Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Jennifer Torosian
Staff Writer
Students and faculty gathered at the Free Speech Area at Fresno State
April 24 marked the 93rd commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, and while Armenians all over the world came together to remember the past, students of Fresno State’s Armenian Students Organization held their own memorial on campus. Both Armenian and non-Armenian students from Fresno State came together in the Free Speech area, not only to remember and reflect on the past, but to look at the future. Photographs and information about the Armenian Genocide were placed in the Free Speech area, as well as a small-scale replica of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Yerevan, Armenia.
With the tranquil sound of duduk music playing in the background, people filled the Free Speech area to remember, reflect, and learn about the systematic killing of nearly an entire people, the Armenians, by the Ottoman Turkish government.
Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian gave a brief introduction and closing remarks, while the keynote speaker was Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, who spoke briefly about the Armenian Genocide and the issues of recognition on a world-wide level and by the Turkish government. While the focus of the day was the Armenian Genocide, Dr. Kouymjian broadened the topic to take a look at genocides that have occurred and are occurring today in the world, referring to Darfur where an estimated 400,000 people have lost their lives already and an estimated two million more lives will be lost in the years to come. The commemoration ended with students and community members placing red, pink, and white carnations on the Genocide Memorial, an act that is done at the memorial in Yerevan Armenia each year on April 24.
While last year the students wore black t-shirts that read “They Live in Us,” the theme of this year’s Genocide commemoration was “Never Again.” The Armenian Students Organization sold black wristbands that read,” Never Again 1915.” This was the message that the students wanted to get across — never again for the Armenians and never again should genocide anywhere in the world go unrecognized.
