STUDENT 1979 January
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2 5 CENTS CANADA'S NEWSPAPER FOR UKRAINIAN STUDENTS Canadian University Press conference Nestor Makuch STUDENTaff iliates with student press STUDENT has tentatively been granted prospective membership status in the Canadian University Press (CUP). ( A motion, made upon the recommendation of an eight-person membership commission, to admit STU- DENT to CUP as a prospective member was passed by the plenary session of the one hundred seventy representatives from forty-seven different member newspapers attending the 41 st National CUP Conference, held in Edmonton from 26 December 1978 to 3 January 1979. However, in the last hours of the two-day plenary another motion presented by several members made Chevron issue has a lengthy history of Conference to insure that the Imprint STUDENT'S admission conditional two and one half years, and has would be able to uphold CUP's prin- upon the approval of the CUP National dominated the last two CUP National ciples. Executive, which is to examine Conferences. The matter came to a head 'Prospective membership" status is STUDENT'S application in greater detail at this year's conference following the essentially a 'probationary' period of and announce its decision by 31 March membership commission's examination membership during which the 1979. The motion passed the plenary on of the proceedings of a CUP investiga- newspaper involved enjoys all rights ancl the grounds that the initial debate on tion commission which had investigated obligations of full CUP members, except STUDENT'S admission had not been as charges that the Chevron had violated for voting privileges, for up to one year. intensive as it should have, and that CUP's statement of principles by con- At the end of the prospective some members did not have enough travening provisions for a democratic membership period, the newspaper may information available on the operation. be granted full membership by a two- newspaper's operation to make a The' charges maintained that the thirds vote of the National Conference. carefully considered decision on the Chevron was dominated by members of Canadian University Press is a issue, despite the membership com- the Communist Party of Canada cooperative organization of sixty Cana- mission's report which was based on a (Marxist-Leninist) who harassed, dian university student newspapers who written application from STUDENT and manipulated and intimidated other staff pool their resources to provide services a questioning of a STUDENT delegation members, and refused to accept any that they, as individual publications, consisting of two members of the dissenting opinion After seven days of would be unable to operate. These editorial board and two staff members. heated debate between delegates, the services are aimed at facilitating ex- This second motion came in the membership commission recommended change between student newspapers, coordinating and dis- aftermath of an extremely bitter debate to the final plenary session that the by instigating, on the status of one of CUP's members, Chevron be immediately expelled from seminating information among the the University of Waterloo Chevron. The CUP. Three hours of debate followed member papers and strengthening in- dividual members. and at its conclusion the plenary voted a wealth of overwhelmingly in favour of the As well as providing Chevron'^ expulsion. resource persons and materials on the organization and operation of a It is not surprising then that CUP provides its members members would prefer to have as newspaper, CUP which offers a complete a picture as possible of any with a "News Exchange" INSIDE service (news prospective member's operation before twice weekly print news coverage of the countries campuses and Films p. 1 granting admission to CUP, if only to national and provincial affairs), a feature avoid a repetrtion of the Chevron issue at articles Dissidents .. pp. 1 & 8 some luture date. service (feature-length originating with member papers or a major factor in the delay of Rebuttals p. 3 contributors and dealing with STUDENT'S admission was the denial of outside issues and trends), a Women p. 4 & 6 prospective membership status to the major student (graphics assembled was set up a graphics service Makhno p. 9 Imprint, a newspaper which few months ago on the University of Academia p. 5 Waterloo campus as an alternative to the (CUP continued on page 11) Chevron, on the basis that enough information was not available at the ' Andnj Makuch A new dimension for Ukrainian-Canadian history New films portray pioneer struggle In 1977 some notable works about Ukrainian Canadians — such as All of Baba's Children and No Streets of Gold — were published. They generated a considerable degree of excitement and con- troversy, and set in motion a new creative current in the