CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011.Indd

CREES Newsletter CENTER FoR RuSSiAN, E AST EuRopEAN & EuRASiAN STuDiES FALL 2011 CoNTENTS LETTER FRoM ThE DiRECToR

O�� W��: Dear Friends and Colleagues, the Spencer Museum of Art. We say “good-bye” but not E�� “farewell” to Bill and look forward to seeing him from time As I welcome you back from sum- to time in the halls of Bailey. S�� mers full of travel, study, reading, 2 writing, and research, I start by let- It is a great pleasure to welcome several new faculty and ting you know that there is good staff joining the CREES community. Professor Ani Kokobobo S�� CREES news and bad news. We’ll get (PhD Columbia University) comes to the Slavic Department T�� A��! through the bad news fi rst. as an assistant professor in nineteenth-century Russian literature. Professor Alex Diener (PhD University of Wisconsin) 3 As you may already know, the National Resource Center will join the Geography Department fall, 2012, after a year budgets for 2011-12 were sliced 46.5%. What that means of Fulbright-funded research in Kazakhstan and elsewhere F�� I��: for CREES is that, with the help of the dean of CLAS and in Central Asia. In March Adrienne Landry (MA, REES, Co- R�� the provost, CREES will be able to fulfi ll its teaching contracts lumbia University) joined the CREES team as both outreach but not much else. CREES has been forced to cut all Title VI 4 coordinator and program assistant. In May Cathy Swenson- funded programs, including: foreign language and area study Tucker became our new CREES accountant and offi ce man- curriculum development; library development for Slavic and F�� T��: ager after many years working in the Offi ce of Study Abroad. I�� Eurasian collections, which are used by all of us and by fac- C�� A�� ulty and students far beyond the walls of KU; CREES’s web The good news from last spring includes CREES’s new three- development expert, who works on the Slavic Great Plains year grant from the Institute of Turkish Studies to expand the �� C�� W�� E�� website, as well as archiving all CREES talks, conferences, and lectureship in Turkish language from an 0.5 FTE position to 8 pedagogical materials, making them universally available; sup- a 0.75 FTE position. The goal is to expand Turkish language port for the Russia’s Great War and Revolution web project; enrollments and to create a 3rd-year language course and O�� the visiting lecturer position in Russian Military History; fac- a junior-senior level course in Turkish literature and culture. H�� ulty travel and other support to disseminate new research; This past spring and summer saw a number of notably suc- visiting lecturers; K-12 teacher conferences and curriculum 10 cessful programs. April 1 CREES and Ft. Leavenworth’s For- development support; research conferences for the dissemi- eign Military Studies Offi ce spearheaded the second annual nation of cutting-edge area- and language-relevant research; B�� security conference on “Migration, Shadow Economies, and the CREES Fellows program, which supports researchers H�� Security Issues on the World’s Borders.” All the internation- from regional two- and four-year colleges and universities to al and area studies centers participated, and the attendance 12 conduct research using KU’s Slavic and Eurasian collections was nearly double that of the fi rst security conference. ...not to mention offi ce supplies of any kind. F�� S�� Another high point of the spring was the Slavic Department- On behalf of the whole CREES community, I express my N�� CREES partnership with the School of Music on a two-day deepest gratitude to Dean Anderson and Provost Vitter for Russian Culture Festival in conjunction with the Tariverdiev 14 support from the KU side, so that we were able, in the end, Organ Competition at KU’s Bales Organ Recital Hall. to secure all our instructional lines for 2011-12. Without A�� N�� their generous help, we would have had to cut instructor The Alash Ensemble music residency in April was an excit- 15 salaries. It means a great deal that our higher administration ing three-day fl urry of events around throat singing. CREES came to our aid. That expression of confi dence in our pro- collaborated with the Lawrence Arts Center, the School S�� N�� grams bodes well, when and if KU area studies centers have of Music, CEAS, LASC, CGIS, KASC, and the Offi ce of In- 16 the chance to apply for another Title VI grant. ternational Programs to bring the ensemble of four throat singers and their American manager from Tuva in South- In the meantime, we need your help! Please visit our “Save Central Siberia. The fi rst evening, Alash collaborated with I�� REES CREES, Take Action!” (page 3) and join our letter writing the Lawrence Arts Center’s 940 Dance Company for a G�� S�� campaign. Let your representatives in Washington know special concert featuring “Whispering River.” 940 Dance why CREES is important to you, and why it is vital they 17 Company Director Susan Rieger had heard Alash Ensemble restore Title VI funding for 2012-13. during their March, 2010, visit to KU. Inspired by their music, C�� E�� In other news, as always, we have had various faculty and she choreographed two dances from two of their songs. 18 staff comings and goings. We bid farewell to Professor The theme of the joint performance was environment and Afshin Marashi, who is leaving KU for a professorship in nature in Central Asia. Middle East history at the University of Oklahoma. We wish him well and hope to see him here at future events. In April The second evening, Alash gave a standing room only con- Lisa Guilian, CREES Program Assistant, left to have her baby, cert at the Lawrence Arts Center. Rumor has it that directly www.facebook.com/ Christian. Congratulations Lisa and Jon! In May Bill London, after the concert the Alash Ensemble’s CD was already ku.crees CREES’s intrepid offi ce manager of 6 years, took a new, and playing at the popular Lawrence café, The Bourgeois Pig. much bigger, job as the director of internal operations at Read more about their activities on page 11. Center for Russian, east european & eurasian studies Bailey Hall |1440 Jayhawk Boulevard, Room 320 | lawrence Ks 66045 | (785) 864-4236 | Fax (785) 864-3800 | crees.ku.edu May saw a successful Oral Profi ciency Interview work- our page, you will receive posts of upcoming CREES shop hosted by CREES and sponsored by KASC and events, job announcements, calls for papers, funding op- CREES Needs youR help! CREES stAFF CEAS. Two Open World grants brought to Kansas Russian portunities, and interesting news from the region. SAVE Save Title Vi international Education programs delegations in higher education administration and in ener- Mark your calendars for the CREES Mixer Friday, Septem- Federal funding to KU’s International Stud- reduction in language teaching, it will be necessary for CREES to curtail gy and environmental administration. Both were a success. edith cloWes ber 9, at the Lawrence Visitors Center. Inside you will fi nd CREES ies centers has been drastically cut for the programmatic activities including guest lectures, conferences, teacher Thanks to Bart’s efforts, we have made many new friends director a calendar of upcoming events. Among them is this fall’s 2011-12 fi scal year. workshops, and reduce the number of staff working for CREES who in the Lawrence community who were kind enough to Backus Lecturer, Timothy Snyder, author of the much-ac- make all these activities possible. In 2012, it is possible FLAS Fellow- [email protected] host our Russian visitors in their homes. TAKE Under the 2011 Full-Year Continuing Resolu- claimed Bloodlands, who will be speaking Thursday, Sept. 22. ships will be affected as well. tion (H.R. 1473) enacted April 15, the De- Over the summer we worked hard to make the CREES ACTION Despite severe budget cuts we look forward to a lively partment of Education’s Title VI/Fulbright- Title VI programs are the portals through which Americans gain expert knowl- Mariya oMelicheva website more user-friendly. Be sure to check out the new for- semester of “Identity and Community After the Cold War Hays International Education programs have been cut by a devastating edge of critical languages and cultures of the world, thereby becoming less mat of our video page at: www.crees.ku.edu/news_events/ associate director Era” fall events tailored toward understanding the world $50 million (or 40%) for the current fi scal year. National Resource Cen- fearful and more pro-active in their interactions with other peoples. These Videos.shtml. Take a look at the new Outreach section and after the fall of communism. August 25-27 all the area and ters, like CREES, were hit with a signifi cantly larger budget reduction of programs are of high importance because they serve as the training ground [email protected] search our curriculum development materials by subject at: international studies centers will be holding a conference 46.53%. While it is understood that our nation faces diffi cult economic for future specialists working for US Government, business, and NGOs. www.crees.ku.edu/~crees/outreach/lesson_plans.shtml based on this theme. If you would like to attend, please times and austerity measures are necessary, a 46.53% reduction to the Help save CREES by taking action! Please write your Members of Con- Bart redFord We have increased our activity on Facebook. If you “like” register at: [email protected]. All are welcome! CREES grant does more than trim the fat from our budget. It cuts deep gress now and ask them to restore funding for these programs in the into the bone of the resources CREES and other NRCs provide. assistant director Edith W. Clowes, Director, CREES FY 2012 appropriations bill. Please feel free to use the sample letter [email protected] If the cuts continue in 2012, CREES will have no option but to re- below, or go to the National Humanities Alliance Online Action Center opEN WoRLD pRogRAM duce the number of languages currently available at KU. Consider- and sign their petition: http://tinyurl.com/3ptr2ay. On this website, the E�� S�� ing languages like Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian and Tajik, all of which are Alliance has set up a template message for you to customize, including cathy sWenson-tucKer supported by CREES, are currently listed as “critical” by the US State sample bullet points. We strongly encourage you to personalize this accountant Department, reducing access to learning these languages is more than message. Tell Congress, in your own words, why CREES along with all [email protected] just an eductional issue, it is a national security concern. Along with the the other Title VI/Fulbright Hays programs are important to you. Save CREES. Take action!

