[Bilimsel Haber] COURSES- New Courses on Modern Armenia, Boston University

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

COURSES- New Courses on Modern Armenia, Boston University

Posted by: Armenian Library and Museum <armenianlma at yahoo.com>

Lessons in Modern Armenia
BU Alumnus's Bequest Will Fund New Courses

He may have had a Ph.D. in English from Boston University, and have
taught English for some fifty years, but Charles Kenosian's early days
as a scholar weren't promising: he failed kindergarten. That really
wasn't his fault - when he started school, he spoke only Armenian. After
being held back, and clearly learning a second language very quickly, he
got a double promotion. "He was a smart guy," says his sister, Elisabeth
Kenosian.

Kenosian had an abiding interest in his heritage, and it bothered him
that many Americans knew so little about Armenia's history and heritage.
Kenosian, who died in January 2005, was upset that many of his students
and even some professors at Salem (Massachusetts) State College were so
ignorant about the country. "He heard an awful lot of students who
thought Armenians are Muslims," Elisabeth reports, especially ironic
because Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its state
religion, in the year 301, and has been the bastion of Christianity in
that region for over 1700 years.

Kenosian's desire that Americans -- especially young people -- gain a
greater understanding of Armenia will be taking the form of new courses
in modern Armenian history and literature at the College and Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, thanks to a generous bequest from Kenosian
through the Charles and Elisabeth Kenosian Endowment Fund. Armenia's
ancient history is the subject of programs at other universities, but
the new courses are intended to focus on events since the 1800s, when
Armenia was part of the Ottoman empire, through to its current status as
a republic.

"Among the special relationships that the deanship opened for me was to
have known Charles Kenosian, a dedicated teacher and man of dignity and
distinction," says Jeffrey Henderson, dean of Arts and Sciences. "He was
a regular supporter of arts and sciences at BU, and his generous bequest
will make a special addition to the College and Graduate School's course
offerings directed toward an important culture in an increasingly
important part of the world."

Kenosian wanted his legacy to "go to an academic source," says
Elisabeth, "and BU was where his close ties were, and where he began his
teaching career."


Taylor McNeil
Editor
Bostonia
Boston University
10 Lenox Street
Brookline, MA 02446
USA

617-353-7350 (v)
617-353-6488 (f)
tmcneil at bu.edu


Armenian Library and Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown MA 02472
USA

Tel: 617 926 2562
Fax: 617 926 0175
www.almainc.org






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