Renowned Author Discusses Armenian Persecution [Univ. of Rhode Island]

Chris Curtis, The Good 5¢ Cigar, October 23, 2008

Author Antonia Arslan described the massacre of her extended family in Turkey to a crowded auditorium at the University of Rhode Island Monday as part of a two day event.

Arslan's grandfather told her at a young age the story of his brother's family. In 1915, Turkish soldiers massacred the males of the family at the ancestral family farm. They sent the women and children on a forced march across the desert. [more]

Armenian Student Group Hosts Event for Families [UCLA]

Sophie Rane, The Daily Bruin, November 25, 2008

The Armenian Students Association hosted a “Family Day” event Sunday with a recurring theme: “Many pieces, one Bruin family.”

The student group held the event to illustrate how the Armenian Students Association uses social and cultural events, philanthropy and academic support to create a distinctive Armenian community on campus, said Iren Tatevosyan, president of ASA. [more]

Tara High School Seniors Explore Armenian Culture [Tara School for Performing Arts]

Mark Collins, Daily Camera, November 14, 2008

Most of the students crowded into the kitchen at Boulder's Tara School for the Performing Arts raise their hands. Each is involved in Tara's upcoming production of the play "Nine Armenians."

Christianian is one of several local Armenian-Americans the Tara cast has encountered to learn about different aspects of Armenian culture. Today, Christianian is teaching the students how to make cheese beoreg, an Armenian cheese turnover made with filo dough, butter and various cheeses. [more]

All-ASA Reaffirms Importance of Armenian American Issues [SSA]

Press Release, Shant Student Association, November 13, 2008

The All-Armenian Students Association ("All-ASA"), a confederation of Armenian American college student organizations, adopted a resolution reaffirming their support for Genocide recognition as well as the self determination of Nagorno-Karabagh. In a general meeting held recently at Loyola Marymount University, delegates voted in favor of the resolution which was introduced by the Shant Student Association ("SSA"), one of more than a dozen organizations represented.

The meeting was attended by more than 30 university students from throughout California and was the first general meeting of the All-ASA for the 2008-2009 academic year.

"It is imperative that as Armenian American students, we voice our concerns regarding community issues, including the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish blockade on Armenia, and the self determination of Nagorno-Karabagh," said SSA Representative to the All-ASA, Caspar Jivalagian.

The adoption of the most recent Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in October 2007 sparked a firestorm of media coverage over the Turkish government's threats to retaliate against America if the measure were approved by the full House of Representatives. Turkey has poured millions of foreign dollars into the U.S. political system, hiring both former Members of Congress to make its case and public relations firms to spin media coverage against this human rights legislation.

In September of 1991, the people of Nagorno-Karabagh formally declared their independence, having previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of separation from the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan due to repeated suppression of rights and massacres of Armenians within Azerbaijan. Although Azerbaijan launched a failed full-scale war against the people of Nagorno-Karabagh, it has been unable to assert its authority over the region since the cease-fire brokered in 1994. To this day the Azerbaijani government repeatedly threatens a resumption of war to subjugate the de facto independent republic in violation of the international principle of the self-determination of peoples.

"As students we understand that education is crucial to ensuring that the community at large understands Armenian American issues and our concerns," said Sevada Markosyan, who represented the Cal Poly Pomona ASA at the meeting.

The All-ASA confederation provides a forum for participating independent Armenian American colleges student groups through which these organizations may facilitate cooperative initiatives and deliberate on issues faced by the Armenian college student community.

Armenian Festival [College of the Desert]

Christopher Markarian, The Chaparral, October 13, 2008

Stop by the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert on Saturday Oct. 25th and familiarize yourself with the first nation that declared their Christianity in 301 A.D by enjoying the cultural festival right here in Rancho Mirage. [more]

Banned Books and the Armenian Genocide [Hunter College]

David Donabedian, Hunter College Libraries Blog, October 2, 2008

When a government, through its educational and legal system, can direct the flow of thought, banning books and discouraging public debate in the process, truth and freedom of expression are the casualties. An extreme example of this may be seen in the actions taken by the government of Turkey to suppress discussion of its collective past and to stop publication of “books on…subjects such as the Armenian genocide, the Kurdish issue and Turkey’s Greek minority.” [more]

Genocide Awareness Month [UC Berkeley]

Throughout the month of April, the Armenian Student Association of UC Berkeley held its annual Genocide Awareness Month.

This year, the campaign began with a candlelight vigil on April 2oth in commemoration of the Armenian and all other genocides.

A special Pomegranate Memorial, symbolizing Armenian culture and endurance, was crafted by the ASA members and brought out for the vigil. It remained on display for the entire week in front of the campus' main library with a dozen informational posters on the Armenian Genocide surrounding it.

Campus activities for the month culminated with the 5th annual UC Berkeley ASA "United Hands Across Cal" demonstration on April 22. The event consisted of Armenian students and anti-genocide activists linking hands across UC Berkeley's famous Sproul Hall in unity against human rights abuses. It also featured musical performances, poetry, and speeches.

ASA students capped off the campaign by joining with CalSlam, a Berkeley poetry group, to hold a special Genocide Awareness Poetry Slam session on the night of the 22nd.

(Thank you to UC Berkeley ASA member, Andre Ivan Arzoo, for supplying the material featured in this post. Click here for an interview with Arzoo and other activists on a KPFA Radio program commemorating the Armenian Genocide)

Letters Condemning Defacement of Genocide Memorial [USC]

Daily Trojan, May 1, 2008

"The best answer to the haters and deniers here at USC and abroad would be to recognize the Armenian Genocide."

"Never Again, must be a reality, and not a slogan."

Alissa Bittenson
USC Tzedek Chair

Charlie Carnow
Former USC Tzedek Chair [more]

Students Recognize Armenian Genocide [UC Irvine]

Stella Cho, Arshi Khan, and David Lumb, New University, April 28, 2008

"The day carries the charge of injustice for those descendents of the half-million Armenians who were lucky enough to survive, and as such has been commemorated by the UC Irvine Armenian Student Association in recent years through the “Peace, Love and Genocide” event series." [more]

Armenian Genocide Issue Requires Sustainable Solution [Tufts]

Harout Harry Semerdjian, Tufts Daily, April 28, 2008

"This month, the world once again commemorates the 1915 mass killings and deportation of over two million Armenians by the Young Turk regime of the Ottoman Empire. Ninety-three years after the first genocide of the 20th century, the United States and the international community should, at last, compel the leadership of Turkey to seek a real and sustainable solution to the Armenian Genocide issue by ensuring that the country comes to terms with its past, as well as adopts some much-desired changes in its policies toward Armenia." [more]