Past events
From Cambridge University Ukrainian Society
Events in 2010
Media Freedom in Ukraine - Truth or Fiction
Cambridge University Ukrainian Society (CUUS) is preparing to hold the round table with the topic: "Media Freedom in Ukraine: Truth or Fiction?". Three prominent Ukrainian journalists – Tatiana Chornovol, columnist for the investigative internet newspaper Ukrains'ka Pravda; Iaroslava Mishchenko, chief political reporter for the news agency UNIAN; and Myroslav Otkovych, senior political observer with the 1PLUS1 TV channel will talk in Cambridge about the craft of news-making in Ukraine and discuss the ways in which political considerations influence editorial policy and compromises affect democracy. The round table will take place in the Latimer Room of Clare College at the University of Cambridge, on 13 May 2010.
However, following suggestions of some of the colleagues, the CUUS currently considers the possibility of holding a separate graduate workshop with the above journalists early afternoon on 13 May 2010. The workshop would be open for graudate students and researchers working on or interested in the Ukrainian politics and media. An informal workshop would facilitate informal in-depth discussion of specific issues of the Ukrainian politics and societal developments.
The workshop will be held in Ukrainian/Russian with English translation provided. Participation fee 15 GBP. CUUS does not cover travel/accommodation expenses. Please can you state your interest in the workshop e-mail the event organiser Vsevolod Samokhvalov vsevolod76@yahoo.com.
The 2010 Elections
Following an electronic AGM, a new committee was elected on the 16th of April 2010. I am pleased to announce the results:
President: Vsevolod Samokhvalov
Vice-President: Anton Symkovych
Senior Treasurer: Kostya Trachenko
Fundraising Officer: Ksenya Tyshkevych
Secretary: Olya Tkachenko
Social Officer: Natalya Vibla
Let us thank the outgoing committee members for dedicating hours of their time and effort to organise events, for their good humour and for always being ready to help. Special thanks go to the ex-President Lyudmyla Bashynska who gave the society a whole new spirit. It was a pleasure to work with all of you. Best wishes to both those who leave Cambridge for greener pastures this year and to those who stay.
Olga Tkachenko (CUUS Secretary)
The President's Address
Dear colleagues and friends of CUUS,
As a newly-elected President of our Society I would like to thank all of you who displayed interest and took part in the work of the CUUS and elections of the CUUS Committee.
I take my election as an honour and challenge. I am honoured to preside over the work of the Society which was run and kept alive by such exceptional and experienced predecessors as Zoryana Oliynyk, Olena Fimyar, Lyudmyla Bashynska and many other legendary figures.
It is a challenge because my honourable predecessors have launched so many diverse initiatives and activities that one might find this horizon to be too wide to embrace. But I have no such concerns because I know that all the impressive accomplishments of the CUUS were made possible thanks to joint effort of its members and friends. Keeping alive the Ukrainian flame which once was born and has been cherished here in Cambridge ever since, we have accumulated great deal of experience in organising interesting, joyful and fascinating events. So let's just keep walking :-).
With this in mind I once again thank all CUUS members and friends and state that I am committed to accomplish all the initiatives we launched, prepared, planned or dreamt about and I count on your support because I firmly believe that this world is what we make of it. So let's make this world better.
Sincerely yours, Vsevolod Samokhvalov
President of the Cambridge University Ukrainian Society
Department of Politics and International Studies
Vodka Party 2010
Date: Saturday 6 March
Time: 7.00pm onwards
Venue: Centre at St. Paul's, Hills Road, CB2 1JP
The Vodka Party was a big success this year, with many coming to try our selection of beverages (favourites included honey and chilli, rye and honey, and barley vodka). The traditional snacks included the layered herring dish shuba, sausage and cheese sandwiches, baked potato and bacon, and pickled cabbage and gherkins.
Many thanks to all those who volunteered to help - your effort is sincerely appreciated! All the money raised will go into organisation of future events.
The 8th Annual Stasiuk Lecture: Simply Ukraine: A Nation, State and Democracy without Adjectives
Date: Fri 26 February
Time: 17.00
Venue: Umney Theatre, Robinson College
This February, Ukraine chose a new president in an election with significant, lasting implications for all of Europe. Dr Gwendolyn Sasse evaluated the state of play in the Eighth Annual Stasiuk Lecture in Contemporary Ukrainian Studies, entitled 'Simply Ukraine: A Nation, State and Democracy without Adjectives.' This lecture was organised by Cambridge Ukrainian Studies and well attended by CUUS members.
