The Armenian Students' Association at the University of Southern California brought in two guest speakers to discuss the Armenian genocide, since April 24th marks the 99th anniversary of the atrocities the Ottoman rulers inflicted upon this ethnic minority. The talk is part of the USC Genocide Awareness month.

“When we were out selling donuts on Trousdale students were asking what an Armenian is,” said Nerses Aposhian, a USC senior and the group's public relations coordinator. “We’re hoping to start a movement to change that.”

The speakers, Gevork Nazaryan and Movses Ter-Oganesyan, said the Turkish government does not acknowledge that the genocide took place, and dismisses the evidence of atrocities as unfounded accusations.

The once-powerful empire began to decline in the early 20th century, allowing a political group called the Young Turks to seize control. The new rulers endorsed a nationalistic agenda that pushed for an exclusive Turkish state. When World War I broke out, the Ottoman armies used the fighting as an opportunity to eliminate the Armenian population.

The Turks were largely successful in creating a united republic, as they wiped out about a million and a half Armenians. The refugees scattered around the world and only a fraction of their historic land survived as part of the Soviet Union.

Armenian speakers, artists and musicians will congregate in front of Tommy Trojan on April 24th at noon in a celebration of the culture.

Aposhian said he wants to highlight the positive contributions of Armenians rather than just focusing on the violence.

“By showcasing music and art we will bring attention to the Armenian culture that's been kept alive in the past 99 years even despite the tragedies that occurred almost a century ago,” he said.

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