Organized by the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Turkish Language and Literature in collaboration with the Alumni Communication and Career Research Directorate “The International Symposium Of Female Poets In Turkish Literature: From Nigar Hanim To The Present” took place at EMU. The symposium commenced with an opening ceremony that took place at 09:30 on Thursday, the 26th of April 2018 at the Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall. The symposium continued on the 27th of April 2018. The first day of the symposium featured 4 sessions and the second day featured another 3.
Speaking after the national anthem and a moment of silence, symposium organization committee president and Department of Turkish Language and Literature Chair Asst. Prof. Dr. Gülseren Tor welcomed everyone to the conference, indicating that the symposium will discuss past and present efforts of female poets to make their presence felt as well as what female poets write about, why they write, since when they have been writing and how they write. Asst. Prof. Dr. Tor stated that the notion of “Women are written about in poems, women don’t write poems” will be demolished. Thanking everyone involved in the organization of the event, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tor wished everyone a fruitful symposium.
In a speech of his own EMU Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Özarslan highlighted that the Department of Turkish Language and Literature which is the first of its kind in the TRNC is becoming a part of the Turcology world by organizing important events. Also thanking everyone who contributed to the symposium Prof. Dr. Özarslan relayed his belief that the event will be a very useful one.
Following the opening speeches guest of honor Prof. Dr. Mine Mengi and Prof. Dr. İ. Çetin Derdiyok stated that they are very happy to be at EMU and thanked everyone involved in the organization of the event. Both days of the symposium featured numerous presentations on a wide range of topics.
