1981_09 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper September 1981

              Volume 3, no. 4
September, 1981
Armenian Studies Program
CSUF, Fresno, CA 93740
HYE SHARZHOOM
ARMENIAN ACTION
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The newspaper of the California State University, Fresno Armenian Students Organization ___	
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Convention results in
platform, calls for unity
By Bill Erysian
Armenian students on university campuses across the nation are finally
beginning to voice a collective opinion on such crucial issues as terrorism and
Armenians in American politics.
As one of five acting moderators during the recent Armenian College Students Convention, held on the California State University, Fresno campus,
I feel obliged to comment on the success of the convention. Also warranting
discussion are several key issues and resolutions that emerged from the
vigorous debating sessions.
The convention, which was specifically designed to be a "student-oriented
affair," drew more than 100 representatives from the United States, Canada
and Mexico. The main purpose of the convention was to establish a working
relationship among Armenian student organizations internationally and to
define the role of the Armenian student in the pursuit of the "Armenian
Cause."
The Issues
The students debated questions regarding four main topics: Official min-
nority status for Armenian-Americans; Armenians in American politics;
Armenian terrorism; and Armenian intellectual life at universities. Participants offered their input into five separate groups that later met in a
general assembly, where three resolutions were eventually hammered-
out.
Rarely can such a diverse number of young and politically aware Armenians be brought together without some degree of disagreement and confrontation. Indeed, this was the case at the recent Fresno Convention. Yet
the convention did accomplish some of its main goals, most important of
which I feel, called for the establishment of a "working relationship among
international Armenian student organizations." This specific concept
emerged in the form of a resolution, which declared the "formation of the
International Armenian Students Confederation, to provide a forum for the
exchange of thoughts among Armenian students." If the Armenian student
is to be recognized amidst discussion of the Armenian Question, he/she
must have a strong foundation from which to start. The International Armenian Students Confederation represents this foundation and provides support
for future growth. The extent of that growth, however, remains to be seen.
The convention was also effective in another way. Within their seperate
groups, the students were given an opportunity to debate various questions
relating to the four main discussion topics. These groups were truly where
the bread and butter hours of the convention were logged. Here was the
opportunity for Armenian students to exchange their views among peers.
Here was the chance to learn how other Armenian students across the continent feel about the issues surrounding the Armenian Question. It soon became evident within several of the groups that there was a strong divergence
of opinion. This is nothing new to any of us. But what did partially emerge,
as a result, was a mutual enlightenment on the issues presented. The
majority of students this moderator later questioned admitted that they had
come away with a better education, in general, on some new facts and
opinions regarding the topics discussed. Convention planners deserve credit
for helping to promote better understanding of some of the differences we
have as Armenian youth, and for creating a stronger awareness of the issues
we all face as Armenians.
see Convention, page 10
Photo by Pennie Console
By Shelli Andranigian
Twelve days prior to the 66th
Anniversary of the Genocide, 750
posters commemorating the massacred Armenians were plastered on
metal light poles, traffic poles, and
also a small percentage on traffic
signs in Fresno
The group responsible issued a
press release a week later to say they
were "concerned Armenians who are
noC afraid of public disapproval."
To date, they have yet to reveal
themselves to the public for scrutiny.
One can see then, that they are
actually contradicting their entire
purpose. How can the group not
show fear of public disapproval
when they refuse to go before it?
Plastering the posters on light and
telephone poles is rather harmless,
but when the faces of traffic signs
see Posters, page 10
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Inside Hye Sharzhoom
Architecture Exhibit          page 4
A Tribute...                         page 6
Armenians in Fresno         page 5 .
The Wrong Priority? page 9
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