Daily Trojan Online, Univ. of Southern California
April 22 2005

Students remember genocide

Armenian Student Association holds event to remember tragedy, but
also urges students to be politically aware.
By Christina Huh

The Armenian Student Association gathered at Tommy Trojan Thursday
to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and to spread
awareness of other genocides.

“The purpose is to educate people about (the genocide) and to spread
awareness about genocide in general,” said Nerses Ohanyan, a junior
majoring in mathematics and aerospace engineering.

The theme of the event was “raising awareness of genocide through
recognition,” said Barouir Yeretzian, a freshman majoring in business
administration and a member of ASA who helped organize the event.

Among those who spoke at the event was Father Vasken, a priest involved
with ASA, who emphasized the need to recognize the Armenian genocide
to prevent future genocides.

“Basically the first step in stopping genocide is recognizing the
first genocide of the 21st century,” Yeretzian said.

Armenian folk dancers and musical performances of Armenian folk songs
and featured compositions by Armenian composer Komitsa.

Bracelets with “Justice 1915” printed on them were passed out to
students, and T-shirts that said, “1.5 million killed, zero held
accountable” were sold.

“I remember one student was appalled with what I was telling her,”
Yeretzian said. “As I was putting the bracelet on her, she was like
‘how can I not know about this?'”

The student response to the event was positive, Yeretzian said.

“It was good to see people know what’s going on and care about it,”
he said.

ASA president Ani Avetisyan read a letter from Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger affirming California’s recognition of the genocide.
Last year, in an executive proclamation, Schwarzenegger declared
April 24 as a “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide.”

Although the U.S. government has not recognized the genocide, former
California Gov. Pete Wilson officially recognized the genocide in a
1994 executive proclamation, making California the only state to do so.

The House of Representatives passed legislation establishing trade
relations with Armenia, which was seen as a move toward recognition.
But in order for the U.S. government to officially recognize the
genocide, the Senate also has to recognize it.

Ohanyan hopes students from different states who attended the event
“pressure their senators into recognizing the genocide.”

The Armenian genocide, which began in 1915, was the systematic
elimination of Armenians through starvation and death marches by the
Turkish government. It began April 24 with the killing of Armenian
leaders.

The Turkish government has not recognized the genocide.

“By ignoring past genocides, we’re allowing other genocides to occur,”
Ohanyan said, referencing a quote by Adolf Hitler before Germany
invaded Poland: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of
the Armenians?”

Members of ASA will join other members of the Armenian community at
an annual protest at the Turkish Embassy.