The lecture was followed by a society dinner at the restaurant Polonia, with delicious Eastern European food and plenty of interesting discussion.
Freshers Fair
This year we had our own stall, and attracted a fair share of interest - or perhaps it was the bublyky (Eastern European snacks)... Thanks to all who have signed up to our mailing list!
Events in 2009
Collection of academic books for the university libraries in Ukraine
Poster: Media:20090610_cuus_book_collection_poster.pdf
In spring-summer 2009, CUUS collected academic books for the university libraries in Ukraine. The subjects included economics, sociology, psychology, law, history, philosophy, anthropology, political sciences, linguistics, literature, computer sciences and natural sciences.
This year we gave the collected books to the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Kyjevo-Mohylyansyka Academiya), one of the first educational centres in Eastern Europe. The Academy was founded in 1615, but it was dismantled by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy was re-opened in 1991: http://www.ukma.kiev.ua/eng_site/index.php
Ivana Kupala celebration, 11 July, 8.30pm, Jesus Green, Cambridge
To give you a taste of the ancient Eastern European midsummer festival, we had our own Ivana Kupala night in Cambridge. On that night, there was an opportunity to make Kupala wreaths, as well as to sing Ukrainian songs, jump over the fire, and perhaps even find a love of your life. We also had a BBQ.
Punting, Saturday, 20 June, 8pm, the river Cam
Hiking in Ukraine, 28 June-1 July, Transcarpathia
A couple of us will be hiking in the Carpathian Mountains in late June. This will be a two-four day hike of a moderate difficulty – a great opportunity to explore the wonders of Ukraine. Please contact Oksana Trushkevych or Anton Symkovych, if you are interested in joining us in this endeavour.
Call for postgraduates interested in community development at the Chornobyl-affected areas in Nothern Ukraine. Deadline: 30 June
It is the third year that UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme, Oxford University Ukrainian Society and National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy are running the Oxford Volunteers For Chornobyl programme.
This year with the support of Cambridge University Ukrainian Society programme is open to all Cambridge Postgraduates.
You are welcome to apply before: 30 June 2009 and to get experience working on community development at UNDP Ukraine, to support affected communities and to enrich your awareness about Eastern Europe and Chornobyl accident.
When: 16 Aug to 12 of Sep 2009
Where: Ukraine , Kyiv and Northen Ukraine (Polissia)
Who: Postgraduates
Volunteers will work in fourth zone of radioactive contamination (AKA zone of strict radiation control), as well as clean territories where resettled people from the first zone (exclusion zone) live, which are safe.
Volunteers are not expected to work within the Chornobyl exclusion zone or on the territory of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station.
For more information: http://www.crdp.org.ua/main/en/publication/content/489.htm or contact Dzvinka Kachur dzvinka.kachur@undp.org.ua
OGM and changes to the Constitution, Friday, 12 June, 7.30pm, Grads Café, University Centre, Granta Place
We are holding a general meeting to adopt some changes to our almost impeccable Constitution (it was used by other Societies to draft their own Constitutions) and to deal with other society-related business, such as election of the Committee.
The draft text of the Constitution can be retrieved here: Media: 20090609_new_cuus_constitution.pdf
Currently, most people nominated for the Committee positions are incubent Committee members. To find more about them, as well as contact them directly, please see our Team page.
If you would like to suggest amendments to the Constitution of the CUUS, or if you would like to run for the Committee or want to nominate somebody you feel will make our Society even more vibrant and unique, please contact our Vice President.
We would encourage all members, including life members, to entertain their right to vote. If you cannot attend the meeting, please delegate your vote (vote by proxy) to the Vice President or any other member of the Society who plans to attend the OGM (in this case a letter or email delegating a vote must be presented at the OGM).
Directions to the University Centre: http://www.unicen.cam.ac.uk/contact/maps-and-directions/
The Garden Party of the Ukrainian Society
Date: Saturday, 30th May 2009, 1-5pm
Venue: Darwin Island (through Darwin College Porters' Lodge), Silver Street (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Darwin%20Island%20Cambridge&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl)
We would like to invite you for the annual Garden Party of the Ukrainian Society, which will take place on Saturday, 30th May at 1pm. This will be a great opportunity to relax and to socialise with old friends, as well as to meet new ones. The programme will include various games, Ukrainian songs, and punting. Not to be missed! £3 for CUUS members, £5 for other guests. Food/drink contribution is welcome!