adrienne landry Dear Congressman, outreach coordinator I am writing to ask for your urgent support in restoring funding for the Dept. of Contact info prograM assistant Education’s Title VI/Fulbright-Hays programs, funded under the International Kansas senators: [email protected] Education and Foreign Language account. Under the 2011 Full-Year Continuing Jerry Moran Resolution (H.R. 1473), these programs have been cut by a devastating $50 million (or 40%). Six of the fourteen grant competitions scheduled for 2011 have been Russell Senate Offi ce Building JaKe poterBin cancelled, four programs are zeroed and other key programs are being cut by over Room 354 digital coMMunications 50%. Washington, D.C. 20510 Manager Please help save these programs by asking Appropriations Committee and Labor/ Phone: (202) 224-6521 HHS/Ed Subcommittee leaders to restore funding for existing programs in the Fax: (202) 228-6966 Department’s International Education and Foreign Language Studies account in the www.moran.senate.gov/public/ FY 2012 appropriations bill to the FY 2010 enacted level of $125.9 million - the Pat Roberts student assistant: same amount requested in the President’s FY 2012 Budget. Hart Senate Offi ce Building Ben King Open World delegates test the power generation capabilities of a stationary bike at the Bowersock Dam in Lawrence. - The 14 IEFLS programs form the core infrastructure of the federal government’s Room 109 investment in advancing both broad global literacy for our citizens, and ensuring a June 18-26, 2011, CREES hosted a delegation from Russia as part of the Open World Program. Managed by the pipeline of expertise for government, business, and non-proﬁ t sectors. Washington, D.C. 20510 independent Open World Leadership Center, Open World is designed to enhance understanding and capabili- Phone: (202 224-4774 ties for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia by developing a network of leaders - These programs play an important role in supporting our nation’s long-term Fax: (202) 224-3514 in the region who have gained signifi cant, fi rst-hand exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government national security, global leadership, economic competitiveness, as well as mutual CRees is designated a national and free-market system. Funded almost entirely by the US Congress, Open World links Members of Congress understanding and collaboration around the world. www.roberts.senate.gov/public/ Resource Center for the study to Eurasian leaders and is an instrument for Americans engaged in citizen diplomacy. - They support comprehensive language and area study centers, international busi- Kansas representative: of Russia, eastern europe and The June delegation, which was the second group hosted by CREES in 2011, was composed of Russian environ- eurasia by the us Department ness centers, research and curriculum development, opportunities for American mental administrators and activists interested in learning US best practices for environmental sustainability. The fi ve students and scholars to study and conduct research abroad, activities to increase Kevin Yoder, 3rd District of education, and receives title delegates met with representatives of the Lawrence City Waste Reduction and Recycling Division, and toured a the number of underrepresented minorities in international service, and outreach to 214 Cannon HOB vi funds for educational and number of Lawrence facilities. The delegates also toured Westar’s LEED Silver-Certifi ed Lawrence Service Center. outreach activities. the center Other meetings included visits with KU units, local environmental NGOs and private fi rms focused on environ- K-12 schools, higher education institutions, business, government and the public. Washington, DC 20515 is a degree-granting program mental management. One day of their visit was spent in Topeka, meeting with the representatives of KU’s Center Instruction is provided in over 130 languages and 10 world areas, with emphasis Phone: (202) 225-2865 within the College of liberal for Public Management and touring the Kansas Statehouse. They journeyed to Greensburg, Kansas, to tour this on the less commonly-taught, strategic languages and areas of the world. Most of Fax: (202) 225-2807 arts and sciences at the uni- small town, rebuilt as a model green community after a devastating tornado in 2007. To see a complete photo these languages would not be regularly taught but for this support. versity of Kansas. For further album of this visit, check out our gallery at: https://picasaweb.google.com/ku.crees/. I urge you to help maintain our nation’s international education capacity, which has information about CRees, For contacting members of please visit our website: Inspired by the success of this visit, CREES will commit to meeting the standards for KU Sustainability Center’s taken decades to build, through the IEFLS programs. Green Offi ce Program. The Green Offi ce program recognizes campus departments and offi ces that are making an congress from other states, visit effort to reduce environmental impacts and create a more sustainable workplace. Sincerely, the congressional directory at: www.crees.ku.edu As part of this effort, CREES will reduce the number of CREES Newsletters printed and focus primarily on electronic distribu- tion. Not only will this help CREES meet its new limited budget due to Title VI budget cuts, it will also reduce our environmental Your Name www.contactingthecongress.org impact. Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! 2 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 3 of behavior.’ I remember my parents eventually Not only did the structure of our formal politi- ing, everything was out of order, and it was not RETRoSpECTiVE: 20 yEARS SiNCE ThE FALL oF ThE uSSR told me that I didn’t have to wear a uniform cal institutions dissolve, but also the very aes- completely clear when the new system would P�� P�� M�� or a tie, but for some time I was still holding thetic of our everyday life changed drastically. start working or if it would even be a good In a century of momentous events, the collapse of the Soviet Union was the fi nishing bang. 2011 marks twenty years since the dissolution of the on to it because it was part of my life, part of People no longer had to follow the same rules, system. We went from being one of the world my everyday routine, and part of what was still they started wearing different clothes, schools strongest powers – the country that was set- USSR, and those of us connected to this area of the world will long be studying the reasons for its demise and wondering why Sovietologists important to me. no longer required uniforms, kids didn’t look ting the highest standard for others – to an could not see it coming. We in the United States and the 15 Republics of the former Soviet Union continue to search for identity – for who we the same anymore, and old foods disappeared infant who had to learn how to walk again. For an ordinary Ukrainian family, the early are and what our role is now that the Cold War is over.” While answers to these questions differ, one observation universally acknowledged is from the shelves of grocery stores, replaced by 1990’s were a time of change, challenge, and For many people it was a time of searching for that this event changed the world forever and is inextricably linked to the creation of our contemporary world. cheap imported goods. Gradually everything staying together to survive the drastic conse- new values and new identity, with some people just started looking different. In this edition of the CREES Newsletter, we view the events leading up to the dissolution of the Soviet Union from the perspective of KU affi liates quences of the economic collapse. The future trying to hold on to the past as much as they who were born and grew up in various locations throughout the USSR. We asked each of them what it was like to grow up in the Soviet Union was uncertain, and many things that seemed In general, I think we wanted the change. We could, while others changing forever who they and how big a role the Cold War played in their upbringing. We also invited them to refl ect on the August 1991 coup, where they were when important not that long ago, had suddenly and looked forward to enjoying more freedom and were and what they believed in. It’s interesting they fi rst heard of the collapse of the Soviet Union, what their response was, and what concerns they had for the future. What we discover is completely lost their signifi cance. As the power having the ability to make individual rather to me that just as in earlier times of Ukrainian that change, even positive change, is fraught with turmoil, and the creation of new identity is by no means an easy feat. And while this event may of the Soviet Union dissolved, people realized than collective choices. At the same time we history, ordinary Ukrainian families survived have been global, it was also uniquely personal. In the following vignettes we hear stories from KU affi liates from Ukraine, Russian, Lithuania and it was time for making their own choices and were also hit by the realization that the pow- the downfall and crisis of the 1990s by staying Georgia, each with their unique glimpse of how this event changed lives forever. decisions since there was no strong and sus- erful Soviet machine wasn’t so powerful, that together and supporting each other. That is tainable state system to rely on anymore. our factories and industries had been collaps- one national identity that has never changed.

Name: Alisa Moldavanova Occupation: PhD Candidate Name: Asst Professor Mariya Omelicheva City of Birth: Odessa, Ukraine Occupation: CREES Associate Director UKRAINE KU Afﬁ liation: Department of Public Administration City of Birth: Cherepovets, Russia RUSSIA KU Afﬁ liation: Department of Political Science

summer. Yes, I had very few choices, but I learned ever, those problems were not linked to the big- dent country when it was a common national of our reality, although acceptance occurred ger picture of the existence and, then, dissolution theme to search for lost identity, but even then on many different levels for different people. to value what I had and appreciate the opportu- of the Soviet Union. They just suddenly happened we did not talk much about the Famine. nities I was offered. I enjoyed kid things, like a new I remember that my teachers held a very con- school bag or a ticket to summer camp. and we all had to deal with them. There was a lot of ceremony to growing up servative position regarding Ukraine’s Inde- in the Soviet Union, and for a child it was not pendence Referendum. One of my teachers As for the Cold War, I don’t think I was even I think it was several years after the breakup of the always clear what some things meant. For in- gave a speech in front of the entire class say- aware about the term until it ended. I was ex- Soviet Union that I fi nally realized that I lived in stance, joining the organization of Oktyabryata ing that it was time for our parents to make posed to fl owery pro-Soviet propaganda that Russia, not in the USSR any more. It’s important to (grades 1-3 of public school), or joining the a choice, and she hoped that it would be the was helping the government bring us up in a remember that most people in the Soviet Union spirit of patriotism and love for country. There had very low mobility. We were born and lived I was 12 years old when the Soviet Union col- Young Pioneers (grade 4) involved ceremonial right choice – that our parents would choose was, however, very little fear-mongering about in the same place, rarely traveling or moving to lapsed, so as a child I was exposed to certain activities with substantial emotional content unity and stability over disintegration and I will begin with an important caveat. The mind is the United States. The name of US President different parts of the USSR. My level of knowl- ideological elements associated with growing and even pathos. Teachers worked hard to mess. I remember coming home and feeling a tricky thing when trying to remember events Ronald Reagan had a negative con- up in the USSR. For starters, I was raised in a try and explain why it was so important to some sort of cognitive dissonance – on the from the distant past, especially when they one hand I used to trust my teachers and their notation, but I really did not know family with a Russian Orthodox background take these groups seriously and be proud of weren’t refl ected on at the time. The Soviet opinions regarding political events, but on the why. At school I had to take a manda- – while it was frowned on, religion was not membership. They would teach us ideologi- Union collapsed when I was very young. I not cal songs and encourage singing them in the other hand I observed my family being happy tory class called GO, or Grazhdans- formally prohibited in the Soviet Union and only lacked the intellectual capacity to critically school chorus. But in the late 1980s it was and hopeful about Ukraine’s independence. kaya Oborona (Civil Defense), where the Church was allowed by the state as an observe these events, but I also had no reference pretty clear that most of these things were For a twelve-year-old child it was really tough we had to put on gas masks and a ideological institution. Although I was regularly with which to compare my lifestyle. Furthermore, purely ceremonial – they didn’t have the same to sort things through and fi gure out what was special uniform while being timed… brought to the church and taught Christianity years of reading about and studying the politics as a child, my family instructed me to not talk signifi cance they used to. better and what was right. I really did not know why we had to of post-Soviet countries has certainly tainted my do it – it just seemed fun. about it with my classmates. Although it was When the August 1991 coup happened, it was The biggest worry for many Soviet families memories of life in the USSR. Therefore, I recog- not formally prohibited to attend the Ortho- a time of fear and anxiety for people. Some- at the time was the threat of losing touch nize my inability to completely separate what I I don’t remember much about the dox Church, it was considered embarrassing thing unpredictable was happening, but we with relatives in other parts of Soviet Union. have learned in books from what I have learned 1991 August Coup. I remember to do so, and people always preferred to re- didn’t know what and everybody was won- After the collapse of the USSR, many family through my personal experiences. Swan Lake on television. I think we main silent on the issue in public. dering what was going to happen next. There members ended up being citizens of different only had two TV channels at the time My fi rst reaction to questions about what it was While growing up in the USSR, there were was not a lot of discussion regarding this event countries, and although they still had complete and they were both off or played several issues you were supposed to keep in my family or at school. Overall, I would say freedom to move within the borders of the like to grow up in the Soviet Union is that it was Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet non- quiet about. For example, you weren’t sup- in emotional terms people around us were former Soviet Union, there was a threaten- normal. At the time, it felt just fi ne. There was stop for a couple of days. My parents posed to talk about having relatives who lived experiencing fear and anxiety about the coup ing expectation that ties between countries certainty and confi dence about the future. It was always kept me very busy and away outside of the USSR, especially if you wanted rather than thinking of some sort of demo- would fall apart, borders would close, and a largely worry-free life because I was guaran- from the TV. As a result, I did not to keep in contact with them. As much as I cratic transition. people would never again be able to commu- teed education and employment, health services, even notice too much of a difference nicate with their families. and a place to live. tried to fi nd things out about the distant parts The dissolution of the USSR didn’t happen in my daily routine. of my family who lived in Romania, the adults overnight – it was a fairly long process. For in- In terms of my personal memories, I remem- Of course, it wasn’t a stress-free life as we had to There were many challenges that always avoided the topic. stance, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the ber being very confused about wearing my excel in school, clean our houses and streets, col- appeared in our lives following the Another silent topic was the theme of the Declaration of Independence in August 1991, pioneer tie (red tie signifying membership in lect paper scrap, and wait for our tasty milk and collapse of the Soviet Union. First past – stories of our ancestors who lost their while the actual popular vote in the form of the Young Pioneer organization). One by one freshly-baked bread to be delivered to our gro- and foremost, there were economic fortunes and even lives in the process of Bol- the National Referendum happened the fol- public school students stopped wearing the cery store. There was some competition, but not and social problems – high infl ation, shevik Revolution and Ukrainian Famine of lowing December. Therefore, when the dis- standard school uniforms and red ties, and for fashionable clothes and up-to-date gadgets, people were not paid wages and 1933. I was only told some stories about my solution was offi cially proclaimed and recog- teachers were reluctant to pass judgment or but for academic performance, neatness of one’s pensions, there was a defi cit of basic Mariya Omelicheva and sister, May Day Demonstration, ancestors after Ukraine became an indepen- nized, we’d had 4 months to accept it as part give instructions regarding the proper ‘code apartment, quantity of books read during the goods in the stores. In my mind, how- Cherepovets, Russia, 1989. 