Buena Vista University to Host Series of Holocaust Events

STORM LAKE, IA (10/03/2017) (readMedia)-- This semester Buena Vista University (BVU) is offering a variety of opportunities for the study of the Holocaust to students and members of the community, including several events that are part of the University's Academic and Cultural Event Series (ACES).

The following events take place on the BVU campus and are open to the public at no cost:

  • Oct. 12, 7-8 p.m., Schaller Memorial Chapel: Ninety-year-old Holocaust survivor, Magda Brown, will share her harrowing story of her time at Auschwitz-Birkenau, experiencing slave labor, and escaping a death march to Buchenwald.
  • Nov. 6, 7-8:15 p.m., Anderson Auditorium: Judy Winnick will portray the extraordinary Miep Gies (1909-2010), who helped hide Anne Frank and her family in the Netherlands during World War II.
  • Nov. 9, 7-8 p.m., Anderson Auditorium: Musician Carolyn Enger will explore the history behind the Mischlinge (a Nazi term for those neither fully Jewish nor fully Aryan) through music, art, literature, and film.
  • Nov. 29, 7-8:15 p.m., Forum Room 8 (Hanson 8): Peppy Margolis, executive producer of the film, "The Second Generation, Ripples from the Holocaust," will discuss the challenges of growing up as a child of Holocaust survivors.

In addition to the ACES events that are open to the public, BVU is opening its doors free of charge on Oct. 13 and Nov. 7 to nearly 800 middle school students who will hear Brown's story and experience the portrayal of Gies. Schools that have confirmed attendance include the Storm Lake Community School District, Storm Lake St. Mary's, the Sioux Central Community School District, the Alta-Aurelia Community School District, and the Newell-Fonda Community School District.

"In an effort to both demonstrate our commitment and connections to our community, and to build knowledge and awareness of the Holocaust and the perils of intolerance, we wanted to invite area middle school students to attend these special events," said Dr. Dixee Bartholomew-Feis, professor of history, dean of the school of social science, philosophy & religion, and interim dean of the school of education and exercise science at BVU.

"I am looking forward to this opportunity for our students as well as some of our staff," said Steve Jarvis, middle school history teacher at the Sioux Central Community School District.

In an effort to encourage and promote a peaceful and successful community, BVU has also extended a special invitation to Storm Lake Police Department officers, the Storm Lake mayor, and members of the Storm Lake City Council to hear Brown's story.

"This event has such a powerful focus on the end results when intolerance and hatred become part of the routine, and too many bystanders turn away from fellow citizens in need," added Bartholomew-Feis.

For more information, visit www.bvu.edu, or for questions, please contact Teresa Wirtjers at wirtjerst@bvu.edu or 712.749.2644.

About Buena Vista University

Since 1891, Buena Vista University has prepared students for lifelong success and blends liberal arts with real-world applications. Our traditional campus on the shores of Storm Lake hosts students in a variety of majors and pre-professional programs, including elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. Our 16 degree-completion locations, online, and graduate programs expand student potential with a pace and academic rigor designed for working adults and a variety of class formats that make scheduling even more convenient. With an average scholarship of more than 50 percent off of tuition, BVU is an affordable option for all students. Visit www.bvu.edu.

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