1997_05 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper May 1997

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Hye Sharzhoom
May 1997
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Jacqueline Arikian' s excellent
article {Hye Sharzhoom, March
1997) entitled "Refuge Showcases
Artifacts of Fresno's Armenian
Heritage" contained a minor error
dealing with the early Armenian
settlers jn Fresno.
In the second paragraph she
correctly described the arrival of
the Seropian Brother in 1871 and
their influence in attracting other
Armenians to settle in the Fresno
area.
Later in the article, however,
she refers to Rueben Minassian as
"...the first visitor to the San Joaquin
Valley, and Melkon Markarian and
Stephen Shahamirian, the first Armenian setUers in the Valley..."
There is no documentation to support the presence of anyone name
Rueben Minassian in Fresno
County. Someone who fits the
description also has been referred
to as "Lucky Rupe" Minassian. He
is said to have spent some time in
California in the 1860s in pursuit of
gold, but there is no evidence he
came to Fresno County. A few
historians have stated Rueben
Minassian was the first to buy land
in Fresno County, but there is no
documentation at the Fresno
County of Records of such a purchase.
The first recorded deed for the
purchase of property by an Armenian in Fresno County in January
1883 by Jacob (Hagop) Minasian.
The next purchase was in April
1883 when Anna Minasian purchased 40 acres at the NW corner
of Elm and California. That parcel
was later identified as belonging to
Sarkis Minasian, but there is no
indication what their relationship
was. It is known they were both
from New York.
SarkisMinasian rented twenty
acres to the Seropian Brothers and
ten acres each to Melkon Markarian
and Stepan Shahamirian to develop
by planting vines and trees. They
were to receive half of their share
of the property, but the Seropians
ended up with only four acres due
to a dispute. Markarian and
Shahamirian had arrived in Fresno
in 1882.
Berge Bulbulian
Fresno, California
Dear Dr. Kouymjian,
I enj oyed your classes and
you so much and consider you one
of me dearest professors, but after
reading Hye Sharzhoom, I realize
even more how privileged I was to
be one of your students!
For you and your wife I send
my most sincere wishes for a happy,
healthy and very prosperous New
Year.
Barbara Rubin
Fresno, California
Dear Dr. Kouymjian,
A much belated...Though none
the less sincere... note to thank you
for our copy of Professor Barter's
"Saroyan'sArmenians..."! Weap-
preciate your thoughtfulness in
thinking of us. We are all most
fortunate to have you in our midst!
Thanks again.
Ed and Grace Zartarian
Fresno, California
Dear Editor,
I really liked the article by Dr.
Dickran Koumjian about his semester in Berkeley. It was interesting to read about the differences in
the university from the professors'
point of view. The idea of publishing the material in the Fresno State
newspaper is excellent. I find it
motivating to learn how students
from a prestigious university as
Berkeley refer to their studies.
My attention was drawn by the
article on the young talented pianist Vartan Mamikonian. I think it
is important for a nation to recognize its unique countrymen. However, the article could be improved
by involving Mamikonian in person. Interview with him, giving
more details about his family background and the way he was brought
up could be intriguing. Thepianist's
feelings about being an Armenian
will be interesting as well.
I realize "Hye Sharzhoom" is
only a college newspaper but I'd
like to find in it information about
the Armenian in a larger aspect. It
should include the major events in
Armenia, updates on the Karabagh
issue, and the life ofthe Armenian
Diaspora all over the world. That
would probably be difficult considering the volume ofthe newspaper but it might be possible if the
information is represented as highlights.
I find stating of the different
Armenian studies programs very
useful. It enables Fresno State
students to get familiar with the
Armenian - orientated activities
on campus.
Finally, I want to congratulate you on the good will and
determination shown by issuing
this newspaper. Good luck'in the
future!
Dora Djilianova
Fresno, California
Dear Editor,
I like the article in the Hye
Sharzhoom titled, " Agricultural
Exchange between Fresno and Armenia". This article shows how
Fresno is trying to help out the
Republic of Armenia. With the
knowledge of CSU Fresno's agriculture department, the Armenia
Agricultural Academy can learn
an enormous amount of information about agriculture. Agriculture is a very important sector in
any country.
Another article about Fresno
would have been pleasing, considering this is a Fresno-based
newspaper. Most of the people
who receive a copy of the Hye
Sharzhoom live in Fresno. Also,
it would have been nice if there
was an article about Armenian
students that are currently going
to CSU Fresno. There is a section
on classes that will be available
for the fall 1997. It would be nice
if there was an article explaining
the classes that are currently being taught this semester, where
students could give feedback that
would encourage other students
to enroll in these classes.
With some minor adjustments,
the Hye Sharzhoom can be improved and made into a worthwhile Armenian student newspaper.
Jason Ahronian
Fresno, California
REACTIONS TO THE GENOCIDE EVENTS
FROM SOME STUDENTS ON CAMPUS:
"I've had at least four different people come up
to me and ask me about the genocide. This year
had an amazing effect on students at the campus."
- Karen Karabian-
"I didn't know anything about the genocide. It's
not a topic that elementary or high schools teach,
they just tell us how great America is to everyone. History doesn't have to be taught in a
classroom or even in a book but as you all were
here today educating people of the truth."
- Marc Essley-
" It is good to see the support of the faculty
because they can get the word out to the students.
There was a lot of faculty and non-Armenians.
This is not only history but it is significant to
today and to the future."
- professor Matthew
Jendian-
"I never heard about the Armenians or the
genocide. It is good to see you fighting and
people need to recognize this event as other races
are going through the same thing. It needs to
stop!"
- Edgardo Pacheco -
Getting ready for the candle-light vigil
An ASO event: "COME LISTEN TO MUSIC, HAVE
COFFEE (SOORJ), PAKLAVA, TALK WITH US
AND LEARN ABOUT THE GENOCIDE."
Cr
ARMENI
PORTRAITS OF SURVI
Books for sale at the Armenian Studies ofjli
For more information call the Armenian Studies Pr<
at 278-2669. Or visit our offices in the Peters Busji
building room 384.
vV.
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Armenian Studies E-mail Network
If you currently have an e-mail account and would
like to be placed on the Armenian Studies Program
e-mail network, please send an e-mail message to
frances_ziegler@csufresno.edu
(Program Secretary)
You will receive up-to-date information on t
latest activities of me Armenian Studies Program.
HYE SHARZHOOM
AU3 eiMVHM
Editor
Sean Clark
Co-Editor
Tina Attashian
Layout
Garo Nakashian
Staff
Jaqueline Arikian
Ana Der Minasian Garza
Crissi Jelladian
Lilit Sargsyan
Tagui Semerjian
Aznive Tchapadarian
Advisor
Barlow Der Mugrdechian
Hye Sharzhoom is a supplement of the Daily Collegian and the newspaper of the CSUF Armenian Studies Organization and the Armenian
Studies Program and is funded by the Associated Students. Articles may
be reprinted provided Hye Sharzhoom\s acknowledged. Hye Sharzhoom
welcomes prose, poetry, articles, and other material from its readers. For
further information concerning the newspaper or Armenian Studies
Program:
c/o Armenian Studies Program
5245 N. Backer Ave. MS/4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
(209) 278-2669
http://www.csufresno.edu/ArmenianStiidies/