny as it may sound, that is why CAMPUS is the voice of our generation, because it will always be about ordinary humans with extraordinary fights. True heroes like my dad, and I could only wish to be the same.

Editors’ Note

OK, LET’S BE HONEST HERE. AS A GENERATION, WE’RE MESSED UP.

We may have overthrown a dictator and changed the history of this country and all, but the fact remains: we’re messed up. If the word “confused” was ever made to describe anyone; it’s you and me and all of us. Just like our Core Publications slogan unabashedly admits; “We have issues”. Serious ones.

We’ve been brought up in a society where contradictions and double standards had never been more blatant. We’ve been faced with overbearing pressures to conform, and overwhelming temptations to rebel. We’ve been exposed to unprecedented levels of religious extremism, and limitless behavioral freedoms. We’ve been shunned and applauded for the same thing – be it drinking or wearing the veil.

We’ve witnessed everything we’d ever been taught was wrong take place right in front of our eyes, yet were told not to object, because speaking out was dangerous. We’ve been forced to accept silence as a virtue, hypocrisy as a habit and corruption as an ideology in itself. We’ve gone to school knowing full well that almost everything we studied was useless, sometimes even false. We’ve been taught that in order to be something, you have to either know the right people, or travel and look for opportunities somewhere else.

And so we’re torn, constantly. Between what we want to do and what society dictates. Between our dreams and the restrictions living in this country imposes. Between the “religious” friends and the “openminded” friends. Between the comfort of tradition, and the appeal of the untraditional; the frowned-upon. Between settling for what we have, and struggling for the freedom we believe in and know we deserve.

Between nurturing that tiny seed of love for this country that we were born with, and giving in to the negativity and the despair that leave none of us untouched. Between the inner voice that implores us to stay, and the endless disappointments that ceaselessly urge us to leave. We are always stretched, between two extremes. Most times, though, we find ourselves in neither, and end up helplessly wandering in the middle.

Hence, the confusion. It’s who we are.

And if there’s one thing that has made Campus so special for 11 years, it’s that confusion. That mixture of inclinations; that clash of opinions, that rich blend of personalities that created a free, unrestrained space where voices from each side could express their thoughts, beliefs and aspirations. We embrace it all. We don’t write what we don’t know; we write what we – being young, diverse individuals in this turbulent time, this crazy country – experience firsthand.

And the revolution was no exception.

On January 28th, it’s the Campus office where we all met before taking to the street. It was a whirlwind of activity; people were running around preparing gas masks, scribbling down home phone numbers in case of emergencies, and frantically stuffing onions and vinegar bottles into backpacks. It’s the Campus office where we met that night as well - after Tahrir had been taken by protesters – recounting the events of the day in exhilarated detail over KFC (yes, ironically, we did eat KFC that night).

And although it was still too early to know the regime was in fact going to fall, and we realized there was a good chance our office could be seized

by State Security if they found out it was a meeting point for protesters, we didn’t care.

When we went back to work the following week the Tahrir sit-in was still ongoing. We’d meet at the office every morning, head to Tahrir by noon, spend the day there, then go back to the office and stay up working on the issue. I still remember what Shady, our boss, told us one day after we’d gathered in the meeting room: “Here’s the pattern: We protest by day, we work by night. That’s the only way it’s going to work.” The magazine was ridiculously late and we were losing money, but profits and deadlines were put aside.

And that’s what I love about Campus. It’s not just a magazine, and it’s definitely not a business. It’s a true manifestation of this generation; in everything it’s going through – from world-altering events like a revolution, to daily nuisances like your ‘sayes’.

(And by the way, the February issue did come out. 15 days late. But it came out.)

I do not want to make claims about this generation or speak in its name; I am still discovering as I go what else we are capable of. We may be the luckiest generation this country has ever seen, taking part in a historic event of such magnitude, and we may be the least fortunate of all, for being destined to spend the rest of our lives working our asses off for change perhaps only our grandchildren will get to see.

But in all cases, we’ve experienced some pretty damn interesting stuff… and I’m quite sure we’re yet to experience some more.

And I promise we’ll keep writing about it, like we always do.

To many more years of freedom; to many more years of Campus.

Editors’ Note

F

IRST OFF, LET ME START BY ADMITTING THAT I’M A CYNIC. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, THAT BEING CYNICAL DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU HAVE A CYNICAL SENSE OF HUMOR; THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THE TERM THAN THIS. THE CONTEMPORARY MEANING OF THE WORD “CYNIC”, (BY CONTEMPORARY I MEAN STARTING THE 19TH CENTURY), IS SOMEONE WHO DISTRUSTS HUMAN NATURE, ALWAYS DOUBTING OTHER PEOPLE’S MOTIVES. In simpler words, cynicism could be classified as a form of negativity.

I’ll push my luck and throw in the famous “half empty/ half full glass” example. Naturally a cynic will view the glass half empty rather than seeing it half full.

There are two steps in a cynic’s approach to a controversial issue; the first one is to doubt that this issue is going to take place or to be fully constructed, the second step, which takes place after this issue is fully constructed, is to question the purpose of this issue, or, in other words, fail to see the revenue that will come from it.

It’s of crucial importance to differentiate between being cynical and being apathetic. Apathy could be best described as a state of indifference; an apathetic person wouldn’t care enough to have an influence over something or anything, while a cynic would think that whatever it is, it’s going to fail, and even if it doesn’t, it’s pointless.

Let’s take the January 25th revolution as an example. An apathetic person wouldn’t join the revolution, because he doesn’t care, he wouldn’t trouble himself for something that doesn’t directly involve him, and in many cases, even if it does involve him.

A cynic however, wouldn’t join for a completely different set of reasons, the most important of which, is that he fails to see the point. He’ll argue that the revolution will never succeed, and even if it does, there aren’t any other better scenarios for Egypt. He’d be saying things like, “So what if you depose Mubarak? Who will rule Egypt then? The beards!”

Statements like “Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it”, “Khalleeha 3ala allah”, and “Insha2 allah 7ateb2a a7san” are absolutely futile to a cynic.

A cynic is logical; he will do his best to prove that people are bad by nature, that someone will steal away the revolution, that the people who revolted did so for the wrong reason, but all through logic. It might be a faulty logic but nevertheless, it still is logic!

Unfortunately, most of the previous applies to me; I never thought that the January 25th uprising would turn into a revolution and right then I moved to step two. Instead of thinking that the revolution will fail, I started thinking that even if it doesn’t, it’s hopeless. El Ekhwan or SCAF will take over the revolution (unless they have some sort of an agreement). Yeah, cynics are somewhat paranoid! The masses who marched in the streets are looking for quick solutions, ones that if took place will lead to a darker future on the long run.

Guess what? I was right; all the political powers are scared shitless of

both El Ekhwan and SCAF, knowing that either separately or jointly they have a mastermind plan to take over the country. El mataleb el fe2waeya, especially the ones of economic nature (which are indeed valid), of the masses who need a quick fix, is draining the economy. Sadly the masses are unaware of the fact that a proper, honest-to-god, economic restructuring, will take years rather than mere months.

Blame it on El feloul or blame it on SCAF (and you have the right to, because they must be guilty of something…everyone is!) but you have to admit the people share a part of the responsibility.

Do believe me when I tell you this: ANA MSH FELOUL… ANA MSH DED EL THAWRA. On the contrary, I hated Mubarak, I hated his regime, I hated his era, and I always hoped for a better Egypt. However, the fact remains: I’m a cynic. I can’t in good consciousness take a leap of faith, I have to know exactly where I’m heading, the whole “ye7elaha alf 7allal” attitude doesn’t work for me.

“What’s up with all the pointless rant?” you ask. Well, here comes my conclusion. Before being a cynic, I’m a human being. And human beings, no matter how cynical, pessimistic, or skeptical they are, must always have a tiny bit of hope, even if they won’t admit it to themselves.

Everyone at any given time has a bit of hope in him; it’s the amount of hope that varies from one person to another.

So despite everything, I still have hope that things may actually turn out well, this hope is derived from the logic that, with a bit of luck, this generation pulled off the unimaginable, and if it happened once, then it may very well happen again.

On behalf of all the cynics out there, I do hope we’re all wrong, and I do hope that once again, against all the odds, our generation accomplishes the impossible.

Designers’ Note

It doesn’t matter what you studied, do what you love. It’s the only thing that will keep you going.

Instead of wasting your time on spite, do something useful!

No matter how busy you get with work, always remember that there’s a life beyond those office doors.

Talent shouldn’t be put up for bids, talent is priceless!

“3am Safi” is the voice you hear every day on the radio; the man who brings you the flashbacks.

Also did you know that Safi’s the man who coined the term “Heliopolopolis”? Yea. He’s also very big on environment; you don’t mess with the man’s environment!

