Boğaziçi Alumni: 'We Do Not Accept the Unlawful Practices of the Trustee Administration'

Cumhuriyet reports on the continued resistance by Boğaziçi University alumni against the university's appointed rectorate, marking five years since the controversial appointment. The alumni's statement, delivered at the university's Etiler Gate, strongly denounces the 'trustee administration's' alleged usurpation of free speech, arbitrary interventions, and suppression of academic freedom. Their unwavering commitment, described as being 'as strong and determined as on the first day,' highlights a deep-seated opposition to what they perceive as unlawful and oppressive practices.

The alumni frame their struggle not just as an internal university matter but as a broader fight for the ideal of free, autonomous, and democratic universities across Turkey. They draw parallels between the situation at Boğaziçi and the wider implications for higher education in the country. The ongoing silent vigils by academics and the monthly gatherings of alumni at the campus gates serve as powerful symbols of their persistent defiance and their demand for merit-based appointments and respect for institutional autonomy.

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We are as strong and determined as on the first day in our objection to the unlawfulness, oppressive practices, and decisions that undermine academic freedom at our university.

This narrative is particularly resonant within Turkey, where university autonomy and academic freedom have been subjects of intense debate. Cumhuriyet, known for its critical stance towards the government, amplifies the alumni's voice, portraying them as defenders of democratic values against authoritarian encroachment. Western media might cover this as a protest or a dispute over university governance. However, from a Turkish perspective, and as presented by Cumhuriyet, it is a crucial battle for the soul of Turkish academia, a stand against perceived injustice, and a testament to the enduring spirit of academic resistance. The alumni's determination to continue their protests, despite facing restrictions on campus entry, underscores the depth of their conviction and the significance they place on defending their alma mater's democratic traditions.

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We, as alumni who have been banned from entering the campus by the trustee administration, continue to meet on the first Friday of every month at the gates of our university to grow our solidarity.