Boğaziçi University academics say senate is being seized by pro-gov't figures

Boğaziçi University academics, who have been protesting Erdoğan's rector appointment to Turkey's most prestigious higher education institution, have said that the university's senate is being seized by pro-government figures.

Thursday June 17 2021 10:45 am

Duvar English

Boğaziçi University academics have said that the university's senate is being seized by pro-government figures through the abuse of the system.

The academics, who have been protesting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's appointment of Melih Bulu, a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporter, as a rector to the university since Jan. 2, said that the university's senate is being tried to be filled with figures close to Bulu.

"A democratically functioning system is being abused to obtain a majority in the senate," the academics said on June 16 following a senate meeting.

According to the academics, Bulu has been appointing figures close to him to significant posts, paving way for pro-government academics to obtain a majority in the senate.

The academics have been turning their backs on the rectorate for the past six months to protest Bulu's antidemocratic appointment with a presidential decree that further hampered Turkey's already waning academic freedom.

His poor Turkish and English writing skills, as well his apparent plagiarism in his academic works and poor credentials, added to the scandal surrounding the trustee rector, prompting the students and academics to protest the appointment.

He has also been placing security cameras all over the campus and is comfortable with police presence, as well as detentions, around the university.

Adding to his antidemocratic practices, Bulu prevented prominent academic Feyzi Erçin from giving lectures since he supported the students and academics in their protests.

Most recently, Bulu claimed that he gave lectures at the university for eight years to prove that he is fit for the post, but records refuted his claim.

The academics on June 16 said that they stand by the ethical and academic principles that were adopted by the senate in 2012.

"We don't accept the attempts to make our senate dysfunctional," they said.