Ihor Pasichnyk Becomes Guest of Honour in Cleveland

November 06, 2007

The Rector of Ostroh Academy National University Ihor Pasichnyk and the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations Edward Balashov are proceeding with the visit to the USA.

During November 1-3, they stayed in Cleveland, Ohio. The visit was aimed at discussing the creation of Ukrainian-American center, which would allow of student and university staff exchange, joint research projects and conferences. Founded on the basis of Ostroh Academy National University, this center could also foster the transfer of archival documents from Cleveland Museum-Archive, Chicago Archive, etc., to the Institute of Ukrainian Diaspora Studies at Ostroh Academy National University, as well as facilitate the organization of the meetings with public figures of the US.

Within the scopes of the visit, the Rector of Ostroh Academy National University Ihor Pasichnyk held a meeting with the Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus Marcy Kaptur. For the generous long-term support of the Ukrainian education, culture, and Ostroh Academy in particular, he awarded Congresswoman Kaptur the Medal of Ostroh Prince Kostiantyn-Vasyl’, the honorary decoration of Ostroh Academy National University. “Both students and instructors of Ostroh Academy excitedly observe the enthusiasm and patriotism of Marcy Kaptur as she champions the interests of Ukraine. Unfortunately, many Ukrainians still lack such candid patriotism,” said Ihor Pasychnyk. Marcy Kaptur promised to foster close cooperation between American universities and Ostroh Academy and to promote this establishment of higher education, which was the first of the type on the grounds of Eastern Europe, in Congress. On the rector’s invitation, the congresswoman agreed to visit Ostroh Academy in the nearest future.

At the meeting with Ukrainian diaspora at Cleveland Museum-Archive, Ihor Pasichnyk delivered a report on the topic “Ostroh Academy as artefact of modern Ukraine”. The report was followed by the presentation of short documentary on the rebirth of the establisment. Rector Ihor Pasichnyk and Director of Ukrainian Museum-Archive Andrii Fedynskyi agreed on the assistance for students of Ostroh Academy in filming rare documents about the activities of Ukrainian diaspora in the USA. Mr Fedynskyi observed that such help is vital for the museum. The rector in his turn stressed the importance of research into the intellectual heritage of Ukrainians living abroad and emphasized that this heritage should become a part of overall intellectual potential of Ukraine. Ihor Pasichnyk awarded Andrii Fedynskyi the appreciation for the considerable efforts in preserving the Ukrainian cultural heritage abroad and supporting the development of Ostroh Academy.

At the meeting with the representatives of Cleveland municipal authority, Ihor Pasichnyk was presented with Cleveland Guest of Honour Decoration. The rector of Ostroh Academy became was the first citizen of Ukraine who received such award.

On November 4-8, Ihor Pasichnyk and Edward Balashow are to visit Chicago, Illinois, where they plan to sign the agreement with Nothern Illinois University on creating the Ukrainian Institute for American studies and establishing Ukrainian-American exchange programmes.