2010_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 2010

              California State University Fresno
Aimenian Studies Program
and Aimenian Students Organization
5245 N. B acker Av e. Ml S PB 4
Fresno CA 93740-8001
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HYE SHARZHOOM
Armenian Action
4tt3  Gund-nnir
31
Year
st
May 2010
Vol. 31, No. 4 (110)
Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian
Opinion- Dr. Akgam's April 24
Speech Brings New Perspective
**
/
Barlow Der       course the Armenian Genocide.
Mugrdechian      is the only way to create true
Advisor democracy in Turkey and peace
and stability in the region." stated
Amazing. Akcam.
Forceful. Dr. Akcam teaches Genocide at
Memorable. ClarkUni versity in Mass achuse tts
and is the author of A Shameful
Act: The Armenian Genocide
and the Question of Turkish
Responsibility. He has conducted
extensive archival research in
documenting the Armenian
Genocide.
Turkish state policy is denial
of the Genocide, but the reality
today is that there are scores of
Turks are who defying their own
government, to speak openly and
truthfully about the Genocide. This
can only be a healthy development,
and though it may not mean the
Turkish state will immediately
change its position, it does give
hope for change in its position.
"...We. the new generation in
Turkey, have a moral and political
responsibility towards our history
and ourselves." said Akcam. "...
Whatyouare witnessing now is the
rebellion against that suppressed
silence, and the expression of the
narrative that was never openly
See Akcam page 6
ASP 22nd Annual Banquet Honors Scholarship
Recipients and Screens Premiere of Saroyan Film
Tamar Karkazian
Staff Writer
I f one were present atthe Fort
Washington Golf and Country
Club Banquet Hall on March 29.
2010. they would have found their
eyes scanning over a crowd of
200 students, parents, professors,
and members of the Armenian
community all dressed in fitted
suits, tailored pants, and detailed
dresses. They were gathered for
the Armenian Studies Program
22nd Annual Banquet. Their ears
would ring  from the  murmur
Dr. Tanet Akfam
These are only a few of the
adjectives to describe the unique
address given by Dr. Taner
Akcam at the Armenian Genocide
Commemoration attended by the
San Joaquin Valley Armenian
community on Saturday. April 24.
This was not the first time an
academic has spoken to a Genocide
Commemoration audience, but it
was the first time in Fresno that
the speaker has been Turkish.
For many. Dr. Akcam represented
the first Turkish person they had
ever seen or heard. That a Turkish
person wouldspeakto anArmenian
group about the Genocide was an
amazing moment in the history of
the Armenian pursuit of j ustice.
Dr Akcam's words penetrated
to the heart of Armenian Genocide
denial by the Turkish government.
"As a citizen of Turkey. I believe
that a complete and honest
reckoning with the crimes in my
country's  history,  including of
April 24th-Hundreds Attend Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Held at Free Speech Area
year the program included several
speeches. recitations, and a tribute.
With the help of the University
Student Union's Production team,
the ASO was also able to reach
out to a broader student audience,
as well as the members from the
Armenian community.
The   keynote   speaker   was
Fresno City Councilmen Andreas
| Borgeas.   He   gave   a  moving
s speech about the Genocide and
itf the importance and struggle of
1 recognition. Following the speech.
? ASO   Vice   President   Vartush
^ Mesropyan poetically expressed
^ the struggles of the Armenians.
in Armenian. T wanted to speak
in Armenian so that all the guests
could understand." she explained.
"especially some of the older
Armenians. "Fifth and sixth grade
children from the Charlie Keyan
Armenian   Community   School
recited a poem.  "Anbadaskhan
Hartse"      [The      Unanswered
Question] and sang  'Hye Enk;
Menk" [We are Armenian].
ASO   President   Kassabian-"
Myaznih gave a tribute to the
survivors ofthe genocide and their ■
Armenian studies Program scholarship recipients at the
ASP 22nd Annual Banquet held at Fort Washington.
Ifioso: Joseph Vasqaez
of excitement escaping the lips
of students, as they exchange
acknowledgments and questions.
"What would the night entail? Was
the movie supposed to be good?
What about the food?" By the end
of the night the students would
realize that all their concerns were
gone and replaced with a sense
of relief and gratitude. T really
enjoyed the Banquet." exclaimed
ASO President Faten Myaznih-
Kassabian. 'It was a great
experience. "E verything went we 11
and students enjoyed themselves.
The  food was   delicious.   The
movie was interesting. And
apart from the slight stage fright
experienced by students who were
acknowledged as scholarship
recipients, the Armenian Studies
Annual Banquet was a success.
Like most Armenian
events, the Banquet started off
with dinner: a freshly tossed
salad, creamy chicken piccata.
vegetables, mashed potatoes, and
a rich, chocolate-cheesecake for
dessert. As guests were finishing
dessert and drinking coffee, the
evening began with introductions
and remarks by Professor Barlow
Der Mugrdechian. Coordinator of
theArmenian Studies Program. He
brie fly described the success ofthe
Program, stating such incredible
facts as the recent increase in the
average number of students taking
Armenian classes. with an average
now of 32 students per class. He
also mentioned how Armenian
courses have been taught atFresno
State for over 40 years. since the
late 1960s.
Prof. Sergio La Porta. Haig
and I sabel Berberian Professor of
Armenian Studies at Fresno State,
spoke about the highlights of his
first year teaching in the Program.
See ASP Bam que t page 7
Students and friends gathered at theArmenian Martyr's
Monument after the noon commemoration program.
Tamar Karkazian
Staff Writer
If you ask an Armenian
student what they know about the
Armenian Genocide, they will
most likely give you a brief history.
I f you aska random student on the
Fresno State campus the same
question, the chances that they
would know something about the
Genocide would be very bw.
The members of the Armenian
Students     Organization    didn't
like that level of knowledge and
wanted to raise the awareness of
the Genocide among their peers.
Tb do so they organized various
activities on campus to spread the
word. They hoped that by having
various informational events,
the Fresno State community
would become more aware of the
Genocide.
The ASO's Annual Armenian
Genocide Commemoration took
place at noon on Friday April
23 in the Free Speech Area. This
See April 24 Page 8
Terian Continues Lecture Series
on Genocide and
Evelyn Demirchian
Staff Writer
On Thursday. March 11. the
Armenian Studies Program's
Eighth Kazan Visiting Professor.
Dr. Abraham Terian. gave an in-
depth lecture on the subject of
early literary responses to the
Armenian Genocide.
First responses of those who
lived through the Genocide
were written accounts of their
experiences. Most of these were
Literature
detailed and drawn straight from
the freshmemories ofthe survivors
and witnesses ofthe Genocide.
According to Dr. Terian. "Any
memoir by an Armenian survivor
is a monumental work."
One such example would
Bishop Grigoris Balakian's
memoir. Armenian Golgotha.
Balakian was arrested on April
24. 1915 and his work vividly
explains how there existed an
See Terian Page 6
L.  to   R.:   Dr.   Sergio   La   Porta,   Dr.   Abraham   Terian,
ASP    Coordinator     Prof.     Barlow     Der    Mugrdechian.