06/09/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
METU graduation ceremony took place yesterday on September 3rd. In his speech, METU valedictorian Ali Yıldız criticized the school administration and also mentioned the Pride March.
At the Middle East Technical University (METU) graduation ceremony held on September 3rd at Devrim Stadium, METU valedictorian Ali Yıldız delivered a powerful speech criticizing the university administration and addressing issues including the controversial handling of the METU Pride March.
According to Anka News Agency, the ceremony began with a traditional cortege and the display of student banners. However, as night fell, the banners became invisible from the stands, leading to frustration among students and families. The crowd reacted by chanting, “switch on the lights,” voicing their discontent with the administration’s failure to accommodate the visibility of this important graduation tradition.
Tensions escalated further during the speech by newly-appointed Rector Ahmet Yozgatlıgil, who recently replaced Verşan Kök. As Yozgatlıgil addressed the crowd, students and parents expressed their disapproval by protesting. In response, the video and audio systems in the stadium were reportedly cut off, according to various sources including journalist Batu Bozkürk.
Ali Yıldız, the valedictorian, used his platform to highlight key issues affecting METU. His speech touched on several grievances related to the administration’s actions. Yıldız notably criticized the cutting down of trees in the campus’s Kavaklık area, the dismissal of lecturers whose ideas may not align with scientific values, and the confinement of earthquake victims to university dormitories saying “Science is not about cutting down hundreds of trees in Kavaklık, science is not about dismissing lecturers whose ideas do not agree with science, science is not about confining earthquake victims to dormitories.” His remarks were met with applause from the audience. Yıldız also mentioned the police violence during the Pride March:
“Science doesn’t involve sending police to suppress students peacefully demonstrating at the METU Pride March. It’s not about canceling spring festivals, one of the few chances students have to relax after their studies, by citing problems instead of addressing them. Nor is science about shutting down all dialogue with students at the first sign of crisis and then attempting to silence those seeking their rights through investigations.”
Tags: human rights, education
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