1995_12 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper December 1995

              4—A&E
Hye Sharzhoom
December 1995
Fall '95 a Semester of Activities, and its not over yet
By Tina Attashian
ASO's semester has been filled
with moments of planning, stressing, discussing, and best of all enjoying the achievements we all
worked so hard to accomplish.
It all began on September 6th
when we had our first meeting at
Fresno State in the University Student Union. The meeting focused
on electing executive offices, resulting in an executive board of
both former and new members taking leadership positions. After the
meeting we all went to a cafe near
campus to socialize. Unanimously
this developed into a part of the
ASO's meeting agenda since everyone enjoyed just hanging out
with one another. Two weeks later
we had another meeting at the University Student Union where both
members and executives had discussions on what events we wanted
to include in our calendar of activities for the Fall semester.
The first month of meetings
were pure planning and organizing
for the rest of the semester, but it
gave everyone a chance to get to
know each other better and as
Aznive Tchapadarian stated, "Everyone was extremely enthusiastic
and excited about activities, which
made everything seem more worthwhile."
On October 4th we had a pizza
night at president Raffy
Khorozian's house. During the
meeting we passed out the calendar
to all the members and talked about
upcoming events which needed
people to sign up for certain responsibilities regarding activities
like the Shish Kebab fund-raiser.
Our first November activity
was playing pool at the Avalon
Club on Friday 3rd of November
located in the Tower District. We
had two pool tables going with
games, others watched, played
Shuffleboard, or selected tunes
from the juke box. "I had so much
fun I didn't feel as if I was at an
organized event but with a group of
good friends," said Greg
Tchaparian about the evening.
On November 7th an ice cream
social took place at Raffy's house.
As we ate, we discussed details
about our dance and then last minute
aspects about the fund-raiser taking place the next day. The morning of the fund-raiser we got to
campus early to set up our tables,
put up signs and started the barbecue to provide food for buyers by
ten o'clock. The sale lasted until
three o'clock in the afternoon and
the outcome of the activity was
pleasing to everyone involved. "The
hardship and planning put into the
Shish Kebab fund-raiser was extremely satisfying because everyone took part in making it happen."
said Raffy Khorozian, "It was a
success because everyone participated, including mothers who made
pilaf and other friends who aren't
even in ASO." Added Daniel
Semerdzhyan," I found ASO mem
bers were not the only the people
satisfied with the outcome, both
faculty and student reaction to the
food was positive." Peg Hayward,
coordinator of Orientation and
Transition Services, commented
that the food was tasty and thanked
us for a satisfying lunch.
November 10th, we had our
second annual dance at the Armenia Restaurant. Informally polling
ASO members and executives, the
dance has been overwhelmingly the
favorite event of the semester.
Aznive Tchapadarian reminds everyone not to forget that we have
upcoming events as she said, "Up
till now my favorite is the dance but
I can't say what my decision will be
after our cabin trip and our end of
the year party." To conclude our
events for the month we had an
informational meeting on campus
about our two night and three day
cabin trip to Bass Lake (December
1st - 3rd). Everyone is ready to
have fun and looking foward to the
weekend trip.
For our other activities in December we've planned to have 'an
open discussion' meeting led by
KhatchigJingirian. This is where a
specific topic will be chosen and
everyone will participate in an analytical discussion which will stimulate individuals thoughts and opinions. I am particularly looking
forward to this because I believe
this is a way to get members to
know one another on a more intellectual and deeper level. Thissome-
From left to right: Tina Attashian, Aznive Tchapadarian, Daniel
Semerdzhyan, Mike Pogosian, and Raffy Khorozian.
thing new and I'm interested to see    leads\o a fun time of dancing, and
the outcome of everyone's participation, especially if the topic is
heated and controversial. To end
ASO's Fall activities we're planning to have an end of year Christmas party. The party will conclude
the semester with a time of reminiscing over shared moments, looking over our new and recent photographs in our photo album, enjoying Armenian music which always
lastly a chance to talk about new
ideas for the Spring semester. -
ASO is an example of the Armenian youth who admire, love,
respect, and enjoy the Armenian
culture. I have found that those
who get involved in ASO get a real
taste of the Armenian spirit in that
we are united and work together to
accomplish a goal, while creating
new friendships and memories.
