1988_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1988

              May 1988
Hye Sharzhoom
Page 7
Documentaries Premiere in Fresno
From left to right members of the Fresno organizing committee:
Mrs. Melene Ouzounian, Mr. Alan Jendian, Mrs. Sonia Keshishian,
Mr. Walter Karabian of the Armenian Film Foundation, Prof. Barlow
Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program and Mrs. Mary
Darakjian.
The benefit premiere showing of three
documentaries produced by the Armenian
Film Foundation was held for the
Fresno community on • Sunday, April
17, 1988 at 4:00 p.m. The event was
held in cooperation with the Armenian
Studies Program of CSU Fresno and the
local organizing committee was headed
by Mrs. Sonia Keshishian.
Mr. Walter Karabian, Vice-President
of the Armenian Film Foundation,
introduced the three films, produced by
Dr. J. Michael Hagopian. Mandate for
Armenia, is a rare documentary based
on Army Signal Corps footage on the
United States Mission to Armenia and
Turkey, in 1919. Cilicia...Rebirth
is a proud and positive film depicting
the rich cultural heritage of the medieval
Cilician kingdom of Armenia. Finally,
Excerpts from  Legacy  was shown
to the enthusiastic assembly of Fresno
Armenians and friends.
A lovely reception was held after the
viewing in the spacious Chamlian
Stables, which had been donated for use
by Mr. and Mrs. Vahan and Anoush
Chamlian of Fresno. A table displaying
films by the Armenian Film Foundation
greeted the guests who had gathered on a
Sunday afternoon to support the work of
gathering oral histories on video tape.
The local organizaing committee
included: Mrs. Melene Ouzounian, Mrs.
Mary Darakjian, Mr. Alan Jendian, and
Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the
Armenian Studies Program. Mrs. Zabel
Dulgarian of Los Angeles assisted in the
preparation of the reception. Members of
the CSUF Armenian Students
Organization assisted before and after the
program.
Mrs. Ruth Yardumian Visits
Fresno on National Tour
Mrs. Ruth Yardumian lecturing on composer Richard Yardumian
Hye Sharzhoom Staff
Mrs. Ruth Yardumian, wife of the
late composer Richard Yardumian, was
the guest lecturer at an evening program
co-sponsored by the Armenian Students
Organization and the Armenian Studies
Program, on March 23, 1988. Mrs.
Yardumian was on a nationwide tour
exhibiting the multi-talented abilities of
her husband.
Richard Yardumian, born in 1917 and
who died in 1985, was one of the
original and self-made talents of the
musical world. At the age of nineteen he
wrote the Armenian Suite, an orchestral
composition. The forms in which
Yardumian wrote included suites, symphonies, concertos, choral works,
chamber  music,  piano music,  organ
music, and solo instrumental music.
Armenian themes, both religious and
secular, testify to the inspiration and
devotion he has acknowledged as his
inheritance.
Two films, scored by Richard
Yardumian were viewed at the evening
lecture: The Nativity, narrated by Peter
Ustinov, a copy of the original and
unique paintings by French artist Andre
Girard done direcdy on 70 mm raw stock
film and Chartres Cathedral filmed and
produced by Siri O. Yardumian.
Mrs. Yardumian also exhibited
photographs of the composer and of
various photos he himself had taken.
The evening concluded with the
presentation of several Yardumian works
such as Ee Kerezman and Symphony #2
(Psalms').
Outstanding
Student in Armenian Studies
By Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Advisor
Greg Abrahamian was recognized as
the 1987-1988 Outstanding Graduating
Student in the Armenian Studies
Program at a luncheon sponsored joindy
by the School of Social Sciences pnd the
Social Sciences Advisory Board on
Friday, May 6, 1988. Outstanding
students in all of the departments and
programs of the School of Social
Sciences were honored at the 12:00 noon
luncheon held in the Residence Dining
Facility. Dr. Peter Klassen, Dean of the
School of Social Sciences, opened the
program by thankirfg members of his
staff, the Advisory Board, and faculty for
making the day possible.
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Acting
Director of the Armenian Studies
Program, introduced the ASP nominee
for outstanding achievement to the
assembled faculty, students, and friends.
CSUF   President   Dr.   Harold   Haak
awarded Abrahamian a certificate in
honor of his achievement
Greg Abrahamian is graduating with a
B.S. degree in Health Sciences and a
minor in Armenian Studies. He has been
active in the Armenian Students
Organization serving as the Vice
President during the past year. He has
also been the photographer for Hye
Sharzhoom for the past two years. In
addition to his involvement on campus,
Greg has volunteered at Community
Hospital in Fresno. He has been
accepted into the Medical School of the
University of Texas Health Sciences
Center at San Antonio. He is the
recipient of an Air Force scholarship for
tuition and fees at the University.
Greg completed twenty one units of
Armenian Studies courses, earning his
minor, in addition to his heavy load in
Health Sciences. He maintained a GPA
over 3.5 while at Fresno State.
■■■■V
Dr. Dennis Papazian
on Genocide
By Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Advisor
Dr. Dennis Papazian, Director of the
Armenian Research Center of the
University of Michigan, Dearborn and
President of the Executive Council of
the Society for Armenian Studies
discussed "Turkish, American, and
Armenian reactions to the Armenian
Genocide of 1915" during the second
Saturday of a one unit course entitied
Armenian Studies 120T- The
Armenian Genocide, held April 9
and 16,1988.
Barlow Der Mugrdechian, overall
instructor for the course, spoke during
the first Saturday and presented a
historical background to the Genocide.
This entailed a detailed discussion of
European diplomacy, and Turkish-
Armenian relations in the 19th and early
20th centuries. Twenty-two students
enrolled in the course and actively
participated   in   the   discussions   and
questions and answers.
The Genocide was examined as a well
documented historical event • with
valuable lessons to be applied by
students to current political issues. The
Armenian Genocide was the political
solution to eliminating the Armenia
people from Armenia. It was perpetrated
by a government which was applying its
ideology of Pan-Turkism to the
Ottoman state. As such it is a case
example of nationalism taken to
extremes. The Republic of Turkey
today, as a continuation of the Ottoman
state, is still responsible for
acknowledging the Genocide.
Documentary videos with survivors of
the Genocide were viewed bringing
emotional responses from the students.
Dr. Papazian was a guest of the
Armenian Studies Program for four
days, acquainting himself with the
Fresno community and meeting students
and friends of the Program.
Hye Sharzhoom
welcomes
your letters
and comments!