Ukrainian Vet's Endowment: University vs. Family

0:00It's April 2nd, Canada news today starts now, AI-powered and ready. The family of 101-year-old Yaroslav Hanka, a Ukrainian veteran who served in the Nazi linked Galicia division during World War II, is battling the University of Alberta in an Edmonton courtroom. They're fighting to reinstate a $30,000 endowment named after him that the school acts after a huge scandal. One Martin Hanka donated it back in 2019 to support Ukrainian Catholic Church research, but the university wants it gone for good. This all blew up in September 2023 when Canadian parliamentarians gave Hanka standing ovation during Ukrainian President Bolotomir. Zelensky's visit then speaker Anthony Roda called him a hero for fighting Russians, but it turned out Hanka was in an SS unit tied to war crimes, sparking global, outrage. The backlash was swift, rotor resigned, prime minister Justin Trudeau apologized, and groups like the friends of Simon Weasenthal Center slammed the Bud-Jun honor.

1:04Even Vladimir Putin twisted it to bash Ukraine. Meanwhile, the university returned the donation, saying the SS ties hurt their reputation and duties to stakeholders. In court, Martin Hanka argues the school knew about his dad's service when they took the money and found no war crimes. They claim public pressure shouldn't override the law on trusts. The university counters that, just linking to Hitler and the Waffen SS is enough reason to cut ties, dismissing defenses about Hanka's motives as irrelevant. Hearings wrapped up this week before Justice Debra Youngworth, who now weighs if Alberta's trustee act lets them dissolve it. At stake or other donations from Galicia vets totaling about $1.1 million, the decision could reshape how schools handle controversial gifts like this.