I

’M IN A HEATED RELATIONSHIP WITH COUCHES, I REALLY AM. ADVENTUROUS, HAPPY, SAD, EPIC, AND LIFE-CHANGING MOMENTS HAVE ALL TRANSPIRED UPON THEIR DEVIOUS, WELCOMING CUSHIONS AT SOME POINT IN TIME. YEAH. IT IS

BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING HUMAN INVENTIONS IN OUR HISTORY, AND ONE THAT WILL SURELY STAND THE TEST OF TIME. TILL THE END OF EXISTENCE THE DESIRE TO “LAZE” SHALL PROBABLY REMAIN A LOYAL COMPANION TO HUMANITY. RIGHT NOW, IT IS A FULL-BLOWN INDUSTRY ON ITS OWN, AND IN THE FUTURE, IF WE KEEP THIS UP, IT COULD WELL BECOME EVERYTHING. This is not why I write to you now though, no. Couches! That’s what got me into this blathering mess. Right, I tell now of a true tale about an encounter that took place on a couch, writing it while on a couch, and chances are, you’re reading it right now, sitting down, on a couch. You know, I really need to break up with my couch affinity, whether you feel the need to do the same, is entirely up to you.

So, as you may have guessed, the opening scene of my tale will indeed include me sitting on my couch one recent Thursday evening, reveling by myself, in that post-workweek, grind-down-to-a-halt sensation. TV rambling aimlessly at low volume in the background, while I slipped away into the really shallow type of nap, you know? Where you’re asleep, but not really? I’ll call it a shnap.

As soft as it was, her voice shook the very essence of my consciousness.

“I know what troubles you”, she said in a tone so pure, so loving, so hurt, yet so hopeful and adamant at the same time. My shnap was certainly over. I slowly opened my eyes, with that second it took to open them translating into countless, zooming queries of whether my shnap morphed into a proper dream, or was that sound coming from the TV, which was nowhere near that loud while I was shnapping.

For some unexplainable reason, can’t really define why, I wasn’t surprised at the slightest to see her just sitting there at the edge of my couch, smiling at me. If anything, seeing her felt like a wave of, well, comfort had instantly come over me. That’s exactly what it was. The same sort of comfort that only a mother or a lover can give you really. She was right there man! A real lady just sat on my couch all of a sudden! Had she come in while I shnapped? This was no dream, there she was, and my word did she look dignified. The kind of dignity that could only come with age, but that didn’t mean she was not stunningly gorgeous.

have to step over to achieve it. The fact that many people will continue to live this way, and prefer the inevitable catastrophe of the future than the drastic changes we would need to implement now. We are being driven away from the core values of being human, and instead, locked in a downward spiral of dictated societal norms. We are being told our choices, instead of discovering those we’d never dreamed of choosing in the first place, because we had no idea they even existed. That is what troubles me.”

Her comforting smile suddenly expanded to reveal chasms of sympathetic understanding, before she spoke in an even more assuring tone. “Your main trouble is that not everyone shares your passion, and that my boy, is everyone’s trouble, just like you. Passion is cure and it is cause. It is what creates friends, lovers and more, the very essence of who we are.”

“But how do I get them to share my passion?” I asked, probably adorned with the look and tone of a 4 year old asking his mother how he can get his strawberry jam to not run away from the inside of his sandwich, and jump onto his shirt and lap. “Not until they accept each other’s passions,” she said. “Until they truly do, all you’ll have is a raging fire of different passions at constant battle with each other, as opposed to a collective flame that lights the path, and leads the way”. The instant reaction inside my head was “dude, that is SO self help!”, but luckily I contained it and somehow managed to visualize exactly what she was about to say next.

“So you see, the fact that people have different passions is also the fact that can help them find their true path. Your differences are your union.

Remember that your logic is yours alone, and the same applies for everyone else, and it all depends on your circle of knowledge. You can’t expect everyone to share your logic or have the same circle of knowledge as you. Yet being part of a wider circle does not necessarily translate into better judgment. Sometimes the best choices are made with the least amount of information. Trust your passion, and you shall choose well.”

I found myself closing my eyes to digest all that she’d said, and once again, found no surprise when I opened them up to find that she was gone. I could still feel her warmth though, a caressing comfort that has lingered on ever since. Every time I find myself sat on my couch, reading, watching TV or just having a Thursday afternoon shnap, the corner of my eye always wanders to the end of my couch, wondering & hoping how and where she is, but knowing with that full caressing comfort, that she is surely beaming those smiles of hers at someone, this very instant.

I do not know why I’ve shared this story with you, or whether you’ll actually really read it. The only thing I’ve decided to be utterly sure of is my own passion, and yours. Trust it. Choose well.

All that beauty and dignity didn’t say much about her attire though. She was dressed in a torn and tattered galabeya that bore an elaborately engraved design, indicating that her style & fashion was going somewhere someday, long ago. Flowing hair was loosely covered with an old shawl that carried all the colors of our Earth, from sand to lush green grass. Her skin had certainly seen the sun, and lots of it. Absolutely glimmering bronze and exuberating youth, but not without being tainted with all the hardships she’d clearly been through.

“I know what troubles you,” she said again, and followed it up with a smile that left me with a myriad of tingling goosebumps. “I know that you want to fix it all, and that you want to fix it all now, but that’s simply not possible.” My eyebrows scrunched up, and the eternally inquisitive shadow within rose up and vocalized with his patented “Why not?”

“Because you cannot have stairs without steps, or a ladder without its rungs,” was her silky retort. “I feel that you have tired from this singleminded, consumption machine that has become the life of many nowadays. Everyone wants to ‘have’ and not to be. Love of possession has turned from a mere desire into a haunting, pressing illusion of the ultimate need. You want none of this, but you’re stuck.”

Now, to say that it felt weird to have someone summarize the underlining philosophy of your life, and to string the threads of your subconscious thoughts into words, would be an utterly glaring understatement. She’d hammered it, the proverbial nail in the coffin. I could sadly only muster a hesitant “Stuck?”, as if questioning my own confirmations. That mesmerizing smile, again.

“What is it that troubles you the most?” she asked, and as if feeding off of the energy emanating from that glorious smile, I let loose. “I’m troubled by the fact that people don’t care as much as they should, their constant will to please and appease only the self and not care what or who they

You can’t expect everyone to share your logic or have the same circle of knowledge as you. Yet being part of a wider circle does not necessarily translate into better judgment.

Sometimes the best choices are made with the least amount of information. Trust your passion, and you shall choose well

ŠMuhammed Abdelaal

Campus’ first editor, ever! Enough said.

I

THINK THE TOPIC OF THE REVOLUTION HAS BEEN OVER EXHAUSTED, AND RIGHTLY SO. SO LET ME PROCLAIM THAT THERE’S NOTHING NEW I CAN DISCLOSE THAT HASN’T ALREADY BEEN SAID. THERE IS NO GENIUS POLITICAL INSIGHT INTO THE BOG THAT IS LOCAL POLITICS. LIKE MANY PEOPLE, BEFORE THE REVOLUTION I WAS AS INTERESTED IN LOCAL POLITICS AS GEORGE MICHAEL IS IN WOMEN. AND AS MUCH AS THE REVOLUTION HAS POLITICIZED MUCH OF OUR DAILY DISCOURSE, LOCAL POLITICS STILL MYSTIFY ME. It doesn’t help that while the nation was undergoing a historic change on the political front, I myself was being overhauled! Delivering twins, spending the core days of the revolution in the Intensive Care Unit, recovering, and so on. So you can say I missed a lot of the initial details, and it took me a while to catch up.

And between my attempts at catching up, pumping breast milk, changing diapers, and hating my body, all kinds of locution novelties emerged out of the revolution. Qanassa, Mondaseen, Salafeyeen, and of course, Folool.

an already established Western-modeled political system, that his expectations were so high they reached beyond idealistic and into hippie, and that he did not speak the language of the masses: i.e. food, money, survival. My heart broke for this hottie as I kept checking my watch eager to make it back in time for the late night twins’ feed! It also didn’t help that the panel presenting the party’s platform was comprised of social development workers and NGO-ers. No savvy political strategist, no business personas, no politicians. Just good, honest, caring citizens… all I could think of was: they’re doomed!

To make a long story short, my twins’ poop is getting bigger and smellier as the days go by. Their poop used to be so adorable when they were born around the revolution. It was tiny and cute, and its production was an event to be celebrated, nothing filled me more with pride! They would lay wherever I put them, and I didn’t have to watch them vigilantly. Now eight months later they’re all over the place, they require so much work, their demands are increasing and becoming more and more complex, and their poopie diapers would send anyone running! Much like a revolution that began so full of hope and is now going to the poop!

Folool; the remnants of the old regime, or supporters of the old regime became the word du jour. Even the classiest beaches of the north coast did not miss the opportunity to make it their own. Annoying people became folool, tacky people became folool; even socially pretentious people became folool. Yes I know, puzzling… Now, when my husband bothers me in the slightest, I derive immense gratification from calling him “enta folool!”

