View source for Rector of the University of St Andrews

{{Criticism section|date=October 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Rector
| body                     = the University of St Andrews
| image                    =
| imagesize                = 230px
| alt                      = Leyla Hussein, Previous Rector
| incumbent                = Stella Maris
| incumbentsince           = 2023
| member_of                = University Court
| reports_to               =
| residence                =
| seat                     =
| appointer                = Elected by all the matriculated students of the University
| termlength               = 3 years
| constituting_instrument  = [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1858]]
| formation                = 1858 (in modern form)
| first                    = [[Anstruther baronets|Sir Ralph Anstruther]], 4th [[Baronet|Bt.]]
| website                  = {{URL|st-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 [[Governance of the University of St Andrews|University Court]] of the [[University of St Andrews]]; the University Court is the supreme governing body of the university.
==Overview==
The Rector is elected every three years by the [[matriculation|matriculated students]] of the university.<ref name="rector">{{Cite web|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/governance/key-officials/rector/|title=Rector {{!}} University of St Andrews|website=www.st-andrews.ac.uk|publisher=University of St Andrews|access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="scottish_rector">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/documents/scottish-university-rector.pdf|title=The Scottish University Rector – Introduction to the role of University Rector in Scotland|year=2007|website=abdn.ac.uk|publisher=Scottish Rectors' Group|access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref> The current office of [[Rector (academia)|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 [[Rector of the University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]], [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]], [[Rector of the University of Glasgow|Glasgow]], and St Andrews.<ref name="act_1858">{{Cite legislation UK|type=act|year=1858|chapter=83|act=Universities (Scotland) Act 1858}}</ref> The newer [[University of Dundee]] also elects a Rector due to its historical ties to St Andrews, whereas other modern universities do not.<ref name="scottish_rector" />
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.<ref name="assessor">{{Cite web|title=Rector's Assessor|url=https://www.yourunion.net/representation/officers/rectors-assessor/|access-date=30 April 2017|work=yourunion.net|publisher=University of St Andrews Students' Association}}</ref><ref name="ordinance121">{{cite web|title=The Acts, Ordinances and Resolutions Affecting the University of St Andrews|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/governance/documents/ordinances-resolutions/acts-ordinances-resolutions-university-court.pdf|website=st-andrews.ac.uk|publisher=University of St Andrews|access-date=21 April 2017|page=83|date=February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421194735/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/governance/documents/ordinances-resolutions/acts-ordinances-resolutions-university-court.pdf|archive-date=21 April 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
==Dismissal of Stella Maris from the University Court==
In December 2023, the university hired [[King's Counsel]] Morag Ross (or Morag Ross KC) to conduct an independent investigation into the role and actions<ref>{{cite web|website=University of St Andrews|title=Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews – Investigator appointed|date=August 2024| url=https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/statement-from-the-court-of-the-university-of-st-andrews-investigator-appointed }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|website=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/st-andrews-university-rector-dismissed-after-gaza-genocide-comments-eztic1py|title=St Andrews University rector dismissed after 'Gaza genocide' comments}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[Campaign Against Antisemitism]]|url=https://antisemitism.org/university-rector-removed-from-university-court-over-comments-which-made-students-fear-for-their-safety|title=UNIVERSITY RECTOR REMOVED FROM UNIVERSITY COURT OVER COMMENTS WHICH MADE STUDENTS "FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY"|date=2 August 2024 }}</ref> of Stella Maris after she sent a campus-wide email on 21 November 2023 to 10,000 students<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/statement-from-the-court-of-the-university-of-st-andrews-university-court-discharges-rector|title=Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews – University Court Discharges Rector &#124; University of St Andrews news|website=news.st-andrews.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|website=[[The Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/st-andrewss-non-apology-over-israel-email-riles-jewish-students-pzgnpf839|title=St Andrews's 'non-apology' over Israel email riles Jewish students}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|website=Daily Express|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1839875/st-andrews-stella-maris-scotland-israel-genocide|title=Jewish students accuse rector at top uni of 'fostering hate' over Israel genocide claim}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|website=National Jewish Assembly|url=https://nja.org.uk/nja-supports-university-of-st-andrews-decision-to-discharge-rector|title=NJA Supports University of St Andrews' Decision to Discharge Rector}}</ref> controversially accusing Israel of "genocidal attacks" – one month after the [[October 7 attack|Hamas-led October 7 massacres]] that killed 1,200+ – and "imposing apartheid" on Palestinians.<ref name=bbc-20231125>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-67529665 |title=St Andrews University rector urged to apologise over Israel 'genocide' claim |work=BBC News |date=25 November 2023 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=standrews-20231215>{{cite web |url=https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/statement-from-the-court-of-the-university-of-st-andrews|title=Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews |website=University of St Andrews |date=15 December 2023 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> The email, alongside the ensuing heated exchange between Maris and opposing users on her official [[Instagram]], drew mixed reactions from members of the community.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[Jewish News]]|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/st-andrews-universitys-genocide-row-rector-suggests-she-is-three-fold-victim|title=St Andrews University's genocide row rector suggests she is threefold victim|date=August 2024}}</ref>
