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Michael Rettig Staff Writer As the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches in 2015, the Armenian community of Fresno has come together to commemorate this solemn occasion. Although a century has passed since the Genocide took place, it continues to loom large in the Armenian conscious. With this in mind, Fresno’s Armenian community, under the auspices of the Armenian ...

Andrew Esguerra Staff Writer Fresno State welcomed Dr. Joseph I. Castro as its new University President in August of 2013, replacing retiring President Dr. John Welty, who had served for 22 years. Dr. Castro, a native of nearby Hanford, California, sat down with Hye Sharzhoom to discuss the role of the Armenian Studies Program and his reflections on the Armenian ...

RUZAN ORKUSYAN – STAFF WRITER The Fresno State Armenian Students Organization (ASO)has blossomed into a thriving Armenian community charac-terized by a fierce love of Armenian culture and an undying passion for bringing justice to the victims and survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. On no day is this clearer than on April 24, the fateful day marking the start of ...

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 ...

DENISE ALTOUNIAN – Staff Writer The Armenian people have a long and storied history in the Middle East. Armenians have left a legacy of success and hard work in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Egypt. Dating back to their first interactions with Arab Muslims in the 7th century, Armenians have had almost constant contact with the Middle East ...

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 2014. 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 ...

RUZAN ORKUSYAN – Staff Writer For the third year in a row, Hasmik Harutyunyan, member of the world renowned Shoghaken Folk Ensemble, captivated and engaged her audience of young and old, Armenians and non-Armenians. The Saturday, February 1, “Song and Dance Workshop,” sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program and Armenian Students Organization offered an unforgettable afternoon of traditional Armenian music, ...

MARINE VARDANYAN – Editor A pleasant balance of work and leisure has preoccupied members of the Armenian Students Organization as the Spring Semester rapidly approaches its halfway mark. With April only a month away, a number of meetings have already taken place to prepare for the 99th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorative activities. “The meetings are very serious, everyone ...

MARINE VARDANYAN – Editor “It is simply in the nature of Armenian to study, to learn, to question, to speculate, to discover, to invent, to revise, to restore, to preserve, to make, and to give.” – William Saroyan. Only two years after the Armenian Studies Program was established, Hye Sharzhoom was launched in April of 1979, providing students with an ...