Bogazici University protests still raging on

Hani Daniel

The students of Istanbul’s Bogazici University continue to stage demonstrations against the policies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and interference by the government in the selection of the university president.

Erdogan’s government has been working hard to put a lid on the anger of the students. However, all attempts in this regard failed.

The demonstrations keep intensifying as the students insist to select the university president in the light of well-established mechanisms in this educational institution.

An affiliate of the Turkish ruling Freedom and Justice Party was appointed recently as the president of the university.

Nevertheless, this runs counter to traditions followed in the university in the past. The president of the university used to be selected from among its faculty and in a democratic manner.

The recent appointment of a university president is viewed on its campus as an attempt by the authorities to control the university’s teaching staff and students.

The students participating in the demonstrations underscore the importance of the independence of their university. They added that they oppose interference by the government in the affairs of the university.

The students also say that they will keep demonstrating until the government reverses its decision to appoint an outsider as university president.

Those staging the demonstrations believe that the appointment of this outsider will not be the last attempt by Erdogan to interfere in the affairs of Bogazici University.