Women Students of Koç University: ‘We are not Safe at Campus’

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After a male student named F.K. battered and harassed a woman student at the campus of Koç University in Sarıyer, İstanbul in January 2019, an administrative and legal action has been taken against the student.

In the hearing of the ensuing court case held at the İstanbul 3rd Family Court on January 14, 2019, F.K. has been suspended from school for three months. However, his suspension is about to come to an end.

'There are other cases of harassment by F.K.'

For this reason, the initiative of University Student Women held a march at the campus to protest the incident of harassment that took place in their school as well as the ensuing administrative process. Students carried banners, which read, "We are not safe at the campus."

In the statement for the press of the initiative, it was stated, "The policy of making forget and silencing, which has become a routine in our country, should not be reproduced in Koç University." 

The women further indicated, "Other cases of violence and harassment perpetrated by the same student have also been uncovered. While we expect that the university administration addresses these cases, it has instead started a witch hunt against the women students, whom it thinks have revealed the incident. Women students distributing leaflets about it have been surveilled with cameras by the security."

'No, we are not safe'

In their statement, the initiative made a call to the university administration as well. Addressing the university, the women asked, "Why has the process regarding this important matter, which has become a burning issue for students, taken so long?"

Concluding the statement, the initiative stated the following: "It is our answer to the 'Women-friendly Campuses' survey recently sent to its students by Koç University: No, we don't feel safe, because we are not safe!"

Protest of students continuing on social media

Sharing their protest on social media as well, women posted the following message on Twitter: "Women in Koç University have been raising their voices against the male violence attempted to be covered up by the school administration. We will not give up on our struggle, be that on the street or at campus! Women are strong when they are together!"

Koç Üniversitesi'nden kadınlar, okul yönetimi tarafından örtbas edilmeye çalışılan erkek şiddetine karşı sesini yükseltiyor. Ne sokakta, ne kampüste mücadele etmekten vazgeçmeyeceğiz!
Kadınlar birlikte güçlü!#KampüsteGüvendeDeğiliz pic.twitter.com/YVO0OR3ID9

— Demir Leblebi (@leblebi_demir) 25 Mart 2019

Women students have been continuing their protests on Twitter under the hashtag #KampüsteGüvendeDeğiliz (We are not safe at campus). (EÜ/EMK/SD)