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Holocaust survivors to observe those lost this week
Holocaust Memorial Program at OSU aims to educate students on genocide, then and now
Makenna Bishop
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: News
By Makenna Bishop
The Daily Barometer
The Holocaust Memorial Program at OSU has been in existence since January 1987, after a committee was established to organize and direct a program in recognition of "Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust," which was a week-long observance that was created by an act of Congress in 1979.
A similar committee still exists today and it is responsible for organizing, publicizing and fundraising the necessary amounts to manage its budget.
According to the program's website, the Holocaust Memorial Program at OSU has been put on for students and community members in hopes of educating and benefiting the entire community.
Jonathan Katz, chair of the history department and of the program's planning committee, said the Holocaust Memorial Program is one of the most important public outreach services that the history department can provide.
"Universities should be the setting for educational experiences outside the normal curriculum of course requirements and credits," Katz said. "Oregon State has a commitment and civic responsibility to bring learning of all kinds to the general public."
Paul Kopperman, professor of history and chair of the Holocaust Memorial committee, has been involved since the program was established. He has served as chair since 1993 and has helped in the organizing of each of the annual program's 23 total weeks of observance.
Kopperman has taught a course on the Holocaust - History 425 - since 1982, and said he has been gratified to see how many students and faculty share his interest in the subject.
Kopperman said he thinks the educational events that focus on episodes of persecution or murder of various groups is extremely important and said that there should be more offered at the Oregon State campus.
"Holocaust Memorial Week and other programs represent opportunities to learn about genocide," Kopperman said. "Which is one of the key global problems in the world today."
The Daily Barometer
The Holocaust Memorial Program at OSU has been in existence since January 1987, after a committee was established to organize and direct a program in recognition of "Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust," which was a week-long observance that was created by an act of Congress in 1979.
A similar committee still exists today and it is responsible for organizing, publicizing and fundraising the necessary amounts to manage its budget.
According to the program's website, the Holocaust Memorial Program at OSU has been put on for students and community members in hopes of educating and benefiting the entire community.
Jonathan Katz, chair of the history department and of the program's planning committee, said the Holocaust Memorial Program is one of the most important public outreach services that the history department can provide.
"Universities should be the setting for educational experiences outside the normal curriculum of course requirements and credits," Katz said. "Oregon State has a commitment and civic responsibility to bring learning of all kinds to the general public."
Paul Kopperman, professor of history and chair of the Holocaust Memorial committee, has been involved since the program was established. He has served as chair since 1993 and has helped in the organizing of each of the annual program's 23 total weeks of observance.
Kopperman has taught a course on the Holocaust - History 425 - since 1982, and said he has been gratified to see how many students and faculty share his interest in the subject.
Kopperman said he thinks the educational events that focus on episodes of persecution or murder of various groups is extremely important and said that there should be more offered at the Oregon State campus.
"Holocaust Memorial Week and other programs represent opportunities to learn about genocide," Kopperman said. "Which is one of the key global problems in the world today."
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