And as post-revolution events progressed, the semantic snowball kept gaining ground. After all, semantics tell us what to think and how to judge. Remember the word “Terrorist” post 9-11? What images did that word conjure up? Bearded Muslim, bloodthirsty fundamentalists, even though really anyone can be a terrorist. Timothy McVeigh – the Oklahoma City Bomber – was a essentially a text-book terrorist, but not one that fit the discourse created by a dirty game of semantics… And so accordingly Salafis became deranged religious fanatics, Ikhwan became power hungry old-regime religious fundamentalists. Even if there is truth to this, actual truth, and not “media truth”, we are conditioned by a political game of semantics to fear the Salafis and hate the Ikhwan. And by we, I mean the educated upper echelons who fear for their beaches and their bars, and who find no specific category to fit into and so go by the broad label of Liberals.

Speaking of dandies… I mean Liberals, I attended one of Amr Hamzawy’s political party presentations in an attempt to discover my closeted politico. I was after all having a political identity crisis, and like many, was racing to learn my true political orientation. The meeting was held at the clubhouse of El Gezira compound in Sheikh Zayed city, an upper class compound of villas. In other words, a place where Hamzawy can preach to the choir! Lovely ladies decked out in their designer shoes and Rolex watches came to see the man who quickly gained “hotttie” status over the course of the revolution. Of course it did help that he had just declared his love for the actor Basma in so many (cryptic) words just the day before in a local paper. Women were twirling their hair on fingertips and sitting up straight in anticipation of this hot Romeo’s arrival. Even my husband was nervous. And I must say, the man did not disappoint! Even hotter than he is on TV, well dressed, casual but expensive casual, smiling, with a slight tan. Oh and he said some political stuff.

Walking away from that meeting I was hit with two things: Ikhwan are so going to be in power, and secondly, this is the last we’ll hear of the Liberals! It didn’t help that Hamzawy sounded like he came from

Annoying people became folool, tacky people became folool; even socially pretentious people became folool. Yes I know, puzzling… Now, when my husband bothers me in the slightest, I derive immense gratification from calling him “enta folool!

Comedian, talented artist, and as of recent, writer! And a great one too! In short, this guy is all about creativity!

M

EDIOCRITY IS THE STATE THAT’S IN BETWEEN THINGS. BETWEEN WHAT’S GOOD AND BAD. BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE. MEDIOCRITY IS NOT DEFINED BY WHAT IT IS BUT RATHER WITH WHAT IT’S NOT. MEDIOCRITY IS DEFINED BY ABSENCE. The standards against which we measure things now are weathered. Our society seems to be very relative in the sense that we seem to measure the quality of things in comparison to what else is offered, and not in absolute terms. This will naturally lead to disfigured judgments, because if we are judging by comparison, then the absence of great makes what is good or available ‘great’. And herein lies the danger; the danger of losing the capability of realizing greatness. Furthermore it leads to a feeling of satisfaction with your mediocre results when they’re celebrated by your audience as great.

This satisfaction in turn poses a limitation on your potential for greatness. Our society seems to exaggerate its celebration of mediocre products due to the absolute lack of good ones, which leads product creators’ ultimate ambition to solely aim at feeding into this hollow and premature success. The sudden fame and celebration achieved by these product designers becomes a hindrance, as they develop a deep fear of failure, limiting them from further exploration and experimentation with what they started. This halts their vertical progress and diverts it to horizontal growth - which is more quantitative rather than qualitative- depriving both the creator and audience of real progress, ultimately leading to mediocrity.

The problem can be attributed to a fear of failure - but why fear failure?

Failure is a very important part of any creative process. Failure tests the limits and potential of the product leading the creator to a more solid and educated start. It’s better to endure the possibility of failure than to get stuck in a moment between standing upright and hitting the floor nose first; the moment where you’re waving your hands hysterically not to fall, wasting a lot of energy to maintain mediocrity, and falling anyway.

I say fail fast. And start fresh, because good is the enemy of great.

Explore your potential to the maximum and always take what you have to the next level. Put your ambition in the right place, don’t seek celebration, seek breakthroughs. Don’t seek quantity, seek quality. And don’t seek a destination, seek progress.

It’s better to endure the possibility of failure than to get stuck in a moment between standing upright and hitting the floor nose first; the moment where you’re waving your hands hysterically not to fall, wasting a lot of energy to maintain mediocrity, and falling anyway

Ahmed Saad

Mall of Arabia / Alexandria City Centre 03 3970235 City Stars 02 24802915 / Jazeerat Al Arab 02 33448087

Geegee’s (also known as Gmag) Editor In Chief! A very competitive big eyed pizza enthusiast who writes EXACTLY the way she speaks and has mastered the elusive art of cuteness. Albeit her many talents though, Leila’s kryptonite is your friendly neighborhood gecko (el bors).

I

WAS ASKED TO WRITE ABOUT “OUR GENERATION” OR ABOUT SOMETHING I WANTED TO TELL “OUR GENERATION”. OK, FINE. ONE PROBLEM THOUGH. I HATE THE TERM “OUR GENERATION”.

So I chose not to write about it. I won’t write about it for a myriad of reasons; firstly because I think it’s an over-used, over-done, meaningless term. Secondly (and more honestly), because this magazine is full of very smart, very talented people writing about ‘our generation’ w mish 7asa en ana eli hageeb el tayha khales.

Sure, “our generation” saw and went through some ‘interesting’ shit.

But no more or no less than generations who go through wars or sexual revolutions or scientific or technological break-throughs. It’s all relative.

(The Campus editors are probably tearing their hair out at this point and kicking themselves for asking me to write this.)

But I will tell you something regarding Campus, the supposed “voice of our generation”. But let’s begin with the basics.

The magazine industry is cutthroat.

I’m lucky enough to be the editor-in-chief of G Mag. And I’m not just lucky because it’s the best little magazine in the world (in my very humble, unbiased opinion of course), but because G Mag stands alone.

We march to the beat of our own little offbeat drum and that’s that.

But other magazines aren’t all like that; there’s cutthroat competition about everything – readership, interviews, writers, designers, ads, style – you name it. But Campus has always been the name in the magazine business, even during its dark days (and all magazines have dark days, yes, even G Mag).

And the reason behind it being a giant in the industry is because honestly for the past eleven years Campus has talked about everything that WE talk about (notice how I said “we” and not “our generation”).

Sure, you can hate on some of the topics or the writers or the opinions but you can’t ever say it’s not relevant. And that’s because Campus isn’t a bunch of middle-aged suits sitting at a meeting room table trying to figure out ways to sell a product to a younger “generation”. Every article is written by someone just like you and I, someone who had a thought, or a feeling, or a theory, or a rant and sat down and wrote about it. And for every person who disagreed with an article, there are ten people who whole-heartedly agreed and felt better by knowing that obviously someone else thinks the same way they do. And that right there is in equal parts gay and great at the same time.

I highly doubt any other magazine would’ve published my shit.

When I write for G Mag, I write as G Mag, or “Geegee” to those in the inner G circle. But when I write as Leila Tapozada, no other magazine other than Campus would probably have the balls to publish me. I’ve written about my cabaret experience, I’ve written about how I provoke society and how society provokes me, I’ve written about growing up without religion, I’ve insulted feminists, socialites, Twitter, cheesy people, travel agencies (and got in trouble), ex-boyfriends, ex-friends, random people who piss me off in general, social wannabes, “losers”, and so much more. I’m sometimes aggressive, and offensive, and at times downright annoying. And instead of being limited to a miserable blog like most people, CAMPUS PUBLISHES ME! CAMPUS THINKS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS ACTUALLY WORTH SOMETHING! And even more – I always expect negative feedback because of my chosen topics, but instead perfect strangers tell me on Facebook, Twitter, email and to my face that they agree with me, feel the same,

experienced the same, or just thanked me for saying what was on their mind. AH WALAHY! There is no way on earth that any other English “lifestyle” magazine or “society” magazine or dry “current events” magazine can generate that kind of “YES, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I THINK!” kind of reaction that Campus gets all the times from its readers. Sorry, but it’s the truth.

Breaking the circle of silence.

We’ve gotten into the habit of shutting up about stuff so we’re not judged. We live in silent competition and silent censure of each other, so everyone is always keeping their shit on the ‘down-low’– whether it be drinking, drugs, how much you make, sexuality, religion. We’re trapped by our traditions and forced into silence, but Campus has been bringing it all out into the open for more than a decade, and now I want to do the same.

So I’m not going to congratulate Campus for being the “voice of our generation” for eleven years. I’m going to congratulate it for being the only real magazine where as a writer you can be yourself, and as a reader you can find people who AREN’T pretending, who aren’t hiding and who aren’t judging.

So what I have to say is this. Get involved. Give feedback. Suggest ideas and topics. Write for Campus, they’re nice people and will do what they can to publish you. I know you all have something to say. Hey, if they publish me, it’s proof that they’re open to publishing anyone.

Campus isn’t a bunch of middle-aged suits sitting at a meeting room table trying to figure out ways to sell a product to a younger “generation”. Every article is written by someone just like you and I, someone who had a thought, or a feeling, or a theory, or a rant and sat down and wrote about it

Š Illustration Nora El Gazzar

Scriptwriter whose work includes a couple of the best Egyptian movies made over the last few years, including big titles like “El-Gezeera” and “Alf Mabrouk”. Recently directed his debut feature film, “6,7,8”, bringing him a lot of international acclaim.

