Published September 08, 2014
The School of Humanities—part of the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences at the
University of Louisiana at Monroe—has scheduled a series of presentations commemorating
the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I.
The School of Humanities hopes to turn attention to World War I and its consequences
and provoke discussion and thoughts on the significance and effects of the war. The
events are sponsored by Louisiana Plastics Company in honor of Sydney Wilhite, and
all events are free and open to the public.
The “War to End All Wars” began in August 1914, and ended on November 11, 1918 with
over 16 million soldiers killed and over 20 million injured.
Faculty and students from English, history, communication, and world languages will
present a series of lectures.
Stacy Reppond—a double major in French and communication— attended the war’s commemoration
ceremony in Liege, Belgium this past summer. She will share her experiences from the
event.
Karen Upright—an eULM French major—will present her research on the civilian experience
of WWI from journals written by Marie-Madeleine Chaineaux, who lived in northeastern
France close to the Western front. These documents became available only last spring
through the European WWI digital archives project.
Throughout the fall, KEDM Public Radio 90.3 will air Mara Loeb’s recorded readings
of letters from soldiers.
The School of Humanities will mark the end of the war during the ULM Veterans Day
Ceremony on November 11.
The schedule is as follows:
At 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 9, Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, associate professor of history,
will present “The War that Redefined Black America,” in ULM Library Room 3-A.
Dr. Claudia Grinnell, associate professor of English, will present “Kriegsgedichte-German
Poetry of World War I,” at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 25, in ULM Library Room 3-B.
George Wortham will present “The First World War as a Theological Turning Point” at
7 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in ULM Library Room 3-C.
At 7 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 13, the film “All Quiet on the Western Front” will be shown
in Stubbs Hall, Room 100.
Karen Upright will present “French Civilian Life Behind the Western Front: The Journals
of Marie-Madeleine Chaineaux,” at 7 p. m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in ULM Library 3-C.
Dr. Jana Giles, assistant professor of English, will present “ULM Students Explore
British Poetry of the First World War,” at 7 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 20, in ULM Library
Room 3-C.
Dr. Chris Blackburn will present “Securing the Peace: The American Relief Administration
in Eastern Europe.” Both presentations will be held in Walker Hall, Room 2-105.
In the final event before the annual Veterans Day Celebration, Stacy Reppond will
present “Ambiance 1914: La Belgique se souvient Belgium Remembers,” at 7 p.m., on
Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Stubbs Hall, Room 100.
For more information, please contact Dr. Ruth Smith at rusmith@ulm.edu or at 318-342-1526.
Interested parties may also contact Arely Castillo at castillo@ulm.edu or at 318-342-1296.
