Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

3 hours ago

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

3 hours ago

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

3 hours ago

Paramount Settles With Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview for $16 Million

3 hours ago

Republicans Tee up House Vote on Trump Bill, Outcome Uncertain

3 hours ago

What’s Next for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs After His Sex Trafficking Trial?

4 hours ago

Dalai Lama Says He Will Be Reincarnated, Trust Will Identify Successor

4 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

2 days ago
Fresno State President Refuses Armenian Students' Demand to Cancel Event
NANCY WEBSITE HEADSHOT 1
By Nancy Price, Multimedia Journalist
Published 3 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

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

US Judge Blocks Trump Asylum Ban at US-Mexico Border, Says He Exceeded Authority

DON'T MISS

Fresno Fire Investigators Seek Public’s Help in Arson Case

DON'T MISS

CHP Officer Dies in Line of Duty After Medical Emergency While on Patrol

DON'T MISS

From Victims to Perpetrators: Israeli Soldiers’ Nazi Comparisons and the Unfolding War Crimes in Gaza

DON'T MISS

Downtown Housing Could Rise in Many California Cities, but Barriers Remain

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Murders of Four Idaho Students

DON'T MISS

Dear Mayor and City Council, Fresno’s Housing Bottlenecks Are a Modern Form of Redlining

DON'T MISS

Iran Enacts Law Suspending Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog

DON'T MISS

Valley Children’s Goes Into News Business to Highlight Stories at the Hospital

DON'T MISS

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

UP NEXT

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

UP NEXT

Why Is Usually Sleepy Fresno County Schools Superintendent Race Suddenly Hot?

UP NEXT

What Does the Fresno County Schools Superintendent Do? Read This Q&A to Find Out

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Faces Lawsuit Alleging Years of Neglect and Sexual Abuse at Fancher Creek

UP NEXT

FTA Unloads on Fresno Unified After Skipping External Search for Chief Academic Officer

UP NEXT

This Fresno Family Had Six Graduations, Ranging From Pre-K to High School

UP NEXT

Fresno Area’s Newest College Grads Boast Nearly $24 Billion in Earning Power

UP NEXT

Immigration Raids Add to Absence Crisis for Valley Schools

UP NEXT

Youth Invited to Unplug, Connect With Nature at Day Camp in Auberry

UP NEXT

Fresno State Matches the Scholarships for 25 FUSD Students

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

From Victims to Perpetrators: Israeli Soldiers’ Nazi Comparisons and the Unfolding War Crimes in Gaza

1 hour ago

Downtown Housing Could Rise in Many California Cities, but Barriers Remain

2 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Murders of Four Idaho Students

2 hours ago

Dear Mayor and City Council, Fresno’s Housing Bottlenecks Are a Modern Form of Redlining

2 hours ago

Iran Enacts Law Suspending Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog

2 hours ago

Valley Children’s Goes Into News Business to Highlight Stories at the Hospital

3 hours ago

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

3 hours ago

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

3 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Logan Ryan Martin

3 hours ago

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

3 hours ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Asylum Ban at US-Mexico Border, Says He Exceeded Authority

WASHINGTON – A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s asylum ban at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying Trump ex...

23 minutes ago

A drone view of the Rio Grande River between Mexico and the United States in Presidio County, Texas, U.S., February 24, 2025. (Reuters File)
23 minutes ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Asylum Ban at US-Mexico Border, Says He Exceeded Authority

Fresno Fire officials are seeking help identifying a person of interest after a Thursday, June 26, 2025, house fire near Shields and Valentine was ruled arson. (Fresno FD)
55 minutes ago

Fresno Fire Investigators Seek Public’s Help in Arson Case

A California Highway Patrol officer died early Wednesday, July 2, 2025, after a suspected medical emergency caused his patrol vehicle to crash in Los Angeles. (CHP)
1 hour ago

CHP Officer Dies in Line of Duty After Medical Emergency While on Patrol

A general view shows destruction in North Gaza, as seen from Israel, May 27, 2025 (REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
1 hour ago

From Victims to Perpetrators: Israeli Soldiers’ Nazi Comparisons and the Unfolding War Crimes in Gaza

San Francisco Housing Development
2 hours ago

Downtown Housing Could Rise in Many California Cities, but Barriers Remain

Bryan Kohberger, right, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, is escorted into a courtroom to appear at a hearing in Latah County District Court, in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., September 13, 2023. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Murders of Four Idaho Students

2 hours ago

Dear Mayor and City Council, Fresno’s Housing Bottlenecks Are a Modern Form of Redlining

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Iran Enacts Law Suspending Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend