Boğaziçi University club concerned about rector candidate’s ‘relationship with money’

Increasing numbers of students at the Istanbul university have expressed anger at the candidacy of Akgiray, a professor and an executive MBA program director, ahead of the July 12 rectoral elections, on the grounds that his academic record is too poor for such a critical post.

The statement released by BÜÇEV on July 12 said the club was concerned about “Akgiray’s frequent reference to ‘money’ during his interview” for the position. 

“He mentioned money, projects, funds, reports, economy, companies, etc. But the university is going elect a rector, not a CEO. We are very concerned that if Akgiray is elected to be the next rector, the notion of student clubs mostly based on economic benefits will grow stronger,” BÜÇEV stated. 

“We are strongly opposed to this approach dominating our university. We are translators whose aims are to protect the cultural, artistic, scientific products of humanity and to pass these values onto many more people. We do not want a rector who does not promise to protect the university’s cultural, artistic and scientific studies, who has not participated in a single commission, who has not made a clear statement on whether he will respect the university’s will,” it added.

“Akgiray describes the critical and alternative works in our clubs as ‘useless.’ He also classifies the LGBTI+ Studies Club as such. We can only describe this kind of a rector as a businessman who barely knows his school,” BÜÇEV stated.

“After we graduate, we would like to strengthen the improvement of humanity. We find it unacceptable for our school to be seen, in the eyes of the country and the world, as an institution that raises students who are purely career-driven,” it also said.