St Andrews Rector Wins Appeal After Being Removed From Role Over Israel’s Gaza ‘Genocide’ Email
Edinburgh (Quds News Network)- The rector of St Andrews University has won her appeal after being removed from her role on the university court over comments she made on Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Shortly after she was elected in October 2023, Stella Maris sent an email to all students referring to Israel’s “genocidal attacks” in Gaza.
The invesitigation claimed that she had made some students “fear for their safety” and “breached her responsibilities” to students, but Maris said it set a “dangerous precedent for freedom of speech.”
Maris said her removal showed “a lack of respect” for the rector’s role in speaking independently for students.
She added: “It is clear that I have been removed from court because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologise for doing so.”
“As a young, neurodiverse Black woman with limited financial resources, I have faced the full force of the university, including a KC investigation, all because I made a statement supported by the overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to a genocide.”
She appealed against her dismissal as president of the court, and the chancellor of the university – former Liberal Democrats leader Menzies Campbell – has now ruled in her favour.
The university said it was “carefully considering” the chancellor’s decision and was taking advice from legal counsel.
Regardless of the legal issues, Maris – a former St Andrews student – will retain the title and office of rector until her term expires in October 2026.
Maris told BBC Scotland News she would not be resigning and insisted she had done the right thing.
Maris said: “I have received a lot of backlash and it’s quite disappointing.”
“I really tried to write a statement that would make everyone happy, but realised I wasn’t being true to my beliefs.”
“I’m glad I did it and it was the right thing to do.”
In the message to students sent in October 2023, Maris described how a vigil at the university was held earlier that month “following weeks of genocidal attacks by the Israeli government against Gaza”.
She said: “We must continue to recognize and condemn acts that are internationally regarded as humanitarian and war crimes.”
The email also included a link to a website which carried a story headlined: “The evidence Israel killed its own citizens on Oct 7.”
However, Maris clarified that she sent her email two days before the website had published its article.
Following the chancellor’s ruling to back Maris, a University of St Andrews spokesperson said: “As the body that made the decision to dismiss the rector, University Court is carefully considering the chancellor’s decision and taking advice from counsel.”
“This issue was never about free speech and only ever about governance. Ms Maris remains rector of the University and has done so throughout.”
