UAF hosts its third Oktoberfest celebration

By Louis Seymour 

Students compete in a stein-holding competition at the Wood Center during this year’s Oktoberfest.

Last week, the UAF community brought a piece of Germany to campus for this year’s Oktoberfest celebration. Now in its third year, the celebration featured panel discussions on German history and culture, along with food and games. Local vendors and a wide array of UAF student organizations participated this year. Helga Wagenleiter, the faculty advisor for the UAF German Club, said that this spirit of collaboration was the goal from the very start.

Three years ago, Wagenleiter recalled receiving an email from the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. “They said, we have money to give away for cultural things.” When the embassy listed examples of cultural outreach, however, she felt none of the options fit the UAF community. “I want to do something that involves the community, and I want to do something where I collaborate with other departments,” she said. After proposing an Oktoberfest on campus, she received a $3,000 grant from the embassy.

The Oktoberfest celebration showcases a variety of student clubs and local vendors.

In addition to leading the yearly Oktoberfest celebration, Wagenleiter has also played an important role in keeping UAF’s German program alive. Facing a dwindling number of faculty, the German program was nearly eliminated. She recalls being approached by the then-dean, who also taught German. “He said, well, if you want to try our online course in German, I’ll pay you one semester.” Wagenleiter continued, saying that “in the last nine years, I have [taught] 10 courses.” Looking back, she attributes much of the program’s success to its use of online courses. She argued that for online courses, “You have to work way more, and you learn way more.”

Even in the program’s online courses, however, students are encouraged to come to campus to practice German in person, where many of them also attend meetings with the German Club. The student-run club does more than the yearly Oktoberfest, too. Students host a Christmas party and panel discussions, usually while eating traditional German foods. In keeping with the collaborative spirit of this year’s Oktoberfest, the club welcomes students from all backgrounds and fluency levels. Reflecting on this year’s celebration, Wagenleiter said: “I think it went over well.” Looking forward, she said she hopes to continue engaging with the Fairbanks community.