For those inspired by our song workshop, there will be a concert later on that day. The Wren Choir & Orchestra will perform Vivaldi's joyful and inexplicably little-known *other* Gloria in D Major (RV588), along with other Italianate celebratory masterpieces in Pembroke College Chapel at 8pm.
Eurovision Song Contest Final
Date: Saturday, 16th May 2009, 7.45pm
We are meeting at the University Granta Bar this Saturday, 16th May at 7.45pm for a social viewing of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest Final. We hope many of you will join us for an evening which promises to be a good fun.
The venue is at Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RU, http://www.unicen.cam.ac.uk/contact/
Ukraine - from unpredictable neighbour to reliable partner? - Lecture by Dr Arseniy Yatseniuk
Poster: Media:Yatsenyuk.pdf
Date: Wednesday 13th May, 4pm
Venue: Debating Chamber, Cambridge Union Society (9a Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UA, http://www.cus.org/where_we_are/)
Admission free.
Following the series of its successful events and on the eve of the 5th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution, Cambridge University Ukrainian Society is pleased to announce the lecture by Dr Arseniy Yatseniuk with the above title. Born in 1974, Arseniy Yatseniuk has served as the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. As the Minister of Economy Dr Yatseniuk headed negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization and presided over EU-Ukraine negotiations.
After his dismissal from the parliamentary chairmanship Yatseniuk announced plans to establish a political party on the basis of the Front of Changes public initiative. On the 5th of April, 2009, Arseniy Yatseniuk announced his intention to run for office in the next presidential election. International media repeatedly metioned Arseniy Yatseniuk as the most promising Ukrainian politician, economist and lawyer.
The lecture took place on Wednesday, May 13th, at 4pm in the Debating Chamber of the Cambridge Union Society. Discussion and wine reception will follow. Admission is free.
Sports day
Date: Saturday 25th of April
Time: 11.00am
Venue: Corpus Christi playing field
Cost: free
To take advantage of brilliant weather we are organising an afternoon of outdoor sports and games. Football, volleyball, tennis, badminton, frisbee, walking on rope - take your pick or feel free to suggest another activity if you have the equipment! If you would like to play football, please email Andriy on ad468@cam.ac.uk to give us an idea of the number of people for the teams.
Easter celebrations
Dates: Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April
Time: both events start at 3.00 p.m.
Venue: 12 Madingley Road, Cambridge
Day One Pysanky and Easter Cake Workshop. This educational event is going to be a lot of fun. You will learn how to decorate the traditional Easter eggs (pysanky) and cook Easter cakes! For making pysanky we will use a stylus, wax, coloured powders and candles. Baking Easter cake is great fun too. All skill levels are welcome! Parents with children are also welcome, but children have to be supervised at all times. Workshop if free for CUUS members, 2 pounds for non-members.
Day Two Easter Celebration with BBQ, singing, dancing and sport activities (e.g. walking on a rope, badminton). CUUS will provide some food and drinks but please feel free to bring some meat and veg for the BBQ and your favourite Easter delicacies.
Please email Olena (ohf21(at)cam.ac.uk) if you would like to attend any or both of the events.
Annual Baltic - AKA Vodka - Party
Video (by CU Russian Society): http://vimeo.com/4727956
Video (interview): http://vimeo.com/4763196
The legendary event which cannot be missed!
Saturday 7th March at 7 - 12pm.
Centre at St Paul's, intersection of Hills Road and St Paul's Road, Cambridge, CB2 1JP.
Entry fee: GBP5 for members of the Ukrainian Society and other participating societies. GBP6 for everyone else (you get around 4 shots of vodka included and you can buy extra when you feel you need more).
The event is not only about vodka - it's about our cheerful spirit, long tradition of fraternity and delicious food and drinks. There will be a chance not only to try some authentic food and drinks, but also to dance, sing karaoke, play auction of promises and do many other things.
More information on vodka: Media:20090305_horilka.pdf
Let's celebrate the eternal merry spirit of Ukrainian traditions!
Let the Vodka Party roll!
Annual Stasiuk Lecture in Ukrainian Studies
The Seventh Annual Stasiuk Lecture in Contemporary Ukrainian Studies
The Ukraine-EU-Russia Triangle:Is There Room for a Workable Relationship?
by Dr. Olena Prystayko Research Fellow, EU-Russia Centre (Brussels) Associate Professor, National Academy of Public Administration (Kyiv)
Friday, 27 February 2009 5:00pm Umney Theatre, Robinson College In English, open to the general public, reception to follow.
