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The National Herald - October 19-20, 2002

editorial

Pondering the future of Hellenic College

Prof. Lily Macrakis was appointed last week Dean of Hellenic College, the long-orphaned half of the Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology (HC/HC). Dr. Macrakis is an experienced and respected academic. Nevertheless, the task ahead is, to say the least, daunting. Hellenic College has serious problems. Some, with considerable justification, say that it is an institution in search of a mission. In its inception, the college was intended as a training ground for teachers who would go on to staff the then growing parochial school system of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America. But for various reasons — demographic, cultural, geographic — the school system never realized its true potential. Ever since it internalized this reality, the Hellenic College has been in search of a new mission.

Some have advocated its outright closure. Others, who love Greek letters and regard classical studies as an invaluable tool for tomorrow's leaders, believe that Hellenic College should be transformed into an institution dedicated to the propagation of classical Greek learning. Others have put forth other ideas, which they regard as more adapted to today's realities.

We are among those who believe that Hellenic College has a significant role to play in our community and the country at large. Both the Hellenic College and Holy Cross are run by the Archdiocese of America. This is a requirement for Holy Cross, whose purpose is to train priests and theologians for the archdiocese. It might, however, be an impediment for Hellenic College. Simply put, it seems as if the Church has little interest in Greek learning per se, and simply tolerates Hellenic College while viewing it as a burden to its depleted coffers. Hellenic College and Greek education in the United States deserve better. The Church and the new leadership of Hellenic College should examine various alternatives and come up with a plan for a self sufficient future for the institution.

One of the options that should be considered should be to free the school from the Church and the Church from the burden of the school. Of course, it has yet to be proven whether a liberal arts school like Hellenic College can make it on its own in this country and at this time in history. But it is a possibility worth examining.

Another, less radical approach, would be to invest in the school's future, both in terms of money and in terms of care in order to develop it into a good liberal arts college.

Our community has come a long way since our immigrant parents and grandparents arrived on these shores. We have progressed socially, educationally, professionally, and financially to an astonishing decree. Therefore we must not tolerate mediocrity in our midst, especially in our educational institutions. On the other hand, we must be willing to pay for excellence.

Besides dealing with the problems of enrollment and finances. Dr. Macrakis then has to plan ahead for the future of Hellenic College. She must also break her school's insularity from the community and make a case why Hellenic College deserves to exist and must be assisted financially by our community.

As we said earlier, this is a very difficult task. But it can also be the challenge of a lifetime for an energetic and ambitious dean. We hope Dr. Macrakis is such a person and we wish her success.

[ The National Herald  -  October 19-20, 2002 - p. 10 ]