U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Urges State Department to Aid in Reversing Russia’s Recent Threat to Bard’s Smolny College Program

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to support efforts in reversing the Russian government’s recent designation of Bard College as an “undesirable” organization. Bard first partnered with St. Petersburg State University 25 years ago, cofounding Smolny College, Russia’s first liberal arts college. Bard’s longstanding affiliation, degree partnership, and exchange programs with St. Petersburg State University have been critical to building ties between young Americans and Russians, and played a large role in developing a cohort of Americans well-versed in Russian language and culture. The recent designation of Bard College by the Russian government effectively ended this program and makes any student or worker associated with Bard’s program a potential criminal subject to fines or imprisonment.

Post Date: 08-24-2021