Protest against rector at ITU graduation ceremony

Reactions against rector appointments continue at Istanbul Technical University (ITU).

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, who was appointed as the rector of ITU by President Erdoğan on August 16, 2024, has sparked controversy among students and academics. The fact that Mandal is a member of the Middle East Technical University Alumni Association (ODTÜ-MD), known for its Islamist stance, has further intensified these reactions.

Despite demands for democratic elections at universities, the Presidency's insistence on appointing rectors has reignited "trustee rector" protests at ITU. Students state that the university's will is being ignored and have been continuing their resistance for a long time.

In previous months, the school administration had launched investigations into students who opposed this situation, while ITU students wishing to support their peers organized various actions. It was reported that a female student was injured during the intervention by the Private Security Unit (ÖGB) and at least five students received medical reports for battery.

Today, at the graduation ceremony held at the Taşkışla Campus, protests took center stage once again. Students expressed their reaction by turning their backs on the stage to protest the dean appointed to the faculty and Rector Mandal. Throughout the ceremony, chants of "Trustees will go, we will remain!" were frequently heard.