4 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 5 edge and awareness about other members of the to-day problems and my vision of the future was How did these events change my life? For one sat at home quietly; the news became alimental address. I certainly recall watching Gorbachev’s Soviet Union was very limited. I knew about their limited by the following day or week. There was thing, I received an opportunity to take part in a to us. Traveling was cautioned against, because videos, but it could have been days, weeks, or austin CHaRROn existence, but in my mind, they were so distant still confi dence that there would be milk and Freedom Support Act-sponsored program that soldiers on the streets were unpredictable. even years after December 25, 1991. roy d. and Betty laird bread on the table, even if I would have to stand essay coMpetition and, please forgive me for saying so, but at the time brought me as an exchange student to the US in The images of Boris Yeltsin on a tank, to me, The Soviet world vanished along with my child- in line to get them. 2011 Winner just seemed so unimportant. The latter comment 1994. That year was a revelation not only about symbolize the end of the coup and of the hood, with dreams I can neither undream nor, is sad and I refl ect on it with embarrassment, but For me, the greatest shock and disillusionment life in the US, but also about my experiences in USSR. In my historical memory, this painfully unfortunately, forget. I do occasionally roman- the USSR and Russia. It brought forth many of it is also true. Many Russians shared a sort of con- with the Soviet system and the Russian govern- fallible man will always have a shining humani- ticize the bygones, but it insults me as a human the questions that hadn’t even occurred to me descending and disinterested attitude toward the ment came later, in 1998, during the major fi nan- tarian streak. “The end of history” came to being when my nostalgia and appreciation for before. If it hadn’t been for that fi rst trip imme- “brethren in Communist spirit,” especially those cial crisis that hit the Russian Federation. It was Lithuania that August. On September 1st we some elements of my childhood world are mis- then – when I was studying in law school, work- diately after the fall of the “iron curtain,” I would from Central Asia and South Caucasus. went back to school in a free Lithuania, even taken as ignorance or denial of the bloody paw ing, and trying to save some money – that I fully not have had the opportunity to go to graduate the Soviet military withdrew. Perhaps that is prints the Communist regime left in history. I In the early 1990s, it really wasn’t possible to understood what default means, what causes it, school at Indiana and thus wouldn’t have been think in the long term. We had to deal with day- and what the consequences of it are. able to come to KU as a Professor. why I do not fully have my memories of what do not wish to waken the empire. Instead, I I was doing when the dissolution of the USSR hope that a thousand years from now, there will was announced. The events were taking place still be an independent country called Lithuania, Name: Raminta Stockute in a different country, not in ours. We were and people there will still speak Lithuanian, and celebrating Christmas and getting ready to face they will know the distinction between the Rus- Occupation: PhD candidate in Political Science Betty laird, austin Charron and edith Clowes City of Birth: Siauliaim, Lithuania problems inspiring speeches were insuffi cient to sian people and the Soviet regime. LITHUANIA This year’s Roy D. and Betty Laird Essay Con- KU Afﬁ liation: Department of Political Science test winner is Department of Geography MA Name: Natia Kaladze student, Austin Charron, for his essay titled “The explicit trust and implied love within the family, and Brazauskas was sympathetic. That holiday Occupation: Dean, School of Social Sciences, hope and anticipation around us. Even watching season was fi lled with patriotism, patriotism of Sibiriak Movement and the Roots of Modern Si- University of Tbilisi berian Regionalism.” the Ceausescus execution brings to mind a sense both the mortuos voco and vivos voco kind. We GEORGIA City of Birth: Tbilisi, Georgia of family and hopes of justice instead of night- were all to become one with the spirit of the KU Afﬁ liation: Visiting Scholar Now in its 17th year, the annual essay contest mares. Perhaps my family did something right, pre-USSR Lithuanians. is named after the late Dr. Roy D. Laird, a long- or perhaps the transitional times were not alto- In Georgia it was not at all easy to live dur- Georgia’s path to independence was diffi cult time member of the Russian and East European 1988-1991, the blur of events brought yellow- gether bad. Either way, beware of the imperfect ing Soviet times. We were not able to travel and long, and I think perhaps that’s why we Studies (REES) and Political Science faculties, and green-red fl ags and the soon-to-become na- witness. around the world, and the United States was celebrate it so much – the day we became in- Ms. Betty Laird, whose support makes this prize tional anthem of Lithuania. That anthem elic- possible. As a recipient of the award, Austin re- Before I ever heard of perestroika and glasnost, its in me a similar sense of unity, pride, and seen as our number one enemy. The media dependent from the Soviet Union is the most was controlled by the government and there celebrated holiday in Georgia. A lot of people ceived $750, a book of his choice, a certifi cate, I had already encountered the cursing of Gor- gravitas as did the anthem of the USSR. I’ve and his name on a plaque bearing the names of I am a product of a world that no longer exists, bachev’s liquor policies, such as rationing. Liquor, never managed to become resentful of the were a lot of articles and TV programs spout- fi x on August 1991 as the beginning of the end ing propaganda about how wonderful it was for the Soviet Union, but from my perspec- all previous winners of the competition, which is but I neither know to what extent and why I am you see, not only had a therapeutic and social Soviet anthem. It evokes heroes working for displayed outside the main CREES offi ce. such a product, nor do I fully understand how value but also became part of the barter sys- the Fatherland and community, sacrifi cing per- to live in Soviet Union. Most of the movies tive in Georgia, the Soviet Union collapsed on and why that world fell apart. tem. While not a particularly thirsty family, we sonal the for the greater good, appreciation for we watched were about communists and the April 9, 1989 when Russian troops killed anti- Austin received his BA cum laude at the Univer- nonetheless were always in need of it. Getting loyalty, friendship, clean conscience, and above communist regime. In my recollection, what communist, Georgian protestors in Tbilisi. sity of Oregon with majors in Geography and We buried Chernenko, a Secretary General of somebody’s help – moonlight work, for the most all for education and thought. How can I de- most Georgian kids liked the least was the Russian Studies and a minor in History. Before the Communist Party, in March of 1985. Along During our fi ght for independence, the big- part – demanded a bottle or “100 grams.” Dad spise that? I might have been fi rmly “guided” in “red tie.” The tie meant that you were a Young coming to KU, he spent a year in Ukraine on a with the funeral processions, the age of old lead- gest worry for Georgians was what would fermented wine to ease the situation, and also those values as a child through literature and Pioneer, or member of the USSR youth or- Fulbright Fellowship. Since then, he has received ers waddled out. The spring would bring a thaw happen in Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Ab- a number of Foreign Language and Area Study made beer. I was his confi dante and apprentice, cinema and at school, but had to choose them ganization, and it was a part of our school in the form of a spunky heir – Gorbachev. khazia, the two zones of confl ict with Russia. (FLAS) Fellowships to support his study at KU. and that bond has not run its course yet. a couple of decades later. uniform. As soon as the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia His MA thesis is on “Ethnic and Regional Factors The thaw would turn into a fl ood and bring with Grandma distilled rye and barley. Hers was a By the time Gorbachev visited Lithuania (Janu- Even though Georgia was very much a part began a fi ght to occupy these regions – fi ght- of Identity Among Crimea’s Russian Population.” it changes in the USSR we had neither predicted brew equally presentable to intelligentsia and ary 1990), it was too late to prevent Lithuania’s of the Soviet Union, we managed to keep ing which still occurs to this day, the most When asked about Austin’s Laird essay, “The nor were prepared for, changes that some of us some of our independence. For example, recent outbreak of violence occurring in the folks policing her. Distilling was done in secret, redeclaration of independence in March. Lith- Sibiriak Movement and the Roots of Modern still haven’t fully understood, internalized, evalu- while other Republics adopted Russian as 2008 Georgian-Russian war. often with the blessing of the liquor patrol. The uania was joined by the fellow Baltics. The sub- Siberian Regionalism,” the selection committee ated. There I was, one day imagining a stoic death their state language, we kept Georgian. As a smell of warm sourdough in dusky evenings was sequent moratorium and economic blockade remarked the essay was “immediately engag- for the Soviet Fatherland, and the next – deliver- result, many of the other Republics lost their Because of Russia’s aggression, it has been the worth the trouble. Unethical distillers bottled foreshadowed the January 1991 events: the ing,” “well-written and well-organized,” and “a ing a recitation of Brazdžionis, an émigré poet. In native language and it’s only been recently Georgian government’s priority to fi nd part- questionable substance, some even spiked with Soviet special forces and tanks rolling in and pleasure to read.” The committee especially was between – a blur that still feels good. that they’ve tried to reclaim them by teaching ners among western countries and the United insect poison. People went blind, destroyed in- taking over nationally strategic objects, deaths impressed by Austin’s almost exclusive use of them in schools – we in Georgia, don’t have States. We hope that greater involvement of In that age of changes, then, I lived my child- ternal organs; acute poisoning and a quick trip to of civilians. Precarious months followed, laden Russian sources and by his perceptive analysis. that problem. We’ve been speaking Georgian the US and Europe will check Russia’s behav- hood, and did Mother’s bidding to be mindful the morgue were for the lucky, a protracted, hid- with suspense, fear of treacherous “friends” all our lives, and its very much a part of our ior in our region. We have quickly recognized Read Austin’s essay on the CREES website: of everything from her meat-boiling techniques eous existence for the unlucky. “To the devil with and acquaintances and full reoccupation by the national identity. that integration with western institutions is to the execution of the Ceaucescus. Even for a Gorbachev and the Communists!” was Dad’s ver- USSR. In our home, fears were always punc- the only way for us to truly become an inde- www.crees.ku.edu/academics/ 1,000-word vignette, I’m not able to wake only dict about the slow death of Lithuania. tuated with hopes and dreams, especially in That said, like the other Republics we share pendent and democratic country. laird_essay.shtml Mom’s relentless blue-green eyes. many of the legacies that are a result of be- the memories of regime change. My childhood While we were rediscovering and bonding over awakens along with them; personal is historical, ing a part of the Soviet Union. In many ways, The collapse of the Soviet Union not only with people from other countries. Students our distiller heritage, Central-Eastern Europe We held our breath till August 1991. The em- changed my life, but it changed the lives of all historical becomes personal, rational fades to Georgia does not know what is it to be dem- now have opportunities to study abroad – this was awakening, and the Voice of America was pire, we found out, had already been standing Georgians. We truly feel that we are fi nally emotional. This predicament is worthy of an ear- ocratic – we are still trying to fi gure out what greatly contributes to Georgia’s integration with reporting it. TV news became increasingly more on hind paws. During the Putsch, my parents becoming a part of the civilized world, where nest fuss. I know my stomach growled a lot; we democracy means and how to implement it. the rest of the world. Professionals are able to reliable. One weekend in October 1988, I found worried that, in case of success, the hard-liners human rights and democracy are valued in were provincials close to dirt; we often paid the I have a lot of faith in the new generation of network and make connections with the global the adults gasping before the TV; Brazauskas would exact retribution on their adversaries, the development of society and country. price for Mom’s clear conscience . . . I do not was chosen the First Secretary of the Lithuanian from Gorbachev to outspoken Lithuanians like Georgians born after the collapse of Soviet business community. I am proud of the big steps though remember, with my body, the “bads” that I Communist Party. A Lithuanian independence Mom. Loss of Lithuania’s independence seemed Union – they are lucky, because they are en- Unlike in Soviet times, we can travel, ex- Georgia has made towards becoming an honor- know. Instead, I remember a lot of light, radiance, movement, Sajudis, had already been grumbling, like a realistic punishment for disobedience. We tirely free from a communist mentality. change ideas and opinions, and make friends able member of the world.

