Got Greek? Ask the Next Generation

From The National Herald

May 1-7, 2010

Page One

By Eleni Kostopoulos

TNH Staff Writer

NEW YORK — Will Greek language, heritage and history have any relevance to the next generation of Greek Americans? How will Greek Americans identify with their cultural backgrounds in years to come? We can’t foresee the future, but we can understand the ways in which the next generation connects to their heritage today, according to Stephanie Marudas, the founder and project director of The Got Greek? National Student Survey – the first survey of its kind that hopes to answer with the help of American university students of Greek ancestry who can share views and opinions about their background and how it relates to everything from friends and family, to dating, to food and music.

“We want to find out how their Greek heritage plays out at home, school, and many other facets of their lives from relationships to spirituality to career pursuits,” Marudas told The National Herald. “At this time, we as a community really don’t have any concrete information about how the next generation thinks or feels about their Greek heritage. To our knowledge, no one has ever done such a survey at the national level involving Greek heritage undergraduate and graduate students. It is our overall intention that the survey data will be useful and relevant to the community, organizations creating programs around the next generation, and Greek American researchers for years to come.”

Nearly 1,300 students have signed up so far to participate in the easily accessible online survey (www.gotgreek.org) and more students continue to register each day. It’s expected that 1,000 students could complete the survey by mid to late June.

Marudas said she joined forces up with Executive Director Leon Stavrou and Managing Director William Shuyler of the Next Generation Initiative, an independent non-profit educational foundation, with the idea to do both a survey and oral history project aimed at college and university students of Greek descent.

Together, the team commenced with major support from the Zapis Charitable Foundation, the Maliotis Charitable Foundation and others, and assembled an academic team of professionals and students to help develop the study.

“The study is an opportunity for students across the country to express what being Greek means to them,” she said.

“We want to hear from all students whether they are 1/16th or 100% Greek, first or fourth generation and anything in between. This study is not who’s more Greek or less Greek. It’s about what it means to have any Greek heritage whatsoever, and better understand how it plays out — or not — in the daily lives of the next generation.

The questions in the survey cover a wide range issues and include:

• How do you view your relationship with your family, compared to the relationship your non-Greek peers have with their families?

• How important is it for you to date someone with Greek heritage?

• How do you identify your own religion views or practice?

Currently, the online archive [or oral histories]features more than 30 interviews with students throughout the United States.

“We were able to contact each of the students interviewed through the generous help of Hellenic Student clubs, Modern Greek Studies professors, fellow students, parents, community organizations and churches across the country,” said Marudas. “The interviews archived represent a wide range of students who share their own unique perspectives about being Greek.”

But college students aren’t the only ones featured in highlight interviews; Actress Nia Vardalos and George Stephanopoulos, chief political correspondent of ABC News are two famous endorsees of the Got Greek? Survey.

“Although my last name has less that 17 syllables, I am indeed Greek” Vardalos jokes on the site.

The Next Generation Initiative is an independent, nonprofit educational foundation aimed to help students gain real-world experience and skills that will advance their education and serve them as future leaders in their communities and broader public arenas.

The Initiative works with leaders and executives in various fields to open up opportunities for fellowships, internships, seminars and other educational opportunities.

Before teaming up with the initiative, Marudas worked as a public radio reporter and producer, and got her start in the field at COSMOS FM. She has done work for WHYY Public Radio in Philadelphia and National Public Radio.

Visit www.hellenext.org for more information on The Next Generation Initiative and the Got Greek? National Student Survey.