ANU joins National Sorry Day
By Shelly Simonds The ANU will mark National Sorry Day a day early, on May 25, giving the campus the chance to join the country in apologising for past actions affecting Australia's indigenous community. May 26 is the first anniversary of the presentation of The Stolen Generation report to the government. Students' Association president, Harry Greenwell, is coordinating the program within the University, with assistance from the Public Affairs Division, the Jabal Centre and other areas. Activities include a formal ceremony on May 25 at the Manning Clark Centre at 1pm with a welcome from the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of the land including the ANU site. Dr Peter Read, an expert on the "stolen generation" from the Urban Research Program in the Research School of Social Sciences, will give an address and "sorry books" will be presented to representatives of the "stolen generation" community. The books are part of a national initiative and will be circulated around the University to give everyone the chance to sign them. From today, Wednesday, until Friday, the books will be available to sign at a stall in Union Court. Books will also be circulated by School and Faculty Secretaries during tea breaks. University representatives will also join the ACT's official ceremony at Parliament House at 6pm on May 26.