1980_04 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper April 1980

              4.U.S
eUPd-flMJ"
Armenian Studies Program,
CSUF,        Fresno, CA 93740
ARMENIAN   ACTION
Vol. 2 NO. 3 April 1980 The newspaper of the California State University, Fresno Armenian Students Organization
April 24th silent vigil
CSUF, ASO to share free-speech area
By Mark Malkasian
The Armenian Students Organization
and the CSUF administration agreed
Friday, March 28, to avoid a possible
angry confrontation on April 24.
April 24, the international day of
mourning for the two million victims
of the Armenian Genocide, coincides
this year with the opening day of
CSUF's Vintage Days festivities.
Initially, the ASO was denied permission to even pass out fliers on the
fringes of the free-speech area during
the Vintage Days parade.
The ASO, however, took the issue
up the administration ladder and Friday,
Dr. William Corcoran, Dean of Student
Affairs, approved the ASO's plans
for a silent vigil in the free-speech
area.
"We wouldn't do this for any other
group," Corcoran told ASO representatives   Bryan  Bedrosian,   Barlow  Der
Mugrdechian,    Mark   Malkasian   and
John Tufenkjian.
"But considering the significance
of your cause, we are willing to compromise usual policy on this issue,"
he said.
Corcoran stressed that he was chiefly
concerned with the progress of the
Vintage Days parade. Anything that
impedes its movement might disrupt
the day' s schedule, he said.
In accordance with Corcoran' s request,
the ASO's vigil will not block the parade
route but will assemble near the water
fountain in the east end of the free-
speech area.
A check of the spring-semester
calendar in January first revealed the
An appeal for support
The ASO's April 24 silent vigil
offers a rare opportunity for all
Fresno Armenians to collectively
share the meaning of the 1915 Genocide with the Fresno community.
The vigil, however, will not succeed
without the massive participation
of the Armenian community. With
that in mind, the ASO urges that
all Armenians join with them
in commemorating the two million
martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.
The vigil, encircling a cross, will
begin at 11 a.m. in the east end of
the free-speech area, near the
fountain. The ■ ASO ■ expects several
local clergymen to join in the service.
The ASO's April 24th Committee
has initiated a campaign to increase
campus awareness of the Armenian
Genocide.
The April 24th Committee also
encourages suggestions from the
community regarding the vigil
service. For further information
call Bryan Bedrosian at 225-3741
or Mark Malkasian at 439-0673.
"I fully support the ASO's vigil,"
said UACC Chairman Allan Y.
Jendian.'I plan to attend and I
hope to see many others there also.
Armenians must never forget the two
million martyrs. And neither must
we allow the Fresno community to
forget."
Campus parking for April 24
will be free.
The ASO's silent vigil will be held in the free-speech area on April 24, beginning
at 11 a.m. Above is a map of the free-speech area. The arrow points to the vigil area.
Campus parking is free on April 24.
potential conflict. Prior to that time,
both the ASO and the campus administration were unaware of the problem.
The ASO brought the matter to the
attention of the Vintage Days Committee
late in January. Last year the ASO
distributed fliers and black armbands
to commemorate April 24 and the
organization requested permission
to conduct similiar activities this year.
The Vintage Days Committee, however, said the free-speech area was
off limits at noon, indicating that
tightly planned schedules allowed no
flexibility.
The issue surfaced again in early
March when the ASO addressed a letter
to Sharon Weber, Vintage Days Advisor.
The  letter was  also  sent  to  CSUF
President    Harold    Haak,    Corcoran,
ASO to host student convention
The CSUF Armenian Students
Organization  will  host  the  second
Armenian College Students Convention next year.
The first such gathering of Armenian students was held February
15-17 at Columbia University in New
York. More than 115 students from
10 states and Canada attended this
landmark conference. CSUF was
represented by four delegates:
ASO President John Tufenkjian,
ASO Vice President Jim Karagosian,
Cindy Avakian, former ASA president
at   UC Berkeley, and Dr. Dickran
Kouymjian, chairman of the Armenian Studies Program at CSUF.
The participants talked, argued,
heard letters from New York Mayor
Ed Koch and Ronald Reagan, and
came away with a noteworthy concensus on issues vital to the Armenian-
American community. The students
were unanimously opposed to continued diversions among Armenians.
The Church schism and rivalries
among organizations failed to faction-
alize the students. Rather, the convention called for Armenian unity
and an end to internecine conflict.
Secondly, the students were concerned with the survival of Armenians
in America. Nearly everyone agreed
that assimilation threatens to consume a large portion of the Armenian-
American community and must be
stalled. Involvement in Armenian
organizations stressing career
placement, professional service and
internships was suggested as a way
to re-instill Armenian identity.
Finally, the American political
process was viewed as an important
vehicle for the pursuit of the Armen-
continued on page 4
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Director
of the Armenian Studies Program,
Associated Students President Dave
Ditora and the editors of the "Insight"
and "The Daily Collegian." The letter
read as follows:
Dear Ms. Weber:
The letter before you concerns
an issue of vital importance
to the CSUF Armenian Student
Organization and Armenians
everywhere.
Perhaps you are unaware
of the fact that April 24, the
official opening of Vintage
Days, conflicts with the international day of mourning of
the Armenian community.
On this day, 65 years ago, the
Turkish government began
the systematic extermination
of the Armenian people. The
Turkish plan of annihilation
resulted in the deaths of two
million Armenians and eradication of the Armenian nation
from its ancient homeland.
To this day, the Turkish government refuses to acknowledge
this heinous act against human-
ity.
The ASO appreciates the significance of Vintage Days at
CSUF and we trust that CSUF
administrators recognize the
significance of the Armenian
Genocide. Unfortunately,
the scheduling of Vintage Days
1980 prevents CSUF Armenians
continued on page 6