The university's Jewish Society (JSoc) released a statement on 26 November 2023 voicing concern over the content of Maris' email, highlighting that it was "significantly different" from the draft with which the JSoc was shared and that it cited questionable materials from the "Electronic Intifada", which "has consistently [[stochastic terrorism|given voice]] to [[Antisemitism in Islam|antisemitic]] journalists, including those who [[Holocaust denial|deny the Holocaust]] and [[hate speech|call for the death]] of Jews, as well as [[doxxing]] and [[racial harassment|harassing]] several [[British Jews|British Jewish]] students"<ref>{{cite web|website=[[Instagram]]|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C0HA5pRsSvk|title=Statement from the University of St Andrews Jewish Society regarding the Rector's recent email}}</ref>
The university leadership voiced concern over the possibility that her email would "bring [[political polarisation|division]] and [[racism|hatred]] [and reinforce a] narrative that drives violent antisemitism [[antisemitism#Geographical distribution|around the world]]...might encourage the expression of [[IHRA definition|antisemitism]] by others". Morag Ross KC's independent investigation concluded<ref>{{cite web|website=University of St Andrews|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/documents/governance/court/independent-investigation-29-July-2024.pdf|title=Morag Ross KC's independent investigation report}}</ref> that there was "no such intention" but rather "a conceivable outcome", and that Maris had shown "poor judgement", though "the circumstances here are not sufficiently clear or obvious to show that there is, overall, a breach of the relevant obligations". Nevertheless, it did find some of Maris's [[Instagram]] activities to be "inflammatory...contrary to the
best interests of the University...in breach of her
obligations as a member of Court and as a charity trustee...to act with courtesy and respect".<ref name=guardian-20240801>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/aug/01/st-andrews-university-rector-dismissed-governing-body-israel-genocide-accusation |title=St Andrews rector dismissed from governing body over Israel genocide accusation |last=Siddique |first=Haroon |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 August 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=standrews-20240415>{{cite web |url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/documents/governance/court/independent-investigation-29-July-2024.pdf |title=Independent Investigation |last=Ross |first=Morag |website=University of St Andrews |date=15 April 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>
The independent investigation also found to Maris have "ignored advice" from the university authorities before sending her email, when the university's Vice Principal (Governance) warned her that her email's draft was "virulently [[anti-Zionism#Allegations of antisemitism|anti-Israel]]" in tone.,<ref>{{Cite web| title=Independent investigation report - Summary | url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/documents/governance/court/independent-investigation-29-July-2024.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240801111900/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/documents/governance/court/independent-investigation-29-July-2024.pdf | archive-date=2024-08-01}}</ref> with some of her actions having "caused [[political polarisation|division]] and distress" alongside "reputational damage" to the university.
On 1 August 2024, the University Court announced that "after extensive efforts over a protracted period to seek a [[mediation|resolution]] with her proved unsuccessful", it had "no choice" but to dismiss Maris from the court and consequently as a trustee of the university, because 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", while allowing her to remain as the Rector for the remainder of her tenure. In response, Maris claimed that the university had shown a "lack of respect" for the role of rector,<ref name="Instagram">{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18421481074069877/ | title=Instagram }}</ref> and had "victimised" her as a "young, [[neurodiversity|neurodiverse]] black woman".,<ref name="Instagram"/> while accusing Morag Ross KC of being "biased",<ref name="Instagram"/> vowing to appeal against the decision.<ref name=guardian-20240801/><ref name=standrews-20240801>{{cite web |url=https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/statement-from-the-court-of-the-university-of-st-andrews-university-court-discharges-rector/ |title=Statement from the Court of the University of St Andrews – University Court Discharges Rector |website=University of St Andrews |date=1 August 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> She has instructed a [[London]]-based PR firm, specialised in legal sector communications, building and protecting reputations, to help her.<ref>{{cite news|website=Jewish News|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/st-andrews-university-dismiss-rector-stella-maris-morag-ross|title=St Andrews University had 'no choice' but to dismiss rector from key roles}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Byfield - Reputation Counsel - Legal PR | url=https://byfieldconsultancy.com/ | access-date=2025-02-17 | website=byfieldconsultancy.com}}</ref>
==List of rectors==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Rectors of the University of St Andrews<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yourunion.net/voice/rectorelection/previousrectors/|title=Previous rectors|publisher=yourunion.net|access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref>
!'''#'''
!Name
!Years served
|-
|'''1'''
|[[Anstruther baronets|Sir Ralph Anstruther, 4th Bt.]]