Ukrainian community. Still, the printed word is a relatively passive medium com- pared to the moving image. Thus, the 1978 advent of such films as Teach Me To Dance and 1927, both recently screened on national television, can be seen only as another major advance. Both films are gems, and each has its particular appeal — Teach Me To Dance to the heart and 1927 to the mind. The former perhaps has met with a more favourable response due to its simplicity, charm, and warmth. The latter piece, a darker, more brooding piece, has met with criticism for its severity and even its authenticity. A frequently made comment about it has been "was it actually realistic?" ivan Lypa (Kenneth Pogue) painfully remembers an embarrassing incident which helps {"Cny virno prydstavaly"!) Ironical- his identity for an old age pension to Nancy Dean (Diane D'Aquila) in the 7927 ly, many of us will never really know prove how authentic either film was. episode ot the Newcomers. instead, it is films such as these Theatre 1980. The cycle is Imperial's boost which are building the "reality" of Ewasiuk and twelve year old Nadia location. The Capitol with an overwhelmingly to "Canadian understanding' onich our history, or at least our percep- Ostashewski as Lesia. overflowed Ukrainian crowd (a large proportion means "national unity" more of less. tion of it. The real star, however, is Myrna the nearby farming The films have no formal narrative Teach Me To Dance is a twenty- Kostash who wrote the script- drawn from enough). The links; instead, they attempt to eight minute drama produced by reach Me To Dance is a notable areas, interestingly of January 1979 itself well received, but, portray "the common ground the National Film Board {NFB). It i- departure from All of Baba's show was with this country" the most telling sign of its success experience in and Volume 11, No. 52 the story of two young girls, Lesi, Children — it is Kostash depicting if which "the newcomers," or .ne Ewasiuk and Sarah Evans, who plai the Ukrainian-Canadian past was the comment made by many that the kids successive waves of immigrants to perform a Ukrainian dance at the without priests, police, or old-timers: "It's good 7927 is a challenging to live saw in Canada. The ultimate aim ot work Christmas concert in their rural politicians. Her'main focus is the can see what we had this venture is to demonstrate that written by the well-known "anti- Alberta school. However, the year is biggest and most obvious "p" — through." bridg- establishment" playwright George is part ot "The New- "cultural differences are best 1919 and Ukrainians are held in low prejudice It might be said that Ms. 1927 by Im- ed by cultural means," a ratherone- Ryga. It is the story of Ivan Lypa, a esteem by the more "proper" Kostash has inverted the coat she comers" series sponsored The series of dimensional view which implies a tough-skmned sixly-eight year old elements of the community. Pre- wore for Baba's Children. In the perial Oil of Canada. films depicts the simplistic meaning of culture and Ukrainian immigrant being in- judice upsets the girls' plan, and the former she spoke from a Canadian seven one-hour Canada by different carries propagandist overtones vestigated by a social worker for his Christmas concert the Ewasiuk perspective to a Ukrainian issue; in habitation of and will cost with it. Fortunately, the purpose pension application Official family had so anxiously awaited Teach Me To Dance she seems to ethnic minorities, approximately four million behind the commissioning of these ends up as a fiasco. To make things address the Canadian question Imperial (PIONEER STRUGGLE production costs and air works does not detract from their worse, Lesia's brother. Paul, is from a Ukrainian perspective. Her dollars for in value, especially in the case of 1927. time it is completed provoked into a fight, and their case is strong and presented in a time by the continued on page 10) father joins in the fray, almost direct and undoctrinaire manner. It striking the school trustee, Mr. seems a simple story, yet it had Evans 'Sarah's father). As in so undergone numerous re-drafts many instances, (he melee ends which toned its of The dissident down resentment struggle unresolved — but with the English the English and changed the film's Stefan still firmly in control. The only hope nuances. A most telling example is emykivs'ky left is for the future and the girls the ending where Lesia and Sarah claims another victim resolve their differences on English are reconciled In the original script Christmas dancing their Snehirov's book makes an impor- Day, duet the Ewasiuk family is huddled in The dissident Ukrainian writer cical, hypocritical nature of the privately as an ode to friendship and illegal tant contribution to the sparse isolation around their Ukrainian Helii (Yevhen) Snehirov died in Kiev proceedings and the harmony.