LawrLawrencíanencían ChrChronicleonicle 20052005 The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas Vol. XVII Edith W. Clowes, Editor No.1 www.ku.edu/~slavic/ June 2005

Slavic Faculty Welcomes New Colleague in Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature

This fall we LC: Why did you decide to enter gradu- Goncharov. In addition, I consider both will welcome ate school in Slavic? ecclesiastical and secular texts of Old Professor Russian literature in order to create a Kerry Sabbag KS: After graduating from college I de- base for a broader consideration of the (PhD 2005, cided to take time off from academia in treatment of fame in literature. With the Brown) to the order to determine if it was the right path advent of Romanticism, many nine- Slavic Faculty for me. After working in an office en- teenth-century writers looked to at the Univer- vironment for several years, I learned a Russia’s cultural and historical past in sity of Kan- lot about time management, customer their quest to shape a national and per- sas. In order service, and how to handle non-aca- sonal identity. to acquaint demic stress. After a while, though, I In the nineteenth century Russian the KU com- found myself wanting new challenges, writers encountered what I call the West- munity with Professor Sabbag and her even hoping for a difficult problem or ern “fame text,” a tension-laden dis- work, the Lawrencian Chronicle con- confrontation, and realized how bored course comprised of Greek and Roman ducted an interview with her. I had become. Then I knew that I was values as well as Old and New Testa- ready to go back to academia in pursuit ment writings on earthly fame. By this LC: How did you become interested in of those challenges. time, Russians brought to the table their Russian? own strong “counter-tradition” born of LC: What are your main areas of inter- and shaped by their experience of East- KS: I knew in high school that when I est in teaching? ern Christianity. Ambiguous biblical got to college I wanted to study Rus- passages on earthly fame, writings of sian, probably because it seemed exotic. KS: I am particularly passionate about Western philosophers and religious During my senior year our final assign- language teaching, because it encour- thinkers—such as Augustine, Thomas ment for English class was to choose a ages creativity, presents challenges (no Aquinas, and the Protestant Reform- book (from a list) and write on it. Most matter how many times you’ve taught ers—suggested that praise or fame from of the class chose Albert Camus’ The the course), and allows students to bond one’s fellow man could be deemed vir- Stranger; as soon as I saw Anna with each other and the teacher. I’m tuous if based on good deeds that might Karenina on the list I knew it was time looking forward to teaching literature serve as an example to others and if to take the plunge into Russian litera- and culture-oriented classes at KU and God’s role in all acts was honored. Rus- ture. Once I figured out how to deal hope to have the opportunity to team- sian Orthodoxy never accepted this in- with all of the long, strange names, I teach a course someday. terpretation of the Gospel; instead vir- really enjoyed the book; that is, until I tue was forged through rejection of got to the end. I was absolutely devas- LC: Tell us a little bit about your dis- worldly deeds. tated by the final scene with Anna, and sertation. What are your main areas of My dissertation explores the ten- ran to my teacher to ask if maybe I had interest in research? sion between imported and native views read a bad translation or somehow not of fame in literary texts. In my view, a understood the scene. I think the im- KS: My dissertation addresses the im- number of religious concepts molded pression that moment of contrast be- portance of individual fame in Russian the Russian outlook—humility, an em- tween elation and despair made on me culture as expressed in literary texts. I phasis on the ephemeral nature of probably sealed my fate. I began study- work primarily with nineteenth-century earthly life, and the otherworldly, ascetic ing Russian language my first year in literature, a period of rapid change in ideal embodied in the monastic life, the college, and, as my interest grew, soon literary and cultural movements. My icon, and the figure of the “holy fool” discovered that I had become a Russian discussion incorporates a variety of au- (an ascetic figure who feigns madness major. thors, including Pushkin, Gogol, in order to reject social norms in favor Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Turgenev, and Continued page 6