Presented by the Cambridge Committee for Russian and East European Studies (CamCREES) and Cambridge Ukrainian Studies with the support of the Cambridge University Ukrainian Society.
Sponsored by the Stasiuk Programme for Contemporary Ukraine, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta.
More information: http://www.cambridgeukrainianstudies.org.uk/
Workshop in Ukrainian Studies
The lecture is preceded by a workshop for those with a deeper interest in the subject
Friday, 27 February , 11am - 2pm, Beves Room, King's College
Coffee and lunch will be provided. Costs for domestic economy train travel to and from Cambridge can be reimbursed.
"Holodomor: Genocide by Famine" Exhibition
19 November 2008 - 2 February 2009
"Holodomor: Genocide by Famine" Exhibition
Exhibition in commemoration of the victims of The Great Famine in Ukraine in 1932-1933 which was oranised by the stalinist regime.
Venue: The Library at the Institute of Criminology, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 9DA
European Food Fair
3 February 2009
Venue: Function Room, Christ's College, Cambridge at 19:00 - 21:00.
A wonderfull chance to try our ukrainian cuisine.
CUUS film night: Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
5 February 2009
Venue: Umney Theatre, Robinson College at 7:30 pm.
Screening of Sergei Paradzhanov's classic Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors in a stunning new transfer.
Exchange dinner with Oxford University Ukrainian Society
6 February 2009
Venue: Hall, Clare College, 7.30pm.
Steve Komarnytsky's lecture on recognition of Holodomor as genocide and Holodomor exhibition
6 February 2009
Download lecture: Media:20090514_komarnytsky_lecture.pdf
Poster: Media:20090205_poster.pdf
Many millions were starved to death in Ukraine in 1932-33.
We will never forget.
To commemorate the victims of the Holodomor (artificial famine in Ukraine in 1932-33) and to promote knowledge about what the European Parliament has recognised as a crime against humanity,
the CU Ukrainian Society presents:
Holodomor: Genocide by Famine
Exhibition, Friday, 6 February, 2009, 12.00 – 17.00
Venue: Latimer Room, Clare College
Followed by Dancing with Stalin - The Holodomor in History and Memory
Lecture by Steve Komarnyckyj at 17.30
Events in 2008
13 December 2008
St. Andrews day celebration, Ukrainian vechornyci.
21 November 2008
CUUS Formal Hall at St. John's College.
9 November 2008
CUUS football match and BBQ.
24 August 2008
Celebration of Ukraine Independance Day. Picknik in Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Events in 2007
10 March 2007
Baltic Sea Party 2007 (aka Vodka Party). Ukrainian Society and other student societies brought the best vodkas made in their home countries, and cooked snacks to entertain and share their national traditions with students of the Cambridge University.
2007 February 23
5th Annual Stasiuk Lecture in contemporary Ukrainian Studies. Dr Andrew Wilson. "After the Orange Revolution: The Nature of Post-Soviet Democracy in Ukraine and Russia". http://www.ukrainiancambridge.org
Events in 2006
2006 June 10
Slavonic community event. Reception, dinner, and concert in King's College.
2006 May 21
Chornobyl photographic exhibition, and the multimedia poetry presentation "The Wormwood Star", which took place in London, organised by the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Library.
2006 May 18
Lecture by Michael Flier, a Professor of Ukrainian Philology at the Harvard University, "Fit for a Tsar: The Presentation of Ivan the Terrible in the Golden Hall Throne Room".
2006 May 17
Lecture by Michael Flier, a Professor of Ukrainian Philology at the Harvard University, "Making a Difference: The Role of Feature Ranking in East Slavic Dialect Diversity".
2006 May 14
Music concert by the Ukrainian violinist Yevgeniy Kostrytskyy and the Lithuanian pianist Evelina Puzaite.Recital of the works by Bach, Scarlatti, Debussy, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Bizet-Waxman and the Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk.
2006 May 11
Lecture by Dr Margaret Siriol Colley "Gareth Jones: the unsung hero of Ukraine". (See past event of 2006 May 2.)
2006 April 26
Exhibition in London "Chornobyl – A Requiem" that traces the aftermath of the Chornobyl accident.
2006 April 26
Service at St James's Church in London to commemorate the dead and the living victims of the Chornobyl accident.
2006 April 22
Guitar Concert by Galina Vale, a world-famous Ukrainian guitarist. Classic and modern guitar music from Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Europe, Spain, and South America.
