University 'spouse' appointment sparks controversy

At Ordu University (ODÜ), the transfer of Melek Yalkın, the wife of Secretary General Serkan Yalkın and a former KYK dormitory manager, from the Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK) to ODÜ was facilitated with the signature of Rector Prof. Dr. Orhan Baş.

Following the institutional transfer, Melek Yalkın was appointed as a branch manager in the Department of Library and Documentation via assignment.

The appointment in question has led to criticisms of 'unqualified appointment' and 'favoritism'.

"I WILL RESIGN"

ODÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Orhan Baş defended the legality of the process. Rector Baş stated, "When I appoint faculty members, I request a letter from the dean's office asking, 'which faculty member do you want?'

The dean's office writes the letter and we take the faculty member. If the dean's office does not want it, or if there is no need, we cannot take them. I sent the letter, which received approval from 4 boards, to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Let it be investigated; if it is proven that any one of these boards gave a negative opinion, I will resign from my post. We are doing transparent, legal, and ethical work," he said.

"IT CONSISTS OF MOVING TO A LOWER-RANKING BRANCH MANAGER POSITION"

Secretary General Serkan Yalkın stated that his wife had been a tenured manager for 7 years at the dormitory located within the university campus under the Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK).

Yalkın said, "The situation consists of her moving to a lower-ranking branch manager position under a department head in the library across from the dormitory.

We do not have a directorate called branch manager responsible for libraries. There is a Department of Library and Documentation.

This department is already responsible for all libraries. There are branches under it, and my wife is a branch manager there," he said.