1993_02 Insight February 1993

              February 17,1993
Page 3
International student profile
Students promote Iranian culture
♦ Iranian students shed light upon common
misperceptions of life in Iran.
established in 1992, comprises
Sadaghiani, Faqihinejad and about 25
other Iranian and Persian students.
The association, said Sadaghiani,
originally evolved from informal social meetings of Iranian students i
By Davin A. Hutchins
Staff Writer
"Americans should distinguish between the Iranian nation and the Iranian government."
This is the message Iranian student thcUnivcrsiiySuident Union last year.
Reza Sadaghiani conveys to those As the association's constitution
Americans who may hold stercotypi- states, the organization "docs not have
cal perceptions of Iranian people. any religious or political objectives
Another Iranian student Nima and focuses on cultures and sharing
Faqihinejad added. "If I approach the values among the students on our
someone and say 'I am Iranian,' ihcy diverse campus."
should not be shocked, for they arc Sadaghiani, who is also president of
talking to my personality... they are
talking to a human being, not a government."
Since the IranianRcvolutionof 1979
and the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran, many Americans have
become accustomed to perceiving the
Iranian nation and its citizens through
the prism of popular media.
After years of inundation of revolutionary images in Iran— the Shah of
Iran's dcposal by the Ayatollah
Khomeni, the kidnapping of American hostages from the U.S. Embassy
and the condemnation of author
Salman Rushdie— a number of
Americans perceive fundamentalism
as the dominant force in Iranian sod-
ay.
However,     Sadaghiani
Faqihinejad    both    said    these
misperceptions prevent Americans
from discovering the true charactcrof
Iranian people.
The Iranian Students Association,
the Iranian Students Association, said
that the organization is devoted to the
"preservation and sharing of the culture of Iran."
The association, said Faqihinejad,
frequently sponsors cultural events at
CSUF, including food sales and subtitled films imported from Iran.
Last semester, said
Faqihinejad.theclubsold •**s***»
chicken kabob meals
in   the   Free
Speech Area
and served
more than
90 people.
In addition, the club
provides a forum for its members tc
share in Iranian popular culture, in-
nd    eluding the circulation of Farsi-lan
—~- ^-J"—v^»w
►'.■ ".r_
v3         TURKMENISTAN
•««.           r~r
iraqISJ^v!
§ AfGHANl-
IRAN            \   „M
Vs-                     <?	
SAUDI ARABIA   1
^fyy^S.      P1/
UAJE...
-r^f91^^^-,          PAKISTAN
Sadaghiani, 27, left for the United
States in 1986 to earn his bachelor's
degree in electrical engineering at
CSUF.
Although the state pays tuition for
every university student in Iran,
Map by Davin Hutchins
the revolution began.
"Adcl" volunteered as a soldier in
the army only months before an Iraqi
attack on Iran in September 1980 provoked a bloody eight-year war.
"Adcl" fought on the frontlincs of
the batUefield during the first few
months of the war and was later <
called back to service in
I y     called back to service in   mv  *       s
^^rsm^    ^-^r Althou
/
guagc magazines and Iranian pop
music.
To some, the association serves as a
cultural link for Iranian students wistful for their home in Iran while studying in Fresno.
Iran is located between the Persian
Gulf and the Caspian Sea and shares
borders with Iraq,Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The country is approximately three
limes the size of the state of Arizona
and its geographical regions include
deserts, plateaus and mountain ranges.
Almost 2,000 years ago, the Persian
Empire was the superpower before
the rise of Rome and linked the commerce of the Mediterranean and the
Far East between via the Silk Road.
Present-day Iran has more than seven
ethnic groups: Persian Turk, Kurd,
Baluch, Gilaky, Mozardarany, Arab
and Cor. Although they speak their
own languages, the country as a whole
Pre-'79 stamp displays pride in speaks and writes Farsi.
artistry of Persian rugs.
Sadaghiani said the entrance examinations arc extremely competitive.