1 Losses to the KU Slavic Family

Herbert Galton (1917-2004), professor in the Slavic published both in and the U.S. He served during the Department from 1962-1988, passed away on December 9, 1988–89 and 1989–90 academic years as a Fulbright visiting 2004. He received his PhD in 1951, and published extensively scholar, teaching Croatian language and literature at the on topics of Slavic synchronic and diachronic linguistics. His University of Kansas and University of Illinois at Champaign- Main Functions of the Slavic Verbal Aspect (Skopje, 1976) Urbana. His courses were extremely popular, which played a was ahead of its time. role in the exceptional renewal of his Fulbright contract for a second year. In the following years he collaborated with the Miljenko Kovacicek (1955–2004) Slavic Department as a summer-school teacher for the KU The Slavic Department lost a dear friend and colleague in Croatian language program in Zagreb under the auspices of December 7, 2004 when Miljenko Kovacicek passed away the Croatian Heritage Foundation. Since 2002 he served as a suddenly and unexpectedly at his home in Zagreb, Croatia. partner in developing a new summer Croatian-language Miljenko had worked since 1979 at the Center for Foreign program in Zagreb and Dubrovnik with the Center, KU Study Languages as a teacher of English and Croatian. He earned a Abroad and the KU Slavic Department. The latter program BA in English Language and Literature from the University has been particularly successful in the training of advanced of Zagreb in 1979 and completed an MA in American literature graduate students from many leading universities in the United in 1992, also from Zagreb University. His MA thesis concerned States, and Miljenko’s contributions will be greatly missed. Characters in the Novels of Saul Bellow for which he Miljenko leaves his wife, Mirna Jemric, and a teenage conducted interviews with Mr. Bellow in Chicago. Miljenko daughter, Ana. Mirna is currently preparing a bilingual edition was also a prominent poet and translator on the literary scene of Miljenko’s as yet unpublished poems. in Croatia whose translations of poetry both into Croatian and —MLG English have been widely acclaimed, and his poetry has been

AKO ME NE BUDE | IF I’M NOT HERE Miljenko Kovacicek

Ako me ne bude If I’m not here jedne …udesne ve…eri na moru one marvelous evening at the sea kad odlaze ribari s mrežama nade when the fishermen go out of their nets of hope neka samo odu nepomuƒene noƒi. just let them go out into the impassive night.

Ako mene bude If I am here recite im samo just tell them to neka tiho pletu vrijeme. plait the time quietly. Ja spavam. I’m sleeping.

A ako me bude And if they wake me jedne …udesne ve…eri na moru one marvelous evening at the sea kad odlaze ribari s mrežama nade when the fishermen go out with their nets of hope u njihove o…i into their eyes stavio bih zvijezde. I’d put stars.

English translation MLG*

* The poem was sent to Marc L. Greenberg by Mirna Jemric from Miljenko’s e-mail account the day following his death with the subject line “Good-bye from Miljenko.” In response to this touching farewell from a sensitive and talented poetic soul Marc offers this translation as his farewell to Miljenko.

2 SLAVIC HONORS RECEPTION April 6, 2005

Recognition for Excellence in Polish

Elementary Polish Intermediate Polish

Michael Johnson, Anna Slomka Albert Chmielewski, Professor Andrzej Karcz

Advanced Polish

Maria Kamanska, Professor Karcz Molly Mackinnon, Professor Karcz

In this issue:

New Faculty Welcome ... 1 Student News ...... 7 Faculty News ...... 8

Losses to KU Slavic ...... 2 Graduate Student News ... 7 Chairman’s Corner ...... 11

Honors Reception ...... 3-6 KU Alumni News ...... 7 Upcoming Events ...... 12

3 Recognition for Excellence in Croatian and Serbian Elementary Croatian and Serbian

Erin Moulton, Ms. Marta Pirnat-Greenberg Omur Yilmaz, Ms. Marta Pirnat-Greenberg

Intermediate Croatian and Serbian Advanced Croatian and Serbian

Kelly Knickmeier, Ms. Marta Pirnat-Greenberg Ms. Pirnat-Greenberg, Sidney Dement, Professor Steve Dickey

Recognition for Excellence in Ukrainian

Danon Park, Ms. Yaroslava Tsiovkh

Outstanding Graduate Students

Outstanding student in elementary Turkish: Eric De Rutherford.

