04 June 2010

 

The Canadian Association for Ukrainian Studies (CAUS) passed a resolution at its Annual General Meeting expressing its concern about recent events in Ukraine that could have serious implications for the academic freedom of universities there. The recent visit of a Security Service of Ukraine agent to the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Borys Gudziak, for the purpose of pressuring him to stem potential student protest over “controversial (and in some cases inflammatory) policies of the Ukrainian authorities” was the incident of particular concern.

The CAUS meeting took place on 29 May at Concordia University in Montreal during the 2010 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. CAUS is a constituent member of the International Association of Ukrainian Studies (MAU) as well as affiliate member of the Canadian Association of Slavists. The current president of CAUS, Roman Senkus, was elected first vice-president of MAU in 2008.

The CAUS position reads as follows:

“The Canadian Association for Ukrainian Studies (CAUS) is concerned about reports that Ukrainian security services are being used in what appears to be a campaign of intimidation directed at the university community in Ukraine.

We are disturbed by the recent visit of a representative of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Borys Gudziak, as described in his open letter dated 19 May 2010 and publicized in the media.

We call on university administrators in Ukraine to follow Rector Gudziak’s example in resisting the pressure being applied on them by government officials.

We also urge our colleagues in Canada to show solidarity with Ukrainian scholars in their efforts to defend the principles of academic freedom and the autonomy of post-secondary institutions.”

The full text of Dr. Gudziak’s Memorandum can be found at the Web site of the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (<http://www.ucef.org>).

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For more information: Andrij Makuch (416-978-4404)