Kyiv-Mohyla Academy president addresses Philadelphia community

PHILADELPHIA - The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NUKMA) is not only the most prestigious institution in Ukraine, it is also one of the premier universities in Europe, stated Prof. Viacheslav Briukhovetsky, the university's dynamic president, who spoke at Philadelphia's Ukrainian Cultural Center on May 31.

In addressing his audience Dr. Briukhovetsky underscored the importance the academy plays in the fabric of Ukrainian life and the importance of this institution for the future of Ukraine.

Historically, the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, whose origin dates back to the beginning of the century, has served as both a guiding light and beacon of unyielding national consciousness. Today the academy prides itself on educating the future leaders of the country.

Recognizing the academy's roll in the long suffering history of Ukraine, visiting foreign dignitaries make pilgrimages there. Prof. Briukhovetsky told of one such visit by the secretary of state under former President Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright. After Prof. Brioukovetsky introduced Ms. Albright to the student body he then told her, "in the audience sits the future president of Ukraine." At the conclusion of her speech to the students, Ms. Albright stated, "Yes, I see the future president of Ukraine and there she sits." The comment was greeted with great applause.

To highlight the prominent role national consciousness plays at the university, Prof. Briukhovetsky then told a story of the visit by a very prominent Russian academic who wanted to give a lecture. Classes at the NUKMA are taught either in Ukrainian or English. Prof. Briukhovetsky informed the visiting academician that he could not give the lecture in Russian. The Russian academician understood the restriction and delivered his lecture in English, albeit broken.

Prof. Briukhovetsky is in America exploring various ways to ensure that the NUKMA can maintain its independent integrity in years to come. He is studying various ways the university can use grants. It is Prof. Briukhovestsky's goal to see the Academy become self-sufficient and not have to depend on the good graces of various political forces.

At the conclusion of the speech, Ulana Mazurkevich, president of the Ukrainian Human Rights Committee, thanked Dr. Brioukovetsky for his most interesting lecture and presented him with a donation to the academy's library - the three-volume report of the investigation of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933 and the Oral History Project of the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, August 17, 2003, No. 33, Vol. LXXI

| Home Page |