Laitoksen johtajan sanat

Laitoksenjohtajan sanat

Dear celebrating Varnitsalaiset,

Of course, on an occasion like this, one should limit oneself to pomp and circumstance and words of praise. However, allow me to start with a somewhat moralising message, that is at least to some extent inspired by the dif culties your student association has been going through during the past years. As I mentioned in my welcoming words to this year’s fuksit, in the 21st century, the world has faced one crisis after the other: immigration, European integration, democratic decision-making, banking, climate change, corona pandemic and, obviously, most recently, a war between two independent countries on the European continent with all its consequences. Within the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, we are absolutely convinced that long-term thinking and a broad geographical perspective can certainly help and are even necessary to understand these changes and different ways to deal with them. We strive to provide you with such an open and critical view of the world by offering a broad education consisting of a combination of vocational training, scienti c schooling and general education.

A sad characteristic of the public debate about many of these crises mentioned above is the gradual hardening of the discussions. Anyone with any background knowledge of the long-term tension between Ukraine and Russia knows that labeling this con ict as a war between the good and the bad is far too simplistic. Instead of being tempted to go along with this black-and-white war rhetoric, certainly as historians it is our task to point out the complexity of this war and to argue in favour of a negotiated solution from there. Simi larly, when thinking about how to persuade sceptics to get their corona vaccination, blaming them of ‘egoism’, ‘sel shness’ or even ‘immorality’ is certainly not among the recommended strategies, but nevertheless it is quite shocking to observe how easily politicians in many countries got away when using this kind of hard words. Listening to the concerns of people doubting about vaccination and supplying clear and honest information are generally regarded as much more ef cient methods. And also with regard to climate change, adopting an equivalent accusatory rhetoric against people ‘not taking their social responsibility’, most probably is absolutely counterproductive.

Indeed, in relationship to the migration crisis this hardening of the debate is most visible in the context of the ‘woke movement’. The term originates in the Afro-American culture, referring to race-awakening of black people in the United States, ghting against different kinds of institutionalised racism and systematic oppression that prevented them from moving forward economically and socially. Even critics agree that there clearly is a positive side to ‘wokers’ in the way they pointed out the continued existence of white privileges, however, according to some of them the gradual broadening of the woke community’s action eld went too far. By criticising any kind of discrimination of any minority (be it, for instance, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity) and/or by applying the term ‘woke’ to other large public issues, such as climate change, a countermovement emerged in defense of – what they considered – free speech. In their view, the woke movement had gone so far as to threaten one of the acclaimed crucial characteristics of the Western, liberal society.

This brings me, nally, to the point that I want to make. During the past years, also Varnitsa and its activities have been affected by somewhat similar discussions in the name of protecting free speech. Of course, I don’t mean to spoil the 50th-birthday

party by stirring this up, but maybe these festivities provide an excellent opportunity to put this dif cult phase in the (recent) history of Varnitsa for ever behind us. In order to do so, I want to emphasise (again) that the requirement towards the university’s student associations to prevent any kind of ‘discriminatory, hostile and otherwise inappropriate behavior’ – even if intended as a joke – has nothing to do with censorship, but is only an expression of mutual respect. Again, certainly as historians, we need to be aware that aiming for ‘some kind of consensus’, for instance, with regard to the use of Nazist symbols and rhetoric is simply not possible The university’s gender equality and equal opportunities plan evidently can function as a guideline in this context. Today, more than ever, attitudes of mutual understanding, tolerance and respect, global solidarity, humbleness, and scienti c integrity are required to face current global challenges.

But enough moral talk. At an anniversary like this, it is primarily a matter of looking back at all the good the ‘päivän sankari’ has accomplished – but I'll leave that to others who have been more closely involved in Varnitsa's glorious past – and, on the other hand, looking forward to a promising future. In the curriculum of history studies offered at the UEF, we are increasingly focusing on the themes of ‘Borders, mobility and cultural encounters’, ‘Social history’ and ‘Environmental history’. In this way, we aim to combine a suf ciently broad general approach with attractive specialisation in the discipline of history, at the same time maintaining suf cient openness towards other disciplines. Moreover, it allows us to play out the unique character of our department by combining the disciplines of history, geography and environmental policy. As staff members we de nitely hope to enforce this kind of orientation further in close cooperation with our students.

Yet a university education consists of so much more than the actual studies. It is a period in which you can develop yourself as a person in every possible way, in which you may be forced to become independent and in which you have the opportunity to forge new friendships, whether or not within the scope of the student association. Remember to take the opportunity to enjoy and cultivate yourself, be it by participating in typical student activities, or through heated live discussions with your peers, exchanging views on the possible future roles of historians in analysing the current global crises when looking backwards in twenty or thirty years time. Also in this regard, we as staff members hope to support you as much as we can. Therefore, particularly in this post-corona era, let us revive the university as a close community of student and scholars, working together at the service of the public interest!

My sincere congratulations and looking forward to our continuous collaboration.

Joensuu, 26 September 2022

Pieter Dhondt

Head of the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies

Historia- ja maantieteiden laitoksen johtaja