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GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EDUCATION RESOLUTION
Friday, September 12th, 2014
http://asbarez.com/126940/glendale-community-college-unanimously-passes-armenian-genocide-education-resolution/
GCC Board during Tuesday's vote
Challenges Neighboring College Districts to Do the Same
GLENDALE--On Tuesday, September 9, the Glendale Community College
Board of Trustees, following the lead of LACCD Board of Trustees,
adopted a resolution designating the month of April 2015 as "Glendale
Community College Month of Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide of 1915" reported the Armenian National
Committee of America - Western Region.
The resolution also incorporates Armenian Genocide education and
awareness as part of discussions and campus activities, and calls on
the United States President to work toward equitable, constructive,
stable, and durable Armenian- Turkish relations based upon the Republic
of Turkey's full acknowledgment, with reparations, of the facts and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and
comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.
"The community thanks the Board of Trustees and President Viar for
their leadership. This resolution will definitely serve as a reminder
of the atrocities that should never be repeated and at the same time
assist educators, students as well as the community in general not
just about the facts, but also about the bitter consequences suffered
by many generations," stated ANCA Glendale Chair, Artin Manoukian.
At the beginning of the public comments portion Manoukian took the
podium on behalf of the organization and stated "For a variety of
reasons, the Armenian Genocide has fallen out of collective memory.
Since it was perpetrated, Armenians have been continuously subjected to
the final stage of genocide by the perpetrators and their successors:
denial. We need to preserve this chapter of history as part of our
consciousness in order to prevent genocide deniers from succeeding
in completing the full cycle of genocide. This resolution is a
promising step in that direction...All college students should be
familiar with modern world history no matter what their course of
study. Study of 20th Century world history would be incomplete without
familiarity with the Armenian Genocide, its impact on global events,
and subsequent genocides then, and also the manner in which it has
shaped and affected the Armenian American community of California,"
prior to urging the Board to unanimously adopt the resolution.
Following Manoukian, ANCA Western Region Executive Director Elen
Asatryan thanked the GCC Board of Trustees for their leadership
and went on to note that in early 2014 the organization launched
an initiative, America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near
East Relief, timed for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, to
recognize the outpouring of generosity by the American people in the
immediate aftermath of the Armenian Genocide and to honor the efforts
of Near East Relief in rescuing and providing assistance to hundreds of
thousands of men, women and children who were victims of the Genocide.
Asatryan concluded her remarks by extending a partnership offering
to the college and stated "We are thrilled to also see incorporation
of Near East Relief in this resolution and look forward to having our
America We Thank You Committee partner with Glendale Community College
in spreading awareness about the first massive US humanitarian effort
and this important part of not just Armenian History, but American
History."
Several local students also spoke in support of the resolution in
the packed auditorium prior to the Board's discussion on the item.
After closing the public comments portion, Board President Vahe
Peroomian introduced the resolution and called for a motion of
approval. Trustee Armine Hacopian made the motion to approve, which
was seconded by Board Clerk Anita Quinonez Gabrielian.
"I am delighted that we have reached this point at this College. My
father and his brother were raised in two different orphanages from age
4 because they had watched their parents be killed before their eyes,
and each thought the other was killed. So this is a true story, not
something people have made up," stated Hacopian during her comments
while Gabrielian noted "I wholeheartedly support this resolution
with the acknowledgement that education and awareness is the first
step in making sure that Genocide does not happen again and so I am
proud to support it."
Their sentiments were echoed first by Board Vice President Tony
Tartaglia who stated "As a non-Armenian, I was affected by the
Genocide as well. I did not have grandparents after the age of
10. I lived in the San Fernando Valley and had a very good friend in
elementary school that happened to be half Armenian. His grandmother
went through the last of the Genocide in the 1920s and she told me
stories of what she went through. So I consider this woman Anoush my
grandmother, who had to change her name because they lived in Turkey
and at that time you couldn't carry an Armenian name. At the age of 4,
she watched her whole family be killed. As the bodies fell on her,
she only survived only because they walked away and thought she
was dead under the bodies. So the Armenian Genocide effected a lot
of people, including non-Armenians. I am very thrilled to see this
happen," followed by Trustee Ann Ransford who noted "I also support
this resolution. The education is so important because unfortunately
we are experiencing in this day and time Genocides in our world.
Taking the leadership and this kind of a position for our board and
for our country is very important."
Prior to taking a vote, President Peroomian challenged neighboring
college districts Pasadena, Rio Hando, Santa Clarita to also pass
an Armenian Genocide Resolution and start a wave passing such
resolutions. Trustee Hacopian took it a step further, challenging
Peroomian to challenge all the college districts. Peroomian accepted
the suggestion. The Board of Trustees then took a vote of 6-0 in
passing the resolution.
