Hye Sharzhoom, April 1979

              Page 4
The Armenian Movement
April 18,1979
Armenian Studies Program
The Awakening Armenian At CSUF
The CSUF Armenian Studies Program
is fast becoming the intellectual focus of
Fresno's Armenian community. The
man largely responsible for the resurgent interest in Armenian studies is
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian.
As chairman of the Armenian Studies
Program, Kouymjian sees a continued
awakening in the Armenian community.
He hopes to make CSUF a prominent
undergraduate center of Armenian
studies.
In response to the questions of "The
"Armenian Case," Dr. Kouymjian
assessed Armenian consciousness at
CSUF and the success of his program.
Interview Conducted
By MARK MALKASIAN
Q.-Have your classes been well received
by CSUF students?
A.-With much enthusiasm, but one
would expett that a larger number of the
nearly 400 Armenian students on
campus would enroll in the Armenian
Studies Program.
Q.-Does the Armenian Studies Program
benefit non-Armenians as well as
Armenians?
A.—Yes because Armenian history and
art coincides with most of the great
civilizations of the Mediterranean and
Near Eastern world. Armenia is inextricably linked with many of history's
great confrontations. Because of its
geographical position Armenia reflects
both Eastern and Western culture.
Armenian is also one of the most ancient
and unique Indo-European languages
and its study provides a great tool to the
historical linguist.
Q.-ls the level of Armenian consciousness in Fresno comparable to other
Armenian communities?
A.—No doubt the special circumstances
of the Fresno Armenian, with the strong
anti-Armenian prejudice evident even
today, have created the kind of situation
where the Armenians felt they had to
integrate into the system as Americans
in order to survive on an individual
basis. These attitudes and conditions
have permanently affected many Armenians who are either shy or indifferent to
Paragraph 30
From Page 1
The significance of Paragraph 30
applies not just to Armenians but to the
entire world. Genocide is a crime against
humanity—a crime the world did not
comprehend in 1915. The Armenocide
should have served as a lesson to all
nations but in fact did not.
If the Armenocide had been recorded,
studied and understood in the 1920's the
Jewish genocide may have been prevented. The world, though, quickly forgot the Armenocide. Not everyone,
however, forgot. Adolf Hitler appreciated the historical example of the
Armenocide. To those who questioned
his extermination of the Jews and the
Slavs, Hitler replied: "Who, after all,
speaks today of the annihilation of the
Armenians? The world believes in
success only."
The Armenocide must be remembered.
their Armenian background. This is
changing now. Fresno, despite everything, happens to have one of the best
organized Armenian communities in the
United States, producing a high level of
community-oriented programs and
events.
Q.«Are CSUF students aware of Armenia 's tragic history?
A.—They are aware of the tragic aspect
of recent history more so than Armenian
history in general, though it is amazing
how even Armenian students from very
nationalistic families, who even speak
Armenian and have visited Armenia for
extended periods are not sure who
figures like Saint Mesrob are or exactly
what year the Armenocide was implemented by the Turks.
Q.-What are the differences between
Armenian-American students and
Armenian students from other parts of
the world?
A.—Armenian-American students are
strongly influenced by their American
environment. Whereas, an Armenian
will have a greater possibility of being
radical or active if he or she is in a large
metropolis or university campus, it is
true that any community influences the
Armenian consciousness of a student.
The same is true abroad. Beirut Armenians are more radicalized because of their
inner cohesion and solidarity as a community apart and because they are in a
part of the world where the tensions of
war have created a more dynamic individual. France today has the most radical
group of Armenians led by a small
number of selfless, dedicated young men
and women who will no longer accept
the tired and worn out rhetoric of their
parents, political parties and Church
leaders. Relatively fewer American born
Armenians demonstrate such a driving
committment to the Armenian question.
Q.-America's "ethnic awakening," so
celebrated in recent years, has it had an
impact on third-generation Armenian-
Americans?
A.-Yes. The Blacks have led the way for
many tnira-generation groups. I he idea
behind the militant statement "Black
is Beautiful" helped other groups stand
up for the intrinsic value of their ethnic
backgrounds. In fairness to some
Armenians, families have existed and
exist around us—exceptions to be sure-
who have been uncompromisingly
Armenian in the first, second and third
generations. I have those among my own
students, born in this country of parents
born here too, who say they feel Armenian before American. Obviouslv thp
contrasting feeling of American first
is more common.
Q.-ls CSUF's intellectual atmosphere
conducive to the advancement of the
Armenian Case?
A.—It by the Armenian Case you mean a
matter of primary concern to Armenians
living everywhere, I think the answer is
yes. In the short time that I have been
here, CSUF has not struck me for its
intellectual atmosphere. Although there
are many intellectually curious professors and students, one does not feel that
any dynamic discussion of profound
human issues Qr international problems
is taking place, except perhaps among
groups like the Iranian students. Their
case has been advanced, if by that you
mean brought out into the open and
made known tothegenerafpubltc/Tftere
is no reason why Armenians could not do
the same.
