SYRIZA deputies join student protest at Athens University

Athens University Dean Theodoros Fortsakis believes it is the university’s unequivocal right to control who enters the university’s grounds

Athens University Dean Theodoros Fortsakis complained against three deputies of the main opposition Coalition of the Left SYRIZA party that entered the university grounds on Monday morning without permission.

The SYRIZA deputies in question were Apostolos Alexopoulos, Christos Mandas and Theano Photiou, who entered the central building of the University of Athens without permission and demanded the lifting of checks at the entrance of the Main building as well as the removal of police forces though these forces were not in the vicinity. The three deputies and a group of student belonging to the leftist faction proceeded to hold a meeting in the main hall of the building, using the sound system of the facility without making a request for its use.

Workers and students also gathered at the university’s courtyard to protest against the dean’s decision last week to forbid entry to those who have no work at the university and to lock gates so as to prevent a group of students from entering the university grounds.

Vice Deans Kostas Bourazelis and Antonis Kalokairinos met with the SYRIZA deputies and students on Monday. Mr. Bourazelis defended the administration’s efforts to control entry onto the grounds, whereas the secretary of the employee’s association Marlene Logothetis said that this decision was in violation of the union’s rights.

Mr. Fortsakis is meeting with a three-membered delegation consisting of one student and two employees on Tuesday. The employees federation of Athens University is holding a stop-work meeting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will hold a press conference during this time.