News

Diana Gasparyan Staff Writer Gracing stages across the world, the National Chamber Choir of Armenia performed in Fresno State’s Concert Hall on Sunday, October 29. The Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State and the Hamazkayin Taniel Varoujan Chapter of Fresno were co-sponsors for the event, which attracted an enthusiastic audience of more than 250. The internationally recognized 35-person choir has ...

Michael Rettig Editor The lasting impact that the Armenian Studies Program has had on its alumni is often reflected in the support these former students give to the Program. In the Fall 2017 semester, local attorney Warren Paboojian established the “Warren R. Paboojian Award” to annually recognize the Editor of Hye Sharzhoom. This award, funded by the Warren and Lesa ...

Staff Report The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) held a series of activities and a conference to mark its 44th Annual Meeting, held this year in Washington, D.C. The featured event was an international conference, “Transmitting Western Armenian to the Next Generation” that took place on Saturday, November 18. The innovative conference, co-sponsored by the Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz has been appointed the 14th Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at Fresno State for the Spring 2018 semester. The Kazan Visiting Professorship was established through a generous endowment established by Henry S. Kazan. Dr. Richard Hovannisian was appointed as the first incumbent ...

Marine Vardanyan Visiting Armenia is always a special experience, but this trip in particular was one of my favorites. I was already well acquainted with the country and its customs, having been born in Armenia and having visiting many times.  However, there is always something new to learn with each experience. The trip itself was more special to me this ...

Michael Rettig Editor The potential for reconciliation between Armenians and Turks seems distant given Turkey’s century-long denial of the deep wounds it inflicted on the Armenian people. Though the Turkish government remains constant in its policy of denial, a growing number of Turkish citizens have reexamined their government’s position on the Armenian Genocide over the past decade. In 2014, a ...

David Safrazian Staff Writer Dr. Boris Adjemian gave a thought-provoking presentation on “The AGBU Nubar Library in Paris: Safeguarding Western Armenian Heritage through Documentation, Research, and Publication” on Monday, October 9, as part of the Armenian Studies Program Fall Lecture Series. In addition, Dr. Adjemian spoke about “The Armenians in Ethiopia,” which was also the topic of his dissertation. Dr. ...

Annie Rubio Staff Writer We cannot change the events that led to the Armenian Genocide in 1915. However, we, as Armenians, can choose how we are remembered in the years to come. Yervant Alexanian chose to be remembered as a prolific writer and activist, and was one of the few Armenian soldiers who were conscripted into the Ottoman Turkish Army ...

Suzanna Ekmekchyan Staff Writer The Armenian Student Organization has had a busy month filled with many fun and exciting new activities. To celebrate Halloween, ASO organized a trip to Hobbs Grove, a popular Halloween haunted corn-maze. When they weren’t screaming from fright, the members were bonding with each other over the terrifying attractions. The experience was ex-hilarating and gave the ...

Kara Statler and Arthur Khatchatrian Staff Writers This semester Professor Hagop Ohanessian is teaching Armenian Studies 10, Introduction to Armenian Studies, a class dedicated to giving Armenian and non-Armenian students the opportunity to become more familiar with Armenian culture and history. This introductory course covers topics from the conversion of the Armenian people to Christianity, to learning about Armenians in ...