6 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 7 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RUSSIAN, EAST EUROPEAN & EURASIAN STUDIES

In collaboration with: Office of the Chancellor Office of the Provost College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Film Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures Dole Institute of Politics Identity Hall Center for the Humanities Spencer Museum of Art & School of Music Identity CommunityCREES EventsCREES &Community After the Cold War EraFall 2011 Fall Events 2011 After the Cold War Era

TEACHING GALLERY EXHIBIT The last two decades have witnessed the conflu- sor Snyder has authored a biography of the Marx- leaders in Kosovo before and since the 1999 war. Identity and Community in the Contemporary World ence of many different kinds of radical change – ist revolutionary and sociologist, Kazimierz Kelles- Emphasizing the case of ethnic Serbs as they recon- August 23 - September 4 the demise of communism as a force in politics, Krauz, a study of the reconstruction of Poland, struct identity and political community in Kosovo’s the resurgence of religious community, the emer- Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus as modern East post-conflict environment, Mr. Grigorev will draw Spencer Museum of Art gence of global warming as a major challenge European nations, a history of interwar espionage, comparisons with other minority groups in the Bal- to traditional economies and communities, and and a life-and-times portrait of Habsburg Arch- kans, specifically Roma, Turks, and Bosnjaks in Koso- INTERNATIONAL STUDIES CONFERENCE the innovative growth of technology. Concepts duke Wilhelm of Austria. At this year’s Backus vo, Albanians in Macedonia, and Serbs in Croatia. Identity & Community After the Cold War Era of communtity have radically altered. Maps, bor- Memorial Lecture, Professor Snyder will discuss ders, governments, and alliances have shifted. The his new book Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler On October 27, 2011, KU Geography Professor, August 25-27 World Wide Web came into being, bringing with and Stalin and how the mass murders of the 20th Shannon O’Lear, will present her book, Environ- Kansas Union it major changes in cultural ritural, self-perception, Century shaped the modern era. mental Politics: Scale and Power, at a CREES hosted and community-building. The universalist ideolo- booktalk in the Kansas Union’s Jayhawk Inc. Book- SPECIAL FILM VIEWING gies characteristic of modernity have retreated, On October 11-12, 2011 we celebrate the 350th store. Professor O’Lear’s book considers issues of Anniversary of our partner university, Ivan Franko climate change, energy, food security, toxins, waste, “My Perestroika” replaced in part by older concepts of identity and community. In many parts of the world new University in Lviv, Ukraine. We look forward to and resource conflict to explore how political, economic, ideological and military power have con- Followed by Q&A versions of traditional religions have emerged as many more years of collaboration and exchange. tributed to present day environmental issues. mass forces. The arts and architecture have ex- with Director Robin Hessman On October 24, 2011, this year’s Jerkovich Lecture perienced a shift in focus and form. August 25, 7:00 pm will be Council for Inclusive Governance President As the semester progresses, check out the CREES website for event information as well as announce- Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium In light of this monumental shift, CREES dedicates and founder, Alex Grigorev. Mr. Grigorev will share ments about additional activities. We encourage you the Fall 2011 Semester to “Identity and Commu- his personal observations and experiences work- to join our facebook page for weekly reminders! BACKUS MEMORIAL LECTURE nity After the Cold War Era.” ing with ethnic minority politicians and community Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin The semester will begin Fall 2011: Identity and Community Curriculum Prof. Timothy Snyder, Yale University with a KU Area and In- September 22, 7:00 pm ternational Studies Con- REES SLAVIC ference which will cover a LANGUAGES & LITERATURES Kansas Union, Malott Room wide range of topics that REES 110: Understanding Russia and Eastern Europe SlAV 140/ Intro to Russian Culture seek to describe, exam- Instructor: Bart Redford 141: Instructor: William Comer JERKOVICH LECTURE ine, and understand the Ethnic Identity and Community various areas and kinds of REES 480: Eastern Europe At the Turn of the Millenium: SLAV 340: Intro to Languages and Peoples of Russia The Meaning of Revolution in the Post-Conflict Balkans: Flashpoint Kosovo shifts that have happened and East Central Europe since the late 1980s, and Instructor: Alex Tsiovkh Instructor: Marc Greenberg Alex Grigorev, Council for Inclusive Governance attempt a complex model Understanding Central Asia SLAV 504: Intro to East Central European Culture & October 24, 7:00 pm of the world humanity REES 510: Instructor: Cristin Burke Society: Ukrainian now inhabits. The confer- Kansas Union, Centennial Room Instructor: Alex Tsiovkh ence will take place August REES 573: Borderland Between Russia and Europe BOOK TALK 25- 27, 2011, and will be Instructor: Alex Tsiovkh SLAV 508: South Slavic Literature and Civilization held in the Kansas Union. Instructor: Stephen Dickey “Environmental Politics: Scale and Power” Participation is free, but HISTORY Shannon O’Lear, KU Geography Department registration is required. To SLAV 516: Film Adaptation of Polish & Czech in register, please go to the Colloquium in Russian History Literature October 27, 4:00 pm CREES website. HIST 557: Instructor: Eve Levin Instructor: Svetlana Vassileva-Karagyoza Kansas Union, Jayhawk Inc. The Spencer Museum of POLITICAL SCIENCE SLAV 540: Language and Identity in East Central FILM SERIES Art, in collaboration with Europe & Former Soviet Union CREES, will host a Teaching Contemporary Issues in Instructor: Marc Greenberg Friday Night at the Kino Gallery exhibit displaying POLS 370: International Politics 318 Bailey Hall, 7:00 pm art depicting various inter- Instructor: TBA SOCIOLOGY pretations of identity and Sept. 23 Nov. 18 POLS 680: Eurasian Security and Geopolitics SOC 332: United States in Global Context community after the Cold Instructor: Ray Pence KOROWOD THOSE THREE War era from the Spencer Instructor: Mariya Omelicheva In Tajik with English subtitles Museum’s collections. LAW Twist of Fate GEOGRAPHY In Polish with English subtitles This semester’s Backus LAW 844: Immigration/Asylum Law Clinic GEOG Dec. 2 Memorial Lecture will Environmental Geopolitics Instructor: David Gottlieb 371: Oct. 21 POLETJA feature Professor Timothy Instructor: Shannon O’Lear Snyder of Yale University. LAW 932: International Human Rights Law 9TH COMPANY Summer Hit Instructor: David Gottlieb In Russian with English subtitles In Slovene with English subtitles During his career, Profes- These events are made possible by a Title VI Department of Education Na- 8tionalCREES Resource NEWSLETTER Center Grant, US Army Research Laboratories, and the FALL 2011 9 generous support of KU students, faculty and staff. www.crees.ku.edu crees outreach highlights spring 2011 Security Conference K-12 teacher workshops Russian Festival “Migration, Shadow Economies, and Security Problems on ansas usiness and the orld the World’s Borders” was the featured topic of the CREES K B W Featuring the North American hosted Spring 2011 Security Conference held on April 1, Kansas is an international market. Kansas City is the Round of the Tariverdiev Inter- 2011. The conference was sponsored by CREES, the Cen- 2nd largest customs collector and the 2nd largest rail national Organ Competition. ter for East Asian Studies, the Center for Global and In- hub in the entire United States. Kansas exports to ternational Studies, the Center of Latin American Studies, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia represent On April 7-9, 2011, CREES the Kansas African Studies Center, and the Foreign Military 3.74% of all Kansas exports, which is a signifi- along with the Department Studies Office (FMSO), Ft. Leavenworth. cantly higher proportion than the 2% national of Slavic Languages and Liter- average. And while US exports to the re- atures and the KU School of Dr. Martha Brill Olcott, of the Carnegie Endowment for gion grew at an average of 8.9% per year be- Music, Division of Organ and International Peace gave the keynote address on “State tween 2000 and 2009, Kansas exports to Russia, Church Music, co-sponsored and Security in Central Asia.” Participants of the conference included a wide range of KU profes- Eastern Europe and Eurasia grew at an aver- the Russian Festival and sors from various departments as well as lectures from Kansas State University, SUNY Stony Brook, age annual rate of 15%. Companies in Kansas are North American Round of National Defense University, and Columbia University’s Harriman Institute. Research Fellows from Ft. increasingly seeking employees who know about the the Tariverdiev International Leavenworth also participated on several panels. CREES area of the world, have foreign language skills, Organ competition. and are sensitive to cultural differences. CREES Assistant Director, Bart Redford, noted that feedback from the Security Conference was over- The Mikhail Tariverdiev Melissa Birch, CIBER Director welmingly positive. Many participants indicated that interaction between different regions and fields With this in mind, on April 9, 2011, CIBER, CEE, and Competition is Russia’s first of study was particularly useful. KU’s Area and International Studies Centers held a international competition for Teachers Workshop where educators learned about international markets and the Kansas economy, organists. It began in 1999 in and were introduced to new economic teaching tools like Focus Globalization, a collection of lesson Kaliningrad, and takes place plans and activities focused on globalization, trade, and the international economy. every two years when organ- website and webzine: new outreach tools ists from all over the world come to Kaliningrad to take Over the summer CREES Outreach Coordina- Outreach is also pleased to introduce a new Music, the Arts, and Migration part in this illustrious event. tor, Adrienne Landry, and CREES Digital Com- bi-annual webzine called CREES Crossroads. De- In keeping with the 2010-2011 international stud- Deepening the connections munications Manager, Jake Poterbin, worked hard signed for K-12 educators, the electronic publica- ies theme “Migration and the Heartland,” CREES, in between Russia and the West to develop the Outreach section of the CREES tion will feature entertaining and informative ar- collaboration with fellow KU International Studies is one of the stated objec- website. Check out the many lesson plans and ticles about the CREES area of study, along with Centers (LASC, KASC, CEAS, and CGIS) hosted a tives of the competition. curriculum development materials now available. useful lesson plans, curriculum development, and K-14 Teachers Workshop called “Music, the Arts, and You can search by topic (Teacher Workshop updates on upcoming KU CREES events. The Migration” at the Lawrence Arts Center on April 16, The North American round theme) or by subject. Also, under the Teacher very first issue of Crossroads will be posted on 2011. The workshop addressed the topic from two of the competition was held Resources tab, you can now find information the CREES website this fall. angles – the arts and music of migratory