“SOMETIMES I THINK OF LEAVING EGYPT, BUT THEN I ASK MYSELF, ‘WHAT IF EVERY GOOD CITIZEN DECIDED TO LEAVE? WE’D BE REMEMBERED AS THE GENERATION THAT LEFT EGYPT TO CRUMBLE AND COLLAPSE!’ AND SO I GO BACK AND TELL MYSELF THAT WE MUST STAY; WE MUST KEEP TRYING, AND MAYBE ONE DAY HISTORY WILL REMEMBER US AS THE GENERATION THAT BROUGHT EGYPT BACK UP ON ITS FEET DURING ITS DARKEST TIMES.” I WROTE THIS LAST JANUARY, RIGHT AFTER THE CHURCH BOMBINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN ALEXANDRIA ON NEW YEAR’S EVE. Twenty days later, the people took to the streets, and suddenly it was a revolution. I remember thinking back then that this must be a sign; a sign that we were indeed the generation this country had been waiting for.

Short of breath already? Exercise; you’ll get used to it.

Are you getting discouraged? Stay positive and walk the extra mile.

Don’t really believe in the Revolution? Well, screw labels, whatever you name it, I am sure you’re not against what’s good for this country.

Let’s quit all the pointless arguments and start building the change we want to see, step by step.

I wish I’ll read this article in ten years and think ‘God, my dreams were too modest’, and blame myself for underestimating this generation when I assumed that this was all we could do.

I know I will not be disappointed. Whoever made the impossible happen once can do it again, and a million times over.

The generation that’s been brought up on the expression “mafeesh fayda”, is fierce and defiant of any doubt regarding its capabilities and future.

The generation that never had a place, carved its position in history with sweat and blood.

The generation that’s been taught that any act of courage is suicide, is no longer afraid.

If the revolution’s only gains are killing fear and that damned stereotype of “mafeesh fayda”, then that’s enough to be grateful for.

But our happiness with what was achieved in February should not make us forget that the future is even more important, and that greater things are yet to happen. We’ve been pushing against the door for years, now we finally managed to open it. We don’t want to be the generation that just opened the door.

We need to cross the threshold; we need to make more miracles happen.

I wish, when reading Campus ten years from today, I’ll find articles about how we managed to handle our differences and respect one another.

About how we turned Egypt into an industrial power, and gave value to the phrase “Made in Egypt”.

About how we finally managed to be agriculturally self-sufficient and started exporting wheat instead of importing it.

About how Egypt became the number one tourist spot in the world.

About how this generation made Egypt a first world country.

“Impossible” is now the kind of word that is of absolutely no significance.

We’re the generation of hope; we’re a beginning. If you’re starting to feel depressed, allow me to assure you that we have forever changed the face of this country.

There’s no going back. Each and every one of us has to play a role in reaching our goals for Egypt.

Yes, we have loads of trouble ahead of us, and there will be countless obstacles along the road, and there’s no button we can press to fix the mess that this country has become overnight. But determination is the key, and in my heart I know we will make it.

We don’t want to be the generation that just opened the door.

We need to cross the threshold; we need to make more miracles happen.

for Him and for Her Alexandria City Centre 03 3970238 . City Stars 02 24802903 . Jazeerat El Arab 02 33050415 . Mall of Arabia

Currently E7na magazine’s number one man! El Brens, el kotsh! One of the few possessors of Core Publications’ “secret ingredients”, and is ridiculously addicted to interviews!

I

THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ARTICLES I’D EVER HAVE TO WRITE, AND IT MOST DEFINITELY IS. NOT BECAUSE OF THE “FLASHY” NAMES ALL OVER THE MAGAZINE, AND NOT BECAUSE IT’S ANOTHER “ANNIVERSARY” ISSUE, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE IN A MAGAZINE THAT CARRIES THE SLOGAN “THE VOICE OF OUR GENERATION”. AND AS AN EDITOR OF ITS SISTER MAGAZINE, A MAGAZINE THAT SHARES THE SAME SLOGAN “THE VOICE OF A GENERATION” OR “SOUT GEEL BE7ALO”, I KNEW IT WOULD BE A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY! I thought a lot about what I should write; I really wanted to leave a good impression to prove that I deserve such an honor. And when we come to that word “generation”, I can remember how it was used only a few months ago, and how it has completely changed after the revolution. I remember “King of Generation” Tamer Hosny turning himself into a joke when he thought - like a lot of people - that he can change our minds and convince us to leave Tahrir.

I remember my favorite song “Sout El Horreya” turning into a hit and getting hundreds of thousands of views every week proving that our “generation” isn’t only obsessed with drugs, hot models, sports and filthy jokes!

I can remember a lot of things right now, as if the word “generation” pushed a collage of nostalgic icons in front of my eyes, reminding me of how media used to deal with youth ten years ago! For some mysterious reason, media (especially state TV) insisted on pushing our generation away, beginning with disrespecting our interests while we were children through their lame “barameg atfal” to the way they used to portray youth in drama! I can’t remember how many times I was provoked while watching Egyptian drama discussing our issues and narrowing them down in one phrase “Khod el 7abbaya de hat-sa3dak 3al mozakra!”!

Thousands of movies, series and talk shows discussing youth issues without knowing one real fact about youth! They never thought that they were displaying how they see youth or how they felt when they were young; they did every damn thing except interact with real young people! Simply, they succeeded in turning us away from media and pushing us towards western media and have finally accused us of losing our Egyptian identity without bothering to find one excuse for us! They accused us of a lack of affiliation towards our country, they turned it into our “generation dilemma” and they never noticed that the abusive usage of “7000 years of civilization” would make it lose its lofty meaning.

They kept us under custody using a variation of methods of suppression, ranging from “enta lesa so3’ayar” to “censorship” to “amn el dawla” for the stubborn ones. They kept us for decades without a voice, a real voice that represents us till we had to erupt to be heard!

Of course I know better than to claim that we inspired the revolution because I think our revolution is too great to be inspired by a person or even an entity! I am also not claiming that we have the exclusive right to speak in the name of the generation; I am only stating the fact that the magazine you are holding in your hands has always been a sincere try to represent the youth, to give them a medium to express themselves. Sometimes we succeeded and sometimes we were close and definitely sometimes we weren’t right.

But at the end we gave it a shot (the next phrase reminds me of the “Man on Fire” finale: fear has a voice), finally the generation has a “voice”; it doesn’t matter if it’s young, unwise or wild, because we would never grow up wise without trying it out, without failing and trying again and again until we succeed. And that simply is what distinguishes our publications; that we have the guts to represent ourselves, discuss our issues, face our fears and dream without boundaries (remember the cute president issue).

At the end of my humble article I would like to mention a quick story about a colleague who always complained of how her parents marginalized her opinions. That young lady came to me during the revolution complaining about her parents’ continuous questions about our revolution saying “mesh ma3na eni so3’yara eni 23raf kol 7aga!”I didn’t realize what her complaint meant at that time, but later on I realized that our screaming “voices” meant a lot!

Finally the generation has a “voice”; it doesn’t matter if it’s young, unwise or wild, because we would never grow up wise without trying it out, without failing and trying again and again until we succeed

Photography: Hossam el Qamash GrafďŹ ti: S3D

Relationship guru, marketing and media consultant, quite a controversial writer and – most recently – a very happy mother.

S

INCE I GOT PREGNANT IN AUGUST 2010, I HAVE BEEN ON A BUMPY HORMONAL TRIP; EVERYTHING SEEMS SO INTENSE AND MAGNIFIED BUT AT THE SAME TIME MOST THINGS SEEM TRIVIAL AND MARGINAL. IT IS LIKE WEARING BIFOCAL GLASSES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT ONCE I GAVE BIRTH I WOULD WELCOME MY OLD SELF BACK BUT I WAS NEVER MORE WRONG! Adam has taken me hostage and I am enjoying being a captive of this tiny yet amazing creature. My whole world lights up when he smiles, I cry when he cries, and I laugh when he giggles. He is a yummy bundle of joy – and I do not want him to go to school! Yes! This is what I just confessed! I do not want my baby to attend school in Egypt or anywhere in the world!

Education the way it is today – and the way it has been for hundreds of years – is a sin against humanity; we are all victims of the educational system no matter how good or bad you think it is.

As of the age of four or five the “student” gets up at six in the morning, spends thirty minutes in transportation if his school is a few streets away, and at least an hour on the road if his school is a little bit far from home. At school, he spends at least seven hours between classes where he is bombarded by information delivered by people whose teaching capabilities are a question mark…And he is expected to meet expectations from day one! There are rules and guidelines for the “good boy” who sits in his place, does not make noise, does his homework, raises his hand, plays quietly, and eats his meal. Good obedient boys who are tamable and controllable get a star on their forehead and others get sent home with a letter to their parents!

don’t know what to do with themselves now; they become frustrated adults who are anything but productive.

