Reactions to the closure of Dokuz Eylül University (DEU) Fine Arts Institute by the decision of the President spilled onto the streets. Political parties, unions and non-governmental organizations gathered in front of the Rectorate of Dokuz Eylül University in Alsancak upon the call of the United Retirees Union and issued a joint press statement. To action; CHP Provincial Chairman Utku Gümrükçü, appointed by the Absolute Bulan administration, DEM Party MYK Member and İzmir Deputy İbrahim Akın, İYİ Party İzmir Provincial Deputy Chairman Responsible for Corporate Relations Atty. Berkay Muhammet Birci, Green Left Party Provincial Board of Directors Co-Spokesperson Kenan Işık, United Pensioners Union Buca Board Member Şenay Erdin and Dostluk Culture and Solidarity Association, Devrimci Tekstil-İş Union, EGEÇEP attended.
Speaking in the press release, United Pensioners Union Buca Board Member Şenay Erdin emphasized that they stand with young people to defend public education:
"As the United Retirees Union, we are here not only to defend the institute but also to defend public education, art and the existence of universities for society. We have worked, produced, paid our taxes for years; now we are retired. Retirement does not mean remaining silent. We will continue to protect the future of our children and grandchildren. Today, we stand with art workers and academics. Retirees stand with students. We say clearly from here; universities are not businesses, education is not a commodity, art is not a luxury, students are not customers. We consent to leaving public education in the hands of narrow groups. "Closing an institution is taking away a piece from the future of not only the students but also the society. Make university decisions with the demands of the students, not behind closed doors. Dokuz Eylül University Fine Arts Institute cannot be closed, art is a right, not a luxury. Long live the organized struggle; long live the solidarity of students and retirees."
DEM Party Central Executive Board Member and Izmir Deputy İbrahim Akın called for a joint struggle against the decision:
"Our friends gathered here today are doing valuable work for us. Izmir Fine Arts is an institution that has trained very valuable people. There were similar initiatives in Istanbul before; they had to close and then open. The fact that it was closed is evidence of the negative attitude towards art and education. Accepting this situation silently in Izmir does not suit this city. I call out to the forces of labor and democracy; we need to raise our voice. Our struggle and our voice should be loud, not quiet. The Rectorate should step back; if not, "It is necessary to organize and not be a party to this situation."
CHP Izmir Provincial Chairman Utku Gümrükçü, appointed by the Butlan administration, also stated that art education is indispensable for the identity of the university. Gümrükçü said, "From now on, we will do our best to keep the Fine Arts unit alive. Dokuz Eylül has a strong faculty of engineering and law; we know that the faculties of education and medicine touch thousands of people. Without Fine Arts, a university ceases to be a university. The university belongs to the people, it is not a business. As the Republican People's Party, we are behind this struggle."
Kenan Işık, Co-Spokesperson of the Green Left Party Provincial Board of Directors, called on the whole city for solidarity and said:
"The oppressive policies of the political power towards labor and artists continue; Dokuz Eylül also received its share of this. We invite all artists and democratic mass organizations in Izmir to a united struggle. We call on the people of Izmir to support this struggle. We will also carry the struggle to the parliament. We invite all labor and democracy forces to protect fine arts."
IYI Party Izmir Provincial Vice President Responsible for Corporate Relations Atty. Berkay Muhammet Birci criticized the management system and concluded his words as follows:
"The main reason for the problem we are experiencing is the Presidential Government System. As a party, we have always criticized this. We said that the one-man system will lead the country to lawlessness. We argue that the main solution to this will be a return to the parliamentary system. Those in power do not understand much about beauty or art; the only thing they understand is concrete."
