Hye Sharzhoom Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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Pateel Mekhitarian

Dr. Dickran Kouymjian

May 2009 • Vol. 30, No. 4 (106)

Zhanna Bagdasarov

Arakel Arisian

Hye Sharzhoom is an ethnic supplement to The Collegian, the Fresno State campus newspaper. Hye Sharzhoom is published quarterly, covering special Armenian events at Fresno State and in the community. The goal of Hye Sharzhoom is to inform the public about what is occurring with Armenian students on campus, and to report on events that have occurred in Fresno. The Armenian Students Organization and the Armenian Studies Program are involved in the process of writing, editing, and preparing articles published in the paper.  This year celebrates a milestone for Hye Sharzhoom, its 30th anniversary, which symbolizes the strong maintenance of the Armenian culture in society today. 

Armenian Studies courses have been offered at Fresno State since the 1960s, before Hye Sharzhoom came into existence. After interviewing Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies Emeritus, who established the Armenian Studies Program in 1977, and also was instrumental in establishing Hye Sharzhoom, I learned a lot about the beginnings of the paper. 

In 1976, Dr. Kouymjian was recruited to Fresno from Paris, where he was living at the time, after teaching eight years in Cairo and Beirut.  He sought a method to attract the Armenian students on campus, to get involved with fellow Armenians, take Armenian classes, and start a successful program. In order to achieve this goal, Dr. Kouymjian decided to petition the Student Senate to request permission to start an Armenian newspaper. At the same time, African-American and Hispanic students already had student supplements. 

Thanks to Dr. Kouymjian, Hye Sharzhoom was first published in April 1979. I contacted Dr. Kouymjian to ask him some questions regarding the paper. “I chose the paper’s name, Hye Sharzhoom, inspired by an important militant newspaper started in Paris in 1975 call Hay Baikar, Armenian Struggle,” stated Kouymjian, “At first we translatedHye Sharzhoom by Armenian Movement, but after some kidding about ‘what kind of movement,’ I changed it to Armenian Action. From the beginning I wanted those involved in the paper and those who eventually would read the paper to feel engaged in Armenian life not only locally, but also internationally.”

Hye Sharzhoom quickly became a success, with journalism students aiding in writing articles. In the first academic year of production, most students in Armenian Studies courses and those involved in the Armenian Students Organization were contributing to the paper. Mark Malkasian and Mark Najarian were the first editors of the Hye Sharzhoom. When I asked Mr. Malkasian about the significance of the paper, he responded with pride. “Hye Sharzhoom gave voice to Armenian youth like no other institution I’ve ever been part of. Although Prof. Kouymjian was responsible for getting the newspaper off the ground, he gave students the freedom to take ownership of the editorial content. Hye Sharzhoom helped put Fresno State on the map in the Armenian Diaspora.”

Because of Dr. Kouymjian’s efforts, many students who worked on the newspaper have benefited from it — whether from writing, editing, or taking photos. Dr. Kouymjian was the advisor for the paper for the first six years, and then was joined by Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, who has been the advisor of the Hye Sharzhoom until today. 

Many editors and writers have taken a lot away from being a part of the Hye Sharzhoom team. Editors such as Mark Malkasian (1979-1980), Bill Erysian (1979-1980), Arakel Arisian (1998), and Zhanna Bagdasarov (2005-2007) have put great effort into both maintaining the level of the paper and enhancing reader interest.

Zhanna Bagdasarov began contributing to the publication during her first semester of her freshman year, but it wasn’t until she became the editor that she realized how many people enjoy reading it and take pride in its existence. “Letters from grateful readers often filled my email inbox commenting on the high caliber of the publication,” she said, “Many claimed that they impatiently awaited the arrival of Hye Sharzhoom to stay connected with Fresno and the Armenian Studies Program, while others looked forward to learning something new about the Armenian culture and people.”

For Arakel Arisian, involvement with Hye Sharzhoom began when he was a freshman and joined the staff as a writer. “Writing for Hye Sharzhoom had a profound impact on my college experience,” said Arisian, “Not only did I improve my writing skills and learn the process behind creating a newspaper, but I also was able to better analyze current events and issues affecting the Armenians.” Arisian says that the newspaper creates learning opportunities for students, and that “Hye Sharzhoom strengthens the connection between the Armenian Studies Program and the Armenian community throughout the world.”

Thanks to these devoted Fresno State students, the newspaper has remained strong throughout the years. The existence of Hye Sharzhoom has allowed the community to stay involved with events organized by the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State.

Hye Sharzhoom has made such a profound difference for the Armenian students at Fresno State, and the Armenian community in general. Although the amount of effort necessary for the production of the paper is enormous for the editors, production staff, and the advisors, the work is worth all of the effort. At one time, the circulation reached 8,000 copies, which is far above the standard campus newspaper. The paper is being distributed to more than 20 countries, including Armenia, and countries in the Middle East, and Europe. 

When asked about the evolution of the paper, Dr. Kouymjian said, “Years ago I used to boast that Hye Sharzhoom was the only regularly published Armenian university student newspaper in the world or that it is the longest continuously published Armenian student publication anywhere at any time. Though all of this is even truer today after thirty years, still the most important functions of the newspaper are its outreach to the community, covering the dynamic activities of the Program and the University, and as a training ground for our students in the experience of news making and reporting.

The Hye Sharzhoom is currently a cherished part of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State. The newspaper was a definite success in bringing the Armenian students together on campus, and has far exceeded the initial expectations. This widely read Armenian newspaper is unique and very special. Thanks to the editors, staff writers, and advisors from throughout the years, we have managed to educate the public about our treasured culture. Most importantly, this paper has allowed Fresno State students to preserve and remember our beautiful Armenian roots. For these reasons, we today celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hye Sharzhoom. 

 

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