On the "correct proportions of the world"

KYIV-OSTROH-KYIV - Six years ago, Academician Mykola Zhulynsky, chairman of the supervisory board of Ostroh Academy National University, invited Larysa Ivshyna, editor of The Day , to come to Ostroh. The visit turned out to be a significant event. According to the newspaper editor, once she set foot on the Ostroh campus, she became instantly aware of its special aura, convinced that a process was underway at this university, one that was sorely needed by Ukrainian society.

Since then, a number of projects have been carried out in collaboration with Ostroh Academy. At a meeting at Ostroh Academy held on June 11, the university rector Ihor Pasichnyk listed some of the achievements that have been made in the course of cooperation between his university and The Day . Meetings with noted figures invited by Larysa Ivshyna have become traditional at the academy. Thanks to her PR, the club of the academy's friends continues to expand.

At various periods the university has played host to such important public figures as Yevhen Marchuk, the kobzar Taras Kompanichenko, professors Valerii Stepankov and Volodymyr Panchenko, and the Ukrainian philanthropic family of Olena and Vitalii Haiduk. Ostroh Academy has left a special trace in their hearts. Dr. Pasichnyk reminded those present that when Marchuk was Ukraine's defense minister, he donated a military town to the academy, which is now the site of dormitories and a military lyceum for orphaned boys or boys from single-parent families. This institution remains under Marchuk's personal patronage.

Mrs. Ivshyna has presided over the launch of every book from The Day 's Library Series at Ostroh Academy. These books have been avidly discussed, and some students and lecturers end up writing books for this series or writing reviews for the newspaper.

The idea to institute the Editor's Scholarship for the best students was conceived in 2004. Among the criteria are good marks, journalistic talent, and an active civic stance. In the past six years 12 students of the academy have held this scholarship.

The cooperation between the newspaper and the academy then evolved into The Day 's Summer School of Journalism, which is now an annual project. Its students pursue a variety of majors and come from universities all over Ukraine.

The Day 's photo exhibit is traditionally held at Ostroh Academy. Every year Mrs. Ivshyna presents the academy with the best photos that have been voted for by students and lecturers. Students also take part in the photo competition, as in the case of the Mizerny dynasty - a student and his father.

One of the offshoots of this close collaboration is the Ostroh Club of Young Intellectuals, which in the past two years has become a powerful civic movement ( www.uosa.uar.net ).

As a result of mass support and the inexhaustible work of The Day 's editor and Dr. Pasichnyk, the "Ostroh Academy" brand is known all over Ukraine. Political leaders and scholarly, public, and cultural figures consider it their duty to pay a visit to Ostroh. On June 13, for example, Parliamentary Speaker Arsenii Yatseniuk met with the academy's students.

A couple of days before that, on June 11, The Day 's editor in chief, who is a member of the academy's supervisory board and honorary member of the Ostroh Academic Brotherhood, delivered a progress report at the university.

THE "DISTORTING MIRROR" OF UKRAINIAN SOCIETY

All the topics that had accumulated since the previous meeting were discussed that day. Ostroh readers had many questions concerning Mrs. Ivshyna's article "The birthplace of giraffes" ( The Day , no. 18, June 3, 2008).

Viktoria Skuba asked whether Ukrainian journalism is a mirror reflection of Ukrainian society, to which Mrs. Ivshyna replied that “Ukrainian journalism is a distorting mirror of society.” By broadcasting and advertising things that in no way conform to the high demands of society, the Ukrainian media are responsible for distorting public moods. Journalistic and civic responsibility for the state of society is the cornerstone of current Ukrainian realities.

THE UKRAINIAN TIMES

“How can one maintain such a high standard for so many years?” asked Alla Dubrovyk, who called The Day the Ukrainian Times .

In the 1990s, when The Day was just gaining momentum, its motto was: “Russia Reads Izvestia , the US Reads The New York Times , and Ukraine Reads The Day !” As the years passed, the established standards changed.The Day  has replaced Izvestia , but  The New York Times is a different story. When the US Holodomor scholar James Mace was still alive,The Day urged the American paper to revoke Walter Duranty’s Pulitzer Prize because he had deliberately concealed the truth about the Holodomor in Ukraine. To this day there has been no response from the paper. Western journalistic standards are very high, but they are often overstated in Ukraine. According to Mrs. Ivshyna, the secret of her newspaper is that it invites readers to set their own high standards and civic stance. “Before the BBC was founded it was necessary to create Great Britain.” Of course, not everyone is capable of appreciating this newspaper, but the thinking part of Ukrainian society requires this type of publication.

