The joy of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Republic throughout Turkey reflected on a series of activities at Bilkent University as well. The zenith of celebrations was the Republic Ball held in Bilkent Hotel on Thursday, October 29, organized with the auspices of the Dean of Students. The founder and the President of the University İhsan Doğramacı, Rector Ali Doğramacı, Vice Rectors, the Dean of Students, faculty, administirative staff, students, and a number of guests from and outside the Bilkent community attended the ball.
The menu served at the Ball was the highlight of the night, replicating the menu served 64 years ago at a dinner hosted by M. Kemal Atatürk in Prince Gustave Adolphe's honour. The dance of Seymens, traditional folk dancers of Ankara Region, added to the meaning of the celebration. Prof. İhsan Doğramacı received an honorary award from Ankara Club for the contributions he made to the development of our capital.
Throughout the night , the guests danced to the rhythm of various types of music ranging from tango, waltz to halay, hardly ever leaving the dancing ring. The DJ from TRT added to the enthusiasm to make the best of the night.
Meticulous details such as a bookmark with Atatürk's portrait placed on the tables as a memento of the night and the desert decorated with the 75th year logo impressed the guests as they made the night unforgettable. Also, student representatives of the Faculties of Business Administrative and Social Sciences distributed car stickers with a logo designed for the 75th anniversary of the Republic.
The climax of the night was when Atatürk's recorded voice was heard citing passages from his renowned speech given on the 10th anniversary of the Republic. Atatürk's speech was followed by singing Onuncu Yıl Marşı (10th Anniversary March) all together. As the night drew to a close, the guests belief in Republic's values was reinvigorated. We all hope to celebrate more anniversaries of the Republic together. A big thank you goes to the organizers.
(A. Boğaç Cicioğlu, POLS-IV)
