Every year since 2004, Colorado Mesa University has hosted the Holocaust Awareness Series. The series is a forum of events and seminars focusing on the origins, experiences and implications of genocide in the modern era.
Throughout the four-day series, CMU brought together students, community members and scholars to reflect on the realities and lessons of genocide. The series not only considered the groups systematically targeted by the Nazi regime, but also recognized the victims of other genocides and government-sponsored atrocities throughout history and in modern times.
Associate Professor of History Vincent Patarino, PhD, is the founder of the series. Now that the series is in its 21st year, Patarino reflected on all the individuals who have helped it continue to thrive both on campus and in the community.
“I am most grateful to CMU President John Marshall and the Civic Forum, along with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences for their support of the series, making it a central institution of the campus, even after 21 years of being in existence,” said Patarino.
The series began with a moment of silence in front of the field of flags display, which was constructed by CMU students from various majors in addition to faculty, staff and community members. The display’s 2,000 flags represented the major groups targeted by Nazis during World War II, with each flag representing 5,000 individuals and each color representing the group targeted.
Seminars in the series included Gendercide: A Comparative, Historical and Global Discussion, led by Assistant Professor of Political Science Holly Oberle, PhD, and The Rohingya: Myanmar’s Persecuted Minority led by Adjunct Instructor of English Jessica Bertrand. Both seminars further educated attendees on the broader context of genocides and their lasting impacts on societies.
Open discussion and dialogue were an important component of the series, with a screening and subsequent discussion of the documentary film Paper Clips on the second day of the series and an interactive discussion with the Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society and CMU History Club on the third day of the series.
The series wrapped up with the Dignity in Dialogue Speaker Series featuring Pulitzer Prize-winner and columnist for The New York Times Bret Stephens as keynote speaker. Stephens, along with CMU President John Marshall and CMU Trustee David Foster, engaged in a thoughtful conversation addressing free speech, antisemitism and the role of free expression on college campuses.
The event was streamed live on Facebook in collaboration with JEWISHColorado and was sponsored by The Daily Sentinel, Heterodox Academy, JEWISHColorado and Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher LLP, Attorneys at Law.
Patarino hopes that individuals who attended the series left feeling informed and motivated to turn their knowledge into action.
“What I hope that students and community members take away from participating in the series is the opportunity to take a first step. We say and hear often, ‘never again,’ except that genocide keeps occurring and is indeed happening even today,” said Patarino.
“Becoming aware of the horrors of modern genocide and the slippery slope that begins when we do not cherish democracy and diversity is only the first step. If something from the series helps to engage a person to act positively to support diversity and call out prejudice and violence against those unable to defend themselves, on the campus, in our community, or engaging in the national dialogue more generally, then the series has done its part to make a difference,” Patarino added.
The Holocaust Awareness Series not only serves as a reminder of the past, but also acts as a call to action to prevent future tragedies. Those who missed the series can view photos below and watch the Dignity in Dialogue session with Stephens on CMU’s YouTube channel.
