The American University of Rome » AUR in the News

AUR Special Featured on RAI Television

aur — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:55:47 +0000

A 10 minute TV special on The American University of Rome was featured on May 10th on a RAI morning program called “Buongiorno Regione.”

The special, produced by RAI journalist Lisa Marzoli for RAI 3, highlights the university’s academic strength and the benefits of an American style education and Campus life in the heart of Rome. Faculty, staff, students and alumni contributed to the production of the program and illustrated the benefits of an AUR eduction to great effect.

The program is the property of Italy’s national broadcaster RAI Television.

IFRAME Embed for Youtube

Dark Age Economics: A New Audit

aur — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:44:36 +0000

The American University of Rome’s President-Elect, Professor Richard Hodges, has published a new book on the economic conditions in Europe following the collapse of the Roman Empire – the so-called Dark Ages. In ‘Dark Age Economics: A New Audit’, he reviews and enlarges upon the debate that his ground-breaking ‘Dark Age Economics: the Origins of Towns and Trade’ launched thirty years ago. The Dark Ages is period that has, traditionally, been much less studied than the preceding Roman period, largely because there are very few written documents and we have to rely almost entirely on evidence from archaeology.

In this publication Professor Hodges makes use of recent archaeological discoveries to advance a new thesis about the shift from the consumption economies of Antiquity to the emphasis on production in the Middle Ages. He looks in particular at evolving archaeological evidence for managing agrarian economies and how this shaped the evolution of the earliest medieval urban communities. The Christian Church had a particularly important role as an agent of change throughout western Europe during this period and the book explores this aspect as well.

View the book cover: Dark Age Economics in PDF

Presidential Introductions

aur — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:32:00 +0000

AUR Board of Trustees Chair and NIAF President Joseph Del Raso welcomed the President of the United States of America to the NIAF’s 36th Anniversary Gala, on October 29, 2011.

President Del Raso and the NIAF leadership had the opportunity to meet President Obama in private prior to his appearance on the Washington Hilton stage, where he delivered a keynote speech to an audience of over 2,000 eminent guests.

In his speech President Obama recalled the history of the U.S. Italian American community and summoned the spirit and hard work of Italian immigrants across the centuries. Obama praised the contribution of Italian Americans in the United States and Italy as ” one of our major allies, and one of NATO’s founding members”.

Amongst the guests were Democratic Leader of the United States House of Representatives Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Hon. Janet Napolitano, Italy’s Minister of Youth Policy Giorgia Meloni , Emma Marcegaglia, president of Confindustria and CEO of Marcegaglia S.p.A., Santo Versace, president of Gianni Versace S.p.A, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion DiMucci.

AUR’s President Ad Interim Andrew Thompson and Vice President for Administrative Services Giliola Pilloni were also present at the NIAF Gala dinner and The American University of Rome was an exhibitor at Expo Italia over the two days of the NIAF event.

Links:

Stipulato l’Accordo fra AUR e la LUMSA

aur — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:38:44 +0000

AUR e la Libera Università Maria Ss. Assunta (LUMSA) hanno firmato a giugno un accordo della durata di due anni che permetterà agli studenti con una laurea in Comunicazione, Business Administration, Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Globali, e Film and Digital Media di AUR di continuare i propri studi in Italia presso la LUMSA frequentando i corsi di Laurea Magistrale della Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia. Gli studenti che si sono laureati ad AUR e che desiderano continuare i propri studi in Italia potranno beneficiare di un accordo che permetterà loro di frequentare un numero pre-definito di corsi come parte del loro piano di studi ad AUR e di avere così la propria laurea riconosciuta, attraverso la procedura standard della Dichiarazione di Valore, per proseguire gli studi iscrivendosi ad una delle due lauree magistrali della LUMSA concordate: Comunicazione d’Impresa e del no profit o Produzione Culturale, Giornalismo e Multimedialità.

