Armenian organization continues traditions, education

Monday, June 3, 1996

Members of student group say an important goal is to preserve
their cultural ties

By Patrick Marantal

Daily Bruin Staff

For students, coming to college can be a trying time. Worries
occasionally arise about meeting people with similar interests and
backgrounds in a new environment.

A need to understand their heritage lead a significant number of
students to join community groups like the Armenian Student
Association (ASA).

Such was the case for Ramella Grigorian, social and cultural
coordinator and newly elected president of the organization.

"Personally, I’ve grown up in the Armenian community. I was
scared by going to UCLA that I would lose touch with my Armenian
ties," said Grigorian, who joined the group as a first-year
student. "By joining ASA, it was like a home away from home."

The student advocacy group has been active on the UCLA campus
since the 1940s.

The early history of the organization remains unknown to current
members because their predecessors did not leave archives,
according to Gia Aivazia, librarian of the Armenian collections at
the undergraduate research library.

"It’s a natural thing for people of ethnic groups to gravitate
toward each other," added Aivazia, also a former president of the
group during the late 1960s. "It must have existed when the first
Armenian students showed up on campus."

Since its inception, the group’s main focus has been providing
knowledge to members about Armenian history in order to maintain
ties with their heritage.

"The main mission is to always keep the bond among the Armenian
students very strong because it’s very easy to forget your
(heritage) … since there are many important things going on,"
said president Zareh Sinanyan. "Armenians can get together, talk
and socialize and know each other."

The organization also tries to educate other students about
Armenian history, Sinanyan added

With an active membership of about 200 students, the group
carries out its mission statement of "keep(ing) the bond among the
Armenian students" through fundraisers, exhibits and marches, both
on and off campus.

A portion of funds raised by the group’s events go toward
different organizations, including those that support disadvantaged
children, according to Sinanyan.

This year, the group has participates and organized other campus
events to promote knowledge of Armenian history.

The association participated in last month’s Worldfest, a series
of campus events celebrating multiculturalism. Members of the
organization handed out pamphlets on Armenian history, provided
food and entertained passerbys with a dance performance.

In addition, the group organized an art exhibit two weeks ago
called "Bless the Children and the Animals," by 13-year old Hayk
Manukyan, in the Getty Museum. While the art was not necessarily
Armenian, the exhibit provided the organization another opportunity
to come together.

Perhaps the most important yearly event, in many members’ eyes,
is Genocide Awareness Day. On April 24, about 200 black-clad
students marched in silence from the Plaza Building through
campus.

The date commemorates the Armenian genocide that was perpetrated
by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 against the Armenians, according to
Ida Kulukian, the group’s director of publicity.

Organizers hoped that the silent march would make people aware
of the genocide and educate the campus community about Armenian
history.

"(This year) we gathered. We had members of the faculty there.
We had somebody representing the Armenian church," Kulukian added.
"And then we marched along the campus. The main thing this year was
(providing) information."

Armenians not involved in the present organization noted the
group’s continuing dedication to the Armenian community.

"We have had ups and downs with this group … I don’t know how
much (members) are involved," Aivazia said. "But they care very
much.

"Sometimes, it is very strong. Sometimes, it’s less strong. But
the continuity was there," she added. "And it carries a great deal
of responsibility on the shoulders of the new."

ANDREW SCHOLER/Daily Bruin

As part of their push for public awareness, ASA members marched
to commemorate Armenian Genocide Day on April 24, 1996.

The student advocacy group has been active on the UCLA campus
since the 1940s.