Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno State President Refuses Armenian Students' Demand to Cancel Event
gvw_nancy_price
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 2 years ago on
November 9, 2022

Share

The Armenian Students Organization at Fresno State demanded that the university’s International Office cancel an event scheduled for Tuesday “celebrating” the nation of Azerbaijan.

“Though our organization respects and is tolerant of all cultures and beliefs, we are not willing to accept the fact that there will be a Fresno State sponsored event ‘celebrating’ a country that is currently guilty of numerous war crimes against the state of Armenia and the Armenian people,” the organization wrote in a message to the International Office.

The event is part of a series of International Coffee Hours scheduled on Tuesdays. Prior International Coffee Hours featured programs about the Bahamas, Serbia, Italy, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

The Armenian Students Organization message called out the speaker, identified by the International Office as “Nargiz Zeynavola,” as being “guilty of the very propaganda we seek to eliminate against the Armenian people.”

A short profile on the Fresno State International Office website identifies the Azerbaijan student as Nargiz Zeynalova, who is studying for her bachelor of fine arts degree with a major in 2D animation. Zeynalova could not be reached for comment,

Freedom of Speech for All

In a written response to the Armenian Students Organization’s demand, university President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said that while he feels kindredship with Armenian students and the Armenian community and shared their concerns about the event promoting Azerbaijan, “I cannot legally prohibit the presentation — I must uphold the freedom of speech that is so integral to the democracy of our country, and the discourse in which we must engage as an academic institution.”

But while he wouldn’t cancel Tuesday’s event, Jiménez-Sandoval said he was committing his “full support” to a series of history lessons that would examine the “unjustified” war of Azerbaijan against Armenia, “so that the truth about the conflict may be understood and known, and so justice be brought to light.”

University spokeswoman Lisa Bell said there is no information yet about the lectures.

“Details about this series, which will be led by the Armenian Studies Program, will be shared when they become available,” she said Tuesday.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Where Does Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer Stand on School Bonds?

UP NEXT

College Application Deadlines Are Near. What You Need to Know.

UP NEXT

LGBTQ2+ Ally Honors Daughter with Planned Gift to Support Fresno State Students 

UP NEXT

How Much Has Fresno Unified Gotten in State Matching Funds for Facilities Projects?

UP NEXT

$1M Grant Helps Fresno Pacific Center Support Children’s Faith Development

UP NEXT

Fresno State Generates $1B in Economic Activity: Study

UP NEXT

Fresno County Schools Superintendent Says Ventana Hills’ Exit Isn’t in Sierra Unified’s Best Interests

UP NEXT

Is a Dog Park in This Fresno School’s Future?

UP NEXT

Chowchilla Prison Inmates Swap Prison Garb for College Caps and Gowns in Emotional Graduation

UP NEXT

These Fresno State Students Are Using Virtual Reality to Poke Around Inside Brains

Nancy Price,
Multimedia Journalist
Nancy Price is a multimedia journalist for GV Wire. A longtime reporter and editor who has worked for newspapers in California, Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Kansas, Nancy joined GV Wire in July 2019. She previously worked as an assistant metro editor for 13 years at The Fresno Bee. Nancy earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her hobbies include singing with the Fresno Master Chorale and volunteering with Fresno Filmworks. You can reach Nancy at 559-492-4087 or Send an Email

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

10 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

11 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

23 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

23 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

23 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

23 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

24 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

24 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

24 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

1 day ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

9 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

9 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

10 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

11 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

23 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

23 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

23 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend