We have less than one month before the end of the first semester and probably most of us have not been this busy since the beginning of the semester. As deadlines approach for the assignments and as the second round of midterms carry on, we find it difficult to follow our clubs’ activities. However, club activities keep on going in order to provide Bilkent students an environment where they can entertain and improve themselves according to their interests.
The Operational Research Club (OR) is among those clubs. As a matter of fact, the club started organizations before school commenced. The 16^th TEMOB, which is a convention to gather industrial engineering students all around Turkey, took place in Ankara and has turned out to be a great success both for Bilkent and OR as 200 students were hosted and given the opportunity to listen to conferences on “e-business”. The Operational Research Club organizes a variety of activities and provides students with opportunities to challenge themselves by participating both in national and international competitions and seminars. For instance, in ESTIEM TIMES’, a tournament that allows students to show their problem-solving skills, a local qualification round was held on Sunday to determine the team that will represent Bilkent in this internationally prestigious competition. Likewise, OR will actively participate in the Vision Seminars which will take place in Holland between January 28 and February 3 with almost 20 people from different departments.
On the other hand, the Club's seminar committee arranges series of conferences in order to inform Bilkent students in the fields of management and planning. The next seminar will be on January 6.
After all, Andaç Demirkan, the club president, points out that they welcome everyone no matter what his/her major is. If you want to be a member of the Operational Research Club, all you have to do is send an e-mail to ork@ug.bilkent.edu.tr.

Can Hürcan (IE/II)