|1859–1862
|-
|'''2'''
|[[Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet|William Stirling-Maxwell, MP]]
|1862–1865
|-
|'''3'''
|[[John Stuart Mill]]
|1865–1868
|-
|'''4'''
|[[James Anthony Froude|J.A. Froude]]
|1868–1871
|-
|'''5'''
|[[Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves|Lord Neaves]]
|1872–1874
|-
|'''6'''
|[[The Very Reverend|The Very Rev.]] Dr. [[Arthur Penrhyn Stanley]]
|1874–1877
|-
|'''7'''
|[[Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne|The 1st Baron Selborne]]
|1877–1880
|-
|'''8'''
|[[Sir Theodore Martin]]
|1880–1883
|-
|'''9'''
|[[Donald Mackay, 11th Lord Reay|The 11th Lord Reay]]
|1884–1886
|-
|'''10'''
|[[Arthur Balfour|A.J. Balfour]]
|1886–1889
|-
|'''11'''
|[[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava|The 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava]]
|1889–1892
|-
|'''12'''
|[[Lord Patrick Crichton-Stuart|The 3rd Marquess of Bute]]
|1892–1898
|-
|'''13'''
|[[James Stuart (scientist)|James Stuart, MP]]
|1898–1901
|-
|'''14'''
|[[Andrew Carnegie]]
|1901–1907
|-
|'''15'''
|[[John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury|The 1st Baron Avebury]]
|1907–1910
|-
|'''16'''
|[[Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery|The 5th Earl of Rosebery]]
|1910–1913
|-
|'''17'''
|[[John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair|The 7th Earl of Aberdeen]]
|1913–1916
|-
|'''18'''
|[[Field marshal|Field Marshal]] [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Sir Douglas Haig]]
|1916–1919
|-
|'''19'''
|[[Sir James Matthew Barrie|Sir James M. Barrie]]
|1919–1922
|-
|'''20'''
|[[Rudyard Kipling]]
|1922–1925
|-
|'''21'''
|[[Fridtjof Nansen]]
|1925–1928
|-
|'''22'''
|[[Wilfred Grenfell|Sir Wilfred Grenfell]]
|1928–1931
|-
|'''23'''
|[[Field marshal|Field Marshal]] [[Jan Smuts]]
|1931–1934
|-
|'''24'''
|[[Guglielmo Marconi|The Marchese Marconi]]
|1934–1937
|-
|'''25'''
|[[Robert MacGregor Mitchell|Lord MacGregor Mitchell]]
|1937–1938
|-
|'''26'''
|[[David Munro (physician)|Sir David Munro]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zEZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uIgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6227%2C119883|title=Rectorial Installation at St Andrews|date=1 April 1939|work=The Glasgow Herald|access-date=6 September 2017|page=15}}</ref>
|1938–1946
|-
|'''27'''
|[[George Cunningham (governor)|Sir George Cunningham]]
|1946–1949
|-
|'''28'''
|[[David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter|Lord Burghley]]
|1949–1952
|-
|'''29'''
|[[David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford|The 28th Earl of Crawford]]
|1952–1955
|-
|'''30'''
|[[David Maxwell Fyfe, 1st Earl of Kilmuir|The 1st Viscount Kilmuir]]
|1955–1958
|-
|'''31'''
|[[Robert Boothby, Baron Boothby|The Baron Boothby]]
|1958–1961
|-
|'''32'''
|[[C. P. Snow]]
|1961–1964
|-
|'''33'''
|[[John Rothenstein|Sir John Rothenstein]]
|1964–1967
|-
|'''34'''
|[[Learie Constantine|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 (whistleblower)|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'''
|[[Clement Freud|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 (activist)|Srđa Popović]]
|2017–2020
|-
| '''51'''
|[[Leyla Hussein]]
|2020–2023
|-
|'''52'''
|Stella Maris
|2023–Present
|}
==See also==
* [[Ancient university governance in Scotland]]
* [[Governance of the University of St Andrews]]
* [[Chancellor of the University of St Andrews]]
* [[Principal of the University of St Andrews]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/governance/key-officials/rector/ The Rector of the University of St Andrews]
{{University of St Andrews}}
{{Rectors of the University of St Andrews|state=expanded}}
{{University officials of the Ancient Universities of Scotland}}
[[Category:Rectors of the University of St Andrews|*]]
[[Category:Lists of rectors of Scottish universities|St Andrews, Rector of University]]