21/01/2019 15:59
Additional noise over audit in YSU discredits both the university and the process itself: YSU Students’ Council chairman
Aysor.am has conducted interview with the chairman of the YSU Students’ Council Davit Apoyan over recent developments, dispute between the YSU and State Control Service.
Few days ago the council has released a statement that despite not being approved by the Education and science ministry the charter of the Council has been approved. Asked to comment on the ministry’s silence, Apoyan said his comments may be perceived as political statements.
“We have referred to only legal side of the issue which is if the ministry does not respond in the set timeframe the charter is being adopted with the force of the law,” he said, stressing that for them the core issues was to quit any speculations about the status of the Students’ Council.
“It is interesting that we have done what was demanded from us: according to the proposal of the ministry we have worked out new charter, approved it and sent to the ministry for approval. But as it is known, we have received no feedback. I would also like to add, that according to the acting law, the education and science ministry is to set order of creation and activity of the students’ councils which it has never done while the current staff stated that they would initiate the process,” Apoyan told Aysor.am.
Asked about the dispute between the State Control Service and the YSU and the mutual accusations and the silence of the council over it, Apoyan said that they cannot allow themselves making statements until all the details of the process are revealed.
“We do not seek to give professional or legal assessments thus we will wait for the end of corresponding procedures. Our position though is clear: if there are violations in the YSU or abuses, those responsible for them must be brought to legal responsibility. But giving too publicity to it and making it more scandalous harms both the image of the YSU and the essence of the process,” he said, urging to quit the tradition of seeking justice via “press conference” and Facebook.
“The case must be studied by law enforcement bodies and the decision must be made by court without any unnecessary noise as it is being spoken about one of the important state institutions, Mother University,” he said, claiming that all it may result in institutional distrust toward the university the consequences of which will be hard to overcome.
Asked about the January 22 session of the YSU Board of Trustees and the expectations from it, Apoyan stressed that first of all he expects to see cooperation environment.
“I expect that the negative relations registered recently between the authorities and the YSU will not be brought to the Board of Trustees. We are going to have new chairman of the board who we would like to be an authoritative person who will inspire trust. One of the goals of the Board of Trustees is to ensure financial entries for the University and in this regard I would like business community representatives be more involved in the activities of the Board,” he said, adding that on their part the students will try to present their interests in a most effective way.
He said eight students, which is 25% of the staff of the Board of Trustees, are included in the board. “Despite being elected by the chairmanship of the Students’ Council they are not hesitated with that circumstance and moreover, some of them are not members of the Students’ Council,” he said.