Vytautas Magnus University: Memory, People and Ideas

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY M e m o r y ,

P e o p l e

Kaunas, 2008

a n d

I d e a s

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

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UDK 378.4(474.5)(091) Vi322

Photos: Kaunas County Public Library, Lithuanian Emigration Institute, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Vytautas Magnus University; private archives of Algirdas Avižienis, Rita Bajorinaitė-Daugelienės Andrius Būda, Deima Steponavičiūtė, Marius Tavoras, Vijolė Višomirskytė, Asta Ambrasaitė, Lina Auškalnienė, Mindaugas Kavaliauskas, Henrikas Kudirka, Jonas Petronis, Vladas Urbonas, Alvydas Vaitkevičius and Aušra Vinciūnienė.

Designer: Birutė Mockutė.

English language editor: Mykolas Drunga.

ISBN 978-9955-12-370-5 © Vytautas Magnus University, 2008

Loosing Freedom...

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... But Keeping Hope Alive

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The University Reborn

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The University‘s Present...

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... And Future

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

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A Free University for a Free Lithuania

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FOR A FREE LITHUANIA

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The university embodies a nation‘s progress, advancement, and creative thought.

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It was here that Lithuania‘s intellectuals first organized a program of higher education that gave rise to the university. Initially, the Lithuanian Ministry of Education under Juozas Tūbelis did not approve the program because of its high costs; therefore, the organizers had to rely on their own efforts and the help of private donors. To this end they founded a Society of Higher Education which was formally recognized on December 27, 1919 and which appealed to the public for moral and financial support in creating a Program of Higher Studies, to be supervised by the Ministry of Education.

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Professors of the Program of Higher Studies (Autumn 1921).

Program Founder Professor Zigmas Žemaitis.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Thus when on February 16, 1918 Lithuanians declared their political independence and began creating their state institutions, the scholars among them saw the establishment of a Lithuanian university as one of the most important tasks ahead. And when in 1919 Lithuania lost its historical capital Vilnius, it fell upon the second-largest city, Kaunas, to serve as the country‘s political, economic, and cultural center for the next twenty years.

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This Program was officially launched on January 27, 1920, in the Education Ministry Auditorium (now belonging to Maironis Gymnasium).

Headed by one of its prime organizers, mathematics professor Zigmas Žemaitis, it consisted of six departments (Humanities; Law; Natural Sciences; Physics and Mathematics; Medicine; and Technology) and had an enrollment of 522 students. Even though the teaching staff received only symbolic remuneration, they included some of the foremost Lithuanian intellectuals of the time; among them were Mykolas Biržiška, Vincas Čepinskis, Pranas Dovydaitis, Juozas Eretas, Tadas Ivanauskas, Augustinas Janulaitis, Vladas Lašas, Petras Avižonis, Pranas Mažylis, and Stasys Šalkauskis.

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Higher Studies Program Building, now Maironis Gymnasium.

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The resolution whereby the Lithuanian Cabinet of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Ernestas Galvanauskas established the University of Lithuania in Kaunas.

Published in Pranas Čepėnas, “Lietuvos universitetas 1579-1803-1922”, Chicago, 1972.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

From the very beginning the University of Lithuania was a dynamic and largely self-governing institution of higher learning. Its statute allowed it a high degree of autonomy. As an independent institution of the Lithuanian state, it was fully funded by the latter and only formally subject to the Ministry of Education.

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The University‘s Statute was unanimously passed by Lithuania‘s Constituent Assembly on March 24, 1922. It provided for the establishment of six faculties (departments): Humanities; Mathematics and Natural Sciences; Medicine; Technology; Law; and Theology-Philosophy. In 1927 the latter came to be regulated by a concordat between the Republic of Lithuania and the Holy See, whereby the Faculty of Theology-Philosophy received the status of a pontifical college; juridical independence from the Lithuanian government; and the right independently to award degrees.

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In response to the growing demand for a publicly financed, fully-fledged university, the Program of Higher Studies was reorganized, broadened, and pursuant to a resolution of the Council of Ministers designated as the University of Lithuania on February 16, 1922. This is considered to be the University‘s official founding day.

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MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona (second left) at VMU‘s 10th anniversary celebration.

VMU Main Building.

VMU Physics and Chemistry Building at Linksmakalnis.

University of Lithuania reading room (1928).

View of Linksmakalnis from the Nemunas river bank.

VMU First Building.

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The governance of the University was entrusted to several institutions.

The Council, comprised of the honorary professors, faculty professors, associate professors, and some assistant professors, decided on the most important university issues and elected the rector, prorector (proctor), and secretary. The Senate, consisting of the rector, prorector, secretary, and faculty deans, was the executive institution; it approved the university budget while the Rector represented the University, presided over the Senate and Council, implemented their decisions, and together with the Economic Service oversaw and managed University buildings, grounds, and inventory.

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The University Statute gave each faculty the right to act independently on matters relating to appointing or dismissing teaching staff, admitting students, and awarding degrees. Representatives of all the faculties made up standing bodies including the Regulations Committee, the University Court, the International Intellectual Cooperation Committee, the Library Committee, and the Academic Health Indurance Fund.

On June 7, 1930, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Ancient Lithuania‘s most popular leader, Grand Duke Vytautas the Great, the University of Lithuania was renamed Vytautas Magnus University and received a new Statute.

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Decree on Changing the Name from University of Lithuania to Vytautas Magnus University.

From “Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto įstatymai”, Kaunas, 1934.

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VMU students in a lecture hall (1937).

Near the VMU Physics and Chemistry Building at Linksmakalnis (1937).

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

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For example, the country‘s first and third president, Antanas Smetona, was an occasional associate professor in the Humanities Faculty; and the list of famous professors included Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis, Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas, Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas, Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, Balys Sruoga, Pranas Dovydaitis, Mykolas Römeris, Petras Leonas, Mykolas Biržiška, Vaclovas Biržiška, Viktoras Biržiška, Stasys Šalkauskis, Tadas Ivanauskas, Kazimieras Būga, Jonas Jablonskis, to mention several of the most important Lithuanians.

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During the entire interwar period of national independence it was a vitally important center of Lithuanian cultural, scholarly, and civic life as well as a fountain of modern intellectual thought. Most of the country‘s political and cultural leaders were associated with it, either as teachers or as students.

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PROF. VINCAS ČEPINSKIS Rector of Vytautas Magnus University

PROF. DR. BLAŽIEJUS ČĖSNYS University Vicerector

PROF. PETRAS RAUDONIKIS University Secretary

PROF. PETRAS LEONAS Dean of the Faculty of Law

PROF. VLADAS LAŠAS Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

PROF. VINCAS KRĖVĖ-MICKEVIČIUS Dean of the Faculty of Humanities

PROF. DR. POVILAS JAKUBĖNAS Dean of the Faculty of Evangelic Theology

PROF. ENG. KAZYS VASILIAUSKAS Dean of the Faculty of Technology

PROF. DR. PRANAS KURAITIS Dean of the Faculty of Theology-Philosophy

PROF. ZIGMAS ŽEMAITIS Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Professors of VMU faculties (1930).

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This list of native professors was complemented by a distinguished roster of foreigners, including the Swiss linguist Alfred Senn (Alfredas Sennas), the Swiss literary scholar Joseph Ehret ( Juozas Eretas), the Latvian-German ethnographer Eduards Volters (Eduardas Volteris), the Germanborn German professor Horst Engert, the French-born English instructor Raymond Schmittlein, the Nordic multinational philosopher Vasily Sesemann (Vosylius Sezemanas), and the Russian cultural historian Lev Karsavin (Levas Karsavinas). All of these foreign-born scholars as well as those born in Lithuania had received their own education at non-Lithuanian universities, usually in Germany, Switzerland, France, and/or Russia, thus giving VMU a truly international avor.

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PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES • 1930

PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY • 1930

PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE • 1930

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Professors of VMU faculties (1930).

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

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It did not take long for VMU to educate dozens of students who soon became leaders of Lithuanian public and cultural life, both in the country itself and later in exile. A short list of them would include the historians Adolfas Šapoka, Zenonas Ivinskis, Juozas Jakštas, and Vincas Trumpa; the philosophers Antanas Maceina and Juozas Girnius; the economist Domas Cesevičius; and the writers Salomėja Neris, Bernardas Brazdžionis, Antanas Vaičiulaitis, Kazys Boruta, Antanas Gustaitis, Jonas Aistis, Antanas Miškinis, Henrikas Nagys, Juozas Grušas, Antanas Škėma, Vytautas Mačernis, and Henrikas Radauskas.

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PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY-PHILOSOPHY • 1930

Professors of VMU faculties (1930).

PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES • 1930

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PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF EVANGELIC THEOLOGY • 1930

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF LAW • 1930

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From the book “Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: Antrųjų penkerių veikimo metų (1927. II. 16 – 1932. IX. 1) apyskaita”, Kaunas, 1933.

{ From the student newspaper “Studentų dienos” 1938, Nr. 11, p. 5.

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„It is so

easy

From the student newspaper “Studentų dienos” 1937, nr. 5.

to study in this faculty. All you have to do

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exams and you can do this during the last year.“

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

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is to pass

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There was a student union responsible for helping students with their academic and financial problems. It was founded in 1925, and its officers (one per 100 students) were elected each year after fall registration. The student union ran an academic athletic club, an academic tourist club, a student reading room, and the university chorus; promoted communication with foreign students; and published a biweekly newspaper, Lietuvos studentas.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

The university‘s studies policy was quite free-wheeling. For example, in the four-year program of the Humanities Faculty, a student had to pass a total of 25 exams, and he or she could do so at times of their own choosing. It was possible to take all exams in the last year.

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The interwar VMU was unique in its spirit of intellectual liberty; the lively interaction among its faculty and students; and its varied and vigorous community life.

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Here are some statistics. During nearly two decades of independence between both world wars VMU had seven rectors and produced 3,790 graduates. In 1922 it had 1,168 students taught by 102 teachers; in 1931 there were 4,475 students instructed by 220 teachers, the latter number growing to 490 by 1937.

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VMU especially prided itself on its numerous student corporations (known as fraternities or sororities in the United States). These were organized along faculty, regional, and/or ideological lines. The following orientations were represented: moderate Nationalist (the neo-Lithuanians), Roman Catholic (the ateitininkai), Peasant Populist (the varpininkai), and Social Democratic (the žaizdrininkai and aušrininkai). The competition among these student organizations had a pronounced political flavor, especially prior to 1930.

Students and teachers were active in organizing and taking part in celebrations of both state and academic holidays as well as in carrying out the public manifestations that gave Kaunas city life so much of its color and vibrancy.

The city‘s cultural life was unimaginable without VMU students. For example, they were the first to champion the Lithuanian literary avantgarde Keturi vėjai (The Four Winds) movement in its quest to create a new, vibrant, and modernist literature.

University professors in their turn sought to impart knowledge not only to students but to the larger society as well. They held public lectures, and townspeople had the right freely to audition university courses.

An increasingly important role in public education was played by the University Library with its ever expanding collections. In 1927, for example, more than 30,000 people visited the library reading rooms.

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Geology practice in PapilÄ— (1939).

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Biology students visiting Professor Tadas Ivanauskas (third left) at his house (1939).

The writer Kazys Binkis meeting with students in Anykščiai (ca. 1937).

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A lecture by Professor Jonas Vabalas-Gudaitis (1935).

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From A. Pakalniškis‘s “Studento dienoraštis”, Chicago, 1978.

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Besides attending to studies, VMU students divided their time between oďŹƒcial functions and rest-and-relaxation (ca. 1935 to 1937).

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„„What What we liked most were the lovely approaches to the Jiesia river, the steep wooded banks, the green open spaces.

Sometimes we‘d take a steamer to Kulautuva or further“.

From O. Maksimaitienė‘s “Atsiminimai”, Vilnius, 1966.

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{ VMU student excursions throughout Lithuania (1937).

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{ Snapshots of VMU life (1934-1937).

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{ VMU student IDs, records, and passes (1933-1937).

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th

ON THE ANNIVERSARY

of VMU‘s establishment

{ From the book “Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: Antrųjų penkerių veikimo metų (1927. II. 16 – 1932. IX. 1) apyskaita”, Kaunas, 1933.

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From the greeting of the State Music School.

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VMU diploma, given February 10, 1944 and signed by Rector Professor JulijonasGravrogkas and Technology Faculty Dean Associate Professor Adolfas Damušis.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

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1930 was a fateful year for the university. On the one hand, it received its present-day name of VMU; on the other, it got a new statute that considerably changed is nature to reflect the increasingly authoritarian politics of the Nationalist government. The University lost much of its previous autonomy; the rights granted to the Council and Faculties were curtailed; the number of Departments was slashed; and the rector, prorector, and professorial staff were henceforward, upon the Senate‘s recommendation, appointed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania. This situation lasted until 1940.

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LOOSING

But soon the Provisional Government was disbanded by the new occupying power, Nazi Germany, which in 1943 shut down the whole university.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

The students, however, did not disband; most of them joined the underground; some helped organize the 1941 June Revolt against the Soviets and persished in it; and some students and professors took positions in the 1941 Provisional Government which gave the University back its name of VMU and restored the faculties of Theology, Philosophy, Technology, Civil Engineering, and Medicine.

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Meanwhile, the summer of 1940 saw the occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, i.e., the replacement of Lithuania‘s semi-democratic national independence with a Communist Russian-controlled dictatorship.

This resulted in the closing of the Faculty of Theology-Philosophy and left VMU with just three faculties: Civil Engineering, Technology, and Medicine. On August 21, 1940 it was renamed University of Kaunas, and the activities of all its student corporations and associations were prohibited.

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When in October 1939 Lithuania regained control of its ancient capital, Vilnius, both the government and the scholars set about resuscitating the ancient University of Vilnius (which from 1921 to 1939 had functioned as the Polish Stephen Bathory University). In this endeavor the help of VMU proved invaluable: in January 1940 it transferred its Humanities and Law faculties to Vilnius, and in September 1940 the Mathematics and Natural Sciences faculty followed suit.