Sidney Dement, Erin Moulton, Professor Stephen Parker

4 Recognition of Excellence in Russian Elementary Russian

Kelly Logan, Ms. Kelly Barringer, John Kuhn, Katie Loper, Heidi Mehl, Paul Szpyrka, Ms. Adrienne Harris-Boggess, Professor William Comer

Intermediate Russian

Danon Park, Alexander Melin, Robert Blaney, Ms. Yanina Grigorchuk, Professor Comer

Advanced Russian Fourth-Year Russian

Terri Pohl, Nathan Mack, Ms. Irina Fedyunina-Six Connor Klamann Bekah Heacock, Professor Edith Clowes (Joy Stortvedt was absent.)

DOBRO SLOVO Russian Honorary Society

Kurt Harper, Bekah Heacock, Terri Pohl, Professor Clowes

5 2005 Outstanding Alumnus Kurt Harper, Professor Clowes

Celebration of Joseph Conrad Collection

Galina Conrad, Belinda J. Schuman, Professor Marc Greenberg, Karla Conrad

New Colleague Continued from page 1 to serve God—through selfless action It may introduce you to interests you of the spiritual aspect of Christ’s teach- or quiet contemplation—and the silent never knew you had! ings). I believe that each of those con- icon that is truly seen with the heart cepts is inherently connected to the con- rather than the eye. LC: What is your favorite spot (or spots) cept of fame, as they address social and in Russia? ethical issues of recognition, bearing LC: Nationwide interest in Russian de- witness, understanding one’s place in clined after 1991. How do you see the KS: I feel most connected to Moscow. the world, presentation of self and per- future of Russian study in the US? I lived there for a year and therefore ception of others, and the value of one’s have memories of friends, events, and deeds. KS: I strongly believe that Russian lan- holidays that are all very much rooted guage and culture have an important role in the city. In 1992 I had the opportu- As a result of the interconnectedness of to play in U.S. colleges and universi- nity to see Lake Baikal in the early win- religion and culture in Russia, Russian ties. Every day I see students learning ter, and to this day it is the most beauti- literature emphasizes faith over reason, more about themselves and the world ful place I have ever been. I have taken intention over result, spiritual redemp- as a whole through the medium of lan- short trips to Petersburg, but would love tion over good acts, and, consequently, guage learning. In order to ensure a to get to know that region better. relatively less emphasis on the exter- position of importance in higher educa- nal—on appearance and social values, tion, Russian studies will have to main- LC: What do you like to do when you which are the building blocks of fame. tain and expand its place in interdisci- aren’t doing Russian? Hobbies, pas- We see this contrast in the religious and plinary studies. I support this approach times? cultural status of the holy fool, the cel- and look forward to playing a more ac- ebration of outward humiliation and in- tive role in making it happen. At the KS: Cycling, yoga, reading non-schol- ner glory, the perception of the earthly same time, however, the value of spend- arly Russian detective novels. Right realm as temporary and even unreal ing even one semester concentrating now, with finishing my dissertation, I compared to the heavenly realm, the specifically on a period of Russian lit- have only a vague memory of enjoying Orthodox monk’s conflict over how best erature should not be underestimated. these things!