I do not want Adam to study anything that is being taught in schools. I want him to learn how to read, write, and count then go out there and read all sorts of books, articles, and papers related to any topic that he fancies. I want him to search, research, and come up with his own conclusions and answers. Knowledge, truth, and real education are not in school books; there are countless books, novels, songs, experiments, and theories out there and I want Adam to choose what he wants to read and learn.

Schools leave our kids permanently impaired. A sickly competitive, disappointingly lost, ass-kissing, boot-licking generation graduates every year from our schools and universities and there is no way to reverse the effect of years and years of ugly molding.

I am really not interested in having a kid who is the top of his class – or continuously striving to be so. I am not interested in comparing Adam to other kids his age or older. I want Adam to be! I do not want him to be like me or like his father; I want to take a step back and watch his character unfold. I do not want him to be anything but himself and I intend to give him all the space he needs to explore who he is and what he wants to do with his life. The question is: how could he blossom into the man he could become without going through the mental pasteurization process called education?

It’s about time a generation grows up truly free; making its own choices and treading down its own path – a path it paves for itself.

Poor “student” has to spend another four to five hours at least working at home! Say goodbye to sports, fun, entertainment, hobbies, creativity, and childhood as it should be! Who cares about art or music classes, or sports and games when there is homework to be done? Just look at how the bright, smart look our children were born with fades away as they progress in school!

This is the worst crime of all; treating little perfect unique human beings as robots who have to perform according to benchmarks and a preset catalogue. Instead of focusing on their individuality and their innate strengths, grading systems color beautiful minds with gray – a dull shade of gray! Grades are the source of the early grains of insecurity, anxiety, and failure that grow with us and haunt us through our teens and adult years. The fear of not meeting expectations, as opposed to self confidence – was born on the grade sheet and its likes! Grades do not just tell you that you are excellent or lousy; you are excellent because someone else is lousy and you are lousy because, in comparison to someone else, you are underachieving! You are never regarded as an individual – you are always a reflection of someone else.

Final exams, admission exams, and all sorts of exams are murder in cold blood! Dreams and talents are the main victims of exams! A few numbers decide what you can and cannot do – your sense of self worth was just shot dead! Do you see where the mess comes from? Do you see how grades bring out the worst traits in human nature? You are never satisfied with who you are or what you could do! Competitiveness, envy, and greed are just a few vices that schools breed because of their grading system. No, scratch that. The overall schooling system brings out the worst in us and kills anything good we were born with. Parents, instead of enjoying their children and their uniqueness, are dragged into the benchmarking game; they compare their kid’s grades, performance, and development to others and they miss out on the beauty of exploring that kid as his days and years unfold. They want him to be like someone else, all the time…you can kiss unconditional love goodbye! Kids grow up totally oblivious to their talents and potential – they grow up and they

The educational system leaves our kids permanently impaired. A sickly competitive, disappointingly lost, asskissing, boot-licking generation graduates every year from our schools and universities

Former managing editor of E7na magazine, Sondos these days can be found producing and directing ‘Tahrir Monologues’, ‘The Bussy Project’ and feeding stray cats on the streets.

Suppose I tell you that not all those who drink are drunk and not all those who sin are sinners and not all those who have premarital sex are sex addicts?!

SUPPOSE I HIT YOU IN THE FACE WITH RANDOM PIECES OF TRUTH?

Suppose I tell you the very thing you might not want to hear?

Suppose I jeopardize my reputation (or what they call one) to unfold some blinds I see?

Suppose I wanted to die to live?

Suppose I support suicidal bombers?

Suppose I tell you that my veil doesn’t prevent me from having serious moments of doubt in god?

Suppose I give it all up and start building from the very beginning?

Suppose I tell you that after 4 years of studying Mass Communication and 6 years of working in the media, and another 6 years of dreaming about it in school, I have completely lost my faith and passion about it?

Suppose I tell you that all the things my parents taught me, I’ve doubted and deconstructed but one: brush your teeth before bed!

Suppose I tell you that I really seriously am considering not sending my children to school?

Suppose I write all the above again in Arabic and stop hiding behind a soft, less shocking language?

Suppose I tell you that I have everything to say and nothing to speak?

Suppose I tell you that there’s an emotional turbulence inside me yet a weird feeling of numbness, of nothingness… of a perfect black chased by a perfect white? Excessive overflow of emotions and cold-blooded words…

Suppose I not end this thread on a ‘happy’, ‘all will be great’, ‘tomorrow’s beautiful’ note?

Suppose I do not lie or tell you something which both you and I are incapable of seeing?

Suppose I do not remind you of the glory of the revolution or the magnitude of it?

Suppose I instead ask you to think of a life where Jan 25th never happened and to stick to that life if you thought you liked it? And if not then to stop moaning like a widow about the failure of the revolution?

Suppose I tell you that I have sinned?

Suppose I tell you that I think what best describes our generation is a scene of a beaten up guy about to fall off a 20-story building and holding on to a very thin weak piece of rope… and that his hope is to survive, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the reality of his situation! But he is left with nothing but to have faith and hope in that rope…

Suppose I take part of an Arab-Israeli dialogue?

Suppose I ask to wake you up and slap you on the face?

Suppose I tell you that I have a lot of atheist friends?

Suppose I ask you to wake me up and slap me on the face?

Suppose I tell you that one of my best friends is member of the Muslim Brotherhood?

Suppose… I just ask you to grab a piece of paper and cut the crap?!

Suppose I change my mind and reconsider that all I was taught were givens?

ALL?!

Suppose I tell you that I find you a two-faced brat for condemning my confession of a sin that you have a hidden bucket-full of!

Suppose I tell you that I have an Israeli friend who cares more about the Palestinian case than you ever will?

Suppose I join a group that promotes tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals?

Suppose I tell you that I still sometimes wish I’d die in a battle with the Israeli soldiers?

Suppose I cut the angelic, charitable, merciful, forgiving and spiritual ‘oh cute veiled girl’ crap and tell you that I really need to stop unknowingly flirting!

Suppose I let go of my ‘oh so courteous’ manners and tell you that a police officer had called my friend sh%3m#t%?!

Suppose I let go of my ‘oh so courteous’ manners again and tell you that I really think you’re a 5#%#9! For sitting there on your ass reading these lines and mindlessly forming judgments!

Suppose I tell you that I have lived all my life trying to express myself and communicate using the right and politically correct tone and words… but now a big part of me just no longer cares what you understand or think!

‘Run from what’s comfortable. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious… I have tried prudent planning long enough from now on I will be mad’ - Jalal El Din Rumi Happy Anniversary!

Suppose I let go of my ‘oh so courteous’ manners again and tell you that I really think you’re a 5#%#9! For sitting there on your ass reading these lines and mindlessly forming judgments!

SECTION

WTF DID THEY MAKE US WATCH?!

888 SEPTEMBER 2011 CAMPUS

Writer, Radio and TV icon and most importantly, thinker!

W

ESSAM, CAMPUS’ EDITOR, HAS ASKED ME WITH A LOT OF KEENNESS AND PERSISTENCE TO WRITE SOMETHING FOR THE MAGAZINE’S 11TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE. I KEPT STALLING TO BE HONEST; I HAVE AN ILLNESS IN MY BACK AND I’M IN PAIN MOST OF THE TIME SO I THOUGHT THAT I DIDN’T WANT TO ADD AN EXTRA LOAD TO THE WORK THAT I ALREADY HAVE TO DO. WESSAM WAS VERY PATIENT WITH ME THOUGH, HE KEPT TELLING ME “WE STILL HAVE TIME, I’M SURE YOU’LL BE ABLE TO PULL SOMETHING OFF FOR US”. THE DUDE MADE ME FEEL AN OBLIGATION REALLY, BUT I STILL DIDN’T WANT TO WRITE ANYTHING! And then one day, he called me to give me one last push before the publishing deadline, and as I was speaking to him, it came to me, and I said “Wessam, you know what, I don’t have a voice in English, I don’t know what to write about and I have no clue how to write it”. But he’s very patient ha, so he goes “but I read your tweets in English, and they’re very so & so” and I told him that the voice needed to tweet is just a singing voice unlike the voice that should be at least sane enough to hold itself together through a page of a magazine. Words later, we hung up, with Wessam having little hope in getting an article from me and me having absolutely none.

Then a while later, I remembered this story, it’s my favorite ever; the shortest most effective story I’ve encountered in my whole life. I had remembered it, recited it to myself and thought about it for days & days & days, maybe months, and I don’t think it ever leaves me. Then I thought to myself, “if I can’t write an article, I’ll send them a present!” They’re two presents actually; one for the anniversary issue and one for you!

From the book “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman.

A belligerent Samurai, an old Japanese tale goes, once challenged a Zen master to explain the concept of Heaven and Hell. But the monk, replied with scorn, “You’re nothing but a lout--- I can’t waste my time with the likes of you!”

His very honor attacked, the Samurai flew into a rage and pulling his sword from its scabbard yelled, “I could kill you for your impertinence.”

“That,” the monk calmly replied, “is Hell.”

