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Hellenic Student Association

The Hellenic Student Association, or HSA, is a student-run organization centered on immersing Greek-American students in their heritage by providing them with social and cultural events promoting a Greek experience on campus.

Modern Greek Program at the University of Michigan

In September 1990, the University of Michigan established a Modern Greek Studies Program within the Department of Classical Studies of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A). The program, a two-year language sequence, saw an incredibly weak beginning with which a future could not be secured. As a result, the Department of Classical Studies and the Program in Comparative Literature came together over the issue and appealed to the University’s International Institute for a joint program in 1996. The Institute approved the suggestion and founded a Professorship in Modern Greek. In order to secure the program, however, the University sought the support of the Greek community. The Foundation for Modern Greek Studies (a Greek-American organization established in Michigan) responded by raising $750,000, which was to be donated to the University in three installments. After the first installment, the University was able to improve the Program’s standing to an endowed professorship. This means that the Professorship could set down firm roots because it would be offered at UM as long as the school remained in existence. In 1999, with the arrival of the second installment, a strong new teaching staff was acquired for the professorship to develop a well-structured program, as well as a minor and major concentration in Modern Greek. The final installment was presented in 2001 setting off an incredible celebration denoting the beginning of a journey for the C.P. Cavafy Professorship in Modern Greek.

C.P. Cavafy Professorship in Modern Greek

The Professorship in Modern Greek seeks to provide an education in modern Hellenism. The program covers the Greek language, literature, culture, history, politics of Modern Greece, and Greek-American Culture. It is taught primarily through reading, writing, and film viewing. Students can opt for a three-year language sequence, concentration, or a minor in the program. Masters and Ph.D. opportunities are also made available through various other departments.
The Modern Greek Department seeks to promote awareness of Greek and Greek-American culture, as does the Hellenic Student Association. While the Department offers courses on the matter and can only educate its students scholastically, HSA offers events in which students may participate and feel the true Greek experience. Because the two complement each other in this way, they have forged a symbiotic relationship and, instead of working alone, they have intertwined their events to provide students with a more full cultural experience. For example, HSA runs a film series as part of its cultural events. The films typically deal with Greek immigration to America among other issues. The series has recently been incorporated into some of the Modern Greek courses and students are now required to attend the showings. In addition, the Modern Greek Department supports HSA by giving financial aid when needed, and HSA supports the Department by advertising for and partaking in Departmental events and by popularizing the Modern Greek Program and the Department’s Study Abroad Programs to Greece.

Hellenic Student Association

History
Legend has it that a group of Greek Students at the University of Michigan (UM) decided to put together a Greek organization to satisfy the considerable Greek student population at the time. This group searched through the University’s student directory one name at a time contacting every person with a potentially Greek surname. There is currently no record available on the original founders, however the legend goes on to dictate that the organization finally came together when the founders rounded up enough interest through their search efforts. The organization began in 1989 with Eleni Eleftheriou as president. It is unknown when the group became officially affiliated with the University.
HSA began rather weakly, lacking the support and participation it needed to be a strong organization. Fortunately, visibility for HSA became more profound with the support of the newly founded Professorship in Modern Greek in 1996 and grew significantly with the first Hellenic Cultural Month in 2001. UM HSA is currently stronger than it has ever been. With membership in both the University’s registered MSA/SOAS (Michigan Student Assembly/Student Organization Account Services) organizations and National Hellenic Student Association, UM HSA has become one of the nation’s leading Greek student organizations. (It should also be noted that the current president of UM HSA, Christina Gerazounis, is also the president of National HSA.)
Mission Statement The Hellenic Student Association aims to represent and showcase Hellenism on the University of Michigan campus; to encourage a diverse student membership (as defined in Article III); and give members the opportunity to be immersed in Hellenic culture. Hellenism is defined as the cultural heritage of Hellenes both in Homeland and Diaspora.

“The Constitution of the Hellenic Student Association,” Article 2, Section 1.