Andrew Thompson, Presidente ad Interim, ha affermato: “Questa e’ una grande opportunità per tutti quegli studenti che vogliono proseguire i loro studi qui a Roma dopo aver terminato il loro corso di laurea a AUR. Se pianificata in anticipo, la laurea ottenuta ad AUR può consentire loro l’accesso diretto ad una laurea magistrale presso questa importante università situata nel cuore di Roma. Sono sicuro che molti dei nostri studenti vorranno cogliere l’ottima occasione offerta da questo accordo.”

AUR Status for Federal Direct Student Loan Program

aur — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:49:52 +0000

We take great pleasure in announcing that AUR has received official notification from the United States Department of Education that “it has been determined that The American University of Rome satisfies the new requirements regarding legal authorization and recognition of credentials.” This means, now that new more stringent regulations have come into force, that we continue to be eligible to provide federal financial aid to our US students who come to seek a degree at our institution. Interim President Thompson said: “This is an important endorsement of the quality and relevance of the AUR education and of the role our institution plays internationally in giving the opportunity to students from the Unites States to study in a rich Italian cultural environment and to gain a truly cross-cultural education. We are very proud of this achievement. It allows us to continue to foster an international education closely aligned with the US Department of Education’s initiative to ‘prepare students to succeed … and to compete in the global economy’”.

AUR at NAFSA

aur — Sat, 28 May 2011 09:20:21 +0000

AUR will be at NAFSA – The Association of International Educators – a place where cultural exchange has been happening for 63 years. The American University of Rome prepares students to live and work across cultures as skilled and knowledgeable citizens of an interconnected and rapidly changing world. We look forward to sharing ideas, with you. VISIT US at Booth 526.

A Gala Graduation in Villa Aurelia

aur — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:39:12 +0000

[[Show as slideshow]]

On Friday, May 20th, 40 students from 15 different countries and 4 continents received their degrees from The American University of Rome today, May 20th. AUR’s Commencement Exercises were held in the charming settings of Villa Aurelia, on the Gianicolo hill, close to the AUR Campus. Degrees were awarded in International Business, Art History, Communication, Film and Digital Media, Interdisciplinary Studies, International Relations and Global Politics, Business Administration.

An Honorary Degree was awarded to The Honorable David H. Thorne, US Ambassador to Italy, for his business accomplishments, exemplary community service, philanthropic achievement and long standing support to the arts in Italy and in the US.

AUR’s Degrees offer students a broad range of opportunities. 30% of this year’s 40 graduates will continue their study in Italy or elsewhere in the world, with several of them already accepted on Post Graduate programs at Columbia University in New York, Kings College in London, London School of Economics, The American University of Paris. The remaining half is entering the job market. Last year over 80 % of AUR’s graduates were employed within 3 months from graduation.

Read the Speech by Class Representative Petar Stoykov

Graduation Speech by Petar Stoykov

Your Excellency, Mr. President, distinguished guests, dear classmates, faculty, friends and families. We have gathered in this solemn moment to celebrate the biggest achievement of our life, so far that is. When I came to AUR 4 years ago, I perceived graduation as an end. Now I have come to realize that this is just the beginning.

When I started writing my speech so many memorable moments of our life at AUR flashed in my mind. But I wish to focus on the things that we have taken from our experience here that we will always carry with us and will always make us unique. Eternal love for the eternal city is certainly amongst one of them. But what is really the most valuable attribute that we acquired here. Not an easy question but if you think about it the answer is simple – the power of freedom. Many of you come from the land of freedom and have experienced it in many ways but there’s another kind of freedom that I want to talk to you about, one that we’ve achieved here in Rome and AUR.   First of all, the purpose of a university education is not solely to provide us with the skills necessary to perform well in our future job. It has a lot bigger mission – to make us individuals that are aware and conscious of the world surrounding them and the opportunities that it offers. To know how to be social human beings, to know what we like and don’t like, essentially, to know ourselves. To provide us with knowledge and in this way with the freedom to think, evaluate and most importantly the freedom to make an educated choice. Because only the one possessing knowledge can truly be free. Without a doubt AUR has performed this mission in a flawless manner and when we all turn back to the day we came here we see what a long way we’ve walked and how far we’ve reached.  Furthermore, something that truly makes AUR and respectively its students unique is that it did make us citizens of the world, taught us how to find a common language with people from all corners of the planet, and thus taught us that there can be an immense number of answers to the very same question. Our experiences here have really expanded our horizon and world perspective. For example I now know that in Italy this (cornutto symbol) does not mean Heavy Metal nor the Long Horns, but can easily mean a blue eye. I now know that a can of ice-cold Coca-Cola can really warm the heart of an American – Alexa Caesar.

