1992_03 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper March 1992

              The Newspaper of the California State University, Fresno
Armenian Students Organization and Armenian Studies Program
Fresno, CA 93740
Address Correction Requested
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Fresno, CA
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Hye Sharzhoom
March1992
Volume 13, No. 3
Supplement to the Daily Collegian
Historic First Visit to CSU Fresno
Student Exchange Agreement is reached with Yerevan State University
By Armen Aghishian
Staff Writer
and
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
 Advisor	
The historic first visit of Yerevan State
University President Dr. Norair Arakelian
to California State University, Fresno took
placeFebruary9-ll, 1992andculminated
with the signing of a five year agreement
on cooperation between the two institutions.
Dr. Arakelian, his wife Marietta, and
Vice-President for International Relations
Rafael Matevossian, were in the United
States at the invitation of Dr. John Welty,
President of CSUF and Dr. Dickran
Kouymjian, Haig and Isabel Berberian
Profesor of Armenian Studies and Barlow
Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program.
The Sarkis and Melin6 Kalfayan Center
for Armenian Studies co-sponsored the
visit and also helped organize a series of
events with the San Joaquin Valley community.
Dr. Arakelian and his delegation met
with President Welty on Monday morning, February 10 in the President's office
where after a cordial meeting and discussion, they signed a five-year agreement
between the two universities. Dr. Welty
on behalf of the University accepted an
8th century B.C. drinking vessel from the
Gumairi region of Armenia, which was
given by Dr. Arakelian as a symbol of the
ties between the universities and in recognition of the ancient history of the Armenians.
Dr. Kouymjian hailed the agreement as
an importnat first step in the ever growing
ties between the Republic of Armenia and
the United States. The agreement calls for
the exchange of up to five students per
year to study in fields of their choosing at
the host institution. A summer study option will also be available to CSUF students. Provisions will also be made for
faculty exchanges and research to take
place in a cooperative atmosphere.
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, who will be
coordinating the various programs, remarked that CSUF students now had a
very special opportunity before them,
through which they could see in person
what they had learned about through
Armenian Studies courses.
The purpose of the agreement for students is not only to learn through studying,
but also to explore a new environment and
culture. Dr. Arakelian aptly stated that
"The program benefits not only the students involved, but also their fellow students, teachers, and the university as a
whole."
A full schedule of activities for the
guests included a dinner with the members
of the Kalfayan Center for Armenian
Studies, a public lecture at the St. Paul
Armenian Church, and a special dinner
hosted by CSUF President Welty in honor
of the guests. During the dinner Dr. Welty
received a bottle of specially prepared
"We'ty" cognac and in return received an
engraved plaque.
Following the signing of the agreement,
an open forum discussion was held with
members of the campus community. Faculty and students joined with members of
the Armenian Students Organization, and
the press to discuss and compare higher
Please see Visit, page 8
Left to right: Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Dr. Norair Arakelian, Dr. John Welty,
and Rafael Matevossian.	
Financial Crisis Continues at CSUF
The severe financial crisis gripping the
state of California has had its repercussions
in the California State University system,
and in particular atCSUFresno. The slashing of millions of dollars from the 1991-
1992 budget meant that faculty were laid
off and services cut at the university. More
cuts are scheduled for next year as the
financial impact of the recession increases.
The Armenian Studies Program and its
various activitieshave been threatened by
cuts in supplies and services andnarrowly
avoided faculty layoff through the generosity of aclose supporter of the Program.The
Armenian Studies Program has also sharply
curtailed its activities this year, foremost
the temporary suspension of its annual
Lecture Series and the rx>stponement of a
symposium devoted tothe tenth anniversary of William Saroyan *s death. Hye
Sharzhoom is also in a very precarious
situation; circulation beyond the campus is
in jeopardy due to the costs in mailing.
We ask all of our faithful readers and
supporters to respond in any way possible
to guarantee the continuation of our public
captions and activities.
^See Page 8 for BOX
Inside Hye Sharzhoom
Too Much of an Armenian?
A A light-hearted look at how an individual can
actually be too much of Armenian. Page 2.
Hye Profile
f Gerald Chooljian, CSU Fresno graduate and
recendy elected CALRAB chairman, is
profiled. Page 4.
Armenia Exchange Program
W  Opportunities for studying in Armenia now
available as CSUF/YSU ties mean more
.      exchanges. Page 5.
Index
Editorials
pages 2 and 3
Letters
page 2
Hye Profile
page 4
Local News
pages 4 and 5
Exchange Program
;. pdgeS