peoples as at KU in conjunction with about each country that makes up the CREES well as the movement of art across cultures due to the Russian Festival, events area of study. Would you like to have Crossroads delivered di- human migration. The day featured two performances: of which included lectures rectly to your email? Send an email to Adrienne first a special performance and lecture by the Alash on Russian music and con- Landry, CREES Outreach Coordinator (creesout- Ensemble, throat-singers from Tuva; then a stirring servatories, a film featuring percussion concert by the African Drum Ensemble. the organ symphony Cher- www.crees.ku.edu/outreach [email protected]) or sign up on our website! The Alash Ensemble nobyl, and recitals by accom- The workshop also included lectures on “Marimba plished organists and previ- Music in Latin America” by Professor Ketty Wong, ous Tariverdiev Competition “From Rocks to Chip Art: A Presentation on Indian winners like KU’s own Rob- Art” by Professor Azyz Sharafy, and “Screening the ert Horton, winner of the book talk Opi assessment workshop Margins: Race and Migration in East Asian Films” by 5th Tariverdiev International Professor Michael Baskett. Organ Competition, 2007. On April 28, 2011 at the Kansas Union, CREES Di- On May 25-28, 2011, CREES rector, Professor Edith Clowes, presented her new hosted the Oral Proficiency Several educators signed up to be Teacher Scholars book Russia on the Edge: Imagined Geographies and Interview (OPI) Assessment and submitted workshop themed lesson plans which Post-Soviet Identity. Workshop for instructors in are currently accessible on the CREES website: Tibetan, Kiswahili, Bosnian- In her new book, Professor Clowes discusses Rus- Croatian-Serbian, Ukrainian, www.crees.ku.edu/outreach sians’ major identity crisis after the demise of the Czech, Polish, and Uyghur. Soviet Union in 1991. This crisis expresses itself in The Alash Ensemble performed at the teachers work- Ketty Wong-Cruz, School of Music geographical terms. Now that Russia has lost its Trainer Karl Otto gave an shop as part of a three-day music residency hosted buffer zones, suddenly borders and periferies loom Professors Marta Pirnat-Greenberg (BCS) overview of American Coun- by CREES. Additional activities included morning and afternoon concerts with presentations for pri- much larger in the Russian consciousness. While in the Soviet period and Yaroslava Tsiovkh (Ukrainian) cil on the Teaching of Foreign mary and secondary Lawrence public school children at the Lawrence Arts Center and for KU faculty Russians saw their country as the hub of revolution and progress, now Languages (ACTFL) methods and students at the Global Indigenous Nations Studies and CREES co-hosted conference “Peoples of they are overcome with anxiety at being another periphery. Professor and guidelines before individual instructors underwent four days of practice Siberia,” as well as KU REES 220 course: “Societies and Cultures of Eurasia.” The Alash Ensemble also Clowes argues that imagined geography provides a useful perspective for proficiency interviews and discussions. The workshop concluded with a fun gave two concerts for the Lawrence community, one of which included a choreographed performance examining post-Soviet debates about what it means to be Russian today. cookout at the home of CREES Director, Edith Clowes. by the 940 Dance Company called “Whispering River.”

10 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 11 BRoWNBAg LECTuRE SERiES crees BroWnBAg Lecture series For over 30 years, the CRees Brownbag lec- terested in this diverse and dynamic area of ture series has been an informal forum for Ku the world. and the surrounding community to discuss CRees brownbags are free and open to the Miss a lecture? Watch it at general topics related to Russia, eastern eu- your convenience online! rope and eurasia. public. they are held every tuesday at noon in 318 Bailey Hall. if you have a topic you Our Brownbag and special Rather than address specifi c themes, each se- would like to discuss or are interested in pre- mester the lectures cover a variety of topics guest lectures are available on senting, please contact: and areas, and are presented by academics, the CRees website: students, and professionals – anyone with an Bart Redford www.crees.ku.edu/videos interesting specialty to share. From the arts CRees assistant Director and literature to political science and current [email protected] events, the CRees Brownbag lecture series 785-864-4248 SpRiNg 2011: highLighTS continues to educate and inform all those in- RoMA iN EASTERN EuRopE TEChNoLogy AND CuLTuRE iN EARLy MoDERN EuRopE: Julie Denesha, lecturer for KU’s School of Journalism, presented “Roma in Eastern Europe” ThE ChALLENgE oF ChANgE iN ThE RuSSiAN CoNTEXT on February 15, 2011. Ms. Denesha spoke about her time living and photographing the During the course of the fi fteenth and sixteenth centuries, European societies utilized their Roma in Eastern Europe. She discussed the events that prompted her to undertake her growing mastery of the mechanical arts and sciences to establish cultural and political domi- photography project as well as her general impressions of the Roma, based on her experi- nance over much of the globe. Despite increasing knowledge of developments in the West, ence. contemporary Russian efforts to adopt Europe’s new technological transformations were delayed and incomplete. Julie Denesha graduated from the University of Kansas in 1993, with degrees in Journalism and Russian Language and Literature. From 1996-2004, Ms. Denesha was based in Prague, In his April 5, 2011, brownbag lecture, “Technology and Culture in Early Modern Europe: The Czech Republic, where she covered Central and Eastern Europe for a number of inter- Challenge of Change in the Russia Context,” Prof. Scott W. Palmer (History, Western Illinois national newspapers and magazines. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The University) examined the process of technology transfer from West to East during the six- Guardian, Newsweek, TIME, The Economist, and the Christian Science Monitor. In 2007, she teenth and seventeenth centuries. Drawing on the specifi c examples of gunpowder weaponry complted a documentary on Roma life in Slovakia. and the printing press, he described how Russia’s unique geographic, economic, and political contexts worked to forestall the adaptation of new technological systems and to thwart the development of a “culture of improvement” that might serve as a foundation for continuing innovation. WhoSE pLACE iS ThiS? KATyN iN RECENT poLiSh-RuSSiAN RELATioNS: ART, TERRiToRy AND CiViC DiALoguE iN ThE ThoRNy pATh To RECoNCiLiATioN LJuBLJANA,SLoVENiA In her brownbag talk of April 26, 2011, on “Katyn in Recent Polish-Russian Relations: The Thorny On March 1, 2011, Rebecca Blocksome illustrated the ways in which public art and design Road to Reconciliation,” KU History Emerita Professor Anna Cienciala noted an important change can help counteract the problem of placelessness by sharing her case study of the Izbrisan- in the offi cial version of Russian history. 16let campaign, which addresses the problem of “the Erased,” a socially marginalized group of ethnic non-Slovenes in Slovenia. Based on ideas put forth in Henri Lefebvre’s The Produc- After the catastrophic plane crash at Smolensk airport, April 10, 2010, which killed Polish Presi- tion of Space, she argued, that the Izbrisan16let campaign, through its use of contemporary dent Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and 94 other prominent Poles on their way to commemorate the street media engages citizens in rethinking urban space in the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. As Katyn Massacre of 1940, Russian President Medvedev stressed the guilt of Stalin for the mass marginalized groups encounter the mainstream Slovenian community in this new common murder of Polish offi cers in spring 1940. The Russian Duma also condemned Stalin for this crime space, the effects of placelessness for both groups are counteracted and the potential for in October 2010. civic dialogue is realized. Both the Polish government and the Russian Association “Memorial” demand the legal classifi cation of the crime as a war crime and crime against humanity. Blocksome is an artist, writer and cultural theorist currently based in the Kansas City area. She has lived and worked for seven years in Slovenia, The individual legal rehabilitation of each victim is demanded by both as well. Nevertheless, the legal rehabilitation of the victims by Russian courts has Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and she has been deeply involved in intercultural work on both the practical and theoretical level. not advanced one step this far. FoREigN MiLiTARy STuDiES oFFiCE RESEARCh ASSiSTANTShip pRESENTATioNS Ruoxi Du and Nathan Pickett, FMSO-CREES 2011 Research Assistants, presented their research MEDiA iN RuSSiA on May 10. Nathan Pickett (MA candidate, REES) discussed how Soviet and post-Soviet histo- riographical narratives have confl ated legitimate socioeconomic concerns with an identity con- On March 8, 2011, Sue Novak (KU School of Journalism), and Tom Volek (KU School of fl ict between Crimean Tatars and Crimean Russians. He concluded that while the situation has Journalism) and Nathan Pettengill (Lawrence Magazine), presented on the past and current spawned no major episodes of violent confl ict, tension remains high between the two groups. state of media in the Russian Federation. Much of their presentation centered on the His presentation addressed the challenges that Crimea faces because of this identity confl ict and murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. presented solutions for how it could be resolved.

When the Second Chechen War began in 1999, journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who Ruoxi Du (MA candidate, REES) analyzed oil and natural gas resources of Central Asian states worked for the independent Novaya Gazeta, traveled again and again to that de facto as a factor in Russia-China relations. It was her contention that the lack of visible frictions be- independent republic to report on the dire circumstances of the civilians, and sometimes tween Russia and China with regard to Central Asian energy resources, despite their colliding of the federal soldiers themselves, at the hands of the Russian government. Politkovskaya interests, can be attributed to three factors, namely the multi-vector foreign policy conducted by Central Asian leaders, Russia’s and China’s interests directly blamed Putin and higher ilitary administration for major infractions against in- in maintaining their broader “strategic partnership,” and the unexpected impacts of the 2008 global economic crisis. nocent civilizns and federal soldiers. Warned to stay away from such topics, she instead continued her reporting and was ultmately assassinated in October 2006. Her murder has never been solved, and the threats to her newspaper The Foreign Military Studies Offi ce (FMSO) Research Assistant internship is a cooperative project of FMSO and CREES. REES students in either Humani- have since caused it to cease all reporting in the Chechen region. In the years since her death, Politikovskaya has become something of a cult ties or Social Sciences, who have advanced level reading skills in their target language, a security-related research question, and are interested in gaining a figure among educated Russians. better understanding of how the US military analyzes the Eurasian security environment, are encouraged to apply.