ANNA’S TALISMAN

During the meeting at Ostroh Academy, Mrs. Ivshyna recalled a letter to the editor that was sent in 1994 by Anna Vakulenko, an eighth- grader from Kirovohrad oblast. It made such an impression that it was published on the front page. The letter contained a list of questions to politicians, and it sparked a huge response from readers.

As it turns out, Anna was in the audience on June 11. Last year her cherished dream came true and she enrolled in Ostroh Academy, the university that she had dreamed about ever since she had read about it in articles published in The Day. Unfortunately, she was not able to enroll as a student subsidized by the state budget. In view of her excellent progress, however, she may soon be switched to this category, Dr. Pasichnyk said.

The unexpected meeting between Anna and her mentors is a wonderful example of the practical results of the initiatives undertaken by The Day and Ostroh Academy. “Can you imagine? If my father hadn’t subscribed to The Day (he is the village’s sole subscriber — O.R. ), I would never have found out about Ostroh Academy, let alone enroll,” Anna said.

“Anna, how did your fellow villagers react to your letter being published in the newspaper?” Mrs. Ivshyna asked Anna.

“They were envious.”

“They shouldn’t have envied you but followed your example. If you just sit around envying people, you will never change anything in your life. You could serve as a good example for your fellow villagers. Give my best regards to your father. He is a clever man.”

Anna is very pleased with her life, but she is not satisfied with the way her country lives. She still has countless questions to ask politicians.

Anna VAKULENKO, first-year student at the Faculty of Political and Information Management, Ostroh Academy National University:

Four years have elapsed since the article “Anna’s list” was published. I am just an ordinary village girl, but I had an opportunity to meet Natalia Trofimova and Mykhailo Markiv (two reporters at The DayO.R. ) and discuss current realities with them. I was dreaming of enrolling at Ostroh Academy. I am still convinced that this is the finest independent institution of higher learning in Ukraine. Years passed and last summer I enrolled there. Yesterday another dream came true when I met the editor in chief of one of the few truly intellectual newspapers in our country. Mrs. Ivshyna suggested several ideas, specifically in regard to the Ostroh Club and its expansion throughout Ukraine. Our students had a chance to ask questions that interest them. She also answered our questions about her fantastic article “The birthplace of giraffes,” the newspaper, and the link between journalism and the political situation in Ukraine over the past several decades. I decided to use the opportunity to ask the following question: “I have been dreaming of leaving Ukraine since childhood. Should I go?” Mrs. Ivshyna smiled and replied: “The people in this hall are responsible young people; you will build our future and your wise tutors will help you.” She presented me with a collection of photos from the The Day’s exhibits, and my father, with the book My Universities . I was full of emotions from this meeting. I have to keep working and improving myself, which means building my future!

Viktoria SKUBA, student at the Faculty of Political and Information Management, Ostroh Academy National University:

Contemporary Ukrainian journalism has exhausted itself. It is good that there are people in our country who are capable of raising this question — not only on the pages of this newspaper but also during meetings with young Ukrainians. Who but the younger generation is the target of educational activities?

Mrs. Ivshyna’s meeting with the students of Ostroh Academy is proof that we have people who can be educated. The problems that she raised address not only the state of Ukrainian journalism but a considerably broader range of issues. Whatever crisis we discussed — language, distorted historical facts, the degradation of Ukrainian television — we arrived at the same conclusion: that there is a way out of the situation that has developed, but we have to struggle for it. All it takes is to start changing at least one social sphere. Perhaps the key to such changes is the healing of Ukrainian journalism.

Yaroslav KOVALCHUK, student, Faculty of Romance and Germanic Languages, Ostroh Academy National University:

A number of interesting questions were raised during the meeting with Larysa Ivshyna, which are also topical for Ukrainian society. The students of Ostroh Academy had an opportunity to learn more about modern Ukrainian journalism from a person who has dedicated her entire life to its advancement, and to find out how Mrs. Ivshyna views the Ukrainian political community, the processes that are underway in Ukraine, and its European integration endeavors.

