Seeking publicity: EHU students try to shed light on Rector‘s elections


Expressing misgivings over the future of the only Belarusian university in exile a group of indifferent students are about to hold the conference “The Belarusian EHU: 10 years in Lithuania”. It is to take place on 9-10 January 2015 in Vilnius.

The competition for Rector’s position started three months ago. Unfortunately, university authorities’ press releases withhold important details of the selection process, which creates fertile ground for rumours and distribution of inaccurate information. At the same time society in Belarus express concern about the survival of Belarusian spirit in the course of fundamental managerial changings. 

To launch a constructive discussion, EHU’s Student Union and Alumni Association are organising an international conference as a venue for an open debate on the Belarusian future of the university.

The following persons are aspiring to the position of Rector:

David Pollick, Acting Rector of the EHU

Darius Udrys, Vice Rector for development and communication

Tatsiana Shchyttsova, EHU professor, editor of university journal ‘Topos’

Aliaksandr Milinkevich, former candidate for presidency in Belarus (2006)

Ales Krautsevich, historian, ex-Vice Rector at HrodnaUniversity (Belarus)

Edward Roslof, Fulbright Program director in Russia

Šarūnas Liekis,  historian and political scientist (Lithuania)

All the candidates got invitations to participate and discuss their ideas and plans. By the moment only Darius Udrys and Aliaksandr Milinkevich have confirmed their participation.

Uladzimir Kolas, Ales Lahvinets, Vadzim Mazheika, Siarhei Isakau, Leanid Mindlin and other representatives of Belarusian civil society are expected to be present at the event too.

Not to miss the deadline set by the Governing Board’s selection committee, the conference should be held in the coming days, organisers say. The General Assembly of Part-Owners is to select a new Rector by March, 1.

If you would like to participate in the conference or need more information, do not hesitate to contact the EHU Students’ Union at the e-mail address studentcouncil@ehu.lt.

***

Founded in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, in 1992, soon after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the European Humanities University was one of the few private, nonprofit liberal-arts institutions in the country.

But in 2004, Belarusian officials shut it down after it stood up against attempts to undermine its academic freedom. In response, a small team of faculty members and administrators set up a “university in exile” across the border in neighboring Lithuania.

NJ, www.belsat.eu/en

TWITTER