Boğaziçi University suspends 34 student organizations’ activities over campus protest

Following student protests against the privatization of campus spaces, the Boğaziçi University administration suspended the activities of 34 student organizations for one month and dismissed their executive boards.

Duvar English

Boğaziçi University administration on Feb. 25  suspended the activities of 28 student clubs and six student groups until March 28, following protests against the privatization of a new campus establishment. The university also dismissed the executive boards of these organizations.

The protests erupted after reports surfaced that a coffee chain would operate the newly opened café, replacing the closed campus canteen and reportedly prohibiting the sale of coffee in other campus establishments.

In response, the university denied these claims, stating that the establishment was not affiliated with any specific brand and that “the occupation of the space by students disrupted both business operations and campus harmony.”

As the protests continued, the student clubs on Feb. 21 shared a joint statement, "We are saying once again to those who see Boğaziçi as a company, who try to turn the campus into their own economic and social profit area, and who open the doors of our university to capital: We do not accept, we do not give up!"

The suspension order, signed by Boğaziçi University Rector Naci İnci, was shared by some student organizations on social media. 

In the order, the rectorate claimed that the organizations “openly encourage a protest that is clearly against the Turkish Penal Code Article 154.” 

Article 154 defines the crime of "trespassing," which can only be determined by a court ruling. No legal proceedings have been initiated against the protests, and university rectorates in Turkey clearly do not possess judicial authority.

In a social media post, the university's Animal Rights Community working under the Environment Club announced that they would be unable to organize their fundraiser event for five weeks. Accordingly, this event has been their only regular source of income, which they use to pay off a debt of 113,000 Turkish liras to veterinarians for the care of campus animals.

A week earlier, the university rector's office had banned nearly twenty students from entering the campus without an investigation and taking their statements. The Constitutional Court has annulled the relevant section of the Higher Education Law, which was cited as the basis for the ban on students entering the campus.

Boğaziçi University on Feb. 19 said in a statement, “An administrative investigation has been initiated against students who were found to have a provocative role.” 

Boğaziçi students also staged prolonged protests in 2021 against the government-appointed rector which resulted in various violent clashes at the campus and dozens of arrests and detainments. 

The university's first student organization to be shut down was the LGBTI+ Studies Club in the same year, marking the beginning of a series of anti-LGBTI+ policies by the rectorate and subsequent bans on student activities.

The student organizations whose activities were suspended include the Atatürkist Thought Club, Science Club, Informatics Club, Bridge Club, Translation Club, Environment Club, Mountaineering Club, Dance Club, Literature Club, Education and Research Club, Electrotechnology Club, Photography Club, Gastronomy and Tasting Club, Fine Arts Club, Aviation Club, Cartoon and Humor Club, Village and Cooperative Club, Cave Exploration Club, Debate Club, Music Club, Gaming Club, Boğaziçi Radio, Chess Club, Cinema Club, Social Sciences Club, Social Services Club, Underwater Sports Club, and History Studies Club.

Additionally, the suspended student communities are the Marxist Thought Community, Linguistics Community, Foundation for Children with Leukemia (LÖSEV) Benefit Community,  Alumni Association (BÜMED) Student Community, Knitting Community, and Socialist Thought Community. 

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Topics Boğaziçi University Boğaziçi University students Boğaziçi University protests Naci İnci student protest