Student elections marred by violence

Only around half of Greek students voted in student elections on Wednesday as violence erupted at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), where one academic had to be taken to the hospital after a group of vandals burst into the institution, attacking property and people.

Kathimerini understands that a group of about 10 people wearing hoods entered the NTUA and began tearing down posters. This sent members of student groups scurrying for somewhere to hide. The assailants were challenged by two academics but one of them was struck by the vandals, who also smashed windows and tables. The professor who was hit had to be transferred to a hospital for precautionary reasons, while the second was kicked during the skirmish.

There were similar scenes at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), although nobody was injured there. “We cannot allow anyone who wants to force their way into the university to do so,” AUEB rector Constantinos Gatsios told Kathimerini. The institution has asked the Education Ministry to allow private security guards to be stationed at universities.

It is estimated that around 100,000 students voted in yesterday’s elections, which is around half of those studying and a similar percentage to last year’s turnout.