METU students protested Rector Yozgatlıgil’s speech by cutting off the electricity on stage for two weeks.

Middle East Technical University (METU) held its graduation ceremony for the 2023-2024 academic year at the METU Stadium. During the speech of the METU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil, the electricity was cut off on stage, leading to a protest against the rector.

The graduation ceremony of METU for the 2023-2024 academic year took place at the METU Revolution Stadium. The traditional collective graduation ceremony, held annually at the METU Stadium, started at 6:00 PM. Banners opened by students were accepted into the stadium after passing through security checks. The ceremony began with marches played by the band and continued with a procession where students displayed banners in their gowns. The colorful moments of the procession included a marriage proposal made by Kadir Yavuz to Eda Almeriç, a graduate of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. The birthday of the martyr teacher Şenay Aybüke Yalçın was also remembered by the students during the procession, with banners dedicated to Teacher Aybüke displayed by the Faculty of Education students.

Rector Protests

During the ceremony, the new Rector of METU, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil, who started his term on August 16, 2024, also met with the 2024 graduates and METU alumni. When Rector Yozgatlıgil took the stage to deliver his speech, he faced backlash from the students. METU students protested by turning their backs on Rector Yozgatlıgil during his speech. Subsequently, an unknown individual cut the electricity on the stage where the rector was present, attempting to prevent Yozgatlıgil from speaking.

After the electricity was restored, Yozgatlıgil completed his remarks and presented diplomas to the graduates who finished METU with honors. During the ceremony, university top graduates Ali Yıldız and Berke Bayrak gave speeches, and a video message from Sema Betül Demirezen, who could not attend the ceremony, was shared. Additionally, condolences were offered for Teoman Mehmet Arslan, a METU student who was expected to graduate in 2024 but passed away at an early age, as well as for all previously deceased METU students.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of diplomas to the 2024 graduates by their department faculty members.

This year, 530 master’s and 284 doctoral graduates earned their diplomas, while a total of 2,720 students graduated, including 308 students from the METU Northern Cyprus Campus.