Turkish university limits open door policy after students’ objection

Duvar English

Turkey’s Istanbul University on Feb. 14 took a step back from its recently introduced open door campus policy for the public after reactions.

On Feb. 13, the university students shared photos of the visitors, entering the lecture halls and taking photos while the class was ongoing. 

The photos went viral on social media as several people criticized the practice. 

The students on Feb. 13 protested the practice in front of the university, saying it would create security problems and reduce their productivity. “Istanbul University is first and foremost an educational institution. It is not a museum, not a circus. The school administration is jeopardizing the safety of our youth by letting anyone and everyone in,” they said.

On Feb. 14, the university limited the open door policy. Accordingly, visits will only take place between 1 p.m and 4 p.m. on weekdays, “covering the garden of our Beyazıt campus due to its historical and cultural qualities.” 

Visitors also have to make an appointment beforehand. The university also exempted the administrative offices and lecture halls from visitation.

“Visitors who want to experience the historical and cultural atmosphere of Beyazıt Campus will be able to enter our campus with the visitor cards they will receive at the entrance after being subjected to the controls to be carried out by our security guards,” it added.

The practice of "open door, open science" is aimed at integrating science and society, the university concluded.

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