Academics reiterate determination in the face of elected deans’ dismissal

* Photo: Cem Ersoy

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The academics of Boğaiziçi University have released a written statement about the removal of three deans from office amid ongoing protests against the appointed rectors since January 4, 2021.

The academics have underlined that Naci İnci, the current appointed rector of Boğaziçi, "removed three deans from office in line with decision taken at the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) General Assembly on January 18, but did not indicate the reason for the dismissals."

The statement of academics came a week after Prof. Özlem Berk Albachten, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Metin Ercan, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Prof. Yasemin Bayyurt, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, were removed from office by the appointed rectorate upon the decision of the YÖK.

The academics have recalled that in a statement made by appointed rector İnci on his social media account, it was said that the deans were dismissed "due to disciplinary offenses": "He saw no harm in ungroundedly slandering our deans, each one of whom is an esteemed scientist."

The academics of Boğaziçi have said, "Neither the appointed rector, who announced the dismissal of deans, nor the YÖK, which dismissed them, made a statement about the issue to the public."

They have stressed that all three deans "came into office after being elected by their colleagues at their faculties and they fulfilled their duties in compliance with the university's understanding of democratic, transparent and accountable governance as a public university for 51 years."

'It harms the university's structure'

Referring to the day when Melih Bulu was appointed by the President as a rector on January 2, 2021, the academics have said that "the damages inflicted to the university since then prove how harmful this system of appointment is for universities' free and autonomous structure."

Recalling that Naci İnci has also been appointed by the President as a rector despite receiving a vote of no confidence (95 percent) from the faculty members, the academics have noted that "during the term of office of Naci İnci and his vice rectors so far, the university's 51-year tradition of free, autonomous and democratic governance has been ruined by top-down appointments, unlawful dismissals and removals from office."

Disciplinary investigations against 500 students

According to the statement of Boğaziçi academics, over the past year, the appointed rectorate has requested disciplinary investigations against around 500 students. They have raised concerns that "the Rectorate may be aiming to appoint deans in place of the dismissed deans in a top down manner and to inflict new harms on the university through these appointed deans".

Concluding their statements, the academics have said:

"Just like our elected representatives, we also respectfully declare to the public that we will continue exercising our legitimate and legal rights against unlawful practices and defending our university's understanding of academic freedom and institutional autonomy and its principles of transparent and accountable governance and that we are determined to undo the damages inflicted to our university. We don't accept, we don't give up until the ideal of free, autonomous and democratic university is realized." (RT/SD)