12 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 13 Beginning in August, erik s. Herron (Political Science) will join the National Science Foundation in Virginia for two years as a Program Offi cer. In the past FACuLTy & STAFF NEWS year, Prof. Herron has had two articles published.: “Measuring Dissent in Electoral Authoritarian Societies: Lessons from Azerbaijan’s 2008 Presidential Election and 2009 Referendum” was printed in Comparative Political Studies; and “How Viktor Yanukovych Won: Reassessing the Dominant Narratives of CREES welcomes new faculty members: ani Kokobobo (SLL) and alex Diener (Geogra- A SpECiAL CREES ThANK you Ukraine’s 2010 Presidential Election” was published in East European Politics and Societies. phy). Prof. Kokobobo recently received her PhD from Columbia University and specializes in 19th-century Russian literature. Professor Diener, a specialist on Central Asia, will join us To pRoF STEphEN pARKER Michael H. Crawford (Anthropology) received the Franz Boas distinguished achievement award from the American Human Biology Association. This yearly award after a Fulbright year in in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. recognizes leading, internationally recognized human biologists for their research and service. ivana Radovanovic (Anthropology ) received a National Science Foundation grant for archeo- Professor Crawford, along with fellow researchers, was featured in a special, double issue of Human Biology: The International Journal of Population Genet- logical work in Serbia. Over the summer she conducted a survey and tested excavations of the ics and Anthropology in December 2010. This publication synthesized almost ten years of research (sponsored by National Science Foundation) in the Mesolithic sites in the Danube Iron Gates hinterlands. Aleutian Islands and Siberia by a research team from the Laboratory of Biological Anthropology at the University of Kansas. This issue examines the demographic and genetic sequelae associated with Russian contact with the indigenous Aleut (Unangan) populations during the 18th and 19th centu- terry l. Koenig (School of Social Welfare) has received a joint teaching/research Fulbright award to Kazahkstan. In the fall semester of 2011, Koenig will teach cross-cultural social ries (http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol82/iss5/). policy in the social work department at Eurasian National University in Astana, Kazakhstan. Fifteen years after founding the journal Slovenski jezik / Slovene Linguistic Studies with partner Marko Snoj (Director of the Slovene Language Institute, Further, she will conduct a qualitative research study examining the role of social work and Scientifi c Research Centre, Slovenian Academy of Sciences & Arts, Ljubljana), Profs. Marc l. Greenberg (Chair, Department of Slavic Languages & social policy development in Kazakhstan. Literatures) and Snoj are handing off their journal to younger colleagues, Kozma Ahačič and Grant Lundberg (KU SLL PhD ‘99, now Assoc. Prof. of Congratulations to nathaniel Wood (History) who has been promoted to Associate Profes- Slavic Languages at BYU). SJ/SLS is among the fi rst Slavic journals to be made available in simultaneous print and digital open-access formats. sor in the History Department. Professor Wood was also a recipient of a Fulbright grant that Professor Greenberg continues his activity as an advocate for the KU Open Access Policy at KU, serving on its Advisory Board and Task Force. He will allow him 5 months of research in Warsaw, Poland, on his new book project on aviation. has recently had an essay on this topic, co-written with Ada Emmett, KU Scholarly Communication Librarian, “The Scholarly Communication Prob- anna M. Cienciala (Professor Emerita, History) reviewed S. M. Plokhy’s book, Yalta the Price CREES thanks Slavic Languages and LIteratures lem: Why Open Access is Necessary. A Transatlantic Perspective,” published in English in the Hall Center Communiqué and in Croatian, Romanian, of Peace, for the Polish Review, W. Borodziej and S. Dębski’s, Polish Documents on Foreign Professor stephen Parker who, after a 44-year Serbian, Slovene, and Ukrainian in newspapers and magazines in the respective countries (Slobodni filozofski, Vatra, Danas, Pančevačko čitalište, Policy, for Diplomacy & Statecraft, and K. K. Kostdan’s book, No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of successful career at KU, will begin his retirement Delo, and Bibliotečnyj forum Ukrajiny). He also continues as Linguistics Editor of the journal Slavia Centralis, which he co-founded with colleagues in Poland’s Forces in World War II, for the Journal of Slavic Military Studies. Professor Cienciala’s in the fall of 2011. the Czech Republic, Hungarian, Poland, and Slovenia in 2008 (http://slaviacentralis.uni-mb.si/) article “The Foreign Policy of Jozef Pilsudski and Jozef Beck, 1926-1939: Misconceptions and For 13 years, Professor Parker served as chair Professor Greenberg’s most recent article publication is “The Illyrian Movement: A Croatian Vision of South Slavic Unity,” which appeared in the Interpretations,” was published in The Polish Review. In June 2011, Professor Cienciala’s con- 2011 Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity: The Success-Failure Continuum in Language Identity Efforts. ference paper “Refl ections on Poland in Anglo-American Books on the Interwar Period in of the Department for Slavic Languages and Europe” was presented at the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America, Arlington, VA. Literatures, almost a third of his time at KU, and svetlana vassileva-Karagyozova’s (SLL) article “The Grandmother as Political Actor in post-1989 Polish Initiation Novels” was published in the Forum for did a great deal to build the department. For at Modern Language Studies as well as in Polish in Polonistyka bez granic (Polish Without Borders). arienne Dwyer (Anthropology) received three NSF grants totaling about $760,000 for the least one semester he was the Acting Director next three years to research Uyghur and Inner Asia, and to conduct a 2012 summer school of CREES. Part of his lasting legacy is the en- Congratulations to lisa and John Giullian who welcomed a new baby boy, Christian Henry Guillian, on May 5, 2011. Mom, dad and baby are doing well! program at KU on language documentation. tire generation of faculty he helped bring into As she cares for her growing family, we say farewell but not goodbye to lisa Giullian as CREES Program Assistant and welcome adrienne landry (BA, SLL the KU family: Professor Maria Carlson, Profes- Ron Francisco (Political Science) received an International Programs course development and History 2003) who will be taking on CREES administrative duties like course scheduling and FLAS coordination. After completing her MA at Columbia sor Marc Greenberg, Professor Bill Comer, and grant for his course “Social Welfare, Taxation and the Citizen.” University’s Harriman Institute and working a number of years in SE Europe and the Caucasus, Adrienne returned home to join the CREES team as the CREES Director, Professor Edith Clowes. new Outreach Coordinator in February 2011. She began Program Assistant work in May. Mariya Omelicheva (CREES Assoc. Director, Political Science) took part in a workshop titled, “Comparative Perspectives on the Substance of EU Democracy Promotion,” held at Ghent Professor Parker is one of the world’s lead- After 6 years of superb service, Bill london has left the position of CREES Offi ce Manager. Bill accepted the position of Director of Internal Opera- University, Belgium, in June 2011. She was also a receipient of an IREX short-travel grant and ing experts in Nabokov and taught popular tions at the Spencer Museum of Art. While he is greatly missed, he promises to visit often and attend all Fall and Spring mixers! spent one month carrying out research in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in summer 2011. courses on Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. He leaves behind the Fan Parker Russian and Slavic li- As the new CREES Accountant and Offi ce Manager, we welcome Cathy swenson-tucker. Cathy joins CREES from the Offi ce of Study Abroad Renee Perelmutter (SLL) received a GRF summer grant for work on women’s on-line dis- brary, dedicated in honor of his mother. In where she worked for 11 years. Even after just a few short weeks, Cathy proved herself invaluable as the new Offi ce Manager, and we look forward course; and a travel grant from the Institute of Advanced Studies in Jerusalem to give a talk recognition of Prof. Parker’s long and fruitful to many more years of collaboration. on “Cultural Archeology: Medieval Jewish-Slavic contacts.” service, CREES assisted in bringing Nabokov CREES Student Assistant, Wayne Keeton, graduated in May 2011 with an MBA. He and his wife, former CREES student assistant, Julie King Keeton, tom volek (Assoc. Dean, School of Journalism) and Barbara Barnett (Assoc. Dean for Un- expert Brian Boyd to campus for a three-day have moved to Wichita, where he has accepted a position as an accountant with Koch Bros. CREES Digital Communications Manager, Jake Poterbin, dergraduate Studies, Journalism) received a two-year extension on a Media and the Military visit this past spring. While we say goodbye graduated as well with a BS in Journalism with an emphasis on strategic communication. Jake is pursuing a career in design and advertisement. grant from the McCormick Foundation. The total grant award is $200,000. to Professor Parker as a faculty member and dedicated teacher, CREES looks forward to norman e. saul (Professor Emeritus, History) created the Norman E. Saul REES MA fund continued collaboration with Professor Parker ALuMNi NEWS for travel grants to collections as well as for those students presenting to conferences as he refocuses his efforts on fundraising and 2011 pertaining to the REES area of study. Professor Saul also presented a paper on the origins research. After graduating in Spring 2011, lily Boyce (BA, Geography & REES) took part in a summer and development of Slavic Studies at the University of Kansas in April at the meeting of the research internship with Food and Water Watch. She helped research a new book on farm Missouri Historical Society in Kansas City, Missouri, at a session on international studies at the university. He drew on the excellent presentation subsidies and agricultural policy by Executive Director, Wenonah Hauter. She is currently living of Professor DeGeorge at the 50th anniversary celebration last year and added his own insights. In June and July, Professor Saul spoke on “How in Washington DC pursuing a career in nonprofi t environmental advocacy and international Kansas Became the Wheat State” for civic groups in Wellington, Park City, and Tonganoxie for the Kansas Bicentennial celebration sponsored by problem-solving. the Kansas Humanities Council. His talks emphasized the role of Mennonites and Volga Germans from Russia in developing grain cultivation and the fl our milling industry in the state. 