What's Happening?
Syracuse University students are actively participating in cultural exchange and remembrance activities in Lockerbie, Scotland, a town historically linked to the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. This initiative transforms Lockerbie into an international
classroom and research site for a new generation of students. The Syracuse London Center, in partnership with local community groups, facilitates these experiences through programs like the Remembrance Exchange. These trips involve workshops with Scottish students, forensic tours of impact sites, and community dinners, fostering meaningful relationships and academic enrichment. For instance, students like Brynn Wisniewski ’28 have connected their coursework on grief and the impact of violence to their experiences in Lockerbie, while Mouna Toure ’28, a psychology student, found conversations with first responders particularly impactful for her future role as a victim advocate. John Fitzhenry ’28, a television, radio, and film major, reflected on the limitations of media in capturing the community's kindness, emphasizing the importance of direct experience.
Why It's Important?
This ongoing engagement between Syracuse University and Lockerbie is significant for several reasons. It provides a unique educational opportunity for U.S. students to learn about the long-term impacts of international tragedy and the resilience of affected communities. The program moves beyond traditional academic settings by offering hands-on experiences, such as field research conducted by Yida (Rick) Li ’26 for his thesis on remembrance, which explored how memory is sustained beyond physical monuments. The initiative also highlights the power of cultural exchange in fostering understanding and empathy, as students interact directly with Lockerbie residents, including former Lockerbie Scholars. This direct engagement allows students to gain perspectives that cannot be replicated through media, influencing their academic and professional paths. Furthermore, the program demonstrates a commitment to honoring the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing through active remembrance and community building, reinforcing the historical ties between Syracuse University and Lockerbie.
What's Next?
The cultural exchange and remembrance efforts are set to continue, with the 2026 Lockerbie Fellows, comprising 10 senior students from Lockerbie Academy, scheduled to travel to Syracuse University for this year’s Remembrance Week. During this period, students in the U.K. will also participate in a parallel rose-laying event at the London campus and a special Service of Remembrance organized by the Tundergarth Kirks Trust later in the year. These reciprocal visits and events ensure the continuity of the program and the ongoing dialogue between the two communities. The Remembrance Week, taking place from October 18-24, 2026, will serve as a focal point for these activities, further solidifying the bonds and shared commitment to remembrance and education. The program's success in adapting to challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by creating alternative, UK-based itineraries, suggests its resilience and potential for continued growth and impact.
Beyond the Headlines
Beyond the immediate educational and remembrance aspects, this initiative delves into deeper implications concerning the nature of memory, community resilience, and the role of education in addressing historical trauma. Yida (Rick) Li’s thesis, 'Memory Without Monuments: Lockerbie and the Apparatus of Remembrance,' underscores a profound shift in understanding how societies remember and heal. It suggests that memory is not confined to static memorials but is a 'living thing' sustained through spatial, institutional, oral, and ritual practices. This perspective challenges conventional approaches to memorialization and highlights the importance of ongoing human connection and active engagement in preserving historical narratives. The program also implicitly addresses the ethical dimensions of media representation, as noted by John Fitzhenry, by emphasizing the irreplaceable value of direct human interaction and kindness over mediated experiences. This ongoing dialogue between Syracuse University and Lockerbie serves as a model for how educational institutions can foster global citizenship and contribute to healing and understanding in the wake of tragedy.
