HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY Special Issue Inspirit Issue № 22 – Fall 2011 Dream, Learn, Dare 2 Inspirit • Issue № 22 – Fall 2011 President’s Word Contents Haigazian University Board of Trustees members had their second annual meeting in Los Angeles on Novem- ber 11 and 12. President’s Word ........................................... 2 hat makes the world go round is balance. What HU 55th Anniversary Events ......................... 3 makes a person maintain livelihood is balance. W ................................................ What makes sense for budgets is balance. What gives Events at HU 4 health to the body is a balanced diet. What leads one’s Miscellaneous News ..................................... 5 spirit to inner peace is balance. What stabilizes rela- tionships is balance. What unites the heavens and the Book Launchings ......................................... 7 earth is balance. What makes a person whole is the HU Graduation Events ................................. 8 body, mind, soul balance. Haigazian University has directly and indirectly Student News ............................................. 10 taught that balance is a value we should cherish. It is Faculty & Staff News .................................. 12 a critical need of life for good judgment and good qual- ity, and it gives both a deep and a wide perspective in Special Events ............................................. 16 life. Balance is what opens your eyes. Imbalance and Lectures at HU ........................................... 18 radicalism show part of the picture. Balance shows much more. Balance does not mean neutrality in everything. Editorial Team Where there is suffering, neglect, corruption, injustice, or superficiality, you cannot be neutral, for as it is said Mary Ghazarian “you cannot be neutral on a moving train” and you can- President’s Secretary not be neutral where there is pain. Neutrality is only Mira Yardemian one part of a balanced life. Director of Public Relations Rev. Greg Lee-Parker Most importantly, balance in the mind requires 2011 Campus Minister both simple focus as well as critical thinking. I hope that education at Haigazian University Photographers leads the young ones into such a balance, and that our Haigazian University staff graduates enjoy the fruits of the same. Mr. Raffi Berberian Mr. Mahmoud Kheir Rev. Paul Haidostian, Ph.D. Ms. Garin Haidostian President December issue: of Date HU 55th Anniversary Events 3 Republic of Armenia-Diaspora Cooperation: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Conference n the occasion of the 20th Oanniversary of the decla- ration of the Republic of Ar- menia and the 55th anniversary of Haigazian University, in co- operation with the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Diaspora, Haigazian University and Ye- revan State University, the “Ar- menia-Diaspora Cooperation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” conference took place at Hai- gazian University in Beirut, from September 5 to September 7, 2011. The official opening of the conference took place on Mon- day, September 5, 2011. The speakers at the official opening session were the Ambassador of the Armenian Republic in Lebanon, HE Mr. Ashod Ko- charian, the President of Hai- gazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, and the President of the Yerevan State University, Rector Prof. Aram Simonian and the Minister of Diaspora, Dr. Hranoush Hagopian. On Tuesday and Wednesday Armenian intellectuals from Armenia, Canada, and Lebanon exchanged ideas and presented various aspects of the Armenia- Diaspora cooperation. As a result of the conference, Rev. Dr. Haidostian announced the establishment of the Hai- gazian University Diaspora Research Center. Events at HU Inspirit • Issue № 22 – Fall 2011 Alumni Reunion Dinner: A Treasured Evening of Fellowship n Thursday, July 21, 2011, Haigazian OUniversity alumni, of different graduating years, attended the annual reception dinner, which took place in the courtyard of the Heritage Building, on May Ziade street. Gassia Keloukian, from the class of 2004, and former student Shant Kabakian, now a rising comedy star, cheerfully emceed the evening. A band of Haigazian University students and graduates, with soloist Aline Naccachian, entertained those gathered playing soft rock hits, while Lebanon’s champion in Latin dance, a fresh graduate, Mher Kandoyan, passionately performed with his partner Ghinwa Slaidi. The program concluded with a raffle drawing of wonderful gifts distributed to lucky winners. Founders’ Day aigazian University celebrated Founders’ HDay on Monday, October 17, 2011, in the presence of its Board members, faculty, staff and students. The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Laure Sleiman Saab, Director of the National News Agency in