2010 Jay alexander’s (Professor Emeritus, History) 1973 book, Emperor of the Cossacks, has been translated into Russian and published in Ufa this year vanessa aldrich (MA, REES) has started volunteering at Plymouth Congregational’s free ESL in both electronic and hard versions. classes, a nondenominational service for members of the Lawrence community. Vanessa currently works as a Production Assistant at Allen Press, Inc., here in Lawrence. For more infor- Cambridge University Press published a 2011 paperback edition of Marxism and the Good Society (1981), in which Richard De George (Philoso- mation about the Plymouth ESL Language courses for the Fall semester, search “Plymouth phy) has the lead article “Marxism and the Good Society.” Language Program” on facebook. In May, 2011, Jacob Kipp (REES) delivered a paper, “Russian Nuclear Posture and Policies” at a NATO-Estonian Ministry of Defense Conference on 2001 Adapting NATO’s Deterrence Posture: The Alliance’s New Strategic Concept and Implications for Nuclear Policy, Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, Cassandra Payton (BA, SLL) has joined the US State Department’s Foreign Service and will and Disarmament, in Tallinn, Estonia. Prof. Kipp was interviewd by Voice of America on Russian military reform on July 5, 2011. be an International Relations Offi cer posted to Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the Cassandra Payton (Ba sll, 2001) with Charles Associate Professor afshin Marashi (History) has accepted a professorship in Middle East history at the University of Oklahoma. We thank him past 10 years she has been working with American Councils for International Education, most english, former united states ambassador to for his excellent contributions here at KU and wish him great success in all his future endeavors. recently as the Regional Director for Southeast Europe, based in Belgrade. Bosnia and Herzegovina. 14 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 15 STuDENT NEWS iNCoMiNg REES gRADuATE STuDENTS Congratulations to Bethany Owens (MA, REES) BRAMLAgE FAMiLy and Yuki Onogi (MA, REES) for completing their FouNDATioN FELLoWShip sandra King-savic is a 2nd generation immi- US Army Major Gary Oscar received his Masters work in Russian, Eastern European and grant born to Balkan parents and grew up in BA from the University of Pennsylvania Eurasian Studies! Both graduated in Spring 2011. Incoming REES MA student Gloria Funcheon is the 2011 Switzerland. She completed an apprenticeship in Russian History and Soviet Civilization. recipient of the Bramlage Family Foundation Scholarship. After her May 29, 2011 wedding to Stephen Ber- in business management (Detailhandel) and He joined the United States Army in Through the generosity of the Bramlage Family Founda- nzen, Bethany moved to Washington DC where worked as a merchandiser until the age of 26 1987, married the former Jennifer Morri- tion, REES is able to offer a $3,000 scholarship to an in- she started a new job with SRA International, a when she and her husband moved to Puerto son of Independence, MO in 1997. They coming KU REES MA student with a strong connection to government contracting fi rm. Bethany is also a fi - Rico. At 27, she started her BA at the Univer- have six children: George (13), Carolyn the state of Kansas. nalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship. sity of Wyoming in international studies with (11), Sean (9), Sophie (7), Margaret (5), a focus on the Middle East. She spent a summer with the organization and Gabriel (3). Gary is a Foreign Area Offi cer, specializing in Rus- Yuki will be continuing at John Hopkins University in Bologna, Italy, in the School of Ad- pALiJ uKRAiNiAN STuDiES AWARD AMIDEAST in Tunisia. At KU, Sandra plans to study the sociopolitical as sia and Eurasia. He has served two combat tours in Afghanistan vanced International Studies (SAIS) program. well as religious development in the South Serbian Sandžak region. She and one in Iraq, as well as Peace Keeping mission in the Balkans, CREES congratulates Spring 2011 graduating REES co-majors: lily Boyce, eliska valeh- is specifi cally interested in the development of newer Islamic community where he served in the Russian Brigade's sector. He has a particu- rachava, and nicholas Krogman. Thank you for all your hard work, and we look forward centers and the associated ‘promotion’ of Wahabi Islam. lar interest in Russian History and the Russian view of Central Asia. to hearing about your future successes! natalie Mauser-Carter grew up in Dayton, Gloria Funcheon graduated from Kansas laura Dean and Assistant Professor of Sociology at Kansas State University, Nadia Shap- Ohio, home of the Peace Accords! She gradu- State University in 2011. While complet- kina, were on the Heartland Labor Forum KKFI 90.1FM talking about human traffi cking ated from Ohio State University in 2009 with ing her BA in History, she discovered a in April 2011. They mentioned some of the work they have done in Eastern Europe a BA in Russian and Linguistics. While at Ohio love for Russian history and language. as well as labor traffi cking in the US. To listen to their broadcast, go to: http://cas.umkc. State, she spent a summer studying Russian Gloria is this year’s recipient of the Bram- edu/labor-ed/shows.htm. On April 29, the Department of Political Science awarded with ACTR in St. Petersburg, another summer lage Family Foundation Scholarship, an Laura the Walter Thompson Scholarship, an annual award dedicated to summer re- teaching English in a small town in Bosnia, and award given to incoming KU REES MA search projects. nathan Pickett was awarded the 2011 Palij Ukrainian a few weeks studying Albanian at the Univer- students who have strong connections to Studies Award. The award, established by the Palij Family, John Biersack, Cody Brown, sarah Willenbrink, and shay Wood have all been awarded sity of Pristina in Kosovo. she would like to focus her studies at KU on the state of Kansas. In her free time she offers $75 worth of academic books to a student with a prestigous Fullbright Fellowships for research abroad. John will be doing his research in language ideologies and identity politics in the Balkans. After her MA, she loves gardening, reading, and learning about other cultures. She strong dedication to Ukrainian studies. Nathan was also Ukraine, Cody and Shay in Croatia, and Sarah in Poland. intends to pursue a career in the non-profi t world and is considering a JD plans to be a Foreign Service Offi cer after graduation. elected president of the REES Graduate Organization. All in international human rights law. Research Assistantships with FMSO-Ft Leavenworth were awarded to Ruoxi Du and inquiries about graduate students and events can be sent Matthew Cotton was born and raised in sandra King-savic for AY 2011-12, and to Ruoxi Du and Patrick Callen for Summer to his email at: [email protected]. McPherson, KS, just a few hours down the 2011. Foreign LAnguAge AreA studies to learn more about funding and award opportunities at road from Lawrence. He started his study at sarah Bazih was awarded a research assistantship through the Russian Review, where CRees, contact CRees assistant Director Bart Redford, FLAs Kansas State University in architecture but she has been working as an Editorial Assistant. Russian Review is a leading multi-disciplin- changed to a History major his freshman [email protected] or check out our website: ary journal hosted at KU. Sarah was also awarded a 2011 Excellence in Advanced Rus- FeLLoWshiP reciPients year. Matthew completed his History BA in sian by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. Starting in the fall, Sarah [email protected] 2010 focusing on modern Russia and Eastern will start a Russian Language Club at Cordley Elementary School here in Lawrence, KS. summer 2011 Europe. He has spent the last year working Dezeree Hodish was awarded a Boren Fellowship for the 2011-12 academic year. The Boren Fellowship is a unique opportunity for those students com- austin Charron – Ukrainian – Geography on his Russian language skills, and will con- mitted to careers concerning US national security. It covers a full year of study abroad and research. Dezeree will be going to Ukraine to conduct research Holly Glasgow – BCS – Anthropology tinue his Russian studies at KU. With REES he intends to focus his studies for her dissertation, which will compare the process of urban acculturation for Ukrainian and Russian workers in the sister cities of Donetsk, Ukraine, and James Joeriman – Ukrainian – REEI/Public Administration (Indiana) in History and either Political Science or Literature. her hometown, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dezeree was also awarded a 2011 Slavic Department award for Excellence in Intermediate Ukrainian. Mylisa Jones – BCS – Slavic Languages and Literatures tim Kenny – Russian – Slavic Languages and Literatures Jared Warren grew up in Connecticut and Additional 2011 Slavic Department awards went to: Rebecca stakun for Excellence in Elementary Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, and Holly Glasgow for travis Major – Uyghur – Linguistics fi rst encountered Eastern Europe through Excellence in Intermediate Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian. natalie Mauser-Carter – BCS – REES his family’s Polish heritage. In May 2011 he Slavic Languages and Literatures minor and Summer 2010 FLAS recipient, Godfrey Riddle, was featured in a May 12, 2011 KU graduation profi le titled Brad Reynolds – Russian – Slavic Languages and Literatures graduated from Calvin College in Grand “Graduation stories: Godfrey Riddle envisions the future of urban housing.” To read the full article, go to: www.news.ku.edu/2011/may/12/riddle.shtml. allison schmidt – Czech – History Rapids, Michigan with a BA in history and French literature. At KU, he plans to study Academic Year 2011-12 Polish history, particularly emphasizing Pol- Drew Burks – Polish – History ish encounters with French culture. After Patrick Callen – Russian – REES earning his MA, Jared will pursue a PhD in history. In his spare time, Holly Glasgow – Slovene – Anthropology Jared enjoys dabbling in foreign languages and obsessing over classical natalie Mauser-Carter – BCS – REES music. Brad Reynolds – Polish – Slavic Languages and Literatures After graduating with a BA in Music Edu- Rebecca stakun – BCS – Slavic Languages and Literatures cation in 2008, amy Murphy served an austen thelen – Tajik – Geography 18 month mission in Western Ukraine. Jared Warren – Polish – REES Her interactions and associations with The Foreign language and area studies (Flas) Fellowship program Ukrainians encouraged a desire to study provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to meri- more deeply Ukrainian culture and his- torious undergraduate and graduate students undergoing training in tory. Amy looks forward to returning to modern foreign languages and related area or international studies via Eastern Europe. She wants to incorpo- a US State Department grant. For more information or how to apply, rate her skills as an educator to help others develop a more ac- Holly Glasgow, Rees Ma candidate and summer 2011 Flas recipient, austin Charron, Geography Ma candidate and summer 2011 Flas re- go to: curate understanding of the region. standing in front of the round Church of saint Donat in Zadar, Croatia. cipient, at the Chernobyl nuclear Power Plant facility in Pripyat, ukraine. www.crees.ku.edu/academics/funding/ 16 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 17 2010-2011 2011 - 2012 CENTER FOR RUSSIAN, EAST EUROPEAN, & EURASIAN STUDIES University of Kansas LanguageIn Russian, East European, andTables Eurasian Regions C ALL FOR PAPERS Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Roy and Betty Laird CREES CREES ESSAY COMPETITION FALL Fall Mixer Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies R The 18th Annual Roy and Betty Laird POTLUCK ESSAY COMPETITION All University of Kansas students actively pursuing interests in Russian, East European, & Eurasian studies in any KU academic program are eligible Russian Ukrainian to submit an essay of approximately 2,000 words on any topic dealing with TBARussian - check facebook.com/KURussianClub MondaysPolish at 6:30pm calendar the region. The essay should be a “think piece,” not a formal research paper. It for updates or contact John Korba The Java Break on 7th and Mass. should explore a key issue in any discipline relevant to the region. For example, for Alternatingmore info. Wed./Thurs. at 6pm ContactMondays Vanessa at 4 -Aldrich5pm 2011 students might explore the causes