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Reflection on April 29
“I have been at Bilkent for 15 years and I haven't seen anything like this before!” said a man I saw on Wednesday, April 29 after a suicide bomber failed to carry out her mission on main campus. This statement is also true for me, but there would be no 1 in front of the 5. This has been a difficult academic year. Our university's name seems to have been on TV once a month, but, sadly, not for it's scientific, social or cultural achievements. I have read a lot about this latest event and there has been much criticism leveled towards Bilkent; blame that I believe has been wrongly placed.
First of all, the idea that the intended target of the attack, Prof. Hikmet Sami Türk, is a guilty man for actions he took during his time as Justice Minister and therefore was deserving of being attacked is unacceptable. I am not in the field of law, so it is not my job to decide whether he is guilty, as his opponents accuse him of being. However, merely for the sake of argument, let us assume that he is guilty. What about the hundreds of students who were in B-Building, where Prof. Turk was entering at the time of the attack? What were they guilty of?
Is Bilkent guilty because they hired Mr. Türk? I believe this is nonsense. When he comes to the University, he does so as a professor. The political issues should be left behind. He is at Bilkent because of his experience and background. There is no denying that he is one of the most important people in the history of Turkish law. He presents his opinions to students for their consideration, and does not impose his views on anyone. He is not asking anyone to follow in his footsteps.
Finally, the argument that Bilkent security is guilty for allowing a suicide bomber to enter the campus is frustrating. How could this have been prevented from happening? Bilkent is home to students, academics, university employees, their families, Tepe and Cyberpark employees and more. Think about all of the cars and buses that pass through the school's gates every day. Is it possible for security to search every person and vehicle entering the school? Besides, the young attacker was also a student. She did not have "I am a suicide bomber" written on her forehead! Bilkent is a university that is dedicated to creating the best academic environment not only for its own students, but also for everyone, which is a reason why, for example, the school's library is open to students from other schools. So creating an atmosphere where entering the university is the same as if one was trying to enter the Pentagon is irrational.
In the end, regardless of where people choose to lay blame, it is my hope that this never happens again and that people stop seeking freedom or justice through terrorism!
Özlem Erdem (IE/IV)
oerdem@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
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