Ukrainian Free University celebrates its Founders Day

by Mykola Danchuk

MUNICH, Germany - On January 16, the Ukrainian Free University (UFU), celebrated its Founders Day, or Dies Academicus. The festivities commemorated the 83rd anniversary of the establishment of the university in 1921. The event took place in the cultural center next to the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin.

German and foreign political and diplomatic dignitaries, as well as academics and scholars from German and other universities were present. Over 200 persons from the Ukrainian community, as well as UFU graduate students, attended this event.

Both, the outgoing minister of science, education and the arts of the Free State of Bavaria, Dr. Hans Zehetmair, and the new UFU rector, Dr. Albert Kipa, underlined the uniqueness and significance of UFU as an institution of higher learning.

Dr. Kipa's opening address was followed by that of Olha Fedotova-Moritz, who spoke on behalf of UFU students. The outgoing UFU rector, Dr. Leonid Rudnytzky, sponsored this year's honorant, Dr. Theodor Hellbrugge, a world-renowned physician and educator.

The recipient of the Ukrainian Free University honorary doctorate presented to the audience the essence of his pedagogical method. Dr. Hellbrugge expressed his gratitude and satisfaction that, thanks to the UFU, his book "The First 365 Days in the Life of the Child" will soon appear in Ukrainian. To date, the book has been translated into 31 languages.

Dr. Iwan Dacko, dean of the UFU Faculty of Philosophy, introduced Dr. Anna-Halia Horbach, the recipient of the prestigious Ukrainian Free University Medal, Pro Universitate Libera Ucrainensis, to exceptional scholars. Dr. Horbach received it for her lifelong work in the realm of Ukrainian literary studies, as well as for her defense of Ukrainian dissidents in the former USSR. In her acceptance speech, she stressed that her accomplishments would not have been possible without the active support of her late husband, Dr. Oleksa Horbach, Professor at Frankfurt University.

Violinist Natalia and pianist Roman Raitel assured the artistic part of the Dies Academicus. The accomplished musicians performed the works of Western and Ukrainian composers. The commemorative event concluded with the singing of the traditional student hymn, "Gaudeamus Igitur," and was followed by a reception.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 25, 2004, No. 4, Vol. LXXII

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