A mock wall set up by the university’s German Club between East and West halls helped the campus community commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall on Monday.
Members of the German Club, including seniors Carolyn Brodbeck, Sarah Tilley, Kristin Nozell, Alex Sklyar, and Tara Woods, built the wall Sunday night using steel poles, rope, and large sheets covered in spray-painted graffiti.
On Monday evening they took down the wall to mark the 20th anniversary of its destruction on Nov. 9, 1989, which was an historic step that eventually led to the end of the communist regime in East Germany and the start of reunification of Germany after decades of division.
Following the symbolic event, the club hosted a panel discussion at the Max Kade German Center in Lawrence Hall.
“Our hope is that this will spark some curiosity and engagement in European politics, in Europe, and in its history,” said club member Sklyar.
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| A student looks at a mock wall that German Club students built between East and West halls to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the wall’s fall. (Photo by Tim O’Keeffe) |
The panel discussion was led by professors Claire Baldwin, associate professor of German; Tim Byrnes, professor of political science; Robert Nemes, associate professor of history; and Nancy Ries, associate professor of anthropology and peace and conflict studies;
The four professors spoke about their personal experiences – how they learned about the fall of the wall and how they felt about it at the time – and talked about how the event affected the entire world.
“It felt like one of those moments where a spontaneous political event takes place without planning, without violence, in which the participants themselves recognize the momentousness of the event,” said Ries.
The German Club also is working on a memorial plaque that will offer additional information about an actual piece of the Berlin Wall that is located at the college-theme house at 94 Broad St.