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| Senate Hears Sensitive Genocide Resolution; Denounces Fraternity Flyer | ||||||
| The AS Senate met Wednesday to consider a resolution acknowledging the Armenian genocide and to discuss plans for better academic advising for students. | ||||||
| Shant Baboujian, an Armenian student at CSULB, gave a report urging the Senate to write a resolution acknowledging the Armenian genocide, which, notably, was the first genocide of the twentieth-century, starting in 1915.� The genocide, Baboujian said, "took place because of the Christian minority living in a predominantly Muslim region," and also noted that the genocide was led by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman Empire.� According to Baboujian, Adolf Hitler used the Armenian genocide as a "stepping stone" for the Holocaust, and quoted Hitler as saying "Who, after all, remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?" | ||||||
| The report Baboujian made was met with mixed feelings from the Senate.� Guido Piotti, vice president of the Senate, said, "because [the genocide] is a social issue, it makes it a tender subject, since the Senate is a representative of [CSULB]."� Dr. Harvey N. Morley, criminal justice professor, agreed with Piotti and suggested, "perhaps the Senate should pass a general genocide resolution, so as not to offend other sensitive groups."� Baboujian noted that while only thirty-one states in the US have recognized the genocide, most of Europe already has, and he also told the Senate that "this is not a political issue, rather, this is about human beings."� Also according to Baboujian, approximately "1.5 million Armenians died in the genocide."� The Senate agreed to leave the topic open for discussion and will vote on it at a later date. | ||||||
| Another large issue of discussion at the Senate meeting was a report by Dr. Simon Kim, interim Senior Director for Advising & Retention Services.� Dr. Kim spoke of a study sponsored by ASI that will be conducted next year "to find out exactly why students drop out [of college]," and noted that the average time it takes for a student to graduate is 5.2-years.� Kim hopes to improve academic advising and supports the creation of "4-, 5-, and 6-year plans" that students can choose depending on how much time they have to focus on school as opposed to other things, such as work. | ||||||
| Daniel Rukhman, senator-at-large for cultural organizations, voiced his support for better academic advising, as well as Erik Jolliff, senator-at-large for Greek organizations, who said "organizational commitments can have an adverse effect on academics, making students' education suffer."� Jolliff also noted that it is "key for Student Life & Development and the Academic Advising Center to get involved [and improve the advising process for students]." | ||||||
| In other news, Kemi Are, a black senior, expressed her disgust over a flyer that was distributed by the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.� The flyer, which depicts a black man holding a hat covering his genitalia, advertises an "auction" that will be held at the fraternity's house later this month.� Are, while addressing the Senate, became emotionally distraught due to the seeming insensitivity of the flyer, and fought to hold back tears. | ||||||
| Aaron Sanchez, senator of the arts and member of Delta Chi fraternity, said he was "extremely disgusted by the flyer."� Jeremy Harris, senator-at-large of religious organizations and president of the Delta Chi fraternity, as well as Senator Jolliff, echoed Sanchez's sentiments. | ||||||
| Copyright Gerry Wachovsky, 2003, and Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. | ||||||
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