This autumn marks the 50th anniversary for the only Vilnius University faculty in a different city, i.e. Kaunas Faculty of Humanities (VU KFH). The Faculty’s community who have cherished the Alma Mater traditions in Kaunas since 1964 will meet this anniversary in an unconventional way. On October 14-16, an anniversary regatta “Keep swimming” (Lith. “Nelauk plauk!”) will be taking place: http://www.khf.vu.lt/apie-fakulteta/vu-khf-50.
The unique event with kayaks is organized by VU KFH Students’ Representative and hosted by actor and director Andrius Žiurauskas who is also the director of the Faculty’s theater group. He says that the establishment of a Vilnius University faculty in Kaunas fifty years ago was a real march, and it is a pleasure to repeat it.
The participants of the regatta will carry the Vilnius University light via the Neris river from Vilnius to Kaunas; the light has been gathered by the friendly Students’ Representatives of different faculties. On the evening of October 16 (Muitines str. 8), the sundial on the wall of VU KFH will be lit, and the event will be accompanied by the anniversary welcoming of the regatta participants and Linas Adomaitis concert.
During the start event (October 14, 10 AM) by the White Bridge (Vilnius), the patron of the regatta Rector at interim of Vilnius University Professor Jūras Banys will present the participants with historic documents of the Faculty’s establishment, while the president of the VU Students’ Representative Andrius Uždanavičius will pass his colleagues’ best wishes for the Faculty’s students. Mayor of Vilnius City Municipality Artūras Zuokas will participate in the seeing off ceremony of the forty participant team. The Vilnius University reed orchestra “Oktava” led by Albinas Kučinskas will entertain the participants.
“The Vilnius University faculty has been residing in Kaunas for five decades now and is a live embodiment of the idea of twin cities”, smiles the Dean and alumnus of VU KFH Associate Professor Dr. Kęstutis Driaunys. According to him, both the Faculty and the entire University’s administration is especially happy with the purposeful initiatives and put every effort possible to support the most courageous ideas of the Faculty’s students and lecturers.
The participants of the historic VU KFH event with kayaks are ready to face challenges as they will have to cross 165 km on a rapid river (over 50 km a day) without giving up due to autumnal hardships. The regatta program includes not only the challenges posed by the trip, but also exciting meetings. By the end of the first day the “Keep swimming” participants will be met by VU KFH alumnus Tadas Žirgulis at the Paneriai Manor who will talk about his impressions when on expedition Mission Siberia 2014. On October 15, a stop in Rukla for the night is anticipated where the representatives of the Faculty will meet the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila training flock solders. The participants and the solders have been invited for an entertaining evening organized by the VU KFH folklore ensemble “Uosinta” led by Auksuolė Šuliokienė.
On the evening of October 16, the Faculty’s community will meet the home-coming regatta participants at the Confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers who will be mooring at the Daugirdas amphitheater. Starting from 8 PM, Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty of Humanities (Muitines str. 8) will hold a celebration. The VU KFH community kindly invites everyone who are eager to see the well-known sundial being lit. The participants of the final event – the sundial installation – will be entertained by singer, songwriter and composer Linas Adomaitis.
“Commemorating the Faculty’s anniversary, we want to share our joy among ourselves as well as invoke many good emotions in all of Kaunas residents’ hearts. When visiting the Old Town, every Kaunas citizen and visitor notices the sundial smiling on the wall. We thought the illuminated smile seen from far away would bring warmth during those autumn days when the night falls earlier”, says president of VU KFH Students’ Representative Domas Varanauskas, one of the organizers of the historic regatta.
The organizers and participants of the anniversary VU KFH regatta “Keep swimming!” are grateful to everyone who have supported this idea, i.e. international IT company CSC, Raimondas Maročka company RMI Music Service, the Lithuanian Army, Vero Café, Lietuvos draudimas (insurance company), Mavy Studio Ltd., Ainetra, Skanėstai; and also our informational sponsors Katos grupė (advertising agency), radio station Tau, journal for kayakers Vėjo!3.
Anniversary VU KHF regatta “Keep swimming” – October 14-16, 2014
Organizer – VU Kaunas Faculty of Humanities Students’ Representative.
Director – actor and director Andrius Žiurauskas, VU KFH Theater group director.
Patron – VU Rector at interim Professor Jūras Banys.
Friends – Lithuanian Army and RMI Music Service Ltd.
Coffee – Vero cafe.
https://www.2343ec78a04c6ea9d80806345d31fd78-gdprlock/events/359186244247115/