Academic administration

"In no other country in the world would this kind of tolerance pass" he said for students who repeatedly break the law - He called on the rectorate authorities to assume their responsibilities - First priority is the battle with price inflations

The successful passage of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage brought relief to the government as the measure had created internal divisions and has left scars in New Democracy with one third of the party's deputies not voting for the law in Parliament.

University rectors are right when they say that they themselves cannot play the role of the police and enforce order against those who act arbitrarily on campus. 

However, they are not convincing when, in the midst of a tense situation, they present obstacles to remote exams. Obviously, this is an emergency solution. But the need now exists for it. 

Remote exams will be organized at institutions of higher education where it is not possible to take them in person due to student occupations, according to a decision taking at a meeting on Monday of university rectors.

During periods of significant tension like the present, the presence of a campus police force at the country's universities would indeed fuel the fire and make targets of its officers. This, however, does not mean that the plan to introduce security to these institutions should be abandoned. 

In response to the recent incidents of "terrorism" at Athens University faculties and the disruption of general assemblies by hooded students and outsiders who reportedly threatened participants with clubs and knives, outraged rectors and deans are mulling police intervention to restore order.

The opposition by a minority of students to the government's draft law that will institutionalize non-state universities is continuing with the occupation of faculties, to the concern and chagrin of rectors and other students who now run the risk of missing exams.

The new system of electing university rectors, which is now being tested in practice, seems to justify some of the reservations voiced by its critics.

If it turns out that its complexity is causing problems to the management of universities it should be reconsidered, in consultation with the university community.

It's hard to disagree with what Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said in Parliament Tuesday regarding government plans to police universities. "No one wants to see the police on university grounds. However, a rector's responsibility to enforce the law alone was a plan that has not been backed up by facts. Universities have failed to deal with lawlessness.

Not many days ago a bevy of livid members of anti-authority groups with rafters and sledgehammers and with violent intentions conducted a foray at Athens' Economic University's historic building on Patision Street and made their way to the office of the rector, Emmanuel Giakoumakis,  with the obvious aim being to assault and destroy.