University faculty infested by mice, says academic

The head of one of the key faculties at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University has written to the institution’s rector to complain about the dire state of the premises, which he described as overrun with mice and scorpions due to inadequate cleaning staff that have left the toilets basically nonfunctional.

In an angry missive to university rector Ioannis Mylopoulos, Faculty of Engineering head Costas Katsambalos threatened to invite the media to the premises to expose the problem “so that those who have failed to heed it for months will finally assume their duties.” He said there would be no lessons next Tuesday and Wednesday as a protest against the conditions.

The faculty premises cover around 55,000 square meters and are attended by around 7,500 students but, according to Katsambalos, there are only three cleaners for the building due to delays in planned recruitment.

The conditions “pose a very serious health and safety risk” and are an insult to the dignity of academics and students alike, according to Katsambalos.