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California State University, Fresno Armenian Studies Program Non-Profit and Armenian Students Organization U.S. Postage 5245 N. Backer Ave. M/S PB 4 PAID Fresno, CA 93740-8001 Permit No. 262 Change Service Requested FRESNO, CA HYE SHARZHOOM Armenian Action st FA| <ARVOUM 41 Year May 2020 Vol. 41, No. 4 (150) Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian Gazarians to be Honored for 105th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Support of Armenian Studies Inspires Reflection on Importance of Family History MICHAEL RETTIG SPECIAL TO HYE SHARZHOOM For decades, Armenians around the world have congregated every April 24 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Protests and vigils are held in every city with an Armenian community without fail. In Yerevan, thousands march to the Armenian Genocide memorial complex at Tsitsernakaberd to pay their respects to those lost in 1915. Year after year, Armenians in the homeland and in the Diaspora, across political parties and religious convictions, have united to commemorate those Photo: Barlow Der Mugrdechian Dr. & Mrs. Arnold & Dianne Gazarian Photo: ASP Archive who were massacred and to The Armenian Genocide Monument at Fresno State. This Dr. Arnold & Dianne Gazarian in the flourishing of the Armenian demand recognition of the crime. year marks the 5th anniversary of the dedication of the Mon- were to be honored at the Armenian Studies Program on campus. Even in the midst of the “Velvet ument, which took place on April 23, 2015. Studies Program 32nd Annual Following is a brief history of Revolution,” the people and the memorated in their homes by gathered at home to reflect on Banquet on March 22. Through the establishment of the Berberian government set aside their dispute lighting candles, attending virtual the stories that our ancestors their philanthropy, the Gazarians to lay flowers at Tsitsernakaberd. vigils, sharing stories of survival, passed down to us. Amid the SEE GAZARIANS, PAGE 3 have played an instrumental role This year, for the first time, raising money for COVID-19 social distancing practices that Armenians and Kurds in the Late COVID-19 has brought these victims, and connecting with have kept many of us apart, I was sacred rituals to a grinding halt, as fellow Armenians on social particularly drawn to the letters Ottoman Empire Published by people around the world hunker media. This was the first year of my great-great grandfather, down in their homes to prevent in over a decade that I did not Thomas Mugerditchian, who Armenian Series at Fresno State the spread of this new virus. spend April 24 with the Armenian STAFF REPORT This year, Armenians com- community. Instead, my family SEE APRIL 24, PAGE 8 Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian Studies Program Awards $75,000 in Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program, Scholarships to Forty-Nine Students in 2019-2020 announced that a ground-breaking TAFF EPORT dents to pursue Minors in become simplified and is entirely Armenians and Kurds S R new book, Armenian Studies and to enroll online through the Program in the Later Ottoman Empire , has The Armenian Studies Program in the various course offerings. website at http://www.fresnostate. been published by the Armenian awarded scholarships for the We ask our students and our edu/artshum/armenianstudies/ Series of The Press, at California academic year 2019-2020 to supporters to tell their friends students/scholarships-offered. Armen- State University, Fresno. forty-nine students from twenty- and relatives about the Armenian html and the University website ians and Kurds is volume 9 in the nine different endowment or Studies Program Scholarship pro- at http://www.fresnostate.edu/ Armenian Series and is number 1 scholarship funds for a total of gram and to encourage them to studentaffairs/financialaid/ in the Armenian Studies Program $75,500. In addition to providing apply for the 2020-2021 academic scholarships/index.html Conference Series. needed financial support, the year (application period will open EE CHOLARSHIPS AGE SEE ARMENIANS PAGE 8 scholarships encourage stu- in October of 2020). Applying has S ASP S P 7 A Quest for Peace: The Armenian Genocide and Leon Peters Foundation Recognized Kurdish-Armenian Reconciliation-An Opinion for Philanthropy to Armenian Studies STAFF REPORT ARA SARAFIAN SPECIAL TO HYE SHARZHOOM The Leon S. Peters Foundation has been a key supporter of the On 12 September 2013, Armenian Studies Program for a “Monument to Common many years, and for the past eight Conscience” was erected in years in particular. Their annual Diyarbakir. An unassuming struc- support has allowed the Program ture made of wood, breezeblocks, to award student scholarships, marble, and plastic, it contained a to organize a Lecture Series, simple message in six languages featuring presentations and films, (one of which was Armenian): and to provide student support for “Let us share each other’s pains so a study program to Armenia. that they are not repeated again.” This year the Armenian Photo: ASP Archive Photo: ASP The ambiguous simplicity