6 Leann Keefe defended her PhD disser- tation “The Place and Pedagogy of STUDENT NEWS Reading in the Russian Language Cur- KU ALUMNI NEWS riculum,” in August 2004, and now works for the US Department of De- fense. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR Craig Barto (BA, 1976) writes that: 2005-2006 NELSON SCHOLAR, Kelly Knickmeier (MA, 2005) plans to “After retiring from a career as a Rebekah Heacock! pursue her PhD in Slavic at KU. cryptology and intelligence officer in the United States Navy, a field where my CONGRATULATIONS to our Winners Molly Mackinnon (MA, 2005) is look- degree obviously served me well, I am in the 2005 Russian Essay Contest spon- ing forward to taking a break from her now a professor of English at Charles- sored by the American Council of studies and devoting time to translating ton Southern University in Charleston Teachers of Russian!! Polish literature. SC. The course that I found most valu- Alexander Melin, 3rd place, Level 2, able and applicable in my career in the Non-Heritage Speaker Matt McGarry (BA, 1999, MA, 2004), intelligence community was Prof. Nathan Mack, 3rd place, Level 3, Non- who passed his PhD qualifying exams Stammler’s “Main Currents of Russian Heritage Speaker in Fall, 2004, and is now on his way to Thought.” the Slavic program at the University of CONGRATULATIONS to Slavic mi- Wisconsin to complete the PhD in Jared Carter (MA, 1999) reports that: nor, Lauren Stewart, for winning the Slavic Languages and Literatures. We “we moved back to the States about a Blakiston Memorial Fellowship for wish him good luck! year ago. I am working at Gold Bank $1000 from the KU Chapter of Phi in Kansas City. My title is Anti-Money- Kappa Phi. Erin Moulton (MA, 2005) looks for- Laundering Rep. It is a pretty good and ward to a year off before she continues interesting job. I make sure that all of on her way toward the PhD. the new customers of the bank are on Moving on: the up and up. I also monitor accounts James Sneed (BA, Slavic, May, 2005) Adrienne Harris Boggess (MA, 2001) and make sure that there is no fraud will be continuing at KU in pursuit of won an ACTR Research Scholar Fel- going on in the bank. It is interesting his MA in French. We hope to see him lowship, funded by the U.S. Department because no two days are the same, and around the Slavic Department, too! of State, Program for Research and I get to do quite a bit of research on ac- Training on Eastern Europe and the In- counts. One down side, however, is that Joy Stortvedt (BA, Slavic, May, 2005) dependent States of the Former Soviet I don’t get a chance to speak any Rus- plans to enter the University of Ne- Union (Title VIII) for a year of research sian at work, except when I talk on the braska in pursuit of her Masters in Li- in 2005-2006 in Moscow, St. Peters- phone with my wife. In September, we brary Science. burg, and Elabuga on the topic of her had another girl!! That makes three!! dissertation, “The Archetype of the We named her Amelia Nicole. She is a We wish both James and Joy the very Woman Warrior in Russian Literature really sweet girl. Our other ones are best of luck! and Culture.” doing well also. They are 4 and 2. Sometimes they are a real handful, but Michael Johnson was awarded a every now and then they are fun (just Fulbright-Hays Fellowship for 2005- kidding). Ira is staying home with them 2006 to pursue archival research in and enjoys the time that she gets to play GRADUATE STUDENT Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Penza on with them. Eden’s English is really NEWS his dissertation topic, “Of Suicides and coming along, and we have to get on Fairy Tales: Przybyszewski and the her about speaking Russian more at Russian Stage (1902-1912).” home. CONGRATULATIONS to our new I just hope that she won’t forget it. MAs and PhDs! Christina is picking up a hodge-podge of English and Russian. It is funny to Callie Barringer (BA 2002, MA 2005) hear her speak. She seems to understand is in the final stages of applying for a both pretty well . . . that is, when she job in government service. We wish her actually listens to us!!” all the very best in her further pursuits! Lindsey Collier (BA, 2004, Slavic and Sidney Dement (MA, 2005) plans to REES) emailed her “two favorite de- pursue his PhD in Slavic at KU. partments at KU” to say that: “I am leav-

7 ing in a few weeks to attend Middlebury Community College. I’ll be teaching versity. She reports that when she went College. There I will develop my lan- 1st-year Russian. I am so excited to be for her foreign language reading exam guage skills while working on my MA, teaching Russian again! in Russian, the secretary in the Math and hopefully I will be able to study at I have been busy creating a sylla- Dept. did a double take and mumbled RGGU in Moscow either this fall semes- bus and making lesson plans. I have something about how students “never ter or spring semester of 2006. I’m still been referring a lot to my notes from take the Russian exam”! Maureen fin- waiting to hear back about my financial the year I taught Russian at KU and am ished the exam with flying colors. She aid for the study abroad stretch, but I’ve finding them to be very helpful. All of now uses her Russian regularly in con- received a healthy grant for this sum- the information on language pedagogy versation with Russian speakers in the mer so I’m hoping that’s indicative of that is interspersed throughout my les- Math Dept. Maureen also remembers what I can expect for the school year.” son plans is very useful. I have a lot of that, as a math tutor at KU’s athletic preparation to complete, but I am really department, she spoke to basketball Agnieszka Critchlow (BA 2000, MA looking forward to the challenge.” Con- player Sasha Kaun when he came for a REES 2001) is currently a lecturer with gratulations, Mary! campus visit. At the athletic department the Institute of Linguistic and Prepara- she was credited with convincing Sasha tory Studies at Charles University, to come to KU! . She is also currently coordinat- ing the Fifth International Student Sym- posium to take place in late June in Prague.

