March 1981 Accelerating a Trend Already Ukrainian Studies University Course Later in His Vol
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' . Central - UNt>£esTAMD THE OF WOMElJ ! Ukrainian studies in jeopardy? Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Enrollments Drop decade or so in- According to a research factors alone. Enrolment, or ment by 28 percent. This enrol- in the next its accelerated a dicates that there will be report recently done for the rather the lack of it, is taking ment trend has concentration of Canadian univer- Canadian Institute of Ukrainian toll. We know of a number of process of problems for Studies by Bohdan departments where, as a result Ukrainian university course sities in general and Ukrainian Krawchenko, enrolment in of poor enrolment, courses had enrolment in western Canada: programmes in particular. First, percent of the total enrol- the general economic climate is courses in Ukrainian studies to be cancelled. At the Universi- 67 1976-77 79 percent students into was substantially lower in 1979- ty of Windsor, for example, the ment in and propelling 1 979-80 accounted for by rather 80 than for the comparable problem is so serious that in was professional faculties universities. Put in than arts courses. period in 1976-77. "courses in Ukrainian will be western general lack of the University of Secondly, as a result of In a follow-up study to his suspended next year for another way, University of the 1977 report on Ukrainian enrolment." Manitoba and the demographic trends in have higher population, the Studies at Canadian univer- The tale of declining enrol- Alberta each Canadian arts in Ukrainian studies number of 1 8-24 year olds (the sities, Professor Krawchenko ment, especially in enrolments eight eastern critical university found that despite the introduc- faculties, is a familiar one and courses than all group for universities com- attendance) rather tion of courses in Ukrainian has given cause for alarm to Canadian will decline average enrolment studies at Concordia University educators across Canada. In bined. The markedly after 1982 with no studies, per course taught in 1979-80 improvement expected until the in Montreal and their revival at the case of Ukrainian students in western mid-1990s, the University of British Colum- both academics and the Ukrai- was 10 when the children of Canada, 8 in eastern Canada. the baby-boom will bia, the overall number of nian community have cause to generation of Canadian reach courses that were actually be concerned with declining The number university. For the Ukrai- nian community in this taught at Canadian universities Canada means that declined substantially in the the student bodies of the three-year period between 1980s and early 1990s will be the smallest in 1976-77 and 1979-80. In the over 30 years. 1976-77 academic year 159 Purely on the basis of demographic courses were taught in Canada. data one can expect a decline in Ukrainian In the 1979-80 academic year studies the figure was 95. enrolment in the com- ing Particularly striking are the decade. But in regional trends. In eastern the face of this 'objective' Canada, the drop in courses situation, a good deal can nevertheless be done to taught was from 67 in 1 976-77 to improve course 22 in 1979-80. In western enrolment. Canada the comparable figures Firstly, pre-university instruc- tion in Ukrainian were 92 and 72. In 1980 over stimulates student sensitivity to three-quarters of all Ukrainian the Ukrai- nian studies courses were offered at problematic making him or her a likely candidate for a western Canadian universities, March 1981 accelerating a trend already Ukrainian studies university course later in his Vol. 13, No. 69 discerned in 1976-77 when 58 or her percent of courses wereoffered educational career. The rather positive enrolment record of the by these universities. Whereas prairie universities is in part in western Canada course studies face a questionable future. campaigns and other volun- Ukrainian accounted for by the fact that offerings in the Ukrainian taristic measures. Lastly, men- atthe top language have remained stable enrolment in eastern Canada, universities now offering one or university courses are tion should be made of the pyramid ''f (34 courses in 1976-77 and 32 in specifically in ^Ontario. more courses in Ukrainian of an educational experience Of the Un'lVersit , whose base lies in the elemen- Manitoba. Between .197- 11 1 979-80) . in eastern Canada Throughout Canada total enrol- studies in 1979-80 totalled 14, schools. (Ontario) a drop occurred — ment dropped by 10 percent as compared to 12 in 1976-77. tary and secondary and 1979-80, enrolment in from 23 to 12. In eastern Canada over the two-year period. New history courses have made Secondly, it is part-time Ukrainian studies at that univer- in 1976-77, 18 courses in Ukrai- But the overall Canadian their appearance, including, for students, women in particular, sity increased by 55 percent, it largest nian literature were offered: by figure is