ANC-OC sends letters to the Administration of UCI and CSULB regarding their faculty, the Universities’
position on the Armenian Genocide and in support of the UCI ASA.
On Tuesday May 23, 2006 the Armenian Student Association at the University of California at Irvine was
called before the Student Judicial Affairs Council for an alleged violation of the University’s Physical Abuse
policy, claimed by a small Turkish group, who protested the ASA’s Armenian Genocide Commemoration
event that took place on April 24, 2006.
On the evening of April 24th, 2006 while Yeghzapet Garabedyan a 92 year old Genocide survivor was
speaking, this small group of protestors began waving a Turkish flag screaming “liar,” “the Armenians killed
the Turks,” and a barrage of obscenities. Their chants and screams grew louder as they approached the
crowd attending the commemoration event. Although their numbers were small, approximately 5 or 6, they still
attempted to disrupt the solemn event. UCI Campus Police were called by attendees at the commemoration
event. Ms. Garabedyan continued her remarks undisturbed against the backdrop of flashing police lights
once the officers had arrived.
As the small Turkish group attempted to walk towards the Commemoration, the UCI Campus Police asked
them to stop, where they continued to yell at those gathered to remember the memory of the 1.5 million
victims of the Armenian Genocide. Some members from the crowd exchanged words with the protestors.
The protestors were eventually escorted from the commemoration by UCI Campus Police. No charges were
filed and no arrests were made.
Unsuccessful in their effort to disrupt the Armenian Genocide Commemoration and in a shameless act of
desperation, one of the protestors chose to file a complaint against the UCI Armenian Student Association
claiming that the student association had violated the University’s physical abuse policy. If the allegations
were true, the UCI ASA would have been suspended as an accredited student organization at the university
and been unable to organize any future Armenian Genocide related events. The individual who filed the
complaint, Vuslat Demirkoparan, is also a Teacher’s Aid (TA) at UCI and has close ties with the Turkish
Student Association at California State Long Beach.
Also involved was Professor Tulin Mangir from California State University Long Beach. Professor Mangir is
currently the faculty advisor to the Turkish Students Association at CSULB. She has been the Vice President
of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and was a winner of the 2002 Women of
Distinction Award from The Daughters of Ataturk. Professor Mangir wrote an open letter to Chancellor Drake
at UCI condemning the Genocide commemoration event, labeling Armenian organizations as terrorists,
accusing Armenians of perpetrating a genocide against Turks, and stating that the Armenian Genocide was a
fabricated claim perpetuated by “bought” politicians.
The Armenian National Committee of Orange County got involved immediately, met with representatives of
the UCI ASA and drafted letters, including supplemental materials, to be sent to UCI and CSULB. On Friday,
May 19, 2006 the letters and materials were delivered to Chancellor Drake and Vice Chancellor Gomez of
UCI. Copies were also sent to Chairman Parsky of the UC Board of Regents and Lt. Governor Cruz
Bustamante, who is an ex-officio member of the UC Regents. ANC-OC asked that all baseless allegations
against the UCI ASA be immediately dropped.
Tha Armenian National Committee of Orange County has also mailed letters to the President Alexander at
CSULB, and to Chancellor Reed of the California State University System, Cruz Bustamante Lieutenant
Governor of CA, and Dr. Edelman, the director of the Center for studies on Genocide and holocaust in Chico.
The ANC-OC is asking that both Universities clarify their positions regarding the teaching of the Armenian
Genocide, and that disciplinary action be taken against faculty members not following the state’s educational
guidelines and policies as outlined in the CA Education Code and the Model Curriculum on Human Rights.
ANC-OC has asked the administration at UCI to take disciplinary action against the TA for filing false charges
against the ASA and organizing an unauthorized protest at the University. ANC-OC is requesting that the
administration at CSULB secure a letter of apology from Professor Mangir, or in the alternative seek
disciplinary action.
On May 23, 2006 U.C. Irvine ASA Executive Board Members appeared before the Student Judicial Affairs
Council. After the hearing it was announced that the UCI ASA had not violated the University’s Physical
Abuse Policy and that the Executive had followed all appropriate procedures in organizing the event.
The ANC-OC will follow up with both universities and is awaiting a response to schedule a meeting with both
administrations.
For more information about ANC-OC please visit www.ancoc.org, and if you would like to get involved please
send an email to info@ancoc.org.