Culture of Greece and the Mediterranean will be coming a little closer to campus, when a professor and Greek native comes to Lansing on Sunday.
The Cypriot and Greek Associationof MSU will be hosting a guest speaker at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1701 East Saginaw St. in Lansing, on Sunday at 7 p.m.
University of Michigan professor and Modern Greek Chair, Vassilis Lambropoulos, will be addressing attendees on “Who are the Great Greeks of Our Time.”
Yiannis Miralis, president of the group, said it’s significant for people to look beyond ancient Greek culture and also explore its current importance, particularly with the large Greek population in Detroit and other Michigan communities.
“I think the lecture is very important because it gives people an exposure to current Greece,” Miralis, a music graduate student said. “People don’t realize that there is a lot of modern culture and with the Olympics coming to Athens in three years, they may want to know a little more about it.”
Lambropoulos, a professor in classical studies at U-M, will be discussing modern Greeks in literature, music, politics and athletics.
Konstantinos Konstantinidis, vice-president of the group, plans to attend the lecture and encourages others, particularly Greek Americans to participate.
“It (the lecture) is a very good thing,” Konstantinidis, a microbiology and biochemistry graduate student said. “The lecture will give the Greek Americans some documents that will help them understand and realize many things about their culture.”
Kassia Hanna, a Lebanese-Greek American, said she would like to know more about her culture and the lecture will be a good opportunity for her to explore her roots.
“I think you should be true to yourself and get to know your culture better,” Hanna, a kinesiology sophomore said. “You can’t get a good understanding of who you are, unless you know your people’s past.”
In addition to the lecture Sunday, the group will also hold cultural festivities at the church at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
The event costs $12 and includes Greek food, a live band and dancing.
“I think that it’s an activity that brings the Greeks together and other Americans who would like to be familiar with the culture,” Konstantinidis said.
MSU students interested in attending the guest speaker can be admitted free of charge. Area residents are asked to pay $2, contributions will go to the funding of the Odyssey Program, a Greek school in Lansing.
For more information on the group club see its Web site at www.for.msu.edu/student/demetris/cygra/cygra.htm
