The sudden decision of the Minister of Education Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos to refer the Rector of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens Theodosis Pelegrinis to the Supreme Disciplinary Council on misconduct charges has caused uproar in the academic world.
The “Meeting of University Teachers” academic forum dubbed the Minister’s move “desperate and appalling” and demanded that Mr. Arvanitopoulos resign from his position. The forum also explains in its announcement that the universities have been “systematically targeted for destruction”.
Similarly, the Senate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki issued a statement to explain that the charges against Mr. Pelegrinis are baseless and that the Minister’s referral only exacerbates the climate, making discussion with the administrative employees on strike even harder. The Senate called Mr. Arvanitopoulos to abandon the controversial suspension plans.
Meanwhile, a center left faction, which appears to have a majority in the administrative employee union board of directors, has called for an end to the strike and issued an apology to the students who have been affected by the strike. The faction claims that the academic semester can be saved, if teaching carries on through the holidays non-stop.
Furthermore, the faction has accepted the Ministry of Education’s invitation to resume negotiations, provided that the university reopens. A vote has been called for Wednesday, so that the administrative employees can decide to accept or reject the proposal.
