News

Zhanna Bagdasarov Editor The Armenian Alumni and Friends (AAF) chapter of the Fresno State Alumni Association hosted its third event since its creation in fall of 2006. As membership continues to grow, the AAF is encouraged to increase the number of events, which allow new and old alumni to reconnect. This goal was accomplished at the most recent Coffee Tasting ...

Staff Report Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State participated in the 21st Annual Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS) conference, held the weekend of March 22-25. The theme of the conference was “Work, Migration, and Globalization: Contested Journeys in Multi-Ethnic U.S. Literature.” Der Mugrdechian participated in a ...

Barlow Der Mugrechian Advisor Mr. John Stephens, a major benefactor of the Armenian Studies Program, died on April 19 in Fresno. Earlier this year, Mr. Stephens had made a donation of $50,000 to the Armenian Studies Program. Mr. Stephens was close to the Program over the years, attending many of the lectures and other events, which he enjoyed immensely. Mr. ...

Zhanna Bagdasarov Editor As members of the Armenian Students Organization (ASO) at Fresno State distributed t-shirts depicting a large cross and reading Remember April 24, 1915, a group of young children from the Armenian Community School were practicing the poem they planned to recite. Sounds of the somber duduk were heard in the distance and posters depicting infamous photos of ...

Staff Report The Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno held its 19th Annual Banquet on Saturday, March 24. The guest speaker for the evening was the Honorable Armen Liloyan, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, in Los Angeles. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program opened the evening by inviting the Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian, ...

Staff Report Dr. Dickran Kouymjian and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts either offered personally or to the Program. Biblioteca Nacional, Buenes Aires, Argentina, for the book La Biblioteca, La Critica Literaria en Argentina. Dr. Ruth Büttner and Judith Peltz (ed.), Koblenz, Germany, for ...

Svetlana Badgarov Staff Writer Question: “If you had the opportunity to spend a day with an Armenian celebrity, who would you choose and why?” Name: Janik Oganesyan Major: Biology Year: Sophomore “I would have to say Charles Aznavour, because he is a respected Armenian and plus, he would give me a tour of France.”     Name: Nayiri Moumdjian Major: ...

Pateel Mekhitarian Staff Writer Sacred Sites http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/armenia/armenia.htm The culture of Armenia is enriched with generations of tradition. However, in addition to the music, food, people, and dance of the Armenians, the actual country of Armenia is a very cherished part of the culture. On the internet one finds numerous sites, which explain, illustrate, and provide interactive tours of Armenia. This ...

Sarah Soghomonian Staff Writer The Hye Sharzhoom may not have made it to its 28th year without Randy Baloian. In the mid-1980’s Baloian and editor Vahé Messerlian helped revitalize the college newspaper. “It was hard work,” said Baloian, who was editor during the 1985-1986 school year. “Neither of us were journalists.” According to Baloian, age 44, the paper had been ...

Staff Writer “The affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide resolution” has bipartisan support from 179 Members of the House of Representatives. It calls on the President “to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record ...