1989_03 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper March 1989

              March 1989
Hye Sharzhoom 10 th Anniversary
Feature, Page 5
Armenian Minor: A Way for
Students to Discover Roots
By Sheri Hokokian
Staff Writer
An Armenian minor offers much more
than just 21 units of credit Working
toward a minor provides the opportunity
for Armenians (and non-Armenians) to
learn about their history, culture,
language, and tragedies. Students that have
either graduated with a minor or currently
working toward one, all agree that the
knowledge gained is immense.
Bryan Bedrosian, a 1982 CSUF graduate
and past ASO President said, "The importance of getting an Armenian minor, is
not the minor "per se," he said, "with
having to complete the units, I got a feel
for what the people went through.You
actually feel a part of it because you made
the effort to .study the history and learn the
language."
Jim Malkasian, a 1984 CSUF graduate
said, that getting an Armenian minor gave
him "...good exposure to Armenian
culture and the language both historically
and intellectually."
Jacqueline Sislian, President of ASO,
said that working toward her Armenian
minor is helping her to learn more about
her "roots." She said that before she
entered college she didn't speak any
Armenian and didn't know any of the
historical background. She added, "I was a
tree with no roots."
Prior to taking the Armenian language
courses, none of these people spoke, read
or wrote Armenian. However, today the
language is remembered and being spoken
more often. Matt Jendian, a sociology
major and working toward his minor, said
he doesn't speak Armenian fluently yet,
but he can read and understand conversations quite well. He said, "My
vocabulary needs to be expanded, but that's
just a matter of time."
Bedrosian responded that he didn't speak
the language prior to his taking the
Armenian language courses. However,
today he is still speaking Armenian and
teaching the language to his son.
The history courses trace the
Armenians' existence back to their early
days and explicitly through the tragic
genocide. After taking the time and effort
to learn the history, it's almost impossible
to forget Sislian said, "What I remembers
the most from my history courses are the
tragic stories from the genocide and
learning how bad those Turks were."
Phillip Ehorn, 1984 CSUF graduate,
said from taking the Armenian history
courses he has learned and better understands the early history and origin of the
Armenians.
Learning about the history and language
of any culture makes one curious in what
the country is really like. Many of these
Armenian minor students put their
curiosities to rest and traveled off to visit
their "homeland.
Malkasian visited Armenia last year
with Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian.
He said they were there during the strike
and rebirth of nationalism in Armenia.
Sislian also visited last summer, she
said that the generosity of the fellow
Armenians made the greatest impact on
her.
Bedrosian visited Armenia in May '83
with his wife. He said that it was an "eye
opening experience." He added that he
knew what was happening and understood
the historical meanings, and was able to
converse with the people on a simple
level. He explained that whenever you
know the language of the country that
you're visiting, it always makes your trip
that much more enjoyable. This holds true
because you're able to get a better feel for
the people and the country as a whole.
Why do students feel the need and desire
to get an Armenian minor? Jendian said
that he decided to get an Armenian minor
to expand his knowledge of the Armenian
history and language. He said that he's
always been interested in Armenian
history and this is giving him a chance to
look at it more in depth.
Ehorn, who is not Armenian, decided to
minor in Armenian because he attends an
Armenian Protestant Church and it's
helped him to better understand the people.
"My attitude is
different now: I am
more Armenian."
Jacqueline Sislian
The knowledge obtained in the courses
is put to use, Jendian said, by his being
able to speak Armenian in conversations
with friends. He added since he serves on
the altar at Church, it's helping him with
the Church readings. As for the history, he
teaches classes on the history at Sunday
School and Armenian Camp.
Sislian said she uses her knowledge
from the Armenian language courses by
being able to speak Armenian with friends
and understanding more "inside jokes."
She added "my attitude is different now; I
am more Armenian."
These people would encourage other to
get an Armenian minor because of the
massive knowledge that will be obtained.
Also it allows one to become a "better
Armenian," said Malkasian.
Ehorn said he would encourage other
Armenians and non-Armenians to minor
in Armenian "because their culture is
different and what they've gone through is
different than what other peope have gone
through."
All the classes that you have to take
will make you more aware and
knowledgeable about your "roots", Sislian
said. She added you know what an
Armenian truly is and understand more
about the culture and background.
Jendian would encourage others to
minor in Armenian because, "understanding Armenian history helps you to
see the whole picture better and understand
what exactly went on between the empires
of that early period." He added maintaining
the language is one of the most important
aspects of retaining the Armenian culture.
Bedrosian feels that Armenians have a
great culture and that there is a connection
to the past. He would encourage those
who are looking for their "roots" to take
the history and language courses because it
helps one to better understand the
continuity and immortality of Armenians.
Bedrosian added that working toward an
Armenian minor gives you something to
shoot for. After studying about the history
and language there's a sense of accomplishment because the goal has been
completed.
Campus "Hye" Profile	
Student Emotions on Earthquake Expressed
Three Armenian students on CSUF
campus were asked to express tbci<
feelings regarding the following questions
How did the December 7, J9HS
Armenia personally
and, What con-
you    made    to    the
in
9
earthquake
affect   you
tribution    have
relief effort?
The following are their responses:
LEON KAYE
Age: 19
Year In School: Sophomore
Major: History
He is involved with the Armenian
Student Organization and member of the
St Paul Armenian Church of Fresno.
/ was upset the next few days and
bought any paper I could for details, and I
was also glued to the evening and morning
news. My father was in tears that whole
day. My family decided to go easy on the
Christmas presents and that money was
donated to the earthquake fund. We cleared
our closets, donating a lot of clothes.
KRISTIAN KALASHIAN
Age: 19
Year In School: Sophomore
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
She is a member of the Holy Trinity
Armenian Church of Fresno
Although I lost no family in the
earthquake, I found that event rather disturbing. It seems so unfair that this would
happen to us. I think Armenians have
suffered enough - why do we have to
endure this as well? But I'm also proud of
our culture and people because of the way
we have always come through obstacles
put  in  our  way.  I  only  wish  these
obsku les vidn't always involve tfi* '•■■■ of
so many Armenian lives. My family has
contributes money and I wouh: UL' to
volunteer m\ time.
CHERYL ANN MEGERDIGIAN
Age: 22
Year in School: Senior
Major: History
Minor Armenian Studies
She was a former secretary of the CSUF
Armenian Student Organization and was a
participant with the 1988 Armenian
Assembly of America Summer Internship
Program in Washington D.C.
The news of the earthquake in Armenia
was naturally very shocking to me. A
tragedy such as this is always very
upsetting, but I felt the earthquake very
heart-wrenching because of my ties to
Armenia, however minor they may be.
So many lives were lost that it makes a
huge difference in the world's population
of Armenians. I found myself asking
why? Why are Armenians again forced to
show they will persist and flourish
against, what appears to be, selective
adversity?
Ohe California Slate University, Trcsno Armenian Studies Program
cordially invites you to a (Banquet
in honor of the official appointment
T)r. T)ickran Kouymjian
to the netfly established
Haig and Isabel 'Berberian "Endowed Chair of Armenian Studies
Sunhy, Tlpril 9, 1989
Social Hour — 5 p.m.
Thinner — 6 p.m.
Residence THning Tacility — CSU, Tresno
Please respond by "April 3, 1989 — (RemMions by telephone
Ms. Penny Miriyan, (209) 224-3561
Mrs. Arlene Srabian, (209) 438-5687 Donation: *25.00 per person
Armenian StuMes Program (209) 294-2669 Ohere nfitt be no tickets sold at the door.