Q.-Does the Armenian Studies Program
have a future at CSUF?
A.—Yes, because the necessary level ot
awareness and concern, already present
in the Fresno Armenian community, is
beginning to spill over onto the campus.
Armenians and non-Armenians are
eager to learn of things Armenian and
ultimately they must come to the university, which through the Armenian
Studies Program, has the only machinery to provide professional, in-depth
responses to properly satisfy the community's inquiries.
Q.-Does the Armenian Case have a
future in America?
A.-Again if by "Armenian Case" you
mean recognition of the Armenocide of
1915-1919, the protection of monuments
in Turkish-occupied Armenia, the
restoration of the lands taken away from
the Armenian Republic in 1920, then the
answer is yes, the Armenian Case
has a future in the United States,. And
a more aware Armenian community here
will result in the more effective use of
the available machinery-lobbying,
public relations, media impact, etc. —to
more directly influence American policy
here and abroad.
Armenian Dateline
GENEVA- Over 1,500 French-Armenians marched from Lyon, France to
Geneva, Switzerland in a graphic show
of support for Paragraph 30 of the United
Nation's Report on Genocide. The
march, culminating on Feb. 25, was
directed against continued Turkish
distortions of the Armenocide.
MOSCOW- Three Armenian dissidents,
convicted of bombing a Moscow subway
in 1977, were executed by the Soviet
Union on Jan. 28.
Stephan Zadikian and two other Armenians ( Baghdassarian and Stepanian)
were shot by a firing squad after a summary trail in which witnesses favorable
to the defense were not allowed to testify. Zadikian was not even in Moscow at
the time of the bombing, according to information received by Noble-Prize-win-
ning physicist and dissident leader
Andrei Sakharov. The Soviet Union rejected any appeals despite the dubious
nature of the charges.
"I seriously doubt the just character of
the trial," said Sakharov in a personal
letter to Leonid Brezhnev, which was
sent as Sakharov began a symbolic 24
hour hunger strike in protest.
The executions failed to prompt an
outcry among the largely indifferent
Armenian-American community.
ISTANBUL- Archbiship Shnork Kalous-
tian, the Patriarch of Armenians in Turkey, charged the Turkish government
with continued discrimination against
Armenians in the Patriarch's Annual
Report
The outspoken Patriarch reported that
his much-celebrated meeting with
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
had "in practical terms, achieved nothing."
Previously the Patriach had expressed
hop that Turkish leaders were receptive
to Armenian demands.
The Patriarch, during his visit to CSUF
in October, said Armenian life in Turkey
was improving.
In recent months, however, the Turkish government has heightened its
discriminatory practices. The Patriarch
was especially critical of Turkish efforts
to discourage Armenian children from
enrolling in Armenian schools.
Armenian Heritage Week
Thursday, April 19-7:30 PM
"VARTAN - DEFENDER OF FAITH",
play performed by PACC youth. Written and directed by Rev. Harry M.
Missirlian. Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church Fellowship Hall,
3673 N. First St. General Admission
$2; children 12 and under, free.
BOOK FAIR.
Friday, April 20-7:30 PM
"PARAGRAPH 30 AND ITS IMPACT
ON THE ARMENIAN QUESTION",
lecture by LEVON KESHISHIAN,
Foreign Correspondent of Arab newspapers to the United Nations. Pilgrim
Armenian Congregational Church
Fellowship Hall. BOOK FAIR.
Tuesday, April 24-8:00 PM
"CONCERT OF THE ARMENIAN
SPIRIT VII", commemorating Armenian Martyr's Day, featuring vocalist Arpine Pehlivanian, cellist Gayane
Manasjan and the Fresno Commemorative Chorus directed by Gladys
. K. Peters. Congressman Charles
"Chip" Pashayan will be the speaker.
Fresno  Convention  Center  Theatre,
700 'M' St., tickets $5 & $3, $1 discount for students, all seats reserved
available at Box Office and regular
outlets.
Fall courses
The following courses will be offered
in the coming Fall semester by Professor
Dickran Kouymjian undre the auspices
of the CSUF Armenian Studies Program:
Armenian 1A Elementry Armenian (4
credits), MTWF, 1510-1600; History 108
Armenian History (3 credits), TTH, 0945
1100; History 109T Survey of Ottoman
Turkish History, (1 credit), TH 1910-
2200. (The class meets the first five
Thursdays of the semester only); Art
History 109T, Survey of Middle Eastern
Art (3 credits), MWF 1310-1400; Art
History 109T, Survey of Armenian Art,
S 0830-1630 (the class meets two Saturdays only, Oct. 6 and 13). For further call
Dr. Kouymjian at 487-2157 or
487-2832.
Students may also enroll for Independent Study courses in Armenian  lang-
.uage, histpryaQdatf. .v.v.v.v.v.v.'