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ADA, Okla. 鈥� As East Central University approaches the 20-year anniversary of the historical visit from Mikhail Gorbachev, the former president of the Soviet Union who initiated perestroika and glasnost, we look back on this once-in-a-lifetime visit.

Perestroika is described as a policy or practice of restructuring or reforming the economic and political system, while glosnost was the policy or practice of more open consultative government and wider dissemination of information. These reforms, overseen by Gorbachev during his time as leader of the Soviet Union, were intended to modernize the USSR and set the nation on course toward freedom and the eventual end of the Cold War.

鈥淢ikhail Gorbachev's visit to East Central University and his speech to the university community marked twenty years beyond his implementation of perestroika,鈥� said 成人B站 Provost Emeritus, Dr. Duane Anderson. 鈥淣ow, twenty years later Russia has need of such a leader again. Those of us who heard his speech and met with him experienced a rare privilege not likely to be repeated.鈥�

Gorbachev was born March 2, 1931 in the village of Privolnoye, Krasnogvardeisky District, Stavropol Region, in the south of the Russian republic into a Russian/ Ukrainian peasant family.

After a distinguished education in the 1950鈥檚 and political career throughout the 1960鈥檚 and 1970鈥檚, Gorbachev was elected General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee in 1985. It was at this time that Gorbachev became a household name on the international scene.

That year, Gorbachev initiated what was later called perestroika with glasnost and openness as it鈥檚 driving force. A program of reforms was planned to put the nation鈥檚 economy on track to a socially oriented market economy.

It was in 1990, under Gorbachev, that state power in the Soviet Union moved from the communist party to the Congress of People鈥檚 Deputies of the USSR, the first parliament in Soviet history, made on the basis of a democratic and contested election.

Gorbachev was elected president of the Soviet Union on March 15, 1990.

The years of 1985 to 1991 were a time of fundamental change in the Soviet Union鈥檚 relations with the United States of America and the West, an era that transitioned the image of the Soviet Union from a mysterious enemy to a partner.

Gorbachev played a prominent role in ending the Cold War, stopping the arms race and unifying Germany.

After his resignation as president in 1991, he remained a prominent figure on the world stage until his death on August 30, 2022.

During the last decades of his life, Gorbachev remained active in public life as a speaker, supporter of independent media, political commentator and founder of non-profits, among other activities.

Among the many prestigious locations across the globe that Gorbachev visited and spoke during those decades was, unexpectedly, 成人B站 in Ada, Oklahoma.

Due to the tireless work of Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya and a committee of five individuals from 成人B站 and the local community, who worked to raise more than $100,000 for the event, Gorbachev visited Oklahoma, speaking inside 成人B站鈥檚 Kerr Activities Center to a maximum-capacity crowd.

Speaking through his translator, Pavel Palazhchenko, Gorbachev began by stating, 鈥淭his year is 20 years after the launch of perestroika in the Soviet Union.鈥�

After setting the stage for his speeches theme, he offered his solemn promise that he would try to live up to the expectations of the crowd.

He then continued, 鈥淧erestroika, which was, of course, a necessity for my country, but it was also an important world event. It was an invitation to dialog with the rest of the world鈥�We all felt at that time that we were standing at the edge of the abyss of nuclear conflicts, nuclear war.鈥�

Gorbachev dedicated the next portion of his speech to discussing the status and condition of the Soviet Union before his election in 1985, as he saw it. He detailed the hardships that his nation was facing and the shortcomings that the political system of the time caused.

He described a country rich in natural and intellectual resources, yet unable to provide decent living conditions for its people. The economy, he said, was stagnant and wasteful, plagued by outdated technology and a bureaucracy that stifled innovation and productivity. 鈥淥ur productivity was one-third of the West in industry and one-fifth in agriculture,鈥� Gorbachev noted, highlighting the disparity. He emphasized that the Soviet people recognized the need for change, stating, 鈥淥ur society demanded change鈥� we could no longer live as before.鈥�

Gorbachev then shifted to global issues, linking the need for reform in the Soviet Union to a broader call for responsible international cooperation. He warned that the world still suffers from a lack of long-term vision, particularly in addressing major crises such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. 鈥淣o country alone can solve the global problem of security, poverty and the environment,鈥� he said.

Throughout his remarks, Gorbachev returned repeatedly to the moral imperative of global cooperation and inclusion, especially of those nations and people left behind. He expressed deep concern for the billions living in poverty and called for a form of globalization that serves humanity, not just markets. 鈥淲e need globalization with a human face,鈥� he declared. Gorbachev urged the world鈥檚 powers, particularly the United States, to lead through partnership rather than dominance, and to recognize that meaningful progress requires addressing the needs of all people, not just the privileged.

The event concluded with a 45-minute Q&A, where students and other attendees were afforded the chance to ask Gorbachev questions. He remained engaged and active with the crowd until the night was concluded.

Now, 成人B站 looks back 20 years to a monumental moment in the university鈥檚 history as we prepare to celebrate the anniversary with an event scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in the Estep Multimedia Center inside the Bill S. Cole University at 6:30 p.m.

鈥淭he Day History Came to Ada: 20th Anniversary of President Mikhail Gorbachev鈥檚 Visit,鈥� will feature Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya, Dr. Chris Bean (Chair of the 成人B站 History Department), Dr. Houston Mount (成人B站 History Department professor), Dr. Alvin Turner (成人B站 Dean Emeritus), Connor Rakes (current 成人B站 History Major), among many others who will be sharing their memories of the event and experience.

A full agenda will be released before the event.

For more information, contact Sukholutskaya at 580-559-5293 or email msukholu@ecok.edu.

Photo Credit: Richard Barron of the Ada News.

 

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