Italian Club in the University of T.O.

Maintaining cultural links with Italy and pride is the 52-year old society's main concern

Little Italians grow, and that's a fact. They meet at St. Michael's College and keep their doors open so that everyone, but everyone, can enjoy a "taste" of their Italianity.
One can have a quick espresso, courtesy of the impeccable coffeepot on triumphant display in the small office of the University of Toronto Italian Club, which is crammed with things Italian, from the three-coloured flag to posters of well-known monuments. Or possibly some spaghetti, shared during Pasta Parties, and a slice of roasted lamb "sacrificed" on the campus park with the Croatian colleagues as accomplices; or music, literature, plays.
In summary, a little bit of Italy will be available to everybody, thanks to the students of the University of Toronto Italian Club, officially founded in 1946. "But the earliest traces of a similar association date back to the Twenties and Thirties," says Nicholas Pappalardo, the newly elected president of the club. The association has revamped its image, trying and making people rediscover it. Apparently, it worked. While the past decade saw an average of 100 members, this year the membership has hit the 400 mark.
"An Italian club, in one form or other, has always been active in U of T, at least for as long as Italians have enrolled," continues Nicholas, "with the obvious exceptions in the years where Italian associations were outlawed, i.e. during the war. But even this did not deter those who wanted to keep in touch with their origins. We were all born in Canada, but sooner or later each one of us discovered that there was more to it; we want to live this something more."
After the annual meeting wound down, at least a dozen students stayed and chatted. They're just over 20 years of age, they were born in the shade of the maple trees, but their somatic traits and habits (i.e. unmistakable style) betrays them: they're full-blown Italians, and proud of it. Not all speak perfect Italian, but for many this is a temporary condition, as they are studying and reading it. Some, on the other hand, dare to tackle the use of the subjunctive mode, such as Roberto Scatozza, the secretary of the club's steering committee: he gets it right. "The last time I went to Italy I was complimented for my Italian," he says. "Apparently the money spent for the courses was a good investment."
Davide Crudele, past president and still a member of the committee, was the one who laid the foundations of the new style. "Over one year ago we suffered an act of gratuitous vandalism," he says. "Our club office was broken into and devastated. They also left messages with the usual comments about 'ginos,' calling us 'wops' and the usual names."
"That was the final straw," adds Nicholas. "A racially motivated attack was the last thing we expected, but we rolled up our sleeves, because this club is a precious instrument, to be used also to prevent repetitions of such episodes."
The club displays new decor, new initiatives, and renewed strength. Projects are ambitious.
"We want to be an integral part of Toronto's Italian-Canadian community, which always supports us," says Treasurer Massimo Brutto. "We have links with other university clubs in Toronto and Montreal, and we would like to create a federation that could co-ordinate everybody's efforts."
"The point is," continues Davide Crudele, "that we know quite well the stereotypes thrown at the Italian-Canadian community, and would like to dispel them; but that's impossible without dialogue. This is the reason why we constantly seek to compare notes with the clubs of other ethnic groups, as the experience is the same for us all. I found out first-hand: here in Canada I'm an Italian, but in Italy, no doubt, I'm a Canadian. This does not detract from our roots, which we are proud of. We intend to learn more about them and contribute as much as possible to our community, as we are the next generation of Italian-Canadians."
This is a new generation that also includes bright, loquacious young women. "We heard the description of Italian women to the point of being sick and tired of them," says Alessia Soppelsa, herself a committee member, "and perhaps there is still someone who thinks that sooner or later we begin dressing in black, make children in litters and put up weight with a casual attitude. That's incredible, because the contrary is true. Today's Italian women are 'modern women par excellence': smart, working ladies who also have families, take good care of themselves, in short another world."
Francesca Maio and Rosie Ienco smile and wink: "We share some unmistakable traits: we're so different, and yet we're definitely all Italian." The next appointment will be 'the cultural week' in January, devoted to poetry, literature and art.

Publication Date: 2002-12-01
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=2067