Adrian Erlinger (BA, 2001, MA, FACULTY NEWS REES, 2003) wrote to us in November, 2004, from Ukraine: “I thought I would drop you a line amidst all of the politi- cal turmoil to let you know how I am This year Professor Maria Carlson doing. Many are comparing the current served as co-chair of the Department, political situation in Ukraine to the Vel- with Stephen J. Parker, while SLL Chair vet Revolution. Lech Walesa was just Prof. Marc L. Greenberg enjoyed his in Kyiv speaking with Yushchenko... much-deserved sabbatical. One of her Meanwhile, my wife and I are in L’viv major achievements this year is the glued to the television, listening to completion of a three-year, U.S. Depart- people in the streets shouting ment of Education “Technological In- ‘Yushchenko!’ and honking their horns novation and Cooperation for Foreign at 2 a.m. I had the wonderful, but ex- Information Access” (TICFIA) Grant. tremely challenging, experience work- Randy Masten (right) in Baghdad Prof. Carlson, Brad Schaffner (former ing as a translator with the OSCE Elec- Head of Slavics at KU Libraries, and tion Monitoring Mission on 31 Octo- Randy Masten, who studied Polish for now Head of the Slavic Collection at ber, the first round. I felt out of place, two years in the Slavic Department Harvard University), and Kirill but the mission went well. I also wrote while working on his MA at REES Fesenko, Eastview, received $255,000 a piece about the student movement, and (2003) wrote last December that: “I will to support the digitization of the you may read it on www.tol.cz. It’s a be headed to Iraq for one-year and will RosArkhiv guides to the 270-plus ar- little outdated, but I was glad to con- deploy in January. . . . My time at KU chives in Russia. Prof. Carlson and her tribute. Take care, and Slava Ukraini!” will prove to be very useful. I will serve colleagues presented the project at the as the liaison (LNO) between the 82nd TICFIA Conference in Charlottesville, Matthew Feeney (PhD, 2003) reports Airborne Division and the Polish Bri- VA, in April 2005. The entirely search- that: “I presented a paper in Slavic lin- gade. As the LNO, I will live with the able site, which will be hosted by KU’s guistics at the AATSEEL conference in Poles and work in their operations sec- Digital Library Initiative and mirrored Philadelphia in December, 2004, and a tion as a representative for the US and by Eastview and eventually RosArkhiv, paper in Russian linguistics (dialectol- the 82nd. It will be a great experience may be used at no cost by archival re- ogy) at the CARTA conference in San (all politics and political decisions sur- searchers both in the US and abroad. Antonio, at UTSA, in April, 2005”. rounding the war aside)”. We include a The site will be available in November photo above. Stay well, Randy! 2005. Mary (Hermanson) Greff (MA, 1999) writes that: “I just found out last week Maureen Morton (BA, 2003) has just Professor Edith Clowes spent summer, (after 7 months of waiting) that I got an finished her first year of graduate school 2004, with her family in Heidelberg, adjunct faculty position at Austin (TX) in mathematics at Michigan State Uni- . She held a grant from the

