1981_01 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper January 1981

              page 10
Hye Sharzhoom
January, 1981
Avakian to fill Armenian
Studies position at CSUF
By Shelli Andranigian
Dr. Arra Avakian will temporarily replace Dr. Dickran Kouymjian as coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program at CSUF
during the Spring 1981 semester.
Kouymjian is on leave and will return to his teaching post for the
Fall semester.
None of the new positions are
permanent. "This is clearly on the
basis of filling in on Dickran's
leave," Avakian said.
Avakian occupied the same position from 1970-74, but under a
different title, Professor of Armenian Studies. "We were not
part of the Ethnic Studies Program then," he said.
Rev. Yegishe Manjikian and
Mr. Hagop Terjiranian will also
be teaching courses. Manjikian
taught history, culture, and literature at Isfahan University in Iran
from 1965-74. "Those filling in
have quite a bit of teaching experience," Avakian said.
, Avakian will also be working
with Miss Flora Tchaderjian in
Armenian IB.
Since his departure from CSUF,
Avakian taught and instituted a
program in Armenian Studies at
LaVerne College near Los Angeles
from 1976-78. The program has its
own faculty now.
Avakian has been substituting
"from time to time" since his retirement in 1978.
Armenian Studies Spring 1981
ARM IB (4) Elementary Armenian, 1510-1600 MWThF (MWF-AG232,
Th-SS 109), Staff: A second semester continuing course of graded
lessons acquainting the student with basic structure and pronunciation
of Armenian through practice, reading, and writing.
HIST 108B (3) Armenian History, 1210-1300 MWF-GM159, Rev. Yan-
gishe Manjikian: Economic, political, social, and religious history of
Armenia from the fall of the Bagratid Dynasty until recent times.
ARM S. 010 (3) Introduction to Armenian Culture, 1245-1400, TTh-
LS169, Dr. Arra Avakian: This very fundamental course explores the
rich cultural heritage of the Armenian people. Major topics are: the
Pagan Religion, adoption of Christianity, establishment of formal language, literature, architecture, art, music, arts and crafts, and social
customs.
HIST 124T (2) Genocide and the Armenian Massacres, 1910-2100,
SSI 12, Mr. Hagop Terjimanian: The causes and effects of the first
Genocide of the Twentieth Century.
ETH S.130T (1) Fresno Armenian Community, (Saturday class) February 21st and 28th, 0900-1700, CR/NC, AH209, Mr. Hagop Terjimanian: The early settlements of Armenians in Fresno County from the
1880' s to the present.
Lou's Uniform Center
Three Locations to Serve You
Blackstone    and    Shaw
Ph. (209) 227-3114
34 E. Shaw Fresno, CA93710 Cedar Lanes
Ph. (209) 222-1816
4144   E.   Shields
Fresno,   CA   93726
Lou Karagozian  Owner
1809 S. Mooney
Ph   (209) 734-9653
Visalia, CA 93277
Rahageets;
continued from page 5
two unfortunate characteristics:
they are woefully inadequate, both
morally and financially, to confront
the threatening complexities that our
people now face and will continue to
face.
The Armenian Church, the only
remaining link that the "Spyurk"
(Diaspora) Armenian has with his
national identity is experiencing
hard times. It lacks clergy, money,
and more importantly, parishioners.
It has been forced to drastically curtail its cultural and community-
oriented programs which, at least,
served to bring Armenians together
in some type of diluted ethnic atmosphere. In all sincerity, though, the
church, with its wavering membership and resources, can only do so
much. Indeed, the church must
explore new avenues of income
generation, but it must never lose
sight of its primary role, that of service to the community. Let's hope
the church sees better days.
The Armenian can boast of one
giant (Armenian standards) philan-
thopic union and a host of smaller
ones. Now this giant is a one or maybe two-man show and far be it for me
to criticize it for being so. For without the presence of these few top
men the organization wouldn't ex-
sist at all. They have generously
donated toward the establishment of
a few Armenian day schools, they
have sponsored a handful of dance
and theater groups and they periodically organize exhibits of Armenian
cultural artifacts. This is all to their
credit; but it is not enough. What is
desperately needed is a full-time cultural and community center here in
New York and in other major Armenian centers; a place where all the
Armenians can come to meet one
another, to debate, to research, to
perform, to create; an environment
in which they can feel a part of a
larger family. Such a facility would at
least afford us the chance to ex-
Convention;
continued from page 1
Proposed subjects for the convention include: the advantages and disadvantages of gaining legal minority
status, an evaluation of current Ar-
^SSSaaSSSS3S8SS&SSSSSSSS!S!SSSSSSS8SSSSSSS8S8SSSSSSSSSS!&SSS^
g^^% ^^l^lg^jg, 9fll 11111
CHAMPION RAISINS
FOWLER, CA
iSSSSSSS@SSS@S@S@SSSSSS8i
perience a commonality with other
Armenians, and who knows, perhaps
it may lead to a strengthening of our
Armenian-Americans, which is the
first step to be taken on our journey
home.
However, if this is to become a
realization and not just a passing
fancy, we must learn to work together for the common good of our
people - something, unfortunately,
with which we have had trouble
doing in the past. Let' s hope that our
phiilanthropic organizations will be
up to this noble task.
If one wanted to write something
about the Armenian "political"
parties, one could find a wealth of
material in the archives that they
maintain. One could perhaps display
article clippings from the respective
papers that they publish or the proclamations they come out with every
April 24th. Other than this, what can
one say about the leadership of the
parties and their decision-making
processes since they are both well-
kept secrets. If the contrary is the
case, then I'm sure that myself and
many others would want to know the
real story.
One could have a far easier time
depicting the activities of the "political" parties in the cultural (common understanding) and religious
arenas, but we'd be deviating from
the original subject, so let us leave it
for the time being. Let's hope that
one day the parties are able to return to their original purpose and
reason for being.
If this short commentary has made
you stop and think, fine; if it has
made your blood boil, we'd like to
hear from you. Our sole intent is the
sincere wish that all who feel they
have a stake in the survival of our
nation express themselves in a constructive and organized format.
Pity the poor Armenian, for he
pities himself; and that is the greatest tragedy of all.
menian political organizations, an
assessment of Armenian terrorism,
and the potential of Armenian student organizations.
A committee spokesman predicted
that the convention will be the "single most important activity which will
take place in Armenian life in America in 1981."
The ASO is interested in hearing
your thoughts and ideas concerning
the 1981 Convention. Anystudents or
schools interested in participating
should write:
Armenian Students Organization
c/o Armenian Studies Program
CSUF
Fresno, CA 93740
Subscribe to the
"Wye Sharzhoom'