NYU Offers Student Initiated Course "Ukraine In Modern Times" (12/26/76)

NYU Offers Student Initiated Course "Ukraine In Modern Times"

by Roma Sochan

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Can a large private urban university with a student body of over 29,000 cater to the needs of a select group of its students? Apparently, at New York University, the answer is an emphatic "Yes!".

Fourteen students are currently enrolled in a course entitled "Ukraine in Modern Times". It is a student initiated course proposed by the executive of the Ukrainian Students' Association at New York University, approved by the Curriculum Committee of the Washington Square and University College of Arts and Science, and funded by the University.

Its approval was aided by the University's History Department which agreed to accept completion of the four-credit course toward fulfillment of a major or minor in history.

The course, which covers Ukrainian history from the 19th century to the present, is being taught by Prof. Wolodymyr Stojko, associate professor of history at Manhattan College and Director of its Russian and East Central European Area Studies Program.

Reaction Favorable

Reaction to the course by faculty and students has been highly favorable.

Prof. Richard W. Hull, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the History Department, was "very impressed with the professor and the bibliography". He was also pleased with the performance of the students and thought that it was "great that the students took the initiative" in obtaining the course, "which has enriched our course offerings".

Asked if there had been any other student initiated course in the History Department, Prof. Hull said: "I don't believe there has been". He said he looks forward to more such courses in the future.

A tight budget precludes hiring another full time professor to teach courses in this, or any other area, of history, noted Prof. Hull. He reacted favorably to the notion that funds from the Ukrainian community might be used in originating a Ukrainian history program at NYU similar to those at other universities.

Anna Rohoza, a psychology major who is taking the course, commented that "it is especially significant that a Ukrainian history course is being offered at a university of such stature as NYU". She feels that she "is really learning something by taking a college-level Ukrainian history course".

"Finally we're learning about Ukrainian history after 1918 - something we never covered on Saturdays in Ukrainian school", said Oksana Sydoriak, a biology major.

Variety of Reasons

The students enrolled in the course for a variety of reasons.

"I took the course because I thought I would learn some additional things about Ukraine", said Danylo Dobrjanskyj, a German major in a pre-law curriculum. "I also thought that Ukrainians should show how vocal we can be and that we are an integral part of NYU".

Ihor Szpaczynsky, a fine arts major at neighboring Cooper Union, learned about the course from an article in "Svoboda" which caught his eye. He took the course "to get the factual information" which would aid him in understanding "the content in art". For example, "to understand the political reasons behind the formation of artists' and writers' societies in the 11th century".

Ihor also commented that "it is good for Ukrainians to take such a course on a university level. This shows real interest, and makes it count".

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