On Tuesday, Dec. 2, six Southwestern College students will share stories they have collected from individuals whose families have been directly affected by the Holocaust either as victims or as war veterans, and from people who fought to liberate the victims who are living with the trauma of the Holocaust.  The presentation, “Never Forget: the Courage to Remember,” will begin at 4 p.m., in the Deets Library on the campus of Southwestern College. There is no admission charge and the public is invited to attend.

The students presenting the information are Cierra Ross, Wichita; Dalton Carver, Ozawkie; Ryan Crowell, Conway Springs; Margaret Dunning, El Paso, Texas; Alex Elisaesser, Hugoton; and Brenna Truhe, Salina.  Teaching the students this semester has been Tracy Frederick, professor of communication, and Alice Bendinelli, assistant professor of English.

The students in the Holocaust Narratives class have spent this semester studying the historic events, the rhetoric of the perpetrators that created and led this genocide, and the narratives of the victims who survived the trauma in both historical documents and in their fictional representations. The students have also conducted interviews with both first- and second-generation survivors who are still affected by the Holocaust due to its trans-historical traumatic effects. Using what they have learned this semester, the students will reflect on the repercussions of this historical “wound” with members of the SC and Winfield community.

Frederick says that the students have developed sensitivity to the horrors and trauma that others have endured. 

“They (the students) have mentioned that the most shocking information has come from the personal testimonies that they have witnessed and read, but primarily they have been shocked by the fact that so many, including the United States,  knew what was happening and refused to help or aid the Jews who were trying to escape this genocide,” Frederick says.  “The students have been horrified by the unwillingness of other nations to offer a safe place for them to go, but instead were only concerned with maintaining their comforts. They have been moved by the information that expresses the horror and the lack of help from others. They also expressed that they were also startled to learn that it wasn’t just Jews who were condemned or exterminated, but also gypsies, homosexuals, assemblies of God, the handicapped, and several other groups.”

“This project would not have been possible if it had not been for the generous time offered by the interviewed volunteers who were willing to share their stories, as well as the efforts and support provided by members both within and outside the SC community, including Shoshana Wernick and Margot Kelman,” Bendinelli says. 

Margaret Dunning, one of the student presenters, says that the class has taught her plenty about the Holocaust. 

“This class has taught me that the Holocaust should never be forgotten because the victims of this horrific event in history should never be forgotten,” Dunning says.  “Their pain and plight was real and it still is real for so many people today. I hope on Dec. 2, I will be able to share someone’s story on their involvement in the Holocaust and that it will inspire others to take action against injustice and hatred in the world, because if people don’t take action it is no longer evil’s fault for thriving, it is the fault of those who stood back and watched it happen.”