not very informative, the first time, in eastern Canada who are the growing contingent giving the Ukrainian 1979-80 a mere 5 were offered. since enrolment trends in — at the Universities of Toronto in university enrolment across studies enrolment in Canada. In western Canada, literature western and eastern Canada and Concordia. With the recent Canada. Thus off-campus An analysis of the ingredients of courses numbered 26 and 17 for are so dissimilar. In eastern establishment of the Chair of courses, evening programmes the Manitoba success story may the given years. Canada, Ontario specifically, Ukrainian Studies at the Univer- and community outreach can yield useful suggestions for Undoubtedly conjunc- total enrolment in Ukrainian sity of Toronto, this area has do much to improve enrolment those concerned with im- tional factors such as sabbatical studies courses declined by a been given a major impetus. figures. proving overall enrolment rates. leaves and the staggering of sharp 41 percent between Whether enrolment in these Thirdly, in our previous The recent increase in courses accounted for part of 1976-77 and 1979-80, With courses will keep in step with report we estimated that only 5- enrolment at the University of the decline. But with 65 fewer language course enrolment the large amount of money 10 percent of students of Ukrai- Manitoba is the consequence of courses taught in 1979-80 com- dropping by 53 percent. In which the Ukrainian community nian origin take a Ukrainian a number of initiatives taken by pared to 1976-77, the numbers contrast to this, total enrolment has already committed to them studies course at university. It involved are too high for the in western Canada increased by is a very problematic question. should be possible to raise this decline to be explained by these 6 percent, and language enrol- The forecast for enrolment proportion through publicity (Studies cont'd page 10) Russian feminist visits Edmonton Koshtana Stankovich Women women's rights Carrying placards, Tatyana Mamonova.editorof the articles to Women in Russia on balloons and banners, and underground feminist journal, the plight of single women in chanting feminist slogans as Women in Russia, had risked the USSR), Mamonova warned they marched, approximately her life and liberty in the that the move should not be 170 women, men and children struggle for women's rights in mistaken as a conciliatory paraded through downtown the Soviet Union. "This is the gesture on the part of the Edmonton on Saturday, March first women's demonstration regime towards the feminist 7 as part of that city's annual I've been to," she explained, movement. She described the relations celebration of International "and it's not at all like the concession ?s a public Women's Day. parades we have in the Soviet gesture designed to serve the This year the event had a Union." Her remarks provoked self-interest of the Soviet state, truly international flavour, as cries of "Free our Soviet Mamonova then challeng- Soviet feminist Tatyana sisters!" from the sympathetic ed some of the myths about the Mamonova — recently exiled crowd. status of women in the USSR. from the USSR because of her Later that evening She pointed out how the many feminist views — was among Mamonova spoke to an even progressive provisions regar- con- the many people who braved larger gathering of people — ding women in the Soviet totally con- the chilly weather to show numbering 400 — at a dinner, stitution were reality of the solidarity and support for rally and social held at a local tradicted by the women's struggles around the Edmonton community centre. lives of women in the Soviet world. With cries of "Out from Although her statements were Union. And she shattered any had the kitchen, out from the sometimes badly translated and illusions people might have laws bedroom, out from under, simply misunderstood by some about recent Soviet from being women unite!"- and "Not the in the audience, those in atten- prohibiting women labour jobs Church, not the State, women dance listened attentively to her employed in heavy of problems facing (See text of Mamonova's must control their fate!" — the Mamonova (holding baloons) marches in Edmonton. account the demonstrators challenged the women in the USSR and her speech on the centerspread of this issue — throngs of Saturday shoppers violence against women, sexual women, were topics description of the activities of ed.) affecting Her speech was received to confront the many Issues that harassment, pornography, dis- that were also addressed by the feminists there. with warmth and interest, and directly affect women in our criminatory hiring practices various speakers. The slogans Mamonova made a point of the audience showed its ap- society today. and unequal payforequal work, on the placards reflected this identifying herself as a 'feminist' preciation by giving her a The spirited group march- were some of the issues raised diversity of concerns, ranging and not a 'dissident,' saying that dissident lengthy ovation.