We not only obtained this richness but we did it in the most spectacular fashion – We’ve had the opportunity to travel the world and to visit remarkable places such as Brussels, Geneva, Montenegro, Vienna, the Basque Country, Northern Ireland, Boston, Cinque Terre, Genova, Sicily, Modena and of course, the one and only trip to Kosovo (which Prof. Luca Ratti might well remember) and many many more. These unforgettable experiences are already legendary, with the prospect of becoming part of Roman mythology.  These are the moments I will always remember, look back at and smile, knowing that we’re rich not in monetary value, but in culture and unique experiences. And of course how can one forget the endless Roman nights that only Giordani Bruno’s statue can tell you more about. Thank God there’s you guys as proof that those moments were real because no one back home believes my Rome stories.

However, we didn’t only grow through our studies at AUR but also through living in Rome, as Romans. This city has given us so much, but most importantly it taught us how to live la dolce vita.  We all remember having to deal with those elderly neighbors who complain that you’re walking too loudly in your room or taking a too noisy shower, managing to get on that 44 bus when your eyes tell you that there is physically no space in there. Buying that slice of pizza in time to get back to class even though the pizzeria is crowded and no one even thought of standing in a line – it might have not felt like it at the time, but yes, dear classmates, this is also freedom. Because we know that wherever we go we can make it on our own no matter how far from home, and we can and will do it again.

Fellow classmates, I am thrilled to see us all achieve more and more every year, but as I’ve already mentioned this is merely the beginning. Remember those mornings that you didn’t want to open your eyes because you knew that that paper is due in several hours, or that night that you didn’t close your eyes because you needed to finish that presentation. And you asked yourself- when am I finally going to become a real person. Well, this time has come. Now is the time to blaize our trail and to leave our mark. And it’s not that we weren’t real people until now, but as of today we can really make real impact on the world we live in. And I want to encourage all of us to do that, not to be afraid of challenges and to pursue our dreams no matter how big or crazy they might seem.

Last but not least, on behalf of Class of 2011, I would like to thank all the people who made this amazing journey possible.

Today, we are grateful to the entire AUR faculty who empowered us, inspired us and through their efforts made us truly educated individuals and not simply schooled.

Today, we are grateful to the AUR administration who assisted us during our studies in every way. To our friends from Student Life who really made our student lives easier.

Today, we are grateful to our loving families, who gave us the invaluable opportunity to be here and supported us all the way.

But most importantly, I am grateful to you, dear classmates for showing me so much of the world, for sharing with me, and for learning from eachother. Above all, thank you, for the friendships that we’ve built which I am more than sure will be life-lasting.

Class of 2011 – In bocca al lupo , THE WORLD, IS, OURS.

Other Speeches in PDF format:

AUR celebrates Italy’s 150th anniversary

aur — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:46:56 +0000

Adelegation headed by The American University of Rome (AUR) Board of Trustees’ President Joseph Del Raso, and including AUR Trustees Gabe Battista and Domenico Oliva, and AUR Honorary Degree recipients Vincent Viola and Robert Carlucci, was received by Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano today as part of the Gianicolo celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.

The delegation met President Napolitano by the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s wife, Anita, and presented him with a faithful reproduction of the first Italian flag ever waved in the United States. The flag has a historic value. It was raised on the highest mast of the Caroline ship as it was entering the port of New York on March 14, 1848. The ship had set off from Palermo and its Commander, Corrao, hostile towards the Bourbon regime, decided to wave the flag in protest, to mark the arrival in New York. The gesture was enthusiastically welcomed by Italian expatriates in New York, many of whom had fled their country following the rises of 1821 and 1831.

