The 24th Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Spring Festival will be taking place between the 15th and 18th of May 2019 on the EMU Campus. In order to relay extensive information about the 4-day festival that will be taking place with North Cyprus Turkcell’s sponsorship and the events that will be taking place within the scope of EMU’s 40th anniversary, the Rector’s Office held a press conference at EMU Beach Club on Tuesday, the 7th of May 2019 at 12:30.
“For us it is a Point of Honor”
The opening speech of the press conference held to inform the public about the 24th Spring Festival and EMU’s 40th Anniversary Events was delivered by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam. Indicating that EMU’s reaching its 40th Anniversary is a point of honor for them, Prof. Dr. Osam highlighted that the Rector’s Office and the Social and Cultural Activities Directorate have carried out very careful work.
“Very Rich Program”
In a speech of her own, EMU Vice Rector for Student Affairs Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu Oğurlu noted “We are celebrating our 40th anniversary in exhilarating fashion. The Spring Festival has a very rich program including great artists, talks and other activities. Since the beginning of the year we have been celebrating our 40th year with a cultural and artistic understanding. We believe that social, cultural and sporting activities are very important as well as education.” Prof. Dr. Oğurlu also provided information about the 40th anniversary events such as CSO and Mor ve Ötesi concerts, Harun Tekin – Koray acoustic concert, 40th Year Opera, Zengin Mutfağı featuring Şener Şen and Mert Fırat, State Theater and Nicosia Municipality Theatre plays, 40th year dance event and workshop, a “Portraits, Styles and Stories” themed art exhibition comprising of art pieces from 40+3 (no longer alive) Cypriot artists, 40th year EMU short film, from past to present EMU catalogue, cocktail for those who contributed to EMU in the last 40 years, inviting famous Cypriots such as Osman Alkaş, Hazal Ergüçlü, Hüseyin Çağlayan, Hüseyin Köroğlu and Raşit Bağzıbağlı, 40th Year Bicycle Race, 40th Year Marathon and weekly hosting of 1 writer from TRNC and Turkey.
“We Would Like to Express our Gratitude to EMU”
Special Olympics Turkey Executive Board Chair Mehmet Civelek indicated that they are in collaboration with a total of 25 Turkish Universities before noting “We don’t receive the support and hospitality shown from EMU at any of these universities. EMU shows great support in our activities that use sports as a tool to integrate mentally challenged individuals into society. Therefore, we would like to express our gratitude to EMU.”
“Friends from EMU”
The slogan for this year’s Spring Festival is “Gommaz of EMU” which translates to “Friends from EMU”. “Gomma” is a colloquial term often used on the island to describe a friend. This year’s theme reflects EMU’s animal friendly campus and love for animals.
The animals on the poster design do not only represent our strong bond with animals but also our universities’ slogan of virtue, knowledge and advancement. The crow symbolizes knowledge and wisdom whilst the key it is carrying in its mouth symbolizes power. This key reminds us that people with knowledge and wisdom can open every door.
Brightness, skill, curiosity, flexibility and adapting are just a few of the characteristics associated with cats. Drives such as scouting, leading a group and adapting to any environment can be interpreted as a form of easily moving forward. The computer mouse in the cat’s mouth symbolizes adaptation and reminds us that we need to adapt to ever-changing environments.
When the characteristics of dogs are taken into consideration we can see that it is fitting that they symbolize the university’s principle of virtue. The important characteristics of dogs such as loyalty, sincerity, dependability, rebelliousness, unconditional acceptance and love, bravery, friendship, protection and fighting injustice should shed us light on moral perfection.
The Parade Walk is on the 15th of May
The 24th Spring Festival will begin with a parade walk starting from in front of the Famagusta Developmental Academy (MGA) and ending on the EMU Campus. The walk on the 15th of May 2019 will begin at 17:30. The official opening ceremony will take place at 19:00 with the participation of EMU Board of Trustees’ President Boysan Boyra, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam, Board of Trustees Members, Vice Rectors and Special Olympics Turkey Executive Board Chair Mehmet Civelek at the Festival Area.
Koray Avcı, MFÖ, Edis and DJ Kura will be Performing at EMU Yasin Düşüner Stadium
On the first day of the festival which is the 15th of May 2019, famous Turkish singer Koray Avcı will be performing on the main stage from 22:00 and onwards. Meanwhile Mavra will be performing on the second stage.
