Welcome Professor Michał Wilczewski
The Slavic Department is delighted to announce Professor Michał Wilczewski has accepted a continuing position with the Department, where he has already made such a positive difference in our community.
Department Highlights
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Message from the Chair
The entire world is focused on the horrific war on civilians Russia is waging in Ukraine. As scholars in Slavic, we feel a special obligation to serve as a resource in this difficult time. One of our highest obligations is to education: we are committed to supporting all students, scholars, and institutions in Ukraine and Russia who oppose and are suffering the consequences of Putin's aggression and repression. Ani Kokobobo, a Tolstoy scholar and immigrant from eastern Europe, offers a helpful perspective on the devastating impact of war on education.
Study Polish with Professor Wilczewski
Now is the perfect time to take Polish Studies courses at Northwestern! Between the Slavic Department’s rich course offerings in Polish language, literature, culture, film, and history, and Chicago's deep Polish cultural heritage, there are so many opportunities to embrace and connect with Polish culture.
Pysanky Workshop Reception
Thank you to all who joined us as students showcased the Pysanky art they created during a three day workshop with Ukrainian Pysanky Artist Janet Hundreiser and Professor Michał Wilczewski. Made possible by the generosity of the Irwin & Vivian M. Weil Foundation, the Council on Language Instruction, SelfReliance Federal Credit Union, and the Ukrainian Gift Shop.
Students cheer on the Chicago Fire
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, Prof. Michał Wilczewski and students from the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures attended Polish Heritage Night at the Chicago Fire FC game at Soldier Field.
Two NU Slavic Ph.D.'s have new books out!
Katia Bowers has just published Writing Fear: Russian Realism and the Gothic at U. of Toronto Press and Jenny Kaminer's book Haunted Dreams: Fantasies of Adolescence in Post-Soviet Culture recently came out from Cornell.
Our Programs
Undergraduate
We offer beginning, intermediate and advanced Russian and Polish (and, less often, beginning and intermediate Czech), in addition to Russian and East European literature and film courses. Many of our students are double majors, or are pursuing a minor in Russian and East European Studies to complement their studies. Many of our majors and minors have studied abroad in Russia, Poland or the Czech Republic.
Graduate
Our PhD program ranks among the best in the country. We offer individual attention and the opportunity to pursue a personalized program by way of coursework taken outside the department. Students specialize in Russian literature, but our faculty also includes specialists in Polish, Czech and South Slavic literatures and cultures. Our greatest strengths are in Russian prose and poetry, literary theory, and in the social and intellectual context of literary works.
News and Events
Joint Statement of Opposition to Banning Scholars Based on Citizenship
The statement below, along with its translation in Ukrainian and Russian, can found on the ASEEES website.
As international professional associations that foster the study of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian peoples and cultures, ASEEES, BASEES, and AATSEEL* are committed to promoting international communication among scholars of all countries and identities across the humanities and social sciences. Open exchange and mutual respect among our members are fundamental to our principles.
We have all expressed our unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine. We oppose Putin’s assault on Ukrainian sovereignty. We are horrified by the Russian military’s unconscionable assaults on civilians and the escalating refugee crisis unfolding before our eyes. Since we have choices about our actions that people living in fear under attack do not have, we join those who call for cutting our formal ties with institutions and with academics who are actively supporting the Russian war effort.
We want to do everything we can to show our support for Ukrainian scholars and students. At the same time, we are concerned about calls for blanket bans on the participation of individual Russians and Belarusians in scholarly events and scholarly exchange.
We strongly oppose the vilification and exclusion of our Russian and Belarusian students and colleagues. Banning Russians and Belarusians based solely on their citizenship goes against our fundamental principles of scholarship, open communication, and dialogue. Such sanctions have the potential to harm those living in authoritarian regimes who are opposed to the war. We encourage all members of our community who stand against the war in Ukraine to come together and support our students and colleagues.
Upcoming Events
Jun
7
2022
Slavic End of Year Reception
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Evanston
Join us for the Slavic end of the year reception!