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 nd Armenian Action FA| <ARVOUM 32Year May 2011 Vol. 32, No. 4 (114) Ethnic Supplement to The Collegian Successful ASP 23rd Annual ASO Organizes Week Long Series of Events Banquet Honors President Welty to Commemorate the Armenian Genocide RUZ A N ORKU S Y A N STAFF WRITER The 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has passed and yet some still deny its very existence. Nonetheless, Armenians remember, honor, and fight for recognition every year. This year, as for the past forty years, the Armenian Student Organization at Fresno State, in cooperation with the Armenian Studies Program, decided to participate in that cause by spearheading a week of activities, Student scholarship recipients at the ASP Annual Banquet. April 25-27, commemorating the EVELYN DE M IRCHI A N Photo: Joseph Vasquez Armenian Genocide. STAFF WRITER As representatives of the Students gathered at the Free Speech area on April 25th. Photo: Erica Magarian Prof. Der Mugrdechian then younger generation, ASO is proud but through determination, There was a celebratory and recognized special guests included of Armenian culture and therefore dedication, tireless persistence Students from the Charlie cheerful atmosphere in the Fresno Dr. Hayk Demoyan, Director of wanted to spread knowledge of the and remembrance, others can Keyan Armenian Community State University Dining Hall, on a the Armenian Genocide Museum- Armenian Genocide to classmates, learn about the Genocide. School then proudly sang the rainy Sunday, March 20th, when Institute of Yerevan; Dr. James faculty, and community members. The Commemoration began at Armenian National Anthem, “Mer the Armenian Studies Program Russell, Mashtots Professor of The goal of the Commemorative noon on Monday, April 25th, with Hayrenik.” It was inspiring to held its 23rd Annual Banquet. Armenian Studies from Harvard; events was to raise awareness of an event held at the Fresno State see such young people proudly The decorated hall was filled Jose Diaz Associate Dean of the the Genocide and to provide more Free Speech Area. ASO President presenting their culture and to capacity with students, their College of Arts and Humanities; information to those willing to Tamar Karkazian gave the opening heritage. proud families, Armenian Studies Mark Arax, the Roger Tatarian learn. One cannot force others to remarks, along with fellow ASO SEE APRIL 24 P A GE 8 Program faculty, administrators, Chair in the Department of Mass believe or accept the Genocide, Executive members. and supporters from the Armenian Communication and Journalism; community, and honored guest Dr. Matthew Jendian, Chair of Armenian Series Established at The Press Fresno State President Dr. John the Department of Sociology; Welty. and Arakel Arisian, instructor in ST A FF REP O RT Floor Peters Ellipse of the Henry founded in 1982 by then Dean The festivities included an the Department of Finance and Madden Library. Dr. Joseph Satin and since then opening reception with wonderful Business Law. Armenian Studies Program Provost and Vice-President The Press has published many food and drinks, and the Clendenin Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der for Academic Affairs Dr. William titles. Under the current direction Brass Quintet serenaded the guests Coordinator of the Armenian Mugrdechian announced the Covino and Madden Library of College of Arts & Humanities as they entered the Hall. The Studies Program, and Dr. Sergio La establishment of a new “Armenian Dean Dr. Peter McDonald were Dean Vida Samiian, The Press has program began with an invocation Porta, Haig and Isabel Berberian Series,” at a celebration of new among the special guests invited embarked on a new program of by Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian, Professor of Armenian Studies directions and publications held to address the significance of the publications. Pastor of the St. Gregory Armenian by The Press at Fresno State, revitalized Press. SEE AR M ENI A N SERIE S P A GE 7 Church in Fowler. SEE ASP BA NQUET P A GE 6 on Friday, April 15th, in the 3rd The Press at Fresno State was Der Mugrdechian Speaks on Dr. Russell Discusses Life of Poet Medzarents Genocide Theme in Literature AR M EN MELI do NI A N STAFF WRITER AN D REW ES GUERR A STAFF WRITER Dr. James Russell, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies Putting a catastrophe into at Harvard University, spoke on words is a monumental challenge. “Misak Medzarents: Songs of The Armenian Genocide nearly Freedom, Defiance, and Joy” on led to the physical and intellectual Wednesday, March 16th, as part extinction of the Armenian of the Armenian Studies Program people. Its systematic and sadistic Spring Lecture Series. destruction of life left the first Much of