Fulbright Office director addresses Ukrainian Catholic University grads (07/13/03)

Fulbright Office director addresses Ukrainian Catholic University grads

by Oles Darmohrai and Matthew Matuszak

LVIV - Dr. Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak, director of the Fulbright Office in Ukraine, gave the commencement address on June 21 to this year's graduating class of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv. On June 20, the professor and scholar met with the 65 graduates in order to get acquainted with them, to tell them about her life and to offer some advice. After their meeting on June 20, she also joined the graduates in a ceremonial procession to pray in the crypt of St. George Cathedral.

The title of Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak's address was "Boundaries and Networks of Marginality."

"Ukraine is well-acquainted with issues of marginality," Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak said. "Customarily, Ukraine is considered as a land on the margin - the boundary of the West (Europe) or the bridge between East and West. Marginality is written into the history of Ukraine... Modern globalization has taught us even those who live on the edges, blessedly separated from the historically unstable world - that the tiniest corner can change the course of events of the whole world. Today marginal, but tomorrow with a whole arsenal in its hands."

"But, and this is a very important 'but,' through its very marginality Ukraine is adapted for existence in the modern world. Ukraine sees itself not as a threatened fortress, like Iran or Russia, but as part of a wider community. Ukraine is not some little pebble, but part of the whole mosaic," she continued.

"Your assignment," Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak told the young graduates, "is to expand the boundaries, the contact of Ukraine with 'not-Ukraine.' This is the true understanding of Ukraine, both within and beyond the boundaries of Ukraine itself."

The university's graduates in 2001 certainly responded to this assignment. Nineteen of them won scholarships to continue their studies in Italy, Canada, Belgium, Poland, Liechtenstein, Ger-many, Austria and the United States.

Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak's address made an impression on her audience. "In her talk you felt she understood the situation of UCU graduates: we are on the threshold," said 2003 graduate Yulia Halushka. "On one hand, nowhere to go. On the other, limitless possibilities. Which alternative we choose depends on us. I particularly value Pani Marta's idea that Ukraine is not on the edge of the world, but is instead a self-sufficient element in the mosaic that makes up the whole world."

All the UCU graduates earned a bachelor's degree in theology, so in her informal meeting with them Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak spoke of the role of the theologian.

"In modern Ukraine, the humanities, terminology, even language itself has lost its original meaning. So theology gives scholars the ability to think. Through conceptualization, ideas can be generated and take flesh," said Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak. "Theology is not a standard study for this period of history. The majority of American millionaires graduated from history departments and know how to work with facts and theories. But theologians have an extra component: their social environment absolutely does not understand them. This brings theologians to the cutting edge of new knowledge."

Graduate Bozhena Pelenska particularly appreciated the informal meeting with Dr. Bohachevsky-Chomiak. "She is very sincere and direct, an extraordinarily wise woman," said Ms. Pelenska. "It was important for me to hear Pani Marta's advice: life is a constant battle, so the most important thing is not to give in, always to make your own choice, to overcome social stereotypes."

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