Remembrance education efforts continue in a virtual format
Colorado Mesa University announced that nearly two decades of Holocaust awareness efforts will continue at CMU on Monday, April 5 at 9am. University faculty will present five distinct talks focused on various aspects of modern genocide. The annual event coincides with National Holocaust Awareness Week that occurs nationwide.
"We are pleased to offer the Holocaust Awareness Series," said Vincent Patarino, PhD. "Our hope is that students, faculty and staff will find something of interest in these presentations, as well as our neighbors in the larger community, and those interested in the series regionally and across the United States. Let us all take an active role in living out the idea of 'never again,' standing up and speaking out against those things that divide us and speak for those things that promote beauty, diversity and equality among all people."
In previous years the event featured prominent Holocaust survivors in addition to The Field of Flags memorial display that consisted of turf flags placed on campus representing the various groups and ethnicities who represent targets of historic and modern genocide.
Three video presentations will be available for online viewing beginning Monday, April 5 at 9am. The presentations include: The Holocaust: A Shoah Like No Other or Just Another Genocide presented by Associate Professor of History Adam T. Rosenbaum, PhD; Representing Absence: The Holocaust in Memorials, Monuments and Museums presented by Professor of English Barry Laga, PhD; and Holocaust Rhetoric and AIDS in 1980s America presented by Professor of History Sarah Swedberg, PhD.
Two additional presentations will be hosted at CMU-TV at 6:30pm on Wednesday, April 7, and Thursday, April 8. Live stream is available on CMU-TV and the presentations will also include a live studio audience. The live presentations include Assistant Professor of Sociology Steven Merino, PhD, presenting How is This Still a Thing? Contemporary Anti-Semitism in America. Merino will talk about modern events like the mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 2018. Merino’s presentation will be followed by Professor of Political Science Tim Casey, PhD. Casey will present Hannah Arendt and the Origins of Totalitarianism: Lessons for our Times.
In 2020, the series received accolades from the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Anti-Defamation League for the longevity of the series and the commitment of CMU faculty in supporting Holocaust awareness at the local level.
Members of the media and community members are encouraged to engage with the series. Interested parties can watch the talks and provide feedback to presenters on how CMU can continue engaging the broader community to prevent genocide and atrocities in the future. The series is planned and produced by Associate Professor of History Vincent Patarino, PhD and Associate Professor of History Adam Rosendaum, PhD with special contributions from Instructor of Mass Communication Greg Mikolai and CMU-TV.