the Western Armenian generation of Armenian writers poet Medzarents’ work is a who lived through the tragedy reflection of his life experience. too scarred to even put their Medzarents was born in 1886, in experience on paper. Photo: Randy Vaughn-Dotta the Pengian village of Kharpert, The week of April 24th Barlow Der Mugrdechian in the Ottoman Empire. The was one filled with activities April 27th. This lecture, “Genocide discussions of village life in Photo: Erica Magarian commemorating the Armenian as a Theme in Armenian-American his poetry, “has very deep and Dr. Sergio La Porta, left, with Dr. James Russell. Genocide at Fresno State. On Literature,” was the second of historical roots,” noted Dr. of Medzarents’ life in his work Medzarents wasn’t killed, he campus, the memorial events a two part lecture series given Russell. Pengian was notable for comes from an injury he received suffered much pain, which can be concluded with a lecture given by by Prof. Der Mugrdechian this resisting invasion, and Armenians enroute to visiting a friend in June seen in the poem “Wounds to the Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, semester. On February 23rd he who didn’t want to submit to of 1901. The son of a Turkish Body and Wounds to the Heart.” Coordinator of the Armenian the invaders would often seek butcher stabbed Medzarents in Studies Program, on Wednesday, SEE DER MUGR D ECHI A N PA GE 7 refuge there. Another reflection the back with a knife. Although SEE RU ss ELL PA GE 7 2 Hye Sharzhoom May 2011 Armenian Studies Program California State University, Fresno Book/Video/CD Archival Gifts Armenian Studies Program Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Prof. Sergio La Porta, and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, Fall 2011 Schedule of Courses and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program. Course Units Time Day Instructor Shareen Anderson, Booklyn, New York and Johannesburg, South • Arm 1A Elementary Armenian 4 10:30A-11:35A MWF B Der Mugrdechian Africa, for the gift of her DVD, Charents: In Search of My Armenian (Class #72051) Poet (Running time 98 minutes). This is a feature length documentary • Hum 11 Hum Baroque/Modern 3 9:30A-10:45A TuTh S La Porta on the life and work of one of Armenia’s best-loved poets, Eghishe (Class #72565) Charents, who was tragically killed in a Stalinist prison in 1937. This literary travelogue takes viewers on a journey from Armenia to the poet’s birthplace in Kars and includes interviews with experts about General Education-Arts & Humanities, Area C1 his work. • ArmS 20 Arts of Armenia 3 9:30A-10:45A TuTh B Der Mugrdechian Jack Aslanian, M.D., Oakland, California, for his book, Paruir Sevak- (Class #73049) Selected Poems: Select Translations from Armenian (Yerevan, Social Studies, Area D3 Armenia: VMV Print, 2011). This book of poems, translated into • ArmS 10 Intro Armenian Studies 3 10:00A-10:50A MWF S La Porta English, coincides with what would have been the 87th birthday of Sevak (1924-1971), one of the foremost poets of Armenia. (Class #72052) Mrs. Harriet Boghosian, Fresno, California, for the gift of the books, Armenia The Case For A Forgotten Genocide by Dickran Boyajian; Upper Division Armenian Studies Courses The Armenian People From Ancient To Modern Times Volumes I • ArmS 108B Arm History I 3 11:00A-12:15P TuTh S La Porta and II, edited by Richard Hovannisian; The Armenian Community: (Class #72053) The Historical Development Of A Social and Ideological Conflict by Sarkis Atamian; The Republic of Armenia Volume I: 1918-1919 General Education-Arts & Humanities, Area IC by Richard Hovannisian; The Eternal Struggle by M. H. Knadjian, • Arm 148 Masterp. of Arm Culture 3 9:00A-9:50A MWF B Der Mugrdechian Armenia, Her Culture, and Aspirations by Arshag Mahdesian; (Class #73181) Armenian Atrocities The Murder of A Nation by Arnold J. Toynbee; • Arm 148 Masterp. of Arm Culture 3 11:00A-11:50A MWF S La Porta Armenian-Americans (The Center of Armenian Studies, 1976); (Class #73119) and The History of the Armenian People by Jacques de Morgan (in English). Jack Bousian, Hayward, California, for a gift of twelve mounted • ArmS 120T Armenian Church 1 5:00P-7:50P Fri B Der Mugrdechian painting/photographs, about the Armenian Genocide. Each photo (Class #75743) 9:00A-5:00P Sat has an original quote from Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, with a Class meets Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24, 2011 backdrop of an original graphic composition by Bousian. Mrs. Doris Cirill, Sacramento, California, for the gift of the books, For more information call the Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669 Armenian Made Easy Vols. 1, 2 & 3; Journal of Armenian Studies or visit our offices in the Peters Business Building, Room 384.