UK Students: Tear Down This Wall

Lexington, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2009) – To mark the 20th anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall – and the subsequent reunification of East and West Germany – the University of Kentucky will provide students the opportunity to relive the events of Nov. 9, 1989 through re-enactments and first-hand accounts of the historic event.

The Division of German Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences will create a replica section of the Berlin Wall, built to the same height and width specifications as the original, on the lawn of the Student Center Plaza. From 11 a.m. until noon Monday, Nov. 9, students will have the opportunity to graffiti tag the wall just as the young people of East and West Berlin did. At noon, the wall will come tumbling down as students destroy sections of the replica to symbolize the destruction of the original.

Later in the day at 4 p.m., a documentary titled “The Berlin Wall” will be shown at the Max Kade German House on East Maxwell St.

At 6 p.m., also at the Kade House, a roundtable discussion will feature eyewitness accounts from members of the UK community who were on the scene in 1989, in both East and West Berlin. This event will offer students and members of the Lexington community a chance to understand the excitement on both sides of the Berlin Wall when the barrier finally fell.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information contact the Division of German Studies at (859) 257-3761.