News

Dr. Ludmila Haroutunian, Chair of the Department of Sociology of Yerevan State University, was a special guest of the Armenian Studies Program, the Department of Sociology, and the Women’s Study Program of Fresno State from Thursday, February 22 through Tuesday, February 27. Dr. Haroutunian was invited by the Armenian Studies Program of Fresno State to spend a week in Fresno ...

BARLOW DER MUGRDECHIAN–ADVISOR Yerevan State University and State Engineering Institute of Armenia officials were in Fresno for a two-day visit, February 13-14, with Fresno State officials. The Armenian Studies Program hosted the delegation, whose visit and itinerary were developed with the assistance of Dr. Harold Haak, President Emeritus of Fresno State, who deserves special recognition for his participation. The officials ...

STAFF REPORT The immediate reaction towards Ara Dolarian’s exibition Interior Energy Fields, currently at the Fresno Art Museum, February 13 through March 31, is the power of his scale and the movement he creates. Dolarian leaves the representational attributes to the audience. “People say they look like palm trees or the ocean,” explains the artist, “that’s okay. To me it ...

KAREN KARABIAN–STAFF WRITER Fresno’s Armenian youth were united in one place at one time. Children, as young as five, gathered inside St. Paul’s church hall. They sat among older brothers and sisters, they sat beside my fellow college classmates. We were all drawn together for one reason — to witness the Catholicos of Armenia. St. Paul’s rally had already begun ...

TINA ATTASHIAN–STAFF WRITER Having the opportunity to listen or actually meet His Holiness Karekin I was a first time experience for many of the youth at Fresno State. Talking to Fresno State students, His Holiness’ visit created a lot of thoughts and emotions about Christianity. Vahan Balekian, a junior at CSUF and member of ASO stated, ” Karekin I really ...

JACUELINE ARIKIAN–STAFF WRITER His Holiness Karekin I visited California State University, Fresno to deliver a message of religious education and revival. He centered his speech around the importance of educating Armenians in the homeland, where Christian education has been virtually nonexistence over the past several years. “Fortunately faith has been kept in the hearts of the Armenian people,” said the ...

MIKE POGOSIAN–STAFF WRITER On the night of February 22, 1996, at St. Paul Armenian Church, there was a gathering. The gathering was for Mark Arax and the signing of his book, In My Father’s Name a Family, a Town, a Murder. When you walked into the hall there was an overwhelming feeling. There was warmth, community, and most of all ...

SEAN CLARK–STAFF WRITER She has been at Fresno State now for two semesters and her appreciation for the students here continues to grow. Some students will rise to the occasion and reaffirm that there is hope for the shapers of the next generation, but not without changing their perspectives. “Understanding the underlying themes of nationalism, gender, and class structure allows ...

STAFF REPORT The Fresno Historical Society is making available to the community its newest addition, the Armenian Heritage Trunk, part of the Traveling History Trunk Series. In it are numerous books and objects that explain and interpret Armenian history and the story of Armenians in Fresno. Wendy Costa of the Fresno Historical Society and Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian ...

STAFF REPORT Mr. Harry Topoozian of Fresno has donated $10,000 to Fresno State to establish the Harry and Mary Topoozian Armenian Studies Merit Scholarship Endowment Fund. The annual income from the endowment will be disbursed in the form of scholarships to students enrolled at Fresno State. The Outstanding Achievement Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is or has ...