UALR German Studies will present a symposium, workshop for teachers, and feature films with the theme “Perspective, Progress, and Promise” celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the German reunification.

Dr. Susanne Wagner, assistant professor of German studies at UALR who organized the series, said the fall of the wall on Nov. 9, 1989, and consecutively the German reunification on Oct. 3, 1990, were monumental turning points in history.

“The fall also signified the end of the political-ideological conflict between the East and West,” she said. “While this historical moment represented many ‘ends,’ it also allowed for the emergence of new beginnings — the beginning of the 21^st century, spreading of democracy, and the opening of world financial markets. It also increased political stability and broke down barriers between people — freedom of commerce, freedom of mobility, and political freedom.”

The symposium is from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Room 103 of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development at University Avenue and 28^th Street at UALR.

Symposium panelists and other speakers representing education, the business community, and government agencies will discuss the fall of the Berlin Wall and how German reunification impacted the global community to include business and industry.

Panel participants include Dr. Andrew Drummond, assistant professor of political science; Thorsten Gottfried, who works in the German consulate general’s legal department in Houston; Dr. Peter Höyng, chair and professor of German Studies at Emory University; Lenka Horakova, UALR alumna who works at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission as global project manager for Europe; Dr. Rolf T. Wigand, professor of information science and management at UALR; and Rob Lentz, vice president of Acxiom Corporation. Dr. Stephen Farrelly, assistant professor of philosophy at UALR, will provide a brief keynote presentation.

The symposium is open to the public. Parking is available in Lot 13 across from the Reynolds Center.

The German Studies program will also present a workshop, “Teaching the Wall,” for current and prospective teachers of German. “This workshop will expose teachers to both the historic existence of the wall and how its fall has been represented in texts, music, and films,” said Wagner. “Hands-on exercises will also demonstrate meanings of the wall that go beyond modern day Berlin.”

Conducted by Höyng, the workshop is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, Monday, Nov. 2, in the Stabler Hall Language Lab on the UALR campus.

Additionally, three films related to the subject will be shown beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Stabler Hall Room 303. “The Tunnel” is scheduled for Oct. 27 followed by “The Promise” on Nov. 3 and “Good Bye Lenin!” Nov. 10.

For more information, contact Wagner at (501) 569-8038 or smwagner1@ualr.edu.