Dr Elizabeth Kefallinos, Head of Modern Greek Studies at Macquarie University, took her long service leave at the beginning of the year after 23 years of teaching. She left a robust program, and was confident that it had years of life in it yet, but she will retire knowing that the Greek program is set to be downgraded from a major to a minor.
She is saddened by the university’s decision to condense classes and make changes which dilute a program she has diligently beefed up over the years. Stressing that the program is not in danger of termination, she is confident it can be upgraded to a major again provided students sign up, and the community is unified in its support of the language.
News of the changes to the university’s curriculum came as a surprise to Dr Kefallinos. “The university reviewed the Greek program and other courses as it does every five years,” she said. “I was not afraid because I had already passed two reviews and there had been no problems. There was no suspicion that anything would change. We had 260 students two years ago and a strong program.”
She said student numbers ranged between 60 and hundreds and came and went in waves. “This is something ordinary. Interest fluctuates, not just in Greek but for all subjects.”
During her year away, she had not heard of any discussion to cut the program nor had she, the permanent head of Greek, received any news of consultation. “I don’t think it is just about the money but also a policy change,” she said.
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The program offered post-grad studies, four language levels, history of civilisation, translation, Greek for special purposes and all manner of offerings, but will now only be available at beginner and intermediary levels with other subjects being cut. “You can’t teach with a minor,” she says, worried that the downgrading of the language will have a ripple effect in language offerings at other levels.
“The only hope is that at the moment the Hellenic Studies degree is rested for 2021, which means that if there are students interested next year it will be offered again,” she said, stressing the importance of enrolling in all Greek studies programs and attending either physically or virtually. “In the past, we have had online students from all around Australia and we still offer virtual courses.”
She is up for retirement and is saddened to be leaving this way. She remembers becoming the first permanent head of Greek studies, taking up from her predecessor lecturer Vassilis Georgiou. “We had fundraising events, dancing to bring to life this program. Ομοψυχία (one soul). It only existed because we were unified as Greeks and can only move forth if we stand together and support the program,” she said, saddened with press reports about internal squabbling between organisations tasked with going to bat for Greek to continue at the university. “The program was successful because our spirit for many years was working together, all for the goals of Greek language. That is our duty.”
The Greek studies program is independent and not affiliated with any organisation but has been open and receptive to all Greeks around Australia. “The Greek Studies Foundation has acted as a liaison for the Greek language program and has always supported it ethically and financially when needed, and that is the purpose of its existence,” she said, adding that Greek studies have nothing to do with politics between organisations.
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George Mpliokas, former president of the Macquarie University Greek Association, told Neos Kosmos that “there exists the agreement in perpetuity from 1997 which is at risk”. He points out that the university funds the lecturer’s position and there are minimum requirements which need to be met. He is concerned with the lack of transparency in announcing the downgrading of the program. “What will the new structure look like. We can’t not know these things,” he said, concerned that there was not enough advocacy to support the program.
On 3 December, in the name of the Macquarie University Greek Studies Foundation an open meeting has been called with regards to future of the Greek Studies program.