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NY-Yerevan Vidconf Connects Armenian Uni. Students on Many Levels

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  • NY-Yerevan Vidconf Connects Armenian Uni. Students on Many Levels

    AGBU Press Office
    55 East 59th Street
    New York, NY 10022-1112
    Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
    Fax: 212.319.6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.agbu.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    Tuesday, June 30, 2009

    New York-Yerevan Videoconference Connects Armenian University Students
    on Many Levels

    On March 14, over 40 Armenian university students from five universities
    in Armenia and six universities in the greater New York area took part
    in the first-ever New York-Yerevan student video conference, organized
    by AGBU's Armenian Students Forum (ASF) and the AGBU Young Professionals
    of Yerevan.

    Representing various college levels and majors, participants came from
    Yerevan State University, the French University, the Russian-Armenian
    (Slavonic) University, Yerevan State Pedagogical University and the
    Yerevan State University of Economics in Armenia, and Columbia
    University, Hofstra University, Hunter College, Nassau Community
    College, Queens College, and Rutgers University in the United States.
    The discussion of issues concerned Armenian students today, with
    emphasis placed on the differences between student life in Armenia and
    the US.

    After a brief introduction, the American students were able to
    familiarize themselves with the practices of higher education in Armenia
    directly from their peers and to relay to them their experiences of
    college learning. Apart from the structure of education, the students
    also discussed less formal subjects such as gender perceptions, family
    roles, job prospects, the global economic crisis as well as the
    elections in Armenia and America and their implications for Armenian
    students. Topics such as stereotypes of diasporan Armenians and
    "Hayastantsis" (Armenians from Armenia) and cultural differences were
    made evident at some points and created some enlightening moments.

    Shant Dosttur, a sophomore at Nassau Community College in Garden City,
    NY, said, "As we began to speak about things related to school and
    leisure time, the awkwardness began to dissolve, and I started to see
    that both our groups relate." The students also discussed perspectives
    and views regarding Armenian Genocide recognition and its importance on
    a global scale, highlighting the difference in the consequences of the
    outcome for those living across the border from Turkey, as opposed to
    those living an ocean away. The relations between diasporan Armenians
    and natives of Armenia weighed heavily in the discussion, and great hope
    was expressed for increased collaboration between the two. "Bonds
    created among students in different parts of the world will encourage
    Armenians throughout the world, especially the young generation, to go
    visit their homeland," expressed Nane Ghazarian, a junior at Hunter
    College in New York City.

    Not surprisingly, after some time, both groups of students soon saw
    their discussion proceed along a more lighthearted, humorous vein, and
    inevitably the forum was punctuated by a number of witty jokes and
    anecdotes. The atmosphere of what evolved into a three-hour cultural
    exchange was well described by Henry Dumanian, a sophomore at Hunter
    College, who said, "I constantly hear about 'the people of Armenia' as
    if they were some distant people. This conference put a face to them and
    gave them voices. It also helped us see that even though we live an
    ocean and two continents away, we share the same concerns and hopes for
    our nation."

    This unique event proved to be an excellent opportunity for many of the
    students to feel more connected to their peers living on the other side
    of the Atlantic and to feel more strongly the bond that is shared by all
    students, no matter where they are in the world. "It was a very
    interesting experience, a chance to get to know better the Armenian
    young people in the U.S. We are willing to participate in another
    meeting if there is a chance," Yerevan students Lusine Iskandaryan and
    Ani Nargizyan expressed collaboratively.

    Formed under the guidance of the University Outreach division of AGBU's
    Education Department, the Armenian Students' Forum (ASF) fosters
    cooperation among the various university student groups in an effort to
    establish a united front of Armenian student organizations. While
    helping to raise awareness of Armenian issues, it provides a platform
    for future collaborative opportunities. To date, the ASF has drawn
    support from the Armenian student groups of seven universities in the
    NY/NJ area, having encouraged the creation of two of those groups
    (Fordham University and Hunter College). The group meets monthly with
    the hopes of creating a viable platform for interaction, communication,
    information-sharing, and joint planning of educational, professional and
    social events between the constituent groups.

    Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
    non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
    preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
    educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some
    400,000 Armenians on six continents.
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