Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, dedicated April 23 to the children of Turkey in order to emphasize that they represented the future of the new nation.
It was on April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence, that the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid the foundations of a new, independent, secular, and modern state upon the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of the allied invasion forces on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, Mustafa Kemal began the task of establishing the institutions of the new state. Over the next eight years, Mustafa Kemal and his followers adopted sweeping reforms to create a modern Turkey.
Every year, children in Turkey celebrate “Sovereignty and Children's Day” as a national holiday. Schools participate in ceremonies with performances in large stadiums enjoyed by the entire nation.
The importance of April 23 as a special day for children has been recognized by the international community. UNICEF decided to recognize this important day as International Children’s Day.
23 April, National Sovereignty and Children's Day, was celebrated on campus between April 20 - 24. Bilkent University hosted 73 children from Kastamonu, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Sapanca, Sivas, Yalova and Erzurum for the Children’s Day celebrations. TEGV (Foundation of Volunteers for Turkish Education) selected children to participate in a full schedule of activities. The children stayed in dormitories and Bilkent provided transportation, thereby giving the children a chance to tour Ankara.

Graduation Ceremonies Set for June 11

Young Critics to Discuss 150 Years of Turkish Novel

On April 25 and 26, at the “Young Critics Symposium III”, seventeen graduate students from the Department of Turkish Literature will make presentations on the Turkish novel. The symposium will start on Thursday with opening remarks by Hasan Ali Toptaş, a prominent author of Turkish literature. The papers will discuss different aspects of many Turkish novels from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.
This is the fifth graduate student symposium organized by the Department of Turkish Literature since May 2000. Each symposium has received considerable attention in literary circles, and many of the student papers have been published in major literary journals and magazines in Turkey following the symposia.
The event will take place at the new B-Building, Room 113. The sessions are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. For program details, see the insert in this week’s Bilkent News. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Bilkent Holds Student Elections

Elections for the Student Executive Committees of Faculties, Schools and Institutes were held between 16-18 April 2002. There were a total of 191 candidates running for the Student Union in all Bilkent faculties, schools and institutes. Participation in voting was 56.3 % over all units.
Anna Flynn, an international student who voted in the elections, remarked: “I heard about the elections through friends and considered it important to take part in the democratic process here at Bilkent University. Since I am an exchange student, however my vote may not count*. I am not sure of the procedure but I voted anyway just to participate. In terms of the election campaign, the candidates appeared to be very enthusiastic and dedicated to their projects.”
The results were announced on 19 April, 2002 at all academic units. The nine elected members of each academic unit will vote for its President, Vice President and Secretary as well as their candidate to the Student Union Executive Board, on April 24.
The election for the Student Union Executive Board will be held on April 26, 2002. Bilkent News will announce all elected members and officers of Faculties/Schools/Institutes together with the Student Union Executive Board in its next issue on April 30, 2002. * Infact, her vote will count (Editor).

LAUD Students Win Four Awards in Design Competition

The Student Design Competition "Ankara Güvenpark ve Yakın Çevresi Kentsel Peyzaj Tasarımı Öğrenci Proje Yarışması" (“Ankara Güvenpark and Vicinity Urban Landscape Student Project Competition”), which was organized by the Chamber of Landscape Architects,

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