Emma Shaljyan Staff Writer The Armenian Student Organization (ASO) tries its best to stay in touch with the Fresno community and with the members of the organization itself. Thus, throughout the year many activities are organized to bring students at Fresno State together. As the Fall semester began, ASO worked immediately to organize activities such as the Annual Car Wash, ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program faculty, Professors Barlow Der Mugrdechian and Sergio La Porta, traveled to New Orleans, October 10-13, to participate in the Middle East Studies Association’s (MESA) 47th Annual Meeting, as well as the Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) 39th Annual Meeting. The Society for Armenian Studies, the professional association that represents scholars and teachers in the field ...

Suren Oganessian Staff Writer “David of Sassoun”is an Armenian Epic whose impact on Armenian culture has been great, from statues commemorating “David” both in Fresno and Yerevan, to commemorative coins and stamps, to an annual holiday in Armenia where the Epic is celebrated with recitations and music. On Thursday, November 21, 2013, the Armenian Studies Program announced the official launch ...

Editor Marine Vardanyan Layout Barlow Der Mugrdechian Photographers Vartush Mesropyan Barlow Der Mugrdechian Staff Writers Denise Altounian Andrew Esguerra Tatevik Hovhannisyan Tamar Melkonian Suren Oganessian Ruzan Orkusyan Emma Shaljyan Advisor Barlow Der Mugrdechian barlowd@csufresno.edu Armenian Studies Program Faculty: Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator, Armenian Studies Program and Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, ASO Advisor, Hye Sharzhoom Advisor (barlowd@csufresno.edu) Sergio ...

Marine Vardanyan Editor Fresno-Armenians enjoyed an afternoon of laughter on Sunday, April 7, when a comic play “The Don Juans in Marseilles,” sequel to the original “Don Juan Avia,” made its return to Fresno State’s Satellite Student Union. The Armenian Studies Program and the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School co-sponsored the event, with help from the Armenian Students Organization. Garbis ...

Andrew Esguerra Staff Writer Friends and patrons of the Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School assembled at the Paul Shaghoian Performing Arts Center located on the Clovis North Educational Center campus for an evening of side-splitting comedy this past September 7th. The Fresno audience was treated to a light mezza, a throwback performance to the fabulous ‘50s by none other than ...

Marine Vardanyan Editor A classroom of students reciting the Armenian alphabet may not be an image that is very surprising, but in Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian’s elementary Armenian course, Armenia 1A, it is definitely an impressive sight. What may also be a surprise are the number of non-Armenian students sitting side by side with Armenians and working together to learn ...

Tatevik Hovhannisyan Staff Writer What is the importance of an independent Republic of Armenia? Danielle Tanielian Freshman Major: Biomedical Physics It is important that we can say we are an independent nation. Independent Armenia signifies a group of thriving and surviving Armenians who refuse to give in to anyone’s commands any longer. Personally, I am filled with pride knowing that ...

Staff Report Vartush Mesropyan, President Senior, Psychology major; Armenian Studies minor What ASO events are you most looking forward to? International Culture Night and the Armenian Genocide commemorative events, because we work hard as an organization to unite everyone together on campus and in the community. The beginning and middle stages are incredible but the outcome is what makes us ...

Staff Report Aram Hajian My parents wanted their children to be raised with a love for their culture and ethnicity. I remember when I was growing up that if I spoke English with my siblings I would be punished by having to stand in a corner with one leg and one arm up in the air and I would also ...