 Police spray water on the students holding a protest in front of the Higher Education Board, or YÖK, building in Ankara. YÖK head Yusuf Ziya Özcan met with representatives of the universities' student councils amid protests. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ |
Police violence again marred a meeting between students and the head of Turkey’s top education board on Wednesday.
Police detained two students after they attempted to enter a meeting between the head of Turkey’s Higher Education Board, or YÖK, Yusuf Ziya Özcan, and university student council representatives in Ankara.
A group of students calling itself the "Student Collective" gathered in front of Ankara’s YÖK office chanting slogans and calling for the abolition of the "freakish" education board.
When three representatives from the group attempted to enter the building to participate in the meeting, officials intervened. The three were then joined by the rest of the group and they attempted to enter the building en masse.
After police dispersed the group with pepper spray, the students re-grouped and marched to the building again, prompting police to intervene and detain two of the students. One student sustained head injuries during the police operation and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
The clash ended with students holding a press conference. They said the representatives in the meeting did not represent them. “Student representatives who drive Jaguars are in that meeting. We came here today to demand free education,” a spokesperson said.
Roughly 110 student council presidents attended the meeting with YÖK head Özcan, who also spoke to the press following the meeting.
According to Özcan, students at the meeting demanded more institutionalized student councils operating according to their own budgets. Özcan and the students agreed to meet four times a year to increase communication.
Other issues on the students’ agenda were transportation, housing and nutrition. They also said tuition fees were too high.
The students also said they wanted to play an active role in the restructuring of YÖK, Özcan said, adding that they also said security forces needed to be more understanding towards them.
“Today, we spoke to the representatives chosen by the votes of students. However, we are not ignoring the other crowd outside. I do not have to talk to them to know what they are thinking,” said Özcan.
“It is my principle not to talk to any group that chooses violence, interferes with the freedom of others or makes academic activities difficult,” he said.
Middle East Technical University Student Council President Ahmet Kerem Güler made an announcement regarding press reports of negative student reactions to his representing them at the meeting.
Reports of threats and a near physical attack were “true, but there is no need to exaggerate,” Güler said following the meeting.
“We’re here to defend the rights of students, and I try to mention all students’ demands.”
Police detained two students after they attempted to enter a meeting between the head of Turkey’s Higher Education Board, or YÖK, Yusuf Ziya Özcan, and university student council representatives in Ankara.
A group of students calling itself the "Student Collective" gathered in front of Ankara’s YÖK office chanting slogans and calling for the abolition of the "freakish" education board.
When three representatives from the group attempted to enter the building to participate in the meeting, officials intervened. The three were then joined by the rest of the group and they attempted to enter the building en masse.
After police dispersed the group with pepper spray, the students re-grouped and marched to the building again, prompting police to intervene and detain two of the students. One student sustained head injuries during the police operation and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
The clash ended with students holding a press conference. They said the representatives in the meeting did not represent them. “Student representatives who drive Jaguars are in that meeting. We came here today to demand free education,” a spokesperson said.
Roughly 110 student council presidents attended the meeting with YÖK head Özcan, who also spoke to the press following the meeting.
According to Özcan, students at the meeting demanded more institutionalized student councils operating according to their own budgets. Özcan and the students agreed to meet four times a year to increase communication.
Other issues on the students’ agenda were transportation, housing and nutrition. They also said tuition fees were too high.
The students also said they wanted to play an active role in the restructuring of YÖK, Özcan said, adding that they also said security forces needed to be more understanding towards them.
“Today, we spoke to the representatives chosen by the votes of students. However, we are not ignoring the other crowd outside. I do not have to talk to them to know what they are thinking,” said Özcan.
“It is my principle not to talk to any group that chooses violence, interferes with the freedom of others or makes academic activities difficult,” he said.
Middle East Technical University Student Council President Ahmet Kerem Güler made an announcement regarding press reports of negative student reactions to his representing them at the meeting.
Reports of threats and a near physical attack were “true, but there is no need to exaggerate,” Güler said following the meeting.
“We’re here to defend the rights of students, and I try to mention all students’ demands.”
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