1998_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1998

              May 1998
Hye Sharzhoom
5
University Armenian
Club Execs Meet in LA
International Response to Armenian Genocide
By Talin A. Mekhitarian
On April 4th, 1998 the
executive of the California State
University - Fresno Armenian Students Organization went to Southern California to meet with the executives from Armenian Students
Associations from other Universities and Colleges from around the
state. The meeting was held at
Woodbury University in Burbank
and it was the fifth meeting that the
other Associations have had. Up
until now the ASO from Fresno
didn' t have much contact with other
student clubs due to the distance.
Previous to this year there was a
body called InterCollegalCouncil
(ICC) which brought all the students together. But for legal issues
and other reasons that body fell
apart. The associations still wanted
to meet so the students continued to
meet this year. At this point the
meetings are being held temporarily
under the auspices ofthe new body
called All-ASA Council.
By the time the meeting
started the ASO was joined by the
following Armenian Student Associations: Glendale Community
teres ting news for us. The Turkish
government was going to donate
$750,000 to the University if it
would expand the Turkish Studies
program to include Sociology, History, and Economics. The Armenians on campus finally convinced
the Chancellor that the proposal
was propaganda the Turkish government was trying to bring into
the University.
Cal. State Los Angeles
was planning to have the annual
Quiz Bowl where each Armenian
Students Association or Organization would have four members compete with other schools in a jeopardy like game. The event was held
on May 2nd and this years results
are: 1st - UCLA, 2nd - CSUN, 3rd
- CSULA, 4th - UCI.
About six months ago, a
group of students from different
ASA's created a new Armenian
Student newspaper called Usanogh.
They asked for support from the
Student clubs and some donated.
They were in the process of finishing a special issue dedicated to the
Armenian Genocide. Most other
Universities discussed their April
24th activities and many school
College, California Polytechnic
University at Pomona, California
State University - Los Angeles,
California State University -
Northridge, University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Los Angeles, University
of California at San Diego, University of California at Santa Barbara,
University of Southern California,
Occidental College, Pasadena City
College, San Diego State University and Woodbury University. The
purpose of this meeting was to unite
all of the Armenian Student Associations and plan activities that can
be done together. Each of the representatives who wanted were
alotted time to share what events
they were planning and ideas that
they had.
The University of California, Berkeley had some very in-
co-sposored some of their events.
For the Armenian Students Organization of Fresno this
meeting was chance to build lines
of communication with other Universities. It was a chance to let
them know what was happening
here in Fresno. The most important
thing that the ASO discussed was
the Student Convention planned for
next October. There was good response and interest from the other
ASA's in coming to Fresno for the
Convention.
All in all, it was a great
experience meeting all ofthe other
executives. It gave the executive if
CSU-Fresno a feel for what other
Univsities are doing. The CSU-
Fresno ASO executive plans to meet
again with the All ASA council on
June 28, at USC.
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Argentine Senate Adopts
Genocide Resolution
In commemoration ofthe 83rd
anniversary ofthe Armenian Genocide, on April 23, the Argentinean
Senate adopted a resolution condemning all forms of genocide and
mass extermination, and expressing concern over the lack of condemnation of such criminal injustice.
In its introduction, the resolution cited the Armenian Genocide,
beginning on April 24,1915, as the
"first genocide of the 20th century,
which was perpetrated by the
Turks."
40 Members of Congress
Commemorate Armenian
Genocide on House and
Senate Floors
Washington , DC — A bipartisan group of forty Senators and
Representatives, in speeches this
week on the floors of their respective chambers, spoke out against
Turkey's denial of the Armenian
Genocide, called for passage ofthe
Armenian Genocide resolution, and
urged President Clinton to break
with his policy of supporting
Turkey's campaign to deny the first
genocide of this century, reported
the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).
The Special Order speeches
on the House floor were organized
by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairmen Frank Pallone (D-
NJ) and John Edward Porter (R-
IL). In total, thirty-eight Representatives and two Senators marked
the 83rd anniversary of the Genocide in floor speeches. They joined
with the more than forty members
of Congress, including Democratic
Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO),
Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI), and
Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-
NY), who participated in the
ANCA's April 22nd Armenian
Genocide Observance program in
the U.S. Capitol.
Chris Hekimian with
ANCAGovernmental Affairs said,
"This unprecedented participation
by members of Congress, both here
in Washington and at observances
across the country, reflects a growing awareness that the time has
come for the Administration to end
its participation in Turkey's campaign of denials. The Administration, by encouraging Turkey to
openly acknowledge this tragic
chapter in its history, can help to
reduce tensions in a region of great
strategic significance."
