The senate of the American University in Cairo (AUC), which consists of representatives of the faculty, staff, students and administration, issued Feb. 5 a vote of no confidence in AUC President Francis J. Ricciardone with 80% of the votes.
Nevertheless, the Board of Trustees whose decisions are binding refused to approve the voting results at its Feb. 11 meeting and with one mind renewed confidence in Ricciardone as the sole decision-maker at AUC until the end of his four-year term that started in October 2016. The board perceived Ricciardone’s decisions and leadership to be “substantial” for the university's success at present and in the future. Based on that, an acute crisis was triggered.