The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: 415-264-4203
Email: [email protected]
January 26, 2015
The Genocide Education Project establishes course at the University of
Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is offering the course, `The Armenian
Experience: History and Culture’ at its Kingston campus for the spring
2015 semester, on Mondays from 4-6:45 pm, beginning January 26th.
As part of its `GenEd-HigherEd’ initiative, The Genocide Education
Project Rhode Island branch co-chairs, Pauline Getzoyan and Esther
Kalajian, developed and proposed the honors seminar course, which went
through a rigorous approval process by the university during the fall
semester. Getzoyan and Kalajian will teach the course, which will focus
on diasporan studies as they relate to the Armenian experience. Topics
will include an understanding of genocide and the implications of
genocide on culture, identity, and religion.
The course will include a robust offering of guest speakers, including
author Chris Bohjalian and filmmaker Talin Avakian, who will speak about
`Literature and Film: An Author’s and Filmmaker’s Responsibility to
Truth ` Exploring history, fiction, and non-fiction;’ Tom Zorabedian,
Assistant Dean of the URI College of Arts and Sciences and the
Harrington School of Communication and Media; Dr. Catherine Sama,
professor of Italian at URI, who will speak about Armenians in the
diaspora with a focus on Italy and about the subject of genocide in
Italian literature and film; George Aghjayan and author/professor Marian
MacCurdy, who will be part of a panel discussing `The Aftermath of
Genocide: the Issue of Denial and Justice Specific to the Armenian
Genocide;’ Berge Zobian, owner of Gallery/Studio Z in Providence, RI,
who will introduce the students to Armenian art and architecture, pre-
and post-Genocide; and Charles Kalajian, who will introduce the students
to Armenian musical instruments and the aural tradition of learning
music, with assistance from Ken Kalajian and Leon Janikian.
“This course, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, is the realization of a ten-year-long dream for us, as
genocide education advocates in the state of Rhode Island,’ said Pauline
Getzoyan. `Through this course, we intend to convey to students the many
layers of history and social experience surrounding the Armenian
Genocide and its aftermath. In doing so, we not only honor the memory of
the victims, but we seek to help students make more informed choices as
they become global citizens confronted with related issues.’
Funding for the course’s guest speakers is being generously provided by
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR),
Varnum Paul Fund. Additional financial support is generously provided by
The Ararat Association of Rhode Island. URI Music Department chair,
Joseph Parillo, is credited with promoting the development of the course
within the university.
The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and
genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and
distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching
resources and organizing educational workshops.
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