SUSTA holds mid-year conference (12/28/86)

SUSTA holds mid-year conference

by Olga Chodoba

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - The Federation of Ukrainian Student Organizations of America (SUSTA) held its mid-year conference here at the Ukrainian Cultural Center on Saturday, November 22, with the participation of members of SUSTA's executive board and the Ukrainian student club presidents.

The 25 students were first greeted by their executive board members who read off their reports and any achievements that may have been conquered since the last meeting.

Leda Hewka, the East Coast vice-president, reported that she has formulated a standard application form for SUSTA that should be obtained by all interested clubs and organizations who intend to join SUSTA.

SUSTA is set up as a central organization of students of Ukrainian heritage in the United States. Its basis purpose is to represent in organized form Ukrainian-American students academically as well as socially.

A major topic discussed was annual dues. Through yearly dues paid by student clubs all students enrolled would be official members of SUSTA and would also have a yearly subscription to Prism, SUSTA's newsletter which can be a major force of communication, for organizational as well as informational purposes. Roma Kohutiak, the editor of Prism, said she could not overstate the importance of the newsletter to members of SUSTA. Materials for Prism may be sent to Ms. Kohutiak, Tunbridge Road, Haverford, Pa. 19041.

The annual dues decided on were as follows: if your club has less than 10 members, dues are $2 per member; 10-20 members, $25 per club; 21-30 members, $35 per club; and 31 and up, $50 per club. Clubs should send membership dues, with a complete list of members and addresses, as well as the application form to Andrew J. Futey, 2902 Porter St. N.W. - No. 46, Washington, D.C. 20008.

Mr. Futey, president of SUSTA, then spoke of the importance of SUSTA's involvement in the commemorations of the Millennium and its important role as part of the National Committee organized to celebrate the Millennium. SUSTA is encouraging all student organizations to get involved locally as well, to promote Christianity via school newspapers and all other possible channels.

With the 35th anniversary of SUSTA approaching, another main project discussed was the idea of putting out a book on the history of SUSTA to coincide with the celebration of Christianity in Ukraine.

Also discussed was the idea of donating Dr. David Marples' book, "Chernobyl and Nuclear Power in the USSR," and Robert Conquest's book "The Harvest of Sorrow," to all university libraries. If each club would donate these books to their libraries, they would be doing their duty as Ukrainian American students by further educating the public.

On January 12, Ukrainian Political Prisoners' Day (Den Solidarnosty), SUSTA members all across America are encouraged to take an active part in the day's events.

During the weekend of March 21-22, 1987, CeSUS will be putting its forces together in Cleveland at St. Josaphat's. Through SUSTA's membership in the Central Union of Ukrainian Students (CeSUS), students in the United States are offered the opportunity to communicate with Ukrainian students throughout the free world. CeSUS is the international network of Ukrainian students.

At this point, individual club reports were given by all universities/colleges and organizations represented: New York University, Columbia University, Hunter and Queens colleges of the City University of New York, LaSalle University, Drexel University, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, TUSM-New York, and TUSM-Philadelphia.

After a break for lunch, SUSTA's guest speaker of the day was Eugene Iwanciw, SUSTA president in 1973-1975. He stressed the importance of motivation, communication and of the newsletter. He shared many of his experiences and offered solutions and suggestions.

The major event that SUSTA is planning for this year will be a banquet and dance honoring past SUSTA presidents. This gala event will be held on May 23, 1987. This weekend will also be the time of SUSTA's congress.

Besides the various planning and brainstorming that was going on between the students on November 22nd, we also had the honor of learning more about the "Harvard Project in Commemoration of the Ukrainian Millennium in Rus' Ukraine." Dr. Stepan Woroch gave a very informative lecture and outline of the project's goals which are: 1) an international scholarly conference 2) the endowment of a permanent chair in the history of religious thought in Ukraine at Harvard University 3) the publication of an encyclopedic reference work in three volumes and 4) the publication of a corpus of old Ukrainian literary works to about 1800. Dr. Woroch's lecture was followed up on by Orysia Hanushevsky's slide presentation.

In conclusion, all participating SUSTA members went out to dinner at the Austrian Village restaurant and then had a pub night back at the Ukrainian Cultural Center where all had a chance to gather, party and have a great time after a very productive day in Jenkintown.

The SUSTA mid-year conference was organized by Misses Hewka and Kohutiak.

| Home Page |