CSU houses new Slovenian center
By Matthew Gadus
The efforts of Dr. Gregory Sadlek, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Zvone Zigon, consul general of Slovenia, have paid off with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on April 10 to create the Slovenian Studies Center.
A new center
The center will offer courses in Slovenian culture and language. The five-year program is a collaborative effort between CSU, the government of Slovenia, Lakeland Community College, Bowling Green State University and Kent State University.Leaders give approval
The agreement was signed by CSU President Michael Schwartz, Zigon and LCC Provost Frederic Law. BGSU was represented by Dr. Timothy Pogacar, president of the Society for Slovene Studies.CSU goes global
“We are embarking on the globalization of the entire university,” said Dr. Schwartz at the signing. “We are in the business of graduating citizens of the world.”
The program is renewable after five years. CSU was chosen for the center because of the large number of Slovenians in the Cleveland area.Financing
The center, which will be located in Rhodes Tower, will preserve and promote Slovenian culture and language. The government of Slovenia is financing the program.
“This is breaking new ground,” said Sadlek. “It is an important step. It is an important part of the university’s outreach.”
While the courses will concentrate on Slovenian culture, language, history, and politics, they may be expanded to include countries bordering Slovenia or all of central Europe.
Courses will be offered by the Department of Modern Languages, the History Department and the Political Science Department.
Professors visiting from Slovenia will teach the courses, according to Sadlek.
Reach this Stater reporter at m.gadus@csuohio.edu