YOUNGSTOWN Sister city-university program advances

Faculty and student exchanges are possible with the sister university.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mirror images?
Not quite.
But Youngstown State University and the University of Salerno, Italy, have a lot in common.
Both universities are vibrant economic forces in their communities, both are expanding their campuses, both are located in industrial cities that sit in the shadow of larger municipalities -- Youngstown in the shadow of Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Salerno in the shadow of Naples.
Both even offer similar jazz programs.
Officials from both universities and the city of Youngstown discussed the similarities during an informal lunch meeting Wednesday. Each side hopes to foster a relationship that will allow the universities to share resources and boost the economies of both Youngstown and Salerno.
Raimondo Pasquino, president of the University of Salerno, which is about 300 miles south of Rome, was in Youngstown at the invitation of the Joint City of Youngstown/YSU Sister Cities International Project committee.
With him were his college-age son and daughter and a university student.
Based on the committee's review of several cities and universities in Italy, the coastal city of Salerno was determined to have the most in common with Youngstown and would therefore be the best match for the sister city program, said Noah Midamba, committee chairman and interim administrator of YSU's Center for International Studies and Programs.
Benefits
"The reciprocal opportunities are extensive for both universities, with study abroad programs, as well as faculty and student exchanges," Midamba said. "The city could experience commercial growth because businesses will be encouraged to operate in Youngstown. The potential for future growth of both the city and the university is great."
"I look forward to the cultural exchange of ideas and the opportunities it will provide for business growth and for university students," said Mayor George McKelvey. "It's a wonderful initiative and absolutely appealing."
"The YSU, Youngstown sister university/sister city initiative represents a key step in positioning the university to be a national center of distinction in Italian language and culture," added Tony Atwater, YSU provost.
Speaking through a translator, Pasquino thanked Dr. David Sweet, university president, for the invitation, expressed friendship to Americans and said he wants the two universities to do many beautiful things together. Pasquino also said he believes the two universities will be able to exchange researchers and faculty.
Pasquino presented Sweet and McKelvey with seals of the University of Salerno and CDs featuring students in the university's jazz program. Sweet presented Pasquino with a dinner-size plate with the YSU seal, and his children and the other university student with bright red YSU baseball caps.
McKelvey presented Pasquino with a framed lithograph featuring Youngstown's skyline, and a T-shirt and coffee mug featuring various views.
University administrators have been working to develop the sister university/sister city relationship for about four months, said Mike Iberis, president of the Italian Scholarship League, which is backing the project. Terms of the arrangement are expected to be finalized within the next few months, he said.
kubik@vindy.com