The German Club will host various campus events throughout next week in honor of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Although the wall did not officially fall until Nov. 9 1989, OU is hosting events this week because the week leading up the wall's fall was full of important protests, German graduate student Andrea Bryant said.
“They were peaceful demonstrations done with candles and marches,” Bryant said. “I think it’s really powerful to think that such a tremendous event in history was done so peacefully.”
Bryant says that the fall of the wall signifies a change in people’s outlook on political events.
“I think it’s important to commemorate [it] because in a lot of ways I think it’s when the world may have reinvented itself,” Bryant said.
Bryant also sees the events as a way to empower students.
“It’s a chance for people to realize that their voices do matter,” Bryant said.
The events of the week are as follows:
• On Monday from noon to 1 p.m., Frank Usbeck, a post-doctorate research fellow from Dresden, Germany, will host a lunch talk in Hester Hall, room 145. It is titled “Brothers in the Struggle against Imperialism — ‘Indianthusiasm’ in Socialist East Germany” and will discuss how enthusiasm for Native Americans affected politics in Germany, Bryant said.
• On Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ingo Schlupp, associate dean for faculty and research, and professor Mitchell Smith will host a discussion titled “Back to the GDR night” in Walker Center. They will discuss what East Germany was like before the fall of the wall, Bryant said.
• On Wednesday from 1:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the J.J. Rhyne Room of Zarrow Hall, there will be a mini-conference, including presentations from professors from OU and universities around the country. There will also be a reception hosting guest of honor Charles E. Wiggin, Germany’s honorary consul for Oklahoma.(linked above)
•On Thursday at 7 p.m., there will be a screening of "And Your Love Too" in Oklahoma Memorial Union's Meachum Auditorium. A 1962 German film, it tells the story of three friends on the day that the Berlin Wall went up. It will be screened in German with English subtitles.
Additionally, throughout the week there will be a multimedia essay competition as well as a written essay competition, both of which cover topics related to Germany and the Berlin Wall. Winning entrants will receive a $300 prize. More information can be found on the competition's website.
