Oct. 23, 2015
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures German Studies Program is hosting events in October to celebrate the 25th anniversary of German reunification. The events will explore Germany, commemorate post-1990 history, and explore the future of Germany in Europe and the globalized world.
CUA was selected to host these events on campus as part of an initiative of the German Information Center to commemorate the reunification of East Germany and West Germany, which occurred on Oct. 3, 1990. The reunification marked the end of the unification process, which began with the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989.A panel discussion with the former East German Secretary of State, Marcus Meckel, co-organized with the German Information Center Washington, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center Great Room on the opening of the poster exhibition The Path to German Unity. A reception follows.
In addition to Meckel, the panel speakers include Jack Janes of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at the Johns Hopkins University; and Konrad Janausch of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Arpad von Klimo, associate professor of history at The Catholic University of America, will moderate the event, which also will be streamed online after the event.
On Friday, Oct. 23, the department hosted a trip to the Newseum to view an original piece of the Berlin Wall in D.C.
As part of the celebration, the German Studies Program also hosted a screening of the film Freedom Without Walls on Oct. 19 at the Pryzbyla Center. The film shows the history of the Berlin Wall and its fall after 28 years.
In addition, the German Studies Program is holding an essay contest with a $500 award. The essay topic is Germany's past and present. Submissions are due by Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Amanda Sheffer, clinical assistant professor of German at CUA, says, "The events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the reunification of Germany allow our CUA community to come together to understand the event from different perspectives and disciplines - history, politics, European studies, and German studies."
Sheffer adds, "Faculty from German studies, European studies, and history have come together to make these events possible. Many of our students were born after the reunification, so it's important to understand the event in order to comprehend the framework of Europe and Germany today."
For further information on the panel discussion and the essay contest or to request disability accommodations, contact the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at 202-319-5240.