8 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch- Croatian Language in Zagreb and a Franklin Research Grant from the dienst for research with colleagues at the Dubrovnik. He presented “Where Does American Philosophical Society to con- University of Heidelberg. During her Metaphor End? The Development of duct fieldwork on the dialect of Upper stay she completed an article, “Con- Delimitative/Perfectivizing PO- in Rus- Carniola, . On a lighter note— structing the Memory of the Holocaust: sian” at the Perspectives on Slavistics Prof. Greenberg performed on guitar The Ambiguous Treatment of Babii Yar conference, Leuven, Belgium, 18 Sep- again this year in April with the in Soviet Literature” (to appear June, tember 2004 and chaired the “Parti- Mandofest Orchestra at Liberty Hall. 2005, in Partial Answers (Hebrew Uni- ciples” panel at the same conference. He His performance as departmental chair versity)). Co-organizing an international also gave a talk “Empty Prefixes and the will continue in fall, 2005. conference on “Vekhi (Landmarks, Grammaticalization of Slavic Aspect” 1909) and Russian Culture” at the Losev at the KU Linguistics Colloquium, 8 Professor Andrzej Karcz submitted for Archive in Moscow, planned for Octo- November 2004. His translation of publication two edited volumes. The ber 10-14, 2005, has been exciting and Borislav Pekiç’s How to Quiet a Vam- first is a collection of articles by vari- challenging, given the stricter rules on pire has just appeared with Northwest- ous American scholars titled applying for a Russian visa. Professor ern University Press. Polonistyka po ameryka½sku. Badania Clowes continues to serve as director nad literatur• polsk• w Ameryce of the faculty seminar on Philosophy Professor Marc Greenberg spent the Pó»nocnej 1990-2005 [Polish Literary and Literature at the Hall Center for the 2004-05 year on sabbatical working on Studies in North America 1990-2005], Humanities. Two highlights of this various projects connected with his re- representing recent North American year’s seminar were a visit in October search on Slavic historical linguistics. scholarship on Polish literature. This co- from Prof. Caryl Emerson (Princeton), Among them is a paper on the recon- edited book (with H. Filipowicz and T. who spoke to a large audience on the struction of pitch-accent in western Trojanowska) received $6,500 book “Post-Soviet Literature Wars,” and a South Slavic dialects, which he has been subvention and is scheduled for publi- symposium on the theory of emotions, invited to present at the International cation in 2005-2006 by the Institute of which included presentations from Prof. Workshop on Balto-Slavic Accentology Literary Studies of the Polish Academy Catherine Schwoerer, a psychologist at the University of Zagreb in July, 2005. of Sciences, Warsaw, . The sec- working in KU’s School of Business, He was also appointed to the editorial ond editing project is a book “Mój and philosophy doctoral student, Evan board of the new journal Croatica et wile½ski opiekun.“ Listy Czes»awa Kreider. Slavica Iadertina, the Croatian and Mi»osza do Manfreda Kridla (1946- Slavic journal of the University of 1955) [“My Guardian of Wilno”: The Professor William Comer and (Croatia). His paper “Dialect Variation Letters of Czes»aw Mi»osz to Manfred Meghan Murphy-Lee (PhD, 2003) along the Mura” on Croatian and Kridl (1946-1955)], presenting an in- coauthored the article, “Letter-Sound Slovene dialects is to appear in the in- valuable, and yet unknown, source of Correspondence Acquisition in First augural issue later in 2005. In October, information about the relationship of Semester Russian,” which appeared in 2004, at the Slovenian Slavic Congress two Polish intellectuals living and work- Canadian Slavonic Papers in 2004. He in Novo mesto, Slovenia, he was ing in postwar America. This volume shared his experience in re-designing awarded a plaque for “Outstanding has been scheduled for publication in the intermediate Russian sequence at Achievement in Slovene Studies” by the early 2005 by the Nicholas Copernicus KU in “Language Curriculum Design: Slavic Studies Society of Slovenia. He University Press in Poland. Rethinking Assumptions,” that appeared continues his work as editor of the jour- Among other endeavors, Prof. in the AAASS NewsNet in January 2005. nal Slovenski jezik/Slovene Linguistic Karcz published a book introduction to In addition to conference presentations, Studies which he co-founded with the recent new English language edition 2004 was his first year as chair of the Marko Snoj (Slovenian Academy of of one of the great classics of Polish lit- Program Committee for the AATSEEL Sciences) in 1995. He is preparing the erature, Quo Vadis by Henryk National Meeting in Philadelphia. In tenth-anniversary volume to appear in Sienkiewicz (Barnes & Noble Books, two more years he will be happy to pass June of this year. The volume will con- 2004). In December, 2004, Prof. Karcz the reins on. Professor Comer was also tain an important paper by departmen- served as a panel organizer and discus- very busy overseeing two remodeling tal colleague Prof. Stephen Dickey sant of the roundtable “Models of In- projects at the Ermal Garinger Aca- (s.n.). struction in Teaching Polish” and as a demic Resource Center. The Center During the fall semester Prof. panel organizer and chair of the “Issues now houses an entirely digital interac- Greenberg fundamentally rewrote his in Polish Literature and Culture” panel, tive “language lab” and has an expanded course Language and Identity in East- both held at the Annual Meeting of patron reception area (check out the pic- Central Europe and the Former Soviet AATSEEL in Philadelphia, PA. tures at: www.ku.edu/~egarc). Union. In connection with this project Prof. Karcz has continued to direct he has been teaching himself Yiddish, the KU Summer Polish Study Abroad Professor Stephen Dickey began di- which Paul Wexler calls “the 15th Slavic Program in Krakow, Poland. As in pre- recting the KU Summer Program for language.” In spring 2005 he received vious years, he also organized lectures,

