Introduction

The Center for Holocaust, Genocide & Peace Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno is in its second year of operation. The Center’s goals are to promote analysis of the causes of the Holocaust and other episodes of genocide in modern society. Moreover, we focus on developing strategies for a more peaceful future.

The Center seeks to impart to students, faculty and the public the importance and awareness of critical thinking. It fosters a humanistic climate that promotes conflict resolution, tolerance, interventions, and the formulation of ethical theories of human relationships. It encourages concerned individuals to consider themselves as emissaries for peace and to speak out against all expressions of hateful extremism in their communities and elsewhere.

In line with our commitment to reach out into the community, the Center sponsored various public events during the 1994/95 academic year free of charge. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Europe in February 1995, the Center presented "Remembering for the Future." This event consisted of a panel of local survivors and liberators of camps who told their stories of the Holocaust. More than 500 faculty, students and people from the community packed into the UNR auditorium!

In April 1995, the Center hosted an evening with Leopold and Mila Page from Schindler’s List. Once again we filled the auditorium with over 800 people who gathered to hear how Oskar Schindler saved the Pages and 1,300 other Jews from Nazi persecution. With Leopold Page as the keynote speaker, the Center conducted a successful fund-raiser.

On April 27, 1995, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the Center sponsored a lecture and an interactive video presentation by Dr. Levon Marashlian from Glendale Community College. Professor Marashlian discussed the causes of the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottoman and Turkish governments from 1915 to 1923. Once again the event was a great success.

The theme for the 1995/96 academic year is "Honoring Peace." We are organizing a Festival for Peace (see below for details), and have several academic lectures scheduled. On an ongoing basis, the Center provides speakers for the university, local schools and other organizations in the community. Also, we are in the process of establishing an undergraduate minor in Holocaust, Genocide & Peace Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Viktoria Hertling