Background Melih Bulu, who was the rector of Haliç University, was appointed as the rector with the decree published on January 2, 2021. Faculty members stated that this was the first rector to be appointed from outside the university since the 1980 coup. The appointment was interpreted as a political move since the newly appointed rector had previously held various positions in the Ak-Party. The action was seen by the students as a political movement that has been part of the anti-democratic practices that have been going on since the July 15 coup attempt. Protests Police intervention took place in the first days of the protests that started on January 4. In the days that followed, various performances were held inside and outside the campus. The university's lecturers turned their backs to the rectorate building and protested. The protests of the students and teachers continued for 3 weeks. Hundreds of people participated in the protests on January 4, 2021. The protesters said, “We do not accept any interference with the autonomy of our university in decision-making mechanisms, democratic principles, freedom of thought and will to make choices.” he reacted by saying. The demonstrators also chanted slogans like “Melih Bulu is not our rector” and “We do not want a rector appointed by the state.” they said. While Erdogan had the right to appoint university rectors, they demanded that their universities be able to elect their own rector. During the protests, one of the university's buildings was seized by students who were able to enter the campus. The police held the door of the university together with three handcuffs. Later, demonstrators clashed with police while trying to break a barricade in front of the university entrance. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Several students were detained during the protests. 5th of January At the ceremony, which took place on January 5 at 12:00, the academicians turned away to the rectorate building in the garden of the university and protested Melih Bulu. The academics continued their protests in the following days. Melih Bulu said that his favorite Metallica song is Nothing Else Matters. Bulu was on the agenda with the statement "I am a president who listens to Metallica". He thinks that it could change something when he said to he lives like teens. After this, a lot of students sang the song of Metallica, Justice For All with all together.
6th of January Students continued to protest Melih Bulu in various ways after the gathering started in front of the rectorate building at 12:00. Then, with the march that started at 14:00, a group of students walked along the BebekBeşiktaş coast accompanied by slogans and applause at 16:00 in Kadıköy, meeting with the solidarity groups and associations of other universities. During their marches, the public supported the students with horns and applause. A group of students who stayed on the Boğaziçi University campus continued their protest in front of the rectorate. 22 people were detained in house raids by the police. During the dawn raids on January 6, the number of detainees rose. 11th of January The students protested the rectorate by cooking halva first and then doing yoga. Students yelled, “We don't want trustees.” they chanted slogans. Cooking halva is usually made when someone dies in Turkey. So the students refer to justice is died in Turkey. 16th of January Musicians of Boğaziçi rearranged Metallica's song For Whom the Bell Tolls, with Turkish lyrics and called the appointed rector to resign. The video for the song, shot with the students in Güney Meydan, was broadcast on Youtube on the same date.Boğaziçi University academicians made a statement on South Campus Square on January 22, 2021: “As we have committed, we continue to share with you the developments we have carried out together against the appointment of the rector, who does not recognize the will of the university. We declare that we stand behind our principles since January 1st, both in the public and by operating the channels within the institution. Not all Boğaziçi University components accept this appointment. The fact that no one has accepted the position of vice-rector at our university until today, January 22, is the success of this collective will”.
Commenti