Student Disk Jockey Playing Them His Way, Ska Style
By Karen Karabian
If Greg Tchaparian had one
million dollars, he would open a
recording studio, start a ska record
label, produce and release promising ska bands, and re-release traditional ska music.
Greg, a.k.a. TopCat, hosts his
own radio show on KFSR 90.7. He
lives for "pure, from the heart, traditional" ska. Every Thursday from
twelve to three, he lets loose inside
the studio, not much bigger than a
roomy closet, it is his ska outlet.
Greg admits to sneaking in some
fancy footwork during songs, and
dares to groove dangerously close
to the stacks of records that have
become the walls.
For those who are unfamiliar
with ska, Greg can best describe it
as "a get up, get off your feet,
energetic rhythm" that comes from
a talented mix of drums, sax, trombone, trumpet, piano, organ, guitar, and bass. Ska can be considered a combination of American
Jazz and Soul. It requires a side to
side swing of the arms and hips
while creating the illusion of running in place.
At nineteen, Greg is a
sophmore at Fresno State. He is
now debating if his future path lies
in medicine or mass communications. Greg's family moved to
Fresno from Torrance, California
His parents moved to the United
States from Lebanon, a place Greg
wishes to visit soon. He has a
desire to see their homeland, aplace
where Armenians once fled, a place
Greg Tchaparian in Fresno State's KFSR studio with sea record by Madness
where Armenian traditions originated.
Over the radio waves Greg
reaches a diverse group of listeners, loyal fans and newcomers.
Greg's timeslot consists of non-
mainstream progressive music for
the first two hours of his show, and
in the final hour—the Sound of
Ska. "I get a lot of requests for old
traditional ska, there is a definite
listening audience."
Why KFSR? "In college radio
there is freedom, I can play and say
what I want. I can express who I am
and what I live for."
Why ska?  'The great musi
cians of the Traditional Era (early
60's) and the Two Tone Era (late
70's) enjoyed playing for themselves. My favorite band is Hepcat
because every time I see them, I
appreciate them more and more. I
admire how they have stuck to the
their roots and how much they respect the sacred tradition of ska.
No one can witness any of the old
bands again. It's like they take me
back to the day, to the event as it
must have been in the sixties."
Traditional ska attire includes
a suit, preferably black and white,
since ska bands emerged as a sign
of unity among black and white
musicians.
Someday Greg has hopes of
seeing the Skatalites and Desmond
Dekker in concert, for lack of popularity can't stand in the way of
good, upbeat dance music.
Two years ago the playlist for
ska vanished. KFSR was without a
DJ that wanted to blast ska over the
air, until one student came forward.
Greg now shares his passion and
free time for the greater good of ska
fans in Fresno. "Fresno State gave
me the chance to get this music out,
since there is a lack of ska concerts."
Greg admits, "being a DJ is
fun and sometimes tiring, but once
my set is finished I am craving to go
back in again and play songs."
Working at KFSR has given
Greg the confidence and drive to
pursue other commitments. He is
acting Historian of the Armenian
Students Organization and participates in Armenian dances and fundraisers. "I have met so many good
Armenians I never knew were out
there, and I am a better person for
having known them. I appreciate
my Armenian culture and community much more now that I am old
enough to enjoy traditional activities." Greg is grateful that he lives
in an area with a campus where he
can take part in numerous opportunities and at the same time share his
heritage and beliefs with others.
When Greg does marry, there
is no question he will have a traditional Armenian wedding, and no
question that he will dance to ska at
his reception.
By taking control of the air
waves, Greg sends a message to all
Armenians. That message is one
that encourages others to get involved, explore passions, discover
new dreams, and live old ones.
Greg still grasps onto the dream
he has of starting a band. "I just
need to better myself at the guitar
and find people who have the same
belief in ska that I do."
Greg Tchaparian's
Topcat Show
Thursdays 12:00-3:00
on KFSR 90.7 FM