News

Diana Gasparyan Staff Writer The 15th Annual Armenian Film Festival, a popular event organized by the Armenian Studies Program and Armenian Students Organization, was held this year on Friday, February 17. The Festival featured three films created by a new generation of young Armenian directors, writers, and producers. The Festival helps to cultivate an awareness of Armenian culture among the ...

Staff Report On Saturday, January 14, 2017, Dr. Sergio La Porta served as the “Honorary Coach” for the Fresno State Bulldogs Men’s Basketball team against the Boise State Broncos. In an exciting game, the Bulldogs defeated the Broncos 89-80, completely dominating the first half of the match-up. The game was sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities and Dr. ...

Staff Report   The middle of February was a busy time for Dr. Sergio La Porta who in one week spoke both at Pomona College and Sonoma State University. On Friday, February 17, Dr. La Porta participated in a Mediterranean Seminar entitled “Culture Wars” hosted by Dr. Kenneth Wolf of the Department of History at Pomona College. Dr. La Porta’s ...

Claire Kasaian Staff Writer   In recent months Armenian Studies Program archivist Malina Zakian has been continuing her project to digitize the Armenian Studies Program’s photographic archive. Zakian and several graduate students have been digitizing photographs in the archive, which includes the Meltickian Collection: Armenians in China, 1915-1953 and the Kazarian Collection. Zakian has created a Flickr Commons account for ...

Staff Report   Three Armenians were honored for accomplishments in their respective fields and commitment to service in the community at the annual Fresno State Alumni Association “Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala.” Each year, one alumnus from each of the University’s eight academic schools and colleges, as well as the Department of Athletics, the Henry Madden Library, the Division of ...

Staff Report Berge Bulbulian, staunch supporter of the Armenian Studies Program and of Fresno State, died on January 26, 2017 at the age of 91. Bulbulian was a native of Mexicali, Mexico, but grew up on a farm in the Del Rey area. Bulbulian was actively involved in many organizations. He traveled to Armenia on several occasions, with the Armenian ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Leon S. Peters Foundation has made a generous donation of $30,000 to the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State for 2016. This continues the tradition of the Peters Foundation in supporting the Armenian Studies Program Annual Lecture Series, as well as a variety of other activities, including ...

Kara Statler Staff Writer   The Armenian Students Organization has been busy for the past few months. In the first meeting of the semester, members elected two new executives; Diana Gasparyan, President, and Kara Statler, Vice President. On Friday December 16, 2016, ASO had its Annual Christmas Party. The party was a huge success with great music, food, and dancing. ...

Diana Gasparyan Staff Writer Due to genocide and war in the Ottoman Empire and Russia in the early 20th century, many Armenians sought safe havens. Some found refuge in Europe or in the United States, while others traveled eastward to China in hope of finding a more secure life. In China they were able to establish two active communities, one ...

Michael Rettig Editor Studying history from the viewpoint of marginal rather than dominant actors has been one of the central focuses of social historians since the 1960s. These historians seek to add nuance to traditional histories by considering the experience of ethnic and religious minorities as well as women. On Monday, November 7, Dr. Elyse Semerdjian, Associate Professor of History ...