The name of Süleyman Erdoğan, who lost his life in a maritime accident in Kyrenia, has been given to a classroom at the Faculty of Agriculture of Near East University, where he was a student. During a ceremony attended by his family, friends, and faculty members, Süleyman Erdoğan, remembered for his courage and self-sacrifice, was commemorated with love and longing.
In the maritime accident in Kyrenia, Süleyman Erdoğan risked his own life to save many others, including children, becoming a symbol of courage and self-sacrifice in the face of the tragedy. A second-year student in the Department of Food Engineering at the Near East University Faculty of Agriculture, Erdoğan’s name has now been bestowed upon a classroom within the faculty where he once studied. At a ceremony held to honor his memory, his family, friends, and lecturers gathered to remember him with deep affection and longing.
The commemoration, which was attended by his mother, Malike Erdoğan, and his sister, Aslı Erdoğan, was marked by emotional moments. Also present at the ceremony were Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Özge Özden, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy Prof. Dr. İhsan Çalış, Director of the Graduate School of Education Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Can Başer, as well as various faculty members and fellow students of Süleyman Erdoğan. The classroom bearing the name of Süleyman Erdoğan will keep his memory alive, serving as a symbol of courage, solidarity, and self-sacrifice for both those who knew him and the students who will study there in the following years. Furthermore, a special section dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the shipwreck will be featured at the TEAL Maritime Museum, which recently opened to the public at the Kyrenia Tourism Port.
Aslı Erdoğan: “We are experiencing both pride and sorrow.”
Speaking after the ceremony, Aslı Erdoğan, the sister of Süleyman Erdoğan, expressed how deeply meaningful it is for the family to have her brother’s name honored within the faculty where he once studied. “We are experiencing both pride and sorrow.”, she said, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that those who perished in the accident are not forgotten and that the legal proceedings are closely followed. She further said, “It is vital to us that Süleyman and all the others who lost their lives in the accident are not forgotten, and that our pursuit of justice continues. Feeling the support of the public throughout this process gives us strength.”
Süleyman Erdoğan’s name will live on in the classroom where he nurtured his dreams.
Addressing the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan, Vice Rector of Near East University, remarked, “We have gathered here to honor the memory, the humanity, and the profound self-sacrifice of our student, Süleyman Erdoğan, whom we lost at such a young age.” Prof. Dr. Tüzünkan emphasized that universities are not merely places for the transmission of scientific knowledge, but also institutions where conscience, solidarity, and moral values are passed on to future generations. Tüzünkan said, “By naming one of our classrooms after Süleyman today, we are also sending a message to future generations: this classroom will not be a place where only science is learned; it will also serve as a reminder of the sacrifices one person can make for the sake of others.”
Prof. Dr. Özge Özden, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Near East University, expressed the profound sorrow felt over the loss of Süleyman Erdoğan, adding that his courage and his example of humanity would never be forgotten. Reflecting on the bonds the young student had forged with his peers and lecturers, Prof. Dr. Özden highlighted the significance of naming a classroom after him both for his family and for the university. She noted that the memory of Süleyman Erdoğan would continue to live on through the students who will receive their education in this classroom.
