Visit of students of the university of Applied Science Fulda
Orientation for first-semester students of the Social Sciences programs with a focus on Intercultural Relations, Social Law, and the Intercultural Communication and European Studies program at Fulda University of Applied Sciences took place on October 22, 2021, at the Kulturhaus in Geisa.
- Geisa
- October 22, 2021
The event began with a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Reinhard, Dean of the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, and Manuela Henkel, the Mayor of Geisa. In her speech, Henkel emphasized:
“Those who sleep in democracy will wake up in a dictatorship. […] Democracy is not a given; we must preserve it and continuously fight for it. This is something we learn especially at historically significant places like Point Alpha. From this place, from the people in the region, the witnesses, their reports, their experiences, and the events that took place here, we can and must learn.”
Following this, Sebastian Leitsch, Managing Director of the Point Alpha Foundation, gave a lecture on the history and significance of Point Alpha.
This was followed by a panel discussion with eyewitnesses, moderated by Prof. Dr. Anne Schäfer, the Dean of Studies of the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences. The eyewitnesses, Berthold Dücker, former editor-in-chief, Sabine Etzel, former resident of the restricted area, Thomas Wehner, former Federal Border Guard officer and local mayor of Günthers, and Bruno Leister, author of the monograph “For Your Own Safety,” shared their personal experiences and provided fascinating insights into the Cold War era and life along the inner-German border.
Afterward, Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner, a member of the board, presented the Point Alpha Research Institute e.V. and explained its goals and research areas.
After a break, which provided an opportunity for networking, guided tours of the Point Alpha Memorial were organized. Participants visited the House on the Border and the US Camp, where they engaged in further discussions and delved deeper into the history and events of the site.