Startled at seeing the truth the master had pointed out about the fury that had him in its grip, the Samurai calmed down, sheathed his sword and bowed, thanking the monk for the insight.

“And that,” the monk replied, “is Heaven.”

Everything you’re looking for is right there, within you!

Then I thought to myself, “if I can’t write an article, I’ll send them a present!” They’re two presents actually; one for the anniversary issue and one for you!

An architect, a freelance writer in both Arabic and English, and a Campus veteran. He can be contacted on waleedarafa@gmail.com.

50, 4 AND 11! THIS IS MY 50TH ARTICLE FOR CAMPUS MAGAZINE, MY FIRST HAVING BEEN PUBLISHED IN 2000. IT’S BEEN 4 YEARS SINCE I’VE WRITTEN FOR CAMPUS, AND OF COURSE TODAY CAMPUS IS CELEBRATING ITS 11TH ANNIVERSARY. ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED NUMBERS COMBINED BRING TO ME MIXED FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS, THE MOST PROMINENT OF WHICH - GIVEN EGYPT’S CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS - IS THAT OF COEXISTENCE. My personal experience with Campus Magazine showed it to be a successful hub hosting a highly diverse group of people. The Campus community, despite of all their differences that may have kept similar entities in an aggravated state of polarization and perhaps even animosity were tied by mutual ‘respect’.

The writers came from all walks of life, eager to share their experiences, opinions, trials, tribulations and character development with one another and with their equally diverse audience leading to an array of responses to that which was being shared. An ocean of differing opinions, sharply opposing ideas, heated discussions, and passionately opinionated feedback was a natural result. Nonetheless, constructive and respectful dialogue was sustained, forming a safety net of understanding, helping us all to learn more about one another, but most importantly about our selves. This is a precious gift. It will always be cherished as the most valuable gift received whilst writing for Campus.

Today, Egypt is in dire need for a similar gift. She deserves to receive the sacred offerings of tolerance, co-existence, and respect. Egypt has no other choice for survival but to delve deep into its long and deep history until she reaches her multi-layered bedrock of continuity, consistency and genius loci, shooting back up, above and beyond the stars! Like an ouroboros, in perpetual becoming, recreating itself anew, or like the sun setting, seemingly descending into a black hole of no return, only to surprise us with her shinny resurrections bringing many new dawns.

Egypt has been oscillating between sunrise and sunset, depending on how she dealt with her differences and multiple threads weaving her very fabric.

Mediocrity, ignorance, corruption, decadence, violence, frustration and terrorism reign only when the various threads woven together are unaware of the value of one another, deny one another, conflict with one another; tearing the whole fabric down into an ugly and distorted rag. On the other hand, beauty and homogeneity will only succeed when excellence, knowledge, honesty, integrity, tolerance, hope and tranquil security assume their natural governing position on the loom; when the common place becomes that of understanding, appreciating the uniqueness of each other, treasuring the richness and diversity and acknowledging differences as a cosmic reality and a Divine will.

Thinkers are thinking, theorists are theorizing, politicians are campaigning, activists are on a role, and laymen are receiving, discussing, circulating and taking sides; which –ism offers the optimum solution? Which is capable of fulfilling the unanimous dream of an “Egyptopia”? Liberalism? Secularism?

Socialism? Pan-Arabism? Islamism? Salafism? Sufism? Communism?

Or is it a concoction blending two or more?

There is no simple answer. For most –isms are usually very successful in solving one side of a problem, while achieving the same level of success in failing to address the thousand and one other sides of the same problem! I believe the reason being that –isms are usually narrow and often distorted interpretations of superfluous applications of the original concept free of these limiting three letters; -isms are essentially opposed to one another and inevitably violently and destructively so.

In 1983 Al-Ahram newspaper published a series of articles, over the course of four weeks, entitled “Hadeeth ma’a wa ela Allah” (Speaking with and to Allah) written by Tawfik al-Hakim, an Egyptian writer/thinker famous for his intellectual battles across the board; Islamic scholars, head of the al-Wafd Party Mustafa al-Nahas, the Egyptian leftists and many others. Al-Hakeem’s introductory article suggested that, Allah will have to listen yet allow Al-Hakeem himself to be His spokesman in this “dialogue”, ignoring the standard etiquette of how man should speak to God, for the sake of more enlightenment, according to the author. Al-Hakeem also prophesied that this will upset what he called hardliners who believe that suggesting such an “intimate dialogue” taking place is considered audacious and more so blasphemous.

1 - Title - Part of verse 13, Surat Al-Hujurat (The Dwellings) The Holy Qur’an, text Translation: The Meaning of The Glorious Koran, Marmaduke William Picthall. “O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.”

2 - The Four Conversations and The Religious Debates They Caused, Tawfik al-Hakeem, 1983 3 - Al-Azhar al-Sharif: Its Influence in The Formation of The Egyptian Persona, Rashwan Abu Zaid al-Azhari, The Azhari Scholastic Chronicles, issue 1, Ramadan 1432 A.H 4 - Towards a Grand Revival: The Salient Features of the Azhari Approach, Sheikh Usama Al-Sayyid Mahmud Al-Azhari, 2010

Numerous public figures representing Muslims wrote angry replies, demanding a ban on the four articles, even banning Al-Hakeem from ever writing or publishing again. Al-Hakeem’s repentance was demanded by the head of the Muslim Brotherhood Omar al-Telemsani, Professor al-Mosayyar, the thinker Anwar al-Guindi and others. Another group including the famous writer, Aisha Abdul-Rahman a.k.a Bent al-Shattei’, and three more Azhari professors, decided to discuss the book face to face with Al-Hakeem in a four hour symposium organized by the al-Liwa’ al-Islamy newspaper. The prominent Sheikh Imam Mohammad Metwally Al-Shaarawy, popular amongst the Egyptians and loved by most, was chosen to make the closing remarks. His refutation of the article refrained from judging Al-Hakeem as a person, nonetheless it was strong and intellectually uncompromising. AlShaarawy’s refutation prompted others like the prominent philosopher Zaki Nagib Mahmoud and the writer Yusuf Idris to come to Al-Hakeem’s defense. Both avoided a direct confrontation with the formidable logic of Sheikh Al-Shaarawy, however, Idris launched a series of character assassination articles aimed at Al-Shaarawy, demonizing him and portraying him as an agent of darkness and backwardness.

Nevertheless, seeing Al-Shaarawy’s points, Al-Hakeem did not act stubbornly, instead he published a book explaining his true intentions.

He expressed appreciation for those who criticized him due to their objective manner, as well as “their deep concern for the integrity of my own faith in Allah”2 . This incident saw Al-Shaarawy and Al-Hakeem start out as foes and end up as close friends.

Later in a meeting organized only by fate, Al-Shaarawy and Idris were brought together in London. Imam Mohammad Metwally Al-Shaarawy received Idris warmly, allowing his alleged character assassin to lower his gun and listen attentively. Idris was not surprised by AlShaarawy’s great yet expected wealth of Islamic knowledge. However, unexpected by Idris that left him mesmerized was Al-Shaarawy’s deep understanding of the history, philosophies, ideologies and realities of the Occident and the Modern world. This coincidental meeting ended with Idris’s complete change of opinion. He published an account of it later describing Al-Shaarawy as a robust thinker and an open minded scholar of exemplary qualities worthy of being emulated.

The reality of Al-Shaarawy may have been a shocking new finding for Idris and others like him - locked in the dungeons of misconceptions about Azhari scholars - however, it is a shock matched by most of the –ism followers be they Islamic or un-Islamic because of how tolerant and informed the intellectual battle proved to be. Al-Hakeem threw a stone in the pond, passionate commoners raged, the Azhari elite did not succumb to the angry shouts, instead they took time to understand and study Al-Hakeem’s proposal, evaluated it, and finally engaged with him directly, peacefully and respectfully. Al-Hakeem accepted their constructive criticism, and entertained more of it. Such was the Egyptian intellectual milieu!

Today, tomorrow and after tomorrow, we will face many similar incidents loaded with sharp differences, with both a constructive or destructive potential. Capitalizing on such eternal and inevitable sharp differences in the constructive scenario will not be possible through an –ism or a coalition of –isms. Egyptian parties, intellectuals and leaders should have an open heart, smaller ego and attentive ears like those of Al-Hakeem. Matched by mentalities and attitudes similar to those of the Azhari scholars who did not rush to cry: Guillotine! Egypt needs the type of approach which has formed the personalities of such Azhari scholars, making them confident in their heritage, knowledgeable, wellversed in their contemporary realities, aware of their current and future duties and challenges. Egypt needs the Azhari approach, which makes guidance for all mankind its main concern, regardless of their belief systems, affiliations, tendencies, etc.

An Azhari approach which strengthens the Egyptian fabric, and brings all Egyptians before Egypt’s altar as one, just as the great Azhari Sheikh Omar Makram did, when he invited Egyptian Christians into the mosque of Amr Ibn al-Aas to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in al-istisqa’ prayers (praying for the Nile’s level to increase)3 . Egypt needs the Azhari approach which does not place itself in meaningless conflict with the continuous essence of Egypt in the name of Islam or any religion, rather it highlights the possibility, moreover the essentiality of deriving benefit from the colorful and diverse Egyptian legacy. “Opening oneself up to it, maintaining contact with it and building upon it”4.

