Robert College’s Institutional Advancement Office, the RC Alumni Association of America, and the RC Alumni Association in Istanbul organized a virtual memorial on May 7, 2023, for the recent earthquake victims and survivors.
The event started with Head of School Adam Oliver, RCAAA President Cengiz Hatiboğlu RC 81 and RKMD President Arif Akdağ RC 88 welcoming participants. After a moment of silence, stories and memories of loved ones and places lost were shared. Gülru Paksoy ACG 70, a classmate of Rana Kuseyri Salih, an alumnus that died in the earthquake, shared her fond memories of Rana. Ela Cenudioğlu RC L12 03, whose family is from Hatay, shared memories of lost family members. Müge Gümüş, RC Turkish Literature teacher, who grew up in Antakya shared her love of this ancient city in a stirring letter that she wrote as a step towards radical acceptance to initiate healing. Deniz Baysal, an RC music teacher, and his students performed “İnsan İnsan” by Fazıl Say allowing the participants to experience the transcendent power of music. Mehmet Uysal, head of the RC Turkish Literature Department, read “World’s Strangest Creature” by Nazım Hikmet. Arzu Çalış RC 83, guided the participants to express their experience of this unspeakable trauma in simple, yet, heart-felt poems of their own making.
The focus of the event gradually expanded towards collective action in the field. Nilhan Çetinyamaç, Turkish Director and Associate Head of School, summarized RC’s relief and fundraising initiatives. Arif Akdağ underlined the significance of being personally present in the field. Şenay Ataselim, Executive Director of Turkish Philanthropy Funds in the United States, explained how alumni around the world donate funds and help channel resources to where they are needed the most. Burcu Berent from RC’s Institutional Advancement Office emphasized the need for continued support for our school to expand its outreach.
The global gathering demonstrated the power of the RC community and how RC continues to be a force for good.
During the event, attendees were invited to share their experiences about the earthquakes through a poetry exercise. Participants shared their stories in a few sentences and distilled them into meaningful haiku-like poems.
Published July 2023
