Belongings stuffed into trash bags: Koç University students left homeless

Students studying at Koç University were continuing to utilize school dormitory facilities for their summer internships. Citing renovations to be carried out in the dormitories as an excuse, Koç University evicted the students on previously announced dates. Having nowhere to stay, the students created living spaces for themselves in the university's common areas in a way that would not disturb other students. Officials from the Dormitory Directorate told the students that a formal report would be filed against them, and while the students were at their internships, their belongings were stuffed into trash bags and removed.

Hikmet Eren Çelenk - 12punto.com.tr

Students at Koç University who are facing housing grievances shared their experiences with 12punto.

'I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO'

Speaking to 12punto and stating that they had nowhere to stay, a victimized student described the process as follows.

“Under normal circumstances, we were able to use school dormitories for voluntary internships, mandatory internships, and summer school. This year, because the dorms on the main campus were undergoing renovations, everyone was placed in the West Campus. A standard was set there as well; those doing voluntary internships would absolutely not be able to stay, and those doing mandatory internships would have the right to stay for 45 working days. I had my mandatory internship counted this way, and my move-out date had arrived on September 5. However, throughout the process, I told my school that I could not leave the dorm, that I didn't know what I would do if I left, and that I didn't have the option to resign from my job."

THEY BEGAN LIVING IN SCHOOL CORNERS

Stating that they had settled into common areas open to all students and that they did not have the means to quit their job, the student said, “I have been working in the same place for a year, and this is my source of income. I make my living solely through the support scholarship provided by the school and the income I earn from my job. I cannot resign, and even if I left, I have nowhere to stay. I discussed this with the school many times, and they kept telling me the places I needed to email. I was receiving responses from the places we emailed stating that they could not help directly. Because of this, when the move-out date arrived, we settled into a corner of the school's common areas where there were three or four armchairs and a pool table. We started staying there, and since there weren't many people at the school, not many people were passing by where we were staying. They came from the dormitory directorate once and said, 'We know you are doing something like this, a report will be filed against you.' I explained the situation again, and the conversation didn't lead anywhere. I decided to stay until the report arrived,” they explained.

BELONGINGS IN TRASH BAGS

The student, who could not find their belongings when they returned from work, described their shock with the following words: “When I came from work the other day, we learned that all our belongings had been put into a trash bag and locked away somewhere in the dormitory directorate. Honestly, we were stunned. This happened around 11:00 PM, and we didn't know what to do."

'HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HOMELESS?'

Stating to the authorities that they would be left homeless and that they had no means to meet their housing needs, the student concluded their words as follows:

“If my mandatory internship at the school had started in September, I would be able to stay in the dorm right now. They promised us that if we notified them of the mandatory internship date one week in advance, we could stay in the dorms. They should have rooms available right now. They tell us that the rooms are being cleaned, but my roommate is still continuing to stay in the same room. When I pointed this out, they had no answer. I asked them, 'Have you ever been homeless?' My friend also asked different people at different times. Each time, they pause for a few seconds and answer 'we have.' It is not necessarily illegal, but it is a situation that is contrary to humanity.”