Erdoğan's appointment Melih Bulu is a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which deems his undemocratic appointment a targeted blow at academic freedom by most.

Boğaziçi academics' primary demand in their peaceful resistance is Bulu's immediate resignation and the organization of democratic elections to choose the next rector.

On campus to accompany their professors, some Boğaziçi students made a snowman outside the Rectorial Office and dubbed him "appointed man" ("kayyum adam"), a play on the Turkis words for snowman ("kardan adam").