Rep. John Edward Porter (R-
IL): Armenia and the Armenians
will remain vigilant to assure that
this tragic history is not repeated.
The United States should do all it
can in this regard as well, including
a clear message about the hi storical
fact of the Armenian genocide. I
call on President Clinton to have
the courage to speak plainly about
what happened 83 years ago. We
do Turkey no favors by facilitating
her self-delusion, and we make
ourselves hypocrites when we fail
to sound die alarm on the human
rights abuses occurring in Turkey,
a close American ally today.
Rep. Esteban Torres (D-CA):
Some would claim that our remembrance today fans the flames of
atavistic hatred and that this issue
of the Ottoman government's efforts to destroy the Armenian people
is a matter best left to scholars and
historians. I do not agree. One fact
remains undeniable: the death and
suffering of Armenians on a massive scale happened, and is deserving of recognition and remembrance.
Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI):
At the end of World War I, those
responsible for ordering and implementing the Armenian Genocide
were never brought to justice, and
the world casually forgot about the
pain and suffering inflicted upon
the Armenian people. This proved
to be a grave mistake.
French Prime Minister on
Armenian Genocide
Paris (April 22) XINHUA -
French Foreign Minister Hubert
Vedrine Wednesday called on Turkey to "go much further" in facing
the historical facts of massacres of
Armenians committed by Ottoman
Turkish army from 1915 to 1917.
"We have never ceased to tell
the leaders of Turkey that they
should go much further...in authorizing historians to make objective
and true researches on these
events," Vedrine told the National
Assembly. Unlike the parliaments
in Russia, Greece, Lebanon, the
United States (House of Representatives) and Canada, the French
National Assembly has not adopted
any resolution recognizing the massacres of Armenians as "genocide".
But former President Francois
Mitterand once used the word
"Genocide" to describe the massacres of Armenians.
ASP 12th Annual Dinner
By Matthew Maroot
Staff Writer
The evening of Sunday, March
15,1998 was a memorable one for
those involved with the Armenian
Studies Program here at California
State University, Fresno, for it was
the evening of the Program's
Twelfth Annual Dinner.
Over the last two decades, the
Armenian Studies Program has provided students and community
members alike with the opportunity to learn more about the Armenian culture, language, and history
as well as contemporary issues facing our young Republic. So what
better way to come together in appreciation of the efforts put forth
by those who work with the Program as well as those who support
it?
The evening began with a
warm welcome from Arlene
Srabian, Vice-Chairman of the
Advisory Board for the Kalfayan
Center for Armenian Studies. And
after an invocation by the Very
Reverend Father Sasoon Vartabed
Zumrookhdian, Pastor of Saint Paul
Armenian Church, guests were
treated to a delightful prime rib
dinner. Those in attendance agreed
that one of the most enjoyable parts
of the evening was the performance
by Janet Momjian, Oratorio and
Concert Performer. One student,
Maral Elmaoglu, put it best when
she described Momjian's perfor
mance as "absolutely divine."
Another student, Jacqueline
Janet Momjian
Arikian agreed, "I think the most
enjoyable part of the evening was
Janet Momjian's performance."
Another important aspect of
the Armenian Studies Annual Dinner is that it allows the students of
the Program and the community
members who support it to come
together and acknowledge one another. Attending the Annual Dinner is of great significance because
it helps integrate the students with
the community. Many students,
busy with coursework, jobs, etc.
seldom have the opportunity to recognize those who help make their
education (particularly in the area
of Armenian Studies) such a success.
Indeed, the success of the Armenian Studies Program is due in
large part to its benefactors. In fact,
such contributions to the program
have helped tremendously in promoting Armenian issues throughout the community. "I think it is
important for the community to
support the program because without it students would not learn about
our Armenian heritage," said
Shayla Srabian.  After all, that is
one ofthe most significant goals of
the Armenian Studies Program, the
appreciation and preservation of
our Armenian heritage. It is one of
the very reasons why Armenian
Studies Programs exist today: to
increase the awareness of Armenian issues and to further promote
cultural unity among all Armenians.
Professor B arlo w Der Mugrdechian
closed the evening by recognizing
the scholarship recipients for the
1997-1998 academic year. Those
who attended the Annual Dinner
agreed-the evening of Sunday,
March 15,1998 was a memorable
one.   But more importantly, their
support shows a deep appreciation
for the efforts put forth by the students and. faculty who have helped
make the Armenian Studies Program everything that it is today.