Dr. Neslihan Şenocak, who received her Ph.D. from the Department of History, has been awarded an Erasmus Fellowship by Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA.
Dr. Şenocak is the first Ph.D. (2002) to graduate from Bilkent’s History Department and, in addition to studying for her M.A. and Ph.D. at Bilkent, has earned a Diploma of Specialization in the School of Higher Medieval and Franciscan Studies, from the Pontificio Ateneo Antonianum in Rome and a License in Medieval Studies from the Pontifical University of Medieval Studies in Toronto.

Also in this issue:

• “POP-EYED”
• PASO Student Film Festival Concludes
• Archaeology Students Trek Through the Past
• Bilkent Hosts T.K.U.K.
• Spring Semester Basketball Workshops
• Registration Time for the LES Approaches
• Radio Bilkent Seeks New Volunteers
• Letter to the Editor
• SDCC Offers Workshop
• Announcement from the Student Union
• Radio Bilkent Top Ten
• Practice Restaurant Menu
• Bilkent Symphony Orchestra Concert Program
• THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
• BilAd

The Bilkent Judges are ready for the first game of the upcoming American Football League season. The first game will be with the METU Falcons on Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m., at the grass field on Main Campus.
The Bilkent News interviewed Ali İhsan Özdemir (HART/III), Murat Duman (CS/IV), Evren Akçora (IE/IV), and Fırat Köseoğlu (HART/III) from the team, which is currently coached by Alper Angın.
The players informed us that, this year, 11 teams from various universities will compete from March through the middle of May. In 2003 every team will wear full football gear for the first time, making the league completely official.
Evren Akçora from the Bilkent Judges believes that they are one of the 3 best teams among the 11 universities, and adds “There is no reason for us to lose the championship.” He also admits that METU is a well trained opponent, although earlier games with METU have ended in victories for Bilkent. “However” adds Özdemir “this game is one of the most important games for us, as it will be the opening game of the season.”
The Bilkent Judges have been training in all areas of the sport, including weights/muscle building and conditioning, physical endurance and play analysis. Over the last 4 years, the team has expanded its membership from a squad barely large enough to take the field, to 55 players.
According to Murat Duman for these student-players “There is no problem in coping with both lectures and sports. Sports helps to organize your life. Even better, as American football is based on physical triumph on the field and the defense of your teammates, it strengthens the bonds of friendship with people whom you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to meet."
Köseoğlu adds that American football games can be a social event even for those who just come to watch the game: “We take this very seriously and train around 4 days a week. The rules for American Football are not widely understood by most of our supporters so we are preparing a website and will be bringing someone to explain the plays and rules during the game. At Bilkent people interact socially either at sporting events or cultural activities, but nowhere else can strangers come together in the stands to help a team act as one.”
For more information on the Bilkent Judges and the schedule, as well as the rules for American Football, take a glance at www.judges.bilkent.edu.tr