Saturday, May 31, 2003
A committee has collected $60,000 toward a $2 million fund-raising goal.
& lt;a href=mailto:viviano@vindy.com & gt;By JoANNE VIVIANO & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A drive to create an endowed Italian chair at Youngstown State University is a key first step for the possible formation of an Institute for Culture and Language on campus.
YSU already has programs in Islamic, Africana and American studies. Dr. Robert Bolla, dean of arts and sciences, said groups are also working to establish Hispanic and Judaic programs. Other options are Slavic/Eastern European studies and Irish studies.
An institute would house all the programs under one roof.
"One of the things I always wanted was an Institute for Culture and Language," Bolla said. Such an institute would serve as a think tank and offer experts to discuss various topics across the globe.
What's required
A first step is to create an endowed faculty position in Italian culture and language. Bolla said community members were working toward a chair about five years ago but plans fizzled.
He was recently approached by members of the Youngstown area Italian community, and a drive to create the position was kicked off in April when Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, visited YSU.
Bolla said such a position is needed to preserve a culture that has been part of the Valley's history for decades.
"If we let the current generation slip by without having a grasp of the culture and the language which brought them here, then it will be gone forever," Bolla said. "If we don't capture it now, we'll never capture it."
An endowed chair is a faculty position paid for through the proceeds of an endowment fund of donations from private donors.
About $2 million is needed to fully fund the chair position and create an Italian-American studies program at YSU. Bolla said 5 percent of the funds would be used for salary and operating expenses.
An endowed chair could serve as a focal point to attract faculty, develop a graduate program, increase interest in teaching Italian in elementary and high schools, develop credit and noncredit community programs and use his or her expertise in other course areas.
Potential candidates have already been identified.
Fund raising
The Italian Scholarship League pledged $50,000 in April to kick off the effort. Since then, an additional $10,000 has been raised.
The Committee for the Preservation of Italian Culture and Language, a group of five local community leaders, is leading the campaign to raise money for the position.
Bolla said large gifts are not all that is needed. Though individuals may not have enough on their own to make a single gift, he suggests that family members pool money to donate.
YSU offers bachelor's degrees in Italian, as well as minors, teacher training and study-abroad programs. Students with such majors might pursue international business, international politics, teaching or graduate work.
In fall 2003, the program had 116 students: 88 in elementary courses, 12 in intermediate courses and 16 majoring in Italian. Total enrollment in fall 2002 was 70.