Friday, September 12th, 2014
http://asbarez.com/126940/glendale-community-college-unanimously-passes-armenian-genocide-education-resolution/
GCC Board during Tuesday's vote
Challenges Neighboring College Districts to Do the Same
GLENDALE--On Tuesday, September 9, the Glendale Community College
Board of Trustees, following the lead of LACCD Board of Trustees,
adopted a resolution designating the month of April 2015 as "Glendale
Community College Month of Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide of 1915" reported the Armenian National
Committee of America - Western Region.
The resolution also incorporates Armenian Genocide education and
awareness as part of discussions and campus activities, and calls on
the United States President to work toward equitable, constructive,
stable, and durable Armenian- Turkish relations based upon the Republic
of Turkey's full acknowledgment, with reparations, of the facts and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and
comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity.
"The community thanks the Board of Trustees and President Viar for
their leadership. This resolution will definitely serve as a reminder
of the atrocities that should never be repeated and at the same time
assist educators, students as well as the community in general not
just about the facts, but also about the bitter consequences suffered
by many generations," stated ANCA Glendale Chair, Artin Manoukian.
At the beginning of the public comments portion Manoukian took the
podium on behalf of the organization and stated "For a variety of
reasons, the Armenian Genocide has fallen out of collective memory.
Since it was perpetrated, Armenians have been continuously subjected to
the final stage of genocide by the perpetrators and their successors:
denial. We need to preserve this chapter of history as part of our
consciousness in order to prevent genocide deniers from succeeding
in completing the full cycle of genocide. This resolution is a
promising step in that direction...All college students should be
familiar with modern world history no matter what their course of
study. Study of 20th Century world history would be incomplete without
familiarity with the Armenian Genocide, its impact on global events,
and subsequent genocides then, and also the manner in which it has
shaped and affected the Armenian American community of California,"
prior to urging the Board to unanimously adopt the resolution.
Following Manoukian, ANCA Western Region Executive Director Elen
Asatryan thanked the GCC Board of Trustees for their leadership
and went on to note that in early 2014 the organization launched
an initiative, America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near
East Relief, timed for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, to
recognize the outpouring of generosity by the American people in the
immediate aftermath of the Armenian Genocide and to honor the efforts
of Near East Relief in rescuing and providing assistance to hundreds of
thousands of men, women and children who were victims of the Genocide.
Asatryan concluded her remarks by extending a partnership offering
to the college and stated "We are thrilled to also see incorporation
of Near East Relief in this resolution and look forward to having our
America We Thank You Committee partner with Glendale Community College
in spreading awareness about the first massive US humanitarian effort
and this important part of not just Armenian History, but American
History."
Several local students also spoke in support of the resolution in
the packed auditorium prior to the Board's discussion on the item.
After closing the public comments portion, Board President Vahe
Peroomian introduced the resolution and called for a motion of
approval. Trustee Armine Hacopian made the motion to approve, which
was seconded by Board Clerk Anita Quinonez Gabrielian.
"I am delighted that we have reached this point at this College. My
father and his brother were raised in two different orphanages from age
4 because they had watched their parents be killed before their eyes,
and each thought the other was killed. So this is a true story, not
something people have made up," stated Hacopian during her comments
while Gabrielian noted "I wholeheartedly support this resolution
with the acknowledgement that education and awareness is the first
step in making sure that Genocide does not happen again and so I am
proud to support it."
Their sentiments were echoed first by Board Vice President Tony
Tartaglia who stated "As a non-Armenian, I was affected by the
Genocide as well. I did not have grandparents after the age of
10. I lived in the San Fernando Valley and had a very good friend in
elementary school that happened to be half Armenian. His grandmother
went through the last of the Genocide in the 1920s and she told me
stories of what she went through. So I consider this woman Anoush my
grandmother, who had to change her name because they lived in Turkey
and at that time you couldn't carry an Armenian name. At the age of 4,
she watched her whole family be killed. As the bodies fell on her,
she only survived only because they walked away and thought she
was dead under the bodies. So the Armenian Genocide effected a lot
of people, including non-Armenians. I am very thrilled to see this
happen," followed by Trustee Ann Ransford who noted "I also support
this resolution. The education is so important because unfortunately
we are experiencing in this day and time Genocides in our world.
Taking the leadership and this kind of a position for our board and
for our country is very important."
Prior to taking a vote, President Peroomian challenged neighboring
college districts Pasadena, Rio Hando, Santa Clarita to also pass
an Armenian Genocide Resolution and start a wave passing such
resolutions. Trustee Hacopian took it a step further, challenging
Peroomian to challenge all the college districts. Peroomian accepted
the suggestion. The Board of Trustees then took a vote of 6-0 in
passing the resolution.