4THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011No. 22<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic University accepts Firtash’s pledge for new campus<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic Educati<strong>on</strong> Foundati<strong>on</strong>CHICAGO – Dmytro Firtash, a<strong>Ukrainian</strong> businessman, has pledged tofinancially support the <strong>Ukrainian</strong> CatholicUniversity’s c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> of a new campusnear Stryiskyi Park in Lviv, accordingto a statement released last week.Details of the extent of his supportwere not disclosed and Mr. Firtash wasnot present at the event, but the Rev.Borys Gudziak, Ph.D., the rector of the<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic University, said thatMr. Firtash’s pledge was significant andthat a full announcement would be comingin the fall.<strong>The</strong> Rev. Gudziak explained that thepledges and c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s made by variousmajor d<strong>on</strong>ors so far in Ukraine,Western Europe and North America willbe announced in November.<strong>The</strong> announcement came in L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>May 17, during a talk at the <strong>Ukrainian</strong>Institute, which is affiliated with the<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic University, where theRev. Dr. Gudziak and Dr. Rory Finnin,head of <strong>Ukrainian</strong> studies at theUniversity of Cambridge, addressed thetopic: “<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Studies Internati<strong>on</strong>ally:Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” <strong>The</strong>talk was held as part of a series of eventssurrounding the yearly Adam SmithUkraine Business Summit, <strong>on</strong>e of the biggestannual internati<strong>on</strong>al investment c<strong>on</strong>ferencesin Ukraine.Dr. Finnin eloquently presented thebroad scope of the new Cambridge programthat is fostering ties with <strong>Ukrainian</strong>studies instituti<strong>on</strong>s in the internati<strong>on</strong>alc<strong>on</strong>text, as well as with Ukraine, UCUincluded. <strong>The</strong> Rev. Gudziak spoke aboutthe seminal influence of internati<strong>on</strong>al<strong>Ukrainian</strong> studies <strong>on</strong> academic life inindependent Ukraine, particularly in fosteringnew approaches to research and tothe university experience in general.Particularly striking for the audiencewas the presentati<strong>on</strong> of UCU’s futureResidence College, which hopes torethink the university dorm experience.Oxford-Cambridge Colleges and HarvardHouses are a point of departure, but UCUis experimenting further. <strong>The</strong> college willinclude not <strong>on</strong>ly rooms for 220 students,eight faculty-tutor apartments, a smallinstitute of advanced studies, but also aresidence for mentally disabled pers<strong>on</strong>swho will be full-time members of the universitycommunity.“Our friends with special needs have aspecial gift: they do not wear masks orfacades. In every encounter they ask thebasic questi<strong>on</strong> ‘do you know how tolove.’ That is the most fundamental questi<strong>on</strong>that a teacher can ask a student. Weare inviting the disabled not as those wh<strong>on</strong>eed a social handout but as professors ofhuman relati<strong>on</strong>s. Apparently, our universitywill be setting a precedent with thisinnovative pedagogy that is meant tochallenge the growing alienati<strong>on</strong> in post-Soviet Ukraine and in a world increasinglyshaped by virtual relati<strong>on</strong>ships,” saidthe UCU rector.Mr. Firtash, the owner of Group DF, abusiness c<strong>on</strong>glomerate, and the co-chairmanof the Investors’ Council at Ukraine’sMinistry of Educati<strong>on</strong>, has made significantd<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>s to establish Cambridge<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Studies, a program launched in2008 to promote and c<strong>on</strong>tribute to thestudy of Ukraine in the United Kingdomand bey<strong>on</strong>d. His pledge to UCU shows hiscommitment to support quality educati<strong>on</strong>in Ukraine.During a fund-raising tour in the UnitedStates last year and at various events inUkraine over the past year, the Rev.Gudziak had spoken to audiences regardingthe issue of taking m<strong>on</strong>ey fromUkraine’s billi<strong>on</strong>aires. UCU sought andreceived the counsel of <strong>Ukrainian</strong> Greek-Catholic Church leaders, the UCU Senate(board of directors), Lviv municipal andbusiness leaders, as well as many internati<strong>on</strong>ald<strong>on</strong>ors before setting procedures toaccept large d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>s.