1990_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1990

              May 1990
Hye Sharzhoom
Armenian students gather
for weekend of fellowship
Bv Jacqueline Sislian
Staff Writer
It was a beautiful, warm weekend
when Armenian Students gathered from
all over California for the second
annual "ASO Retreat" on March 29-31
at the Western Diocese Armenian
Church Camp/Retreat Center in
Dunlap.
Cars began to pull into the
campgrounds throughout the evening.
The headlights from cars coming down
the hill was a sign of joy to all those
who looked forward to an exciting
weekend making new friendships,
catching-up on old ones, staying up
late playing tavloo (backgammon) and
Armenian dancing.
There were 30 participants from
ASO groups including Stanford,
Berkeley, CSU San Francisco, UCLA,
USC, Bostoh University, Santa
Barbara, the University of the Pacific
and CSU Fresno.
The mornings started off with a
hardy breakfast followed by numerous
discussions on current Armenian
issues.
For hours the group sat around a
fireplace discussing personal feelings
regarding Armenian brothers and
sisters in Soviet Armenia. CSU Fresno
ASO Advisor Barlow Der Mugrdechian
led the participants. There was
discussion on the type of role the
youth in the Armenian Diaspora will
play on the future. It was a thrilling
experience for those who attended.
The afternoons were full of sporting
activities. All ASO's competed, not
against each other, but with one
another.
The evenings started off with more
groups discussions and led into a night
of kef (fun).
The sounds of Armenian music
lingered throughout the cold starlit
night The tavloo games continued and
small groups gathered amongst themselves to become more acquainted.
Soon participants gathered to make the
night complete with Armenian
dancing.
By Sunday all participants were
thoroughly exhausted, but great
friendships that will last forever had
been established.
FEATURES, Page 3
^
ASO corner
President Sislian bids farewelk
By Jacqueline Sislian
ASO President
The end of my second year as the
Armenian Students Organization
president is quickly coming to an end.
I can't believe how much the club has
grown and how close many of us have
become. Our organization is strong,
active and very interested in our rich
Armenian culture, history and
language. It makes me feel so proud
and gives me such a great feeling when
I see how interested our youth have
become. We are very fortunate to be
attending a university that offers the
students and the community so much
regarding Armenian classes. And I urge
all students to take advantage of this
opportunity. Remember without
education history is forgotten, in our
case we cannot allow that to happen.
There are many people who need and
deserve to be thanked for the time,
help and dedication they have contributed to our organization.
First I'd like to thank the 1989-
1990 ASO Executive Board. Thank-
you Deborah Garabedian, Historian,
for your efforts to retain our history.
Your help was much appreciated.
In every organization there art
many people who work hard and in our
organization this is very true. Without
Sato Ohannessian, Secretary, and
Scott Asmar,, Vice President, our
organization would not have been able
to serve the students and community
like it has. These two people were
always there waiting for me to think
up a last minute detail that I had overlooked. I appreciate all of the time you
put into the club.
Also I'd like to thank all the
members who worked on sub-committees and attended all our functions.
One part of our program here at
CSUF has made a complete turn around
the last three semesters. This part of
our organization reaches out to
thousands of people all over the world
and allows others to read about our
organization. Two people are responsible for the fine job they've done;
Paulette Kasparian and Sheri
Hokokian, Editors of the Hye
Sharzhoom. Thank-you for a job not
well done, but excellendy done.
I wish the 1990-1991 ASO
Executive Board good luck in their
efforts to promote our culture on
campus and in the organization. God
Bless. J
Movie review
'Back to Ararat' previews at CSUF
By Jonelle Garo
Staff Writer
r
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Associated Students on
recognizing genocide
Whereas: the week of April 24, 1991, is designated as "Week of
Remembrance of tile Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 at California
State University, Fresno, and
Whereas: California State University, Fresno recognizes the
systematic destruction of 1,500,000 people of Armenian ancestry
who were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the government of
the Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923, and
Whereas: the American and California State flags will be hung at
half-mast throughout the week of April 22-27,1991, and
Therefore, Be It Resolved; in the event that Vintage Days
coincides with the Day of Remembrance, April 24, and the Vintage
Days committee is receiving funds from the Associated Students
Incorporated, Vintage Days activities are not to be scheduled from
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and
Be It Resolved; that the Associated Students of California
State University, Fresno support this resolution "and condemn those
brutal massacres committed by the Ottoman Empire, and recognizes
the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.
The mournful music of Gomidas, an
Armenian composer who never
composed again following the 1915
Armenian massacre, was the score
heard throughout the first Fresno
viewing of "Back To Ararat."
This first feature-length film
documenting the Armenian Genocide
of 1915, in which 1.5 million
Armenians were brutally slaughtered
by the late Ottoman Empire, premiered
on the CSU Fresno campus on Friday,
April 20, 1990. The film reflects on
the life of three generations of
Armenians dispersed throughout the
world, who share the hope of someday
returning to their homeland
surrounding the holy mountain of
Ararat.
The Swedish filmmaker, PeA
Holmquist, dedicated himself to the
Armenian Genocide Remembrance.
Holmquist has written and produced
many other films on mistreated
cultures and peoples. The filming of
"Back to Ararat" did not come easily
for the crew.
"For ten days we were chased by
Turkish police who finally broke into
our hotel rooms to steal our film.
Fortunately, they didn't succeed,"
Holmquist said.
"Back To Ararat" is a well-balanced
piece which tells the story of one oi
humanities worst crimes, a story many
wish to forget or deny. Holmquist took
the viewers to the sights of the
massacres and interviewed survivors in
addition to key Armenian people.
He interviewed a young American-
Armenian couple who were working
with Armenian youth groups to
heighten their cultural awareness.
Holmquist also focused on an 82-
year-old women still living in Turkey.
She was afraid to talk for fear of the
film crew's safety.
Testimonies of other elderly
Armenians were heartfelt; they took
all of those viewing the film back to
ponder the horrors sustained from
1915-1923.
Although he chose a variety of
people and lifestyles to interview,
there was a common thread of purpose
that held all of these survivors
together.
Holmquist was quite thorough in his
research for the movie. He had
Armenian views from the homeland to
Boston, footage of the European
Parliament adopting an Armenian
Resolution in 1987, and Turkish
Nationals denying the entire event.
This film was co-sponsored by the
CSUF Armenian Students Organization
and the Armenian Youth Federation.
Contributors to this article were
Sheri Hokokian, Paulette Kasparian
and Satenig Ohannessian.
Commentary,
continued from page 2
especially true in the face of the
onslaught of lies and falsification
unleashed by the Turkish government
over the past fifteen years regarding
Armenian history.   *
A second point Walker made was
that German and Austrian sources must
be examined in more detail (and
translated in English to become
accessible) to add to the weight of
evidence which indicts Ottoman
Turkey as the perpetrators of
systematic destruction against the
Armenians.
Walker's words were as concise as
his suggestions. His words cut away
the layers of denial that Turkey has
used in an effort to exculpate itself.
Walker's ideas reached to the very core
of the issue and exposed the truth in
the Armenian quest for justice.
Two visitors, both non-Armenians,
but both bearing messages which
speak to the heart of the Armenians.
Through their words hundreds were
inspired and moved. Through their
words a new generation of Armenians
will reformulate and rethink the
questions which are so often posed
about the Genocide.
We will not give to Talaat Pasha that
posthumous victory because that would
be a victory for all of the tyrants and
murderers throughout history who seek
to rule not through a love of justice and
equality but through unlimited power.
Our promise is that we will never be
silent in the face of injustice and we
will be the guardians of memory so
that future generations of Armenians
can live in the freedom that so many of
their ancestors died for.
Poem
"My Mountain"
By Satenig Ohannessian
Staff Writer
My mountain has survived.
Although my mountain has been plagued by evil,
She has survived.
Even though she has been stabbed and bled over 15 million
times,
She has survived.
Although my mountain has been cheated with lies,
She has survived.
Even though she was shaken and left homeless,
She still survived.
My mountain is my life, my soul.
As long as my mountain is alive,