Growing Through Remembrance

CMU celebrates 20 years of civic dialogue during the annual Holocaust Awareness Series

BY DAVID LUDLAM DESIGNED BY CMU VISUAL ARTS STUDENT KENDALL BESSETTE

eople revisit individual memories, and cultures revisit collective memories. In doing so, these memories are transformed with each recollection. Recalling the past means that memories are reconstituted and recontextualized, and new lenses are applied to old experiences. Remembering and revisiting is how people and cultures grow and evolve.

In 2003, Vincent Patarino was a newly minted PhD and was hired as an instructor of history at Colorado Mesa University. One Saturday morning Patarino walked down his driveway and was astonished to find a sealed bag containing a flyer and a rock. The flyer was antisemitic and included a horrific declaration that Jews, Blacks and Hispanics should be run out of town.

That day a project began to germinate in his mind. Patarino and a number of other CMU faculty planned and launched Holocaust Awareness Week in 2004 with a showing of the film The Architecture of Doom . He couldn’t have known that decades later the event would celebrate its 20th year.

The CMU Civic Forum’s Holocaust Awareness Series (renamed in 2013 to include all genocides) brings together students, faculty and members of the community to learn about the atrocities committed during World War II and other moments in history that included genocide.

One of the first guest lecturers

Patarino brought to campus was a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp who was met with overwhelming community support. In the years following its inception, other CMU faculty members, also committed to the cause, have been a part of the program.

During the last 20 years programming has included film screenings, lectures and ceremonies like the reverent Field of Flags commemoration.

This year, David Foster, a trustee of CMU and a supporter of the Holocaust Awareness Series, spoke about the importance of the effort before he hosted a recent series event held in conjunction with the City of Grand Junction and the historic Avalon Theatre. He participated in a post-screening dialogue following The Last Laugh film that explored the use of humor in processing the atrocity of the Holocaust.

“The Holocaust is one of the most significant events in modern human history, and it’s essential that we remember and honor the millions of people who suffered and died during that time,” Foster said. “The Holocaust Awareness Series at CMU is an opportunity for us to come together as a community no matter our race, ethnicity or background and learn from the survivors, the experts and each other.”

In 2019, the series established a partnership with the Rocky Mountain Regional chapter of the Anti-Defamation League to enhance programming. Scott Levin is the director of the organization and has also been a strong advocate for the series. He emphasized the need for continued education and awareness about the Holocaust, especially in light of rising antisemitism and other forms of hate.

The organizers of the series hope that by revisiting the past each year, CMU will continue to fulfill its mission by facilitating civic dialogue around pressing challenges, and advocate for a world where people are tolerant and respectful of one another. By reassessing the Holocaust, and remembering its lessons, remembrance will continue to transform one of the saddest and most tragic events in human history into a story that can help us understand the underlying causes of genocide and to eliminate it in the future.

“The Holocaust didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual process of dehumanization and discrimination that began with words and ended with genocide. We need to be vigilant and speak out against any form of hate, and the Holocaust Awareness Series is an important part of that effort,” said Levin.

When considering what the future holds for the series, Patarino reflected, “Every year when I plan the series, I acknowledge the pain that many of our sessions will uncover. And yet, I remain hopeful that by revisiting past genocides, especially the Holocaust, and illuminating the current rise in antisemitism and white supremacy on social media, that through dialog and discussions with our audiences, we will create opportunities for civic engagement and action that is essential for a healthy democracy.” •

cmu ASSISTANT professor and community leader create the International experience and learning Fund

BY DAVID LUDLAM

xperiencing other cultures firsthand can be a powerful vehicle for growth and with the creation of a new fund Colorado Mesa University is working to make study abroad opportunities more affordable and accessible.

Created by Assistant Professor of Political Science Holly Oberle, PhD, and CMU alumna and Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout, the program is different from similar study abroad initiatives because it focuses on opening international experience and travel to students who may not otherwise have the resources to participate. The program takes a unique approach by offering shorter trips that are more affordable. In addition to saving students money, shorter trips allow those that have jobs to balance their existing responsibilities with overseas opportunities. Oberle officially launched the initiative when she deposited $50 into a new account at the CMU Foundation called the International Experience and Learning Fund.

The program will initially focus on trips to El Salvador, where the City of Grand Junction’s “sister city” was established following a previous study abroad program in 2004. El Salvador is an easily accessible travel destination and shares the same currency and time zone as Colorado.

encounter the culture and history, and gain a new perspective they can take back to Grand Junction,” said Oberle.

To achieve this goal, Oberle is partnering with local leader and elected official Anna Stout, who founded a non-profit while she was a student at CMU that is committed to the same mission. As a student, Stout participated in a study abroad learning trip and has been interested in paying forward the experience to others.

“My trip to El Salvador as a student was my first trip abroad and it completely changed my worldview and, subsequently, my life’s path,” Stout said. “I was a first-generation college student and had been raised by a single mother. International travel wasn’t something that was in our budget when I was growing up, so this opportunity through Mesa was game-changing.” my culture with others too,” said Leiva.

The CMU-led effort is working with local organizations and community leaders in El Salvador to provide students with a unique and immersive experience. Students will have the opportunity to stay in the homes of families in a rural community, visit historical sites and participate in cultural events.

The program’s focus on cultural immersion and relationshipbuilding is also a major draw for students. Many students are looking for more than just a vacation; they want to make a difference in the world and learn about different cultures in a meaningful way.

Oberle and Stout both have a passion for global education and cultural connections. They believe that study abroad programs should be more than just “tourism for affluent students,” but should focus on creating a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures.

“We want to create an experience where students can learn from connections with the local community, see and truly

The program has already received a lot of interest from students at CMU. One student, Josselin Sorto Leiva, is excited about the opportunity to travel to El Salvador and learn more about her Latino heritage.

“I am interested in study abroad opportunities because they have opened me up to new ideas, cultures and challenges like nothing else. They have helped me meet new people and I have shared

“Dr. Oberle’s trips are a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, learn about a new culture and understand other people’s lives. She is very passionate about giving students the same cultural experiences she had in her own life and she wants to make big things happen for CMU and the Political Science Program,” said undergraduate student Rachael McLemore.

The emerging study abroad program at CMU is creating a new standard for global education which, as Oberle said, “is essential for students to become informed and engaged citizens of the world.”

Stout also plans to donate $100 and will be the second contributor to the International Experience and Learning Fund.

“One hundred dollars is a symbolic start of us putting monies where our passions are,” said Stout. •