Lebanon, which has just cel- ebrated its 50th year. Saab expressed her gratitude for being in- vited to this honorable event and congratulated the University on its 56th anniversary. Taking the University motto to heart, Saab stressed on the importance of truth, freedom and service as they apply in various circles of life, whether it be schools, universities or the media. Afterwards, President Haidostian presented Saab with a plaque of appreciation and con- gratulations for the 50 years of service of the National News Agency. Saab in turn, presented Dr. Haidostian with a historical book featuring images of Lebanon between 1961 and 2011. Student of the Year 2011: Talar Mandoyan Miscellaneous 5 News 8th AMICAL Conference he American International Consortium of Academic TLibraries, AMICAL, is a 25-member organization of which Haigazian University is the newest member. Haigazian joined AMICAL in March 2011, and as such, par- ticipated in the 8th annual conference hosted at the Lebanese American University from April 27-30. Our University was represented by Senior Systems Analyst, Mr. Vahe Ghorghorian; Librarian’s Assistant for Technical Services, Ms. Tamar Berberian; and University Librarian, Ms. Sonia Sislian. Throughout the conference, the 135 participants had the opportunity to mingle and discuss the advantages and obstacles that modern libraries encounter. Howard Karagheuzian Foundation’s Visit to HU n Monday, July 18, 2011, Oon the occasion of the Howard Karagheuzian Foun- dation’s 90th Anniversary, a delegation of 20 social workers, headed by the Foundation’s Director, Rev. Robert Sarkissian, and including representatives and social workers of various Armenian foundations, paid a visit to Haigazian University. With the new director, Mr. Serop Ohanian Fundraising Event at the Sarkis’ n August 13, 2011, a fundraising dinner and Oa viewing of art collection was underwrit- ten and hosted by Hratch and Helga Sarkis at their beautiful home overlooking the Getty museum. Members of the Board of Trustees as well as Alumni and friends of Haigazian University were present. The sum of $20,000 was raised and the proceeds went to an impor- tant IT project at Haigazian. 6 Inspirit • Issue № 22 – Fall 2011 AMERICAN BOARD: History Remembered at Haigazian University aigazian University hosted cultural insensitivity and in- Ha panel discussion the flexibility, martyrdom, and the evening of August 24, 2011 establishment of educational commemorating the 200th an- institutions that have withstood niversary of the founding of the test of time. the American Board Mission. Some panelists stressed that this was a “commemoration and not a celebration,” given the mixed legacy of the mis- sionary project. The American Board’s history was examined by six panelists in all its human- ness, courage and dedication, Dean Asrawi and Mr. and Mrs. Goertzen attended Human Capabilities & Development Conference ean Fadi Asrawi of the DFaculty of Business Ad- ministration and Economics and Cyra and Donald Goertzen of the Center for Economic Justice attended the annual conference of the Human Ca- pabilities and Development Association (HCDA) in the Hague, Netherlands, from Sep- tember 5 to 9, 2011. HU Alumni in LA n October 13, 2011, the HU OAlumni Committee in Los Angeles organized a reception at the Darakjian residence. HU alumni and members of the Board of Trustees shared a Mexican meal and enjoyed the music. Book Launchings 7 At Haigazian University Haigazian Armenological Review n June 22, Haigazian Uni- Oversity launched the 31st volume of the Haigazian Ar- menological Review. The cur- rent 31st volume of the Haigazian Armenological Review is 764 pages. SEUILS by Krikor Beledian n Monday, October 31, that will run until November 6. O2011, Haigazian University Dean of Arts and Sciences, organized a book signing for Dr. Arda Ekmekji welcomed Krikor Beledian’s Seuils, which everyone to this event and in- has been newly translated into troduced Beledian as a man French. As a francophone coming from “among us”, born evening, the event was organ- in Achrafieh and later moving ised in parallel to the 18th to France, where he pursued a Francophone Book Fair at Biel prolific literary career. Towards Golgotha n Friday Sept. 9, 2011, in Othe beautiful courtyard of the Heritage Building, Hai- gazian University launched its newly established Haigazian University Press, amongst the presence of religious leaders, members of parliament, gov- Dr. Arda Ekmekji ernment officials, University Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, and numerous guests. On this special occasion, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Arda Arsenian Ekmekji, Former Minister of Info. & Culture, Dr. Tarek Mitri signed her book Towards Golgotha, The Memoirs of Hagop Arsenian, a Genocide Survivor, the first book pub- lished under Haigazian