“Though at this time in the Westernworld c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s to a university are agenerally accepted practice, in Ukraine,the charitable support of universities is relativelynew, which is starting to crystallizein the c<strong>on</strong>sciousness of society. UCU,from the moment of the revival of the universityin Lviv, has worked persistentlyand successfully to encourage d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>sfrom benefactors to support our activities.We rely <strong>on</strong> our experience of workingtogether with large benefactors, which hasfor a l<strong>on</strong>g time been the practice of theleading universities of North America andEurope, Cambridge in particular. We arevery grateful to our d<strong>on</strong>ors across theworld,” commented the Rev. Gudziak.UCU is currently raising funds to builda Western-style campus in the heart ofLviv. Over $12 milli<strong>on</strong> has been raised todate from a number of d<strong>on</strong>ors from theU.S., Canada, Europe and Ukraine.Every significant d<strong>on</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> to UCU is anunc<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al gift that has no influence <strong>on</strong>faculty hiring, student admissi<strong>on</strong>s or curriculumdecisi<strong>on</strong>s.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic University isthe <strong>on</strong>ly independent university in Ukrainethat relies exclusively <strong>on</strong> private fundingfrom local and internati<strong>on</strong>al sources. Itreceives no government funding.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic Educati<strong>on</strong>Foundati<strong>on</strong> is the U.S. fundraising arm forthe <strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic University in Lviv.For more informati<strong>on</strong>, readers may c<strong>on</strong>tactthe <strong>Ukrainian</strong> Catholic Educati<strong>on</strong>Foundati<strong>on</strong> at 773-235-8462 or ucef@ucef.org.Verm<strong>on</strong>t Senateresoluti<strong>on</strong> citesChornobyl anniversaryPARSIPPANY, N.J. – State legislatorsin Verm<strong>on</strong>t <strong>on</strong> April 29 adopted aSenate c<strong>on</strong>current resoluti<strong>on</strong> “commemoratingthe 25th anniversary of theChernobyl [sic] nuclear disaster withthoughts of the current nuclear crisis inJapan.”Senate C<strong>on</strong>current Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 15was sp<strong>on</strong>sored by State Sen. Tim Asheand State Rep. Philip Peltz.<strong>The</strong> measure states: “Resolved by theSenate and House of Representativesthat the General Assembly commemoratesthe 25th anniversary of theChernobyl nuclear disaster withthoughts of the current nuclear crisis inJapan.”<strong>The</strong> resoluti<strong>on</strong> states: “…as theworld commemorates the 25th anniversaryof this horrible event in the historyof nuclear power generati<strong>on</strong>, thedestructi<strong>on</strong> of the cooling systems atthe Fukushima I (Fukushima Dai-ichi)nuclear power facility in Japan thatresulted from the recent Japan earthquakeand tsunami is a matter of c<strong>on</strong>cern.”It also notes that “regulatory authoritiesin Japan have now classified thenuclear disaster at Fukushima Dai-ichias a Level 7, the most severe <strong>on</strong> theInternati<strong>on</strong>al Nuclear Event Scale, and<strong>on</strong>ly Chernobyl had previously beenrated as a Level 7 event.”<strong>The</strong> resoluti<strong>on</strong> also directed theVerm<strong>on</strong>t secretary of state to send acopy of the resoluti<strong>on</strong> to the <strong>Ukrainian</strong>and Japanese Embassies in Washingt<strong>on</strong>,the Japan-America Society of Verm<strong>on</strong>tand <strong>The</strong> <strong>Ukrainian</strong> <strong>Weekly</strong> inParsippany, N.J.
