The rector of Scotland’s oldest university has been removed from its governing body after a backlash over her claim that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
Stella Maris was stripped of her powers at St Andrews University over allegations that she had breached her role’s responsibilities – and made some students ‘fear for their safety’.
In an unprecedented move, she will no longer sit as the president of the university’s court after she was said to have refused to accept the findings of an independent investigation.
But Ms Maris – who was appointed rector in November 2023 – will officially remain in post as rector for another two years – as there is no mechanism to remove her.
Previous rectors have included John Cleese and Rudyard Kipling, and the university is alma mater of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Stella Maris has been removed from the governing body of the University of St Andrews
Her remarks about the conflict between Israel and Hamas came one month after she took up the Fife institution’s most senior elected post.
In a message to thousands of students, Ms Maris claimed Israeli forces had carried out weeks of ‘genocidal attacks’ in Gaza.
She said Palestinians had suffered ‘apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment’ after the conflict escalated.
Ms Maris also condemned the actions of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group which killed more than 1,000 Israelis during attacks on October 7.
She said: ‘It is also crucial to acknowledge and denounce the actions by Hamas that qualify as war crimes, notably the taking of hostages and deliberately targeting civilians, which I have and continue to do.’
The investigation into her comments – carried out by Lady Ross, then Morag Ross KC – found she had exercised ‘poor judgment’, warning her words could potentially encourage anti-Semitic behaviour.
It also claimed she had ‘inflamed tensions’ among students at the university with subsequent comments.
The university court is the institution’s overall governing body, including all aspects of strategic planning and finances.
Last night Ms Maris said she intended to appeal against the university’s decision,
Principal Professor Dame Sally Mapstone said: ‘We can disagree passionately on the most difficult issues, but it should always be with courtesy and respect for those whose views may differ from our own.
‘In large part, our community in St Andrews has responded to this terrible conflict and the abhorrent loss of innocent civilian life with strong, reasoned argument and commitment, but always consideration for the effects of their actions on others, and our students in particular, deserve significant recognition for that.
‘I believe that we can all learn from what has happened over the past few months, and that the values of listening, tolerance and respect will become even more important to our university community.’
More than 1,400 students and alumni has signed an open letter to the rector, which said: ‘We are concerned that your letter does not demonstrate equal care for Palestinian and Israeli lives.’
Ray Perman, chairman of the university court, said: ‘After extensive attempts at dialogue over three months, we have unfortunately now reached the point where university court has concluded that she is in serious and persistent breach of her responsibilities.’
He said: ‘As the chair of university court, I wish to offer an apology to all students, and others, who were upset or feared for their safety as a consequence of the rector’s handling of this matter, and those who were subsequently upset by the rise in tensions and disagreements which ensued.’
The university said it provided regular support to Ms Maris during the dispute.
Ms Maris read English and philosophy at the university, which she joined as an undergraduate in 2017, and has since filled a series of student representation roles.
Responding last night to her removal from the university’s court, Ms Maris said she ‘fully intends to appeal the decision’.
St Andrew University students were alarmed at the tone of Stella Maris’s message
In a statement, she said: ‘I am disappointed by the university’s decision to remove me from university court, which shows a lack of respect for the role of the rector in speaking independently for students as their elected representative and sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech in higher education.
‘It is clear that I have been removed from university 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.’
