Professor La Porta Gives Annual Genocide Lecture at Sonoma State

Staff Report

On February 16, 2016, Dr. Sergio La Porta lectured on the Armenian Genocide at Sonoma State University. Sponsored by the Alliance for the Study of Holocaust and Genocide and the Armenian Genocide Memorial Lecture Fund seeded by the Thomas Family Foundation, the lecture forms part of the Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series organized by the Center for the Study of Holocaust and Genocide and Professor Diane Parness, academic coordinator of the series.

In conjunction with the Lecture Series attended by the community as well as the students, Sonoma State students enroll in a 4-unit course entitled, “Perspectives on Holocaust and Genocide.” About 120 students enroll in the class each year. The title of the 33rd Annual Lecture Series was “Into the 21^st Century: Genocide in Our Time “and Dr. La Porta’s lecture was called “The Armenian Genocide and the 21st Century.” His talk focused on the repercussions of the Genocide in today’s world. Dr. La Porta has delivered the annual lecture on the Armenian Genocide at Sonoma State since 2010.

“The organizers and supporters of the Lecture Series are incredibly kind and welcoming,” said Dr. La Porta. Moreover, Dr. La Porta feels that it is a great way to reach people, and especially students, who may not have been informed about the Genocide. He also said that the lecture gives him an opportunity to meet with representatives of the local Armenian community. The night before the lecture Ms. Christyne Davidian, who helped to establish the Armenian Genocide Memorial Lecture Fund, organizes a dinner for Dr. La Porta with members of the Armenians of the North Bay who share their experiences of being Armenian in California and how their families arrived in Sonoma County.

“We are so proud when Dr. La Porta defines the Armenian people by presenting our complete history, not just the Genocide!” says Davidian. Dr. La Porta says that one of the most enjoyable aspects of his participation in the Lecture Series is that he learns so much from scholars and survivors of other genocides, from the community, and from the students.