1991_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1991

              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
May 1991
Volume 12, No. 4
Supplement to the Daily Collegian
Sarkis and Meline Kalfayan Center Named
Donors Make Bequest of over $500.000
By Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Advisor
California State University, Fresno
President Dr. Harold H. Haak announced
on Monday, May 6, 1991 the naming of
the Sarkis and Melin6 Kalfayan Center for
Armenian Studies at the university. Mr.
and Mrs. Sarkis and Meline* Kalfayan,
have pledged more than one-half million
dollars as an endowment to support the
faculty and students of the CSUF Armenian Studies Program. The gift, which will
be made in part now and in part as a
bequest, ultimately will provide an endowment fund to support the Sarkis and
Meline Kalfayan Center for Armenian
Studies. The naming of the Center for Armenian Studies for a benefactor is the first
such occasion within the twenty campus
California State University system.
Following the announcement, a luncheon was held in the University Business
Center, hosted by Dr. Haak and by Barlow
Der Mugrdechian, Acting Director of the
Armenian Studies Program, and attended
by university officials, members of the
Center for Armenian Studies Advisory
Board, and leaders of the Armenian Students Organization.
During the ceremonies honoring the
Kaifayans, Dr. Haak said, "Today we
celebrate the commitment that the Kaifayans have made. Sarkis and Meline Kalfayan have a deep and abiding commitment to the university and to our Center
for Armenian Studies. We were proud in
late 1988 to announce the creation of an
endowment providing permanent support
for a professor in Armenian Studies. Dr.
Dickran Kouymjian, Director of the
Armenian Studies Program, was chosen
as the Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies. It is my personal
privilege to announce yet another gift that
will provide a permanent financial foundation to supplement the state budget for
the students and faculty who are at work in
the Armenian S tudies Program. One of the
unique hallmarks of distinction on this
campus has been our Armenian Studies
Program which since 1964 has provided
regular classroom instruction in Armenian history, language, literature, art, and
From left to right: Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian Studies Program;
CSUF President Dr. Harold Haak; donors Meline and Sarkis Kalfayan
culture. The Program has produced scholarly research and publications advancing
our knowledge in these same subjects, and
the wider community has been served
through symposia, instruction on weekends, and visiting speakers, who have
brought a continuing stream of informa
tion providing an historic as well as a
current perspective on Armenian culture. "
Sarkis Kalfayan remarked, "My story
and my wife's story is the kind of life and
See Kaifayans, pg. 8
Dean of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church
Rev. Fr. Aznikian Sees New Vigor in Fresno
By Armen A. Aghishian
Staff Writer
The following is an interview with the
newly appointed dean of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of
Fresno, the Very Reverend Muron Vartabed Aznikian.
Hayr Soorp, could you give us some
background information about yourself?
I was born in 1957 in Bourj-Hamoud's
Nor Adana district of Beirut. I was accepted into the Armenian Theological
Seminary in Antelias where I completed
the eight year curriculum for celibate
priesthood. I was ordained arch-deacon
and then I attended the Near East School
of Theology. I was ordained into the
sacred order of priesthood on February
15,1980. In 19831 completed my thesis
andreceived the degreeof vartabed. Upon
the request of the Holy Martyr's Armenian Church in Encino, California I was
assigned as the dean of the parish in
1988. On December 1,19901 began my
assignment as dean of the Holy Trinity
Armenian Church.
Q: Since you recently settled in Fresno
couldyou give us your initial impression
of the community?
My first impression was that the local
Armenians are generally involved in
agriculture and that the community is an
old one. The old generation, of course
had a very difficult life in the New World,
but due to their hard work and will power
they were able to succeed. The new
generation is playing an important role
today by introducing Armenian history
and culture to the non-Armenian population. In spite of my being here for a short
time I have a very strong positive impression of Fresno.
Q: What possibilities do you see in this
community with respect to Armenian
cultural endeavors?
The possibilites are unlimited for the
new generation. The old generation has
paved the way for a better future for the
new generation. For those who want to
work there are an abundance of tasks in
the community, but we should first prepare our plans before tackling those tasks.
We should admit that the new generation
is Armenian both with their feelings as
well as with their thoughts, but their
children are less acquainted with Armenian language and culture. That is where
we shall focus our primary attention.
Q: What should we do to promote the
Armenian language in the younger generations?
Once a week we should teach the adults
the Armenian language. At die same
time we should support our Armenian
school so that it can play a major role in
teaching our language to younger generations. The community as a whole
needs to work together to achieve this. In
the near future I hope to work in a spirit
of cooperation with everyone in the
community.
Q: By what means can we achieve this
goal of cooperation?
The role of the church has been misunderstood by the Armenian people. People
believe that the church is only there for
praying, baptisms, funerals and similar
See Fr. Aznikian, pg. 8
Inside...
Parev and Inch
Editorials.... ..pages 2,3
Simon. ...............page 3
Hye Profile................page 4
April 24 Activities page 5
Sports THvia.............page 6
Wiify? page 6