sional relationships,” Secretary Clinton stated in her greetings to the distinguished guests gathered for the Helsinki symposium. The ASLA Program was also celebrated with a special reception in conjunction with the symposium. Over one hundred guests gathered at the event hosted by the Fulbright Center at the beautiful Imperial Room (Keisarisali) of the Arppeanum of the University of Helsinki. The exhibition displaying the history of the ASLA program, “The Country That Paid its Debts” is touring Finland during the ASLA anniversary year. The tour of this exhibition, produced by the Bank of Finland Museum, began at the University of Helsinki, where the exhibition was opened concurrently with the Anniversary Symposium in May. In October 2009, the exhibition moved to the University of Turku, where it was opened in conjunction
with the 17th American Voices Seminar, organized by the University of Turku North American Studies Program in cooperation with the Fulbright Center. From Turku the exhibition will continue its tour to other university cities in Finland throughout the academic year 2009−2010. The anniversary tour is made possible by the support from the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki. The Finnish ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association is marking this anniversary year in cooperation with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra with a special concert at the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki in October. The concert is open to all alumni, grantees and friends of the ASLA-Fulbright program. Further anniversary events and the schedule of the tour of the anniversary exhibition is published on the Fulbright Center website at www.fulbright.fi.
Maa, joka maksoi velkansa -näyttely kiertää Suomea 60-vuotisjuhliaan viettävän ASLA-Fulbright -ohjelman historiaan liittyvä Suomen Pankin rahamuseon näyttely "Maa, joka maksoi velkansa" kiertää maamme yliopistokaupunkeja ASLA-juhlavuoden ajan. Näyttely esittelee Yhdysvaltain lehdistössä 1930-luvulla julkaistuja uutisia ja pilapiirroksia, jotka saivat alkunsa niin sanotusta Hooverin moratoriosta. Tällä julistuksella Yhdysvallat myönsi vuonna 1931 vuoden lykkäystä eurooppalaisten maiden sota- ja jälleenrakennuslainojen maksuun. Velat olivat syntyneet ensimmäisen maailmansodan aikana ja sen jälkeen. Hooverin moratorion jälkeen Suomi oli ainoa maa, joka maksoi velkansa loppuun. Tämä herätti valtavasti myön-
teistä huomiota Yhdysvalloissa. Vuonna 1949 Yhdysvaltain kongressi päätti ohjata Suomen maksamat lainan korot ja lyhennykset Suomen kansalaisten opiskeluun ja harjoitteluun Yhdysvalloissa. Tämä päätös oli kunnianosoitus Suomelle, joka oli ainoana Euroopan maana jatkanut lainansa takaisinmaksua taloudellisesta lamasta ja käynnissä olevasta sodasta huolimatta. Fulbright Centerin stipenditoiminnan juuret ulottuvat tähän 1950-luvulla käynnistyneeseen Suomen ja Yhdysvaltain väliseen akateemisen vaihdon ohjelmaan, ASLAan (Amerikan Suomen Lainan Apurahat). Jos olet kiinnostunut saamaan näyttelyn omaan yliopistoosi, ota yhteyttä Fulbright Centeriin.
Dr. Bo Pettersson Elected the Fulbright Center Board Chair
Photo: Fred Karlsson
Professor Bo Pettersson has been elected as the Fulbright Center Board Chair. According to the by-laws of the FinlandUS Educational Exchange Commission (Fulbright Center), the Chairship rotates in 2-year terms between Finnish and US Chairs. Following the 2-year term of Ms.
Nicole Conn from the American Embassy as the Chair of the Board, Professor Bo Pettersson will serve as the Chair for the following two years. Ms. Conn will serve as the Vice-Chair. Dr. Bo Pettersson is Professor of the Literature of the United States at the University of Helsinki. He is currently Associate Director of The Finnish Graduate School of Literary Studies and a member of several national and international boards of directors and editorial boards. Professor Pettersson spent 1985−86 at the University of California, Berkeley on an ASLA-Fulbright cost-sharing grant, and graduated with an MA degree. Professor Pettersson has served as a member of the Board for the past year. A new American member has been appointed to the Fulbright Center Board
of Directors: Mr. Eric Meyer from the American Embassy succeeds Mr. Kimberly G. Hargan who completed his term in Helsinki in the summer. The Center wants to thank Mr. Hargan for his twoyear service on the Board and wishes Mr. Meyer warmly welcome. Eric Meyer is Consul of the US Embassy in Helsinki. Before beginning his posting in Finland, Mr. Meyer studied Finnish at the Foreign Service Institute for one year. His prior assignments include Consular and Public Affairs positions in Cairo, Egypt, Buenos Aires, Argentina and the White House in Washington DC. There are altogether 8 board members: 4 from the US and 4 from Finland. The US members are appointed by the American Embassy and the Finnish members are appointed by the Ministry of Education. www.fulbright.fi
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