The great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was commemorated with respect, gratitude, and longing on the 88th anniversary of his passing, through a ceremony and an event titled “A Leader Who Lives On Through His Ideas: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”, held at Near East University.
Faculty members, students, and staff of Near East University honored the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the 88th anniversary of his passing with a ceremony held in front of the Atatürk Monument. During the ceremony, which brought the university community together in a shared sentiment of respect, gratitude, and longing, a wreath was laid at the monument by the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ.
As the clock struck 09:05, life across the campus came to a standstill, marked by the sounding of sirens. Faculty members, students, and staff observed a moment of silence in honor of Atatürk’s cherished memory. The ceremony continued with the national anthem, reaffirming the deep commitment and gratitude felt toward the founder of the Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Commemorative events for November 10th were also held at the Near East Preschool, Near East Primary School, and Near East College. In these ceremonies, attended by students, teachers, and school administrators, Atatürk was remembered with respect and longing. Spanning from preschool to the university level, these gatherings brought together students of all ages, united by their love for Atatürk.
Atatürk’s ideas and the legacy he left behind were discussed
As part of the commemoration program, an event titled “A Leader Who Lives On Through His Ideas: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk” was held. The event was organized through the collaboration of the Near East University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, specifically the Department of History, the History Teaching Program, the Turkish Language Teaching Program, and the Department of Turkish Language and Literature.
The event, which saw a great participation of students, took place at the Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan Republic Hall at the Near East University Grand Library. The opening address was delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul. The panel, moderated by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır, featured Büşra Akad, Elif Gülmez, and Seval Akçagil as speakers. During the panel, Atatürk’s intellectual world, his ideas, and the legacy he bequeathed to the Republic were examined from various perspectives.
The program continued with a poetry recital, featuring contributions from students Nida Toplar, Melisa Deremeç, Öykü Zubari, and Nazlıcan Karaca. Through the medium of literature, the deep affection and longing for Atatürk were expressed.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Atatürk’s legacy sheds light on our responsibility to raise generations that research, question, and produce.”
In his statement marking the November 10th Atatürk Commemoration Day, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with his struggle for independence, his visionary outlook, and a mindset rooted in reason and science, is a significant leader who shaped the history not only of the Turkish nation but of all humanity. It is our collective responsibility to uphold the Republic, one of his greatest legacies, as well as his ideal of modernization, and to pass these on to future generations.”
Stating that Near East University takes Atatürk’s commitment to science, education, and enlightenment as its guiding principle, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ remarked, “Atatürk’s legacy sheds light on our responsibility to cultivate generations that investigate, question, and produce. We believe that keeping his ideas alive is possible through the work we undertake in the fields of education and science. We commemorate the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with respect, gratitude, and longing on the 88th anniversary of his passing.”