Society Government
HSA is governed by the HSA Board. The Board consists of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Cultural Committee Chair, a Social Committee Chair, an Athletics Committee chair, and a Networking Committee Chair. The President is the Association’s chief executive. He or she calls and presides over both Board and general HSA meetings and serves as the final decision-making body in the Association. The Vice President shares presidential responsibility and has the authority to take over presidential responsibility in the event that the president is absent. The secretary keeps minutes of all meetings and formulates agendas before all meetings. He or she also handles HSA correspondence and keeps membership records. The treasurer handles finances and maintains detailed financial records for the Association. The Cultural Chair is responsible for initiating cultural events. The Social Chair organizes social events. The Athletics Chair organizes various athletic teams and events. The Networking Chair opens connections and communication with external but relevant organizations.
Funding
HSA members are required to pay dues. Dues are $10 and must only be paid once in a member’s career as a University of Michigan student. The money amassed from membership dues is used to fund organization events. (All HSA events are free of charge and are open to the general public.)
HSA receives funding primarily from the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), Student Organization Accounts Services (SOAS), LS&A Student Government, Rackham Student Government, University Activities Center, and Student Activities and Leadership. For more important and relatively costly events, the Department of Modern Greek Studies often serves as a financial backer. As a last resort, the organization might turn to local off-campus Greek organizations (Foundation for Modern Greek Studies, local AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope Chapters) or national Greek organizations (SAE – Council of Hellenes).
In the 2006-2007 school year, HSA began accepting sponsor donations. In the same year, HSA held its first fundraiser, Mythica HSA Bar Night. The event was a success, bringing the organization approximately $300.
Events
Annual
September: Welcome Picnic –A barbeque held to acquaint new members with old members. The picnic traditionally takes place in Wheeler Park in Ann Arbor, MI.
October: see Hellenic Cultural Month.
December: Christmas Party – A party to celebrate the holidays and the end of the semester. This is usually held the Friday after the last day of classes in either a member’s home or a restaurant.
January: Vasilopita – Members bring in the new year by cutting the vasilopita. The cutting of the vasilopita is a Greek cultural and religious tradition in which celebrants each take a slice of New Year’s cake (called vasilopita) in hopes of finding the slice containing the good luck coin. It is said that the person who finds the coin in his or her slice will be blessed with good fortune in the new year. HSA typically holds the cutting at the beginning of the month at a special dinner gathering.
Annual HSA Ski Trip – Ski trip in Montreal, Canada held over Martin Luther King Weekend. Members enjoy three days of skiing, touring, and socializing with Greeks from all over the States.
February: Encompass Show – University of Michigan’s only annual multi-ethnic dance performance at a major university venue. The show is usually held in January or February. HSA has participated in the event since 2003. The HSA dance team performs a traditional Greek dance.
March: Greek Independence Day Parade in Detroit – HSA celebrates Greek Independence Day (March 25) by participating in the Greek Parade in Detroit. The organization’s Parade Committee designs and builds a float. On the day of the Parade, the committee represents the UofM Greek community by marching alongside the float.
Painting of the Rock – At midnight on March 25, HSA members represent their Greek pride by gathering at the Rock (on the corner of Hill Street and Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor, MI) and coating it in blue and white paint.
April: Tavli Tournament – Members compete in a Greek board game similar to backgammon. This is the organization’s last major social event of the year.
Weekly
HSA meets every Thursday at the Brown Jug on S. University Avenue (Ann Arbor, MI) at 7:30 p.m. Members have dinner and socialize in a casual atmosphere.
Other
Hellenic Cultural Month – According to the Hellenic Student Association Handbook, This [Hellenic Cultural Month] is a unique series of events hosted each October on the UM campus by the HSA. The first HCM [Hellenic Cultural Month] was held in 2001 with a grant from the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), the Foundation of Modern Greek Studies, and the CP Cavafy Chair of Modern Greek Studies. This is a showcase of Hellenic culture that is widely attended by students and community members…Events have included film series, lectures, art exhibits, cooking demonstrations, musical, dance, and theatrical performances and workshops. (5)

Recruitment Events – HSA recruits new members by setting up information tables at Festifall and Winterfest, holding mass meetings at the beginning of each semester, and advertising via [Facebook]©.
Mythica HSA Bar Night – Hellenic Student Association’s first and only personal fundraiser to date. The bar night was held at Touchdown Café on S. University Avenue (Ann Arbor, MI) on February 3, 2007. Music was provided by DJ Vas from Ann Arbor and DJ Vicious P from Detroit. Mythica’s slogan for the night was “Live your myth in Ann Arbor…”

Conclusion

The Hellenic Student Association at the University of Michigan is a unique organization. Through its close relationship with the school’s Modern Greek Studies Program, it is better able to provide Greek-American students with a well-rounded experience combining the nation’s cultural, traditional, and religious customs and values. While the Cavafy Professorship can provide an education in Greek, HSA offers students a social and cultural sanctuary unmatched by other student organizations.

Bibliography

1. Athens, Lonnie. "Greek Americanism, "New Greece," and Greek Orthodoxy." Migration World Magazine 24.n3 (May-June 1996): 31(5). InfoTrac OneFile. Thomson Gale. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. 7 Feb. 2007.
2. C.P. Cavafy Professorship in Modern Greek: Our Story. Online. 17 Feb 2007.
<http://cms.lsa.umich.edu/modgreek/detail/0,2250,4562%255Farticle%255F6343,00.html>.
3. Gerazounis, Christina Personal Interview 10 Feb 2007.
4. Ghirtis, Konstantinos. “Hellenic Student Association, University of Michigan.” C.P. Cavafy Professorship in Modern Greek. <http://cms.lsa.umich.edu/modgreek/detail/0,2250,4566%255Farticle%255F8081,00.html >.
5. Shukla, Alice, Christos Chryssakis, Chris Soves, and Christina Apostoleris. Hellenic Student Association Handbook. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, 2005.
6. Volakis, Leonidas Hellenic Student Association. 1 Feb 2007. Online. 6 Feb 2007.
<www.umich.edu/~hellas>.