1986_04 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper April 1986

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ARMENIAN   ACTION
Volume 7, No. 3
April, 1986
The  newspaper  of the  California  State  University,  Fresno  Armenian Students
Organization and Armenian Studies Program.
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Armenian Studies Program * r^**-'
csuf, Fresno ca 93740   Permit No. 262
Library reverses decision;
genocide exhibit approved
AS Senate votes to fund Hye Sharzhoom postage;
overturns former precedent toward minority issues
By Randy Baloian
Editor
* After meeting opposition from various
sectors of the California State University,
Fresno campus last month, the Armenian
Students Organization (ASO) took a
positive step toward resolving two of this
year's most critical and controversial
issues—approval of a library exhibit on
the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and funding
for Hye Sharzhoom postage.
Although both matters are not entirely
settled, the CSU F Henry Madden Library
has agreed to display the exhibit during
the week of April 24th, and the Associated
Students Senate has granted funds to the
ASO iu be appucd to the club's mounting
postage bills.
The CSUF library initially rejected the
exhibit, which includes poster-sized
documents and photographs relating the
events and experiences of the 1915 Genocide. In a memo sent to April 24th
committee member Jim Malkasian, Assistant Librarian Stephanie Hillman referred
to section A.3 of the library's policy
. statement which states: "In order to avoid
giving undue prominence to particular
points of view on controversal matters,
the library will not accept religious or
political exhibits sponsored by or focused
on the tenets of individual sects or parties."
The memo was issued at the request of
Head Librarian Lillie Parker.
"The Turks say they didn't do it," said
Parker in a well publicized March 11
Fresno Bee article. "I want to avoid any
difficulty with other people who might
disagree (with the exhibit)."
Members of the ASO and Armenian
Studies Program (ASP) were angered by
the decision.
"The decision was made solely on the
basis of the word 'genocide'; there was no
effort to examine the posters before the
decision was handed down," said ASO
President Shant  Bedoyan.    "If they
(library officials') are going to make
judgments based on their own preconceived notions of what the exhibit is, it
seems they are the ones who are expressing
a particular point of view."
"It's particularly appalling considering
the fact that Governor Deukmejian and
the California Legislature officially recognized the genocide last year. I find Ms.
Hillman's logic especially offensive to the
Armenian community and the survivors
of the genocide," said Professor Barlow
Der Mugrdechian, Acting Coordinator of
the Armenian Studies Program.
After "having consulted with individuals
whose judgment" she respects and meeting
with members of the ASO and ASP,
Parker reversed tne library's earlier decision.
Parker was never available for any
further comments, nor did she return any
of Hye Sharzhoom^ phone calls.
"I think she was pressured by her
superiors," said Malkasian. "We understand that the president's office received
many calls from community members
who voiced their displeasure at the library's
decision."
"...it seems they are the
ones expressing a particular point of view."
—Bedoyan
 — —
In a March 11 memo sent to Parker, the
ASO has asked the library to "apologize
to the Armenian community for casting
doubt on the authenticity of the genocide,"
to "promise that further exhibits on the
Armenian genocide and related subjects
will not conflict with section A.3 of the
library's policy statement," and to affirm
"that the Young Turk government planned, ordered, and executed the genocide
Kouymjian named
Prof, of the Year
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, coordinator
of thc-Armenian Studies Program, has
been named the Outstanding Professor
for 1986 at CSU, Fresno.
He will be the university's candidate
for statewide honors awarded by the
Board of Trustees of the CSU system.
The Board annually selects two CSU
faculty members for the Outstanding
Professor of the Year award.
Kouymjian has been a member of the-
CSU, Fresno faculty since 1977, devoting
his energies to making the Armenian
Studies • Program a vital force in the
Armenian community and giving it the
academic excellence for which it is well
known. Kouymjian has been an active
force in the life of the Fresno community.
It was through his efforts that the CSU F
Avmcaiiii:: Studies, i fc^iaar. has besoms
one of the major centers for Armenian
education in the United States. He is the
advisor to the Armenian Students Organization, a vibrant group whose activities
include the publication of Hye Sharzhoom now entering its seventh year of
See Kouymjian, Page 7
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian
of 1.5 million Armenians...."
The library has not responded to these
requests.
The same week the library approved the
installation of the exhibit, the AS Senate
overturned a longstanding precedent which
denies minority newspapers funding for
mailing, and voted to grant the ASO's line
item change for postage.
Daniel Chacon, ASO's sponsoring AS
senator, was glad to see the vote carry.
"'Hye Sharzhoom brings money as well as
worldwide recognition to Fresno State.
The paper was an invaluable asset during
the Leon S. Peters fund drive," said
Chacon.
Although the $300 line item change
(which involves the transfer of previously allocated funds) only dents a
$1000-plus postage bill, future proposals
to the AS Senate can be expected to pass
with less trouble.
In the past the ASO has been refused
funding for .postage on several
occasions. In February, the Senate voted
down an augmentation proposal for $285,
an extremely modest amount by AS
Senate standards.
"Defeating the Senate's postage precedent will come in handy in the future,
especially when the CS U F administration
refuses to fund us like it did this year," said
Hye Sharzhoom Assistant Editor Karen
DeOrian.
For most of the paper's existence,
Academic Affairs or the School of Social
Sciences has paid for Hye Sharzhoom'%
mailing costs. At the beginning of the
fiscal year (last June), Academic Affairs
allotted the paper $600 but denied an
increase when that amount ran out in
See H.S. Postage, Page 8
Oshagan, Ensemble headline April events
Hovannisian to present slides of Turkish Armenia
From left to right: Edmond Zartarian, Aram Keroypyan, Virginia Pattie, and Rouben
Haroutunian.
Karen A. DeOrian
Assistant editor
The Armenian Studies Program and
the Armenian Students Organization are
planning a series of events to commemorate the 1915 Genocide of the Armenian
people.
Raffi Hovannisian will commence the
April 24th events at CSU, Fresno. Mr.
Hovannisian will present a slide show of
western Armenia on Sunday, April 20
i*so at 3:w pm upstairs in the Old
Cafeteria, room 200. Hovannisian traveled to historical Armenia and was able to
photograph this magnificent collection.
Making his first appearance at Fresno
State, Professor Vahe Oshagan will lecture
on Wednesday, April 23, 1986 at 7:00 pm
in the CSUF Music Building, room 100.
The topic for Oshagan's lecture will be,
"What the Genocide Cost the Armenians
and the Turks. " Oshagan is a professor at
the University of California, Berkley.
Finally, the Armenian Students Organization will conclude their April 24th
events with a performance by the Ensemble
de Musique Armenienne. The Paris based
four member group will perform on
See April 24th, Page 8