Perhaps your campus is blocking the port AIM uses (a bit unlikely but possible). In either case, I too use the UK version and it also connects to login.oscar.aol.com on port 5190. Have you tried using AIM Express (
http://www.aim.com/get_aim/express/aim_expr.adp?aolp= ), I haven't used in with my PocketPC, but thats what I use when I'm running Linux.
Adios,
~Nick