History
Beginnings
Construction of the student dorm began in 1953 and lasted 18 months. In December 1954 first students moved into our dorm. The dorm was built on a lot belonging to the State Treasury. Back then students helped with the construction by bringing bricks from the fort on Kosciuszko Mound to be used for foundations. Two more student residence halls were built next to our student dorm. In the beginning all of them had a common boiler house and canteen. First residents were men only, then it was men and women, then women only and then again men and women which lasts until today.
Name
The name of the dorm comes from a name of a dog, main character in stories in a weekly newspaper „Przekroj”. Dog Fafik was created based on a four legged friend of Mr. Marian Eile (1910 – 1984) – first editor of „Przekroj”. Their website features information about our „patron:”
Fafik (1945 – 1984) Wire Fox Terrier, member of the editorial office. Marian Eile received him for his name day and was eagerly taking him to work, as well as picking up his dog’s aphorisms which were published in „Thoughts of great and mediocre people and Fafik the dog” column. He was not the only editorial dog (Jerzy Waldorff had a spaniel named Afi, Ewa Kossak had a German Shepherd Reks, Ludwik Jerzy Kern breeded boxers) but the only one with a job position. He was starring (as a democratic, eccentric, atheist dog) in „Teatrzyk Zielona Ges” together with Hermenegilda Kociubinska, Professor Baczynski, Alojzy Gzegzolka, Devilish Piotrus and Donkey Porfirion. He painted a little bit – in one of the Christmas issues his style was presented as paw’s Taschisme. Fafik was presented on a cover as a kitty, in fact a doggie. He lived a long time for a terrier (17 years) and readers were not informed of his death – he was publishing words of wisdom from beyond the grave.
(http://www.przekroj.pl)
Our Student Dorm received this name in 1955 and this is also when a flag with an image of the dog was created.
Cultural Life
From the beginning of its existence, the cultural life was thriving. There were many activity clubs, theatrical meetings, there was a scouting group, choir, dancing groups. Fafik was the best student dorm in Krakow in terms of cultural development and for some time the best in Poland.
Management
Student dorm was managed by:
- Krystyna Indyk in years 1954-1969
- Kazimierz Gołdas in years 1969-1980
- Teresa Gołdas in years 1980-1990
- Barbara Barska in years 1990-1999
Since 1999 Student Dorm Fafik is run by Magdalena Ptaszynska – Sliwa.
Authors
Created by Ania Szaniawska, Ania Zawislak, and Dawid Cecula based on an interview with Fafik’s manager Ms. Magdalena Ptaszynska-Sliwa and Mr. Kazimierz Goldas – Cracow University of Economics’ staff member and former manager of the student dorm.