of Archive Photo: ASP Studies Program was going to the monument and its message The “Monument to Conscience” in Diyarbakir, Turkey. recognize the Leon S. Peters Leon S. Peters belied its potency. Although the there were murmurs regarding its long record of state-sponsored Foundation at the Program’s due to the Coronavirus outbreak. monument was presented on the wider meaning and purpose. The violence, such as the 1937–38 32nd Annual Banquet, which The Armenian Studies Program anniversary of the September ostensible idea behind the structure had been scheduled for March 1980 military coup in Turkey, was to draw attention to Turkey’s SEE QUEST FOR PEACE PAGE 6 22, but which was postponed SEE PETERS PAGE 6 2 Hye Sharzhoom May 2020 Pianist Nara Avetisyan Performs in California State University, Fresno “Young Armenian Talent” Series Armenian Studies Program Fall 2020 Schedule of Courses Course Units Time Day Instructor General Education-Breadth, Humanities, Area C2 • Arm 1A-Elementary Armenian 4 10:00A-11:50A MW B. Der Mugrdechian (Class #72231) General Education-Breadth, Arts, Area C1 • ArmS 20-Arts of Armenia 3 11:00A-12:15P TuTh B. Der Mugrdechian (Class #72797) General Education-Breadth, Area D3 • ArmS 10-Intro Arm Studies 3 9:00A-09:50A MWF H. Ohanessian (Class #73126) General Education-Integration, Area IC • Arm 148-Mastrpcs Arm Cult 3 2:00P-3:15P MW H. Ohanessian Left to right: Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, pianist Nara (Class #73211) Avetisyan, Keyboard Concert Director Prof. Andreas Werz, Upper Division Armenian Studies Course and Dr. Hagop Ohanessian. Photo: Andrew Hagopian • ArmS 108A-Arm History I 3 9:30A-10:45A TuTh B. Der Mugrdechian YERVAND BOYAJYAN fairly new, and Avetisyan intended (Class #76021) STAFF WRITER to introduce its freshness to the Fresno audience. Even though • ArmS 120T-Hist Ottom Emp 3 2:00P-3:15P TuTh Kazan Visiting Prof. The month of February ended an Armenian composer wrote the (Class #76010) with an amazing and professional piece, it still lacked Armenian Get a Minor in Armenian Studies. concert with pianist Nara Ave- components. It did not sound tisyan. The Philip Lorenz In- like an Armenian composition, ternational Keyboard Concerts but that was not the intent of the For more information call the Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669. and the Fresno State Armenian composer. The last movement out Studies Program presented the of the three, “Allegro con Fuoco Check on requirements for the Minor in Armenian Studies in the current catalog. third and final musician in the (Cheerful with Fire),” represented http://www.fresnostate.edu/catalog/subjects/armenian-studies/armenia-mn.html “Young Armenian Talent” series, the style the composer was bringing joy to the audience with aiming for. It had the intended a memorable performance of fast and unexpected runs with that various repertoires. The Concert fiery personality. Avetisyan truly was made possible through gave an amazing performance HYE SHARZHOOM the generous support of the capturing the essence of Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Zakaryan’s piano sonata. FA| <ARVOUM Foundation. The three unique pieces Avetisyan opened her Friday, Nara Avetisyan performed were February 28 concert with Georg all challenging, musical, and Editor Staff Writers Händel’s popular “Suite in D breathtaking. Her reputation Andrew Hagopian Arshak Abelyan minor.” This famous work pre- and years of schooling made it Sosse Baloian sents a challenge to all pianists possible for her to perform such Layout with its six movements and amazing works of art. Born Barlow Der Mugrdechian Yervand Boyajyan technical passages. Händel’s in Yerevan, Armenia into an Claire Kasaian compositions were influenced artistic family, Avetisyan began Photographers Christine Pambukyan heavily by Italian Baroque and playing at the age of six, winning Andrew Hagopian some German Choral music. her first competition a year Carina Tokatian He was a German and British later. Avetisyan has since won Barlow Der Mugrdechian Dustin Vartanian composer, famously known for numerous piano competitions his work “Hallelujah.” His music all around the world. She has a Advisor has that element of surprise double bachelor’s degree along and occasional rapid passage. with a double master’s degree Barlow Der Mugrdechian Avetisyan’s efforts to replicate from prestigious music schools [email protected] such style did not go unnoticed. and is currently working on her She was able to stay faithful DMA, Doctor in Musical Arts, Armenian Studies Program Faculty: at Stony Brook University. She to Händel’s interpretation and Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Berberian Coordinator, Armenian Studies Program and played the music wonderfully. has also performed in a variety Her selection of this specific of groups and philharmonics Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, ASO Advisor, Hye Sharzhoom Advisor composition portrayed both Ital- from around the world and is ([email protected]) ian Baroque and German Choral considered one of the most Sergio La Porta, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies, styles.