"Acceptance into an Iranian university is a very prestigious event," he
said. "Yet because the entrance exams arc so difficult, it is easier for
many Iranian students to travel abroad
for an education."
Faqihinejad, 19, said that his decision to travel to the United States for
a business management degree was
not based on anxiety over entrance
examinations, but from an enduring
desire to attend an "English college."
Another reason for attending a university, as opposed to skipping college altogether, is the Iranian
government's policy that every male
over the age of 18 must serve al least
one year in the armed forces.
This requirement is often waived
forunivcrsity students until their studies arc complete.
"Adel," who wished to remain
anonymous, far surpassed the state's
minimum requirement by serving as a
2nd Lt. during the Iran-Iraq War.
In early 1979, "Adel" was attending
Ohio State University when he decided to travel back to Tehran after
1986 to train soldiers on an Iranian
army base.
"When the war finally ended (in
1988], I was very glad it was over,"
said "Adcl."
"Adel" plans on returning io Tehran
pcrmancnUy after finishing up his
master's thesis.
Iranian society has undergone many
changes over the centuries and signs
of ihe limes can oftc n be discovered i n
some unusual places.
Sadaghiani said that his given name,
'Reza' is the same ofthe late Shah of
Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, who
reigned until 1979.
"In Farsi, 'Reza' means 'ultimate
satisfaction' which really doesn't describe me at all."
Sadaghiani is originally from Tabriz,
a city inhabited by more than 1.5
million pcoplcand located in the northwestern region of Iran, roughly halfway between ihc Caspian Sea coast
and the Turkish border.
Sadaghiani said the city of Tabriz
was originally built 600 years ago
during the Safavi-ych dynasty by Shah
Abbas while on a survey of his do
main.
While the shah'sentourage rested in
the nomadic village which is now
modem day Tabriz, his wife became
afflicted wiih influenza, called "tab"
in Farsi.
The distraught shah promised io
make a sizable investment in ihe region if his wife would only return to
health.
After gelling rid of— or "riz" in
Farsi— this flu, the shah remained
true io his promise and the village was
named in honor of both ihc shah and
his wife.
Thus/Tabriz" means "a place where
the flu goes away."
Sadaghiani describes his home city
of Tabriz as a large metropolitan area
surrounded by suburbs, similar to
many cities in the United Slates.
Faqihinejad said his
m> *^ given name, "Nima,"
is derived from his
father's admira-
^ lion for a fa-
% mous Iranian
poet, Nima
Youshcij.
Although Faqihinejad was raised
across the Persian Gulf in ihe city of
Dubai, United Arab Emiralcs, he is
full-blooded Persian and an Iranian
citizen.
"Even though I was raised in U.A.E.,
I am Iranian and proud of it," he said.
"Everyone should be proud of their
country."
Faqihinejad said he often traveled
during his youth all over Iran with his
family from Dubai lo visit his relatives in the southern city of Shiraz.
Even objects as common as postage
stamps can reflect a changing of the
Ali Motamcni owns an assortment
of stamps collected throughout the
'70s and'80s.
Many pre-1979 stamps exhibit national pride in Iranian culture; common symbols include Persian rugs,
the Shah's reforms in education and
environmental protection.
Although stamps printed since 1979
still depict pride in Iranian culture,
many also feature the Ayatollah
Khomeni's visage, forearms clenching guns and other revolutionary symbols.
Speaking on the Islamic revolution,
Faqihinejad said, "A lot of people
wanted the government to change and
even a revolution, but not to what it
became."
"One of the misconceptions people
have about Iran is that it is hot and like
adcsen." said Sadaghiani. "Only one-
fifth or one-sixth of Iran is like that.
The rcsi is covered with beautiful
mountains and jungles."
Sadaghiani admits that Iranians have
their share of misperceptions of life in
the United States as well.