Mazhar Fuat Özkan (MFÖ) will be performing their unforgettable hits during their concert which will be commencing at 22:00 on Thursday, the 16th of May 2019. Emre Fırat and Route 66 will be performing on the second stage from 19:20.
DJ Kura will be constructing unforgettable memories for those in attendance on the 17th of May 2019 at 22:00. Yağız and Koli Band will be on the second stage from 19:05 and onwards.
On the final night of the festival which is Saturday, the 18th of May 2019 Edis will be taking to the stage at 22:00 to perform his recent hits.
A Conference and Workshop Will Be Taking Place
Prof. Dr. Meltem Yalınay will be delivering a conference titled “Intestinal Microbiota: What Kind of Nutrition Should We Have? Which Probiotic?” at the Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine Conference Hall at 14:30 on the 15th of May 2019.
In addition Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sungur will be delivering a conference titled “Satan’s Triangle: Love, Marriage, Infidelity” at the Activity Hall. The said conference will commence at 11:30 on Thursday, the 16th of May 2019 Mert Gürkan will be coming together with students to deliver a workshop on “Pixelart”.
Tugay Kerimoğlu, Rezzan Kiraz, Emre Canbazoğlu, Burkay Özdemir and Dr. Ender Saraç Will Be Delivering Talks
Turkey’s famous sports commentator and former national team football player Tugay Kerimoğlu will be delivering a talk on “Devoted Lives” in the Activity Hall on the 15th of May 2019 at 15:00.
Famous astrologist Rezzan Kiraz will come together with students during a talk she will be delivering in the Activity Hall at 13:30 on the 16th of May 2019. Mildmania CEO Emre Canbazoğlu and co-founder Burkay Özdemir will be delivering a talk titled “Indie Game Developer’s Guide to the Galaxy” at 14:30.
Famous Turkish thespian, director and journalist Orhan Alkaya will be delivering a talk at the Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall titled “What Would Happen If I Didn’t Write” at 14:30 and Dr. Ender Saraç will be delivering a talk at 17:30.
Nasuh Mahruki, Tijen Karaş, Nebahat Çehre and Güneri Civaoğlu Will Be Meeting With Their Audience
Turkish mountaineer, writer and photographer Nasuh Mahruki will be delivering a talk in the Activity Hall at 11:30 on Friday, the 17th of May 2019. Then at 13:00 Tijen Karaş who become known to millions of people after she was forced to read the 15 July Coup Manifesto at gun point on TRT will be meeting with her audience at 13:00. At 17:30 famous Turkish thespian Nebahat Çehre will be delivering a talk of her own. One of Turkey’s leading journalists and writers Güneri Civaoğlu who prepares and hosts the program “Şeffaf Oda” will be delivering his talk at the Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall. This talk will be commencing at 17:00.
Gülse Birsel and Enis Arıkan Will Be Meeting Their Fans
Turkey’s famous theatre thespian Ercan Kesal will be delivering a talk at 12:30 on Saturday, the 18th of May 2019 in the Activity Hall.
On the same day at 13:30 social media phenomenon and Jet Sosyete actor Enis Arıkan will be coming together with his fans at the Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall. This will be followed by a talk from Esra Erol at 16:00
Meanwhile popular screenwriter, actor and writer Gülse Birsel will be delivering a talk at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Centre at 17:00 on the same day.
Theatre Performance
The theatre performance “Don Kişot’um Ben” including Ozan Güven and Günay Karacaoğlu will be performed on the 16th and 17th of May 2019 at 19:30.
EMUATHLON on Friday, the 17th of March 2019
The annual EMUATHLON competition organized by the EMU Sports Affairs Directorate will be taking place on Friday, the 17th of March 2019 this year. The competition is set to commence at 15:00 and participation is expected to be significantly high.
Special Olympics are at EMU Once Again
Special Olympics Turkey who have been carrying out a range of activities at EMU and participating in the Spring Festival in recent years with the slogan “Play Together, Live Together” will be carrying out Mixed Basketball Project activities in this year’s festival. The opening ceremony of this event will be taking place at 16:30 on Friday, the 17th of May 2019. Within the scope of this event special education students will be playing 3 vs 3 mixed basketball games.
COLOR FEST on Sunday, the 19th of March
“Color Fest” known as the world’s most colorful festival will be taking place at 16:30 on Sunday, the 19th of May 2019 at the EMU Golf Course. At the said event, students will be enjoying themselves in the dream like atmosphere that combines DJ music and colours.