And now something very important...

As a professor at UNR, I find myself almost every semester lecturing to--if not a captive then at least a paying--audience of more than 130 students. Consequently, when I talk about Shakespeare, Voltaire, Goethe, Kafka, Virginia Woolf, Arthur Miller and Alice Walker--great literary figures who address issues of tolerance, inhumanity, ethics and morality of the few against the many--opportunities to speak of those issues which are important to me also abound.

Specifically, when I teach a required course such as Western Traditions 202, I make it a point to teach a special segment on the Holocaust. And to my delight and deep satisfaction, students often come up to me and thank me for doing so. Their concern fuels my commitment. Due to their interest, I feel that UNR is ready to have a Center for Holocaust, Genocide & Peace Studies. We are now in our third year of operation.

In addition, one of my responsibilities as the Center’s Director is to act on numerous requests by school teachers to present Center themes to the classroom. Responding to these and other community requests (I have been out to see an enthusiastic group at the Fallon Air Force Base) recharges my energies and makes me mindful of our Center’s important goal of outreach.

Through our video documentaries and public programs in 1996 we reached thousands of people. These documentaries are increasingly finding their way into university libraries and the archives of centers similar to ours in this country and abroad. And because of our many activities last year, the Center was nominated for the prestigious Thornton Peace Prize.

On a practical note, however, we cannot survive on rewards, awards, and prizes alone. 95 % of the money spent for programs and events in 1996--yes, you’ve read correctly!--95 % of the money came from you. The University covers the cost of my salary and our office space; but you make the diverse and powerful programs for our youth a reality!

We need your support if we are to continue with this important component of our work. We have the opportunity to present several excellent programs for 1997/98--provided we find the funding. We are targeting a goal of $15,000 before July 1, 1997.

Please help us with $5 or $25 or $100 or $1,000 or with any amount you are able to give. Become a peacemaker and our Partner For Peace.

All donations to the University of Nevada, Reno are tax deductible as allowed by law. Thank you.

Viktoria Hertling