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1922

1950

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

The Soviet occupation regime tried to transform Kaunas into a closed industrial city devoted at best to the technological, medical, and agricultural sciences and bereft entirely of the social sciences, the humanities, the theology, and the philosophy in which the nation‘s historical memory and the traditions of a free university had been embodied.

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In 1950 the university was shut down by the Soviets for good and remained so for nearly 40 years. At the same time some of its faculties gave rise to the following still extant institutions of higher learning: the Kaunas University of Technology; the Kaunas University of Medicine; the Lithuanian University of Agriculture; and the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy.

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VMU renewed its operations when the Nazis were replaced by the returning Soviets in the fall of 1944; two years later the latter again named it Kaunas University. Many students joined the anti-Soviet resistance, taking up leadership positions in the forces that fought a hopeless guerilla war against the Communists from 1945 to 1952.

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...BUT KEEPING HOPE

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Eventually, with the hardening of the divide between the democratic West and the Communist East and the intensification of the Cold War, the displaced persons‘ dreams of returning to a freed Lithuania evaporated; yet the academic exile community never forgot its commitment to keep the spirit of a Lithuanian university alive.

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While living largely in displaced-persons camps, the erstwhile professors and students reconstituted their former corporations or created new academic societies as they hoped to return to VMU in a liberated Lithuania.

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These traditions were nurtured and fostered in exile. As World II drew to a close and the second Soviet occupation approached, the greater part of Lithuania‘s academia fled to the West. Even as they dug out from under the rubble in post-war Germany, VMU professors, in concert with their Latvian and Estonian colleagues, succeeded in running an independent Baltic University at Pinneberg near Hamburg from 1946 to 1949.

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Colors of the Baltic University at Pinneberg near Hamburg.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

In this way a virtual university came into being based on the heritage of VMU. Its old professors, including Vaclovas Biržiška, Ignas Končius, Steponas Kolupaila, Kazys Pakštas, and Stasys Dirmantas, were the honorary members of many student organizations that transmitted the values of the Lithuanian university to students attending American universities.

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Furthermore, the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science which had ben founded in 1922 in Kaunas was reestablished in 1956 in Rome and continued upholding the traditions of the VMU Theology-Philosophy Faculty.

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After 1950 the strongest Lithuanian academic contingent in exile found a home in the United States and spearheaded an organized revival of scholarly life there. For instance, Lithuanian language, literature, and history were researched and taught at the University of Pennsylvania; Chicago saw the establishment of the Institute of Lithuanian Studies, the Lithuanian Historical Society, and the Lithuanian Professors‘ Association; and throughout the United States student organizations such as the Lithuanian Student Association and various corpororations associated with the Scouts, the Ateitininkai, the Neo-Lithuanians, and the liberal Santara established local chapters.

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Not just students, but alumni as well formed tradition-inspired professional societies. In addition to the humanities scholars, historians, and theologians mentioned above, these societies joined together visual and literary artists, architects, engineers, agricultural specialists, physicians, and lawyers. Some of these societies published their own proceedings and periodicals.

Moreover, their members as well as organizationally unafilliated Lithuanian intellectuals contributed to a number of new scholarly journals published in the United States and Western Europe; these included the English-language Lituanus, the Catholic-oriented Aidai, the liberal Metmenys, and Mūsų Vytis published by the Lithuanian Scouts Collegiate Division.

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Emblems of the Baltic University in Germany.

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THE UNIVERSITY

In Kaunas, the first to broach this issue publicly in print was Professor Alfredas Smailys with his essay “Let‘s reestablish Vytautas Magnus University,” published by the then still-Communist Kauno tiesa on July 29, 1988. Other proponents of this idea included the association “Aukuras” and some members of the political and academic establishment not only in Kaunas, but also in Vilnius.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

From then on support for this idea took off in Lithuania as well, hand in hand with support for the reestablishment of Lithuanian independence.

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In June 1988, shortly after the establishment of Sąjūdis, the groundbreaking Lithuanian reform movement, Avižienis went to Vilnius, where he met with Professors Vytautas Landsbergis, Vytautas Statulevičius, and others to discuss plans for recreating VMU.

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When in the late 1980s winds of change began blowing in the Soviet Union and thereby reawakening hopes of Lithuanian freedom, the U.S.based World Lithuanian Symposia of Science and Creativity, which starting in 1989 joined scholars from both sides of the crumbling Iron Curtain, were especially significant in stimulating the efforts that ultimately led toward the resuscitation of VMU. These symposia had been initiated

by UCLA Professor Algirdas Avižienis, a charter member of the Lithuanian Scouts Collegiate Division.

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MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

During an international conference chaired by Professor Avižienis and held on April 26-28, 1989, the reestablishment of VMU was proclaimed; this was the first joint step of Lithuanian scholars living in Lithuania and abroad. The conference was attended by 272 persons, of whom 20 had arrived from the United States, Canada, Sweden, Poland, and Germany.

They elected a Board (headed by Avižienis and Statulevičius) that gave rise to the new VMU Senate.

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In early 1989 an initiating group organized elections to the Council of a reconstituted VMU; these took place on March 30 with the participation of 120 professors and doctors of science from the schools and institutes of higher education already active in Kaunas. They elected 30 members to the Council, with Professor Jurgis Vilemas as chairman and Associate Professor Joana Misevičienė as secretary.

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As Lithuania was still Soviet-occupied, the road towards the reestablishment of both VMU and Lithuanian independence itself was arduous, but it would have been even more arduous had there not been at least tacit support from some influential members of the Lithuanian Communist Party.

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They also founded a World Lithuanian Center for Culture, Science, and Education with the aim of supporting VMU‘s revival and fostering ties with Lithuanian scholars living abroad. Its first accomplishment was the securing of a $15,000 gift from the World Lithuanian Community for the purchase of essential computer and office equipment. Avižienis brought this equipment to Kaunas in August 1989.

After the reestablishment of VMU had been proclaimed the Board worked to secured its acceptance by the Supreme Council and Ministerial Council of the so-called Lithuanian S.S.R.; this came on July 10, 1989.

The Board then chose Vilemas as acting UVM rector and Associate Professor Antanas Karoblis as vicerector.

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Inauguration of the first academic year at the Kaunas State Musical Theater (1989).

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

of the reestablished VMU Council on the inauguration of the first { Members academic year (1989).

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During the pivotal Sixth World Lithuanian Symposium on Science and Creativity held in Chicago on November 22-26, 1989, 49 scholars from the diaspora were elected to the reestablished VMU Senate; and on December 27, 1989 these were joined by another 49 scholars from Lithuania itself. Professor Vilemas became the first chairman of the new VMU Senate.

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In this way VMU became the first autonomous institution of higher learning not only in Lithuania but in what then still was the Soviet Union as a whole. The university had to start totally from scratch – it did not recover any of its previous buildings nor any books from its old library before the Soviets shut it down. Classes were held in three rented buildings.

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MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

On October 16-21, 1990, a major international scholarly conference called The Baltic Family was organized to foster cooperation among academic institutions of the Baltic Sea region. It drew together more than 50 scholars from universities in Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway as well as Lithuanian scholars from the U. S., Canada. Australia, Switzerland, and Great Britain.

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The new school year (1990–1991) began in the fall with the new rector‘s official inauguration; and the resurrected VMU gradually reoccupied its place in Kaunas city life.

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On May 24, 1990, upon balloting in both Kaunas and Chicago, the VMU Senate elected Avižienis as the first full-fledged Rector of the reestablished VMU. In early August 1990 he and Senate president Vilemas took part in the World Rectors‘ Conference in Helsinki, thereby legitimizing VMU‘s reestablishment in the eyes of the world academic community.

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On December 20-21, 1990, the Senate approved the UVM Statute.

It was modelled after Harvard‘s as described in Henry Rosovsky‘s The University: An Owner‘s Manual, a book that had just appeared and was brought to Kaunas by Avižienis.

The Statute established VMU‘s autonomy, the principle of academic freedom, and the unity of research and teaching; it also introduced the idea—then new to Lithuania—that university studies proceed at three levels aiming, respectively, for the bachelor‘s degree, the master‘s degree, and the doctor‘s degree.

This was an important development inasmuch as these VMU principles concerning university autonomy and a three-tiered system of studies were also incorporated into the Republic of Lithuania‘s Law on Science and Studies adopted on February, 12, 1991. Rector Avižienis and Prorector for Graduate Studies and Research Vytautas Kaminskas had a big hand in drafting this law.

Inauguration of Professor Algirdas Avižienis as Rector. Professor Avižienis (left) and Professor Romualdas Baltrušis (1990).

Holy Mass at the Kaunas Archcathedral Basilica at the begining of the second academic year (1990).

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VMU received a helping hand from many non-Lithuanian professors.

They included teachers from Weber State University, Utah; the University of North Dakota; and several Scandinavian universities. A particularly significant contribution–in returning the humanities to Kaunas, providing leadership to newly established departments, and organizing doctoral studies–was made by a large group of Vilnius scholars, including Professors Vytautas Kubilius, Juozas Kulys, Vytautas Statulevičius, Laimutis Telksnys, Antanas Tyla, Norbertas Vėlius, Aleksandras Vanagas, Zigmas Zinkevičius, and Antanas Žilinskas.

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In the first few years of its reestablished existence VMU was helped considerably and in various capacities by professors and lecturers both from other Lithuanian institutions and from abroad. The latter included Kazys Almenas, Liucija Baškauskaitė, Vytautas Černius, Milda Danytė, Živilė Gimbutaitė, Rimas Kalvaitis, Vytautas Kavolis, Msgr. Vytautas Kazlauskas, Kęstutis Skrupskelis, Viktorija Skrupskelytė, Julius Šmulkštys, Bronius Vaškelis, Arvydas Žygas, and Kęstutis Paulius Žygas.

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university { Students at the newly reestablished(1991–1993).

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Professor Algirdas Avižienis (standing) during a UVM Senate meeting (1992).

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Opening of UVM‘s jubilee exhibition at the Vytautas the Great War Museum (1990).

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VMU Senator Dr. Valdas Adamkus visiting the university (ca. 1990-1992).

VMU guests. From the right: Bishop Juozas Preikšas, Culture and Education Minister Dr. Darius Kuolys, Archbishop Audrys Juozas Bačkis, Bishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, Father Professor Antanas Liuima, S.J. (1992).

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Lithuanian Parliament President Professor Vytautas Landsbergis at VMU (ca. 1990-1992).

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Concert at the VMU Great Hall by university students (1990).

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Students at the reestablished VMU (ca. 1991-1993).

T H E V Y TA U TA S M A G N U S U N I V E R S I T Y

(March 30, 1989 – December 17, 1989)

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CHAIR

Professor Jurgis Vilemas (Acting Rector from 1989 to 1990), Institute of Physical-Technological Problems of Energy, Lithuania

HONORARY MEMBERS

Dr. Valdas Adamkus, USA Prof. Algirdas Avižienis, USA Algirdas Brazauskas, Lithuania Prof. Viktoras Butkus, Lithuania Prof. Martynas Yčas, USA Prof. Jonas Kubilius, Lithuania Prof. Česlovas Kudaba, Lithuania Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania Prof. Meilė Lukšienė, Lithuania Justinas Marcinkevičius, Lithuania Prof. Kazimira Danutė Prunskienė, Lithuania Kard. Vincentas Sladkevičius, Lithuania Prof. Vytautas Statulevičius, Lithuania Prof. Edvardas Varnauskas, Sweden Simas Velonskis, USA Prof. Eduardas Vilkas, Lithuania

ELECTED MEMBERS

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| MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Prof. Vaidotas Antanaitis, Lithuanian Academy of Agriculture Prof. Romualdas Baltrušis, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Juozas Blužas, Institute of Cardiology Prof. Jurgis Brėdikis, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Prof. Feliksas Bukauskas, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Assoc. Prof. Alvydas Butkus, Vilnius University Prof. Vladas Gronskas, Vilnius University Prof. Aronas Gutmanas, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Prof. Leonas Kairiūkštis, Lithuanian Forest Institute Assoc. Prof. Antanas Karoblis, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Leonas Klumbys, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Assoc. Prof. Gediminas Kostkevičius, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Assoc. Prof. Rimantas Marčėnas, Vilnius Universitety Prof. Stanislovas Masiokas, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Algis Mickis, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Assoc. Prof. Joana Misevičienė, Vilnius University Jurgis Oksas, Kaunas Municipality Prof. Vytautas Paliūnas, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Simas Ramutis Petrikis, „LIRA“ Institute Prof. Simonas Pileckis, Lithuanian Academy of Agriculture Prof. Liudvikas Pranevičius, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Algimantas Radzevičius, Vilnius University Prof. Kazimieras Ragulskis, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Alfredas Smailys, Institute of Cardiology Prof. Vladas Stauskas, Lithuanian Institute of Architecture and Construction Prof. Rimantas Šeinauskas, Kaunas Politechnical Institute Prof. Vytautas Vaičiuvėnas, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Assoc. Prof. Mindaugas Venslauskas, Kaunas Institute of Medicine Prof. Povilas Zakarevičius, Vilnius University

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T H E V Y TA U TA S M A G N U S U N I V E R S I T Y

1989–1996

CHAIRMEN

89

Professor Jurgis Vilemas, Institute of Physical-Technological Problems of Energy, Lithuania (1989–1993); Professor Aleksandras Vanagas, Lithuanian Language Institute, Lithuania (1993–1995); Dr. Simas Ramutis Petrikis, LIRA Institute, Lithuania (1995–1996).

|

Dr. Valdas Adamkus, U.S. Eviromental Protection Agency, USA Prof. Kazys Almenas, University of Maryland, USA Prof. Vaidotas Antanaitis, Lithuanian Academy of Agriculture, Lithuania Prof. Kazimieras Antanavičius, Institute of Economics, Lithuania Prof. Algirdas Avižienis, University of California, USA Prof. Romualdas Baltrušis, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Prof. Audronė Barūnaitė-Willeke, Miami University, USA Prof. Liucija Baškauskaitė, California State University, USA Prof. Raimondas Bentkus, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Vytautas J. Bieliauskas, St. Xavier University, USA Prof. Jurgis Brėdikis, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, Lithuania Prof. Feliksas Bukauskas, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, Lithuania Prof. Antanas Buračas, Institute of Economics, Lithuania Assoc. Prof. Alvydas Butkus, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Viktoras Butkus, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Birute Ciplijauskaitė, University of Wisconsin, USA Prof. Vytautas J. Černius, Temple University, USA Prof. Henry Dauderis, Concordia University, Canada Prof. Vytautas Doniela, University of Newcastle, Australia Prof. Marija Gimbutienė, University of California, USA Prof. Vladas Gronskas, Vilnius University, Lithuania

see page 90 }

{

Declaration on the Reestablishment of VMU, published in a scholarly conference entitled The National Conception of a School of Higher Education and Kaunas University and held on April 28, 1989 in Kaunas.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

MEMBERS

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90

} continues from page 89

Prof. Aronas Gutmanas, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, Lithuania Prof. Eugenijus Janulaitis, Institute of Applied Enzymology, Lithuania Prof. Emanuelis Jarašūnas, California State University, USA Prof. Leonas Kairiūkštis, Lithuanian Forest Institute, Lithuania Prof. Rimas Kalvaitis, New England College, USA Prof. Edvardas Kaminskas, Harvard Medical School, USA Prof. Vytautas Kaminskas, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Dr. Gintautas Kamuntavičius, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Assoc. Prof. Antanas Karoblis, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Romualdas Kašuba, Northern Illinois University, USA Prof. Dalia Katiliutė-Boydstun, St. Xavier College, USA Dr. Vytautas Kazlauskas, Radio Vaticana, Italia Prof. Jolita Kiseliutė-Narutienė, University of Illinois, USA Prof. Vytautas Klemas, University of Delaware, USA Prof. Antanas Klimas, University of Rochester, USA Dr. Arvydas Kliorė, California Institute of Technology, USA Prof. Leonas Klumbys, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, Lithuania Prof. Vytautas Kontrimavičius, Institute of Ecology , Lithuania Assoc. Prof. Gediminas Kostkevičius, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Dr. Juozas Krikštopaitis, Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, Lithuania Dr. Vytautas Kubilius, Lithuanian Language Institute, Lithuania Prof. Juozas Kulys, Institute of Biochemistry, Lithuania Dr. Edmundas Kuokštis, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Arūnas Liulevičius, University of Chicago, USA Dr. Bronius Makauskas, Polska Academia Nauk, Polska Assoc. Prof. Rimantas Marčėnas, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Stanislovas Masiokas, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Prof. Ilona Maziliauskienė, Collège Ahuntsic, Canada Prof. Algis Mickis, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, Lithuania Assoc. Prof. Joana Misevičienė, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Juozas Navickas, Boston College, USA Prof. Algis Norvilas, St. Xavier College, USA Prof. Vytautas Paliūnas, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Prof. Feliksas Palubinskas, Purdue University Calumet, USA Algirdas Patackas, Lithuanian Parliament, Lithuania Prof. Liudvikas Pranevičius, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Prof. Paulius Rabikauskas, Pontificia Universita Gregoriana, Italia Prof. Algimantas Radzevičius, Vilnius University, Lithuania

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Prof. Kazimieras Ragulskis, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Dr. Janina Rėklaitienė, Purdue University, USA Prof. Gintaras V. Rėklaitis, Purdue University, USA Prof. Antanas L. Rubšys, USA Prof. Kęstutis Skrupskelis, University of South Carolina, USA Prof. Viktorija Skrupskelytė, Oberlin College, USA Prof. Alfredas Smailys, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuania Prof. Vytautas Statulevičius, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Lithuania Prof. Vladas Stauskas, Lithuanian Institute of Architecture and Construction, Lithuania Assoc. Prof. Krescencijus Stoškus, Vilnius University, Lithuania Prof. Antanas Sužiedėlis, Catholic University of America, USA Assoc. Prof. Juozas Šatas, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania Prof. Rimas Šeinauskas, Kaunas University of Technologys, Lithuania Prof. Rimvydas Šilbajoris, Ohio State University, USA Prof. Julius Šmulkštys, Indiana University-Purdue, USA Prof. Aleksandras Štromas, Hillsdale College, USA Algimantas Taškūnas, University of Tasmania, Australia Prof. Laimutis Adolfas Telksnys, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Lithuania Dr. Antanas Tyla, Institute of Lithuanian History, Lithuania Prof. Ina Č. Užgirienė, Clark University, USA Prof. Rimas Vaičaitis, Columbia University, USA Prof. Prof. Vytautas Vaičiuvėnas, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, Lithuania Prof. Rimas Vaišnys, Yale University, USA Prof. Vytautas S. Vardys, University of Oklahoma, USA Prof. Bronius Vaškelis, University of Illinois, USA Prof. Romas Vaštokas, Trent University, Canada Prof. Tomas Venclova, Yale University, USA Assoc. Prof. Mindaugas Venslauskas, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Dr. Norbertas Vėlius, Lithuanian Language Institute, Lithuania Prof. Romualdas Viskanta, Purdue University, USA Prof. Povilas Zakarevičius, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Dr. Albertas Zalatorius, Lithuanian Language Institute, Lithuania Prof. Zigmas Zinkevičius, Vilnius University, Lithuania Prof. Pranas Zundė, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA Arvydas Žygas, Ph. D., Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Prof. Kęstutis P. Žygas, Arizona State University, USA

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The 1989 Freshman Pledge:

From J. Misevičienė‘s article “Omnia principium grave est (Every beginning is hard)“in the book “VytautoDidžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos katalikų mokslo akademijos 70-metis”, Kaunas, 1993, p. 75-88.

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| ATMINTIS, ŽMONĖS IR IDĖJOS

{

Christening the freshmen.

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{ Student frolics at the reestablished VMU.

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THE UNIVERSITY‘S

99

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In 1992 VMU resumed its tradition of designating renowned Lithuanian and foreign scholars and statesmen as honorary doctors. The first ones to be so designated were Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, the Nobel laureate Czeslaw Milosz, and Ambassador Stasys Lozoraitis.

In 1993 Avižienis was succeeded as rector by another well-known émigré scholar, the literary historian Professor Bronius Vaškelis.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

From the early 1990s onwards VMU changed continuously, broadening and deepening both its research and teaching capabilities. Following is a summary of leading developments almost year to year:

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In 1996 a new VMU Senate was elected; its members chose informatics professor Vytautas Kaminskas to be the new rector. Popular and active, he was reelected in 1999 and 2003.

{

Professor Maria Gimbutas with the regalia of VMU‘s honorary doctor title (1993).

Poet, Nobel Prize winner, University of California at Berkeley Professor Czeslaw Milosz with the regalia of VMU‘s honorary doctorate (1992).

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

In June 1995 VMU graduated its first masters: for the first time in Lithuania, more than 100 students were awarded master‘s degrees.

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In 1994 VMU was given back the right to dub the most prominent members of the academic community as honorary professors; the first ones to receive this title were Jurgis Vilemas and Algirdas Avižienis.

101

Throughout the early-to-mid-‘90s VMU added new courses and programs; the government granted it ownersip of some of its buildings and gave it back the Botanical Gardens as well as other important facilities.

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1998 saw the celebration of the of the VMU Library‘s 75th anniversary; the opening of a spacious new reading room; and the installation of modern stacks. Although prior to its closing in 1950 the old VMU library boasted of more than 400,000 titles and valuable manuscripts, it had to be built up anew, a task for which it received support from the Open Society Fund, the U.S. Lithuanian Foundation, and Julija and Emilis Sinkiai. The bulk of library holdings was acquired with the help of private donations from people living in Lithuania and abroad; many books were donated by foreign universities and embassies.

In January 2000 the American-born Lithuanian attorney, translator, and community activist Tadas Klimas became director of the VMU Law Institute; he was replaced by attorney and former interior minister Stasys Šedbaras in 2006.

In March 2000 VMU and the Municipality of Kaunas co-founded the Lithuanian Emigration Institute. Its main purpose is to collect, study, preserve, and exhibit the archival materials that constitute the cultural, political, and scholarly heritage of the Lithuanian diaspora, embracing both organizations and individuals. The Institute was organized on the basis of the Center for Lithuanian Diaspora Studies established by VMU in 1994.

Members of the VMU Reestablishment Senate who worked in Lithuania in 1992.

The first class of the reestablished VMU receiving their bachelor‘s diplomas (1992).

{

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VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

Awarding the regalia of UVM‘s Honorary Doctor title to the Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament Professor Vytautas Landsbergis; to Lithuanian ambassador to the United States and the Holy See Stasys Lozoraitis; and to the poet, Nobel Prize winner, University of California at Berkeley Professor Czeslaw Milosz during the commemoration of UVM‘s Seventieth Anniversary (1992).

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The first Rector of the Reestablished VMU Professor Algirdas Avižienis and the Chairman of the Reestablishment Council and the Reestablishment Senate Professor Jurgis Vilemas receiving the regalia of VMU‘s honorary professorship (1994).

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MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Awarding the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctorate to poet Bernardas Brazdžionis (1994).

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Moments in the life of a reestablished university (1989-1995).

{

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{

Inaugurating the Student Association President (1994).

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{

{ After awarding the Honorary Doctor‘s title to President Valdas Adamkus. From the left: Prof. Bronius Vaškelis, Dr. Valdas Adamkus, Prof. Algirdas Avižienis (2002).

The Rhetorician Theater greeting the inaugurated Rector Professor Bronius Vaškelis (1993).

Awarding the Rector‘s regalia to Professor Bronius Vaškelis.

From the left: Professor Povilas Zakarevičius, Professor Vaškelis, Professor Vytautas Kaminskas (1993).

Awarding the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctor title to filmmaker and poet Jonas Mekas (1997).

The inauguration of Rector Professor Vytautas Kaminskas. From the left: Rector Professor Bronius Vaškelis, Kaunas Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, Senators Professor Leonas Gudaitis and Associate Professor Zigmas Lydeka (1997).

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{

{

Beginning of the Academic Year: Student and Teacher Procession on September 1 (1997).

The ďŹ rst general meeting of the Lithuanian and Latvian Forum at VMU (third from the left: Latvian President Vaira Vike Freiberga; second from the right: Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, 2005).

{

{

Awarding the regalia of UVM‘s Honorary Doctor title to University of Wisconsin Professor Alfred Erich Senn (1999).

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117

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th

ON THE ANNIVERSARY

of VMU‘s reestablishment

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

10

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As of 2008, VMU had ten faculties: Humanities, Economics and Management, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Catholic Theology, Arts, Social Welfare, Political Science and Diplomacy and Law. Together they offer more than 70 bachelor and master‘s degree programs as well as 16 doctoral programs. The UVM academic community now consists of more than 9,000 students taught by 550 scholars who since the university‘s reestablishment have brought forth 16,000 alumni.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

On May 2008, a new position of the vicerector for development was established with Natalija Mažeikienė appointed to it.

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A newly-established Public Communications Office answering to University Secretary Auksė Balčytienė considerably strengthened the provision of information to internal and external audiences as well as expanded VMU‘s web presence and publishing activities.

123

2006 witnessed the election of a new rector. In a vigorously contested race, the honors went to economics and management professor Zigmas Lydeka. He came to be assisted by vicerectors Juozas Augutis (science and research), Rimantas Laužackas (studies), and Vaidotas Viliūnas (infrastructure).

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{ Moments of VMU life (2004-2007).

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{ Moments of VMU life (2004-2007).

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VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

The study season having started with a the VMU Student Association decided and teachers - should get a break and

From E. Vaitkūnienės article “Studentai savo dėstytojus pakvietė į vakarėlį” in “Laikinoji sostinė”, Nov. 9, 2006.

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| MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

vengeance and mid-term exams running, that everybody - students, administrators, take a breather.

130

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VMU community celebrations (2006–2007).

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133

|

Administratively VMU adheres to the principle that decisions must be arrived at collegially with the advice of as many members of the university community as possible.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Recognizing the paramount importance of international academic relations, VMU has signed cooperation agreements with more than 80 universities abroad, mainly in Western Europe, the United States, and Japan.

It has membership in four international associations and is an individual full member of the European University Association.

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The Senate is the highest institution of the university‘s self-governance. It is constituted by 45 to 55 scholars, recognized artists, and students; and it is chosen for a five-year term.

In its Statement of Mission adopted on April 8, 2007, UVM declared itself to be a community-oriented institution of science and learning that provides people with the opportunity to attain a liberal higher education informed by humanist, Christian, and patriotic values; that fosters scholar, teacher, and student partnerships with other institutions locally and abroad; that actively participates in the intellectual, cultural, and civic life of Kaunas; and that helps shape a future for Lithuania by educating creative, civic-minded, and conscientious citizens who contribute to the development of world culture and scholarship.

In short, UVM‘s overall mission is to foster a broadly-conceived humanist culture neither limited to nor excluding narrow and highly-specialized studies and to be a beckoning hearth for Lithuanian intellectual and cultural life.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

The Rector is the university‘s chief ececutive. He is chosen by the Senate for a five-year term and can serve no more than two consecutive terms.

|

The Rectorate is a 24-member Rector‘s advisory institution consisting of the rector, the prorector for studies, the prorector for science and research, the prorector for infrastructure, the university secretary, faculty deans, and the heads of other university subdivisions.

141

The Council is an institution of public supervision and support; it is chosen for four years and has 18 members: four professors chosen by the Senate; the Rector; a student elected by the Student Association; and 12 representatives of various scholarly, cultural, artistic, and business fields.

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{

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

The election of Rector Professor Zigmas Lydeka (center) in 2006.

VMU Senate Chair Professor Margarita Teresevičienė ir Rector Professor Zigmas Lydeka during his inauguration (2006).

145

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{

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Awarding the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctorate to Professor Emeritus Zygmunt Bauman of Leeds and Warsaw Universities (2007).

During a ceremonial meeting of the Senate Charles University Professor Miroslav Hoch (left) and Bergen University Professor Orm Överland (center) receive the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctorate, while diaspora Professor Vytautas J. Černius (right) receives the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Professorship (2007).

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FUTURE

151 MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

To reach this goal by 2020, Vytautas Magnus University has set itself the task of putting people and their personal dignity ďŹ rst, which entails recognition of their achievements and individuality; showing openness to, and toleration of, various cultures and worldviews; achieving leadership positions in research and teaching of the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and biomedicine; developing international networks and intercultural communications; fostering international studies in the Lithuanian language; becoming relevant to challenges facing world universities; and promoting novel research and modern teaching.

|

Just like twenty years ago the reestablishment of a free university in a free Lithuania seemed diďŹƒcult if not outright impossible, so today VMU is nothing if not ambitious in looking forward to a time when it is not only a modern, but also a leading institution of higher education that actively participates in the life of world-class universities.

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| MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

T HAT I S . . .

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| 156

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Daukanto g. 28

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES Donelaičio g. 53

FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES Vileikos g. 8

EVF GMF

HMF FACULTY OF INFORMATICS Vileikos g. 8

157

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FACULTY OF CATHOLIC THEOLOGY Gimnazijos g. 7

IF MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

KTF

MF

| 158

FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCES AND DIPLOMACY Gedinimo g. 44

FACULTY OF ARTS Laisvės al. 53

FACULTY OF SOCIAL WELFARE Donelaičio g. 52

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

SGF

SMF MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

FACULTY OF LAW Daukanto g. 28

|

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Donelaičio g. 52

159

PMDF TF

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160

UNIVERSITY

JONAS ŠIMKUS 1922-1923

VINCAS ČEPINSKIS 1923-1924

PRANCIŠKUS BŪČYS 1924-1925

PETRAS AVIŽONIS 1925-1926

MYKOLAS BIRŽIŠKA 1926-1927

MYKOLAS RÖMERIS 1927-1928

PRANAS JODELĖ 1928-1929

VINCAS ČEPINSKIS 1929-1933

MYKOLAS RÖMERIS 1933-1939

161

ANTANAS PURĖNAS 1944-1946

JUOZAS KUPČINSKAS 1947-1950

ALGIRDAS AVIŽIENIS 1990-1993

BRONIUS VAŠKELIS 1993-1996

VYTAUTAS KAMINSKAS 1996-2006

ZIGMAS LYDEKA since 2006

JULIJONAS GRAVROGKAS 1941-1943

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

ANTANAS PURĖNAS 1940-1941

|

STASYS ŠALKAUSKIS 1939-1940

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162

HONORARY

Haroldas Benderis Petras Vileišis Jonas Šliūpas Jonas Basanavičius Jonas Šliūpas Augustas Niemi Pranas Mašiotas Aurelijus Vossas Petras Vileišis Kazys Grinius Samuelis Zochas Vilius Storasta-Vydūnas Inozas Lukašekas Marija Pečkauskaitė Martynas Yčas Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Jakštas Jonas Staugaitis Povilas Matulionis Aleksandras Faiduttis Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas Janis Endzelinsas Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Jakštas Jurgis Baltrušaitis Matviejus Liubavskis Dušanas Fainoras Mykolas Biržiška Petras Leonas Antanas Smetona Jokūbas Alksnis Taivo J. Bansdorfas Teodoras Grinbergsas Oskaras-Vladislovas Milašius Jonas Šliūpas

1922 10 14 1923 02 24 1923 02 24 1923 02 28 1923 02 28 1923 09 28 1923 12 17 1924 12 07 1926 05 15 1926 12 11 1927 05 19 1927 12 16 1928 06 09 1928 10 05 1928 10 28 1928 12 14 1929 02 13 1929 06 18 1929 06 26 1929 10 12 1932 01 19 1932 01 29 1932 01 29 1932 01 29 1932 01 29 1932 02 23 1932 09 23 1932 09 25 1932 10 28 1933 02 16 1934 12 14 1936 02 08 1936 06 15 1939 12 11

Jonas Basanavičius Jonas Jablonskis Adalbertas Bezzenbergeris Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Jakštas Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis Petras Leonas Algirdas Avižienis Jurgis Vilemas Bronius Vaškelis Vytautas Statulevičius Vytautas Juozas Černius

1922 03 15 1922 03 15 1922 10 15 1922 10 15 1922 10 15 1933 09 15 1994 03 09 1994 03 09 1998 05 14 2000 06 29 2006 12 20

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

HONORARY

|

1991 09 18 1991 09 18 1991 09 18 1992 02 07 1993 01 27 1994 03 09 1994 03 09 1995 10 18 1996 04 17 1997 03 26 1997 03 26 1997 10 30 1999 03 25 1999 03 25 2001 05 30 2001 12 18 2001 12 18 2003 06 25 2007 02 21 2007 02 21 2007 04 18

163

Vytautas Landsbergis Stasys Lozoraitis Czeslawas Miloszas Antanas Liuima Marija Gimbutienė Bernardas Brazdžionis Zigmas Zinkevičius Antanas Razma Antanas Rubšys Adolfas Damušis Alfonsas Nyka-Nyliūnas Jonas Mekas Alfredas Erichas Sennas Sigitas Tamkevičius Vilhelmas Einaras Stellanas Hjertenas Valdas Adamkus Vaira Vike Freiberga Vincas Valkavičius Miroslavas Hrochas Ormas Overlandas Zygmuntas Baumanas

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V Y TA U TA S M A G N U S U N I V E R S I T Y K. Donelaicio St. 58 Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania Tel.: +370 37 222 739 Fax: +370 37 203 858 E-mail: info@adm.vdu.lt Internet: http://www.vdu.lt

Vytautas Magnus University, established in 1922 (reestablished in 1989) is one of the most liberal and modern universities in Lithuania, having liberal studies policy, seeking and establishing successful international relations with other universities all over the world. It is an open university where traditions and innovations meet and compliment each other.

In 2008, there were six faculties at the university (Humanities, Economics and Management, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Catholic Theology) and four institutes (School of Arts, School of Law, School of Social Work, School of Political Science and Diplomacy). Seventy study programmes were implemented. Number of students exceeded 9000, and the number of teachers and researchers was over 500.

In the future, Vytautas Magnus University is seen as Artes Liberales University with its unique system of liberal studies, openness to the world, dissemination of liberal thought and high quality of studies.

V Y TA U T O D I D Ž I O J O U N I V E R S I T E TA S

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas ir ateityje sieks išlaikyti liberaliąsias studijas, išlikti tikruoju artes liberales, t.y. laisvųjų menų universitetu, skelbti atvirumą pasauliui, skleisti laisvą liberalią mintį ir orientuotis į studijų kokybę.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

2008 m. universitete veikė šeši fakultetai (Humanitarinių mokslų, Ekonomikos ir vadybos, Informatikos, Gamtos mokslų, Socialinių mokslų, Katalikų teologijos) ir keturi institutai (Menų, Teisės, Socialinio darbo ir Politikos mokslų ir diplomatijos). Universitete vykdyta daugiau nei 70 bakalauro ir magistrantūros studijų programų, buvo priimama į 16 mokslo krypčių doktorantūrą. VDU akademinę bendruomenė – tai daugiau nei 9000 studentų bei 500 dėstytojų ir mokslininkų.

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1922 m. įkurtas Lietuvos universitetas Kaune išsiskyrė liberalumu, bendruomenės aktyviu dalyvavimu universiteto gyvenime ir valdyme.

1989 m. atkurtame universitete svarbūs kolegišku bendravimu pagrįsti studentų ir dėstytojų santykiai, atvirumas pasauliui, liberalios minties sklaida, modernus požiūris į studijas.

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K. Donelaičio g. 58 Kaunas LT-44248, Lietuva Tel.: 8 37 222 739 Faksas: 8 37 203 858 El. paštas: info@adm.vdu.lt Interneto svetainė: http://www.vdu.lt

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920

922

930

950

989

Higher Courses were established in Kaunas

Lithuanian University in Kaunas was established

University was renamed Vytautas Magnus University

VMU was closed by the Soviet government

Įkuriamas Lietuvos universitetas Kaune

Universitetui suteikiamas Vytauto Didžiojo univer-

Vytautas Magnus Uni- VMU Statute was versity was reestablished passed introducing the system of 3-level studies Atkuriamas Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas Priimamas VDU statutas, įteisinęs 3 pakopų studijas universitete

Įkurti Aukštieji kursai Kaune

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siteto vardas

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VDU uždaromas sovietų valdžios

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*

990

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VMU became a member of European University Association (EUA) VDU – Europos universitetų asociacijos narys

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99 Doctoral studies were started Pradedamos organizuoti doktorantūros studijos

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Tradition of awarding the Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa was reestablished Atkuriama Garbės daktaro vardo teikimo tradicija

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994

995

998

The first cohort of BA students graduated

Awards tradition of Regalia of Proffessor Honoris Causa was reestablished

The first cohort of MA students graduated

Atkuriama Garbės profesoriaus vardo teikimo tradicija

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Modern library and rea- First group of students ding halls were opened taking part in the Socrates/Erasmus programAtidaryta moderni biblio- me left for their study teka, skaityklos period abroad

Išleidžiama pirmoji bakalaurų laida

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Išleidžiama pirmoji magistrų laida

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999

Pagal „Socrates/Erasmus“ mainų programą dalinėms studijoms užsienyje išvyko pirmieji studentai

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2000

2004–2006

Lithuanian Emigration Magna Charta of EuInstitute was established ropean Universities was signed Įkurtas Lietuvių išeivijos institutas Pasirašyta Didžioji Europos universitetų chartija

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VMU joined the Campus Europae project VDU prisijungė prie projekto „Campus Europae“

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VMU became a member of Baltic Sea Region University Network (BSRUN) VDU – Baltijos jūros regiono universitetų tinklo (BSRUN) narys

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MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

992

Aleksandravičius, E. (2002) Istoriografijos problemos. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas, p. 39-54.

2.

Alma Mater: mūsų universitetas ir jo studentija (1930), Kaunas.

3.

Antanaitis, K. (2002) VDU atkūrimo idėjų raida ir plėtra. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas, p. 382-401.

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Baltic University 1946–1949 (1996). Kaunas.

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Čepėnas, P. (1972) Lietuvos universitetas 1579–1803–1922, Chicago.

6.

Kaminskas, V. (2002) Aštuoniasdešimties metų kelią peržvelgus.

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas, p. 9-38.

7.

Korsakienė, H. (1982) Veidai ir likimai. Vilnius.

8.

Kuodys, M. (2007) Nepriklausomos Lietuvos elito kalvė. Universitas Vytauti Magni, Nr. 1 (111). Kaunas, p. 1, 10.

9.

Lietuvos albumas (1921), Berlynas.

10.

Lietuvos Universitetas 1922. II. 16-1927. II. 16: Pirmųjų penkerių veikimo metų apyskaita (1928), Kaunas.

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Maksimaitienė, O. (1996) Atsiminimai. Vilnius.

12.

Misevičienė, J. (1993) Omnia principium grave est (Kiekviena pradžia sunki). Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos katalikų mokslo akademijos 70-metis, p. 75-88.

13.

Pakalniškis, A. (1978) Studento dienoraštis. Chicago.

14.

Pivoras, S. (2002) Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto profesoriai ir studentai. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p. 111-124.

15.

Puzinas, J. (1976) Pabaltijo universiteto 30 metų sukaktį minint, Chicago.

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY

1.

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LI T E R AT U R E A N D S O U R C E S

Smailys, A. (1988) Atkurkime Vytauto Didžiojo universitetą. Kauno tiesa, liepos 29 d.

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Smailys, A. (1993) Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto rektoriai. Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos katalikų mokslo akademijos 70-metis, p. 99-108.

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Studentas: dvisavaitinis literatūros, mokslo ir kritikos akademinis laikraštis (1928). Nr. 6.

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Šenavičienė, I., Šenavičius, A. (2002) Universiteto organizavimo pradžia: Aukštieji (vakariniai) kursai. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p.

74-84.

21.

Šenavičienė, I., Šenavičius, A. (2002) Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto struktūra 1922-1950. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p. 85-98.

22.

Vaitkūnienė, E. (2006) Studentai savo dėstytojus pakvietė į vakarėlį. Laikinoji sostinė, lapkričio 9 d.

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V.D.U. Kalendorius (1937), Kaunas.

24.

Vilemas, J. (1989) Lietuvos TSR įstatymo dėl Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto atkūrimo projektas. Kauno tiesa, liepos 5 d.

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Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: Antrųjų penkerių veikimo metų (1927.II.16–1932.IX.1) apyskaita (1933), Kaunas.

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Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas Kaune 1922-1933: trumpa 10 metų veikimo apžvalga. (1933), Kaunas.

27.

Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto strateginis planas 2007–2011 metams (2007), Kaunas.

28.

Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto įstatymai (1934), Kaunas.

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Žemaitis, Z. (1922) Iš Lietuvos universiteto istorijos. Atspindžiai, liepos mėn.

MEMORY, PEOPLE AND IDEAS

17.

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Serafinas H. (1933) Vytauto Didžiojo mirties 500 metų sukaktuvėms paminėti albumas, Kaunas.

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16.

Vi322

Vytautas Magnus University. Memory, People and Ideas. Kaunas: Vytautas Magnus University, 2008. Illustr., 170 p.

“Vytautas Magnus University. Memory, People, and Ideas” surveys the university‘s road from 1922 onwards—its development out of the Higher Studies Program and its founding, growth, and closing; the continuation of its ideas in exile and its reestablishment in 1989; and its present-day reality. It is an illustrated narrative about a free university educating a free human being.

UDK 378.4(474.5)(091) ISBN 978-9955-12-370-5

VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY Memory, People and Ideas Publisher: Public Communications Office at VMU. SL 1557. 2008. 07. 07 . Number of copies: 1000.

Published by Public Communications Office at VMU, K. Donelaičio St. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248.

Printed by UAB „Morkūnas ir Ko“ , Draugystės St. 17, Kaunas, LT-51229.