"Before taking off for the United
States, my uncle told me to beware of
drugs and promiscuity." he said. "But
when I came I found Americans are
totally different from what I'd heard."
"The Americans they describe at
home arc really only a small portion."
"Adel" said ihatduring the '70s when
American-Iranian tensions ran high,
he and other Iranian nationals studying in the United States experienced a
great deal of prejudice.
He said, however, that this docs not
seem as prevalent in the '90s. "Fortunately, many things have begun to
change."
"There is more openness among
people here in California than back
home," Sadaghiani added. "Where I
come from we arc really open with
family members or neighbors, but not
so much strangers."
"People here arc much more accepting of ethnic diversity although ignorance still exists."
Post-'79 stamp celebrates   the
beginning of Islamic revolt.
Local Muslims concerned
over Islamic persecution
By Erik Loyd	
Staff Writer
Muslims in Bosinia-Herzegovina and the
Kashmir region of India arc under attack
by opponents of Islam, and followers of
the religion in Fresno are concerned.
Imam Sheikh Khalid of the Islamic Center of Central California, the gold-domed
mosque across the street from CSUF on
Shaw Avenue, spoke of the plight of Muslims and why there is hatred of Islam.
'Tnereisalackof understanding,'* Khalid
said through an interpreter. "[Non-Muslim] religious people have them fear Islam
as a ghoul or monster. Islam is a religion of
mercy and justice. We believe nothing will
stop all the problems in the world except
Islam."
Opposition to Islam has a long history.
Medieval Europe fought the Turks,who
were expanding their Islamic empire and
Muslims were expelled from southern
Spain. Christian crusaders battled Muslims who held Palestine and quelled their
influence on Western culture.
Khalid cited Indonesia and Malaysia as
examples of acceptance of Islam without
the use of force.
"Islam was spread [there] by good merchants," Khalid said. "We believe the sword
has some importance in some incidents. If
there is a country trying to stop Islam, the
sword may be in need, but to force people,
there is no such thing."
Khalid said people in all countries
shouldn't be denied the right to follow
Islam and Ihat Muslims don't advocate
, compulsion of religious affiliation.
"Truly, it's been said Islam is spread by
the sword," Khalid said, "but there are 20
million Christians living in the Islamic
world. If Islam were [forced], how could
they be there?'"
There are about 850 million Muslims in
the world.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Muslims of varying ethnicities are being raped, killed and
terrorized by Serbian forces struggling for
control of shattered Yugoslavia.
The insurgents call their policy "Ethnic
Cleansing" - the extermination of people
of unwanted cultural background.
Muslims of Kashmir are also targets of
aggression by Indians, and Palestinian Arabs are at odds with the Israeli government.
Khalid paraphrased words from the Koran, the Muslim holy book.
"Verily, the believers are brothers," he
said. "They are like the parts of one body.
We feel very sorry and have sympathy for
our Muslim brothers."
Muslim Wahab, a Fresno attorney, said
the subject is talked about incessandy, and
that many Muslims say they haven't done
enough to help.
"Wefeel we haven't done our job right in
the political process," Wahab said. "We've
fallen down on the job, and in the teaching
about Islam. People think it's some outlandish religion from outer space."
The Islamic belief was revealed by Allah
[God] to the prophet Mohammed in the
seventh century, and is fundamentally
simple, advocating conservative, rigid living and worship.
Fund raising, letter writing and other prcs-
' sure on politicians arc among the Muslim
efforts to aid their brothers.
Wahab said a bill to cut developmental
aid lo India for violating human rights has
been drafted by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.).
Religious persecution is illegal in the
United States, but it has happened.
The Mormons arc a prime example, as
they were driven from the East Coast to
finally settle in the desert of Utah in the
1800s.
Khalid said there is religious comfort in
the United States, but the story is different
beyond the borders.
"We believe there is a Western attack on
Muslims right now," Khalid said.
