A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 27 - Tuesday, July 6th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Board Member Leaves Holy Cross
BOSTON - Confidential reports prepared by the Department of Finances of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, on the finances of the school, as well as a memorandum issued by two academician members of the Board of Trustees alleging academic violations, have painted a rather disturbing image of the only institution of high learning of our Greek American community. The National Herald has revealed the reports in recent issues and as result, many questions have been raised in the community. In a special Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 16, presided by Archbishop Demetrios of America, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the school, the issues and the allegations raised by Board of Trustees members Nicholas Patrikalakis and Theoharis Theoharides were not discussed but they were instead postponed until the Fall. At the meeting, the departure of George Chryssis, vice chairman of the Board for the last two years was announced. In an interview with The National Herald Mr. Chryssis invoked business reasons for his departure and he claims that the school is on the right track. Nevertheless, Mr. Chryssis declined to give an explanation as to the context of the confidential reports, both for the finances as well as the academics. He simply stated that he departs satisfied from his post as vice chairman. The entire interview is as follows: NATIONAL HERALD: Why did you resign as vice chairman of the Board of Trustees? CHRYSSIS: I have to correct it and make it very clear: On August 31, and after 16 years as a member of the Board of Trustees, my term ends and thus I requested from the Archbishop not to renew it. I have my new company, which consumes all of my time and I do not even have one free hour to give. The Archbishop told me that he is going to honor my wish. It is not a resignation; I simply do not want to be reappointed. After sixteen years, certainly new ideas and new blood are needed. N.H: How much did the financial and academic situation of the school, as it was manifested by the confidential reports, contribute to your decision not to seek reappointment? CHRYSSIS: The finances of the school are not exactly as they are given in the newspapers, nor in other discussions. The school does not have a $2 million deficit; it has $117,000. The school is on an exceptional journey. It has many students and a beautiful future. N.H.: The confidential reports revealed by The National Herald say other things. They speak of deficits. Two academicians, members of the Board of Trustess—Professors Patrikalakis and Theoharides—in their memo paint a different academic image. Who is telling the truth here, you or the confidential reports? CHRYSSIS: Concerning the Patriakalakis and Theoharides memo, you have heard only one side. The whole issue will be discussed by the new Board of Trustees in September. N.H: Why didn’t you discuss it now? CHRYSSIS: All those who are mentioned in the report must be present. Some have gone to Greece, Patrikalakis is not here. N.H: Why don’t you tell us the other side? We had requested an interview from you and Fr. Triantafilou, but at any rate, tell us now please while we are talking. CHRYSSIS: One thing I have to tell is that I am leaving from the vice chair satisfied with my tenure. I think there is a huge positive course of the school, which we all should realize and give our help because it is the only institution that will save us. This year the numbers of the students have been increased again. N.H: Nevertheless, 75 percent of the new incoming students are converts. CHRYSSIS: It is an issue that we cannot disregard. We live in a country in which Orthodoxy will be expanded. We cannot say no to someone who wants to become Orthodox and get ordained as a priest. Then we wouldn’t be Orthodox Christians. N.H: Can’t the school attract students from our Greek Orthodox community? CHRYSSIS: This is not the problem of the school. It is a deeper problem of our community in general. The priests and the families should teach and urge the children to study for the holy priesthood. Hellenic College can become the base for that. Fifty percent of those students who graduated this year will be entering the School of Theology. N.H: How many are they? CHRYSSIS: I do not remember exactly. The numbers are not important, but the progress which is going on is. Everything is done step by step. N.H: Do you doubt those confidential reports? CHRYSSIS: All those reports are done for strategic purposes. They are done for companies as well. It is a scenario of what is it going to happen, if… N.H: The reports speak about specific issues. They speak about the deficit of $2 million, about the line of credit of $1.3 million. CHRYSSIS: The line of credit is something that the school uses, like every other company or organization if there is shortage of cash flow. When the cash comes in, we pay the line of credit. It is an accommodation. N.H: What is going to happen to Hellenic College’s expansion plans, as well as the $100 million fundraising plans? CHRYSSIS: There is a collective responsibility. At the last meeting of the Board of Trustees, the members left very optimistic. They said that we are going back to our places to speak about all those good things that are going on at the school. N.H: Will the expansion of Hellenic College go on? Will the fundraising effort to collect $100 million dollars continue as well, now that Ms. Pohas has also left her post? CHRYSSIS: You are asking about things that I cannot verify if I am not there. The members of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee are willing to give the strategic plan a chance. N.H: A discussion has been taking place for that plan for three years now. Has it started? CHRYSSIS: Yes it has started. It is not only the collection of $100 million, this or that, but a combination of many things together. N.H: How do you answer those who say that now that Chryssis sees the boat sinking, he is the first one to jump? CHRYSSIS: There is no substance to that. N.H: How many millions of dollars did the president of the school, Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, raise during these past few years he has been a president? CHRYSSIS: I do no know. I do not know specific numbers. N.H: Approximately. CHRYSSIS: He most definitely has made positive steps. N.H: How many millions has he brought into to school with all of his trips? CHRYSSIS: I do not know. N.H: If the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees does not know, then who knows? CHRYSSIS: I cannot have in my mind every detail. N.H: Is it a detail for the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees to know how much money the president of the school has brought in?
CHRYSSIS: Fr. Triantafilou goes about and he says
I brought $100,000. Have you seen how much the
buildings and the grounds of the School have been
improved? All those things along have cost $1
million, which Fr. Triantafilou raised, from
various donors without placing any burden on the
School’s budget. So, here it is, a positive thing
that Fr. Triantrafilou has done. |
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