Polytechnic: They opened the gate, but shut out society – 2024-05-13 23:52:54

We are marching full speed towards the creation of “sterile” university spaces, from which – combined with unconditional tourism – an anti-social cocktail results. Recently the rector of the Metsovian Polytechnic Ioannis Hatzigeorgiou stated that he is opening the door of the institution to society. But he effectively closed it by imposing… shop hours on the students of Architecture who prepare their work day and night in the premises of the historical complex of Patision, in their meetings but also in the Association of Architects, which for many weekends has been successfully offering design courses to poor prospective students. Does this bother the rector, or was the measure imposed by the need to “fence” the touristic “development” of the Museum – Polytechnic – Exarcheion area? The students of November ’73, the ones who opened the Polytechnic and fought the anti-dictatorship struggle with society, reacted by putting their signatures on the text below.

Students of the anti-dictatorship movement, among them we who are signing below, requested from 2023 and later welcomed the opening of the main gate of the Polytechnic as a symbolic and important step for the wider opening of NTUA to society and the city.

However, we are concerned about the imposition of restrictions on the hours and days of operation of the complex. We hear strong objections from students, undergraduates and postgraduates, that the opening hours of “commercial stores” that the current rector’s authority of the NTUA seeks to impose on the Patision complex make their studies and collective life difficult.

We understand the objections. The only school left operating in the NTUA complex of Patision is the School of Architecture. From time immemorial, university spaces and dressing rooms where academic papers are prepared have been used without a time limit. It was necessary due to the nature of the work and is a practice that applies in many schools of Architecture in other countries. For many of us, especially the former students of Architecture, its buildings had become our second home. The time limit does create problems.

Speaking more generally, the premises of the Polytechnic were not just a sum of buildings but a place of creation, research, dissemination of scientific knowledge, teamwork, fruitful interactions and osmosis with society. The student presence has always been a living cell in social life, active even in the most difficult circumstances. Without the live presence of the students, without the multifaceted operation of the school, what will be left? A mere tourist attraction in the center of the city that is rapidly “touristizing” and mutating, making Athens friendly to speculative investors and alien to its residents?

8/5/2024

Angelikas Ilias Electrical Mechanical Engineer NTUA,

Angelopoulou Natasha Architect Engineer NTUA – Kindergarten teacher,

Alavanos Giannis School of Agronomists and Topographical Engineers NTUA 1973,

Anagnostopoulou Anna NTUA Architect, Valavani Nadia Economics Department ASOEE 1973,

Vassiliou Miltos Medical School of Athens 1973 – retired Professor of Pulmonology,

Vryniotis Nassos School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Spyros Giakoumakis Electrical Mechanical Engineer NTUA,

Yiannis Grigoropoulos School of Civil Engineering NTUA 1973,

Grossomanidou Dora School of Law EKPA 1973, Dafermos Olympios School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering NTUA 1973,

Bound Lina School of Architecture, NTUA 1973, Diplas Christos School of Architecture, NTUA 1973,

John Dew Law School of the University of Athens 1973,

Zambas Kostas School of Civil Engineering NTUA 1973,

Stefanos Zafiropoulos School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Danae juice EKPA School of Law 1973,

Isaiah Dimitris Architect NTUA-Former Dean of the School of Architectural Engineering NTUA,

Theologis Panagiotis Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Ioannou Takis NTUA School of Architecture 1973,

George Kalantzopoulos School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Kalafati Eleni School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Maria Karagiannakis EKPA School of Law 1973,

Karakostas Mitsos School of Agriculture 1973,

Katsareli Aspa School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Dear Katerina School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Courtesy Chara Faculty of Philosophy EKPA 1973,

Giannis Kouvopoulos Civil Engineer, School of Civil Engineering NTUA 1973,

Konstantinos Giotakis Civil Engineer NTUA,

Lagopatis Nontas Civil Engineer Retired-School Pol. Mech. NTUA 1973,

Leontidou Eftychia Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Liakou Kiki Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Logothetis Stelios School of Chemical Engineering NTUA 1973,

Maunis Antonis School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Matinopoulos Thodoris School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Black-bearded Dionysus Pharmacy, University of Athens 1973,

Nikos Michalitsis School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering NTUA 1973,

Balaouras Makis Economist, former Member of Parliament,

Bitrou Dimitra Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Bimbakis Yiannis Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Burnous Dimitris Mathematical University of Athens 1973,

Nefeloudis Andreas ASOEE 1973,

Nikolopoulos Antonis Faculty of Philosophy EKPA 1973,

Nistazakis Yiannis Surveyor, School of Agricultural Surveying Engineers NTUA 1973,

Detsika Katerina Panteios 1973,

George Economopoulos Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Economou Giorgos N. Mathematical Department of the University of Athens 1973,

Palukas Theodoros School of Civil Engineering NTUA 1973,

Panou Antonia Architect Engineer NTUA,

Pantos Stefanos Architect Engineer NTUA,

Katerina Papagika Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Panos Papadopoulos Mathematical Department of the University of Athens 1973,

Papaioannou Tassis Architect-Emeritus Professor of the School of Architecture, NTUA,

George Papakonstantinou School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Papakonstantinou Evi School of Chemical Engineering NTUA 1973,

George Papakostas School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Papachristos Dimitris Author,

Pappas Stelios Economist, former president of the Greek Chamber of Commerce,

Pavlopoulou Anda School of Agronomists and Topographical Engineers NTUA 1973,

Petrakos Thanasis Mathematical Department of the University of Athens 1973,

Rigos Alkis Panteios 1973,

Rodopoulou Eftychia ASKT 1973,

Sapunakis Aris Architect NTUA-Former president of the University of Thessaly University of Thessaly,

Saratsi Titika-Maria Faculty of Philosophy EKPA 1973,

Sifianos Nikos Architect Engineer NTUA,

Sideris Nikos Medical School of the University of Athens 1973,

Thanasis Skamnakis EKPA School of Law 1973,

George Sorolopidis Higher Industrial School of Piraeus 1973,

Ilias Souvatzis Higher Industrial School of Piraeus 1973,

Athena Spyrou EKPA School of Law 1973,

Staikou Thulis School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Stefatos Vassilis School of Civil Engineering NTUA 1973,

Sofia Taliadorou Department of Economics, University of Athens 1973,

Janette Evi Architect Engineer NTUA retired,

Giantzi Marianna Architect Engineer NTUA,

Stefanos Tzoumakas Lawyer, former minister,

Kostas Tsouparopoulos Journalist – School of Law EKPA 1973,

Dimitris Tsoutsouvas Panteios 1973,

Fiotaki Athena Department of Economics, University of Athens 1973,

Floros Giannis Panteios 1973,

Fikura Zella Department of Economics, University of Athens 1973,

Dimitris Psarras School of Architectural Engineering NTUA 1973,

Psilopoulos Alkminis Faculty of Philosophy EKPA 1973)