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CTU in Prague commemorated the events of 17 November at Hlávka's Dormitory, Albertov, Národní třída and Betlehem Chapel

Publication date: 
2019/11/20
On Sunday,November 17th, the Czech Republic commemorated the day that entered its history in 1939 and 1989. In both cases, the event was driven mainly by university students, and therefore it was their Sunday holiday. Traditional commemorative events took place at Hlávka dormitory and Albertov campus, where a student parade started in 1989, and Národní třída, where the demonstration for the return of democracy was severely suppressed. CTU Rector doc. Vojtěch Petráček and members of the CTU Management.

At 9.00, the celebrations began with a traditional memory of the students of Hlávka College, who in 1939 gave their lives for the freedom of the nation. Dozens of people remembered the bravery of students who did not hesitate to defy the Nazi occupation. The CTU Rector, doc. Vojtěch Petráček, Deputy Student Chamber of the Council of Universities Michal Zima or Rector of Charles University prof. Tomáš Zima. After the Hussite chant ‘Ktož sú boží bojovníci’ performed in the combined choirs, the commemorative memory was commenced by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the foundation ‘Nadace Josefa, Marie a Zdeňka Hlávkových’, prof. Ivan Wilhelm.

The commemoration act continued with the laying of wreaths, accompanied by choirs and the presence of a solemn military unit. Then a procession organized by the Student Chamber of the Council of Universities in Žitná Street went to the memorial plaque of Jan Opletal and Václav Sedláček. The CTU Rector doc. Vojtěch Petráček and Rector of Charles University prof. Tomáš Zima both gave speech at the meeting. 
 

The main program of celebrations began with singing of the student anthem ‘Gaudeamus Igitur’ began at Albertov, in front of the directorate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Charles University. The first speech was given by prof. Milan Pospíšil. The rectors of prof. Tomáš Zima, prof. Martin Bareš from Masaryk University and doc. Vojtěch Petráček.

 

Dagmar Pecková sang the national anthem from the balcony on Národní třída after 1 pm. The rectors of the Czech Rectors Conference also honored the memorial of November 17th at Národní třída. CRC President prof. Petr Sklenička, together with other rectors, placed a bouquet on the the memorial plaque and lit candles together.

 

At 7 pm, this year's celebrations of the Day of Fight for Freedom and Democracy and International Student Day ended with a traditional gala concert in the Bethlehem Chapel, organized by CTU in Prague and the Nadace Josefa, Marie and Zdeňka Hlávků foundation. The concert was opened by the rector of CTU doc. Vojtěch Petráček and prof. Marie Karfíková, Vice-Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees and Presidium of the Nadace Nadání Josefa, Marie and Zdeňka Hlávků. The compositions of Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Vilém Tauský were performed by the Choir and Orchestra of Charles University with the conductor Haig Utidjian.

 

Pictures from the event are available at  https://www.media.cvut.cz/cs/foto/20191117-30-vyroci-17-listopadu. 

Pictures from the concert are available at https://media.cvut.cz/cs/foto/20191117-slavnostni-koncert-poradany-u-prilezitosti-statniho-svatku-17-listopadu.