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Rector of the University of St Andrews

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Rector of the University of St Andrews
Incumbent
Stella Maris
since 2023
Member ofUniversity Court
AppointerElected by all the matriculated students of the University
Term length3 years
Constituting instrumentUniversities (Scotland) Act 1858
Formation1858 (in modern form)
First holderSir Ralph Anstruther, 4th Bt.
Websitest-andrews.ac.uk/about/governance/key-officials/rector/

The Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews is an elected position, usually also the president of the University Court of the University of St Andrews; the University Court is the supreme governing body of the university.

Overview

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The Rector is elected every three years by the matriculated students of the university.[1][2] The current office of Rector, sometimes termed Lord Rector, was instituted by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Universities (Scotland) Acts regulate the governance of the ancient universities of Scotland, and require the election of a Rector for the universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews.[3] The newer University of Dundee also elects a Rector due to its historical ties to St Andrews, whereas other modern universities do not.[2]

Since 1970 the Rector has appointed a student as Rector's Assessor, who is a full voting member of the University Court, and also serves as a member of the students' representative council. As of September 2023 the position of Rector's Assessor has been vacant.[4][5]

Dismissal of Stella Maris from the University Court

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In December 2023, the university hired King's Counsel Morag Ross (or Morag Ross KC) to conduct an independent investigation[6] into the role and actions of Stella Maris after she sent a campus-wide email[7] on 21 November 2023 to 10,000 students.[8][9][10] In the email, she condemned both the Hamas-led October 7 massacres and the actions of Israel, who she accused of "genocidal attacks" and "imposing apartheid" on Palestinians.[11][12][7] She also condemned both antisemitism and islamophobia, and concluded by writing: "my words are not intended to justify violence or dismiss the pain of any community . . . while I acknowledge that some may not agree with my perspective, it is imperative to state unequivocally that peace is my guiding philosophy."[7] Since her statement, the International Court of Justice have declared a "plausible genocide" in Gaza,[13] with human rights organizations like Amnesty International concluding there is "sufficient evidence of genocide".[14]

The email, alongside the ensuing heated exchange between Maris and opposing users on her official Instagram, drew mixed reactions from members of the community.[15] On 26 November 2023, the University's Jewish Society (JSoc) released a statement voicing concern over the content of Maris' email and calling on her to resign. They claimed that "her words were harmful divisive, and not based in fact", and that the email was "significantly different" from the draft which had been shared with the JSoc. They also expressed concern that the email had cited materials from the "Electronic Intifada", a publication which has been accused of antisemitism.[16][17] On the other hand, an opposing open letter, which St Andrews Amnesty International Society estimated to have received 1,106 signatures from students, thanked Maris for her "courageous stance", asserting that her "call for a cease-fire, [condemnation of] the death of all civilians, and advocacy for the Palestinian people have not only demonstrated [her] commitment to peace but have also inspired a sense of pride in the St Andrews community."[18][19] A later open letter released in May 2024 from the University College Union called on the University to divest from institutions “complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza” and received 1,072 signatures from staff and students.[18]

The university leadership voiced concern over the possibility that her email would "bring division and hatred [and reinforce a] narrative that drives violent antisemitism around the world", and "might encourage the expression of antisemitism by others". Morag Ross KC's independent investigation concluded[6] that there was "no such intention" but rather "a conceivable outcome", and that Maris had shown "poor judgement". The report also accused Maris of causing"reputational damage" to the University, and ignoring advice from University authorities before sending her email, when the University's Vice Principal (Governance) warned her that her email's draft was "virulently anti-Israel" in tone.[20] Nonetheless, the report ulttimately concluded that it was unclear there was "a breach of the relevant obligations", and that "dismissal would be a disproportionate response."[6]

On 1 August 2024, the University Court announced that "after extensive efforts over a protracted period to seek a resolution with her proved unsuccessful", it had "no choice" but to dismiss Maris from the court and consequently as a trustee of the university, albeit while allowing her to retain the title of Rector for the remainder of her tenure. They alleged that she had refused to accept the findings of the independent investigation, and had refused the university's efforts, over three months, to hold a useful dialogue with her, and to take part in outside mediation so that differences could be resolved. Maris denied the accusation that she had refused to accept the findings of the investigation, accusing the University of "bias" and "misrepresentation", as well as "lack of respect" for the role of rector.[21][22][23] On 13 August 2024, she appealed the decision to the Chancellor of the University, with the support of the European Legal Support Centre.[22][23][24] She also instructed a London-based PR firm, specialised in legal sector communications and building and protecting reputations, to help her.[25][26]

An open letter issued in August 2024 by various St Andrews societies, including Amnesty International, the Muslim Student’s Association, Middle East and North Africa Society, BAME Students Network and the Socialist Worker Student Society, professed support for Maris as well as concern over "a specific, unnamed donor withdrawing funding as a result of Stella’s statement", which they alleged was "a key motivating factor for the University’s investigation and decision".[27][28] She also received support from many outside of the University, including over 500 academics from universities across 17 countries, the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom, the University College Union (UCU), and Prof Ghassan Abu-Sittah, the rector of the University of Glasgow and a surgeon who provided testimony on Israel’s war in Gaza after operating during the conflict.[29][22] An open letter signed by over sixty "prominent human rights advocates, academics, writers, artists, filmmakers and Israeli dissidents" condemned her dismissal and called for her to be reinstated.[30]

On 29 April 2025, the University Chancellor Menzies Campbell ruled in Maris' favour. As a result, Maris will be fully reinstated as Rector until her term runs out in October 2026.[31][32][29]

