1998_12 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper December 1998

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Hye Sharzhoom-20th Anniversary
December 1998
The Advisory Board ofthe Kalfayan Center
for Armenian Studies and the Armenian Studies Program
of California State University^ Fresno
cordially invite you to their 13th Annual Banquet
with special guest
His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian
Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem
"Armenians in the Holy Land"
in conjunction with the exhibit
"The Dome of the Holy Sepulchre
in Jerusalem"
designed by Corky Normart
Thursday, December 10,1998
Art Exhibit and Reception-6:00 PM
John Wright Theater Foyer
Dinner-7:15 PM
Satellite Student Union
Armenian Students Organization
Students dining with speaker Hilmar Kaiser
With the semester winding down, ASO members are very
busy with school. But there are still opportunities to get involved. In addition to helping out with the ASP Annual
Banquet, we have planned a Winter Ski Trip and End of the
Year Social. We also will have a few activities over the winter
break. So get a head- start on next semester pnd join now. If you
are interested please leave a message at (559)278-2669.
Thank You Donors
Thomas Bagdasarian
Dick & Vicky Berberian
Jack & Barbara Bousian
Joylene Cappelletti
Fresno, CA
Inglewood, CA
Fresno, CA
Fresno, CA
Gift to Mr. Burton Mosesian of Las Vegas, NV
Mrs. Hasmig Cingoz
Haroutiun Derderian
Leona & Armen Donian
Lillian Egoian
Dean Jerrehian
Jack Kayajanian
Martin & Julia Koobatian
Zabel H. Lea Mond
Rosalie Mahakian
Clifford Melikian
Charles & Zabelie Melkonian
El Cerrito, CA
New York, NY
Antioch, CA
Reedley, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Newport Beach, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
East Hanover, NJ
Castro Valley, CA
Walnut Creek, CA
Visalia, CA
Fowler, CA
Alice & Sarkis Mooradian
Gregory Ohanian & Ashken Aristakessian
Clovis, CA
Dr.& Mrs. Massis M. Santigian
Rev. & Mrs. Artoon Sempadian
Noubar Tavitian
Robert & Cynthia Tusan
Mr. & Mrs. Vaughn Vartanian
Fresno, CA
Madera, CA
Meudon, France
Laguna Niguel, CA
Fresno, CA
Donations to Armenian Studies Program
Alice A. Peters Fresno, CA
Library Fund and Scholarships
Interview With First Hye Sharzhoom
Editor Mark Malkasian
By Michael Harutinian
Staff Writer
This is an interview with Mark
Malkasian the first editor of Hye
Sharzhoom. On the occasion ofthe
twentieth anniversary of Hye
Sharzhoom the current staff thought
it appropriate that he be interviewed to find out what the student
climate was at the time of Hye
Sharzhoom's conception.
We also wanted to get his
perspective^ on where
Hye Sharzhoom has been
and how fa rthe paper has
come.
What is your present career?
I write high school textbooks on current events
and history.
How long were you editor of Hye Sharzhoom?
For the first five issues
(spring  1979 to spring
1980).
Why did you decide to take
on the task as editor and
who approached you
about the position if anyone?
Looking back, there were a number of factors that contributed to
the establishment or Hye
Sharzhoom».V\rst, the civri rights
movement in the -United States
eventually kindled a greater sense
of ethnic awareness among all ethnic groups, Armenians included.
Because of the large Armenian
presence in the San Joaquin Valley
and the history of discrimination,
this probably hit home more in
Fresno than elsewhere. Second,
Armenians, worldwide were becoming mote assertive about recognition of;and restitution for the
genocide. Of course, by the mid-
1970s, we had the beginnings of
Armenian terrorism, which, if nothing else, stoked the flames of controversy. Third, the time was right
at Fresno State. Dickran Kouymjian
had just begun teaching and had
injected a new energy into Armenian studies. Moreover, the journalism department was a magnet
for Armenians, plus there were two
Armenians on the department's faculty—Roger Tatarian and Art
Margosian. When Dr. Kouymjian
suggested in the spring of 1979 that
we put out a paper, all the pieces
seemed to be in place.
Was being editor easier or harder
than you thought it would be ?
Since I was a^ournalism student, I
had a pretty good grasp of what was
involved in getting out a small news
paper. At the time, however, I saw
the Hye Sharzhoom largely in the
context of the campus. I imagined
our primary audience to be the 400
or so Armenian students at Fresno
State. I was honestly surprised at
the reaction we got from the larger
Armenian community.
Was it hard getting student support
for the paper (people to workon the
paper) and if so what were the'
reasons given by students for lack
of support?
As I mentioned, the times were
different when I was editor. There
was no shortage of interest and
talent.
What was your proudest accomplishment in Hye Sharzhoom?
There was a sense of pride among
us that we had created something
new, that in a way we had put the
Fresno Armenian community on
the map of the larger Armenian
world. Let's face it, Fresno State is
not exactly an elite academic institution. One would have expected
for Hye Sharzhoom to be launched
atUCLAorUC-Berkeley, or maybe
an Ivy League university, but the
initiative was taken here.
What do you think of the job that is
being done by the present Hye
Sharzhoom staff?
I have to commend Armenian students and the Armenian Studies
Program for institutionalizing Hye
Sharzhoom. To maintain a publication for 20 years is no easy feat.
Do you have any suggestions on what can be
done to better Hye
Sharzhoom?
I would like to see the
Hye Sharzhoom aspire
to a higher level of journalism. Our goal was to
broaden the world ofthe
reader — to explore
neglected corners ofthe
local Armenian community and to make
connections between
the Armenian experience and the broader
world. When we started,
virtually no one in the
American-Armenian
press was doing this. Now we have
AIM (Armenian International
Magazine), but that's it. There are
a lot of potential stories out there,
but you've got to go find them.
What are the changes if any have
you noticed in Hye Sharzhoom since
your days in the paper and if so
what are those changes?
I think the introduction of staff stipends has had a negative impact.
When we started the paper, no one
was paid a dime. In fact, we were
responsible for raising the expenses
of printing through advertising,
food sales, etc. That gave us a sense
of ownership that seems largely .
missing today.
What do you miss most about working on Hye Sharzhoom ?
A nucleus of active Armenian students formed around the Hye
Sharzhoom. Even many who didn't
work on the paper nonetheless become involved in the Armenian
Students Organization because of
Hye Sharzhoom. Of course, youth
and idealism are both fleeting, but
it was exhilarating while it lasted.
HYESHARZHOOM
NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
Hye Sharzhoom is sent without charge to thousands of people throughout the
world. There is no subscription fee, however, we urge readers to support our efforts
with donations of any amount. This request has assumed a special importance
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Armenian Studies Program
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Fresno, CA 93740-8001