[GTranslate]TORONTO – Teachers and students from Laurentian University’s Italian Studies program are on the ropes, since the university declared a state of insolvency on February 10^th, citing more than 300 million in debt, they have certainly not slept soundly.

“I do not know exactly how this situation will affect us – said Diana Iuele Colilli, president of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures – we fear that, since it is small, the Italian Studies program may be cut.”

A rich and well-structured program that through various initiatives promotes and manages to make the Italian language and culture appreciated. “Our intention is to continue to provide a world-class program that offers excellence in teaching, which also includes experiential and integrated courses in the workplace, the staging of the annual theatrical productions of Le Maschere Laurenziane, which for 30 years has involved the students of our university – continues Christine Sansalone, associate professor of the Italian Department of Modern Languages and Literatures of Laurentian University – the promotion of extracurricular and co-curricular activities for our students, the production of research in the field of Italian-Canadian studies, linguistic pedagogy and Italian literature as well as an extremely strong relationship with the Italian community of Sudbury”.

The desire to be able to continue teaching the Italian language is so strong that Colilli and Sansalone, have started contacting the community to support the program. “We are just trying to be proactive – said professor Iule Colilli – we are involving our community, the Italian community to help us let the administration know how important the Italian program is for the community and vice versa”.

On the one hand, there is anxiety, on the other hand, there is the hope that what is feared will not happen. According to the two teachers, this program could be eliminated in favour of scientific ones. “This is a feeling that many of us share, unfortunately, but we hope to be wrong,” Ms. Sansalone said.

The loss of this program would be a wound to the whole community. A community that has already begun to raise its voice by sending letters in favour of maintaining Italian Studies to Laurentian University President Robert Haché, Vice-President Marie-Josée Berger, Chancellor Serge Demers and Rector Joel Dickinson “We believe that highlighted the impact that the Italian Studies program has had on the community and the collaboration that has existed for over 30 years – not to mention the important role that the Italian community has played for the foundation of Laurentian University – will have an impact decision during the restructuring to be carried out in the very near future”, concludes Sansalone.

Letting the axe hit a well-functioning and prestigious program like this is not what the community wants. This is certainly not what the Italian community wants. That would be a defeat for everyone.