9 film presentations, and other events, workshop in her classroom throughout essary to familiarize them with the U.S. such as a music recital combined with a this academic year, creating many new system of modern language teaching for lecture on Chopin, for the KU Polish teaching materials based on authentic the undergraduate and graduate students Club. The KU Polish Website texts for the beginning and intermedi- so as to develop a more uniform ap- (www.ku.edu/~polish) lists, among ate B/C/S courses. proach to be used by the Ukrainian lan- other things, all the recent and upcom- guage instructors in both universities. ing events of the Club. Everyone is in- For Dr. Yaroslava Tsiovkh, Instructor, At her students’ request, she also vited to attend the meetings. Ukrainian language and literature, developed a new course, “Similarities 2004-05 was a productive year. In con- and Differences in Ukrainian and Rus- junction with the publication of her book sian Language” specifically for those Ms. Marta Pirnat-Greenberg re- Modern Ukrainian with a Focus on students who have already taken Inter- ceived a teacher stipend from the Euro- Civilization, Dr. Yaroslava Tsiovkh mediate and Intensive Ukrainian but pean Studies Consortium (University of made a promotional tour at the invita- want to continue their studies in Ukrai- Minnesota) to attend CARLA summer tion of the Ivan Franko National Uni- nian linguistics. institute workshop Developing Materi- versity of L’viv, Ukraine. The trip was As part of her CREES service, Dr. als for Less Commonly Taught Lan- funded by the U.S. Department of State Tsiovkh gave a brown-bag talk on “Nug- guages. At this week-long workshop Freedom Support Act grant for the KU- gets of Ukrainian Folk Art.” In the Kan- (University of Minnesota, August 2-6, LU institutional exchange. During the sas City community, Dr. Tsiovkh worked 2004) she gained a number of new ideas visit she had the opportunity to meet as an interpreter for the Program of Edu- for the use of authentic materials at all with LU colleagues and to coordinate cation Administration sponsored by the levels of language instruction and de- with them specific techniques and meth- United States Department of State Bu- veloped a packet of shareable B/C/S ods of teaching practical Ukrainian in reau of Educational and Cultural Affairs teaching materials, which are available conformity with the strategies employed when a group of 10 educators from on CARLA’s website: http:// in the book, as well as professional dis- Ukraine came on a two-week training www.carla.umn.edu/lctl/materials/b-s-c/ cussions of the curriculum for all levels and exchange program arranged by the summary.html. She has been success- of the Ukrainian language teaching. This International Visitors Council of Greater fully using the skills and ideas from the exchange with LU colleagues was nec- Kansas City.

