Letters, meetings, petitions seem to be paying off for the Greek community as far as the salvation of the Greek studies program of La Trobe University (LTU) is concerned.
Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) President Bill Papastergiadis told Neos Kosmos the delegation to keep the Greek program afloat saw a “remarkable turnaround” on Tuesday during a meeting with LTU’s Vice Chancellor John Dewar.
“The meeting went well and the decision for the termination of the program has been deferred for 14 days,” he said. “Within seven days we will put a proposal to them with details on the current financial shortfall and how that might be accommodated by the community as well as a marketing strategy to triple the number of students.”
Mr Papastergiadis was not at liberty to disclose the size of the economic shortfall, however he said the “meeting was held in a collaborative and positive environment with both parties working hard in hoping to achieve a positive outcome for the program.”
Greeks have been passionately campaigning to keep the program afloat, however they now need to show their support in practical ways. “We now need the community to come together to assist in funding a small shortfall in the program that can guarantee the success of the program and increase the student numbers,” Mr Papastergiadis said. “As student numbers increase, there will no longer be a shortfall.”
Also present at the meeting was outgoing Greek Consul General of Melbourne, Dimitris Michalopoulos, who said in a statement to the university, seen by Neos Kosmos, that political parties in Greece have cast attention on the case for retention of the Greek Studies Program at LTU. “During question time in the Hellenic Parliament the Opposition has raised the issue and other opposition political parties have joined voices asking for the Program to continue at La Trobe. I must add that no negative comment about La Trobe was made at the above-mentioned statements,” said the statement.
“More importantly, you have received a letter signed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis. In this letter, the Ministry’s position is summarised. The request to save the Programme is based on solid arguments relating to past Greek support but also on current pledges, such as the secondment of an assistant to the program from the ranks of the Greek-language teachers seconded every year in Australia. I would like to assure you that the Consulate General, as well as the Office of Education Coordinator will be working towards the goal of maintaining at all costs the seconded teacher at the program for years to come.
READ MORE: Keeping Greek alive at La Trobe University: Meetings and consultations
“Furthermore, following our meeting today and on 20 November, but also taking into consideration the meeting on 27 November with the State Labor MPs of Greek heritage, I am pleased to attest to a very positive climate of dialogue and negotiation between the Greek Orthodox Community and LTU. I am aware that both sides understand each other’s positions clearly and are willing to find a mutually acceptable solution, one that will take into consideration the economic constraints and legitimate demands for student enrolment from the part of the Uni. and also the concerns of the Greek Orthodox Community about the need to maintain the teaching of Greek language in Victoria’s tertiary education, a need which is also shared by members of political parties and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens.”