International culture echoed off the walls of Talley Student Center on Saturday evening.

The smell of baklava, grilled chicken, stuffed grape leaves and hummus lingered in the air.

Clearly it was Turkish Night.

Students and the Turkish community in the Triangle gathered together to enjoy a night of food, festivities and fun.

Osman Gulseven, a graduate student in economics and president of the Turkish Students Association, said although Turkish Night is a tradition at N.C. State, every year the celebration of Turkish culture differs.

“This year, we’ve brought an international music group and a belly dancer,” Gulseven said.

Zindagi, the international music group, is comprised of members from Turkey, India, the U.S. and Latin America.

The Turkish Students Association sold 280 tickets for the event, and although there are 250 members on their mailing list, the group has about 90 active members on campus.

According to Gulseven, Turkish Night was the work of about 60 members, who were “committed to making Turkish Night a success.”

The TSA holds meetings bi-weekly, but makes an effort to meet every week for dinner or coffee.

Namik Temizer, a graduate student in electrical engineering and vice president of the TSA, has been an active member of TSA for the past three years.

“Although this event is an annual event at N.C. State, this year the TSA was more vocal about it,” Temizer said. “For the first time, we had flyers and posters — we publicized it a lot more.”

Temizer said the TSA’s goal with Turkish Night is to bring together the Turkish and international community and have fun.

Alpert Hopping, a graduate student in financial mathematics, came to Turkish Night in hopes to learn and gain an appreciation for Turkish culture.

“I love their food, and also my girlfriend is Turkish,” Hopping said.

Hopping is a big fan of all Middle Eastern food and said for students, the food being served was well worth the money.

“Everyone knows college students love food,” Hopping said. “The breath of the experience of Turkish Night should be enough for students to come here and enjoy the music and the atmosphere.”

Ege Hurgel, a graduate student in operations research, is of Turkish descent, but not a member of the TSA.

According to Hurgel, Turkish Night was an accurate representation of Turkish culture.

“It’s as good as it can get,” Hurgel said. “The dance show was done by children that were born in the United States and not in Turkey.”

Hurgel was impressed with the number of Turkish in the area.

“I am shocked to see so many Turkish people,” Hurgel said.