1990_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1990

              Seventy-fifth Slnniversary of Armenian Qenocide
4U.3 eupd-nwr
Hye Sharzhoom
The Newspaper of the California State University, Fresno
Armenian Students Organization and Armenian Studies Program
Fresno, CA 93740
May 1990
Volume 11, No. 4
Supplement to the Daily Collegian
Non-Prof it Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 262
Address Correction Requested
Students, community join in genocide rally
Genocide survivor speaks of personal tragedy
By Satenig Ohannessian
Staff Writer
Opinions were heard and voices
raised during a rally for the Armenian
Genocide commemoration held in the
CSU Fresno Free Speech Area on
Tuesday, April 24,1990 at 2:00 p.m.
Over 100 students and non-students
gathered to express their views on the
Armenian Genocide. News reporters
from various valley television
stations flashed their newscameras to
record the event. Professor Barlow Der
Mugrdechian started the rally with the
history behind the Armenian Genocide
and served as moderator.
Seda Melkonian, representing the
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF),
gave the facts surrounding the
Armenian Genocide. She also talked
about Karabagh and Soviet Armenian.
"April 24 is not only a day to
mourn, but also a day to re-awaken,"
said Melkonian adding, "We should
not only remember the past but also
think about the future and what's
happening right now in Armenia and
Karabagh."
Mr. John Barsamian, a Genocide
survivor, gave his personal
recollection of the tragic Genocide.
"My family and' I went through
many hardships during the Genocide...
the Turks tortured us," Barsamian said.
Raffy Chekerdemian, also representing the AYF, stressed the importance
of remembrance to the youth.
"We as the Armenians need to
become involved, be it politically or
in other Armenian organizations. . .we
must not forget and relay this message
to our kids and theirs and so on,"
Chekerdemian said.
CSUF student Richelle Noroyan
said, "We need to take the anger and
tell the world what happened. We've
got to see history set straight."
"Week of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" rally took place at CSU Fresno
Free Speech area on April 24. Participants included ASO members, local high school
students and community members.
Noroyan was instrumental in
getting a Genocide Resolution passed
by the CSUF Associated Students
Incorporated which sets the week of
April 22-27, 1991 as a "Week of
Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923 at CSU
Fresno."
Fresno area Armenian high school
students were also on campus and expressed their concerns for the
Armenian case.
Tammy Chaderjian, a 17-year-old
Bullard High School senior, said that
it bothers her to even think that
people are not convinced of the
Genocide happening.
"It upsets me alot to see that with all
of the evidence proving the Genocide
occured, there are still some people out
there believing the Genocide never
took place. Why don't they tell that to
the 1.5 million victims and their
families that there was no Genocide?"
Serge Serabian, a 16-year-old
Roosevelt High School junior said.
"How can you miscount 1.5 million
dead Armenians? They died. Why did
they die? Because of the Armenian
Genocide. It wasn't a civil war. It was a
Genocide. A proven genocide."
On that day, there seemed to be a
contagious emotion among the participants that kept the rally alive.
Everyone clearly had the Armenian
Genocide on their minds.
Solidarity expressed
Central Valley Armenians gather for ecumenical service
By Sheri Hokokian
Editor
Seventy five years ago the Turkish
Government under the Ottoman Empire
premeditated the extermination of the
Armenians.
A vast number of innocent
Armenian men, women, and children
were brutally tortured and slaughtered
in the Genocide of 1915.
Those that were fortunate to survive
these inhumane acts were riven from
their families and left orphaned
without a homeland. They were forced
to migrate to other parts of the world
and attempt to make a new beginning.
The survivors and descendants of
the victims have not forgotten one of
the worst attacks of terror that has ever
taken place.
All of the clergy of Armenian
Churches and several hundred
Armenians throughout the Central
Valley gathered at Pilgrim Armenian
Congregational Church for a community ecumenical service on April
22. The parishioners prayed for the
souls of the 1.5 million Armenians
that were killed in the genocide of
1915 and for the survivors of the 1988
earthquake.
The music that was played by
organists Ben Krikorian and Faye
DeLong   was   solemn   as   the   cong
regation entered into the sanctuary.
A combined choir under the
direction of Mr. Ketenjian sang both
Armenian and American church
hymns.
At least four generations of
Armenians, including survivors of the
genocide filled the pews in the
sanctuary to remember the suffereing
of our people. Among the worshippers
were special guests Christopher J.
Walker from London, England and
author of Armenia-The Survival of a
Nation and former Fresno Mayor Dale
Doig.
The ecumenical service began with
the procession into the church by the
Armenian priests and deacons. Aysor
Zhoghovydl (Today the Assembled)
was the hymn of entrance. Every priest
and deacon was dressed in their
vestments, representing their individual church's affiliation.
Solidarity was the underlying
theme, as together the priests led the
congregation in a series of prayers.
One felt as if their were no divisions
and no separation among us, as all in
attendance were there expressing the
same grief.
The chancel and congregation
prayed together as they read Psalm 46,
"God the Refuge of His People";
God is our refuge and strength, a
very present help in trouble. Therefore
see SOLIDARITY, page 8