Candidates’ Programs for Rector Presented Behind Closed Doors

Candidates for the rector of the University of Zagreb are presenting their programs on Friday at an extraordinary session of the Senate of the largest Croatian university, but, in accordance with the decision of the university administration, this is happening behind closed doors, contrary to previous electoral practices. Before the start of the session, journalists gathered in front of the Rectorate building of the University of Zagreb, attempting to enter the session, but they were prevented from doing so by the university porters on the orders of the administration.

>>> Teacher Pedagogy: Rector Boras Disciplines Student with a Lawsuit

Two candidates for the four-year term of rector of the University of Zagreb are the current rector Damir Boras and a professor at the Faculty of Science (PMF) Damir Bakić.

Flego: A Precedent for the University, Vlahović-Štetić: The University Needs Fundamental Changes

Senate member Prof. Dr. Gvozden Flego stated to journalists before the start of the session that this is a precedent for the University and that he “cannot fathom such a decision of the university administration and its ‘hermeneutic’ reasons”. He believes that journalists are being prevented from fulfilling their duty to inform the public about all relevant events, and for him, the electoral process for the head of the University is undoubtedly such an event.

Journalists also requested a statement from the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb, Vlasta Vlahović-Štetić, who also considers this a precedent. She believes that fundamental changes are needed at the University, and when asked if she thinks the programs will decide the election of the rector, Vlahović-Štetić assessed that they are an important, but not the only, factor in the decision.

Bakić: Openness of the University is Key

Rector candidate Damir Bakić stated to journalists that for him, the opening of the University to the public and the public to the University is of crucial importance, which he reminded is also the guiding principle of his electoral program. He emphasized that his electoral program also highlights greater excellence in scientific research work at the University and improving the conditions of study and the position of the entire academic community.

>>> 202 Doctors of Science and Arts Promoted in Zagreb

Journalists were also interested in whether Bakić was invited to the press conference announced by the Public Relations Office of the University of Zagreb after the Senate session, to which Bakić replied that no one had asked him anything about possible participation in the press conference.

Current rector Damir Boras did not accept the appeal made to him on Thursday by journalists from 16 media outlets to make the electoral sessions on February 16, when candidates present their programs to Senate members, and the one on February 23, when the Senate will elect the rector, open to the media.

HND Condemns Boras’s Actions

The appeal from journalists was also supported by the Minister of Science and Education Blaženka Divjak, as well as the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND), which issued a statement on Friday condemning the actions of rector Damir Boras, who is also one of the two candidates, and again requested that journalists be allowed to report freely from the session next Friday, as it is in the public interest.

>>> More Female Students at Higher Education Institutions in Croatia – 56.7 Percent

In its statement, HND reminded Boras of the appeal made to him on Thursday by “16 female and male journalists from as many editorial offices to allow them entry to the Senate session”. Noting that this number has since grown to 17 editorial offices, HND joined their demands and requested that journalists also be allowed to attend the Senate session on Friday, February 23, where the rector will be elected by secret ballot.