Wahab said America fears Islam, and
likens it to communism as a threat to
ci vilization.'Thc U.S. likes to make Islam
the bogeyman of the world," he said. "Basically, it's an extension of the crusades."
Khalid said persecution of Muslims in
the United States isn't impossible.
"We ask God that such a thing will not
happen," hesaid, "but if there is a group
totally blinded by prejudice, with blind
hatred toward Muslims and with power
and control, it's possible it could happen."
University of Nevada-Reno has
former CSUF student as president
♦ Former CSUF student
distinguishes himself in
the academic field.
By Laura Deckard	
Crowley's success is ihc result of his intelligence, high energy and sense of humor.
"He is full of life and a lot of fun to be
around," said Negro.
Crowley first came lo Fresno to visit a friend
he met in the Air Force. He had already
received his bachelor's dcurcc in political
science from the University of Iowa.
Liking the city he decided to continue his
education and receive a teaching credential, at
CSUF.
Crowley said he has fond memories of the
school, including the people who taught.
"Those two years were an important period
in my life, which in total I remember," Crowley
said. "I made life-long friends with students
and faculty."
"I lgpk at education as a life-long pursuit. When
one receives a degree in May or December, it
doesn't stop. It goes on in a variety of multitudes."
-Dr. Joseph N.Crowley, CSUF Alumnus and President of University of Nevada-Reno
Staff Writer
Those who knew Dr. Joseph N. Crowley
when he was a graduate student here in the
early '60s weren't surprised when he became
president of the University of Nevada-Reno.
"I am not at all surprised he has done well in
the academic field," said Dr. David Provost,
professor      of      political
sc ience." He was a good student
and very personable."
Crowley graduated in 1963
from what was Fresno State
College with his master of arts
degree in social science. He
became president of the university in 1978.
Crowley was named ihe 1989 m^^mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Distinguished Alumnus by
CSUF and the CSUF Alumni
Association. He began working at the University of Nc-
"I was surprised and greatly honored,"    vada-Rcno as a faculty member of the Politi-
Crowley said. cal Science Department. He taught political
The award is given to those who havedem-    science for 12 years and later served as depart-
onstrated outstanding professional perfor-    ment chair and chair of the faculty senate,
mance and contributions to the community.        Crowley, 59, said the most challenging and
Father Sergio Negro, pastor of St. Paul    satisfying pan of his job is working with a
Newman Center, remembers Crowley as be-    wide variety of people and trying to build
ing "a hard-worker and politically astute, in    consensual support,
the sense that he knows how to work with      Crowleysaidthaialthoughhiscollcgccxpc-
pcople." rience prepared him io be a faculty member of
Crowley was an active member of the    a university, his experience with the political
Neewman Gub where Negro served as ad-    life of a campus prepared him more,
viser. "This is a-job you learn through doing," he
Negro, who later became a friend of    said.
Crowley's and officiated at his wedding, said      As president of UNR, Crowley has been
active on campus and in the community.
He has been instrumental in the development of new campus facilities, including the
College of Business Administration, the fine
ans departments and the Donald W. Reynolds
School of Journalism.
He has also served on ihc board of directors
for the United Way and the public television
Two weeks ago, he was elected President of
the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
in which he has been actively involved for the
last six years.
Crowley said he attributes his success to a
combination of circumstances and personal
characteristics.
"I think these things have to do with being
fortunate to be in the
right place at the nght
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm lime and
possessing the skills
to match the positions to which you
arc called," he said.
Crowley said the
job market has
changed since he
graduated, but future
graduates should be
persistent, patient and understand their personal limitations.
Bom and raised in Oclwein. Iowa, Crowley
also attended the University of Washington,
where he received a doctorate in political
science.
Crowley met his wife of more that 30 years,
Joy, in Fresno, and they have been married for
more than 31 years. They have four children
who have all graduated from UNR.
"I look at education as a life-long pursuit,"
Crowley said. "When one receives a degree in
May or December, it doesn't stop. It goes on
in a variety of multitudes."