No. 22THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 29, 20115THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM<strong>The</strong> benefits of UNA membershipWhen you purchase a policy from the<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Associati<strong>on</strong>, youbecome a member of the UNA fraternalfamily.In additi<strong>on</strong> to having access to financialofferings, UNA members may alsotake advantage of the following benefits:• Scholarships and awards for collegestudents.• ScripSave Prescripti<strong>on</strong> SavingsProgram.• Car rental savings through Hertz.• Car insurance savings through HighPoint Insurance (New Jersey residents<strong>on</strong>ly).• Subscripti<strong>on</strong> discounts to the UNA’snewspapers, Svoboda (in <strong>Ukrainian</strong>) and<strong>The</strong> <strong>Ukrainian</strong> <strong>Weekly</strong> (in English).• Discounts to enjoy during your staysat Soyuzivka, the <strong>Ukrainian</strong> HeritageCenter in beautiful upstate New York.• Fingerprint kits for parents to helpprovide identificati<strong>on</strong> of their children incase of an emergency.CommunityWhen you purchase a policy with theUNA, you become a member of an organizati<strong>on</strong>that has been committed, sinceits incepti<strong>on</strong>, to giving back to the community.<strong>The</strong> UNA supports various culturaland educati<strong>on</strong>al programs, such asscholarships for deserving student members.As a fraternal benefit society, itsearnings are reinvested for the benefit ofits members.Newspapers<strong>The</strong> UNA publishes two newspapers:Svoboda in the <strong>Ukrainian</strong> languageand <strong>The</strong> <strong>Ukrainian</strong> <strong>Weekly</strong> in English.Both papers are top-quality, wellrespectednews sources about events andhappenings in Ukraine and <strong>Ukrainian</strong>communities throughout the world. Mailand <strong>on</strong>line subscripti<strong>on</strong>s are available.<strong>Ukrainian</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Foundati<strong>on</strong><strong>The</strong> <strong>Ukrainian</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Foundati<strong>on</strong>,Inc. (UNF), a registered 501(c)(3) n<strong>on</strong>profitcorporati<strong>on</strong>, is the charitable armof the UNA. Through the UNF, the UNAprovides a multitude of educati<strong>on</strong>al andscholarship programs, supports youthand senior citizen initiatives, and promotesarts and cultural exchanges. <strong>The</strong>UNF has provided humanitarian aid forcatastrophes worldwide and supportedsuch worthwhile projects as the refurbishmentof the Statue of Liberty.Soyuzivka Heritage CenterNestled in the mountains of beautifulNew York state, the Soyuzivka HeritageCenter offers visitors a unique experienceby immersing them in a <strong>Ukrainian</strong>envir<strong>on</strong>ment.Through workshops, seminars, camps,festivals, art shows, c<strong>on</strong>certs and a hostof other activities, guests can expandtheir knowledge of the rich <strong>Ukrainian</strong>heritage and traditi<strong>on</strong>s. In additi<strong>on</strong>, theSoyuzivka Heritage Center serves as aw<strong>on</strong>derful gathering place to meet withold friends and form new friendships.* * *To find out more about the benefits ofmembership in the UNA, log <strong>on</strong> tohttp://ukrainiannati<strong>on</strong>alassociati<strong>on</strong>.org,where you can find informati<strong>on</strong> in boththe English and <strong>Ukrainian</strong> languages, aswell as links to the websites of <strong>The</strong><strong>Ukrainian</strong> <strong>Weekly</strong>, Svoboda andSoyuzivka.Young UNA’ersNatalia Ramirez, daughter of Lubaand Sebastian Ramirez of Jersey City,N.J., is a new member of UNA Branch269. She was enrolled by her grandparentsLyubov and Peter Chasto.Samantha Ramirez, daughter of Lubaand Sebastian Ramirez of Jersey City,N.J., is a new member of UNA Branch269. She was enrolled by her grandparentsLyubov and Peter Chasto.Nicolas Iker Kolody, s<strong>on</strong> of Andrewand Lucia Kolody of Highlands Ranch,Colo., is a new member of UNA Branch171. He was enrolled by his grandmotherAretha Kolody.Zachary Georg Jaremko, s<strong>on</strong> of Dr.Georg and Motria Jaremko ofStockholm, Sweden, is a new memberof UNA Branch 47. He was enrolled byhis grandparents Dr. Ihor and MartaFedoriw.Do you have a young UNA’er, or potential young UNA’er in your family?Call the UNA Home Office, 973-292-9800, to find out how to enroll.THE UNA:117 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY