A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 18 - Tuesday, May 4th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Regarding the HC/HC Deficit I would like to respond to the National Herald's editorial about the deficit at Hellenic College/Holy Cross (http://www.orthodoxnews.netfirms.com/117/The deficit at Holy Cross.htm). As a 34 year old student who graduated from Hellenic College, and now attends Holy Cross, I would like to offer an opposing view to the National Herald opinion about HC/HC. The fact is that many of the stories that are published about our school are written by persons who have never attended, worshiped or paid a visit to Hellenic College and Holy Cross. We as students attend this school because we are called by Christ and the Church to do a job that most will not do. We are here to be priest's, teachers, and leaders of the faithful in the Orthodox Church around the world. Is the school in debt? yes. Is it perfect? no. But in the five years since I have been here this school has turned around for the better. Under the leadership of our devoted president, Fr. Nicholas Triantafillou, the school finally has people in positions to address the problems of the past. The fact is that the financial office of the school has had a complete re-vamping. The days of poor fiscal management are in the process of being corrected. There is a C.F.O, a C.O.O, a strong effort to attract new students and new sources of in the area of development which never existed in a committed way prior to Fr. Nicholas' appointment in 2000. The sad fact is that the students who attend this school always must endure the criticism of those who know little and more often that not, absolutely nothing about Hellenic College and Holy Cross and the great strides it has made in the past few years. It is a false statement to say that the school offers or will in the future offer a sub- par education. Almost all the professors here have a PhD, and teach at other institutions in the Boston area, such as Harvard, Boston College, Boston University and many other schools affiliated with the Boston Theological Institute. We have fine students and superior professors unlike the portrait the National Herald paints. Anyone with any basic business understanding will realize that it takes money to operate a school or any business for that matter. The reality is that this school is special, and it fulfills a specific niche. The students who graduate from HC/HC often will never make the high salaries that many people in the Greek American community make. Thus the school is unfortunately limited in the funds it receives from its alumni. The old saying that it takes money to make money also applies to our school in the fact that it need money to operate, expand, build, renovate and project a positive image in order to attract those students who choose to attend college elsewhere. Where are the donations and funds from those persons who constantly bemoan the leadership of the school? Where are the Greek American kids who attend school else where? The fact is that many parents discourage there children from becoming priests or working for the Church. I am a child of parents who once held that opinion. Parents often want their children to grow up and be doctors, lawyers, dentists, or business leaders. They push their kids to strive for financial success, often at the expense of the religious aspect of their life. Unfortunately many financially blessed people in the Greek American community look at Hellenic College and Holy Cross in a negative light. The same people who complain and criticize this school are often the people who have the means and ability to help correct the problems the school faces. I guess having your name on a wall or building at a more well to do school is more impressive in social circles than committing your blessings to Hellenic College and Holy Cross. The National Herald states in its article that, and I quote "When it comes to Hellenic College/Holy Cross, it is an issue of proper management, not money". Coming from a one who grew up in a family business and owned a business prior to answer my calling, you can't manage what you don't have. In the case of the school that is money. Hellenic College/Holy Cross should not be some sort of cultural whipping boy for those who lack the historical and theological understanding of the true purpose of this school. I hope that the Lord will guide those who lack understanding and give them the humility to work for the betterment of the school, and not always look for a reason to attack those of us who are doing the jobs that most will not do. To quote another line from the National Herald "That should not be too difficult to understand, should it"?
Michael
Lambakis |
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