World renowned Russian poet comes to Alma for lecture and workshop

RACHEL KINGSTROM

Staff Writer

A special, last-minute treat is in store for the campus: world famous Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko is coming tomorrow to speak.

Yevtushenko will be here tomorrow afternoon to read his poetry, in its original Russian as well as the English translation.

He will also be teaching a seminar to writing students in classes taught by Carol Bender, professor of English, William Palmer, professor of English and Robert Vivian, assistant professor of English.

“I think it’s great that the college continues to bring these important poets and authors to speak to the students,” Palmer said.

Yevtushenko was a late addition to the speaker series because he is serving as a replacement for Kadhir Hamza, who was scheduled to come in October. The committee who made Yevtushenko’s visit possible is confident that he will be a worthy substitution. “The speaker series tries to bring in famous, controversial people, and he’s one of them,” James Mueller, associate professor of economics added. “I hope a lot of people come to see him.”

When Yevtushenko was growing up in Zima Junction, Siberia, he was considered to be a rebel. He associated with Kruschev, Bruschev, and other Communist leaders. According to a recent article published about the poet, he protested the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and then used his poetry to bring down the Iron Curtain. These are just some of the reasons he is considered so controversial.

The poet’s most well-known poem is “Babi Yar.” The piece is about a Russian concentration camp. He has published nearly 50 books of poetry, which have been translated into 72 different languages.

Yevtushenko worked closely with Dimitri Shostakovich, a famous Russian composer. Shostakovich has put many of Yevtushenko’s poems to music. The pair worked together until Shostakovich’s death in the 1960s.

Yevtushenko was first invited to come to the United States in 1992. The invitation was given by University of Tulsa President Robert Donaldson. Donaldson specialized in Soviet policy during his years at Harvard, and so knew of Yevtushenko’s influence.

Now, 62- year-old Yevtushenko lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has a two-year-old son, Mitya.

Yevtushenko’s most recent book released in the United States is called “Don’t Die Before You’re Dead.” The book tells of his fear that Russians who were deprived much of their lives

would die spiritually before physically. Several recent articles claim Yevtushenko is the greatest living Russian poet.

Various members of the college faculty are very much looking forward to having the poet come to visit the college. Yevtushenko’s presentation is expected to be a very worthwhile one to experience. They hope that the students find it very rewarding and use it to expand their views of the world.

Having had so many interesting experiences, Yevtushenko has a great deal to offer the college and will provide a chance for students to improve their writing skills and help them become aware of anther of the world’s great writers. “This will be a great opportunity for students,” Mueller said, “They get to rub shoulders with a very famous poet and talk about his poetry.”

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