Several times the editor of The Day stressed the importance of raising a new generation of specialists, who will help build the Ukrainian state by relying on the latest developments in the science of state administration, business management, jurisprudence, journalism, civic activism, and so on, and applying them to domestic realities. However, to do so it is necessary to change the world outlook that is germane to part of the younger generation. Regrettably, in quite a number of cases our young specialists, aware of their qualification levels and employment opportunities abroad, are leaving Ukraine in search of a better life. The qualitative advancement of Ukrainian society will become possible only when our young people realize the need to work in Ukraine for the good of Ukraine. However, a single individual or institution, or even the entire political elite will not be able to change our society, which is actually a self-regulating system. Only global processes within the Ukrainian community will be able to change the existing situation. They will not only convince our young people to remain in Ukraine and work. They will also return to Ukraine part of the scientific and intellectual potential that has been lost during the years of independence.

Alla DUBROVYK, student at the Faculty of Economics, Ostroh Academy National University:

This was my first meeting with Larysa Ivshyna because, as Dr. Pasichnyk put it, this “breath of fresh air” was something I have always needed.

During the meeting a number of acute questions were raised, and there was a lively discussion of the state of the Ukrainian press. For me, however, the most pressing issue is Ukraine’s integration into Europe. I realized that I was in the right place at the right time after Mrs. Ivshyna pointed out that joining the European Union, merging with this mega-economic and megapolitical system without first building one’s core and putting things in order at home makes no sense because we would become simply a source of raw materials, a supplier of cheap manpower — “manual laborers with a post-secondary education” — to the developed countries of Europe. It is here that I will find the answer to my question: “Is today’s Ukraine a European country or not?”

Kyrylo KURHANSKY, student at the Faculty of Economics, Ostroh Academy National University:

The roundtable with Larysa Ivshyna was another opportunity to assess the current situation in the Ukrainian media.

Unfortunately, most leading journalists have to surmount such obstacles as resistance from state and society.

In addition, they have to struggle not to lose a sense of their own dignity. Of course, this one meeting cannot change the opinion of a thousand individuals, but several hundred will sit up and listen. After all, we are the ones who are destined to build this country, but this is impossible if you keep looking into the distorting mirror of the tabloids.

Daryna HUZENKOVA, student majoring in Literary Creativity, Ostroh Academy National University:

I was instantly intrigued by the title of the article “The birthplace of giraffes.” What giraffes? What’s the point? After reading this article, I realized that I now had answers to my questions. So I wanted to meet the author, who is aware of the times and is not afraid to speak the truth about contemporary journalism — if what our newspapers publish can be called journalism. I was expecting to see a serious-looking female editor who has no time for jokes, and was surprised to note the friendly and informal atmosphere of the meeting. There was a vigorous discussion about a number of acute and unresolved issues concerning the Ukrainian media: for example, where will all the garbage littering the media lead us? Who but “giraffes” are being bred by Ukrainian television, newspapers, and radio stations?

I was also glad to see that Mrs. Ivshyna was listening to our opinions, because although there is a widespread theory that events are created by young people and their ideas are the most important, in reality they are usually shrugged off. It is good to know that we have periodicals that are not “bought” and that people are doing something, introducing changes. I wish such individuals would visit our academy more often because communicating with them makes you feel more confident in your own strength and in the belief that one of these days you too will change something.

Olha BELIAVTSEVA , student majoring in Ukrainian Philology, Ostroh Academy National University:

Meetings at which audience members can address questions to the speaker are standard practice at Ostroh Academy, but not all of them exude such energy. Sometimes when you listen for an hour or longer, you leave remembering nothing, having discovered nothing new. The meeting with Mrs. Ivshyna made me reflect on many things, particularly the problems in our society, especially the choice between living in Ukraine or abroad, speaking Ukrainian or another language; contemporary journalism, the “birthplace of giraffes,” people who really can and want to do something for our country, and who, surprisingly, are actually doing something. It was a good meeting. It provided a lot of food for thought.