The reproduction handed to President Napolitano was embroidered with the sentence, in Italian, 26 million of Italian Americans proud of their Italian origins. 1861– 2011 and was presented as an homage from the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), representing Italians in the US and chaired by Mr. Del Raso.

“Italian Americans appreciate President Napolitano very much for the friendship and sensitivity he has always shown us,” said Del Raso. ”That’s why we are pleased to honor him with this symbolic flag, which testifies the attachment of Italian Americans and their felt participation to the 150th anniversary.”

From left: Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic, Francesco Nicotra, NIAF representative in Italy, Paolo Catalfamo, Chairman of Investar Group. From right: Joseph Del Raso, President of NIAF and Chairman of AUR’s Board of Trustees, Vincent Viola, Vice Chairman of NIAF. Photo courtesy of Il Messaggero

Discussions on Ghana and Northern Ireland

aur — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:12:25 +0000

AUR’s International Relations Professor James Walston and International Relations students to be featured on Italian Broadcaster RAI’s radio Radio 3 Mondo:

April 25th from 11:00 – 12:00
May 5 from 11:30 – 12:00

AUR’s International Relations Professor James Walston and several International Relations students will be featured on Italian Broadcaster RAI’s radio, in an international current affairs program called Radio 3 Mondo.

Our students were accompanied and interviewed by Italian journalist Annamaria Giordano during their AUR fieldtrips to Ghana and Northern Ireland earlier this year. During their annual Ghana trip, from January 7 to 21, they spent time in the large city of Accra and in the beautiful fishing village of Kokrobite. Students attended lectures with Professor Walston as well as guest speakers, spent a night in the Kakum National Park, visited an e-waste dump and took part in a community service project – building a shed near a soccer field to protect young fans from the sun.

The students were in Northern Ireland from February 24 to 27, as part of the International Relations Conflict Resolution fieldtrip program. They visited Belfast and Derry, spoke with members of Parliament, representatives from each party and from security. Students were interested to see intricate street murals but surprised to see that ‘peace walls’ are still being constructed to keep communities separated. They visited the Saint Cecilia performing arts school, which works to build a new collective memory, free of Catholic or Protestant subtext.

The Radio 3 Mondo program on April 25 will discuss Ghana, and the one on May 5 will be on Northern Ireland.

Save this link for Radio 3 Mondo or come back to our website for a link after the shows air.

For further information please contact: Prof. James Walston, E-mail: j.walston@aur.edu, Tel: 06 5833 0919, ext 306

Update: April 26th, 2011

Anna Maria Giordano’s documentary featuring the Jan 2011 field trip to Ghana with students David Hale and Hayley Benjamin and Prof. James Walston:

Listen to the Audiodocumentary on AUR in Ghana

E’ stato il primo paese ad aver conquistato l’indipendenza nel 1957 e il suo primo presidente, Nkroumah, è stato uno dei padri della decolonizzazione in Africa. Dalle sue coste sono partiti i primi schiavi verso le Indie Occidentali e oggi è una delle democrazie più avanzate con una delle economie più promettenti del continente. Radio3Mondo propone un viaggio fuori dalle rotte consuete, alla scoperta di un paese modello di stabilità, punto di riferimento nella regione subsahariana e partner sempre più ricercato dalle imprese italiane. Dalla visita dei forti in cui venivano rinchiusi gli schiavi al percorso notturno nel Parco nazionale di Kakum, dalla testimonianze di un imprenditore italiano a quella di una imprenditrice afroamericana, passando per una cerimonia funebre e per una scuola per sordomuti… Un audio documentario di Anna Maria Giordano realizzato in collaborazione con l’American University of Rome.

The Americans Are Already in Rome

aur — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:59:59 +0000

AUR in Il Romanista

Read the full-page spread in PDF or read the article on the Romanista web.