Ukrainian Free University marks 84th Founders Day
MUNICH - On January 17 the Ukrainian Free University (UFU) held its 84th annual Founders Day festivities, commemorating the 84th anniversary of its establishment in 1921. The Dies Academicus took place in the cultural complex adjacent the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, following a religious service.
The event was well attended - UFU faculty and students mingled with German politicians and businessmen, as well as with 200 members of Munich's Ukrainian community. Numerous Bavarian academics and politicians who were unable to attend in person sent their salutations and greetings.
Dr. Reinhard Heydenreuter, chief archivist at the Bavarian Main Archives, opened the ceremony in his capacity as UFU honorary professor and director of the UFU Research Institute for German-Ukrainian Relations. Prof. Heydenreuter also raised the question of UFU's perspectives and possibilities in light of recent events in Ukraine.
Sigrid Aria, a recent recipient of a UFU Ph.D. in the social sciences, spoke in the name of the university student body, offering a distinctive point of view by a non-Ukrainian of the UFU's academic milieu and its quality education. Dr. Aria, an Estonian, has mastered the Ukrainian language, a requirement of all graduate students.
The highlight of the 2005 Founders Day was the presentation of the prestigious gold medal "Pro Universitate Libera Ucrainensis." This UFU award is usually offered to a scholar of exceptional repute. This year's recipient was a former UFU rector and professor, Dr. Leonid Rudnytzky. The current rector of the Ukrainian Free University, Dr. Albert Kipa, gave the laudatio. Prof. Kipa underlined the honree's voluminous scholarly work and highlighted his academic pedagogic accomplishments. Rector Kipa also pointed out the successful educational reforms over which Dr. Rudnytzky presided from 1998 to 2003 as the chief executive officer of the university.
In his acceptance speech Dr. Rudnytzky offered an insightful commentary on two recent earth-shattering events. The first was the tsunami which struck South-East Asia, the second was the "political tsunami" or "earthquake" that occurred in Ukraine, namely the Orange Revolution. Both contributed towards solidarity and cooperation among diverse populations.
Focusing specifically on Ukraine, Prof. Rudnytzky praised Ukrainians who asserted their national dignity and affirmed the principles of democracy. As to the issue of Ukraine and Europe, especially the European Union, the UFU gold medal recipient raised the hope that Europe will became a true homeland for all Europeans, including the Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian Free University also conferred titles of honorary senator on Dr. Olexa Wintoniak and Otto Sagner. In his laudatio the university registrar, Prof. Mykola Szafowal, stressed Dr. Wintoniak's lengthy and dedicated connection with the UFU. Prof. Peter Rehder of the Slavic Institute at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich gave the laudatio for Mr. Sagner, the founder and longtime director of Otto Sagner Verlag, a well-known publishing house of Slavic studies.
Musical selections by Natalija Reitel, violin, Taras Jashchenko, piano, and the Pokrow Choir enriched the Dies Academicus program. Ms. Reitel and Mr. Jashchenko performed works by Kosenko, Desmond and Gernet, while the choir, under the direction of Stanislaw Tchujenko, sang a medley of Ukrainian Christmas carols. The 2005 commemorative occasion ended with the singing of the traditional student hymn, "Gaudeamus Igitur." A festive reception concluded the memorable evening.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 20, 2005, No. 8, Vol. LXXIII
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