Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, celebrated the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli Victory on March 18th with a meaningful program including academic presentations, commemoration ceremonies, and a visit to the art museum.
The events, realized through the collaboration of various faculties and student clubs, once again highlighted the historical importance of the victory and the contemporary meaning of the Gallipoli spirit.
The events held at Near East University demonstrated once again that March 18th is not merely a day of commemoration, but a living and breathing state of consciousness. The rich program, ranging from academic presentations and poetry readings to commemoration ceremonies and museum visits, The event made a strong contribution to carrying the epic written in Gallipoli 111 years ago to future generations through science, culture, and art.
The Epic Written at Sea Comes to Life at the GÜNSEL Art Museum
As part of the events, participants visited the “Gallipoli Naval Battles Ship Collection” located in the GÜNSEL Art Museum on the Near East University campus, experiencing the spirit of Gallipoli through art and history. Presenting a wide range of vessels from armored cruisers to destroyers, mine-laying ships to transport boats with realistic models, the collection houses 26 historical ships. Enriched with naval mines, torpedoes, and battle scenes, alongside ships that shaped history such as the Nusret Mine Layer, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and Bandırma Ferry, the exhibition conveys the “Impenetrable” spirit of Gallipoli in all its dimensions. This collection, which takes visitors on a journey through time, aims to instill a strong sense of history, especially in younger generations.
Commemoration Ceremony at the Atatürk Culture Congress Center
The first program held on the Near East University campus was organized in collaboration with the Office of Students’ Dean, the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and the Atatürkist Thought Development Club, with an event titled “March 18th Gallipoli Naval Victory and Martyrs Commemoration Day” at the Atatürk Culture Congress Center. Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sait Akşit, the program featured Prof. Dr. Ulvi Keser, who emphasized that the Gallipoli Naval Victory, also known as Dardanelles Naval Battle, was not merely a military success, but a historical turning point that fundamentally altered the international balance of power at the time, with diplomatic and strategic consequences felt for years to come. Assist. Prof. Dr. Recep Bülent Şenses stated that Gallipoli is not only a victory of the past, but also a powerful legacy that shapes society today with its values of unity, solidarity, and sacrifice, creating a shared consciousness, and highlighted the importance of passing this spirit on to younger generations.
Academic Gathering: Poetry, Presentations, and History
The second event of the day was organized in collaboration with the History Teaching Department, the Turkish Language Teaching Department, and the Turkish Preparatory School of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Near East University. The opening speech of the “March 8th Çanakkale Victory” event was given by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul. Prof. Dr. Özkul stated, “The spirit of Çanakkale is not only a heroic story of the past, it is a source of universal values that instills in us today a sense of unity, solidarity, and social responsibility,” emphasizing the lasting place of the victory in the collective memory.
Following the opening, students shared their poems on the theme of “Gallipoli Martyrs” with the audience, while academics and students transformed the hall into a history forum with complementary presentations. Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul and his student Yusuf Can Demirkan addressed the topic of “Cyprus Prisoner Camps and Prisoners in World War I”; Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demiryürek and his student Setan Kıranoğlu presented on the “Famagusta Gallipoli Martyrs’ Cemetery.” Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır and his student Tülaynur Koyun, in their presentation titled “The Memory of a Nation Through the Language of Literature: Gallipoli” demonstrated the power of literature in conveying historical memory.
