The Student Union recently compiled its 1998-1999 academic year first term club activities report. This report includes the club activities that took place last semester. Investigating this report revealed some general facts about clubs.

Most Popular Visitors

The most popular visitors to conferences and panels were politicians. Some of the politicians were invited to conferences irrelevant to politics. Işılay Saygın, Meral Akşener, Fikri Sağlar, Yusuf Bozkurt Özal, Kamran İnan, Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu, Bedri İncetahtacı, and Hayrettin Uzun were invited by various clubs.

However, bureaucrats were the next most popular visitors, totalling five people. Aydın Ayaydın is the best known of them. It is very disappointing to realize that so few scientists from Bilkent's academic staff were invited. Although very interesting seminars were held, such as Quantum Physics for Everyone (Science and Philosophy Society) and Basic Concepts of Photographing (Photographing Club), they have not been very popular.

Only two businessmen were invited. It is hard to believe that university students have so little interest in business life.

Least Popular Visitors

But there is more bad news that comes out of this report. Only one artist was invited, Özlem Sezer (a poet), and only one person related to sports was invited yet he is not a sportsman, Fatih Terim. These show that we have very low interest in professionals from sports and art.

Journalists draw a very large audience because they are popular, mediatic, and talk about common concerns of life. But, according to the report, the number of journalists who visited is very low, too. Only Işık Kansu and Tayfun Talipoglu were invited.

Popular Activities

Some clubs were very successful and active. Cinema Club's activity list is very long. DOST (Nature Sports Society), Havacılık Kulübü, Hospitality Industry Managers Club, and Human Resources Club follow.

Tournaments are other type of activities in which clubs have an interest. Chess Club is the leader in this area with a chess tournament at Bilkent University with Bilkent students and another tournament here with students from several universities in Ankara. MEC's (Management and Economics Club) debate tournament was very successful. Computer Club's Software Quest '99 started planning its commercial and academic goals. Fenerbahçeliler Club is the only club that had arranged a sports tournament, although their only visitor was Galatasaraylİlar Club. Art Society, Cinema Club, Club Active, and Ekin Club are some of the few clubs that stressed activities concerning art. Some of the most interesting conference subjects were "Gangs and Politics" (Democratic Youth Club), "Peace" (Diplomacy Club), "Debates on Nationalism just before the 21st Century" (Milliyetçi Düşünce Kulübü), and "Education or Business Life after College?" (Yeni Ufuklar Kulübü).

With or Without Clubs?

Everyone on campus is aware that campus life would be very dull without student clubs. They make the campus different from any environment in the world. I believe that we can improve campus life by giving higher importance to club activities. Administrative staff welcomes all applications as club activities and provides so many resources and opportunities.