Community help sought for new chair

Woodbridge resident looking to create an endowment for Modern Italian Studies

Marc Fantauzzi's days of studying Italian at York University are almost numbered. But if the graduate student gets his way, one day there will be an entire new curriculum of classes from which to choose.
The Woodbridge resident is hoping to create a Chair that would precede a new program of Modern Italian Studies at the university. He has already sought the school's blessing (which would retain the right to decide who occupies the new position), but is currently looking for financial support from the Italian-Canadian community. His first goal is to create an endowment of at least half-a-million dollars, with the funds from the interest used to recruit an expert in Italian studies.
"Once we're able to attract an academic with a certain amount of prestige, it'll be easier to move onto steps two and three," said Fantauzzi, who acknowledges his ambitious goal is still years away from fruition. "Ultimately, the hope is that we can start producing graduate students of Italian history."
Those steps, after securing a new Chair, may include hiring a research assistant, paying for scholarships and eventually creating a comprehensive course of contemporary Italian studies. Fantauzzi is modeling his efforts after the Greek community's successful drive to establish a Chair and a program of Hellenic studies at York. The new program in the school's faculty of arts was designed to encompass Greek language, literature, culture, history and society with a particular focus on modern Greece.
Although students interested in Italian language and literature can already take courses at York, Fantauzzi believes a new program would complement existing classes while helping to foster a greater sense of cultural identity.
Professor Mauro Buccheri, Chair of the Languages Department, expressed support for any new program that would "give Italian Canadians greater visibility," but warned that any new endowment would be costly. "If we're simply talking about adding a course, you're looking at approximately $16,000 per course. But if you want to create a Chair, you'll probably need at least a couple of million," said Buccheri.
Robert Drummond, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, believes that the price tag could reach three-million dollars. He agrees that there is probably enough support on campus for a new program, but wonders whether Fantauzzi would consider working to bolster an endowment for a Chair of Italian-Canadian Studies. Currently, that particular Chair, with a focus on cross-cultural studies, is under the direction of the languages department and has been filled on a rotating basis, as it lacks the necessary funds to create a full-time position and program.
Drummond said he's hoping to meet with Fantauzzi, and may suggest an alternate course of action. "It's possible to raise enough money for a short-term professorship that would last two or three years," said the Dean, adding that the Greek endowment was aided by the involvement of two large, independent community groups.
Fantuazzi is unfazed by the amount of time, money and effort it would take to get a Chair up and running. He's moving forward with a plan to establish a foundation that can tap into the goodwill of the Italian-Canadian community and raise awareness among the various associations.
During the day, this ambitious individual teaches high school in Maple, Ont. Prior to graduation, many students seek his advice as to what programs the university offers to meet their academic needs. For those interested in studying modern Italian history, there are few options within Canada.
"It was a shocking discovery that there is no program of contemporary Italian history, despite the enormous size of the Italian community in Toronto," said Fantauzzi. "It's scandalous that I have to tell students (interested in this course) that their best option may be to leave the country."
For more information on Fantauzzi's initiative, he can be contacted at storiaitaliana@rogers.com.

Publication Date: 2005-04-03
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=5079