When the Berlin Wall was knocked down in 1989, many Cornell students had not even been born. Regardless, the Department of German Studies and the German Embassy is sponsoring a week of festivities in honor of the 20th anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall, building a replica wall on the Arts Quad and giving many a chance to learn about the recent past.

Cornell is one of the 30 schools chosen by the German Embassy to participate in the nationwide “Freedom Without Walls Campaign.”

“The turnout, despite the rain, was incredible,” said Prof. Anette Schwarz, chair of the Department of German Studies and principal organizer of the week’s events.

For the past several weeks, students have submitted designs to be posted on the replica wall, which measures 16 by 8 feet, in a competition called “Uber-Free.” The winning submissions, which feature a classic peace symbol and various German phrases, were spray-painted on the wall yesterday.

The graffiti artistry on the replica wall, however, is not the only homage to the tear down. Yesterday’s events also included a Charity Run, which involved scavenger hunts and puzzles that represent the freedom of mobility East Germans had after the wall came down.

“It’s a major event in recent history, and hopefully people can come and learn about it, because a lot of undergrads weren’t born when this happened,” said Nadia Rodriguez grad. Rodriguez studies in the German Studies graduate program, with a focus on 19th century philosophy. “To some extent, it is being a part of history.”

Erected in Aug. 1961, the Berlin Wall encircled West Berlin, completely separating it from East Berlin and subsequently preventing residents in the communist German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, from escaping into the capitalist Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany. The West side of the wall was eventually completely covered in graffiti, much of it politically themed, while residents on the East Side would not approach the wall for fear of death. 200 people died trying to scale the wall, as it was guarded at all times.

“It’s also a political symbol,” Schwartz said of the replica. “There are other walls separating people in this world. I just want people to reflect on the political divisions.”

Artful rememberance: Erin Ferro-Murray ’13 draws on a mock Berlin Wall on the Arts Quad yesterday in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its fall.

Schwartz visited West Berlin when the wall was still erect, and said it was “impossible to get lost” because the wall ended every corner of the city.

An amalgam of both students studying German and those who were simply interested in the history was seen at yesterday’s Charity Run. After breaking into teams, runners completed various educational tasks, including matching German national monuments with pictures and using marshmallows and toothpicks to rebuild the Brandenburg gate, one of the more infamous entry points to East Germany.

“When I was in Berlin, I stayed with an East German family for a week and it was amazing to hear their perspective,” Sarah Nguyen ’13 said. “There is still a division between East and West Germany, but it’s getting better all the time.”

A public speaking competition, in which participants play the role of a specific U.S. president and speak under the theme of tearing down the wall, will be held today. Various other events will be held over the week, culminating with a Gala Event on Saturday evening. The winner of the nationwide graffiti contest will receive a free trip to Berlin.