Blogger and activist. He’s also got a lot - and we mean a lot - of followers on Twitter!

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EOPLE LOSE THEMSELVES EASILY, MOSTLY WHEN THEY TRY TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE. IT IS THE MOST FRUITLESS AND INANE OF ALL QUESTS, BECAUSE REALLY, THINK ABOUT IT; THIS NEED TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE… DO YOU THINK ANYONE REALLY KNOWS WHO THEY ARE? WE DON’T. WE JUST LIVE. AND WE MAKE THE BEST OF IT. Everything that rises must converge, and all that. Tending to one’s own garden; being at peace. Don’t get me wrong. I know it sounds like settling when I say it that way. Living is not about complacency. But there comes a point when you realize some very important shit. I don’t know all the things, I probably know very few of the things, but the things I know, which number exactly four, are as follows: 1) Nobody is watching you on secret cameras, so stop worrying about it.

You’d be surprised how much pointless shame you can shed every day just by looking at the f*cked-up thing you did and thinking about how f*cked up it was for a few minutes. Then, drink a glass of water and get the f*ck over yourself.

2) Your reputation is everything, but it’s also totally recoverable. People are more worried about their shit than they will ever be about yours, and are looking for any opportunity to cut you a decent break, just so they don’t have to think about you anymore. Your reputation is made up entirely of acts and behaviors, as perceived by other people (only the ones whose opinions are relevant). Do a thing enough times, and that’s the person you are. Everything that happens to you from the direction of other people is entirely a reaction to this person. If you don’t like those reactions, do a new thing instead, and after just a few times you will magically become a new person. Monitor the new responses.

3) Generally, we only look closely at the situation when it has become untenable. That’s rough, because when the situation is untenable is precisely the point at which your best bet is to accept it as it is, and think about ways to change it. Instead, when things are bad is when we’re most likely to wig out and act like idiots. You can’t change what is until you’re willing to look at what is; the ingredients and causes, and the ingredients it contains for the next thing. It changes every second, so you might as well be in charge of that and utilize your vast opportunities to choose the next what is.

4) Every minute that goes by, one of your futures dies. That’s scary and it’s sad, but it also means clarity. That sense of purpose you keep worrying will fade away actually doesn’t disappear. It gets redirected towards newer and less things is all. Getting older means splitting less of your hope and energy into those million possible futures, and keeping more of it for yourself - right now - to keep moving forward toward what you really do want. It’s not about giving in; it’s about giving up the maybes, one by one, until you become whole. Mind you, this last part might never actually happen, but you have to keep pretending it’s going to, for your entire life. Hoe your own garden, for the rest of your life, because it is art, and it is very simple, and it is very hard to pull off correctly.

That is all!

Getting older means splitting less of your hope and energy into those million possible futures, and keeping more of it for yourself - right now to keep moving forward toward what you really do want

ŠMuhammed Abdelaal

Engineer, writer and producer. Just won an award at the Venice Film Festival. There’s practically nothing the man can’t do. He also used to have his very own column in Campus; “Generation X”.

I

HAD HOPED, UPON SETTING OUT TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE, THAT I COULD AVOID ANY USE OF THE WORDS REVOLUTION, TAHRIR, MUBARAK, NEW EGYPT, OR DATES LIKE JANUARY 25TH, JANUARY 28TH OR EVEN FEBRUARY 11TH. IN FACT, I HAD EVERY INTENTION OF BEING AMONG THE FEW CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS MOMENTOUS EDITION IN CAMPUS MAGAZINE’S YOUNG LIFE TO SHARE THOUGHTS THAT ARE IN NO WAY RELATED TO THE TOPPLING OF THE OLD REGIME AND THE CHANGE THAT, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, AWAITS THIS COUNTRY. I SECRETLY SWORE TO BE OBJECTIVE AND FOCUSED, AND TO AVOID BEING OVERLY CONFIDENT OR OPTIMISTIC LIKE THE MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, OR PANIC-STRICKEN AND PESSIMISTIC LIKE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OR AS ANGRY AND VINDICTIVE AS THE LEFTIST LIBERAL TAHRIR REGULARS, OR AS CYNICAL AS THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CIRCLE OF THE FORMER NDP, BETTER KNOWN AS THE FELOUL. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I DECIDED TO CENSOR ANY THOUGHTS ON CONSPIRACY THEORIES, SUCH AS THOSE BEING HERALDED BY THE 80 MILLION OTHER EGYPTIANS NOT BELONGING TO ANY OF THE ABOVE GROUPS. I simply wanted to share my thoughts on 11 years of continuous change. Yes, indeed – almost a dozen life changing, gray hair inducing, soul searching, roller coaster years; full of attempts in all of which I think I have failed.

Eleven years in the life of a human being can hardly be forgotten, but in the life of an Egyptian English language publication they’re an entire lifetime; like dog years. Campus is now officially a sophisticated, mature, seasoned, and experienced publication, one that has outlived most of its competitors, and will undoubtedly outlive many more aspiring works in progress. It’s not archaic and banal like the Egyptian Gazette, nor is it posh and exclusive like Enigma. It’s not as safe and conventional as a Volvo, nor as striking and pretentious as a Bentley; but carries the elegance and pedigree of an SL coupe with the performance of an AMG. If it were a wine, Campus would fall closer to the 1976 Chateau Lafitte instead of a 2009 Omar El Khayam, yet not nearly as elitist and overvalued. But how did those years of change parallel my own personal development as a human being, growing up from a 24-year-old with a severe case of confused identity to the 36-year-old writer, producer, and engineer who was invited to contribute as a guest writer to this month’s anniversary issue? And since my own life may not be of any concern to the majority of readers, how accurately does that decade-plus-one-year life span of Campus reflect the constantly mutating zeitgeist of Egyptian youth culture?

Have we, as individuals and collectively as a society, gone around full circle on a massive cycle of change or are we still asking the same questions; debating the same issues? Has technology really improved our lives or have we simply found a way to kill time in the office and a replacement to TV in the lonely hours of the night? Is Facebook helping us reconnect or just another way to be unfaithful and get caught stupidly? Have we really opened up to the world or did more and more of us put on some form of veil? Are we better educated, richer, and more tolerant? Have we developed a conscience in our commitment to work harder and be more productive, or have we simply learned to strike more effectively? Do we really believe this country has changed and that its people have finally awoken from a long gestating coma? Will Dina and Saad Al Soghayar films no longer triumph in the box office? Will Egyptian writers, artists, intellectuals, and scientists win more Booker and Nobel prizes? Will there one day be such a thing as the “Egyptian Dream” - not only Egyptian Dream channels 1 and 2? And by the time all or some of that materializes, will Campus still be on the street to carry the story, sharing their thoughts on what will surely be the greatest miracle of all, even greater than January 25th and Tahrir?

I believe it will.

Eleven years in the life of a human being can hardly be forgotten, but in the life of an Egyptian English language publication they’re an entire lifetime; like dog years

Founder of Salafyo Costa!

A

RE YOU OVER 21 YEARS OLD? ARE YOU WEARING YOUR BULLETPROOF JACKET? DID YOU WRITE YOUR FAREWELL LETTER? IF THE ANSWER TO THE ABOVE IS NO, THEN WE DO RECOMMEND YOU DON’T CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE, SINCE THE WRITER IS THE FOUNDER OF “SALAFYO COSTA”.

I’m sure you’re wondering “What do Salafys have to do with Costa?”

Well, it’s a long story and I am not sure that Wessam, the editor, will be willing to give me the 100 pages I need to cover it. So, I would say that we are a group of Salafys that have been around for many years, but nobody ever noticed that we were there until our beards started getting longer and longer. We had been hanging out at Costa all the time, and things were normal until some bombs here and there encouraged a lot of finger pointing.

It’s a pleasure to have the chance to write in such a reputable magazine and tell the story of “Salafyo Costa”, which started after the unforgettable YES/NO battle over the constitutional amendments. After we figured out that both answers will take you to the same place - NOWHERE, and when we felt the unity the Egyptians found during the revolution cracking for no good reason, we decided to establish “Salafyo Costa”. We are an anti-stereotyping group that luckily includes conservative liberals, conservative Christians and conservative Salafys (OK, I know any Salafy is conservative by default). However, consider this mixture a delicious Koshary plate we serve at “Salafyo Costa”. The aim of the group was to encourage people to talk to each other and break stereotypes. At the beginning we faced some trouble and so we applied very strict moderating policies that ended up as The “Salafyo Costa Constitution” – “The people of the QAHWA are not yet ready for democracy” – said Omar Suliman Al Salafy. A lot of effort was put into these discussion rules and many other groups had copied it to their own groups.

