USC Genocide Commemorations 2006

STUDENTS REMEMBER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Kaelyn Forde Eckenrode Media Credit: Steevens Alconcel | Daily Trojan

Daily Trojan Online, CA University of Southern California April 25 2006

Monday events also focused on the Holocaust and other genocides throughout history.

Remembrance. USC students (left to right) Nazanin Yaghoobian, Sam Yebri, Julia Levy Boeken and Raisa Shvartsman light candles Monday night during the 24-hour vigil in honor of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Believing that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, the Armenian Students' Association joined forces with USC Hillel and the Jewish Law Students' Association for the first time to promote awareness, recognition and understanding of the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust and other genocides in two ceremonies and a candlelight vigil held at Tommy Trojan Monday and today.

The Armenian genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians from its beginning on April 24, 1915, to its end in 1923.

The Turkish government does not recognize these deaths as genocide.

It says that disease and famine complicated the conflict between Christian and Muslim forces and that the Armenians' violent political aims rather than their race, ethnicity or religion led to their relocation, according to the Turkish embassy's Web site.

?"The ASA decided to collaborate with USC Hillel and the Jewish Law Students' Association this year to show solidarity against genocide," said Mercedes Aline Arslanian, a sophomore majoring in business administration and a member of the ASA.

"Because we share a common, tragic cause, we decided to pool our resources and broaden our scope to educate people about all crimes against humanity - whether in Armenia, during the Holocaust or in Darfur," ?she said.

Sam Yebri, a third-year law student, co-organized the event on behalf of USC Hillel and the JLSA.

"The goal of the vigil is to raise awareness about current genocides by commemorating the tragedies of the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide together," Yebri said.

"By doing so, not only do we honor and pay tribute to the millions of innocent victims who perished, but we begin to take a role as responsible global citizens," Yebri said. "History has taught us that absolute evil reappears when apathy runs rampant."

The two remembrance days fell next to each other this year, Arslanian said. Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day is April 24, and Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is set by the Jewish lunar calendar, fell on April 25.

The ASA began the commemoration with its own ceremony at noon.

Two guest speakers, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Steven J.

Dadaian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region, addressed students.

"We should always have the undying hope, the perseverance and the courage to give our message about fighting genocide to our youth," Derderian said. "We are freedom fighters who seek justice, and it would be a failure for us to not pass on our history to our youth.

This day shows our continuity in educating students and preventing genocides across the world."?

The ASA also circulated petitions calling for the federal recognition of the Armenian genocide by the U.S. government. The U.S. government still does not recognize the mass murders of Armenians as an official "genocide," although more than 30 American states do. ?

"We want students to understand that recognition of the Armenian genocide is important in recognizing future genocides," said Nerses Ohanyan, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering and mathematics, and the vice president of the ASA. "Recognition of past genocides is essential to stopping governments across the world from committing genocide against their own people in the future."?

Ohanyan said he believes that U.S. business and political interests in Turkey have prevented full recognition of the genocide by the U.S.

government.

?"President (Bush) uses the word 'massacres' instead of genocide," Ohanyan said. "If he recognized the Armenian genocide, he knows Turkey would have to be penalized. The U.S. has political and economic interests in Turkey, and so this issue has been put on hold for 91 years. In a country dedicated to freedom, justice and human rights, we can't let that go." ?

ASA members said it was important for them to share their history with other members of the USC community. ?

"Out of my family, only my great-uncle and my grandfather made it out of Armenia alive," said Serje Martus, a senior majoring in biochemistry, political science and music. "It is my duty to my family to make people understand and recognize the genocide. I will never stop until I accomplish that."

Other students agreed and said that it helped unite the more than 200 Armenians on campus.

"This event brings people together," said Shushan Barsegyan, a sophomore majoring in business administration. "By recognizing other cultures that are here, we also form a stronger USC community."

Alpha Epsilon Omega, the Armenian fraternity on campus, collected donations for its Never-Again campaign at the event. Last year, it raised $10,000 for genocide education organizations.

"This is our second year raising funds to educate people about and get recognition for the Armenian genocide," said Michael Kiaman, a junior majoring in political science and the Never-Again chairman for the fraternity. "This year, we hope to double that amount through donations by people here today, and our members."

The Armenian genocide and Holocaust Candlelight Vigil began at 6 p.m.

on Monday and will end at 6 p.m. today. Organizers read the names of victims of both genocides, and members of the ASA, JLSA and USC Hillel held vigil for the full 24 hours.

"Reading all 6 million names is very important for me," said Ron Rothstain, a doctoral candidate majoring in education and member of USC Hillel.?"My grandparents - as well as the grandparents of many of the people here - were victims of the Holocaust, and it is important for us to remember and respect them 60 years later."

The Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, which begins at noon today, features guest speakers professor Richard Dekmejian, adjunct professor Sharon Gillerman, USC Hillel Rabbi Jonathan Klein, ASA member Gary Prudian and President Emily Eyerman of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur.

ASA, JLSA and USC Hillel organizers hoped to involve all members of the community in recognizing and taking action against genocide today, Yebri said.

"When people look at our generation and say, 'What did you do about the genocide in Darfur?' I want to be able to look back at them and say 'I did what I could,'" ?he said.

Arslanian agreed.

"Before beginning the Holocaust, Hitler assured his advisers that they would get away with it, saying: 'After all, who remembers the annihilation of the Armenians today?' We want people to know that we remember, and that we are committed to ending genocide everywhere."

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