The cancellation of this year’s graduation ceremony at Akdeniz University caused a reaction from students. Students gathered in front of the rectorate building chanting “They usurped our graduation” and shouted slogans like “Rector resign”. The students were met with harsh intervention by university security.
The discussions started with the allegations that the mass graduation ceremony was canceled, and when there was no explanation from the university administration, students started a protest at night. The students claimed that the ceremony was canceled due to austerity measures.
Facing security barriers in front of the Rectorate, the students then marched to Olbia Square and made a press statement. The statement described the cancellation of the graduation ceremony as “part of policies aimed at making the presence of students in the public sphere invisible”.
The students said, “Universities are not only places where diplomas are awarded, they are spaces where thought, solidarity and voice are produced. We are not giving up on our demand for an egalitarian and accessible university” and called on the rectorate to withdraw its decision.
14.05.2025
Antalya Gündem Gazetesi