Spring Break
Former European leader talks on Poland's political changes
Stacey Skotzko
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Front Page
Yet Kwasniewski moved beyond the past in his lecture, and spoke on the current state of Poland and the war in Iraq. Kwasniewski said that he did, and still does, support President George Bush's plan to invade Iraq. However, now, the former president said he may support what he calls the controversial plan to divide Iraq in three sections, in order to reduce secretarian violence.
Kwasniewski said that now he has the liberty to speak frankly about such issues, as he is out of office.
"I can speak so because I am a former president," Kwasniewski said. "If I did when I was in office, it would have been a disaster."
The former president also had great hope for the future of Poland, even though it does have its problems - namely unemployment and underdeveloped regions, he said.
Miami senior Gabriela Tennhard thought that the former president did not focus enough on these topics and referenced her personal experiences being in Poland. Tennhard is from Dresden, Germany, and not far from the border of Poland. She said that Poland still very much has its problems, such as illegal labor, and has a far way to go in terms of economic development.
Yet she agreed with Kwasniewski on one issue - the hope in future generations.
"The young generation is extremely driven, open," Tennhard said. "They embrace U.S. (and) German culture."
Kwasniewski was brought to Miami by the Farmer School of Business and Alan Oak, assistant dean for external relations for the business school, explained the importance of having such speakers of
such international prominence come to Miami.
"Students must be more culturally aware and savvy … both from an economic and social perspective," Oak said.
The Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies and in particular Marek Dollar, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in the U.S., also contributed to bringing Kwasniewski to Oxford.
President David Hodge, at the conclusion of the speech, awarded the former president with the Miami University Presidential Medal, an award that Hodge said is rarely given and whose recipients must exhibit an extraordinary impact on the community. Kwasniewski was the second president of Poland to receive this metal, as Lech Walesa visited Miami in 1999 and was awarded the medal by former Miami President James Garland.
Following the speech, Hodge said that the former president was simply "full of life."
"I was deeply impressed by his spirit, tremendous optimism for the future," Hodge said. " … He is a remarkably inspirational individual."
Hodge wasn't the only one who shared these sentiments. As he was leaving Hall Auditorium, Kwasniewski stopped for multiple pictures with students and community members, shaking hands and greeting the crowd that formed around him.
Toward the end of his speech, Kwasniewski left students and those in attendance with a word of advice for learning about Eastern and Central Europe: See it firsthand.
"You have to visit these places because you will see how possible a deep change is," he said.
Kwasniewski said that now he has the liberty to speak frankly about such issues, as he is out of office.
"I can speak so because I am a former president," Kwasniewski said. "If I did when I was in office, it would have been a disaster."
The former president also had great hope for the future of Poland, even though it does have its problems - namely unemployment and underdeveloped regions, he said.
Miami senior Gabriela Tennhard thought that the former president did not focus enough on these topics and referenced her personal experiences being in Poland. Tennhard is from Dresden, Germany, and not far from the border of Poland. She said that Poland still very much has its problems, such as illegal labor, and has a far way to go in terms of economic development.
Yet she agreed with Kwasniewski on one issue - the hope in future generations.
"The young generation is extremely driven, open," Tennhard said. "They embrace U.S. (and) German culture."
Kwasniewski was brought to Miami by the Farmer School of Business and Alan Oak, assistant dean for external relations for the business school, explained the importance of having such speakers of
such international prominence come to Miami.
"Students must be more culturally aware and savvy … both from an economic and social perspective," Oak said.
The Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies and in particular Marek Dollar, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in the U.S., also contributed to bringing Kwasniewski to Oxford.
President David Hodge, at the conclusion of the speech, awarded the former president with the Miami University Presidential Medal, an award that Hodge said is rarely given and whose recipients must exhibit an extraordinary impact on the community. Kwasniewski was the second president of Poland to receive this metal, as Lech Walesa visited Miami in 1999 and was awarded the medal by former Miami President James Garland.
Following the speech, Hodge said that the former president was simply "full of life."
"I was deeply impressed by his spirit, tremendous optimism for the future," Hodge said. " … He is a remarkably inspirational individual."
Hodge wasn't the only one who shared these sentiments. As he was leaving Hall Auditorium, Kwasniewski stopped for multiple pictures with students and community members, shaking hands and greeting the crowd that formed around him.
Toward the end of his speech, Kwasniewski left students and those in attendance with a word of advice for learning about Eastern and Central Europe: See it firsthand.
"You have to visit these places because you will see how possible a deep change is," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story