and consequences of recent political changes [email protected] Mirth Café on 8th and Mass. [email protected] Floor Kansas Union (Dining) PREVIEW OF EVENTS LAWRENCE UNION PACIFIC TRAIN DEPOT E in the region, discuss the implications of the post-imperial order for national Contact Eva Hruska for more info. Contact Svetlana Vassileva-Karagyozova languages and literatures, the role of religion today, or compose an essay on Farsi/[email protected] Turkishfor more info. [email protected] 402 N. 2ND STREET another topic. Students may rework papers from KU classes, but submissions Thursdays at 4:30pm (tentative schedule) No Turkish Table 2011 must be reformatted to meet the following criteria. They must be typed, 4th Floor Kansas Union (Commons) If interested in conversing in Turkish contact Friday, September 9 Farsi/Tajik Czech double-spaced, and in 12-point font size. Contact Razi Ahmad Abbas Karakaya. Tuesdays from 2:50-3:50pm Thursdays at 5pm 6:00 - 9:00 pm [email protected] [email protected] Submit an anonymous version of the essay to Ms. Cathy Swenson-Tucker in 4th Floor Kansas Union (Commons) The Mirth Café on 8th and Mass. 320 Bailey Hall by 5:00 pm by Monday, March 26, 2012. A committee Special Events and Lectures Come join us as we celebrate the beginning of a new semester with Bosnian/Croatian/SerbianContact Razi Ahmad for more info. UyghurContact Eva Hruska for more info. good food, drinks, and fun. Bring your favorite dish and share with will evaluate the essays and select the winning entry. The winner will receive $750, a book of his or her choice, a certificate, his or her name on a plaque, and [email protected] from 12-12:50pm [email protected] at 4:30pm family and friends! E an impressive line on the résumé. The winner will be invited to present the pa- Anschutz Library, Rm 436 3rd Floor Kansas Union (Dining) per at the final REES Brown Bag of the academic year and may have the paper ContactBosnian/Croatian/Serbian Marta Pirnat-Greenberg ContactUkrainian Mahire Yakup for more info. Back to School Fair Backus Memorial Lecture “Commemorating Jewish Victims in Early posted on the CREES website. [email protected] from 12-12:50pm [email protected] at 5pm If you have further questions regarding the topic or submission, please PolishAlcove E of the Kansas Union 3rd Floor Watson Library Wyandotte County Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin Post-War Yugoslavia “ contact Cathy Swenson-Tucker in 320 Bailey, at 864-4236, or by e-mail Contact Marta Pirnat-Greenberg Contact Vanessa Aldrich at [email protected]. Wednesdays from 4-5pm August 6, 9:00 - 1:00 PM Timothy Snyder Emil Kerenjii, Applied Research Scholar 3rdfor Floor more Kansas [email protected] Union (Dining) for more info. [email protected] THE REES ESSAY COMPETITION IS SUPPORTED BY THE Contact Svetlana Vassileva-Karagyozova PROFESSOR ROY D. AND BETTY LAIRD ENDOWMENT. History, Yale University United States Holocaust Memorial Museum For more information: www.crees.ku/edu S [email protected] Everyone is Welcomewww.facebook.com/ku.crees to Come! [email protected] 750 Teaching Gallery Exhibit Kansas Union November 3, 4:00 PM , Venue TBA $ PRIZE Everyone is Welcome to Come! “Identity and Community in the Malott Room Contemporary World” September 22, 7:00 PM 2011 Central Slavic Conference and Charles Spencer Art Museum Timberlake Memorial Symposium Brownbag Series Friday Night August 23-September 2, 2011 Festival of Cultures St. Louis, MO International Studies Exhibit November 10-13, 2011 318 Bailey, 12:00 PM at the Kino REES BA, MA, and FLAS Orientation South Park in Lawrence Bailey Hall, Room 318 September 25, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM 43rd ASEEES Annual Convention Democracy, Ten Years Later: Democratization, State Building, and Minorities: 318 Bailey, 7:00 PM August 23, 12:00 PM Omni Shoreham Hotel Politics and Identity of Minorities in Serbia Multiethnic States of Southeast Europe Jerkovich Lecture Washington, DC Slavisa Rakovic Alex Grigorev Korowod Special Film Viewing “Ethnic Identity and Community in the Post- November 17-20, 2011 Ljubljana Graduate School for the Humanities Council for Inclusive Governance Twist of Fate My Perestroika Conflict Balkans: Flashpoint Kosovo” ACIE, Belgrade Office International Peace and Conflict Resolution, In Polish with English Subtitles Q&A with director Robin Hessman Alex Grigorev CREES Holiday Party August 30 Arcadia University September 23 Kansas Union, Woodruff Auditorium President Director Edith Clowes’ house October 25 August 25, 7:00 pm Council for Inclusive Governance December 6, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Russia’s Transition to a Market Economy: 9 Рота International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Birth of a Commercial Legal Framework Tsar Dmitry and Russia-NATO Relations 9th Company International Studies Conference Arcadia University Holly Neilson Raymond Finch, Foreign Military Studies Office In Russian with English Subtitles “Identity and Community: After the Cold War Era” Kansas Union October 21 Kansas Union Centennial Room Baring Vostok Capital Partners November 1 August 25-27, 2011 October 24, 7:00 PM September 9 Title TBA An Seh What’s New at the Library Stephen Dickey Those Three August 25 Key Note Speaker Book Talk: Environmental Politics: Scale and Power In Tajik with English Subtitles Ayse Zarakol Shannon O’Lear, Geography, KU Jon Guillian KU Dept of Slavic Languages and Literatures November 18 Washington and Lee University Kansas Union, Jayhawk Inc. KU Libraries November 8 “Liminal States after the Cold War Era: October 27, 4:00 PM September 13 Poletja The case of Turkey in Feminism in Russia: Two Centuries of History Summer Hit comparative perspective” Arhaeological survey in Eastern Serbia 2011: Natalia Puskareva In Slovene with English Subtitles Kansas Union, 1:00 - 2:00 PM University of International Collaboration, Preliminary Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology December 2 Kansas &Identity Results and Perspectives Russian Academy of Sciences August 27 Key Note Speaker ConferenCe Ivana Radovanovic November 15 Ruel Hanks Community KU Department of Anthropology After the Cold War Era Oklahoma State University aUgUst 25-27 September 20 Poland’s Last Communist Generation: 2011 topiCs inClude: All CREES brownbags, book talks, “Oltin Meros and the Territorialization rethinkinG national Myth Lost or Found in the Transition? of Memory in Uzbek National Identity” Kansas Union CoMMunity after eMpire and film series are FREE and history and national identity Student Panel on Study Abroad Svetlana Vassileva-Karagyozova Kansas Union, 1:00 - 2:00 PM tools for CoMMunity reGulation SPECIAL REES and REES-Area KU Students KU Dept of Slavic Languages and Literatures OPEN to the public. If you would ConstruCtions of national identity Sponsored by: FILM University of Kansas Office of the Chancellor iMpliCations for iMMiGration and soCial poliCy VIEWING September 27 November 22 like to give a brownbag lecture or Office of the Provost narratinG and arChivinG history CREES Fall Mixer & Potluck College of Liberal Arts and Sciences FREE & OPEN internet CoMMunities Department of Film TO THE PUBLIC would like to recommend a movie Department of Lawrence Union Pacific Train Depot borders, MiGration, and identity MEET THE Slavic Languages and Literatures Title TBA FMSO Fellowship Results reGional identities DIRECTOR Dole Institute of Politics for our film series, please contact: September 9, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Q&A Hall Center for the Humanities reliGious and philosophiCal CoMMunities FOLLOWING THE TBA Ruoxi Du, MA candidate, REES Spencer Museum of Art FILM state, poliCy, and identity School of Music THURSDAY US Army Research Office free speeCh, huMan riGhts, and CoMMunity October 18 Sandra King-Savic, MA candidate, REES AUGUST 25 Bart Redford US Dept. of Education, Title VI Central Eurasian Studies rural, urban, and suburban CoMMunities 7:00 PM KANSAS UNION November 29 Organized by: CREES Assistant Director Twelfth Annual Conference WOODRUFF Center for Russian, East European, ConferenCe partiCipation is free AUDITORIUM Western and Central Asian Perspectives on & Eurasian Studies [email protected] Ohio State University Center for East Asian Studies and open to the publiC. BROUGHT TO YOU Center for Global and International Studies BY: Democracy and Democratization: Compar- Grandfather Frost: CENTER FOR RUSSIAN, EAST Columbus, Ohio Kansas African Studies Center EUROPEAN, AND EURASIAN 785-864-4248 Center of Latin American Studies STUDIES The Evolution of a Russian Cultural Icon reGistration is required. ERMAL GARINGER ACADEMIC ing the Models of Democracy September 15-18, 2011 RESOURCE CENTER HALL CENTER to reGister, Go to: FOR THE HUMANITIES Maria Omelicheva Irina Six SLAVIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES www.facebook. www.crees.ku.edu/ FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES KU Department of Political Science KU Dept of Slavic Languages and Literatures com/ku.crees identity_conference.shtml October 4 December 6

18 CREES NEWSLETTER FALL 2011 19 BECoME A CREES DoNoR ToDAy! Many of our activities are enhanced through private giViNg oppoRTuNiTiES donations to the Center CRees General Fund Roy & Betty Laird Essay Contest. Monies donated The CREES General Fund supports a wide range of to support this fund will primarily contribute to the for Russian, east euro- educational and outreach activities on campus and in advancement of Russian Studies. pean & eurasian studies. the wider community. Among its dedicated sponsors norman e. saul Fund are the Backus Memorial Fund which allows CREES special events, guest lec- Named after KU History Emeritus Professor Nor- to host the annual Backus Memorial Lecture, and the turers, scholarships and man E. Saul, this fund supports REES MA students Bramlage Family Foundation Fund which provides with travel grants to collections or to REES related study abroad opportuni- scholarships to incoming KU REES MA students who conferences at which they will be presenting the re- ties are just some of the have strong connections to the state of Kansas. sults of their research. ways your donation can Maria Palij Memorial Fund help us ensure our Cen- The Maria Palij Fund suppports an annual visiting ter’s vitality. We hope lecturerer specializing in Ukrainian studies. The fund if you would like to make a donation by that you will contribute also supports the Ukrainian Studies Prize for an out- check or money order, please make your standing student specializing in Ukrainian. generously to strengthen check payable to: Ku CRees. the Center’s programs by George C. Jerkovich Fund The mission of the Jerkovich Fund is threefold: 1) Please mail your donations to: sending your gift today. supports the development of KU’s South Slavic library collection; 2) provides awards to outstanding university of Kansas For more information, students who have demonstrated an interest in the please contact us at: study of Croatian or Serbian history, literature, folk- Center for Russian, east european [email protected] lore, or culture; 3) brings noted specialists in South & eurasian studies 785-864-4248 Slavic studies to KU. 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 320 Roy & Betty laird Fund lawrence, Ks 66045-7574 Or check out our website: This fund is named after the late Professor Roy D. Laird, a longtime member of the Russian and East Your gifts are tax deductible as allowed www.crees.ku.edu European Studies (REES) and Political Science faculties, and Ms. Betty Laird, whose continued support by law. thank you for your support! of CREES activities includes sponsoring the annual

the university of Kansas Center for Russian, east european & eurasian studies 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 320 lawrence, Ks 66045-7574