2005 Prague Winter Institute

Standing L-R: L. Rahjes, J. Kocherov, E. Tanke, C. Cha, A. Long, R. Straka, L. Barber, E. Morissey. Seated L-R: B. Weintraub, L. Kimmel, J. Sheldon-Sherman, A. Harris-Boggess, C. Grimwood, E. Clowes

10 ated by us all, both for continuing to to cover our geographical bailiwick for Chairman’s Corner keep our unit prominent in the field and the foreseeable future. for bringing to the classroom the fruits I would be remiss if I failed to point of their original insights. out that, as has been the trend for some While the Department continues to time, the distinction between public and Maria Carlson and Stephen J. serve its primary function as a compre- private universities continues to blur. Parker, co-chairs during my sabbatical hensive Slavic Department, with We are continually and increasingly leave this year, shepherded the Depart- courses in Russian literature, Slavic lan- dependent on the generosity of donors ment through a busy and challenging guages, and Slavic linguistics, it has also who value our educational mission. So year. The Department and I owe them a adapted to the times by meeting demand many of our friends and alumni have great debt for selflessly sharing their for the mentoring in language pedagogy continued to donate to our Department, considerable administrative experience and providing instruction in languages even in this economically challenging and expertise during this time. Their critical to U.S. security needs. Sadly, time, that it is nearly impossible to keep success in ensuring the future well-be- this spring we say good-bye to Ms. up with the thank yous owed to all these ing of the Department is in part reflected Berna Örge, our Turkish lecturer, who individuals. (Not that I am not trying!) in the hire of a new faculty member, is returning to Turkey with her husband This support is meaningful: this year it Kerry Sabbag, a recent Brown Ph.D., and son. We wish her success in her fu- has helped us hire students to sort and who was chosen from a field of superb ture endeavors and hope that she will catalogue books for the Conrad Collec- candidates. You have read about her in- stay in touch; we will miss her presence tion and to reward student excellence terests elsewhere in this issue, so no very much. But our commitment to (Slavic books, recordings). We continue need to reiterate them here. We are look- Turkish will continue next year with to save most of the funds, however, in ing forward to welcoming her, and we another Turkish lecturer who will also the hope that, eventually, we will be able and our students look forward to the become part of the contingent of fine to provide outright scholarship funding many contributions she will make to our language teachers in Wescoe Hall. We to select students to further their stud- mission. I look forward to taking the continue to monitor the needs of the ies. To all those who have sent in checks reins again in Fall 2005 and hope that I country as we plan for the future. We earmarked for Slavic Department pro- will be able to serve at least as capably have watched carefully the develop- grams, I extend a heartfelt thank you on as my colleagues – it will be a hard act ments in the EU, which expanded in behalf of our faculty and students. to follow. 2004 with the addition of several of the Please continue your support and en- I needn’t belabor the point about countries some of whose languages we courage other like-minded friends and the continued productivity of our excel- teach, including Polish and Slovene. colleagues to do the same. lent faculty, whose exploits you have Croatia cannot be far behind. KU con- also read about in this issue. It is no tinues to offer unparalleled opportuni- small thing to keep up a steady research ties within the Plains states to study the program when the tasks of teaching and languages and cultures of Slavs and service make up a full-time job by them- other peoples of the former Soviet selves. Their efforts are much appreci- Union. All told, we are well positioned

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• Zagreb & Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik, & Zagreb •

• Krakow, Poland Krakow, • (George Mason U.) on Tolstoy on U.) Mason (George

Monday , Mar , ch 27, 2006, 2006, 27, ch John Burt Foster, Jr. Foster, Burt John

Studies in L’viv, Ukraine L’viv, in Studies

• Ukrainian Language & Area & Language Ukrainian •

Januar y 3-14, 2006 3-14, y , Winter Institute in Prague in Institute Winter ,

• University of St. Petersburg St. of University •

“Die Fledermaus,” Czech Opera, Prague Opera, Czech Fledermaus,” “Die

Saturday , October , 22, 2005, 7:30 p.m., p.m., 7:30 2005, 22, Lied Center, Lied

Abroad Programs Abroad

UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING 2005-2006 Summer Study Summer 2005-2006

The University of Kansas The Lawrencian Chronicle Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures Wescoe Hall PAID 1445 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 2133 Lawrence, KS 66045-7590 Lawrence, KS Permit No. 65

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