As the idea started growing we decided to take our activities on ground and meet those who we talk to virtually; and since we are extremists we decided to take it to the extreme and went for a visit to one of the oldest Communist parties, (Hezb Al-Tajamoaa). And it was for the first time that such a large number of Salafys went for a visit to this party. We were both a bit uneasy, but it ended up to be a very friendly meeting.

And then we wondered what else we should do. What is the group that hates or fears Salafys the most? Yes, right answer, CHRISTIANS (just for the reader’s knowledge, Salafys fear Christians as well, because during the old regime if anything happened to Christians, they used to take at least one Salafy for investigation. The most famous incident was the arrest of Sayed Bilal in Alex, who was tortured to death even though investigations proved he hadn’t done it).

We called for a one-of-a-kind football match between Salafys and Christians, bringing back the good old days of the crusades and Call of Duty (the video game). The game ended 6-6, again we were able to bring people together.

You can find us at the sit-ins in Tahrir Square and any PEOPLE demonstrations calling for PEOPLE demands. We have our own t-shirts that convey our anger at everyone who has become obsessed with the political game and forgot all about the people’s priorities.

We are “Salafyo Costa”, a group of people that aims to bring back the spirit of Tahrir. Our calendars stopped at the 10th of February, 2011, and have been living in our own small model of Egypt, in which we all fit regardless of religion, race or political ideology.

Join us during our October tour across Egypt’s governorates.

Peace.

Salafys fear Christians as well, because during the old regime if anything happened to Christians, they used to take at least one Salafy for investigation

One of the most gifted actors of our generation. We’ve always been impressed with his acting skills, but it turns out he is a talented writer too!

“I SERVED WITH GREAT LEADERS; I WON’T END MY SERVICE WITH MIDGETS”.

This was my grandfather’s last statement when offered an extension in his last days as an army officer. He had served for the military since King Farouk’s time until the toppled dictator Mubarak. To me this described it all, what his generation and their successors suffered because of impotence, self-illness and retarded conscience. Those midgets who ruled with their inept and skillless abilities for decades, expelling the greater minds of will and goodness, the ones with the ability to DO, to lead, and prove existence through competence and presence (I am what I do).

Fouad Yassin was not the only one; there were others and those others brought others as well. They bred a generation built on ability, pride and knowledge. They tore themselves to be able to hang on to the real thing that only they knew. Their mission was not just to extend their bloodline; they were holders and keepers of the core of man. Fouad always tells me, “Your father is better than I am, and you shall be better than him”. It took me a while really to grasp what he meant, not literally but practically. I look at my father, my example, and I find it tremendously hard to just achieve half of what he has.

And I look at him and at Fouad and I see what they are getting at.

It’s a plan that started a long time ago, and they were somehow associated with other breeds of their generation agreeing on the same principles. I don’t want to be like my father, neither does he, but we want the same thing. An extension to the true meaning of existence, a proof of presence through accumulated ability that follows from one generation to the other. And by doing that I challenge him, like he challenged his own and so on.

To this generation I owe everything; my life, knowledge, ability and existence.

To me they were the real rebels, leading a revolution that started a long time ago, a revolution only they saw, and that was through the hope they implanted in our generation. This hope is what made us hold on for eighteen days in defiance of tyranny and absolute evil. It’s what we all had inside of us whether we were sufferers in our society, or bubble bathers. We all agreed on one thing: that we will do it. Not only through the eighteen days, not only years from now, but for the rest of our lives. And the lives of those who we will raise on the same principles and measures.

I see no fear in the future, I see no limits or boundaries, I see no sickness; I see us. A brilliant quote by Naguib Mahfouz I once read on a box of matches says, “The present is a light that flickers between two darknesses.” Which brings me to the following point. I can’t live my future without being the present and I can’t just hold on to the past for my presence. Our presence is our doing; it’s the light that will shine over our past and future combined. The revolution happened because we had only heard of that light; imagine what we can do now that we’ve actually seen it. For all those who are captured by negativities and entrapped within passivity, I ask you not to disregard personal experiences of yours. Dig for them, and they will manifest themselves.

I see no fear in the future, I see no limits or boundaries, I see no sickness; I see us.

ŠMuhammed Abdelaal

Mall of Arabia City Stars 02 24802913

He’s a surgeon. That is all. No really, aside from his grueling original career, Bassem Youssef is the man who took cynicism and satire to a new level of brilliance, whether through his Youtube show at first, or his show on TV.

I

F YOU WANT TO FIND SOMETHING OUT ABOUT ANYTHING; A PERSON, A GROUP OR A COUNTRY, THE BEST WAY TO START IS TO UNDERSTAND ITS HISTORY. ELEVEN YEARS AGO A MAGAZINE WAS FOUNDED BY A YOUNG KID, AND I USE “KID” HERE IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. THE “KID” LATER KNOWN TO ME AS SHADY SHERIF, STARTED CAMPUS, A MAGAZINE AIMED AT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DIDN’T KNOW THAT ELEVEN YEARS LATER CAMPUS WILL BE THAT BIG, SHADY SHERIF WILL BE A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE IN THE FIGHT OVER THE REFERENDUM AND THAT I WILL FEATURE HIM WITH THE FAMOUS “YASHADYYYYY” CALL OF THE WILD IN MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS. To be honest, at the time I didn’t link Shady, Campus and Gmag together, but that was ignorance on my behalf. But I remember picking Campus up for the first time in a coffee shop in Dokki - I think it was Retro - in 2003. I remember thinking “wow, what kind of magazine is this?” The energy and wit were jumping out of the pages into our faces.

No subject was taboo, no topic was off-limits and certainly no article lacked the feeling that blood, sweat and really great research was behind it.

For me, Campus is not just your everyday English speaking magazine that you can pick up in a café to show that you belong to a certain niche of society that brags about reading English publications. Campus is a true underdog story, and believe me I can really relate to that! I started my show in a small room in my apartment and now I have my own show on TV. And I thought I was special till I read about how Campus started eleven years ago, and then I realized that I haven’t even made eleven months into my newfound career!

After the revolution, old bones like me were mesmerized by the new young Egypt that was born out of young Egyptians who were thought to be only good for smoking shishas, hanging out in cool parties and wasting time on Facebook. This goes to show how oblivious we were to our youth’s potential, because it had always been there; it was not just invented over night. It was there in innovative publications like Campus, which isn’t just a magazine, but a channel for amazing ideas and creativity.

Reading Campus today makes me wish that many places and fields in our country could go down the same path; energetic, innovative and free of all boundaries and limits, all by the will and flare of young minds.

Consequently, I wish that post-revolution Egypt could be the same; a limitless space where young amazing ideas bounce off walls and where energetic witty potential leads our future. I wish we lived in a reality like CAMPUS.

For me, Campus is not just your everyday English speaking magazine that you can pick up in a café to show that you belong to a certain niche of society that brags about reading English publications

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

Small Space - Big Space Size Does Not Matter!

Call: 010 66 87 667 E-mail: zelalfy@core-publications.net

Small Space - Big Space Size Does Not Matter!

Call: 010 66 87 667 E-mail: zelalfy@core-publications.net

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

Small Space - Big Space Size Does Not Matter!

Call: 010 66 87 667 E-mail: zelalfy@core-publications.net

Small Space - Big Space Size Does Not Matter!

Call: 010 66 87 667 E-mail: zelalfy@core-publications.net

11 YEARS OF CREATIVITY

October 2000: The very first CAMPUS cover. We realize it’s not very pleasing to look at; but hey it’s the first issue of CAMPUS!

February 2003: CAMPUS has been breaking the rules for years. Sure, we occasionally got in trouble; but it was always worth it.

October 2003: Our third anniversary!

July 2004: One of our most controversial covers ever! Back in 2004 it caused quite a stir.

December 2004: CAMPUS shed light on the “Presidential Monarchy” long before “tawreeth” had become a hot topic.

January 2005: CAMPUS celebrates the birth of its sister, E7na, in January 2005.

September 2005: Our stand on the 2005 Presidential elections.

April 2006: This cover was a bitter portrayal of the state that freedom of speech in Egypt had come to. It is also noteworthy that the government recalled all the copies of this issue because it had featured an article about tagneed.

August 2006: This cover was dedicated to the Lebanese fight against Israel in 2006.

February 2007: Watch out; you’re turning into a ‘kharouf’.

August 2007: “…There must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population.” Never have we needed the message conveyed through this cover more than we do now.

February 2008: Snow White: The CAMPUS Version

July 2009: To the one and only.

September 2009 (Ramadan 1430): Our very own Chinese mesa7araty!

November 2009: Remember when we thought we’d qualify to the World Cup?

December 2009: That was right after the infamous Sudan game vs. Algeria. The cover says it all.

April 2010: Bridging the gap between “The Bubble Compound” and reality.

SEPTEMBER 2010 Dedicated to Alaa Seif Sadek

Only in Egypt:

Eshtery cutter b 75 ersh, weksab lo7a b 50 million dollar!

September 2010: In reaction to the notorious theft of the Van Gogh painting. Does anyone know what happened to that, by the way?

February 2011: Welcome to Freedom.

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