List of rectors

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Rectors of the University of St Andrews[33]
# Name Years served
1 Sir Ralph Anstruther, 4th Bt. 1859–1862
2 William Stirling-Maxwell, MP 1862–1865
3 John Stuart Mill 1865–1868
4 J.A. Froude 1868–1871
5 Lord Neaves 1872–1874
6 The Very Rev. Dr. Arthur Penrhyn Stanley 1874–1877
7 The 1st Baron Selborne 1877–1880
8 Sir Theodore Martin 1880–1883
9 The 11th Lord Reay 1884–1886
10 A.J. Balfour 1886–1889
11 The 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava 1889–1892
12 The 3rd Marquess of Bute 1892–1898
13 James Stuart, MP 1898–1901
14 Andrew Carnegie 1901–1907
15 The 1st Baron Avebury 1907–1910
16 The 5th Earl of Rosebery 1910–1913
17 The 7th Earl of Aberdeen 1913–1916
18 Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig 1916–1919
19 Sir James M. Barrie 1919–1922
20 Rudyard Kipling 1922–1925
21 Fridtjof Nansen 1925–1928
22 Sir Wilfred Grenfell 1928–1931
23 Field Marshal Jan Smuts 1931–1934
24 The Marchese Marconi 1934–1937
25 Lord MacGregor Mitchell 1937–1938
26 Sir David Munro[34] 1938–1946
27 Sir George Cunningham 1946–1949
28 Lord Burghley 1949–1952
29 The 28th Earl of Crawford 1952–1955
30 The 1st Viscount Kilmuir 1955–1958
31 The Baron Boothby 1958–1961
32 C. P. Snow 1961–1964
33 Sir John Rothenstein 1964–1967
34 Sir Learie Nicholas Constantine (The Baron Constantine from 1969) 1967–1970
35 John Cleese 1970–1973
36 Alan Coren 1973–1976
37 Frank Muir 1976–1979
38 Tim Brooke-Taylor 1979–1982
39 Katharine Whitehorn 1982–1985
40 Stanley Adams 1985–1988
41 Nicholas Parsons 1988–1991
42 Nicky Campbell 1991–1993
43 Donald Findlay 1993–1999
44 Andrew Neil 1999–2002
45 Sir Clement Freud 2002–2005
46 Simon Pepper 2005–2008
47 Kevin Dunion 2008–2011
48 Alistair Moffat 2011–2014
49 Catherine Stihler 2014–2017
50 Srđa Popović 2017–2020
51 Leyla Hussein 2020–2023
52 Stella Maris 2023–Present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rector | University of St Andrews". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "The Scottish University Rector – Introduction to the role of University Rector in Scotland" (PDF). abdn.ac.uk. Scottish Rectors' Group. 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Universities (Scotland) Act 1858", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1858 c. 83
  4. ^ "Rector's Assessor". yourunion.net. University of St Andrews Students' Association. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. ^ "The Acts, Ordinances and Resolutions Affecting the University of St Andrews" (PDF). st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. February 2017. p. 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Morag Ross KC's independent investigation report" (PDF). University of St Andrews.
  7. ^ a b c "Rector's Email".
  8. ^ "Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews – University Court Discharges Rector | University of St Andrews news". news.st-andrews.ac.uk.
  9. ^ "Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews – Investigator appointed". University of St Andrews. August 2024.
  10. ^ "St Andrews University rector dismissed after 'Gaza genocide' comments". The Jewish Chronicle.
  11. ^ "St Andrews University rector urged to apologise over Israel 'genocide' claim". BBC News. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews". University of St Andrews. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  13. ^ "The ICJ's Findings on Plausible Genocide in Gaza and its Implications for the International Criminal Court". Opinio Juris. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Amnesty International concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza". Amnesty International. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  15. ^ "St Andrews University's genocide row rector suggests she is threefold victim". Jewish News. August 2024.
  16. ^ "Statement from the University of St Andrews Jewish Society regarding the Rector's recent email". Instagram.
  17. ^ "Morag Ross KC's independent investigation report" (PDF). p. 22.
  18. ^ a b Oborne, Edith (20 March 2025). ""It is not true": Rector Stella Maris accuses the University of St Andrews of misrepresentation". The Saint. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Open Letter For Rector Maris".
  20. ^ "Independent investigation report - Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Instagram".
  22. ^ a b c Siddique, Haroon (1 August 2024). "St Andrews rector dismissed from governing body over Israel genocide accusation". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews – University Court Discharges Rector". University of St Andrews. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  24. ^ "Defend Free Speech Against Genocide at our Campuses - Support Rector Stella Maris | European Legal Support Center (Powered by Donorbox)". donorbox.org. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  25. ^ "St Andrews University had 'no choice' but to dismiss rector from key roles". Jewish News.
  26. ^ "Byfield - Reputation Counsel - Legal PR". byfieldconsultancy.com. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  27. ^ "Statement of solidarity". Instagram.
  28. ^ Oborne, Simon Ezra-Jackson and Edith (3 April 2025). "University Withholds Name of Donor Mentioned in Stella Maris Report". The Saint. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  29. ^ a b "St Andrews rector wins appeal after dismissal over Gaza comments". The National. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  30. ^ "Reinstate Stella Maris". Positive Action in Housing. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  31. ^ "St Andrews rector wins appeal over Gaza 'genocide' claim". www.bbc.com. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  32. ^ Oborne, Edith (2 May 2025). "Stella Maris Fully Reinstated as Rector After Winning Appeal". The Saint. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Previous rectors". yourunion.net. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Rectorial Installation at St Andrews". The Glasgow Herald. 1 April 1939. p. 15. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
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