Ukrainian studies endowment at Columbia reaches $1 million (05/16/04)

Ukrainian studies endowment at Columbia reaches $1 million

by Andrew Nynka

NEW YORK - Columbia University's Low Memorial Library, billed as the architectural centerpiece of the 250-year-old Ivy League academic powerhouse, played host to a number of diplomats, dignitaries and guests who gathered here on May 8 in support of Ukrainian studies at the school. The announcement of two major milestones for that initiative capped what organizers of the gala fund-raising banquet called "a successful evening for the future of an interdisciplinary program of Ukrainian studies at Columbia University."

"As many of you know, two years ago, the Ukrainian Studies Fund and the Shevchenko Scientific Society launched a new Columbia initiative and fund-raising program to further enhance Ukrainian studies," Dr. Mark von Hagen, a professor of history at the school, said in a speech during the dinner.

"That endowment, after tallying the donations from this evening's event as of yesterday's mail, now stands at approximately $860,000 and our initial aim has been to reach $1 million for that endowment," Prof. von Hagen said.

In somewhat of a surprise announcement made toward the end of the evening, Dr. Bohdan Kekish, president and CEO of the Self Reliance (New York) Federal Credit Union, said that his organization had agreed to cover the difference.

"We are pleased to announce that the credit union is donating $140,000 - we have reached the $1 million goal," Dr. Kekish announced. That donation, coupled with an earlier gift of $250,000, put the credit union's total contribution to the endowment fund at $390,000.

Dr. von Hagen pointed out that money from that endowment had already been used to support two courses recently offered at Columbia University. Prof. Frank Sysyn, director of the Jacyk Center for Ukrainian Historical Research at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies and director of the Hrushevsky translation project, was involved in teaching both of the classes, one of which he taught together with Prof. von Hagen.

"I would also like to thank Frank at this point for being one of the best friends of Ukrainian studies at Columbia for his bringing us to the attention of both Petro Jacyk in his time and Roman Procyk and the board of the Ukrainian Studies Fund more recently," Prof. von Hagen said.

Moments earlier, the noted Eastern European history professor announced a second milestone for Ukrainian studies at the school, which would honor the renowned Ukrainian scholar George Y. Shevelov. "In his honor we are happy to announce the launching tonight of a campaign for the George Y. Shevelov endowed instructorship in the Ukrainian language," Prof. von Hagen told the 240 people who gathered for the dinner under the library's elaborate main rotunda.

Dr. Shevelov (1908-2002), a prominent Ukrainian linguist whose monumental work "A Historical Phonology of the Ukrainian Language" was first published in 1979, was also a professor of Slavic philology at Columbia University from 1958 to 1977.

Referring to a separate endowment, Prof. von Hagen added that, "Since 1995, when the late Dr. Petro Jacyk wrote his first check to Columbia," the university had hosted one scholar a year in a variety of disciplines that focused on Ukraine. "The original $500,000 from Dr. Jacyk was supplemented with a later gift of $100,000 and merged with the donations from the FOCUUS I [Friends of Columbia University Ukrainian Studies] dinner and now stands close to $750,000," Prof. von Hagen said.

In the evening's keynote address, Carlos Pascual, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and the current coordinator for U.S. assistance to Europe and Eurasia, moved slightly from the topic of Columbia University and spoke with regard to the Ukrainian state.

"The great challenge for Ukraine is no longer the consolidation of a Ukrainian state," the former ambassador said. "The question for Ukraine is whether its leaders see the country as a part of Europe, and, if so, will they take the necessary steps to make a European Ukraine a reality."

The ambassador also touched on state relations between Ukraine and the United States. He said the two countries are going through "a period of unequal expectations," but he found developments on another level encouraging.

"I do know that Ukrainians want to take control of their lives," the former ambassador told the audience. "I have seen an awakening of civil society that will make you proud. I believe that today Ukrainians see themselves as Ukrainians."

Ambassador Pascual also spoke about the importance of Ukraine's next presidential election. The October 31 election will have "a bigger impact on Ukraine than any other event" has had on the country in its 13 years as an independent nation, he said.

In his remarks at the dinner, Dr. Bohdan Vitvitsky made the case for developing a program of Ukrainian studies at Columbia University. "You are supporting the expansion and development of truth with regard to Ukraine," he said.

Schools such as Columbia University "are the schools that train the people who help spread the truth," said Dr. Vitvitsky, head of the banquet organizing committee.

The evening also spotlighted the work of Ukrainian American Chris Washburn and the popular New York-based Latin jazz band See You On The Other Side (S.Y.O.T.O.S.). Prof. Washburn is an assistant professor and director of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Center at Columbia University. Together with the S.Y.O.T.O.S. band, Prof. Washburn performed several original jazz arrangements of well-known Ukrainian melodies.

The audience, however, saved its strongest applause of the evening for Dr. von Hagen, who noted that "a new generation of non-Ukrainians ... have adopted Ukraine as their intellectual cause and life."

Maria Sonevytsky, Ukrainian Studies Fund Coordinator at Columbia University, called the event "undeniably auspicious for the future of Ukrainian studies" at the school.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Prof. von Hagen extended his gratitude toward Leonard Mazur and Dr. Vitvitsky, president and vice-president, respectively, of the Ukrainian American Professional and Businesspersons Association of New York and New Jersey. They "offered to undertake this wonderful second gala benefit evening for Ukrainian studies at Columbia University," Dr. von Hagen said.

The FOCUUS II Organizing Committee included Alexandra Baranetsky, Oksana M. Bauer, Chris Bonacorsa, Inya Chehade, Walter Chudowsky, Larysa Melnyk Dyrszka, Orest Fedash, Roma M. Hayda, Adriana Helbig, Stefan Kaczaraj, Lydia Kossak Kernitsky, Volodymyr Kurylo, Iryna Kurowyckyj, Nadia Kihiczak Kuzycz, Roman Kyzyk, Ihor Laszok, Roma Lisovich, Nadia Matkiwsky, Mr. Mazur, Adrianna Melnyk, Miriasia Mychalczak, Areta Pawlynsky, Mr. Procyk, Andrew Rak, Petro Rybchuk, Ms. Sonevytsky, Stefan Tatarenko, Oksana Trytjak, Mr. Vitvitsky, Andrij Wowk, Myroslava Tomorug Znayenko and Ihor Zwarycz.

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