2006 May 2
Unveiling of a historical plaque honoring Gareth Jones, the Welsh journalist who reported truthfully on Holodomor (the Great Famine) of 1932-1933 in the Soviet Ukraine.
2006 April 4
Funeral of Professor Petro Cymbalisty, who had been for many years the head of the Ukrainian College in London, and passed away on March 20.
2006 March 13
Ukrainian Poetry Night by Natalka Bilotserkivets. Poems in Ukrainian and English. 2006 March 9. Formal Hall in Selwyn College, to celebrate the 192nd anniversary of the birthday of Taras Shevchenko.
2006 March 4
Celebration of Maslyana (Shrovetide). Photos.
2006 February 27
Concert of the Academy of Ancient Music at the West Road Concert Hall. Perfomance of compositions by Bach, Mozart, and Haydn, directed by the Ukrainian-Irish violinist Pavlo Beznosiuk. 2006 February 25. Meeting with a lecturer Alla Yaroshinskaya and a poetess Vera Rich, contributors to the recent Society events. 2006 February 24. Meeting with Dr David Marples, Professor of History at the University of Alberta, and the Director of Stasiuk Program for the Study of Contemporary Ukraine. 2006 February 24. 4th Annual Stasiuk Lecture in contemporary Ukrainian Studies. Dr Alla Yaroshinskaya. "Big Lie: Chernobyl Twenty Years on". http://www.ukrainiancambridge.org 2006 February 18. Baltic Sea Party 2006 (aka Vodka party). Poster, video, photos. 2006 January 29. Sunday sermon by a Ukrainian Catholic University's rector Borys Gudzyak at the Ukrainian Church in London. 2006 January 28. Ukrainian poetry night with Vera Rich. "Ukraine: from Mazepa to the Maidan – 300 years of Ukraine's fight for independence and democracy". 2006 January 27. Meeting with the rectors of the Ukraine's major universities. 2005 December 30. Four days of New Year celebration in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. Photos. 2005 December 13. Celebration of St Andrew's night (Andriyivski vechurnytsi) in Oxford. Video, photos. 2005 November 25. European Food Fair 2005. Photos. 2005 November 24. Ordinary General Meeting. Elections of the Society Committee and amendments to the Society Constitution. 2005 November 20. Paintball competition in Royston. Photos. 2005 November 19. Tour to the roof of the King's Chapel. Photos. 2005 November 17. Ukrainian Film Night. "Mamay" (2003). 2005 October 22. Welcome event at the beginning of the academic year. 2005 July 15. Concert by Ukrainian musicians. 2005 July 10. Celebration of St John's Night (Ivana Kupala). 2005 April 3. Ukrainian Film Night. "The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" ("Tini zabutykh predkiv") (1964). 2005 March 7. Concert of Ruslana in Oxford – an inaugural event of the newely established Oxford University Ukrainian Society. Photos. 2005 February 25. 3rd Annual Stasiuk Lecture in contemporary Ukrainian Studies. Prof Dominique Arel. "The 'Orange Revolution': Analysis and Implications of the 2004 Presidential Election in Ukraine". http://www.ukrainiancambridge.org 2005 January 26. Lecture by the Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Mitiukov. "Ukraine and Europe: A post-election perspective". 2004 November 25. Protesting in London during the "Orange Revolution". Photos. 2004 November 12. European Food Fair 2004. 2004 April 11. Celebration of the Ukrainian Easter. 2004 February 20. 2rd Annual Stasiuk Lecture in contemporary Ukrainian Studies. Dr Yaroslav Hrytsak. "On Relevance and Irrelevance of Nationalism in Ukraine". http://www.ukrainiancambridge.org 2003 November 7. European Food Fair 2003. 2003 July 16. Four days of Dovzhenko movies, presented at the Cambridge Film Festival. 2003 July 12. Celebration of St John's Night (Ivana Kupala). 2003 June 15. Annual General Meeting. Elections of the Society Committee. 2003 May 26. Lecture by the Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Mitiukov. "Old and New Europe: a Ukrainian Perspective". 2003 April 27. Celebration of the Ukrainian Easter. 2003 April 18. Workshop on painting traditional Easter eggs (Pysanky). 2003 February 27. 1st Annual Stasiuk Lecture in contemporary Ukrainian Studies. Prof Roman Szporluk. "The Making of Modern Ukraine: the European Dimension". http://www.ukrainiancambridge.org 2002 November 15. European Food Fair 2002. Photos. 2002 July 7. Celebration of St John's Night (Ivana Kupala). Photos.
