1992_10 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper October 1992

              The Newspaper of the California State University, Fresno
Armenian Students Organization & Armenian Studies Program
Fresno, CA 93740
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Permit No. 263
Fresno, CA.
October 1992
Vol. 14, No. 1(41)
Supplement to the Daily Collegian
Overview of ASO
By Emmanuel Tzanakakis
Originally Printed in Insight
Any organization representing a
minority tries to gain the general public's
acceptance of its cultural identity, and at
the same time ensure that its history is
presented accurately.
In addition to this burden, the Armenian
Student Organization has to face the fact
that Armenians are not regarded as a legal
minority, in a country that has yet to
recognize the Armenian genocide of 1.5
million people by the Turks in 1915.
However, the ASO publishes "Hye
Sharzhoom", one of the three minority
newspapers at CSUF, published in
conjunction with the "Kalfayan Center for
Armenian Studies".
"Hye Sharzhoom", is the only strictly
student paper in the United States. It is also
the oldest one, currently in its 14th year of
publication.
The paper has provided a vital link
between the Armenian community in
Fresno and the university, but a lot of
students are far from happy with its role in
recent years.
Sato Ohannessian, a senior, majoring in
marketing, has been very disappointed with
"Hye Sharzhoom" during the last two years.
'The paper needs opinions," she said,
"it needs to show the true feelings of the
students."
Ohannessian feels that the editors are
scared of the word "political", which
according to her, means being active and
aware of what is going on.
Khatchig Jingirian Jr., a junior in
marketing, believes that the recent running
of the paper is lacking in maturity and in
providing pertinent information to the
students, and is insulting to Armenians.
Apart from the newspaper, the ASO has
a multiple function.
Professor Dickran K. Kouymjian, who
is 'The Haig and Isabel Berberian Endowed
Chair in Armenian Studies" as well as
director of the "Sarkis and Meline Kalfayan
Center for Armenian Studies" describes
the ASO's role:
'The goal of the ASO is toattractpeople
that are interested jn Armenian history and
culture, reinforce the academic program,
and at the same time provide social activities
for the students", Kouymjian said.
Barlow Der Mugrdichian, Lecturer in
Armenian Studies and advisor to the ASO
since 1985, said that the organization
presents information and provides
opportunities for involvement in various
activities.
"It is open to non-Armenians too," he
said.
ASO's most successful event has been
the organization of anationwide convention
of Armenian student groups, in the spring
of 1981.
It has also staged library exhibits, invited
renowned scholars and congressmen for
lectures, and has helped provide funding to
aid the victims of the earthquake in
Armenia.
The biggest annual event is the
commemoration of the Armenian genocide
on the 24th of April. Last year, the ASO
also managed to reach an agreement with
the Vintage Days programming committee,
to avoid the simultaneous staging of events
on campus that day.
On the negative side, the ASO has more
than the usual problems of a student
organization. Low membership is one of
them.
Tania Alikian, a junior in advertising,
said: "The ASO does nothing special for
the students. It is isolating them instead of
bringing them together."
When politics come into play, things
become even more complex:
Jingirian resigned from the ASO
presidency last year, because of his
frustration with the continuing influence of
old cliques within the organization.
See Overview Page 2
Varaz Samuelian with students from Armenian Studies 120T-
Armenians in America. The students were visiting the Varaz
Art Museum in downtown Fresno as part of the course.
MORE      AID
FORARMENIA
Diko Ohannessian, Editor
Sen. Robert Dole drafted an
amendment to the Appropriations Bill for
Foreign Operations (HR 5368) which
earmarked not less than $5 million in aid
for refugee assistance to Armenia.
The amendment passed during the
last days before the congressional recess
when most amendments get dropped in
conference.
Dole's amendment provides for
refugee aid to Armenia to help assist over
300,000 Armenians that have been deported
or have fled from their homes in Azerbaijan
as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict
The $5 million in aid is desperately
needed due to the 50,000 new refugees
who have fled to Armenia in the past two
months.
See Armenia Page 4
Study in Armenia
for College Students
Through an agreement recently
reached between Yerevan State University and California State University,
Fresno, college students may take advantage of a special offer to study in
Yerevan, Armenia.The California State
University, Fresno Armenian Studies
Program will be coordinating one or
two semester courses of study for students interested in studying at Yerevan
State University in Armenia.
CSU Fresno students may earn college credit at Yerevan State University,
while taking a specially designed course
of study. Students will live in the center
of Yerevan and have the opportunity to
visit the major historic sites in the country.
Students interested in applying for
the Spring or Fall 1993 semesters may
contact the Armenian Studies Program
for more information and applications.