Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union focuses on revitalizing activity (06/02/96)

Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union focuses on revitalizing activity

MONTREAL - The Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK) recently held its annual congress in Montreal. This congress was attended by 36 delegates representing nine Ukrainian student organizations from Edmonton, Saskatoon, Windsor, Waterloo, Brock and Hamilton, Ontario.

SUSK currently boasts 12 member-organizations with a combined membership of over 600 students at post-secondary institutions across Canada.

The focus of the 43rd congress was the election of a new executive for the 1996-1997 term of office, and approval of constitutional amendments and resolutions that would serve as a mandate for this term. The headquarters of the 1996-1997 SUSK executive have moved from Montreal to Edmonton.

The 1996-1997 SUSK executive is as follows: Volodymyr Boychuk (Edmonton), president; Jon Tomas (Montreal), vice-president internal and immediate past president; Tanya Haluk (Edmonton), VP Mountain region; Marianne Uhryn (Saskatoon), VP Prairie region; Volodymyr Stecko (Toronto), VP Great Lakes region; Natalka Nowiski (Montreal), VP Laurentian region; Gena Slawuta (Edmonton), secretary; Mark Prystajecky (Edmonton), treasurer; Larysa Chalupa (Hamilton), project director; Pavlo Oleskevych (Toronto), director of communications and publications; Pavlo Grod (Windsor), director of external relations, Ukrainian organizations; Peter Sztyk (Montreal), director of external relations; Lisa McDonald (Edmonton), alumni coordinator.

According to an amendment passed at the congress, Ukrainian student organization (USO) presidents have been included in the executive with an advisory vote. These include: Brock University Ukrainian Students Club Taras Zajac; Concordia Ukrainian Students Union - Taras Mazepa; McGill Ukrainian Students Association - Ms. Nowiski; McMaster University Ukrainian Student Club - Anna Marzotto; Queen's University Ukrainian Students Club - Kimberly Plaseski; University of Alberta - Ms. Slawuta; University of Saskatchewan USC - Kevin Lysak; University of Toronto USC - Walter Stecko and Taras Hetmanczuk; University of Waterloo USC - Natalie Worobec; University of Western Ontario USC - Andrij Wiwczaruk; University of Windsor USC - Orysia Dmytruk; and York University USC - Danya Motyliwsky.

Among the topics and issues discussed at the February 23-25 congress were: volunteerism in the Ukrainian community; student apathy and the role of Ukrainian student organizations; is there a place for youth in the Ukrainian organized community?; defining a Ukrainian ethnicity within a Canadian framework as we head to the 21st century; taking the career mentorship program nationwide; Ukraine and the Canada-Ukraine Monitor.

Unlike last year's congress, which focused a great deal of energy on Ukraine, this year the conclave concentrated on the needs of its members and how SUSK can coordinate projects and activities of Ukrainian students throughout Canada. Much discussion centered on a national career mentorship program. With this mentorship program the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association, in partnership with Ukrainian student organizations, would engage in a mentoring program designed to assist Ukrainian Canadian students in attaining career-related counseling and mentoring.

Ukrainian American students also were represented at the congress. Among the issues discussed was the rejuvenation of the long-dormant Federation of Ukrainian Student Organizations of America (SUSTA). SUSK has pledged its support in this process.

Among the accomplishments of the outgoing SUSK executive were: 1. hosting two regional conferences (Hamilton, Ontario and Edmonton); 2. completing the SUSK guidebook (a reference manual on how to organize Ukrainian student organizations); 3. introducing a Canada-Ukrainian Student Partnership Program (composed of three projects - Student Self-Government in Ukraine, Student Internships in Ukraine, and the Educational Exchange Project); 4. fostering the development of the World Conference of Ukrainian Students (CeSUS) and attending its second world Congress in Kyiv; 5. publishing six issues of the SUSK national newsletter Mayzhe Student; developing a SUSK homepage on the World Wide Web, maintaining a national Ukrainian student electronic communication network, and electronic publication of Mayzhe Student

SUSK has encouraged all Ukrainian Canadian students to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster at their respective universities at some point this year. Among the proposed project ideas: screening of documentaries, an information campaign and a blood-donor drive.

SUSK also is encouraging its member-organizations to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

SUSK reaffirmed its commitment to:

foster cooperation and understanding among Ukrainian Canadian students' organizations;
educate and inform Ukrainian Canadian students about issues and events relevant to them as students of Ukrainian origin;
participate and encourage the development of a dynamic Ukrainian Canadian community that adheres to democratic and humanitarian principles;
encourage the development of a Ukrainian Canadian student movement; and
foster an understanding among non-Ukrainian ethnic groups as to Ukrainian affairs and issues.

All correspondence for SUSK should be forwarded to: Volodymyr Boychuk, Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK), 620 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5S 2H4; phone/fax: (403) 432-7752; e-mail: [email protected]

The SUSK Home Page may be found at http://www.internauts.ca/susk/, while the Mayzhe Student Home Page may be found at http://www.internauts.ca/susk/ms/

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