Michigan Ukrainians complete Heritage Room at university (06/29/03)

Michigan Ukrainians complete Heritage Room at university

DETROIT - Michigan's Ukrainian American community has completed a Ukrainian Heritage Room in Manoogian Hall at Wayne State University (WSU). Although it contains artwork celebrating Ukrainian history and culture, the room will serve as a functioning classroom.

Along with the other nationality rooms at Wayne State University, the Ukrainian Heritage Room exemplifies the character of Detroit, by melding together culture, beauty and learning, while preserving and honoring the Ukrainian ethnic idenity.

The Ukrainian Heritage Room is the product of cooperation between the Steering Committee and the artistic management of Lviv iconographer Volodymyr Mayorchak and Jarema Kozak, son of the famed Ukrainian artist Edward Kozak (EKO). Yet, the room does not create a museum environment, but function as a university classroom. Potentially, thousands of students will receive instruction in this room in a Ukrainian surrounding.

The Ukrainian Heritage Room project was planned and implemented by the Ukrainian University Graduates of Detroit and Windsor. Under the leadership of Co-Chairmen Stephen M. Wichar Sr. and Olga Dubriwnyj-Solovey, the following members committed themselves to this three-year, $75,000 project: Vera Andrushkiw, Alberta Cieply, Oleh Cieply, Dr. Paul Dzul, Joseph Elnick, Ivan Halich, Sonia Hazen, Sonia Hulyk, Jaroslaw Konopada, Catherine Koneya, Olga Meyer, Tom Meyer, Bohdan Nehaniv, Lydia Taraschuk-Nehaniv, Dr. Alexander Serafyn, Julia Stoiko and Irene Yanchak-Torrance.

On Sunday afternoon, May 4, more than 300 people converged on the WSU campus to take part in the dedication and reception ceremonies. An overwhelming number of guests packed Room 297 to capacity.

At the grand opening Mr. Wichar, master of ceremonies, officially opened the Ukrainian Heritage Room with welcoming remarks. He acknowledged, among others: Gerrie Paulson, WSU senior director of development; Dr. Lawrence Scaff, dean, College of Liberal Arts; and Olga Wilchowy, special assistant. Mr. Wichar introduced Susan Burns, associate vice-president of development, representing Dr. Irvin D. Reid, WSU president.

The roster of speakers included: Dr. Donald Haase, department chair of German and Slavic studies; Joseph Elnick, president of the Ukrainian Graduates of Detroit and Windsor; and David E. Bonior, former U.S. Congressman for the 12th Congressional district, and former majority and minority whip of the Democratic Party, who today is a professor of labor studies at WSU.

Additional speakers included: Cathy George, probate judge-elect (who is of Ukrainian desent); Kathry Christie president of the Hamtramck City Council; and Svetlana Rogovyc, WSU Slavic department.

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