News

MARINE VARDANYAN – EDITOR A special moment arises each year for the faculty, students, and supporters of the Armenian Studies Program. It is an occasion that serves as a reunion, a celebration, and a reflection on the successes of the Program. The 26th Annual Armenian Studies Program Banquet took place on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Fort Washington Golf ...

DENISE ALTOUNIAN – STAFF WRITER For many Armenians in Fresno, the city of Bitlis, located today in the Republic of Turkey, holds a special place in their hearts. Not only was it the birthplace of the family of noted Fresno native William Saroyan, but also the birthplace to many of the Armenians who settled in Fresno in the years following ...

STAFF REPORT Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program was invited by Scottsdale Community College (Arizona) to speak as part of a program entitled “Genocide Awareness Week: Not on Our Watch,” which was held April 7-11. The “Genocide Awareness Week” was co-sponsored by the St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Armenian Church of Scottsdale. Der Mugrdechian’s presentation, “The Armenian ...

SUREN OGANESSIAN – Staff Writer Armenian literary history is full of gifted poets and storytellers, from Agathangelos and Moses Khorenatsi, to Sayat Nova and Hovhannes Toumanian, but few broke as many rules and experimented with language, as did the early 20th century poet Kara Darvish. On Thursday, March 20, Dr. James R. Russell introduced this obscure but nonetheless important figure ...

TATEVIK HOVHANNISYAN – Staff Writer It is a rare occasion when two talented virtuoso performers unite for a concert—the result was a great performance and a night of incredible melody. Friday, March 7, 2014 was one of those moments, when a sold-out audience appreciated the performance with a standing ovation, not wanting to let the musicians go, and demanding not ...

SUREN OGANESSIAN – Staff Writer Cappadocia, a region in central Anatolia just west of the Anti-Taurus mountains, has a marvelous, mountainous landscape, dominated by tall rock formations called “fairy chimneys,” and featuring ancient churches built into solid rock and in secret caves, from a time when Christianity was frowned upon by Islamic Arab rulers. Unsurprisingly given its proximity to historic ...

MARINE VARDANYAN – Editor Hye Sharzhoom celebrates its 35th Anniversary with a look back and interviews with previous editors. Randy Baloian Editor: Fall 1985-Spring 1986 How did you become interested in joining the staff of Hye Sharzhoom? Why did you decide to become editor? I realize that this doesn’t sound very idealized, but the truth is that I became involved ...

What encouraged you to take an Armenian Studies course? Part of the reason I wanted to attend Fresno State was because I had heard there was a good Armenian Studies Program. I wanted to learn more about my culture and my family’s history, so I decided to make it my Minor. What do you value most from your experiences in ...