For whom the bell tolls

[Wendell W. Solomons]

Greetings Friends!

Just below the waterline on H-Russia and Seelangs lists
ride a few ethnic baiters. If they are successful, then
our line of business will suffer.

Rgds

\\/

Don't let them kill Russian
ANU Russian Club: "Kruzhok"

Welcome to the Home Page of Kruzhok, the Russian Club at the Australian
National University.
Linked to the Russian Page in the Department of Modern European Languages.

About Kruzhok

Kruzhok was re-formed in May, 1998, to fight the proposed axing of Russian
by the University. Russian had been taught at ANU for more that 40 years,
and due to short sighted funding cuts it may be eliminated. Students half
way through degrees could find themselves without a course. Staff, several
of whom already work on a voluntary basis, will lose their jobs. Although
only a small club, Kruzhok has successfully raised funds and is preparing a
major campaign to save Russian.

The Russian Situation

The problems started in the second teaching week of the year. The twelve
students wanting to start first year Russian were informed that their
course had been cancelled. This was after they and enrolled, bought
textbooks and started the course. Two students, who came to the University
specifically to study Russian, have since left. Others have soldiered on in
voluntary classes, for which they will receive no course credits and for
which the staff aren't being paid.

Despite collecting 1,500 signatures on a petition within two and a half
days of the first year cut, University management still refused to listen.
In order to achieve actual savings of around $3000, they were prepared to
kill a subject. Even with a small enrollment, student's HECS fees could
have paid for the course. Now Uni administration is considering abolishing
an entire programme and losing the capacity to teach Russian entirely,
merely for the sake of cutting one salaried position. Although the entire
Modern European Languages Department at ANU is being decimated by savage
cuts, Russian is the only programme facing elimination, so far.

The Plans - So Far

Russian's problems lie with an administration obsessed with enrollment
figures, and Kruzhok plans to hit them where it hurts. A letter writing
campaign is planned for schools, telling them about the Russian course at
ANU while warning that potential students face an ever shrinking choice of
courses, increasing class sizes and the very real danger of being treated
in the same, appalling manner in which first year Russian was treated this
year.

Furthermore, we feel it only fair to write to the editors of newspapers in
South East Asia, to warn potential international students against paying
large fees to come to ANU when they will face similar problems.

Kruzhok hopes that by informing Uni administration of the potential impact
on enrollments of falling standards and course cuts, we can encourage the
hierarchy to rethink their short sighted decision to cut Russian.

Drafts and Letters already sent

How Can You Help?

By writing to the Vice Chancellor of ANU,  Prof R Deane Terrell,

Vice-Chancellor at anu.edu.au

and the Dean of the Arts Faculty, Prof Paul Thom,

and telling them that you, as a student, potential student, alumni or
community member are not happy with the fate of Russian. Let them know the
effect this has on the standing of the University. Maybe if enough people
say something they will finally unblock their ears to the cries of
students, staff and the community.Their snail mail addresses are here.

Snail Mail Addresses:

Prof R Deane Terrell
Vice Chancellor
Australian National University
Acton ACT 0200

Prof Paul Thom
Dean, Faculty of Arts
Australian National University
Acton ACT 0200

If you have any suggestions about saving Russian, or comments on this page,
please do not hesitate to send them to us.


Don't let them kill Russian
Last Modified 27 July 1998
Comments/Suggestions: kruzhok at hotmail.com

--
Rita Bogna
Adelaide, South Australia
e-mail: rabogna at dove.net.au
http://dove.net.au/~rabogna/home.htm
http://dove.net.au/~rabogna/russian/russian1.htm