Students have historically played a critical role in movements for social change. In the United States, students were at the forefront of the civil rights movement and the ferment of the 1960s. In other parts of the world, from Hungary to Indonesia, students often paved the way for the collapse of dictatorial regimes. In modern Armenian history, students were a pivotal force in the 19th century national movement and the struggle for liberation which emerged from it. Armed with knowledge, idealism and the willingness to challenge the status quo, students make up a segment of society that normally has a high potential for activism and involvement.
Thus, when I heard about an event being held at Columbia University titled “Armenia’s Development: The Students’ Role,” I hoped it would be an opportunity to harness some of the untapped potential students possess and direct it toward the development process in Armenia. The conference was held on Feb. 3 and 4 under the auspices of the Columbia Armenian Club. Its two main sponsors were the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Armenian Center at Columbia University. The first day featured a host of guest speakers, while the second day was made up of workshops where participants were to devise projects aimed at improving specific sectors of Armenia’s economy.
As a participant in the conference, what I enjoyed most was getting to meet other motivated young people with an interest in Armenia. There were over 150 people in attendance, many of them with different backgrounds, experiences and levels of involvement. The informal discussions and connections that were made among the attendees stood out as one of the most beneficial aspects of the two-day gathering.
However, some of the other aspects of the conference fell short of my expectations. For one, most of the speakers had very little to say about the specific role of students in Armenia’s development. Although hearing about such things as the hotels being built by James Tufenkian, the activities of Armenia Fund USA or developments in the field of information technology was certainly interesting, these are all topics that could have just as easily been addressed to a gathering of Armenian investors or retired people. There was very little information or analysis dealing with what role students can and should play. The underlying assumption seemed to be that we should simply assist developments already taking place, exert influence on policy-makers and anticipate the day when we too can have a career and invest in Armenia.
Interestingly, several speakers took it upon themselves to suggest that we must move beyond “old” diaspora organizations and unite around new institutions. According to this argument, Armenia is facing new obstacles and challenges that are outside the scope of “traditional” Armenian organizations. Unfortunately, proponents of this argument fail to realize that these “old” organizations have a long history of accomplishments for our people that cannot simply be disregarded. They have withstood the test of time, established their credibility, demonstrated an ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and continue to play a vital role in both the homeland and Diaspora. Those concerned with Armenia’s development would do well to learn from and support such organizations rather than attempt to write them off.
Another topic that was brought up more than once was the need to mend differences within the community and work more collaboratively together. Of course, the principle of collective unity is an important one. However, the question is not whether we need unity but, rather, just exactly what principles must we unify around? Once we all come together, where will we go from there? This is where vision, principles and platforms come in. In this respect, the issue of bringing us closer to uniting around a specific set of goals did not find much articulation at the conference. Indeed, it was somewhat amusing to hear people talk about unity at a conference where significant segments of the Diaspora were not properly represented.
As for the workshops on the second day, they were well-intentioned but too constrained by time restrictions and differing perspectives among participants. Not only had most of us in the workshops never met each other before, but it was unclear how we would sustain whatever proposal we came up with. At times, it seemed we were going through the motions of a classroom exercise rather than planning sustainable ways of improving Armenia’s economy.
To be fair, any time students are brought together to think constructively about the role they can play for Armenia’s future, I think it is a positive thing. In this sense, the conference helped provide a venue for us to do so. Yet, beyond this, what is needed are strategies for activism on campuses, building bridges with fellow students in Armenia, and initiating critical, long-term projects that reflect the initiative of students themselves. Ultimately, students must understand the importance of organizing and joining with others around clearly defined principles and goals. This is the formula students have historically used to affect change and the same holds true for today. If more steps are taken in this direction, students will have much more potential of playing a pioneering role in Armenia’s future prosperity.
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