Chancellor Daniel Diermeier was inducted into the White Rose Society on Sunday, October 12, by alumni and Vanderbilt parents Justin and Mara Berman in the Zeppos Great Room. The society, which recognizes non-Jewish individuals who exemplify moral courage and a steadfast commitment to justice, is a national grassroots movement founded by Jewish leaders to honor the legacy of five Christian students and one professor at the University of Munich.
In 1942, this resistance group went by the code name White Rose and opposed the Nazi regime, ultimately giving their lives for freedom and justice. “If, like me, you grew up in West Germany in the decades after the war, you knew the story of the White Rose. And you were moved by their deep commitment to humanity during a dark time,” Diermeier said. “At Vanderbilt, vibrant Jewish life is not disconnected from the rest of the university but rather is at the core of it. It is a leading indicator of a healthy campus environment in which all students can thrive, live, learn and grow without fear.”
The chancellor was also recognized by The Rohr Chabad House and Lubeck Center for Jewish Life at Vanderbilt University during its Lamplighter Award Ceremony and Shabbat Dinner on Sept. 19. Over 500 parents, students and alumni watched as the chancellor received the award for “courageous, compassionate leadership, shaping Vanderbilt into a community where Jewish life and all students thrive in safety and respect.” The national recognition is presented by Chabad organizations, such as Vanderbilt’s Chabad House, to individuals in public life for their leadership and community contributions. “The Lamplighter Award honors those who light the way. This is the role that universities, at their best, have long played and must play now,” Diermeier said. “If Vanderbilt can be a beacon in dark times, we are living up to our mission—and I gratefully accept this award on behalf of everyone in our university community.”
The event was held during Family Weekend, with remarks from Vanderbilt Chabad’s Rabbi Schlomo Rothstein, columnist and podcast host Dan Senor and Joseph Lubeck, namesake of the Lubeck Center for Jewish Life at Vanderbilt, who noted the impact of Diermeier’s leadership on the campus: “This has become a true center of knowledge, a center of debate, a center of discussion, and it will never be forgotten.”
